Having witnessed her father order the punishment of Lu Jinran with her own eyes, Lu Yinqian didn't stay long at her natal home. After greeting her mother, she hurried back to the Yongchang Marquis Mansion.
At that moment, Shang Luoshu had just left with his men.
"Your Highness, how is Xi'er? What did the doctor say?"
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Lu Yinqian was about to rush into the guest - room where her younger sister was. Fortunately, Marquis Xu was quick - eyed and quick - handed, and stopped her.
"Don't worry, Qianqian," Xu Zhuo smoothly pulled his beloved wife into his arms and said in a gentle voice, "The mansion doctor said that Sister Four just caught a cold. She's taken the medicine and fallen asleep.
It's getting late now. Let's come to see her tomorrow, okay?"
His wife was pregnant. Marquis Xu was afraid of stimulating her, so he didn't dare to tell the whole truth and only said the lighter part.
"Just a cold?"
Miss Lu obviously didn't believe it. But seeing her husband's confident look, she thought she might be overthinking.
Thinking like this, she looked around and found that one person was missing.
"His Highness the King of Jing has left?"
"He left just before you came back."
The anger that had just subsided flared up again. Lu Yinqian glared at Xu Zhuo, wishing he could immediately chase Shang Luoshu back.
"My younger sister hasn't woken up yet, and he dared to just leave like this? And you, not only didn't stop him, but also didn't ask about the reason why Xi'er fell into the water?"
The surprise of learning that her younger sister had returned and the worry upon finding Xi'er unconscious were intertwined. Then she had to send a message back to her natal home. So after Shang Luoshu sent Lu Yinxi into the mansion, Lu Yinqian had a lot of questions in her heart.
She had planned to ask clearly after returning from the prime minister's mansion, but unexpectedly, Shang Luoshu just left. Left?
"Be careful not to hurt the fetus!"
Marquis Xu gently stroked his wife's back with a helpless look on his face and patiently explained, "His Highness didn't want to leave either. He originally planned to wait until Sister Four woke up, but there was an urgent matter, so he had to leave.
As for Yinxi's matter, I've also asked. His Highness said that he invited her to his mansion for a visit. Unexpectedly, the servants didn't take good care of her, and she fell into the water. After that, for Sister Four's reputation, he sent her here."
According to the normal situation, Lu Yinxi should have stayed in the King of Jing's Mansion for treatment after falling into the water and falling into a coma. However, there was no female family member in charge in that huge mansion, only Shang Luoshu, the male master. If she really stayed there, God knows how unpleasant the rumors outside would be in the future.
After much consideration, the man finally decided to send the young girl to the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. As for the prime minister's mansion, it was never in his consideration. He still remembered the face of the second wife on the day of Prime Minister Lu's birthday.
Marquis Xu: "By the way, His Highness also instructed that the fewer people who know about this matter today, the better."
Marquise: "I naturally understand this!"
As a woman, Lu Yinqian knew very well how terrible rumors could be for a woman. They were like invisible sharp blades, invisible but deadly.
The rapid sound of horses' hooves stopped at the mansion gate in the night. The man neatly dismounted and strode into the mansion.
At first, he really planned to wait until Lu Yinxi woke up before leaving. However, Lin Zihan sent someone to report that Zhou Kou had woken up.
"My Lord."
Shang Luoshu raised his hand to stop Lin Zihan from saluting and went straight to the point, "How is he?"
"He regained consciousness just now. The doctor is taking his pulse."
"Okay."
The man responded indifferently, with no trace of joy on his face.
Zhou Kou's waking up meant the downfall of Zhu Chengjie, which was a great blow to the Regent. Logically, Shang Luoshu should be happy.
Hadn't he been trapped in the capital for all these years just to help the emperor restrict Shang Mozheng? But now, there was no trace of joy in his heart.
"How is it?"
Seeing the mansion doctor put away the pulse - taking record, Lin Zihan nervously stepped forward. The next moment, he heard the doctor's voice.
"May I ask Your Highness and Lord Lin where you invited the divine doctor from? In just one day, this military officer has been brought back from the brink of death!"
The change in Zhou Kou's life and death was too incredible, which made the doctor couldn't help but be surprised.
