Chapter 148: Behave and Don't Cause Trouble
Chapter 148: Behave and Don't Cause Trouble
Meanwhile, Nanny Li had finished her handover with Manager Cen in the accounting room and returned to the main courtyard with mixed feelings.
She thought to herself that although the new son-in-law was a bit lax with the rules, as long as he treated her young miss well, she could ease up on scolding him.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard Nanny Wan reporting that the son-in-law had taken the young miss out.
Nanny Li shuddered all over. "What did you say? Out... Out where?"
"Through the main gates of the Governor's mansion!" replied Nanny Wan.
"Who takes their wife out on their second day of marriage? It's outrageous!"
Nanny Li cursed Lu Lingxiao a hundred times in her mind again.
As night fell, two Ferocious Blood Stallions galloped frantically through the streets of the capital, finally catching up with Zhang Feihu and the others ten miles outside the North Gate.
"General Zhang! General Nie!"
When Zhang Feihu heard Meng Qianqian's call, he thought he had misheard and asked Nie Hansan, "Did you hear something?"
"I think so..." Nie Hansan replied.
"It's Meng Qianqian!" Han Chi tightened the reins.
Zhang Feihu and Nie Hansan pulled on their horses' reins simultaneously and turned their horses sharply toward the capital.
In the darkness, they saw Meng Qianqian riding towards them in a hurry.
Zhang Feihu quickly rode up to meet her. "Slow down! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Finally, when they were close enough, Zhang Feihu jumped down from his horse without even stopping, grabbing his own horse with one hand and holding onto Meng Qianqian's with the other.
Meng Qianqian dismounted, breathless, and said, "General Zhang!"
Nie Hansan and Han Chi also hurried over and dismounted.
Meng Qianqian greeted them as well. "General Nie, General Han."
"How did you get here?" Nie Hansan asked.
They had deliberately not told her about the army's departure.
In fact, they had already received their military orders yesterday during the wedding. They knew the army would be leaving today, but everyone had tacitly agreed not to tell her.
It wasn't that they didn't want to see her one last time; they just didn't want to ruin her wedding day.
"You're biased," Meng Qianqian said, glancing at Han Chi.
Han Chi was a member of the Golden Guard and didn't need to return to the border. His presence here could only mean one thing—he had come to see her off.
General Zhang and Nie Hansan scratched their heads.
"It's not their fault," Han Chi said. "My uncle told me."
Meng Qianqian had forgotten that Han Chi's uncle was the Great General Han.
Han Chi bowed to Meng Qianqian and said, "Governor."
General Zhang and Nie Hansan's eyes were fixed on Meng Qianqian, and it was only when Han Chi bowed that they realized there was someone else with her.
The two men cleared their throats and turned to bow as well. "Governor."
"You two chat. Han Chi, go tend to the horses."
"Yes, Governor."
The two men left.
General Zhang signaled to Nie Hansan, who said, "Alright, I'll go tend to the horses too."
He led their horses to catch up with Lu Lingxiao and Han Chi.
General Zhang looked at Meng Qianqian, wanting to say something but stopping himself several times. Finally, he sighed and said, "It was hard enough to leave her behind."
Now that the young miss was here, he couldn't bear to leave again.
He had said goodbye to her earlier precisely to avoid what was happening now—he didn't want her to see him leave, because it would be hard on both of them.
Meng Qianqian remained silent, looking at him calmly, her eyes betraying the hurt she was trying to hide.
General Zhang's heart softened, and he felt a bitter pang. "Hey, that's not what I meant... I..."
He turned away, wiping his reddened eyes, and asked in a normal tone, "Has the Governor been treating you well? Has he bullied you?"
"The Governor has been very good to me," Meng Qianqian replied. "He's the one who brought me out to find you today."
"Well, at least he has a conscience," said General Zhang. "If he bullies you, come to Yumenguan, and your brothers will teach him a lesson!"
Meng Qianqian nodded. "Okay."
General Zhang looked up at the sky. "The weather's nice tonight."
Meng Qianqian looked at the moisture in his eyes and said softly, "The journey to Yumenguan is long and arduous. Take care of yourselves, and give my regards to General Zhao and General Yue. I deeply regret not being able to see you off in person."
