Chapter 072

Chapter 072

As Tong Sui observed the "golden bracelet" Xiao Ye had made, Xiao Zhen retreated to the main room.

Tong Sui heard him pouring water into the pot and fetching firewood from behind the house.

In the scorching summer heat, he didn't need warm water for bathing, yet he was heating it again for her.

Tong Sui couldn't lie down anymore. She put aside the wheat straw bracelet, quickly put on her shoes, and came to the hearth, saying, "I'll do the cooking. You're still injured."

To maintain the act, he had his own people slash him with knives. Even though the wounds weren't deep, they were bloody. Considering he must have sustained some injuries during the fight with the bandits, how could Tong Sui be so heartless as to let such a wounded man serve her who was unscathed?

Xiao Zhen sat on a small stool and looked up at her. "I'm used to it. You were truly exhausted last night."

Physically tired, but even more mentally drained.

Tong Sui lowered her eyes. "It wasn't that bad; I barely had to do anything in the mountains."

Xiao Zhen changed to sitting on the ground, pulling her hand and making her sit on the small stool. The hearth was lined with a layer of wheat straw and a few thin branches. Once burned, it would be enough to heat the water in the pot. So, Xiao Zhen had already tidied up the hearth entrance, not needing to add more firewood or worry about the fire spreading out.

But Tong Sui still stared at the crackling flames inside.

Xiao Zhen held her left hand and whispered, "County Magistrate Liu has been dealt with. Kong Da and Kong'er's heads are enough for him to claim credit with the court. Plus, with his contempt for those wooden guns, he won't pursue our village's gun-making crime, nor will he investigate who is hiding in Imprisoned Dragon Ridge."

For these incompetent and corrupt officials, less trouble is better than more. Imprisoned Dragon Ridge is difficult to attack, and County Magistrate Liu doesn't want to waste effort. Lingshui Village has done well in eliminating bandits and lost many people, so he can't impose further blame without inciting public outrage, which would affect his political achievements. Verbally blaming Sun Xinghai for being overly ambitious and shifting responsibility is enough.

Tong Sui: "This is temporary. What if someone informs him later..."

Xiao Zhen: "Fourth Younger Brother and others are guarding the mountains. No one can come out, and they wouldn't do something self-destructive. Even if there are one or two clever people in the village who guess, they lack evidence. Even if they inform County Magistrate Liu, he has already reported the success of eliminating Imprisoned Dragon Ridge. How could he admit new bandits exist and slap himself in the face? He might even punish the informants for false accusations and imprison them."

Xiao Zhen tapped her temple. "Everyone has selfish desires. Think about what you would want most if you were County Magistrate Liu, and what you fear most."

Tong Sui thought that County Magistrate Liu wanted silver and achievements most, and feared unrest among the people causing trouble.

Xiao Zhen's analysis was sound.

But she was still worried. "What about the future? If the world becomes peaceful, should Fourth Younger Brother and others stay trapped in the mountains forever?"

Xiao Zhen: "It won't be peaceful. One mountain cannot hold two tigers, let alone three now. The court struggled for six years and ultimately had to retreat to the north. The two pseudo-emperors in the south are strong and won't give the court a chance to breathe. If they don't fight this year, they will next year. The court, in desperation, will continue forced conscription and increase taxes. At that time, we commoners would rather seek another path than endure death."

Tong Sui was silent.

Xiao Zhen gently pressed her furrowed brow. "You're young, facing this for the first time. It's normal to be afraid. But we live in troubled times, and no one can predict the end and guarantee lifelong peace. We can only take one step at a time and adapt. As long as we're alive and can heat water for a hot bath, that's good."

While soaking alone in the bathtub, Tong Sui kept recalling Xiao Zhen's words and the events she experienced in the past two months since marrying into the Xiao family.

Because of Pine Village, the Xiao family and Lingshui Village had a grudge with Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, leading to the subsequent gun-making and training.

If Xiao Zhen and Sun Dian hadn't supported Pine Village initially, brother Qin and the refugees would have killed everyone in Pine Village, adding another hundred ruthless bandits to Imprisoned Dragon Ridge. With limited farmland in the ridge, the Kong brothers would eventually lead their men to raid villages, including Lingshui Village and Taohuagou.

So, the Xiao family's rescue and counterattack on Imprisoned Dragon Ridge was not wrong.

Now, the Xiao family is arranging for two hundred young men to occupy the mountains for the next step.

Could the hidden dangers she thought of be overlooked by the elders and Xiao Zhen?

But they still acted because taking this step would offer more chances of survival than doing nothing.

Just like her marriage to Xiao Zhen, she sought the protection of the martial men in the Xiao family, increasing her chances of survival in case of chaos.

Ever since the first war, she had always prepared for contingencies, but previously, she guarded against bandits and soldiers, and now, it's the entire court.

Is the court really that terrifying?

At least the nearby County Magistrate Liu was successfully manipulated by the Xiao family.

Would the court send a large army to suppress them?

That's not a dead end either. They still have the vast Longxing Mountain range spanning hundreds of miles in the north. In the worst case, the whole family and village could hide deep in the mountains and never come out.

—

After changing clothes, Tong Sui came to the northern room with her long hair, no longer dripping wet.

Xiao Zhen sat on the bed wearing only a short pair of underpants, looking like he had just finished bathing. Beside him was a bottle of medicine for wounds.

His two most severe knife wounds were on his right arm and left thigh.

Bright sunlight streamed through the window paper, and Tong Sui noticed many old scars scattered across his body. During those nights when he confused her consciousness, she had indeed touched them unintentionally.

