Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - chapter 47

Chapter 47

On the way to Brocade Gate, Xiao Fuguang asked, “Sister, why did you agree to dine with those siblings today?”

When the manager of Liuxiang Restaurant came to ask earlier, he thought his sister would refuse outright.

Xiao Wangshu replied with a gentle smile, “We’ll be doing business together from now on, little brother. It wouldn’t look good to make things too tense.”

“That’s all?” Xiao Fuguang retorted.

Why did he feel there was more to it than that?

Xiao Wangshu smiled sweetly and added, “In business, those with mutual interests are allies, and those with conflicting interests are rivals. For now… we can be allies.”

Xiao Fuguang summarized her words in his mind: Right now, there’s profit to be made from the Mu Family siblings.

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but remind her, “That may be true, but you should be careful, Sister. If they’re getting close to you, they probably think there’s profit to be made from you as well. This is your first time managing a shop on your own-don’t let them take advantage of you.”

Although his sister was quite shrewd, it was easy to stumble the first time around.

“I know, my little old-man brother.” Xiao Wangshu sighed deeply, raised her hand, and rubbed the back of Xiao Fuguang’s head.

A child his age shouldn’t have to be so steady and mature.

“Sister, really! I’m just being kind and reminding you, and you get annoyed. How do I act like a little old man?” Xiao Fuguang muttered under his breath.

Xiao Wangshu’s eyes curved with amusement. She patted his head again, then withdrew her hand. “You don’t look like one now, but just a moment ago you did.”

Xiao Fuguang’s cheeks puffed out ever so slightly, but soon relaxed.

Then, the siblings exchanged a glance, and almost at the same moment, burst out laughing.

Behind them, Yichun and the others didn’t know what had made the siblings laugh so suddenly, but that didn’t stop them from being infected by the cheerful atmosphere and joining in the laughter.

Just then, a woman in disheveled clothing came running toward them in a panic.

Li Ta and Li Jun immediately rushed in front of Xiao Wangshu and Xiao Fuguang, blocking the woman who had appeared out of nowhere.

“Ah-!”

The woman, flustered and in a hurry, stumbled as she approached and fell right at Li Ta’s feet, revealing her arms covered in bruises and wounds.

After falling, the woman scrambled to her feet again.

Seeing that she was just a frail woman, Li Ta and Li Jun relaxed a little.

Before Li Ta could react and stop her, the woman crawled on her hands and knees to Xiao Wangshu’s side, knelt on the ground, and grabbed Xiao Wangshu’s sleeve.

“Miss, please save me! If I’m taken back, I’ll be tortured to death. Miss, please save me! I’m willing to serve you as a slave or maid for the rest of my life!”

Her hair was messy, a hairpin askew in her locks, trembling with her shivering body.

Seeing Xiao Wangshu remain silent, the woman’s hand slid further up her sleeve, pleading with tears in her eyes, “Miss, please save me!”

As the woman’s hand climbed higher, Xiao Wangshu glanced at her, her voice carrying the icy indifference of a noble lady-

“Let go. You’re dirtying my sleeve.”

The woman froze, and Xiao Wangshu took the opportunity to pull her sleeve free.

Seeing Xiao Wangshu’s expression, as if she’d seen something filthy and was about to pull Xiao Fuguang away, the woman quickly grabbed Xiao Fuguang’s arm instead.

“Young Master! Young Master, please save me. I really can’t be taken back-I have a son waiting for me!”

The woman sobbed uncontrollably, her desperate voice nearly hoarse.

Xiao Wangshu’s expression sharpened as she looked at the hand clutching Xiao Fuguang’s arm.

Before Xiao Fuguang could say anything, Xiao Wangshu asked first, “Who exactly is after you? What did you do? You have to give us a reason to save you.”

The woman hurriedly replied, “I’m the daughter of a poor family. When I was young, my parents sold me to a brothel. Two years ago, the madam there sold me to a wealthy regular customer, but at night he would always abuse me.

