Chapter 182 - Baoshans Past (2/2)

My ungrateful boy, why didn’t you let me enjoy a good life with you at that time? Why did you come back only when you had failed, getting us into trouble?

Ye Xiaoxian could feel that Xiao Baoshan wasn’t an ordinary person, but she hadn’t expected that he had been a great general. So she had not only traveled through time but also married a general! Albeit a down-and-out one.

It took her quite a while to sort things out. She said, “Something’s wrong. What has he gained after betraying his country? No honor at all. He went back to his hometown and married a village girl. He worked in the government office with a monthly salary of one silver tael at first. Then, he had a job at the dock where he got sun-burnt, making his skin as dark as coal. If I were him, I would have held onto the prestigious position of a general.”

But Fengsheng wasn’t persuaded. “Of course he should hide at first. When he’s forgotten by everyone, he can then slip away to the country of Daqing where he can enjoy great honor and wealth. What an irresistible temptation!”

Ye Xiaoxian asked, “Did you say only he survived on the battlefield? Now that it was near Daqing, why didn’t he cross the border directly? Why did he come back here to live a hard life with us?”

He said, “We’ve also thought about these questions. He might have thought that the time was not right for him. Didn’t he work in the government office? He might be waiting for Daqing to a.s.sign him a mission and he would betray our country again.”

Irritated by his words, Li Hongmei thumped the table and shouted, “Nonsense!”

There was a deafening silence. They looked at Li Hongmei quietly.

Li Hongmei said barely convincingly, “I know my son isn’t a traitor. He must have been framed.”

Fengsheng asked, “Then why didn’t he return to the capital and report the truth at once? Why is he hiding away from us now?”

“Stupid! Of course he should escape if you’re trying to kill him.”

Fengsheng was dumbfounded by her logic.

Ye Xiaoxian was also lost in thought. Xiao Baoshan, that nearly six foot three-tall man, usually showed his soft side, although he had a deep and serious face. Was he really a traitor? As a long history witnessed, the wind of strife and conspiracy never ceased in the imperial court. Was Xiao Baoshan the one brewing the storm or a p.a.w.n used?

…

Li Chengru woke up at twilight. He felt like he had slept for several years, as if someone had been pressing hard on his chest the whole time. During these days, he had opened his eyes several times, but his eyelids had been so heavy that he couldn’t hold them open for long. In a daze, he had seen a graceful woman looking after him. When she had leaned over to feel his temperature, he could smell her fresh fragrance.

Was it a dream or a reality?

“Young master, you’re awake! You’re finally awake!” Seeing Li Chengru staring at the ceiling, Fengsheng waved a hand in front of his eyes to check whether he was really awake or not.

Li Chengru said huskily, “I’m thirsty!’

Fengsheng replied in excitement, “Young master, it’s time to take the medicine. It can also quench your thirst.”

Li Chengru rolled his eyes upwards.

As Li Chengru struggled to sit up and drank the medicine, Fengsheng felt more than relieved and said excitedly, “Young master, you finally woke up. I’ve been worried about you, afraid that you…We were so happy when we began our journey, so I was so scared that I might have to bring your ashes back alone.”

Li Chengru glared at him.

Fengsheng corrected himself immediately, “But thanks to Mrs. Ye and Xiao Baoshan’s mother, you’re all right now.”

Li Chengru was shocked.

Little Ye has been here? It was not my hallucination? There was really a woman taking care of me when I was in a coma?

After hearing Fengsheng’s description, Li Chengru couldn’t believe his ears.

Why did she help me even after I had threatened her twice with a knife?

He asked in a feeble voice, “Are you sure that what that doctor prescribed was medicine instead of poison?”

Fengsheng opened his eyes wide and said, “Of course. If it were poison, you’d already be dead. I asked so many people for help, including Mr. Liu, but he just gave me a silver tael to find a doctor, as if I were a beggar. Only Mrs. Ye and Xiao Baoshan’s mother were willing to help us. To take care of you, Mrs. Ye worked tirelessly the whole afternoon.”

Li Chengru waved his hand to stop Fengsheng from talking. Then, he lay back on his bed, lost in deep thought.

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