CHAPTER 146: CHAPTER 145: WITH A BACKGROUND

Zhu Yu stood up cautiously. She knew that a sprained ankle would not heal quickly, so she was mentally prepared for the pain while walking.

Unexpectedly, when she actually stood up and tried stepping on the ground with her sprained foot, she found that it didn’t hurt at all.

She looked at Lu Qing with a surprised expression.

Lu Qing was amused by her expression and said, "There’s no need to be so surprised. My junior brother is called the ’Divine Doctor’ for a reason."

Zhu Yu walked back and forth a few more steps and found that, indeed, there was no pain at all. It was as if she hadn’t sprained it in the first place. Her opinion of Yan Daoxin’s medical skills had improved significantly.

However, after thinking it over, she crouched down to search on the ground and found a suitably small stone. She tucked it into her sock, so it pressed right against her heel. She then put on her shoes and walked a few more steps. Each step, her heel was instinctively slowed by the stone, looking naturally like she had a limp.

Zhu Yu was very satisfied with the effect. When she looked up, she saw Lu Qing watching her with his arms crossed. The fake skin on his face made it hard to see any subtle expressions, but his eyes were clearly amused.

At that moment, another personal soldier entered from outside. Zhu Yu didn’t know his name, but she recognized him as one of the few she had seen the previous night in Situ Jing’s tent.

The soldier held a clean outer robe and, upon seeing Zhu Yu limping, his expression turned rather uncomfortable. He quickly stepped forward and handed her the robe.

"Uh, brother," he hesitated, knowing that these two weren’t of the same rank as them; otherwise, they wouldn’t have acted so carefree in front of their general. Instinctively, he wanted to address them as ’sir,’ but realizing that would be a giveaway, he awkwardly changed his words, "My general asked me to bring you a fresh robe, saying the one you wore yesterday got damaged."

As he spoke, he took a moment to look Zhu Yu over, noticing that she didn’t seem to have any other injuries besides the limp, and slightly relaxed. It was then that he realized Zhu Yu wore a perfectly intact robe. Aside from being a bit long, there was no sign of any cuts.

Turning, he saw the older, scar-faced man in underclothes standing by, understanding that this person had given his undamaged robe to the injured one, and quickly offered the robe to Lu Qing instead.

"Yesterday... I really apologize!" he cupped his hands towards the two, "He Jiu is usually the most diligent and honest, never harming innocents. Last night was an exception, driven by circumstances, not intent...

But at the end of the day, being misled was his own negligence.

When he recovers, we will make sure he comes to apologize to you two. Whether you want to punish him or not, it’s up to you two."

Lu Qing accepted the robe and waved his hand, "As you said, it was due to circumstances. There’s no need to dwell on it. Go about your business and don’t mind us."

The soldier was relieved to see they were not intending to pursue the matter, and feeling even guiltier watching Zhu Yu limp, he clenched his fist respectfully to the two before turning to leave.

"Put this on; it fits better and looks neater," Lu Qing shook out the robe in his hand, indicating for Zhu Yu to replace the one she was wearing with it.

Though Situ Jing was a military general, he showed a great deal of care by specifically asking a personal soldier to deliver a robe better suited to Zhu Yu’s stature.

With no one else coming in, Zhu Yu quickly removed the large robe she wore, handed it to Lu Qing, and then donned the slightly smaller one, carefully tying her belt.

"This soft armor... it must have quite the story, doesn’t it?" Having changed, she gently patted herself and limped over to Lu Qing, asking quietly.

Though she had feigned terror the previous day, Zhu Yu had clearly noted everyone’s reactions.

When He Jiu sliced across her front, the robe tore, revealing only a tiny bit of the soft armor, yet Situ Jing’s gaze immediately fixated on the tear.

Zhu Yu was aware that with her chest bound tightly and the golden silk armor over her underclothes, there was no trace of femininity observable.

What captured Situ Jing’s attention like that could only have been the soft armor.

Lu Qing’s reaction further confirmed her suspicions.

If the soft armor didn’t have some significant back story, he wouldn’t have promptly wrapped her in his robe to cover the exposed bit of armor.

"No matter its story, it’s armor that protects people. If I tell you it’s extremely valuable, do you intend to guard it yourself?" Lu Qing didn’t directly answer Zhu Yu’s question, possibly due to poor timing or deliberately avoiding it.

But his response didn’t deny Zhu Yu’s suspicions; it was indirectly affirming.

Zhu Yu nodded to him, tactful enough not to probe further, "Rest assured, I’m very attached to my life."

During breakfast, perhaps feeling guilt over their comrade almost hurting someone or fearing repercussions from Zhu Yu and Lu Qing in the future, the personal soldiers were exceptionally attentive. They set aside a large portion of meat for Zhu Yu, saying that she had been frightened the previous day and needed something good to settle her nerves.

Zhu Yu didn’t bother with politeness; she thanked them as necessary and ate her fill.

Although she wasn’t planning to blame the soldier unwittingly poisoned, she saw no reason the others should feel obliged to win her over or make amends, but in such a situation, refusing their goodwill would only unsettle the soldiers further.

On the contrary, accepting their gestures generously reassured them.

Moreover, Zhu Yu was well aware that even if she had nearly been unjustly harmed, ultimately, she was the one taking the fall for Situ Jing.

She knew exactly whom to hold accountable.

After breakfast, Lu Qing did as he said earlier and brought limping Zhu Yu to Situ Jing’s tent. Without ceremony, he straightforwardly made the arrangements: "General, my Chief Historian sprained his foot last night and still struggles to walk properly. Let him remain at your tent today."

Situ Jing, having watched Zhu Yu’s limping entry with his own eyes, saw the limp as genuine and immediately agreed. Not only did he let Zhu Yu stay in the tent, but he also provided a low stool for her to sit on, sparing her the need to stand.

Zhu Yu, adopting an ’I shall obey’ attitude, accepted the arrangement, sitting honestly in the tent.

Situ Jing was very busy and didn’t spend much time in the tent, giving Zhu Yu more freedom when he was absent. However, when he was present, she couldn’t sit quite as carefree.

She always felt as if Situ Jing were glancing over, his eyes filled with a touch of inquiry and speculation.