"
"What are you ashamed about?" Zhang Feihu wiped his eyes again and waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, it's getting late. Let's head back. You're going to be the Madame of the Commander-in-Chief's mansion now, so no more childish tantrums."
"I've never thrown childish tantrums," Meng Qianqian retorted.
Zhang Feihu scratched his head sheepishly. "I was just saying."
Meng Qianqian turned her face away.
It was only in front of Zhang Feihu that she allowed herself to act a little childish.
Zhang Feihu panicked. "Okay, okay, I was wrong."
After much coaxing and cajoling, Meng Qianqian finally stopped pouting.
With all the fuss, Zhang Feihu had completely lost the urge to cry. Taking care of a child was harder than fighting a battle, who would've known?
"Little Nine."
Zhang Feihu's expression suddenly turned solemn. "Have you... not given up on investigating the Chu family's case?"
Meng Qianqian had expected him to bring this up, and she didn't hide it. "Yes."
Zhang Feihu sighed. "The Chu family's matter is not that simple. The connections behind it are far-reaching and may be beyond your imagination. I hope you'll drop the investigation."
Meng Qianqian looked at him steadily. "General Zhang, do you know something?"
Zhang Feihu shook his head. "I don't know, but I feel that if you continue investigating, you'll be in great danger."
Meng Qianqian's expression turned serious. "I'm not afraid of danger."
Zhang Feihu gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, if you were afraid of danger, you wouldn't have gone to the border."
He placed his hand on Meng Qianqian's shoulder. "Then promise me that if you do encounter danger, you'll inform the Commander-in-Chief immediately and never put yourself in harm's way alone."
Meng Qianqian didn't agree right away.
Even among the Twelve Guards, there had been a traitor. Could she really trust Lu Lingxiao without any reservations?
"Ouch! The horse is running away!"
Nie Hansan's panicked shouts echoed across the grass.
Zhang Feihu exploded. "Nie Hansan! How many horses have you let run wild now?"
The three men started chasing after the horse, but Lu Lingxiao didn't move. He sat nonchalantly on his horse, exuding an air of indifference.
The three of them ended up covered in mud, and they still didn't catch the horse.
Han Chi had a mission to return to the army, so he couldn't be left without a horse. In the end, Meng Qianqian offered her own mount to Zhang Feihu.
Zhang Feihu mounted the horse and looked at Lu Lingxiao from a distance.
The two men didn't say a word, but they seemed to understand each other.
The three of them rode off into the night, disappearing from view.
Meng Qianqian stared unwaveringly in the direction of Yumenguan. Only when Lu Lingxiao spoke did she turn her gaze away. "Are you reluctant to leave?"
Meng Qianqian replied calmly, "All gatherings must come to an end. Little Nine understands this."
"Good. Let's head back."
"Yes."
Having learned from her previous experience at the border, Meng Qianqian took the initiative to lead Lu Lingxiao's horse.
Lu Lingxiao's lips twitched. "If you lead the horse back like this, how long will it take? I have an early morning court session tomorrow and no time to waste!"
Meng Qianqian thought for a moment before letting go. "Commander, let's go."
Lu Lingxiao huffed. "Leaving your new wife on the street like this, are you trying to make it obvious to everyone that our marriage is a sham?"
Meng Qianqian frowned. What could she do? Nothing seemed to please him.
Lu Lingxiao said indifferently, "Come up."
After a pause, he added, "I don't want to be summoned by the Grand Madam as soon as I return."
The thought of the Grand Madam made Meng Qianqian fall silent.
She lifted her eyes to Lu Lingxiao's expressionless face and then to the space he had left for her on the saddle. After a moment's hesitation, she leaped onto the horse and sat in front of him.
"Hold on tight."
"Yes," she replied to Lu Lingxiao's instruction.
Meng Qianqian gripped the saddle tightly.
Lu Lingxiao also grabbed the reins, and at first glance, it seemed as though he was holding her in his embrace.
Meng Qianqian tried to scoot forward, but the saddle was only so big. As soon as the horse started running, she lost her balance and fell back against his broad chest.
Lu Lingxiao's large palm rested on her soft waist, his voice hoarse and restrained. "Behave and don't move around."
Happy Qixi Festival, everyone!
(End of Chapter)
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