Chapter 156: Getting Slapped Hard

Chapter 156: Getting Slapped Hard

Commandant’s Residence.

The Golden Clad Guards with no duties to attend to gathered in small groups, chatting and gossiping idly.

"How boring!"

"Tell me about it, there isn’t a single lady in the Commandant’s Residence, just us men. What’s the point?"

"It would be great if A'Ruo were still here."

When someone mentioned A'Ruo, the eyes of those around immediately lit up.

"I really miss A'Ruo."

"It would be fun if A'Ruo were here."

"Why did A'Ruo have to move in with Cheng Yunshuo? Now she never visits the Commandant’s Residence."

At that moment, in the small garden behind them, a young woman’s eyes also brightened.

She heard every word they said.

A subtle sense of confidence welled up inside her, a kind of pride in knowing she held weight in others' eyes, being admired by a group of people, which gave her a sense of satisfaction and pride. She glanced at the woman standing beside her.

Just as A'Ruo’s eyes sparkled with a hint of pride, a loud laugh erupted among the Golden Clad Guards.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"A'Kun, what are you laughing at?"

Wei Kun, laughing uncontrollably, clung to the corridor post, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he looked at the others around him. "Do you know what A'Ruo told me in secret last time?"

"What?"

"Tell us, tell us! I’ve been curious, A'Ruo was acting strange. She wouldn’t be thinking of marrying you, would she?"

"Exactly! She came to me and said she wants me to marry her!"

The surrounding Golden Clad Guards were momentarily stunned, and the next moment, everyone burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"I’m dying laughing!"

"A'Ruo is such a silly girl, so hilarious!"

The A'Ruo who was eavesdropping from behind the garden instantly froze at the sound of their laughter.

Having dealt with these people for so long, she could hear the meaning behind their laughter.

It was a kind of laughter she had never heard before—laughter filled with mockery.

The Golden Clad Guards laughed even louder, their laughter filled with ridicule.

It attracted all the passing Golden Clad Guards to come over and see what was happening.

Everyone asked what they were laughing at.

These people told them that Du Ruo had asked Wei Kun to marry her.

Suddenly, the Imperial Guards who walked over also joined in the laughter.

"Is that girl really stupid?"

"She actually asked Wei Kun to marry her! How could she say such a ridiculous thing?"

"Doesn't she know who she is? Does she really think she can enter the Wei family?"

"What makes her think she has the right to be the main wife of the Wei family? Does she think her two brothers being Imperial Guards is enough to make her worthy?"

"Haha, I'm dying of laughter, Ah Kun, is your family really going to marry Du Ruo?"

"Go away!" Wei Kun said with a look of disgust. "That crazy girl is insane, but my family isn't!"

"Hahahaha!"

His words of disgust made everyone around laugh even harder.

"No way, I don't want her!"

"Even if you gave me Du Ruo, I couldn't bear it!"

"Then she's yours! You're usually the one who spoils her the most!"

"Please, we're just joking, who would actually marry her?"

Normally, as the sister of their colleague, they had to show some respect to Du Ruo due to frequent interactions.

And because the Commandant's Manor was so dull, Du Ruo, being the only girl, was treated like a little pet. They indulged and spoiled her, lifting her up occasionally just to pass the time.

But in the end, no one truly valued her.

Let alone marry her!

Given Du Ruo's usual free-spirited behavior, they were actually the first to be repulsed by her!

Who would marry a wife who isn't virtuous and graceful, and who doesn't come from a reputable family background? Who would marry someone like Du Ruo?

The mocking laughter continued, and with Cheng Yunshuo no longer in the Commandant's Manor, they became even more unrestrained.

Du Ruo, hiding behind the garden, heard the mocking laughter, her face filled with disbelief.

They... they actually thought of her like this...

All of them had been so kind and doting on her, but behind her back, they were all laughing at her!

No one truly respected her!

Instantly, a mix of complex emotions—shock, shame, anger, and grievance—all surged into her eyes.

After the shock, her face began to burn with a fiery sensation.

The flames of anger surged in her heart, and she charged forward.

"Ah Ruo!" Lu Lingyun couldn't stop her, and watched as Du Ruo rushed into the group of mocking Imperial Guards, straight toward Wei Kun, who was still laughing uncontrollably in the center.

There was a crisp sound of a slap.

Wei Kun was initially stunned when he saw Du Ruo rush out, his eyes showing a mix of guilt and panic. But the next second, after receiving a loud slap, Wei Kun’s anger flared.

"Du Ruo, have you gone mad?!"

"Why did you say it? Why did you lie to me?!"

Du Ruo first questioned why he said it, and then questioned why he had deceived her.

She was furious, because compared to Wei Kun deceiving her, she was even angrier that Wei Kun had humiliated her so publicly.

In her heart, she had some understanding that Wei Kun might not marry her.

But how could he say it so bluntly, humiliating her in front of everyone?

Wei Kun sneered in response, "You really think highly of yourself! A few compliments and you think you’re a princess? Go look in the mirror!"

"I’ll kill you!" Du Ruo screamed and rushed at him.

Those around her quickly moved to stop her.

"A’Ruo!"

"Enough, enough."

"A’Ruo, aren’t you the most carefree one, the one who cares the least about these things? It’s all just a joke!"

"Everyone was just joking!"

The voices of those trying to calm her down rang in Du Ruo's ears, especially the words about her being carefree and that it was all a joke, which felt like harsh slaps across her face.

She used to love saying such things to others.

Amidst the chaos, a cold, sharp voice rang out, "Stop right there!"

Lu Lingyun approached with a few attendants. Seeing Lu Lingyun, everyone stopped.

Lu Lingyun frowned and surveyed the scene, forcibly pulling Du Ruo away.

Feeling the gazes of those around her as she was dragged back, she suddenly pushed everyone away and ran out of the manor, covering her face.

"A’Ruo!"

"Du Ruo!"

Du Ruo ran straight back to her aunt’s house.

Lu Lingyun followed her all the way, and upon arriving at her aunt’s house, she explained the situation to Du Ruo’s aunt.

This incident was significant, and Du Ruo's brothers had already heard about it in the Prefectural Commandant Manor. After returning home and finding Du Ruo behind a tightly closed door, they thanked Lu Lingyun.

They said they would take care of Du Ruo. Seeing that Du Ruo's family had returned, Lu Lingyun breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the Marquis’s Mansion.