Though Hua Yan held the rank of Supreme First-Class National Guardian General of Nanchu, his villa in Liaozhou was remarkably simple.
There were no flowers or plants—the rear courtyard was a vast training ground. Many armored soldiers stood guard, and when they saw Hua Le return, they smiled brightly and offered a half-bow on the spot.
Wang Ru led them straight into the rear hall. Though this General’s residence was simple in style, it covered a vast area, and the rooms had higher ceilings than those in Liujing. As a result, even with braziers lit for warmth, the interior wasn’t very warm.
Still, it was much better than the freezing cold outside.
“Mother, this plum blossom is for you.”
Hua Le smiled as she offered the plum blossoms in her arms to Wang Ru with both hands, her eyes filled with childlike affection and longing, and a hint of anticipation.
Wang Ru had already noticed the plum blossoms in Hua Le’s arms. She assumed Hua Le had brought them from outside the city—after all, Liaozhou right now…
“My good Le’er—if not for you, Mother wouldn’t have seen plum blossoms at all this year.”
Wang Ru took the plum blossoms and gently stroked them. Her eyes held a complexity and confusion that Hua Le couldn’t understand.
After Wang Ru praised her, Hua Le couldn’t stop the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Seeing her thoughtful and obedient daughter, Wang Ru’s heart softened even more. But now wasn’t the time to ask questions—she turned to look at Murong Yun, who had just taken her seat.
She recognized A Xuan and Cao Lingzhi, but this beautiful young woman was unfamiliar. Though plainly dressed, her bearing was anything but ordinary.
And for some reason, when she looked at the woman’s stunning face, she always felt a faint sense of familiarity…
“Le’er, you haven’t introduced this elder sister who came back with you to Mother yet.”
Wang Ru patted Hua Le’s head, reminding her of her duty as the young hostess to introduce the friend she’d brought home.
After Hua Le had finished acting spoiled in Wang Ru’s arms, she quickly stood up at her mother’s reminder and glanced at Murong Yun. She had truly been negligent—Sister Lei had saved her life, and yet she’d needed her mother’s prompt to remember.
Thinking of this, a trace of shame passed over Hua Le’s face. She quickly began introducing Murong Yun to Wang Ru.
“Mother, this is Le’er’s lifesaver. Her name is Lei Feng. She’s really amazing—back when…”
Hua Le chattered away, recounting in detail the perilous circumstances under which she met Murong Yun, and went on to explain how she was now helping her escape—causing her to be separated from her guards.
Only after her mouth was dry and tongue parched did she finish recounting everything, then quickly grabbed the tea on the table to quench her thirst.
Just then, Wang Ru—who had been listening to Hua Le’s account—rose with a face full of gratitude and walked over to Murong Yun’s seat.
Murong Yun looked at Wang Ru walking over, not understanding why. Sensing something was off, she quickly stood up—but before she could speak, the other party suddenly knelt on both knees and gave a heavy kowtow.
“Thank you, Miss Lei, for saving my daughter’s life. If you have any request, my entire general’s household is willing to serve you with utmost devotion!”
These words were filled with gratitude toward Murong Yun for saving her daughter.
But Murong Yun was startled by the other’s sudden action. Who was Wang Ru? Though not her birth mother, she was the mistress of the General’s Manor—by rounding up, she was someone who deserved to be called her “mother.”
Murong Yun quickly helped her up, shaking her head. “It was nothing, Madam. Please don’t offer such a grand gesture.”
“You’re too polite, Miss. This favor is greater than the heavens. If not for your kindness, I might never have seen Le’er again.”
As Wang Ru spoke, there seemed to be tears in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and smiled. “I’m being long-winded. You’ve all gone to such trouble to bring Le’er back—surely you’re hungry. I’ll go prepare some food for you.”
“Le’er, you take good care of our guests first. Mother will be back soon."
Wang Ru gave Hua Le a few instructions, then gently stroked her hair with reluctance before leaving—she was actually going to cook herself.
Hua Le nodded and replied with surprising maturity, “Don’t worry, Mother. Go ahead.”
A'Xuan sat to the side, picked up the teacup on the table, and saw that it was just warm water. He didn’t mind, took a sip, and only when Wang Ru had one foot out the door did he seem to remember something and speak.
“Madam Hua, might I trouble you for an extra egg? I’ve had quite a rough time these past few days.”
Hearing the man’s nearly shameless tone, Murong Yun’s mouth twitched. She glanced sideways at A Xuan, her gaze landing on the mask on his face—and suddenly, inspiration struck.
Indeed—with that shamelessness and a mask on top, this person really is invincible.
Wang Ru heard him, turned back, and gave him a nod.
A'Xuan had previously been rescued by her and Hua Le, so compared to Murong Yun, he was quite familiar—and this wasn’t the first time he’d ordered food.
However, Liaozhou has now been under siege by the Pingyun army for half a month. The townspeople have already run out of food—let alone the General’s Manor. To prevent riots, military rations have been opened and thin porridge is being distributed.
But dragging on like this, who knows if they can hold out until the day the General returns…
And the things Wang Ru was thinking were also what Murong Yun was quietly wondering about.
Aside from Hua Le—whose existence she’d never heard a whisper of back in Liujing—Grand General Hua Yan had been stationed in Liaozhou for twenty years. That same year, his wife Wang Ru, pregnant at the time, requested to accompany the army and gave birth to their third son, Hua Wu.
By age, her third younger brother would be twenty this year.
But why was it that, after the young miss had been missing for days, only Wang Ru came to receive her?
With enemy forces pressing at the borders, the city itself looked to be in utter chaos…
Thinking of this, Murong Yun’s face was full of confusion. She asked Hua Le directly, “Why aren’t your father and brother at the manor?”
She’d felt uneasy when bringing Hua Le here—after all, she hadn’t met anyone in this household. To the original host, Hua Yan, her nominal father, had once been a figure of childhood longing.
But after she grew up, the emperor’s affection fully made up for the lack of fatherly love, and so she no longer thought of that father.
Hua Le didn’t actually know much. She’d been abducted more than half a month ago—back then, Liaozhou hadn’t yet been besieged.
And back then, the townsfolk were happily selling rice.
She struggled to recall, then said, “I remember—it was those bad guys from Pingyun who came to steal from the villagers, and then Father led people to drive them off…
"Then Third Brother stayed behind to protect Liaozhou, and then… and then I was taken away."
Hua Le spoke up to this point, still somewhat indignant—and as for what happened afterward, she naturally didn’t know.
Fortunately, someone else knew what happened next. A Xuan looked at the two and continued, “After she went missing, Third Young Master Hua Wu was sent by his mother to search for her. He was gone for seven days without a word.”
“Soon after, Pingyun’s forces laid siege to Liaozhou. And then… I entered the picture.”
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