Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 92

Chapter 92

Chen Chu remained expressionless as he walked over to Yuchi Yan. Stopping half a step away, he leaned in slightly and caught a scent from a distance.

It was indeed the same fragrance.

In a flash, memories regarding this scent flickered through Chen Chu’s mind-

Herbal Honey Paste!

The spy struck by an arrow, the scar-removing medicine, the canceled marriage alliance, the Blood Exchange Brotherhood… Scene after scene from his memory linked together, weaving a conspiracy that sent a chill down his spine.

Chen Chu appeared somewhat shocked and bewildered.

“Does the General have any further instructions?”

Yuchi Yan’s question brought Chen Chu back to his senses.

Taking in the expressions of everyone around him, Chen Chu composed his emotions.

“Even though you have left the military camp, do not indulge yourselves too much.

“Whatever private hobbies you have are none of my business. But in matters of duty, if you fail to protect the young lady, I am afraid you will have to be exiled to Di Zhou all over again!”

Having said his piece, Chen Chu ignored the scar on Qin Tai’s right shoulder and turned to give orders to Yang Yumu and the others. “Withdraw and return to camp!”

“Yes, sir!”

…

After watching Chen Chu lead his troops away, Qin Tai and Yuchi Yan exchanged a look, both clearly relieved.

What they did not know was that after Chen Chu led his troops away from the manor, he did not return to camp with his subordinates. Instead, he rushed back to the Brocade Gate.

–

Inside the Brocade Gate, the three Tuoba siblings had come to visit Xiao Wangshu in the afternoon to see how her recovery was progressing and to discuss some matters regarding the Blood Replacement Ceremony.

The four of them sat and chatted for the entire afternoon.

At this moment, Xiao Wangshu was about to accompany the three siblings to dinner when, unexpectedly, Chen Chu returned.

Chen Chu always arrived suddenly, acting outside the norm, which caught her somewhat off guard.

“General, what brings you back?” Xiao Wangshu asked, curtsying in greeting.

Chen Chu cupped his fists and returned the salute. He looked at the three Tuoba siblings behind her and ultimately swallowed the questions he wanted to ask. He reached into his robes and produced the Golden Toad Jade Seal.

“I have finished inspecting the manor with my troops and have come specifically to return your token, My Lady.”

Xiao Wangshu’s thoughts grew heavy, but she maintained a smile on her face. “The General has worked hard. What was the result?”

Chen Chu replied in a deep voice, “Nothing was found; I was merely overthinking. I hope My Lady does not blame me for disrupting the renovations at the manor today.”

Xiao Wangshu smiled indifferently upon hearing this and tightened her grip on the jade seal. The jade still held the lingering warmth of Chen Chu’s body.

“It is no matter. The General was acting out of concern for my safety. How could I dare blame you?”

When she had given him the jade seal earlier, she had mentioned that if he didn’t have time today, he could return it to her at the Chancellor’s Mansion whenever he was free tomorrow.

His arrival now meant it wasn’t because he had found nothing.

On the contrary, he had likely discovered something and rushed here to seek verification from her.

He only refrained from speaking because Tuoba Jihui and the others were present.

“Thank you for your understanding, My Lady.”

Chen Chu looked up at her and added, “If My Lady has business, please attend to it. I shall take my leave.”

Xiao Wangshu curtsied to see him off. “Safe travels, General.”

Chen Chu returned the salute and turned to leave, his black cloak fluttering sharply in the cold wind.

Xiao Wangshu was staring at his retreating back, lost in thought and worrying about the situation on Qin Tai’s end, when Tuoba Xin stepped forward and took her arm.

“What’s wrong with you, looking like you’re in a daze?” Tuoba Xin shook her arm back and forth, teasing her. “Let’s go, Wangshu! My stomach is already growling!”

Xiao Wangshu snapped out of it and flashed a smile at her. “Let’s go. We’re eating out.”

“Great!”

Tuoba Xin was overjoyed, dragging Xiao Wangshu along as she strode toward White Tiger Street.

