Confiscating property? A stunningly beautiful substitute bride empties the national treasury and is

"General Qi, I've heard of you before; you're a remarkable person!"

Huo Chong smiled politely and said, "It's really lucky to meet you here!"

Qi Shuo nodded lightly and said frankly, "It was all a coincidence. I didn't expect to be here either. It's probably just good luck!"

"Besides, we're about the same age, so you can just call me by my first name."

"it is good!"

Huo Chong smiled and nodded. Seeing Qi Shuo's cold silence, he awkwardly began to try and start a conversation:

"What is this engraved, Brother Shuo?"

"Just carving some little things when I have nothing else to do!"

Qi Shuo spoke in a calm tone, his eyes focused on carving, without even raising his head.

“Brother Shuo is different from us. He has a bright future ahead of him. When you return to the capital, you can take over General Qi’s army. The Emperor will definitely reward you handsomely. After all, without you, that battle would not have been won in its first battle.”

Qi Shuo said frankly, "That was all thanks to my father. What does it have to do with me? If we're being honest, I'm the one who dragged him down. I don't dare to take credit now. I'd rather not be blamed."

“You are General Qi’s only son, and you will inherit the Qi family army in the future. How can you not have connections?”

After offering his compliments, Huo Chong sighed and said, "Don't blame yourself too much for what happened to Old Madam Qi. After all, nobody wanted to see this happen..."

Before Huo Chong could finish speaking, Qi Shuo's dagger suddenly grazed the wooden stick and pierced his palm, instantly staining the wooden stake with blood!

He tried to sound calm as he asked, "My mother... is she alright?"

Huo Chong's mouth dropped open in astonishment, and he said incredulously:

"You...you didn't know? The Lu family didn't say anything?"

What happened to my mother?

Qi Shuo dropped the wooden stake and dagger in his hand, raised his hand and grabbed Huo Chong's collar, speaking in a trembling voice.

Huo Chong was instantly intimidated by his imposing aura, his heart trembled, and he said in a slightly shaking voice:

"Shortly after you disappeared, Madam Qi fell ill and passed away not long after. Although Madam Qi's funeral was held in a very low-key manner, most of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the capital attended, and our Huo family was no exception!"

“When you weren’t here, General Lu personally handled many aspects of the funeral arrangements. He carried the coffin for the old lady with the respect due to an eldest son, so I assumed they had told you.”

"I heard that before the old lady passed away, she was still thinking about you. After the funeral, General Qi fell ill and was bedridden for several months!"

"Brother Shuo, don't blame the Lu family for this. They were probably worried that telling you would affect your recovery. As your father's most prized student, General Lu did put in a lot of effort, so there's nothing wrong with that!"

"It's all my fault for speaking too quickly without thinking it through. Please don't take offense..."

"Thank you... thank you for telling me all this!"

After Qi Shuo finished speaking, his hands trembled slightly as he released him, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, and said with a hint of apology:

"Oh no, Sisi, I've stained your clothes with blood! I'll pay for them!"

"No...no need, don't be so polite!"

Huo Chong hurriedly waved his hand, his body unconsciously shrinking back. To be honest, he was a little scared; he had really caused a big disaster this time.

"Here you go, you're owed compensation!"

As he spoke, Qi Shuo took out some silver from his sleeve and stuffed it into Huo Chong's arms.

Huo Chong declined, saying he was embarrassed to accept it. It was nothing, and besides, their clothes were all dark-colored, so it wouldn't be noticeable if you weren't paying attention.

Besides, three taels of silver is too generous. It would be enough to compensate him for ten robes, let alone one!

"Brother Shuo..."

"You can leave now, I want to be alone!"

Huo Chong was torn between the silver in his hand and the money. He couldn't take advantage of the situation, but he really needed the silver right now.

Seeing that Qi Shuo was hanging his head and ignoring him, Huo Chong had no choice but to leave. Fine, he would consider the money a loan and would definitely pay it back to him when he earned more money in the future.

Tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. Qi Shuo closed his eyes in anguish, his whole body trembling uncontrollably…

Images of my mother kept flashing through my mind, overlapping and then finally dissipating like bubbles…

*

Inside the carriage, Lu Lanyue was restless for some reason and couldn't fall asleep. After tossing and turning several times, she carefully sat up.

Her lower abdomen felt cold and was cramping uncomfortably from time to time. After hesitating for a moment, she put on a cotton robe and tiptoed past the crowd, intending to get off the carriage to take a look.

Firstly, she wanted to warm herself by the fire, and secondly, she was still a little worried about Qi Shuo. After all, he had just regained some of his memories, and what if something unexpected happened to him, and all her efforts were in vain?

If Aunt Qi were still alive, she would definitely want Qi Shuo to help her more.

Where are you going?

Lu Jingchuan opened his eyes instantly, looked at her warily, and spoke in a low voice.

"Third Brother, my stomach isn't feeling well. I'd like to go outside to warm myself by the fire. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere!"

"You're not allowed to go. Go back to sleep!"

Lu Jingchuan reminded him in a cold voice.