A soldier who survived six years on the battlefield was undoubtedly skilled, but that didn't mean they hadn't been injured.

"I'll do it."

Tong Sui climbed onto the bed, kneeling beside him, picked up the medicine, and looked at his right arm first.

Xiao Zhen cooperated by extending his arm.

Tong Sui winced just looking at it, but he didn't make a sound when she sprinkled the powder. When it was time for his thigh, Tong Sui moved back slightly, intending to examine the wound, but saw his loose pants suddenly tighten. Instinctively, she followed the line of his pants upward...

Tong Sui abruptly turned away, her ears turning red.

Xiao Zhen hugged her from behind, brushing her hair aside.

Tong Sui gritted her teeth. "Your injury."

Xiao Zhen held her with his left arm and said hoarsely, "If you cooperate, I won't strain my wounds."

Tong Sui immediately tried to escape from his embrace, but as soon as she moved, she heard him inhale sharply as if in pain.

Tong Sui dared not move anymore.

The moment she stopped, he continued.

Tong Sui found it absurd: "Last night, you didn't sleep at all, and not only did you kill countless people, but the back-and-forth travel alone must have been exhausting. And yet, you still have the mood for this?"

Xiao Zhen inhaled the scent of soap from her hair: "With you like this, even if I were about to die, I would do it one more time."

---

In the eastern chamber of the West Court.

Xiao Yan, who had been ordered by his second brother to pretend to be unconscious because he was most likely to give away their act, had lain on the bed for a long time before finally hearing footsteps approaching.

It wasn't just the person he was hoping for, but several.

Lady He, Xiao Yuchan, and Qi Yao entered first, followed by Lin Ningfang and Ah Zhen, her servant.

Xiao Yan had no choice but to continue pretending to be unconscious.

Lady He asked Ah Zhen to wet a towel. As she wiped the dirt and blood off her injured third son's face while shedding tears, she said, "Fourth Younger Brother is gone, and Third doesn't know when he'll wake up. If I had known this would happen, I would have died last night trying to stop them."

Xiao Yuchan's eyes were swollen from crying: "Yesterday, I even argued with Fourth Younger Brother. The last words he heard from me were insults."

Qi Yao wailed: "Mother, will Uncle also be dead?"

Xiao Yan: "..."

He couldn't bear to listen anymore, frowned, and pretended to just wake up.

Lady He exclaimed excitedly: "Awake, awake! Third, how do you feel? Your father said your wounds can be treated with golden wound medicine, but I'm not convinced. Mother will call a doctor from town for you?"

Xiao Yan: "...No need. I've suffered worse injuries on the battlefield and always used golden wound medicine. Mother, you're giving me a headache. Could everyone please go back?"

After the turmoil of the night and his injuries, his complexion was indeed poor, and Lady He believed him without doubt: "Alright, rest first. When you feel better, mother will come again. Are you hungry? Mother will cook you an egg soup. You haven't eaten since last night."

Xiao Yan: "I can't eat right now. Cook it for Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law."

Lady He shed more tears: "Your Fourth Younger Brother is gone; they won't be able to eat either."

Xiao Yan closed his eyes as if in pain.

Once Lady He and the others finally left, Xiao Yan immediately looked expectantly at Lin Ningfang.

Lin Ningfang met his gaze with displeasure. Her brother-in-law had died, and he was still thinking about her?

Xiao Yan first sent Ah Zhen out and then feigned pitifulness toward his wife: "With my injuries like this, aren't you scared?"

Lin Ningfang turned her head: "At least you're still alive. Fourth Younger Brother couldn't even bring back his body."

Suddenly, Xiao Yan understood why his wife showed no concern for him. After all, there was Fourth Younger Brother's "death" weighing heavily.

He wanted to tell his wife the truth but feared she would despise him for being unable to keep secrets. If he didn't tell her, Fourth Younger Brother would eventually return, and then would she think he hadn't considered her part of the family?

Seeing him frown repeatedly and hesitate, Lin Ningfang suddenly had a bold thought and exclaimed in shock: "Fourth Younger Brother is still alive, isn't he?"

Xiao Yan was also startled: "How did you..."

Lin Ningfang quickly covered his mouth, her hand trembling with tension: "Don't say anything. Don't tell me anything. I don't want to know and don't need to know. You mustn't reveal any clues to anyone else, including your mother. Otherwise, I will never respect you."

Perhaps the Xiao brothers usually appeared too brave, and with Xiao Zhen's meticulous actions, Lin Ningfang felt that the casualties during the counterattack on Imprisoned Dragon Ridge shouldn't have been so severe.

Or perhaps she simply couldn't accept such a heavy reality. The moment Xiao Yan showed a hint, she immediately thought of another possibility.

But whatever truly happened at Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, it was a secret of Xiao Zhen and the others, which she shouldn't know.

Lin Ningfang could ensure she wouldn't reveal anything, but if the information leaked, she would be suspected as a source.

She preferred not to know.

Xiao Yan, for the first time, was touched by the daughter of the prime minister's house, even if it was just covering his mouth. He was stunned.

Lin Ningfang promptly withdrew her hand.

Xiao Yan's Adam's apple bobbed as he looked at her and asked, "If I keep this secret, will you respect me?"

Lin Ningfang paused for a moment and said, looking at the door: "Being able to return alive from the battlefield itself is worthy of respect."

What right did she have to look down on a soldier who had fought for six years on the battlefield and protected the villagers?

Respect, however, did not equal affection.