Tuoba Jihui and Tuoba Yunxiao followed behind them, wearing somewhat helpless smiles.
…

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

Xiao Wangshu’s carriage was parked by the roadside, waiting along the route Chen Chu always took to the morning court session.

Once her injuries had mostly healed, Fang Qin’er stopped restricting her movements, knowing she wasn’t the type to sit still. On the contrary, Fang Qiluo, who hadn’t been injured much at all, was still being kept at home to rest and recover. Since her last visit to the Chancellor’s Mansion to see Xiao Wangshu, she hadn’t stepped foot outside the gates of the Fang Mansion.

“Miss, General Chen! It’s General Chen!”

Yichun lifted the carriage curtain to look out. Seeing Chen Chu’s figure, she reported back to Xiao Wangshu with a hint of excitement.

The young miss had said that once General Chen arrived, she and Shuxia could get off the carriage and go buy some breakfast on the street for themselves.

“Alright, you two head down. Invite General Chen up,” Xiao Wangshu said, sitting inside the carriage eating from a steamer of piping hot buns, accompanied by a pot of soybean milk.

Hearing this, Shuxia asked hesitantly, “Miss, General Chen is an unrelated man, and you are an unmarried lady. Is it… appropriate to share a carriage?”

“Qin Tai is guarding the outside. Do you think General Chen and I could do anything scandalous in the middle of the street?” Xiao Wangshu countered.

Shuxia thought about it and realized she had a point.

Still feeling uneasy, she asked, “Miss, should I stay in the carriage to attend to you?”

“No need. You and Yichun go get something to eat. See which bun shop on the street opened early, and bring a few back for Qin Tai to nourish his brain.”

She wanted him to nourish his brain so he could figure out exactly where he had slipped up.

When Chen Chu rushed to find her yesterday, he had come just short of asking her directly if that arrow had been fired by Qin Tai. Meanwhile, when Qin Tai reported back to her yesterday, he had been quite confident, believing he had evaded Chen Chu’s search.

He truly did need to nourish his brain.

Hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words, Qin Tai, who was outside the carriage, didn’t dare utter a sound.

Yichun smiled somewhat mischievously and asked Xiao Wangshu, “Miss, what exactly did Qin Tai do to make you so angry?”

Xiao Wangshu glanced at her and replied, “Don’t ask what shouldn’t be asked. Knowing too much won’t do you any good. Go buy your buns.”

“Oh.” Yichun rubbed her head and hopped off the carriage followed by Shuxia.

On the road.

Chen Chu was riding his horse toward the imperial palace, looking somewhat distracted as he replayed yesterday’s events in his mind.

Just then, Yichun and Shuxia appeared on the road and flagged him down.

After hearing what they had to say, Chen Chu snapped back to his senses. He dismounted, tied his horse to a tree by the roadside, and quickened his pace to Xiao Wangshu’s carriage.

He shot a glance at Qin Tai, who was driving the carriage. Under the latter’s slightly fearful gaze, Chen Chu simply hiked up his robe and stepped directly onto the carriage, not even needing the footstool.

The carriage swayed under his weight.

It wasn’t until he lifted the curtain, hunched over, and squeezed inside to sit down that the carriage finally steadied.

Seeing Chen Chu sit down with his head nearly touching the roof, Xiao Wangshu’s tense nerves relaxed, and she almost felt like laughing.

“Have you eaten, General?”

Xiao Wangshu asked. Seeing Chen Chu shake his head, she pushed another steamer of buns toward him. “They aren’t scalding anymore, just warm. Will you make do with these, General?”

Chen Chu took the chopsticks and said in a low voice, “Thank you, Miss.”

As soon as he took a bite, Xiao Wangshu got straight to the point. “General, you went to Brocade Gate to find me again yesterday. Was there something on your mind?”

If Chen Chu truly hadn’t discovered anything yesterday, he would have asked why she was waiting for him here at this hour. But from the moment he saw her until now, he hadn’t expressed the slightest doubt.

It was clear he knew exactly why she would come looking for him.