Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Hearing that Du Shiniang had arrived, Zhang Ruowen reluctantly released Du Rushuang from his arms. Du Rushuang's face was flushed from his kisses, even her neck was red, and she was a little dazed, looking soft and adorable. Zhang Ruowen couldn't help but gently pinch her cheek and said to her softly, "Shuang'er, Du Shiniang is here. Quickly straighten your clothes and go to the main hall to see her."

Du Rushuang finally came to her senses a little, but she was still angry with Du Shiniang and refused to see her. So she glared at Zhang Ruowen and said angrily, "I'm not going! Du Shiniang schemed against you and me. The day she took you away with Zhou Chengquan, I was no longer her sister. I don't want to see her!"

“Shuang’er, the aphrodisiac is real. Du Shiniang didn’t lie to me. It’s just that she did something unethical to capture me to exchange for Lin Chong. But since she was able to find the escort agency, it means that someone helped her find us. Why don’t you listen to what important things she wants to tell you?” Zhang Ruowen said, stroking Du Rushuang’s slender, fair hand.

"I don't care who's helping her. Du Shiniang is the best at understanding and manipulating people's hearts. I don't want to have anything to do with her anymore. I'll have Steward Jiang see her for me." Du Rushuang pouted and said to Zhang Ruowen with a reluctant look.

"Jiang Rufei? Your brother's confidant? So your brother isn't at the escort agency right now? Where did he go?" Zhang Ruowen asked suspiciously, then guessed, "Could it be that your brother was afraid my recuperation at the escort agency would expose his hiding place, so he went to hide somewhere else? Or should we go somewhere else? I have a few other hiding places in the capital..."

"Stop talking! My brother has already left. He told me he had important things to do. He entrusted the escort agency to me before he left, so I can't leave here. You just stay here and recover from your injuries. Your godfather won't dare to make things difficult for me, so don't worry!" Du Rushuang reached out and covered Zhang Ruowen's mouth to stop him from speaking, forcefully stating her demand that he stay at the Flying Eagle Escort Agency.

The man playfully held the woman's fingers and gently kissed them one by one, his eyes burning with suppressed desire, but he only softly replied, "Whatever you say, Shuang'er!" Du Rushuang shook off the man's hand, stood up, straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, and then turned to Zhang Ruowen, saying, "You get some sleep. I'll come see you again tonight. Now I'll go tell Steward Jiang to see Du Shiniang. I'll secretly observe what her purpose is in coming to see me."

Zhang Ruowen nodded gently, lay back down on the bed, and half-closed his eyes to rest. He watched Du Rushuang's figure slowly walk away, and foolishly put the fingers that had been holding Du Rushuang to his lips and gently kissed them. Sure enough, there was still a lingering scent of the woman.

Although Zhang Ruowen suspected Du Shiniang had ill intentions, he wasn't worried about Du Rushuang. His Shuang'er had regained her memories, and he remembered Ning Zhanshuang's decisive and ruthless nature, her methods no less than a man's. How could his woman be unable to handle a mere Du Shiniang? Perhaps the medicine was slowly taking effect; sleepiness washed over him, and Zhang Ruowen slowly closed his eyes, his dreams filled with images of Du Rushuang and his passionate embrace.

Du Rushuang sat behind a screen in the hall. On the exquisite screen, a breathtaking scene was embroidered with lifelike detail: in the depths of winter, snowflakes fell thick and fast, covering the entire world as if it were a silver-clad world. Yet, amidst this icy landscape, clusters of vibrant red plum blossoms stood proudly, their delicate and beautiful flowers in full bloom.

Those clusters of red plum blossoms, like burning flames, stretched their forms freely atop the high, snow-covered wall. Their branches were strong and vigorous, as resilient and unyielding as steel; while each blooming red plum blossom was like a meticulously crafted gem, radiating a captivating light. Each flower possessed a unique posture and charm; some were still buds, shyly bowing their heads slightly; others were in full bloom, their petals layered upon each other, like a magnificent dancing skirt.

