Accord de Mu Yucheng

Chapitre 28

I sat down at the table, poured some tea and brought it to my lips. "She has someone else in her heart, and she's being pressured into marriage by your brother. I'm afraid something might happen to her, so I wanted to help her. I brought her in to hide for a while, and then I'll try to help her out."

Lu Li paused, his gaze fixed on the book. "What kind of crazy idea have you come up with this time?"

I smiled and said, "How about I ask my aunt for it for you? Of course, it won't be real. Once I get it, I'll keep it in the manor until your brother has calmed down before letting the person go. Wouldn't that be better?"

"Nonsense." Lu Li's face darkened. "Are you trying to make me lose face with my brother?"

"I was just saying," I said, pursing my lips. "I know you're not really that kind of person to help others."

"I'm going to Jiangbei to deal with the drought in three days. You need to manage this mansion well. If there's any chaos, I won't let it go easily. I also need to go to the palace, so there's no need to stay for a meal."

"I understand." I said, standing up, straightening my sleeves, and striding out of the study without turning my head.

After dinner, I was leaning against the bed, learning to cut clothes with Qin Lanruo, when my fourth sister-in-law rushed over to me.

"What's wrong, Fourth Sister-in-law?" I quickly had someone serve tea.

"Hasn't the seventh brother come back yet?" Fourth Sister-in-law peered inside.

"No……"

"What should we do?" Fourth Sister-in-law frowned. "How can our Fourth Master take responsibility for leading troops into battle? What if something happens to him?"

"Is Fourth Brother going to lead troops?"

"Yes, engage the Liao soldiers."

I was taken aback. So soon, war was about to break out... The martial arts world was bound to be in turmoil.

Lu Li returned very late at night and went straight into my room, collapsing wearily into a chair.

I quietly walked up to him, took off his court robes, and helped him change into casual clothes.

"Did Fourth Sister-in-law come today?" He asked without looking up, one hand supporting his forehead.

"I've been here. It was about Fourth Brother's matter," I replied casually.

"It's tough on Fourth Sister-in-law. Every time something like this happens, Fourth Brother just rushes in and takes it on. He doesn't think about himself at all." He smiled, but there was no joy in it.

"Is Master worried about... Fourth Brother?"

He sighed slightly, "The Liao soldiers have always been cunning and treacherous. In many battles, they have almost always lost and won. I can understand your concerns, Fourth Sister-in-law."

I half-jokingly tried to ease the tension, saying, "At least you're not like Fourth Brother, so I don't have to live in fear like Fourth Sister-in-law."

A smile flickered in his eyes. "You're just saying that, but deep down you'd love for me to be away from home all the time, just handing over my salary to the household, wouldn't you?"

I glared at him. "Hey? My little scheme was right, Master. Next time, you can't let Fourth Brother have this good opportunity. The General... is so rich, it'll save me from having to spend all my money on the abacus every day."

He smiled faintly, "Then you don't need to worry. If you do a good job with the tasks assigned to me, you'll be rewarded handsomely."

"What have they sent you this time?"

He casually picked up a book from the table, feigning mystery, and said, "Why are you worrying about what men do outside?"

I abruptly picked up the teacup and slammed it down beside him. "Fine, I'm not interested in knowing anyway."

He glanced at me, picked up his tea with a sigh, and took a sip. "Once we get through this drought, we'll have to wipe out the Mo Shang Sect... a secret organization set up by the Liao people in the Central Plains, with a notorious reputation in the martial arts world."

I was taken aback, then pretended to be nonchalant, "How could you possibly handle matters of the martial world?"

He laughed, "I know that too, which is why I asked a famous martial arts master for help. The people from Nalan Manor should arrive in less than a month, and by then I will have already returned from Jiangbei."

"Nalan?" I asked, momentarily losing my composure.

"What's wrong? You know about Nalan Manor? It's said to be the place where the token of leadership over the martial arts world is passed down through generations, and the leader of the martial arts alliance comes from there."

"Oh. You want to use the reputation of the martial arts alliance leader to call on all the sects in the martial arts world to cooperate with the government and destroy the Mo Shang Sect."

Lu Li stopped talking. I thought that Nangong might help Lu Li. That person never lets go of a handsome man once she takes a look at him.

"What's wrong with you?" Lu Li looked at me with a puzzled expression.

I quickly smiled and said, "I'm a little tired."

"Oh." He turned his gaze back to his book and suddenly asked, "Are you worried about Fourth Brother?"

"Why do you ask that?" I turned my back to him, refusing to look at him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him raise his head and look at me thoughtfully.

I withdrew my gaze and went into the inner room, where I casually made the bed. Turning back, I asked, "Should I have someone help you back to the study, or to Yiling's?"

He looked up at me and said, "I'll sleep here tonight. I haven't slept for several nights. Your room is warmer than the study."

I was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

He smiled faintly and said casually, "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to take a nap..."

Since I'd already said that, I had no reason to refuse. I made the bed, too lazy to even take off my clothes, and slumped wearily into the covers. The candlelight outside flickered, and I was so sleepy that my eyelids drooped.

I don't know how much time had passed, but a chill ran through me, and in the darkness, Lu Li lay down beside me, fully clothed.

I rolled over, turning my back to him. He turned his head slightly. "Did I wake you up?"

I didn't respond, but I was wide awake.

He sighed softly, "I've never seen Fourth Brother care about any woman. He's always been indifferent, but with you... I'm afraid he's fallen in love with you."