readsfreenovel Chapter 212 Decision
Chapter 212 Decision
Ruping was quick-witted. The population of Daye Town was small due to the war, and most of the people there were the elderly, the weak, women and children. As soon as the two women disappeared, Ruping noticed something. Two days later, two more women disappeared, and Ruping's uneasiness became even worse.
Lan Qingwu didn't quite understand what was going on. After thinking about it, he felt that it was related to the rebels in the hermit forest.
At midnight that day, Ruping quietly returned to the house from outside. Lan Qingwu had just coaxed Xiaoguai to sleep and was waiting for Ruping to come back.
Ru Ping climbed onto the bed gently and whispered, "Master, I know what happened. Only a few hundred rebels led by Lin Shaojie are left in the hermit mountain forest. Those who used to cook for the army have either fled or died. They can only risk going down the mountain in the middle of the night to capture a few women to cook for them. There is an older sister who, on the pretext of worrying about her children, returned to Daye Town tonight. The rebels have captured their relatives and brought them up the mountain, and they dare not resist or betray. I have agreed with the older sister to return to Daye Town in a few days."
Lan Qingwu thought quietly for a moment after hearing this, then she raised her head and looked straight at Ruping.
Ru Ping said anxiously, "Master, why are you looking at me like that? What do you want to do?"
Lan Qingwu thought of the displaced people along the way, the woman who suffered in Xiaoye Town, and the lives lost in Daye Town. She finally said, "Ruping, what if I say that I might not be able to go back?"
"Can not go back?"
Lan Qingwu nodded. "I think we will be the next rebels to lead us up the mountain. The hermit forest is shrouded in mist and the terrain is complex. Without their own people to lead the way, we really won't be able to find the way. I want to avenge you. I want to do something for the people of Daye Town and Xiaoye Town! I think this matter is more important than returning to His Majesty's side at this moment!"
Ru Ping said anxiously, "But Master, how are we going to deal with them? And that elder sister was blindfolded when she went up the mountain, and she doesn't know how to get down. If we go up the mountain and get lost, we won't be able to come back! And... what about Xiaoguai and Ashan? What should we do with them?"
Lan Qingwu lowered his eyes and said, "Ruping, I always feel that Lin Shaojie's current state is more or less due to me. He is so eager to catch me, he must be holding a grudge against me. In this case, let me end it all!"
"Have you made up your mind?"
Lan Qingwu nodded: "Xiaoguai and Ashan can be entrusted to the old woman. The old woman is over sixty years old, and they will definitely not let her go up the mountain."
Ru Ping gritted her teeth and said, "Master, tell me, what else do you want to do?"
"I didn't do this on a whim. Ruping, do you still remember the herbs you picked?"
Ru Ping suddenly realized, "I'll take advantage of these few days to gather more of those herbs. Once we have enough, we'll have them for cooking when we get to the mountain. But my Lord, you... we might get trapped on the mountain, or we might be exposed... and then we'll never see His Majesty and the Sixth and Seventh Princes again."
Lan Qingwu said softly, "Ruping, there are always things in this world that are more important than personal feelings! Sometimes we stand at that fork in the road and have to choose something more important! Otherwise, we will regret it for the rest of our lives!"
"What is that thing?"
"It's responsibility! It's duty! It's a clear conscience! I'm no longer just Miss Lan from the border, but now I'm the Consort Yi of Dasheng! Seeing the people suffering and displaced in the chaos of war, how can I not seize this opportunity and give it my all!"
Ru Ping murmured, "Master..."
Lan Qingwu got off the bed and walked to the window. She looked up at the dark night sky and said, "I believe that many times, he also made the same choice!"
"Even if...even if you never see them again, you won't regret it?"
Ru Ping did not wait for Lan Qingwu's answer. She suddenly remembered that Lan Qingwu also came from a family of military generals and was the only legitimate daughter of Marquis Wu Jing. The influence of her parents and grandfather, and their teachings by example, made the passion and responsibility of defending the country flow in her bones!
The two then discussed all possible accidents and went over all the details.
Ruping began to stay outside all day, trying to pick as many herbs as possible, while Lan Qingwu took care of Ashan and Xiaoguai.
On this day, Lan Qingwu was applying medicine to Xiaoguai when Ashan, who was lying on the bed, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He looked uneasy and started talking nonsense, obviously having a nightmare. "No... I'm not... I'm not..."
Xiaoguai came out of Lan Qingwu's arms, walked to the bed, and patted Ashan's chest skillfully: "Brother Ashan, wake up! Brother, wake up!"
Ah Shan opened his eyes blankly. His green eyes were watery and tears gently streamed down his cheeks. Ah Shan looked at Xiao Guai and said softly, "Xiao Guai's eyes are so beautiful, like black glass. How nice it would be if I also had a pair of black eyes!"
If he had such a pair of black eyes, would he not have such a tragic fate?
Xiaoguai said seriously, "Brother Ashan, your eyes are the most beautiful, the most beautiful! Just like the green water of a lake, just like the most beautiful gemstones!"
Xiaoguai's undisguised praise made Ah Shan stunned for a moment, and then his green eyes stared at Xiaoguai: "Really? My... eyes are beautiful?"
Xiaoguai said without hesitation: "Of course! Brother Ashan, Xiaoguai likes your eyes the most!"
Listening to Xiaoguai's soft and sweet words, Ashan remained calm on the surface, but his ears felt slightly hot.
Lan Qingwu couldn't help but smile knowingly when he heard the two children's words: "Ashan, I've read the Chronicles of the Zhou Dynasty. There are not only green eyes in this world, but also blue, brown, gray, etc. Hair also has other colors, such as brown, gold, and red... You have green eyes, which is very normal."
This was the first time Ah Shan had heard such a statement. He hesitated and said, "Aunt, are you telling the truth? My green eyes are normal? Not... a monster? Not some strange disease?"
Lan Qingwu said firmly, "No! This world is diverse and colorful. Just because they haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist, and it doesn't mean it's unreasonable."
"They don't know, and they don't accept it." Ashan said dejectedly.
"If they don't accept you, what about you? You have to accept yourself first before others can identify with you and accept you! Only when you are truly strong inside can you protect yourself and the people you care about!"
Ah Shan's green eyes sparkled like dazzling emeralds: "Thank you, Auntie!"
Lan Qingwu paused and said, "Auntie has one more thing to tell you. Tomorrow you will go to Grandma Gu's house and stay there for a few days. After a few days, Auntie Zhier and I will come to pick you up."
When Xiaoguai heard about going to a stranger's house, he was a little scared, and Ashan immediately sensed something was wrong: "Auntie, what are you going to do?"
Lan Qingwu was somewhat impressed by his sharpness and could only say, "Your Aunt Zhi'er and I are going up the mountain to collect some herbs. It will take some time, and we will be back in a few days. You must be obedient at Grandma Gu's house."
Sensing Xiaoguai's uneasiness and Ashan's doubts, Lan Qingwu could only comfort them. She told Xiaoguai and Ashan the truth: "Your Aunt Zhi'er left a mark nearby. Xiaoguai's father will soon find this place. If your father comes and your Aunt Zhi'er and I haven't returned yet, then there's no need to wait for us. We will go back later."
Xiaoguai just nodded obediently. Ah Shan was also overwhelmed by this good news. "Xiaoguai's father is a general, that's great!"