Chapter 374: Hero Saves the Ugly

Jiang Li kicked the door open with a reverse foot kick, "Then we're tacitly in sync."

He placed the tray on the table, walked to the bedside and sat down, lowered his head and kissed Du Ruo, "Get up, as your husband, I specially had the back kitchen boil chicken soup, added red dates and angelica, to replenish qi and blood, drink more."

Du Ruo let out an "oh", blinking her big watery eyes, "Then turn around, I haven't put on clothes yet."

Jiang Li chuckled lightly, "Okay."

Speaking, he obediently walked to the other side of the table, his back to Du Ruo, and took out the small cup from the tray.

Besides the chicken soup, there were also several tasty snacks.

After Jiang Li had neatly arranged the bowls and chopsticks, and even poured out the face-washing and rinsing water, Du Ruo also finished dressing.

The young couple sat down and began to eat.

While eating, they chatted about returning to their hometown.

Master Yan had already arranged a horse carriage; he would come early tomorrow to the county inn to pick people up, intending to take the official road for safety. Z. br>

Of course, the official road couldn't guarantee no danger; one could still encounter bandits—for example, refugees, robbers, and thieves—and there were many of them.

So we must always stay vigilant.

Especially those carrying valuables on their person must rally twelvefold spirit, not relaxing in the slightest.

As for this, Du Ruo was quite calm.

With Jiang Li and Lao Tietou, two great experts, holding down the fort, what did she have to fear?

Not only was she not afraid, she was a little excited, hoping there would be more bandits blocking the road so Jiang Li could earn another merit by suppressing bandits, and maybe the officials would even promote him a notch.

Thinking of that, Du Ruo couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Jiang Li's eyes never left his little wife; seeing her lost in thought, smiling like a sly fox, lively and adorable, he also curled the corners of his mouth.

After finishing the meal, the couple decided to stroll down Wulin Street; having been out for so long, they ought to bring some gifts back for the elders and children at home, right?

The two summoned the attendant to clear the bowls and chopsticks, then held hands and went downstairs.

In the lobby on the first floor, Master Yan was instructing the students on precautions for returning home: don't flaunt wealth, don't travel alone, don't talk to strangers, and so on.

Seeing Jiang Li and Du Ruo come down, everyone greeted them.

Several students couldn't help but sneak glances at Du Ruo's face, but quickly realized their behavior was improper and hurriedly lowered their eyes, putting on a gentlemanly act.

Even Master Jiang gave her several extra looks.

Lao Tietou leaned crookedly against the doorpost, hehe-laughing as he watched Du Ruo.

Du Ruo had recently often been the center of attention, accustomed to all kinds of gazes, so she felt nothing; after exchanging a few pleasantries, she went out together with Jiang Li.

Only after they had walked far away and disappeared from sight did Xiao Liangchen reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

A Man today... seemed somewhat different from usual.

Naturally, she was also extremely beautiful in the past.

But today she, her cheeks flushed and supple, her figure graceful, losing some immaturity and gaining a hint of allure—like a bud about to bloom, finally blossoming into a flower of a hundred charms.

Especially those phoenix eyes, their gaze flowing, moist, as if bearing hooks.

Making one's heart sway and hard to restrain.

Xiao Liangchen couldn't describe what he felt—there was regret, there was disappointment, there was jealousy, yet at the same time he felt ashamed to bear having harbored improper thoughts toward a married woman.

If he had known earlier, he shouldn't have let go no matter what he said back then.

It's a pity it's too late; from the moment he distanced himself from A Man after listening to his mother's words, he had already made his choice.

What face does he have left to regret now?

Xiao Liangchen self-mockingly twitched the corner of his mouth—everything was his own doing, he deserved this torment……

"Gossip gossip, big gossip!" Just then, Bian Dou Dou burst in from outside the county inn, panting, his chubby face full of excitement, "I just came back from the street and heard a huge piece of strange news—do you all want to hear it?"

A huge piece of strange news?

