Chapter 36: Thoughtful Cotton-Padded Jacket, Yu Baobao

A famous general of the Northern Dynasties, He Lian Bo Bo......?

Could it not be that A Chou once said he became famous at a young age, and at sixteen he was ennobled as that hero general who could not be ennobled any further?

Both of them have mentioned this person; his weight in the Northern Dynasties is absolutely not small.

Or rather, the information Chinu gave carries too much weight.

If this news fell into the ears of someone with intent, it might well be enough to stir the situation of the Nine Provinces......

However, this news landing in Du Shanü's ears truly feels like a woman becoming a prince-consort entering the bridal chamber—truly willing but powerless.

She only recently led people out of poverty to have enough to eat, and now the repairs in her household have just been put on the agenda!

Never mind the Northern Dynasties; even the Southern Dynasties' capital is a thousand li away!

How many taels of loose silver does the household have now?

Not even enough for travel expenses to the Northern Dynasties, let alone talk of turning a Northern Dynasties famous general.

Moreover, turning someone is hardly an easy matter.

To make someone betray their lord, one must either promise a high office or generous stipend—what does Du Shanü have?

A small thatched hut, mountains full of acorns, a few taels of loose silver?

Chinu's this information is useful.

But it cannot be denied, it's too far, too far.

Du Shanü felt somewhat stifled; she really couldn't hold back, slightly turned her head, and whispered a complaint:

"Good slave slave, it's not that I want to say this about you—but the information you gave really makes people uncomfortable; distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. It would be better to directly tell me how to seize the Cangnan County Xian Xie......."

Having spoken to this point, everything came to an abrupt halt.

It's not that Du Shanü didn't want to speak, but......

Only now did she realize that this distance has become somewhat too close.

The green medicinal ointment Chinu used to cover her face had been wiped away at some unknown time; she needed only to lower her eyes slightly to take in the beauty that others could hardly see.

Chinu was born extremely white, white to the point of near transparency, like cold jade that has not seen sunlight for a long time.

And this cold jade is not without flaw.

In her brows, at the sides of her cheeks, and on the bridge of her nose, each bears a mole mark.

Neither too light nor too dark, they are placed just right, adding a touch of allure.

Her brows are light and long, slanting into her temples.

A pair of narrow, elongated eyes, with the outer corners slightly lifted; when she looks at people, her gaze is always clear and icy, inexplicably making one's spine feel chilled.

Her nose bridge is straight, her lip color slightly pale; when she presses her lips together, the lip line is distinct.

Her whole bearing is that of an outstanding bone structure, but being too thin adds a hint of sinister vigor.

Du Shanü's unscrupulous gaze was quickly noticed by the other party; the two narrowed their eyes and locked gazes.

In a single breath, the two were like kin who had sensed each other's aura; they tacitly averted their eyes, as if nothing had happened.

Du Shanü lightly swallowed a mouthful of saliva, moistening her inexplicably dry throat, and said as if nothing were the matter:

"Sir, could you give me a different piece of information?"

"I'll treat the previous information as if I never heard it!"

Chinu concealed the gloom in the depths of her eyes and gave a humored laugh:

"If there's business, sir; if not, slave slave?"

Being so worldly and smooth, yet still having the face to claim she is an honest, proper woman?

If it were an ordinary marriage, one fears she would later grow tired of the old and seek the new, unable to endure loneliness.

Du Shanü naturally did not know the other's thoughts; the two were like thousand-year-old old foxes, needing countless tests of each other's limits before knowing the outcome.

Therefore, Du Shanü merely steadied her spirit, preparing to casually brush off a few sentences to get past the matter.

Who would have expected that at this moment, another clear, moist voice sounded at the lips, softly pleading:

"Good slave slave, you promised the Wife Master...... today among those who carry you, I am also here!"

"I don't want you to repay me; you repay the Wife Master—just get her another piece of information and that'll do!"

The two who had been exchanging blows were both startled; Du Shanü instinctively looked toward Yu Hen.

The earlier eye cover had been thrown somewhere unknown; Yu Baobao lay thus against the sickbed, her face resting on folded hands, her still slightly damp black hair scattering loosely.

Perhaps due to some mixed ethnic blood, his nose bridge is high and straight, his brow ridge slightly higher than average, giving his eyes and brows a few extra depths.

His lips are slightly thin, with a distinct lip line.

The noonday sun struggled to leak through the window lattice, casting streaks upon his face and lips.

The indoor shadows slid from his brow ridge over his nose bridge, over the philtrum, and completely submerged at the lower lip bearing a silver trace.

His Adam's apple protruded slightly, sliding gently with his breath.

His collar was loose, revealing a section of neck and the curved arc of his collarbone.

His wrist emerged from the cuff, joints distinct, fingers long and loosely curled.

Having just awakened from a long dream, perhaps sensing that Du Shanü and Chinu were nearby, his brows and eyes half-closed, his breathing long and slow, his whole body exuding a languid, listless air, appearing both obedient and dazzling:

"Everyone in the world despises me as stupid, but I myself know that most of the time I am quite clever."

"If I don't speak up, you'll surely forget that there's still a share for me!"

After losing his sight, many things he cannot do, not because he is unwilling.

But if there is something he can help with, he also does it within his ability!

Du Shanü saw the pride in his brows and eyes, couldn't hold back, and let out a light laugh.

Unlike Chinu's cold beauty, Du Shanü lowered her head; Yu Baobao sensed something, then rubbed her head against her shoulder, appearing especially reassured.

Du Shanü then praised:

"Yes yes yes, Yu Baobao is really smart......"

"Still that same question, who exactly gave birth to Yu Baobao?"

"How can they be so endearing!"

"I really like this kind of simple-minded person, I really enjoy this clingy touch, feeling motivated to fantasize about their rural love story......"

"Their smiles rippled, landing in others' eyes yet stinging like a glare."

"Chinu let out another cold laugh:"

"If you want to follow the wife's lead, go to the rear hall; don't give birth in front of my bed."

"What nonsense! What nonsense!"

"Du Shanü gritted her teeth in secret, completely out of options."

"Chinu's poisonous tongue and gloomy demeanor make it hard to get any good from him."

"But, he is one of a kind."

"Besides him, who else could discuss with Du Shanü the earth-shattering secret that a Northern Dynasties famous general could be turned?"

"If it were anyone else, leaking even a hint of wind would surely bring about a reckoning!"

"How should we choose?"

"How can such distant news be put to use?"

"Du Shanü slowly withdrew her smile and began to ponder."

"Yu Hen propped up his chin, striving to find Chinu's direction:"

"Chinu, don't be stubborn!"

"Quickly tell the Wife Master, okay? Besides the Wife Master, who else could treat us this well, carrying you out in the rain to get treatment, buying medicine for me?"

"Having enough to eat, having a place to shelter from wind and rain, not getting sick, and even if sick, the pain quickly fades......"

"This is what he has sought all his life!"

"The Wife Master is so good, telling her is no big deal!"

"Yu Baobao tilted her head, her eyes full of a serious expression."

"Chinu's chest rose and fell a few breaths, he really couldn't hold back the mockery in his words:"

"You think she took you in for what reason? She's lusting after your beauty!"

"You think she braved the rain to carry me out for what reason? She has ulterior motives, hoping I'll repay her!"

"You're fine, not leaving any trump cards...... Do you know that you're now wholeheartedly a son-in-law, but once she tires of you, your beauty fades and love wanes, what good ending could you have?"

"?? Chinu especially despises and is defensive against the behavior of love-brained childhood friends, but when it comes to himself......"