"You can leave first!"
Shang Luoshu had no intention of answering his question, and the doctor didn't dare to ask anymore and quickly retreated. In fact, Lin Zihan was also curious. When the king sent the message, he had mentioned Zhou Kou's situation, but now...
"Go in and see him."
After saying that, the man took the lead and walked into the room. Zhou Kou was half - lying on the head of the bed at this time. Although his face was still pale, he looked much better than before.
"Thank Your Highness the King of Jing and Lord Lin, the junior secretary, for saving my life. I will never forget it!"
When he was following Zhu Chengjie before, he had met these two people, so he could recognize them at a glance and also guessed their purpose of saving him.
"What exactly happened back then? Tell me."
The King of Jing, who was in a bad mood, was straightforward, and his voice was still stiff. Zhou Kou didn't care about this. After a little thought, he slowly told a story that happened three years ago.
At that time, the Regent had already discovered Zhou Kou's ability and tried to recruit him several times, but was always rejected.
Having been rejected by a small figure, Shang Mozheng felt humiliated. So he sent Zhou Kou to serve under Zhu Chengjie. Here, Zhou Kou met Fang Qinhu and two other lieutenants.
Zhu Chengjie had always known about the Regent's attempt to recruit Zhou Kou. At first, he just watched coldly, but later, jealousy welled up in his heart.
How dare a sixth - rank lieutenant reject the all - powerful Regent? And why did the king insist on recruiting this person?
As time passed and the number of times Zhou Kou refused increased, Zhu Chengjie became more and more annoyed with him. Later, he even wanted to get rid of him. However, Shang Luoshu, the then General of the Dragon and Tiger, was leading his troops on the way. So Zhu Chengjie didn't dare to act rashly.
Coincidentally, an opportunity came at this time.
The scouts in the front sent back the news that there was a horse plague in the Southern Chu army. Their proud cavalry had completely become useless. The Great Qi could take this opportunity to launch a surprise attack and severely damage the enemy.
Zhu Chengjie thought the news might be false. So on the night before the operation, he summoned the four lieutenants, Zhou, Fang, Sun, and Yang, to jointly plan the surprise - attack plan.
Zhou Kou and Fang Qinhu were to be the vanguard, while Lieutenants Yang and Sun were to provide cover.
That night, the Southern Chu military camp was ablaze with fire, the grass was stained red with blood, the military tents were full of the lives of the soldiers, and the shouts of killing never stopped.
The Great Qi had fallen into a trap. The horse plague was simply a false message deliberately spread by the Southern Chu in order to lure them in.
On the dangerous grassland, Zhou and Fang led their brothers to fight their way out desperately. Finally, when they entered the territory of the Great Qi, they heard the shocking news.
"Have you heard? In the front - line military camp, two lieutenants actually led their men to desert?"
"Yes, I've heard. It was because of their desertion that the Southern Chu was able to launch a surprise attack on the military camp, causing heavy losses to our side. Fortunately, the General of the Dragon and Tiger arrived in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"Exactly. Do you know the names of those two lieutenants?"
"Yes, I think they are Zhou Kou and Fang Qinhu."
They had fought their way out of the enemy's camp desperately, only to hear this?
Moreover, Zhu Chengjie knew best whether they were really deserters or not. But he actually allowed such rumors to spread?
In a fit of anger, Fang Qinhu, who was alone, led the remaining brothers to become bandits in the mountains, planning to take revenge.
Zhou Kou parted ways with them. For the sake of his family, he walked back to the capital on foot, found the Regent, and finally became Zhu Chengjie's subordinate again.
When Lu Yinxi woke up from the darkness, she only felt a lingering pain in her left chest. Her head also felt heavy, and her whole body was uncomfortable. Of course, the most important thing was, where was she?
The mansion of Shang Luoshu? It didn't seem so judging from the furniture and furnishings.
"Miss Four is awake?!"
A maid came in with a washbasin. As soon as she entered, she saw Lu Yinxi sitting halfway on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes. The little maid was stunned at first, and then a look of joy spread across her face.
"Miss Lu Four is awake. Hurry up and inform the Marquise. Miss Lu Four is awake!"