The students' interest was instantly piqued, "Hurry up and say it, what strange news?"

Bian Dou Dou simply stood up on the stool, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces, and said mysteriously, "Do you still remember that pimple-faced ugly monster from the Apricot Forest Grand Assembly?"

Cough cough!

Master Yan coughed heavily twice, straightened his face, "How dare you speak like that? As a scholar, how can you utter foul words?"

"Oh dear, Master, don't rush to speak for her; it's not too late to scold me after you finish hearing the gossip."

Bian Dou Dou continued, "Let me tell you, that ugly monster is actually not a country girl at all, but an official's daughter—and, get this, she's from the same hometown as us!"

Everyone looked at each other.

Someone asked, "You mean she also came from Wutou Xian?"

"Exactly!" Bian Dou Dou slapped the table, "Her father is none other than the magistrate of Wutou Xian, Lord Du!"

Xiao Liangchen suddenly lifted his head.

"Her name isn't Tong Zhen at all; it's Du Mingzhu!"

Xiao Liangchen's face turned white in an instant.

"Don't be fooled by how nice her name sounds—she's thoroughly wicked; beating and killing servants is commonplace. Not only that, she doesn't even spare her own half-sister, jealous that her sister is prettier, she poisoned her, literally ruining her sister's face!"

Saying this, Bian Dou Dou seemed to recall something, "Oh right, you all know her sister too—she's Ah Zhan's elder sister-in-law, Du Niang Zi."

The students were all stunned, eyes wide open, mouths unable to close.

It took a good while before they reacted.

Buzz—immediately the hall erupted in noise.

"I remember now! No wonder the elder sister-in-law Jiang's face was full of pustules before—it turned out her younger sister had poisoned her."

"Fortunately, Elder Sister-in-law Jiang had studied medicine and cured herself; otherwise we wouldn't know what would have happened!"

"At such a young age, her heart is so vicious—it's utterly terrifying……"

A student hurriedly pulled Jiang Zhan aside and asked, "Ah Zhan, did Du Mingzhu really do those vicious deeds?"

Jiang Zhan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Indeed it is true."

Although he had been at the academy for years and rarely went home, his elder brother and sister-in-law had never kept anything from him, especially the grudge with the Du family, which they had told him long ago.

The purpose was to let him stay on guard, so he wouldn't fall victim to Du Mingzhu's vicious schemes.

With Jiang Zhan's confirmation, the students, who had been somewhat doubtful, now fully believed.

Those with some family background felt their hearts tremble—no, they would go home and tell their families: marry whoever you like, but under no circumstances should you discuss a marriage alliance with the Du family.

Others need money to marry, but forming a marriage tie with the Du family is purely a matter of life and death!

"Huh, that's not right—wasn't Du Mingzhu the one who poisoned Jiang's elder sister-in-law? How did she herself end up like that?" someone asked doubtfully.

Everyone turned their gaze to Bian Dou Dou.

Bian Dou Dou chuckled, "You wouldn't know this, but at the Xinglin Grand Assembly, Divine Doctor Wen said that Du Mingzhu was bitten by a cockroach, which is why she turned into that ghastly state. How much power could a little cockroach have? After all, she's done so much evil that even heaven can't stand it and has struck her down."

So that's how it is, the students all shook their heads and sighed.

Indeed, one must not do evil.

Looks like she's getting her comeuppance, right?

One student suddenly bumped into the silent Xiao Liangchen and teased, "What's wrong, Brother Xiao? Your face looks awful—are you recalling that time on the boat when you heroically saved the beauty… oh no, I mean when you heroically saved the ugly one?"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst out laughing.

One person said, "This can't be blamed on Brother Xiao; he's always kind-hearted and draws his sword to help whenever he sees injustice—how could he know that Du Mingzhu is so vicious?"

"Isn't that so?" another added, "Fortunately that woman didn't cling to Brother Xiao, insisting on marrying him—otherwise Brother Xiao would have been in terrible trouble."

For a while, laughter echoed continuously in the hall.