Chapter 138: She Isn’t Xing Dairong

Chapter 138: She Isn’t Xing Dairong

Cheng Yunshuo’s words gave Du Ruo a way to step down gracefully.

She didn’t bring it up again and instead turned to ask Cheng Yunshuo with a cheerful smile about what happened during his duties today and who he had met.

"Ah, why are those people still behaving like this?! They’re really ungrateful despite being shown respect!"

"There are lots of people like that nowadays."

"Oh, right, have the ones in the east city who were occupying the road and encroaching on their neighbors' space become more restrained?"

"I'll go check again tomorrow."

"Master, you must go. If they continue to act rowdily, I'll go with you to deal with them!"

Du Ruo and Cheng Yunshuo were deeply engrossed in their conversation, laughing heartily at the amusing parts. Lu Lingyun found herself unable to interject.

They were discussing the detailed matters of Cheng Yunshuo’s duties, which Lu Lingyun was unfamiliar with.

It made her feel like an outsider.

As Lu Lingyun observed the two of them, she began to understand why Xing Dairong had felt such a strong sense of crisis when she saw Du Ruo.

The two of them had endless topics to talk about, making anyone else present feel redundant.

Cheng Yunshuo’s straightforward nature meant he didn’t think about how others might perceive their interactions.

How could Xing Dairong not feel jealous?

But what did that have to do with her?

She wasn’t Xing Dairong.

As Lu Lingyun sat by, listening to their lively conversation, she enjoyed the peacefulness around her. After finishing her meal, she went to check on the children.

Noticing it was getting late, Cheng Yunshuo stopped his conversation with Du Ruo. He said, "A'Ruo, you should go back to your room and rest early once you’ve finished eating."

"Master, let’s have another drink and chat for a while," Du Ruo tried to keep Cheng Yunshuo engaged.

Cheng Yunshuo frowned. "No more drinking. The children don’t like the smell of alcohol."

It was one thing to drink outside, but at home, although Cheng Yunshuo was simple and direct, he knew that the children, especially Binghao and Suying, who had always been in poor health, would feel uncomfortable around alcohol. If he drank today, he wouldn’t be able to go near the children.

Upon hearing this, Du Ruo showed her displeasure. "Master, you are putting romance before friendship!"

"Don’t say such things! Go rest now!" Cheng Yunshuo rejected Du Ruo and sent her off to bed.

After finishing his meal, he too went to the inner room to see the children.

Seeing that Cheng Yunshuo had really left her behind, Du Ruo, despite her usually cheerful and straightforward demeanor, flashed a brief look of resentment.

"Hmph!" Du Ruo snorted and turned away.

The next day, Cheng Yunshuo carried out his duties as usual.

After waking up, Lu Lingyun first checked on the children. After the servants reported that everything was in order, her thoughts turned to Du Ruo.

By this time, there was still no sign of A'Ruo.

"Speaking of which, where is A'Ruo?"

"A'Ruo left early this morning wearing men's clothing."

Lu Lingyun’s eyebrows shot up upon hearing this.

"A'Ruo is really too unruly!" Chunxing said.

"Indeed, it’s not fitting for a young lady to be seen so frequently in men’s clothing," Chunhe replied.

"It’s simply improper. Yesterday, the Shaojing family scolded her, and they were right to do so. She’s clearly lacking in proper upbringing!"

"She left without even saying goodbye. What if something happens to her?" Little Wei said.

After listening to everyone, Lu Lingyun said, "Send someone to inform Lord Cheng."

"Yes."

She sent someone to inform Cheng Yunshuo.

It wasn’t that Lu Lingyun was meddling; it was just that since A'Ruo was staying in her residence, she felt some responsibility. If A'Ruo got into trouble outside, others would blame her. Informing Cheng Yunshuo was a way to keep him informed.

Meanwhile, at the Commandant’s Manor.

Cheng Yunshuo was overseeing the recruitment of new members.

The Imperial Guards were recruiting, and so was the Commandant’s Manor.

As the commander of the Commandant’s Manor, he aspired to join the Imperial Guards but had to finish his current duties first.

"Alright, Qian Heng, Liu Fei, Hu Lu, Guo Zhengming, you are all staying."

"Yes, Commander."

"In the Commandant’s Manor, don’t call me Lord. Call me Commander or just by my given name." Cheng Yunshuo told them.

"Alright, how about we call you Brother Cheng for short!"

"Yes, calling you Brother Cheng sounds friendlier!"

"Brother Cheng, please take care of us."

"Brother Cheng, let’s go drink flower wine! It’s on me!"

In front of Cheng Yunshuo were four carefree young men from noble families, all around nineteen years old.

The selection for the Imperial Guards was based solely on family background. As long as young men from noble families were neither deaf, mute, blind, nor lame, they could join if they wished.

Cheng Yunshuo could tell they had likely been sent here by their families because they were considered useless.

Frowning at their words, Cheng Yunshuo said, "The consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited during duty!"

"Brother Cheng, why are you so serious?"

"Yes, everyone knows that the Imperial Guards is just an easy job for us noble young masters to while away our time."

"Weren't you quite a libertine before? The fact that you married the flower queen last year set the entire capital abuzz."

"I thought you were just like us!"

Cheng Yunshuo's face darkened as he listened to these words.

Before he could reprimand them, a sharp voice rang out.

"Who is like you spoiled brats!"

A young girl, dressed in male attire, her face flushed with rage, stormed in.

"My master is the most responsible Imperial Guard in the Commandant’s Manor; you have no right to slander him!"

The group of spoiled young men looked at Du Ruo in her male clothing, their eyes lighting up with interest.

"Hey, where did this young miss come from?"

"And dressed like that, too."

"What brings her to our Commandant’s Manor?"

"She's quite pretty!"

"You're all spouting nonsense!" Du Ruo drew her sword and charged at them.

"A'Ruo! Stop!" Cheng Yunshuo hastily intervened, "You four, head to the storeroom and collect your uniforms, sabers, and badges."

Qian Heng and the others exchanged glances, their eyes all on Du Ruo, wearing mischievous smiles. "Yes, Brother Cheng!"

As soon as they turned away, the group of spoiled young men began to whisper among themselves, snickering.

"That young miss is quite something."

"Dressed as a man, how intriguing."

"She even dared to unsheathe her sword. I've never seen such a fiery woman!"

"I wonder if she's fiery in other aspects too!"

Du Ruo's face flushed red with anger as she listened. "Master! Why are you holding me back? I'm going to cut down those rakes!"

"They're new Imperial Guards, we are all colleagues. Are you sure you want to cut them down?"

"Then how can you allow them to enter the Commandant’s Manor!"

Cheng Yunshuo frowned. "The Commandant’s Manor is understaffed, and they've all received the official documents to be here. How can I refuse?"

The Commandant’s Manor wasn't really a serious place to work. The higher-ups never expected much from these noble young men, treating it as a place to keep them busy and prevent them from causing trouble. This was also why Cheng Yunshuo wanted to be transferred to a higher position.

Hearing this, Du Ruo frowned.

"By the way, why are you here?"

At that moment, someone from the Marquis's estate arrived.