"Major General Xiao, it's me, Major General Xiao." Chu Qingge spotted Xiao Luo's figure flashing by and waved her arms enthusiastically, shouting.
Xiao Luo heard someone calling him and looked around in confusion. He walked towards the door and saw guards escorting a ragged little beggar.
The little beggar's face was filthy, but her eyes were exceptionally bright. Upon seeing Xiao Luo emerge, she immediately broke into a wide smile, desperately trying to get closer.
"Who are you?"
"Major General Xiao, it's me, it's me, Chu Qingge."
Xiao Luo frowned. Chu Qingge, daughter of the Minister of War, what was she doing in Yunzhong City?
Did Minister Chu send her, or was there another reason?
"Let her go."
The guards obeyed and immediately released Chu Qingge. Chu Qingge skipped and hopped to Xiao Luo's front, "Finally caught you. I've been here for several days, and they wouldn't let me in."
"What are you doing in Yunzhong City?" Xiao Luo asked, frowning. Seeing Chu Qingge's disheveled state, he figured she must have endured considerable hardship traveling from the capital to Yunzhong City. Could Minister Chu have news for him?
"I'm here to join the army."
Hearing this answer, Xiao Luo's expression instantly turned cold. "Nonsense. Do you know how far the capital is from Yunzhong City? How dare you come to Yunzhong City alone? What if something happened? Come inside and wash up. I'll have someone send you back to the capital tomorrow."
"I'm not going back!" Chu Qingge followed behind Xiao Luo. "I finally escaped from the capital, I don't want to go back. I want to join the army, Major General Xiao, please take me in."
"I will write to Minister Chu and inform him of your whereabouts. I will send people to escort you back tomorrow."
"I'm not going back. I'm still waiting for Sister Xiao here in Yunzhong City."
Xiao Luo's steps faltered. He glanced sideways at Chu Qingge. "Waiting for whom?"
"Sister Xiao, she came with me."
"Man'er!" Xiao Luo was shocked, his face instantly turning ashen. "Where is she?"
Chu Qingge was startled by Xiao Luo's expression and patted her chest. "Don't be so fierce. Sister Xiao said she wanted me to come to Yunzhong City to wait for her. She's going to prepare a gift for you!"
"I asked you, where is she!" Xiao Luo felt his entire being go awry. The border had been uneasy lately. How could Man'er dare to travel alone? If anything were to happen to her, he would never be able to forgive himself.
Chu Qingge was stunned by Xiao Luo's roar, her eyes reddening. She held back her tears. "She... she went to Yangguan."
"Yangguan? What is she doing in Yangguan?" Upon hearing this, Xiao Luo grabbed his sword, selected some men, and prepared to leave. Chu Qingge quickly followed. "You stay in the manor. You are not allowed to go anywhere until I return, and then I'll deal with you!"
Chu Qingge quickly retracted the foot she had stepped out.
Xiao Luo was usually refined and gentle. Chu Qingge had never seen him so enraged. She felt quite wronged, her tears almost falling. She had traveled so far to find him, enduring hardships, only for Xiao Luo to yell at her!
The steward watched Xiao Luo gallop away with his men. He looked at the disheveled Chu Qingge. "Miss Chu, the hot water is ready. Please go and wash up first. The young general will return soon."
Although Chu Qingge felt wronged, she wasn't the type to be sentimental. She immediately followed the steward to wash up, changed into clean clothes, and obediently waited in the manor for Xiao Luo's return.
Lu Wei saw Xiao Luo's somber expression. "Young General, the eldest young lady is skilled. She'll be fine."
Xiao Luo did not speak. He had a deep sense of unease. Why had Man'er come to the border?
Why hadn't she come to find him immediately? What was she doing in Yangguan? The border had been uneasy lately. If she encountered any villains, and something happened to her, what would he do?
Yunzhong City was over a hundred li from Yangguan. Xiao Luo, driven by anxiety, rode day and night. He finally reached Yangguan at noon the next day. Upon entering Yangguan, he immediately ordered the guard commander to search for the person.
The guard commander of Yangguan was perplexed. This young general rarely left Yunzhong City. Now he had come to Yangguan with only a few dozen men. Was war about to break out on the border? Yet, the man had come only to ask him to search for someone!
In a Yangguan inn, Xiao Man lay on the bed, unconscious. The hidden weapon in her chest was poisoned. Fortunately, Nangong Yu had the foresight to bring Ye Qing with him when he left the capital, or Xiao Man's life would have been lost!
Ye Qing's complexion was also very grim. If Xiao Man's previous encounter with assassins in the palace resulted in only superficial wounds, this time she had truly been injured in a vital spot, and what's more, there was poison. He had to protect Xiao Man's heart first before he could remove the hidden weapon.
But how could the copper needle be easily removed once it had pierced the body? Ye Qing was in a difficult situation. Without removing the hidden weapon, he could not detoxify her or stop the bleeding. If this continued, even a divine physician would be unable to save her!
"I'll do it," Nangong Yu said, having calmed down. "I'll use my internal energy to draw out the copper needle."
"That copper needle is highly poisonous. If you remove it with your bare hands like this, you'll be poisoned too!" Ye Qing objected.
"I'll be fine," Nangong Yu said, looking at Xiao Man's pale face, which was gradually turning ashen. He was extremely anxious. Let alone being poisoned, at this moment, even if he had to trade his life for hers, he would probably be willing.
Ye Qing sighed and moved aside, instructing people to prepare a medicinal bath. He needed the bath to help Xiao Man expel the poison from her body.
Nangong Yu gathered his internal energy in his palm and drew out the copper needle that had pierced Xiao Man's body, throwing it away. Ye Qing gave him an antidote pill, then called Qin Xue and the others in to help Xiao Man change her clothes.
Nangong Yu went out to wait. When he saw Du Guming Yu waiting outside the door, a sense of disgust arose in his heart, tinged with jealousy. Xiao Man had risked her life to save this person. Killing intent spread. Du Guming Yu took a step back, sensing hostility from Nangong Yu.
However, after stepping back, Du Guming Yu stopped. "I wonder how Miss Xiao is doing?"
"Hmph," Nangong Yu snorted coldly and ignored Du Guming Yu, turning his face away. He was afraid that if he continued to look at Du Guming Yu, he might lose control and attack him.
Qin Xue's face was somewhat pale, but her mask remained on.
Their identities could not be revealed, but they also dared not hand Xiao Man over to any of the parties present.
So they quietly sent someone to notify Xiao Luo. If there was anyone reliable at this moment, it could only be—Xiao Luo!
Ye Qing had people watching Xiao Man take her medicinal bath while he concocted an antidote. Her expression was calm.
Qin Xue's gaze was constantly on Ye Qing.
Although Ye Qing wore a mask,
She felt that Ye Qing was somewhat familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn't recall where. She decided to keep a close eye on him.