Chapter 2109: Widow

Compared to her, Miss Sun appeared to be an immature young girl.

"Madam!" the young maid exclaimed, quickly producing a silk handkerchief to staunch the bleeding.

Before the handkerchief touched her, the woman swayed twice, seemingly unsteady. You Huan knew that a head injury could cause dizziness.

But the woman didn't wait for assistance; instead, she grabbed the wooden front of the carriage and said, "It's nothing, just right the carriage."

"Yes, yes!" The maid glared at two nearby servants. "Didn't you hear Madam? Quickly help right the carriage so we can take her to a doctor."

But the carriage was heavy, and even with all their strength, the two men couldn't right it.

Their concern didn't last long, however, as several people immediately stepped forward to help push the carriage while the horse pulled from the front, and the vehicle was quickly righted.

The men who helped push the carriage were clearly servants from another household. One of them said, "The left wheel is broken; the ride will be very bumpy. Our carriage can take Madam home."

He turned and pointed; sure enough, thirty paces away stood a luxurious carriage, beside which a dignified man in brocade robes smiled at the two women.

The woman gave him a slight bow, acknowledging his help with the carriage.

Before the maid could answer, she spoke: "No, thank you. I appreciate your master's kind offer."

With that, she covered her forehead with the handkerchief and stepped into the carriage.

The moment she turned, her gaze subconsciously swept across the assembled crowd.

Many people were watching her, You Huan among them.

Her glance swept over many people, including You Huan.

Perhaps due to the pain from her forehead injury, her gaze was unfocused; looking at him was no different from looking at others, as if viewing mere background figures.

As she disappeared inside the carriage, many of the male onlookers felt a sudden sense of loss.

You Huan watched from a short distance, not approaching to offer help or flirt. Firstly, she didn't seem to require much assistance, and secondly, her maid had addressed her as "Madam."

A "Madam" implied she was married.

The carriage rumbled away. True enough, the broken left wheel creaked and made the ride bumpy.

Her departure diminished half the excitement for the crowd. The remaining business was Miss Sun's guards compensating those who had suffered losses due to the startled horse.

With You Huan still observing, Miss Sun dared not refuse to compensate.

She kept glancing at You Huan, but he unfortunately paid her no mind.

Once the spectacle concluded, the onlookers dispersed.

The Madam had left one of her servants behind, who soon received three taels of silver in compensation from Miss Sun.

The man in brocade robes sent his guard to inquire: "May I ask your Madam's esteemed surname?"

"Oh, her surname is Mei, the character for 'plum blossom'."

"She isn't the wife of an official, is she?"

You Huan found this amusing. Madam Mei's carriage clearly looked like it had been rented from a stable. An official's carriage wouldn't break so easily.

He recognized the man in brocade robes as Zhai Qiushan, the second son of Zhai Qing, the Commissioner of Water and Land Transport for the Eastern Three Routes.

The southeastern part of Mou Nation was crisscrossed by waterways, and the transport of grain and supplies primarily relied on these routes, making the Commissioner of Water and Land Transport for the Eastern Three Routes a crucial position. Young Master Zhai, known for his amorous and generous nature, was clearly intrigued by the Madam, which explained his probing question.

"No," the servant shook his head repeatedly. "My late master used to do business in the east and passed away from illness two years ago. Madam sold her properties in other regions and moved here to Moudu."

"Oh, she just arrived then?" So she was a widow.

"That's right, she didn't even have time to buy a carriage," the servant explained. "The carriage that caused Madam's fall was also rented, and its quality was quite poor."

"Does Madam Mei own any property in Moudu?"

"She seems to be preparing to open a teahouse," the servant said, scratching his head. "I don't know the specifics."

Once he had his answers, the guard smiled, patted the servant's shoulder, and returned to report to Zhai Qiushan.

Meanwhile, Miss Sun, seeing You Huan still standing there, assumed he was waiting for her and began walking towards him. You Huan, however, swung his leg over his mount and said, "Let's go, back to the manor."

Zhai Qiushan also departed. You Huan cast a glance at his carriage.

Madam Mei's appearance was indeed striking. Moudu was full of beauties, each with her own distinct charm, like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums. But Madam Mei was truly unforgettable. In her eyes lay a melancholic sorrow and a calm indifference that even the brightest sunshine couldn't dispel, yet it made people want to approach her all the more.

Such a beauty arriving in Moudu alone, it was no wonder Zhai Qiushan was curious about her.

Madam Mei was soon to open a teahouse in Moudu. While these two pieces of information might not be easily discoverable by others, they were effortlessly accessible to the son of the Eastern Three Routes Transport Commissioner, as opening a teahouse in Moudu naturally required official registration.

But what did any of this have to do with You Huan? His thoughts quickly returned to the affairs of the imperial court.

Lu Zhenxian was holed up in his own manor. Lu Zhensheng invited him twice, but he refused, claiming to be overwhelmed by anger and anxiety, and thus bedridden.

With hundreds of Lu Qingbang's imperial guards stationed outside Lu Lao Liu's residence, how could Lu Zhensheng openly resort to force?

Two days later, a mountain flood erupted in Mou Nation's eastern border, burying two villages and their inhabitants under mudslides. As the Mou Nation army closest to the disaster, General Lu immediately departed Baillie to return home for disaster relief.

Mou Nation's army prioritizing domestic relief was perfectly justifiable.

But their departure left Baillie directly exposed to thirty thousand elite soldiers of Ya Nation.

This was Mou Nation's punishment for Baillie: Disobedience meant fending off the aggressive Ya Nation on their own.

Clan leader Lu Zhensheng's beard turned white with anxiety. He informed his clan that his second son, Lu Qinglin, had repeatedly petitioned Emperor Mou to return home and resist Ya Nation, but his requests were always denied. Illegally mobilizing troops was a grave crime, and Lu Qinglin could not commit it.

On the very night the Mou army withdrew, Lu Zhenxian unexpectedly arrived at their residence.

Lu Zhensheng was overjoyed. While Sixth Brother was a step late, it didn't matter, as long as...

But before he could complete his thought, a servant arrived with another report:

Besides Lu Lao Liu, Lu Lao Er and Lu Lao San had also arrived together, each accompanied by dozens of servants.

Doubts swirled in the minds of the Lu father and son; they couldn't fathom what these men intended. Was Lu Lao Liu perhaps concerned about being apprehended, and thus brought his two brothers for support?

The Lu brothers were too familiar for pleasantries. Lu Zhenxian didn't even touch the tea on the table, standing as he said, "The Mou army is truly unreliable, they withdrew without a backward glance. Elder Brother, have you considered how to deal with the Ya army now?"

"You rejected the method I proposed earlier. Baillie is facing impending military disaster, so we can only let Miao An and A Bang continue to lead the troops and fight wherever they can. Perhaps the Ya people will retreat upon witnessing their astonishing courage?" With the reinforcements gone, what choice did they have but to fight? Lu Zhensheng's face hardened. "Have my esteemed younger brothers arrived together with some brilliant strategy?"

This was pure sarcasm, but to his surprise, Lu Zhenxian smiled and said, "We actually do have a plan that can save Baillie!"

"Oh?" Lu Zhensheng was entirely skeptical. If they truly had a solution, why hadn't they presented it earlier?