“I couldn’t take it anymore. I saved up enough money and escaped with my son, but he found out. Now he’s sent his household servants to catch me. Young Master, Miss, please save me!”
“And what about your son?” Xiao Wangshu asked again.

The woman was momentarily stunned, then replied, “I had someone take him away first. We escaped separately. They’re all chasing me-my son must have already escaped.”

“How pitiful,” Yichun sighed softly.

A look of sympathy flashed across Shuxia’s face, but she said nothing and quietly waited for Xiao Wangshu’s decision.

Xiao Wangshu grasped Xiao Fuguang’s wrist, looked at the woman, and asked, “You said you want to serve me as a Maid to repay me, but you also said you have a young son to look after.

If I save you, will you fulfill your promise and serve me as a Maid, or will you continue to flee the Capital with your son?”

The woman hurriedly replied, “I’m willing to serve you as a Maid, miss! Once I escape the servants’ search and find my son, as long as you give us a place to stay and food to eat, our lives will be yours!”

As soon as she finished speaking, two men in plain clothes rushed over.

The moment Xiao Fuguang saw them, his pupils contracted sharply.

Just as he was about to say something, the woman kneeling at his feet and clutching his wrist got up from the ground and quickly hid behind him.

In that instant, Xiao Wangshu stepped forward, separating Xiao Fuguang and the woman, using her own body to shield the woman.

The woman also let go of Xiao Fuguang and grabbed onto Xiao Wangshu’s belt.

“Miss, save me… please save me…”

Xiao Wangshu remained calm, raising her eyes to the two men opposite, her gaze as tranquil as a deep well.

“In broad daylight, you two lackeys dare to snatch someone in the street? Go back and tell your master that we’re taking this concubine-if he’s got the nerve, let him come to the Chancellor’s Mansion to claim her!”

Xiao Fuguang turned to look at Xiao Wangshu, mouth open as if about to speak. But when he saw how close the woman was to Xiao Wangshu, he swallowed his words.

Xiao Wangshu glanced at him, then fixed her gaze on the two men, shouting sternly, “Still not leaving?”

The two seemed troubled, glancing around at the gathering crowd, then at Xiao Wangshu, and finally at Xiao Fuguang.

Xiao Fuguang also flicked his sleeve and scolded, “Which household’s servants are you? Still not leaving? Tell your master to go to the Chancellor’s Mansion for her-don’t you understand?”

The two men mumbled their assent and pushed each other as they left.

“What a nuisance!” After driving them away, Xiao Fuguang brushed his collar, turned to Xiao Wangshu and the woman, and said impatiently, “They’re gone. Go get your son.”

The woman’s shoulders trembled as she shook her head. “They definitely haven’t gone far. May I trouble young master and miss to accompany me a bit further.”

Xiao Fuguang frowned, his impatience growing, and said, “We still have things to do. Just let these Guards go with you, all right?”

Li Ta and Li Jun stepped forward, speaking to the woman with some concern, “Come on, we’ll help you find your son. Don’t let those servants catch him.”

At these words, the woman clung tighter to Xiao Wangshu’s belt, begging, “Please, miss, I beg you, go with me a bit further. There are many of them, and they’re definitely still looking for me. I can’t go find my son now-I’d put him in danger…”

Xiao Wangshu raised her hand to stop Xiao Fuguang from speaking further.

Then she said to the woman, “Just stay with us for now. Let go of my clothes-your hands are dirty.”

The woman seemed to realize this, quickly releasing her grip and apologizing, “Forgive me, miss, forgive me! I was just scared and… grabbed your clothes.”

Xiao Wangshu ignored her and, together with Xiao Fuguang, led the Maids and Guards toward the Brocade Gate.

With the matter resolved, the crowd dispersed. Li Ta and Li Jun returned to the back of the group.

Yichun had the woman walk beside her. She, the woman, and Shuxia walked together, following behind Xiao Wangshu and her brother.