Chapter 223 - 223 Wait for Me

223 Wait for Me

Lu Yao refused to give up and tried to strike up a conversation again.

“My name is Lu Yao. May I know your name?”

Dang Gui felt that this person was so annoying and disturbed her enjoyment of delicious food.

She picked up her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and said, “My name is Dang Gui.”

Then, she ran out of the kitchen with her bowl and chopsticks.

She wanted to find a quiet place to continue enjoying her food.

Lu Yao called her twice, but she did not even turn her head. From her posture, it was as if she was avoiding him like he was a snake.

This made Lu Yao doubt himself. Was he really that annoying?

The young page ran in and couldn’t help asking when he saw his young master sitting in the kitchen in a daze.

“Young Master, didn’t you come looking for food? Did you find it?”

Lu Yao sighed. “I did find it, but it’s gone.”

The boy servant was confused. He did not understand what his young master meant.

… .

At the door of the guest room on the second floor.

Yu Niaoniao held the tray with both hands and could not knock. She wanted to call out to Duke Lang, but she remembered that they were still playing the role of Prince Min and his son. Hence, she reorganized the words on her lips and said, “Are you in there, Your Highness?”

A moment later, the door was pulled open from the exit.

When Xiao Juan saw that it was her, he turned around and let her in.

Yu Niaoniao placed the tray on the table. “Quick, try the Texas chicken I just made and see if it’s delicious.”

She lifted the lid of the casserole and the fragrance filled the entire room.

Xiao Juan sat down at the table and took the bowl and chopsticks from her.

He first tried a piece of chicken, then a mouthful of chicken soup. Finally, he gave a pertinent evaluation.

“It tastes delicious.”

Yu Niaoniao immediately smiled. “As long as you like it.”

She scooped up a bowl of rice, soaked it in chicken soup, and covered it with a layer of shredded chicken and mushrooms.

Just like that, she used her chopsticks to pull the chicken, mushroom, and rice into her mouth. She was extremely satisfied!

This was Yu Niaoniao’s favorite way of eating.

After eating and drinking her fill, Yu Niaoniao asked.

“How’s that Qian Jiu’s trial going? Did he reveal the mastermind?”

Xiao Juan walked to the small stove, picked up the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and replied.

“Qian Jiu is responsible for kidnapping women in Wangsong City. He had more than a dozen people under him. Their gang had a stronghold elsewhere. They divided the abducted women into grades. The last grade was sent to the military camp as military prostitutes. The better ones were placed in brothels to earn money. The best ones were kept and carefully trained by them, to be given to the nobles as a gift.”

He handed one of the cups of tea to Yu Niaoniao.

Yu Niaoniao waved her hand. “I don’t drink tea at night. I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep.”

Xiao Juan said, “This is calming tea. It helps with sleep.”

Hearing this, Yu Niaoniao no longer refused. She thanked her Baby sweetly and took a sip of the teacup.

Seeing that she had drunk the tea, Xiao Juan continued.

“The military camp Qian Jiu mentioned is the Eastern Expedition Army, which is the garrison army of Liaodong County.

According to the records of the Imperial Court, the Eastern Expedition Army had a total of 100,000 troops.

Their main duty was to guard the Liaodong border and prevent the Chen Country from invading.

At the same time, they have to protect the safety of the entire Liaodong County.”

Yu Niaoniao blinked. “You mean the Eastern Expedition Army is secretly colluding with the human trafficking gang?”

Xiao Juan said, “If what Qian Jiu said is true, then there must be a huge problem with the Eastern Expedition Army.”

Yu Niaoniao recalled what Duan Nian’er had said before she died. Her heart skipped a beat as she had a guess.

“Could the mastermind behind Qian Jiu and Duan Nian’er be the same person? The reason why Duan Nian’er is so eager to attack Prince Min and his son is that there’s a problem within the Eastern Expedition Army. Someone is afraid of being exposed, so they want to attack Prince Min and his son.”

Xiao Juan replied calmly, “What you said is not impossible. The Eastern Expedition Army accepted military prostitutes. If this matter is investigated, the commander of the Eastern Expedition Army will be responsible.”

Yu Niaoniao asked curiously, “Who’s the commander of the Eastern Expedition Army?”

“General Tang Pei.”

Yu Niaoniao thought the name sounded familiar at first, but then she remembered.

“Isn’t General Tang who suggested abolishing the military prostitutes?”

It was because the emperor had listened to Tang Pei’s suggestion that he had issued a decree banning prostitutes from the military. She did not expect that someone in Tang Pei’s military camp was raising military prostitutes.

This was too ironic.

Yu Niaoniao said worriedly, “If there’s really a problem with the Eastern Expedition Army, then it will definitely be very dangerous for us to go to Liaodong County this time.”

The Eastern Expedition Army had 100,000 troops, but they only brought more than 50 Eagle Guards with them this time.

Even if the Eagle Guards could fight ten people alone, they could not defeat 100,000 troops!

Xiao Juan put down his teacup and slowly explained his plan, “This trip is indeed very dangerous, so I want you to stay in Wangsong City. After I send Prince Min and his son to Liaodong County, I’ll come back and meet you.”

Yu Niaoniao rejected him without thinking.

“No! I can’t let you take the risk alone. I want to go with you! We’re husband and wife. We should go through thick and thin together. Don’t even think about leaving me!”

With that, she put down her teacup and grabbed Xiao Juan’s hand tightly, her expression incomparably firm.

Xiao Juan did not say anything else and just stared at her.

Gradually, Yu Niaoniao felt a little dizzy, and intense sleepiness swept over her.

Her eyelids drooped uncontrollably. Her body swayed twice before she fell weakly into Xiao Juan’s arms.

Xiao Juan picked her up and gently placed her on the bed before covering her with a blanket.

He stroked Yu Niaoniao’s hair and spoke with unprecedented gentleness.

“Be good and sleep well.”

Yu Niaoniao had already realized that there was something wrong with the cup of tea.

She managed to hold on to the last of her rationality and asked with difficulty.

“Why?”

Xiao Juan said slowly.

“I brought you out this time because I was afraid that you would be plotted against in the Imperial Capital. I have to put you near me to feel at ease. But what man proposes, God disposes. I underestimated the danger of Liaodong County. I do not know if I would return alive from Liaodong County this time. I can only leave you here for now. I’ll let Little Lo stay to keep you safe.

Just wait two weeks for me. If I’m not back in half a month, follow Little Lo back to the Imperial Capital.”

Yu Niaoniao gripped his sleeve tightly. “I don’t…”

Reason told her not to sleep. But the sleepiness was getting stronger.

In the end, her body could not hold on and she fell asleep.

Xiao Juan pried her fingers apart one by one and carefully placed her under the blanket.

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked quietly at her sleeping face.

He stared at her for half the night.

When it was almost dawn outside, he stood up.

Xiao Juan did not know if they would be able to see each other again. He was extremely reluctant. He bent down and his thin lips landed on Yu Niaoniao’s forehead with a feather-like kiss.

“Wait for me to come back.”