Chapter 457 - 456: Fallacious Reasoning (He Shi Bi+)

Chapter 457: Chapter 456: Fallacious Reasoning (He Shi Bi+)

Mu Liankang frowned, his gaze heavy, as he carefully spoke, "Ah Shao, are you saying that the blade came from behind you, and you turned back with the spear to knock him off the horse?"

Mu Lianxiao nodded.

Du Yunluo gripped the armrest of the chair tightly, her joints turning white.

Mu Liankang frowned; in a chase, one generally wouldn’t get injured from behind. Even if they surpassed a few Dazi, their minds would be on escaping, not attacking.

"Ah Shao, the person you knocked off—was he Dazi?" Mu Liankang asked.

Mu Lianxiao lowered his eyes and remained quiet for a long time before saying, "No, although I didn’t see his face clearly, he wasn’t Dazi."

Their armors were completely different. In a melee, there might be cases of accidental injuries, but during a chase, it was practically impossible.

Mu Lianxiao knew very well that the person intended to take his life.

Unfortunately, although he killed the traitor, the Dazi climbed onto his horse, preventing Mu Lianxiao from seeing the traitor’s face clearly.

"Was it an inside traitor, or..." Mu Liankang hesitated as he spoke.

Mu Liankang was unaware that his disappearance years ago was not an accident, and thus didn’t consider the power struggles within the Marquis Mansion.

But Du Yunluo knew; she clenched her molars. This person must have been sent by the second branch, hidden in the army, indistinguishable from ordinary soldiers. He followed Mu Lianxiao to battle, ambushing him on the battlefield.

The method was exactly the same as in the previous life, only this time, it was a knife instead of an arrow.

An incident on the battlefield is impossible to investigate.

This traitor could escape unscathed after succeeding. If he didn’t die, he might even hide in the desert or stay in Ancient Meili, transforming into a Han merchant in the city.

Mu Lianxiao glanced at Du Yunluo.

Just by looking at Du Yunluo’s expression, he understood whom she suspected.

Mu Lianxiao had his doubts too. During the most difficult days in the Great Desert, he kept thinking that if it was indeed his second uncle who made the move, he couldn’t return to the Capital alive. What would happen to Du Yunluo and Brother Yan afterward?

For the sake of the title, Mu Yuanmou could harm Mu Liankang and him—would he spare his wife and child?

At this thought, Mu Lianxiao couldn’t lose heart. He persisted and persisted, just as Du Yunluo said, he’d crawl back if he had to.

"I’m not sure." Mu Lianxiao said.

He couldn’t explain it to Mu Liankang yet; he had to wait until he met Mu Tang so the two brothers could have an open discussion.

Mu Liankang pressed his lips together. This surprise attack on Ancient Meili had greatly defeated the Dazi, but their own losses were not small either. Trying to find answers among the dead might prove difficult.

Moreover, not every fallen soldier would have their name remembered.

This matter couldn’t be solved quickly, so Mu Liankang comforted Mu Lianxiao with a few words, saying, "I’ll make a trip to the town tomorrow."

Mu Lianxiao nodded.

After Mu Liankang left, Mu Lianxiao softly called Du Yunluo, "Do you think it’s the second uncle?"

Du Yunluo smiled bitterly, "He’s the only one I can think of. If not him, who else could it be?"

The ones who wanted Mu Lianxiao to die on the battlefield were either the Dazi or the second branch.

If Mu Lianxiao died in battle, what the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion would get from it was glory bought with blood, ensuring the Mansion stood firm in the Capital. Meanwhile, it would clear the biggest obstacle in the second branch’s path to gaining the title.

"I didn’t clearly see the person’s appearance." Mu Lianxiao said.

Du Yunluo shook her head, holding Mu Lianxiao’s hand, saying earnestly, "If you didn’t see clearly, you didn’t see clearly. As long as you came back alive, nothing else matters."

Her apricot eyes were gentle, seemingly shimmering with waterlight, and Mu Lianxiao saw his reflection in her eyes. He sighed, "I promised I’d come back."

Du Yunluo’s eyes swirled, and she hummed lightly, "You also said you wouldn’t get seriously injured..."

Mu Lianxiao was slightly taken aback. Is this settling scores in the autumn?

Du Yunluo, however, turned to the side, resting her forehead against his, "As long as you came back, that’s good."

Mu Lianxiao smiled gently.

The two rested their foreheads together for a while before Du Yunluo slowly pulled away.

Mu Lianxiao carefully said to her, "I have to sit in the carriage, and it’ll take at least ten days. The journey is slow, and by the time we return to the Capital, Shangyuan will likely be over. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The Capital is waiting for us to return; staying away too long will worry Grandmother and Mother.

However, given my injury, I can’t tell them the truth, otherwise, this New Year would be spent in unease.

Yunluo, you write a letter for me back home, just say that after the surprise attack, there are still some matters at Shanyu Pass to deal with, and we set off late, so we’ll arrive in the Capital later."

Du Yunluo glanced at Mu Lianxiao’s hand. Right now, he couldn’t even hold a pen.

"I’ll forge your handwriting?" Du Yunluo asked him.

Mu Lianxiao nodded.

If it wasn’t written in his handwriting, Mrs. Zhou would certainly have suspicions.

Du Yunluo agreed, had Jin Rui prepare the pen and ink, and wrote the family letter in Mu Lianxiao’s script.

It spoke of nothing else but mentioned that the surprise attack was successful, all was well, and they would return to the Capital after a while.

Du Yunluo handed the letter to Jiuxi.

Mu Lianxiao rested for a few more days and was able to stand up and move around on his own. The only issue was that his back was slightly bent, not as straight as it used to be.

Du Yunluo was very concerned, but Mu Lianxiao reassured her, "The wound hasn’t fully healed yet. I don’t dare exert too much, but it’ll straighten up once I’m healed."

In November, heavy snow fell at Shanyu Pass.

After confirmation by the military doctor, Mu Lianxiao removed the last of the bandages on his body.

A long knife wound was left on his back, and compared to that, the other scars seemed less frightening.

Du Yunluo’s palm covered Mu Lianxiao’s scar, and with a pained voice, she asked, "Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn’t hurt." Mu Lianxiao turned around and wrapped her soft little hand in his, seeing her eyes red, he kissed the corner of her eye, "You don’t like to see the scar?"

Du Yunluo puffed her cheeks; who would like to see it.

Mu Lianxiao held her waist and said, "Yunluo, I won’t turn my back to you; you won’t see it."

Du Yunluo widened her eyes. What kind of twisted logic is that! Even if it sounds like a heartfelt confession, twisted logic is still twisted!

You can’t just pretend the scar doesn’t exist because you can’t see it, right?

Besides, she might not see it, but she could still feel it.

"I don’t care, I’ll apply ointment for you later. Let’s see how much it fades," Du Yunluo said coquettishly.

Mu Lianxiao smiled indulgently. He didn’t want her to worry and feel sad. Her pouting and coaxing was the cutest.

After some rest, Mu Lianxiao’s body was fit to travel by carriage, so the group set out back to the town.

Du Yunluo hadn’t seen Brother Yan for several days and was concerned in her heart. When they reached the town, she saw Brother Yan in Lady Peng’s arms.

Brother Yan giggled, stretching his hands toward Du Yunluo. Du Yunluo hurried over in two strides, scooping Brother Yan into her arms, and kissed him twice with fervor.