Lu Lanyue stubbornly refused to go back, and after hesitating for a moment, she explained:

"Third Brother, I'm going out to check on Brother Qi. I'm worried about him. Don't worry, I'll be back in no more than half an incense stick's time!"

"Third Brother~"

"Third Brother~"

Lu Lanyue pleaded with him, looking pitiful and trying to please him. Lu Jingchuan sighed helplessly and warned:

"You're not allowed to go anywhere but right in front of the carriage, because I can see you right here!"

"Thank you, Third Brother!"

Lu Lanyue was extremely excited and carefully got off the carriage. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she saw Qi Shuo holding his head in one hand, looking somewhat unnatural.

"Brother Qi, what's wrong? Do you have a headache? I'll go and ask Third Sister-in-law to take a look at you."

"Don't…"

"Don't bother them, I'm fine!"

Qi Shuo touched his cheek, wiping away the marks on his face, and then looked up and called out to her.

Looking at his slightly red and swollen eyes, Lu Lanyue felt as if her heart had been stabbed hard, and she felt a pain that made it hard to breathe.

"Brother Qi, what's wrong with you?"

Lu Lanyue sat obediently beside him, and asked with some concern:

"If it's not that I feel unwell, then what could be the reason?"

Qi Shuo remained silent. Lu Lanyue suddenly realized something, bit her lip hard, and tentatively spoke:

"Do...do you know about Auntie's situation? Who told you?"

"Brother Qi, I know you're in pain and can't accept it, but you can't do things that hurt yourself. Besides, this isn't your fault. If she knew you were hurting yourself, she would be heartbroken!"

As Lu Lanyue was about to get up to retrieve the medicine box from the carriage's trunk, Qi Shuo reached out and grabbed her, explaining in a low voice:

"It's nothing, the wound isn't deep, no need to bandage it!"

"That won't do either. It's so cold. What if it gets infected if we don't treat it? Third Sister-in-law said that if the wound isn't treated in time, you might lose your hand."

"Don't go, you'll wake everyone up. I can just bandage this little injury myself!"

As Qi Shuo spoke, he lifted his inner garment, cut a slit with the dagger, and tore off a strip of cloth to roughly wipe away the blood and bandage the wound.

Upon seeing this, Lu Lanyue quickly snatched the bandage from his hand and said earnestly, "I'll bandage you!"

Qi Shuo pursed his lips and remained silent, his gaze lingering forlornly on Lu Lanyue.

She took out a silk handkerchief from her bosom and gently wiped the blood around the wound on his palm, each wipe filled with endless tenderness and care, as if afraid of hurting him.

All was quiet except for the crackling sound of the firelight.

The girl lowered her head, her eyes seemingly holding the entire starry sea, shimmering in the moonlight. Her slightly pouting lips seemed to be tinged with a faint pink by the moonlight, making them look delicate and alluring…

Realizing what he was thinking, Qi Shuo immediately shook his head and looked away.

Lu Lanyue frowned with worry and said, "Brother Qi, did I hurt you? I'm sorry..."

"fine!"

Qi Shuo spoke in a low voice. When they played together as children, he only thought of the two sisters as children. So much so that when his mother wanted to arrange a marriage between the two families, he was the first to stand up and oppose it.

To him, Lu Lanyue was just a child, but unknowingly, this child not only grew into a graceful young woman, but also became increasingly pure and lovely...

"All right!"

Lu Lanyue smiled and handed him the hand warmer, offering words of comfort:

"We didn't want to think about what happened to your aunt, but since things have come to this, we can only keep it to ourselves."

The road ahead is long, Brother Qi. You still have Uncle Qi. He only has you as his son, so you have to take good care of yourself.

"Once you return to the capital, find a woman you love, marry her, have children, and take good care of your elders so they can enjoy their old age in peace."

Lu Lanyue sighed and explained, "Since being exiled, I have slowly come to realize that family is more important than anything else."

Money can be earned back, and losing an official position and becoming an ordinary citizen isn't so bad. As long as the family is together and works together, there's no obstacle we can't overcome.

"Hmm...you're absolutely right!"

Qi Shuo smiled faintly and nodded: "At worst, we can start over. There's nothing to be afraid of!"

"That's right!"

Lu Lanyue looked at him and agreed, "Brother Qi, you have military achievements and so many Qi family soldiers follow you, you will definitely do well in the future."

Then Lu Lanyue said half-jokingly, "Maybe once you return to the capital, all the high-ranking officials and nobles in the city will come to your house to propose marriage. You will become a highly sought-after general in the entire capital, just like my third brother did back then!"

"What's so good about being a great general?"

Qi Shuo's face instantly fell: "Now the entire court is filled with treacherous officials. Who knows if my Qi family will become the second Lu family!"

"No way! Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

Lu Lanyue immediately retorted, "Don't talk nonsense. How could the Qi family be the same as the Lu family?"

"Old Master Qi is old, and you are young and vigorous. The old emperor is too busy employing you both to let you go to waste!"

"According to my third sister-in-law, the Lu family's achievements may have overshadowed the emperor's, and coupled with the relationship between the imperial concubine and the prince, the emperor is too wary of them..."