Chapter 97 Staying at Gu Mansion
"What do you mean by live and die together? I don't want to die, and you can't die either." She moved closer and patted Lu Ji's leg: "I believe you can do it, fight well, as long as you hold on for a while, our people will catch up."

After that, the little girl tried to run away again, but Lu Ji dragged her onto the horse. He said in a domineering tone, "No, if we want to go, we go together. If we want to fight, we fight together."

Seeing Lu Ji holding a long sword and riding his horse towards the group of people, the little girl was so scared that she kept shouting, "Swords have no eyes, you have to protect me."

Then he covered his face with his hands and said, "I am most afraid of blood, please don't let it splash on me."

The horses galloped, facing the whistling sound of the wind, Lu Ji shouted: "In the midst of a great battle, life and death are uncertain, and you still care about this."

"You have to win." She cried, "I don't want to die here."

As they were talking, the group of people were approaching. Qin Xiaoning took a closer look and said in surprise, "Why are they wearing official uniforms?"

As he spoke, his tone suddenly became relaxed: "Hey! He doesn't look like a bad guy."

Lu Ji still had a serious look on his face: "Often robbers dress up as soldiers to hide their tracks."

The little girl became nervous again after hearing this, and she did not forget to cheer Lu Ji up: "Although they are outnumbered, you are General Longwu. If you lose, or if these robbers hurt your woman, you will lose face."

Lu Ji gritted his teeth in anger: "If I can't beat you, I'll just throw you out."

Qin Xiaoning was so anxious that she changed her voice: "You are a great general, but you gave up your own woman just to save your life. Do you have any shame?"

Lu Ji was so angry that he laughed: "What's the use of a woman like you who is afraid of death and selfish? Are you keeping her to irritate me?"

"I'm already challenging you, and you're still not satisfied." Seeing the horse running faster and faster, the little girl grabbed Lu Ji's arm tightly: "Don't talk nonsense with me, be careful, protect me!"

Seeing the two sides approaching, the other side reined in their horses. The leader got off the horse first and called out to Lu Ji, "Brother Lu, how are you?"

Qin Xiaoning was stunned.

Lu Ji slowed down his horse, and when he got close, he also dismounted and cupped his fist towards the newcomer: "Brother Gu."

It turned out to be an acquaintance.

Qin Xiaoning, who was so nervous that the hairs on her body stood up, immediately relaxed. She sat on the horse, looked down at Lu Ji and rolled her eyes in hatred.

This guy is playing tricks on me again.

"Didn't I tell you that we'll be there in the evening? Why are you running out to greet us?" Lu Ji greeted with a smile.

"Knowing you were coming, how could I sit still? If it weren't for military discipline, I would have crossed the border and ran to Pucheng to pick you up. Haha, I've been waiting here for a long time. I thought you wouldn't make it today, and I was planning to send someone to Pucheng to find out."

While the two were exchanging greetings, Qin Xiaoning had already guessed the identity of the visitor.

This man's surname is Gu Jianshen, and he is Lu Ji's best brother. The two of them lived and died together when they were recovering Hexi, and they have a comrade-in-arms relationship.

As he spoke, Lu Ji turned around and carried Qin Xiaoning off the horse. He had just played a trick on her, and now the look in his eyes when he looked at her was still filled with undisguised cunning and pride.

In front of outsiders, Qin Xiaoning was too lazy to argue with him. After getting off the horse, she politely saluted Gu Jianshen and said, "I have heard of Lord Gu's name a long time ago."

Gu Jianshen was originally the son of a declining official family. He later made great contributions in the recovery of Hexi. Now he has been granted the title of marquis and has become a frontier official stationed in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas.

This man was about the same age as Lu Ji, with an upright posture, a resolute face, and a tough look. Lu Ji introduced him to Gu Jianshen in a casual manner: "This is the Ah Ning I mentioned to you before."

Gu Jianshen suddenly realized what was going on. He knew Qin Xiaoning's identity and that she could not be Lu Ji's wife. However, he also knew that Lu Ji valued her very much, so he bowed politely to Qin Xiaoning and joked to Lu Ji, "Shouldn't you call her your sister-in-law now?"

Lu Ji laughed, glanced at the shy little woman, and nodded at Gu Jianshen.

There was a hint of pride and boasting in his expression.

Gu Jianshen smiled knowingly, and then greeted Qin Xiaoning warmly, "I heard from Brother Lu that my sister-in-law is coming with you. Your sister-in-law has been waiting in the mansion for a long time."

The group got on the carriage and headed for Jiangzhou after dark. Since Gu Jianshen and Lu Ji were so close, they naturally would not allow him to stay at the official inn. Instead, they warmly led the group into the marquis's mansion.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang are prosperous places, and the Marquis Gu’s mansion was built with great grandeur.

As soon as the group entered the street, they saw a woman who looked like a mistress and a group of people waiting in front of the marquis's mansion.

When they got closer, Lu Ji and Gu Jianshen got off their horses first. Lu Ji helped Qin Xiaoning get off the carriage. The woman waiting at the door came up to them with a smile, looking like a capable wife from a wealthy family. She first called out, "My Lord."

Gu Jianshen turned to Lu Ji and introduced the woman, "This is my wife, her surname is Zhang, and she is from this place."

Lu Ji then took a closer look at the woman, a hint of surprise on his face, but he quickly concealed it. He politely greeted the woman and then looked at Gu Jianshen.

Gu Jianshen avoided Lu Ji's gaze and introduced Qin Xiaoning to his wife: "This is General Lu's sweetheart. You should call her Miss Qin."

Zhang came forward and said, "I heard that the young lady was coming. I have been looking forward to it for quite some time."

She greeted him warmly and looked at Qin Xiaoning closely, with a look of amazement but also a little disdain.

She was just a concubine, but she had to be welcomed as a VIP by the mistress of the house.

Qin Xiaoning was very good at observing people's expressions. She saw what Zhang was thinking, but she didn't show it on her face. She greeted her politely, "We are so tired and tired to come here to disturb you. We are causing trouble for you, Madam."

Although she was a concubine, her manners were graceful and her demeanor in every move was even more dignified than that of the mistress of the house.

Zhang smiled and said, "My Lord and General Lu are comrades in arms, a friendship that is worth their lives. Miss Qin, please don't be so formal with us."

As he spoke, he pushed a girl aside. The girl kept her eyes on Lu Ji until Zhang pulled her over, then she reluctantly withdrew her gaze.

Zhang smiled and introduced the girl to Qin Xiaoning, "This is the Marquis's younger sister, her name is Dong'er."

Qin Xiaoning heard Lu Ji mention Gu Jianshen's life experience. His family fell into poverty, his father died early, and he only had an old mother and a younger sister at home.

The girl looked like her brother, Gu Houxiao, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and clear facial features. However, such a look would look handsome on a man, but it would lack the femininity of a woman.

When Gu Dong'er saw Qin Xiaoning, she looked unhappy all over. She did not have the scheming of her sister-in-law Zhang. All her thoughts were written on her face. She reluctantly gave Qin Xiaoning a half-bow.

Qin Xiaoning was only visiting the mansion for Gu Jianshen's sake, so she naturally wouldn't be rude. Seeing that the little girl was arrogant and rude, she still had a warm smile on her face: "Hello, Miss Gu."

Seeing this, Zhang quietly pulled her sister-in-law with her wide sleeves, and then smiled and said to her sister-in-law, "Dong'er has just reached the age of marriage, and is still a half-grown child. She has been spoiled by her mother-in-law and my husband and I. Her manners are not as good as those of the girls in the capital. Miss Qin, please don't laugh at me."

(End of this chapter)