В Цзянху есть Сяо Чань

Глава 71

The last four words were spoken with great effort, each one deliberate, slow, and clear.

Lu Ziqi's fingers, holding the teacup, turned white, his lips were tightly pressed together, and the corners of his mouth turned down. After a long silence, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Brother, you know everything..."

"I was away on business some time ago, and that was the reason for this. I just didn't expect you to be faster than me, and to use such a stupid method to lure the enemy out."

He gave a wry smile: "Why didn't you tell me?"

He sneered, "Who told you to look down on me?"

"It's not that I'm looking down on you; it's that I don't want to put my elder brother in a difficult position. Besides, it was just a guess before, and I couldn't be sure."

"So, after making that decision, why did you stop doing anything?"

After a moment of silence: "Embezzling military rations and pay, and colluding with enemy countries, are serious crimes. Once investigated, they will have far-reaching consequences..."

“The Lu family has deep roots, and there is plenty of evidence to prove that they are not involved in this matter.”

"I'm not worried about the Lu family, I'm worried about my eldest brother..."

"I have absolutely no connection to this either."

"But sister-in-law..."

“Once you enter the Lu family, you are a member of the Lu family. Besides, she is just a woman, so it is even more impossible for her to get involved.”

"My sister-in-law...she's proud and ambitious. This sudden turn of events...I'm afraid..."

He finished his drink and said, "I handed over everything I've collected over the past few years to General Huo before coming here. It should be enough to eradicate all the forces involved outside the capital. It's time for you to close the net and deliver the final blow."

After a moment's thought, he said, "Very well, since you have such a remarkable achievement, we can also ask for a reward for your wife. It would be a small consolation."

"No, you did all of this. I had no idea."

Lu Ziqi suddenly stood up: "What does this mean, brother?"

He bent down to pick up the fallen fur coat and draped it over him. A hint of tenderness appeared in Lu Ziheng's indifferent expression: "Dongqing, you hate your sister-in-law, so why do you still think of her in everything?"

"It wasn't for her..."

“I know you did this for me. So you should also know why I did it.”

"You never owe me anything, and you don't need to compensate me."

“This isn’t compensation; it’s something an older brother is willingly doing for his younger brother. Dongqing, I understand your ambitions, so I will do everything I can to pave the way for you. Go ahead and do it; this is also what Father wants.”

"Father...didn't say anything?"

"I told him." He coughed softly, his voice rough: "Tell that bastard that once he's recovered, he should obediently come back and take the beating. Not for any other reason than that he dared to treat his father as an old bastard willing to collude with those who bring disaster to the country and its people!"

He grinned and said, "I didn't think of him as an old turtle. Otherwise, how wronged my unborn child would be, becoming a little turtle before even seeing the light of day."

He nodded: "I will relay this message verbatim."

He quickly begged for mercy: "No, brother, don't you think I haven't received enough punishment?"

"A lot of lice don't itch, a lot of debts don't worry. Anyway, you've got at least eight hundred or a thousand strokes of the cane on your father's tab, so why don't we find a chance to settle the score with you another day!"

"We are all born of the same root, why are you so eager to harm each other!"

After exchanging a few more jokes, the two sat down again, each pouring themselves wine and tea. The wind and snow outside seemed to have subsided a bit.

Lu Ziheng warmed his hands over the fire: "Sister-in-law seems to be in good spirits."

Lu Ziqi couldn't help but smile broadly: "She's always been great. She's always cheerful, as if she's taken advantage of everything in the world."

"Contentment brings happiness, and being free from desires makes one strong. I suppose my sister-in-law is a person of great wisdom."

"You absolutely mustn't say that in front of her, or she'll definitely get all cocky."

"Simple and unburdened..."

Lu Ziheng seemed to be deep in thought, speaking softly, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate layers of curtains, pass through the snowy night, and traverse the flow of time, landing on a certain unchanging scene: "When she first married me, she looked just like this."

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Lu Ziqi quietly pushed open the door and entered, only to see Song Xiaohua leaning against the pillows, flipping through letters.

"You're back! Where's your older brother?"

"Of course I'm going to my room to rest. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'm not sleepy, so I'll read through the letters you've written these past few days again."

"Let's write a letter to Ling'er together tomorrow."

"That's what I think too. His little heart will definitely be scratched like a kitten's, hehehe~"

He shook his head and chuckled, then pinched the tip of her nose with two fingers: "You're almost a mother, and you're still so childish!"

She angrily slapped his hand away: "What do you mean 'almost becoming a mother'? I've been a mother for over a year now, okay? Don't treat your stepmother like she's not your mother!"

"Yes, yes, that means it must be that after all this time, she still doesn't look like a mother at all. According to you, that's a failure!"

"…………"

Satisfied, he watched her grit her teeth and glare, then knelt on the edge of the bed, gently pressed his ear to her swollen belly, and softly asked, "Is the baby asleep?"

She smoothed his sideburns, which were ruffled by the cold wind, and said in a high-pitched voice, "He's asleep."

"Can it talk even when it's asleep?"

"He's just talking in his sleep!"

"Can you see what your mother looked like in your dreams?"

"Yes, Mother is a very, very beautiful woman!"

"Really? But I seem to remember her as an ugly, blond girl?"

She pinched his ear and pulled it up: "Get away! Don't talk bad about me to the baby!"

He smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead: "Yaoyao, you still look the same as when I first met you, that's wonderful."

He was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage: "Are you saying I've always been ugly?!"

"And I hope you stay ugly forever."

"...I'll bite you to death!"

The author has something to say: I've always believed that Chinese people have indeed enjoyed fighting amongst themselves since ancient times. However, no matter how much infighting there is, it's always a private matter. Once faced with external aggression, they will temporarily set aside their differences and join hands to fight the enemy. No matter how fierce the infighting is, their guns must always be pointed at the outside world; otherwise, they are traitors and sellouts, deserving eternal contempt and scorn.

For example, during the warlord era in the Republic of China, when warlords fought each other to the death, they almost without exception fought to the death against the Japanese invaders. This is the backbone of the Chinese people.

This is the attitude of the Lu family towards this matter. No matter how much they value family interests, they will not hesitate to abandon them when they conflict with national interests.

Of course, I am her own mother, and with such outstanding father and sons in the Lu family, there certainly won't be any major problems. Our little Hua should enjoy her life to the fullest!

Also: Brother Ziheng and Lady Yuan actually had a wonderful time together, it's just a pity...sigh~

Chapter Seventy: A Simple Life in the Mountains

The next morning, Lu Ziheng braved the snow and went down the mountain, leaving Lu Ziqi and Song Xiaohua to enjoy several days of their unprecedented time alone together.

Upon waking up—

"Holly, will you draw my eyebrows for me?"

"Won't."

"Give it a try!"

"Don't you rarely wear makeup?"

"Can't I suddenly get interested today?!"

"It's just the two of us here, why bother with this?"

"...Haven't you heard the saying 'Women dress up for those they love'?!"

"Oh, I think you look great like this."

"…………"

After lunch—

"Holly, let's go for a walk!"

"The snow has not melted, and the roads are slippery and difficult to travel."

"A hundred steps after a meal will help you live to ninety-nine."

"Oh, then walk around the room and I'll count for you."

"…………"