Chapter 284: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Eight)

Chapter 284: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part Eight)

A house reveals its inhabitants.

This time, Su Rao suddenly felt that Jin Chao's family seemed more than just bandits from the North Beacon Fortress.

Take Xiaoshan and Adi, for instance; they indeed look like children from the mountains. As the eldest, Xiaoshan has had to take on adult responsibilities early, making him mature and intelligent beyond his years. Adi, being the youngest, is spoiled into being lively, innocent, and honest.

These two children seem unremarkable at first glance, but their polite demeanor towards others reflects the upbringing and values instilled by their parents.

Speaking of Jin Chao, despite the long scar on his nose that makes him appear intimidating, if you look closely, you can sense a certain grandeur beneath his rough exterior.

As for Le Niang, though she wears only coarse linen clothes, her black hair tied up with an ordinary wooden hairpin, and a gray linen headscarf, she appears to be an ordinary woman at first sight.

But upon closer inspection, Le Niang grows more appealing, and her every move exudes a subtle elegance.

"Our home is humble, Miss Su, please don't mind it."

Le Niang brought a new set of bedding for Su Rao and laid it out on the bed with a gentle smile.

"Not at all," Su Rao smiled in response.

"Rather, I am the one intruding on Brother Jin and Sister Le."

"In a marriage, it's about give and take. Only through mutual accommodation can life be stable and peaceful."

Suddenly, Le Niang said this without any apparent reason.

She glanced at Su Rao, then walked to the table and picked up the teapot.

She poured tea.

"Look, this cup and water. The cup has a fixed capacity. When it's full, it overflows.

People are the same. Over time, arguments and disputes arise due to various issues.

But no matter how much you argue or fight, if it goes too far, regret comes too late."

Su Rao understood what Le Niang was implying with these words.

It was a misunderstanding about her and Yun Ji's 'marital' quarrel.

"Miss Su, don't think me impertinent, but you seem troubled."

Handing the cup to Su Rao, Le Niang added,

Rest well.

Su Rao looked down at the nearly overflowing cup in her hand, but after a moment, she put it down.

"I see a noble aura in both Brother Jin and Sister Le, not typical of mountain villagers. Were you once from a wealthy family?"

Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps simply to avoid discussing her 'marital' issues with Yun Ji, she changed the subject.

Le Niang's expression froze for a moment, then she shook her head with a smile.

"We are just ordinary people who have survived in this chaotic world. Whether rich or poor, as long as we live, that is the best."

Her words seemed to convey contentment with their transformation from bandits to ordinary villagers.

Yet, Su Rao sensed a deeper meaning in Le Niang's words.

Once from a wealthy family, now fallen on hard times, they had become bandits in this turbulent era. Now, having such a peaceful life was already a blessing.

"Miss Su, rest well. After a good night's sleep, go back and talk things out with Lord Yue. In a marriage, there's nothing that can't be resolved through communication."

Le Niang left.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Su Rao whispered softly, "If we were truly just an ordinary couple, our arguments would pass, but we are not a couple, and we never will be."

Taking out a small, exquisite wine flask from her sleeve, Su Rao did not rest but leaped onto the roof to drink.

The night in the mountains seemed brighter than in the city.

By the end of June, the stars dominated the sky, ruling the heavens and earth.

In the vast expanse of the starry sky, each star shone brilliantly, making the increasingly crescent moon seem less luminous.

The moonlight on the crescent seemed to dim slightly, like the memory of Yue Hua in Su Rao's heart, gradually fading with each passing moment.

Before long, she would erase the image of Yue Hua from her heart completely.

The wine was a strong liquor from Zhu Xian. It burned hotly in her stomach, keeping Su Rao extremely alert.

At that moment, not far away on the hill behind, the figure of Yue Hua quietly watched.

He had also come to Shanjian Village, but no one knew.

Removing the silk blindfold, he saw the red-clad figure clearly.

"Master..."

Behind them, Yunfeng spoke of the events.

The events that unfolded in Zhu Xian in a single day, including Xianmu Yaling's betrayal of Empress Ronghua, and Xiao Mubai's swift return on horseback.

On the other side, Yunling held his sword, still waiting quietly as ever.

"Master, we must hurry to Danliang. Mubai went back alone, I fear he may struggle..."

"Let's go!"

Before Yunfeng could finish his sentence, Yunji turned and walked away.

The silk scarf in his hand once again obscured his vision, and the red-clad figure at the bottom of his eyes.

This parting, this life will never meet again.

Yaoyao, wait for the next life, in the next life Yunji will surely give you a grand procession of ten miles of red decorations.

The three vanished into the moonlit night, and the Cloud Guard in the shadows also followed, disappearing without a trace.

Yunji did not leave any Cloud Guard to secretly protect Su Rao, because he knew that Su Rao didn't need it; she had always taken good care of herself.

Su Rao, sitting on the roof, only returned to her room to rest after finishing that pot of wine.

"Boss, she doesn't seem to be doing well. Drinking like that, it's as if she's drinking plain water."

This voice came from inside the main house.

"To be able to live like this now, she has used all her strength. Though unsatisfactory, it's better than not having a life."

Another voice followed, with a sigh:

"As the daughter of the Su family, living a peaceful and smooth life, her grandfather, parents, and elder brother all dote on her..."

Comfortable moments always pass by extremely quickly.

Su Rao stayed in Shanjian Village for three days.

Three days of leisure, Su Rao let herself completely calm down, casting aside all the brief joys and quarrels with Yunji before bidding farewell and leaving.

Just as she stepped out of Shanjian Village and reached the crossroads of the official road, she heard the sound of hooves approaching.

The uniform sound of hooves, only those of the imperial horses...

As this thought crossed Su Rao's mind, the rider entered her almond-shaped eyes, revealing it to be Xian Yi Chishao.

Behind Xian Yi Chishao, a group of people followed, led by the two envoys from Yunlang who had left earlier.

After the Emperor Wei's birthday banquet, on the day Yunji left, he took the two envoys away, not leaving them behind.

"Lady Ronghua, your humble servant has finally found you!"

Seeing Su Rao from afar, the two Yunlang envoys seemed as if they had seen their parents, so 'overjoyed' that even before their horses had stopped, they hurriedly dismounted and rushed over.

In a flurry.

Their reaction clearly indicated something urgent, perhaps even a major emergency.

For a moment, Su Rao's eyebrows twitched.