In this bitterly cold winter, these red plum blossoms, undeterred by the harsh frost, bloomed with tenacious vitality on their branches. Their beauty and resilience brought a vibrant splash of color to this quiet season. When people gaze upon this image of red plum blossoms defying the snow, they cannot help but be inspired by their fearless and courageous spirit, a surge of passionate emotion welling up within them. However, Du Rushuang had no interest in appreciating the painting on the screen. She merely frowned and quietly eavesdropped on the conversation between Du Shiniang and Jiang Rufei behind the screen.

Du Shiniang insisted, "Steward Jiang, the fact that I was able to find this place today means that Lord Gao and Lord Ning Zhanyan must be on good terms. It was Lord Gao who pointed out the way for me, and I must see my sworn sister Du Rushuang today, otherwise I will not leave."

After speaking, Du Shiniang plopped down on a carved mahogany chair in the hall and slowly sipped the hot tea served by a maid. Jiang Rufei, looking troubled, approached Du Shiniang and continued to persuade her, "Shiniang, our master is currently out on a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) mission, and Miss is not at the镖局 (escort agency) either. How many times do I have to tell you before you believe me? My Miss picked up Physician Zhang from the Dali Temple, but they encountered a group of men in black on the street and were kidnapped. I've sent people everywhere to search for Miss's whereabouts."

"Manager Jiang, stop lying! My sworn sister is incredibly skilled; no one can kidnap her. Besides, Zhang Ruowen is injured; they can't have gone far. They're definitely still at the escort agency. Go and tell Shuang'er that Du Shiniang has something important to discuss with her. If she doesn't come, she'll regret it for the rest of her life!" Du Shiniang said to Jiang Rufei in a threatening tone.

Jiang Rufei thought to himself, "Du Shiniang is really arrogant. What important thing could she possibly have that would make my young lady regret it for the rest of her life?" But he didn't dare to make the decision to let Du Shiniang see Du Rushuang on his own. He thought he could help by relaying the message, but he figured that wouldn't be enough to sway his young lady. So he pressed Du Shiniang, "Please tell me more, Shiniang, what is it that you want to discuss with my young lady that's so important?"

Du Shiniang didn't want to make things difficult for Jiang Rufei. She frowned and thought for a moment, then decided to throw out a delicious bait to attract Du Rushuang. So she solemnly said to Jiang Rufei, "It's a major matter concerning the people of the Jin and Song dynasties. I need Du Rushuang's help."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Rufei glanced at Du Shiniang's resolute expression and decided that he should relay such an important matter to Du Rushuang. Du Rushuang had already overheard Du Shiniang's words to Jiang Rufei from behind the screen. Being naturally impatient, she immediately stepped out from behind the screen and waved to Jiang Rufei, signaling him to step back.

Jiang Rufei tactfully left the hall, and Du Shiniang hurriedly went forward to tug at Du Rushuang's sleeve. Du Rushuang coldly dodged Du Shiniang's touch, sat down directly next to her chair, and said indifferently, "Du Shiniang, what are you playing games with? I don't have that much time to waste chatting with you here. There are many miscellaneous matters in the escort agency that I need to attend to. If you have something to say, say it; if not, get out of here!"

When Du Shiniang saw that Du Rushuang spoke to her in a harsh tone, with a cold and somewhat impatient expression on her face, she did not hold a grudge against Du Rushuang. Instead, she sat back down in her chair, looked into Du Rushuang's eyes, and apologized with guilt: "Shuang'er, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have let Zhou Chengquan arrest Zhang Ruowen and take him to Dali Temple when he was weak after helping you detoxify."

"Sorry? Du Shiniang, you used my man to exchange for your own, what was wrong with that? If I were in your shoes, I would have done the same. What's the use of apologizing now? You've already betrayed me, we're no longer sisters!" Du Rushuang shouted at Du Shiniang in a sarcastic tone.

"Shuang'er, I know you're still angry with your sister. I've prepared many nourishing gifts for you today, including thousand-year-old ginseng and hundred-year-old lingzhi mushrooms, which Steward Jiang has already accepted. If you don't accept my apology, I can even kneel down before you." Du Shiniang had barely finished speaking when she tried to kneel down before Du Rushuang. Du Rushuang quickly stood up and supported Du Shiniang's waist, stopping her from doing something foolish.