"Deadly poison? Are you crazy?!"
Luo Yu checked his mother's breath; she was extremely weak. His face suddenly twisted in rage.
"My father said you are the one he loves. No matter how you hit me or scold me, I should remain respectful and uphold filial duty. It doesn't matter what you do to me, but you shouldn't target my mother! Do you believe I dare kill you right here?!"
Anger filled the tent. If anything happened to his mother, Luo Yu was prepared to die and avenge her.
"Don't be anxious. There is an antidote."
Chang Rushuang, unfazed, leisurely sat down and began to explain. "First: I have been in love with your father for many years. Now he suddenly says he has a beautiful woman outside and has an illegitimate son—any woman would feel hatred and resentment; I am no exception. So you want to enter the Wu family? No chance. You want a name? Even less so! Second: Wu Chengliang is the Eastern General with five thousand armored soldiers shaking the eastern region. That is quite a large estate. I have two sons, and that inheritance rightly belongs to them. Now that you have suddenly appeared, how are we supposed to settle that?"
"I never intended to fight for the family fortune! I only want to cure my mother's illness and gain a name to live a peaceful life in the General's household!" Luo Yu extended his hand. "Give me the antidote, and I promise I won't touch a single brick or tile of the General's residence! If you don't believe me, I can swear to the heavens."
"Hehe, words mean nothing," Chang leisurely took out a black pill. "This is also deadly poison. Once you take it, you will surely die within half a day. Dead people can't fight for inheritance. If you dare to take it, I'll give your mother the antidote. If you don't dare, then it proves that your so-called filial piety is merely a pretext to compete for the Wu family's estate, seeking wealth and honor."
Luo Yu clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. He glanced at his unconscious mother on the bed and felt an overwhelming surge of anger and despair. He knew that Chang would not easily let them off, but for his mother's sake, he had no choice. Gritting his teeth, he seized the black pill, and without hesitation, swallowed it. "Antidote!"
Luo Yu's determination stunned Chang momentarily, and she spoke somewhat helplessly, "I never said that taking poison would allow you to bring your mother into the General's estate. Aren't you afraid of dying for nothing?"
"Antidote!" His fierce shout echoed in the room. At that moment, Luo Yu didn't care about entering the General's residence; saving his mother was the priority.
"Cough cough cough!" Just as he finished speaking, Luo Yunshu's coughing broke out unexpectedly, as she sat up, bewildered. "What happened?" She looked completely normal, not at all as if she had been poisoned, just like anyone else.
Luo Yu was dumbfounded. How could she have woken up without taking the antidote?
"Good boy, you've got guts," Chang Rushuang's gaze held steady on Luo Yu. "Your father did wrong, and you two shouldn't be punished for it. Though I harbor resentment, I wouldn't resort to killing you. What I gave your mother was merely a mild sedative, and what you took was just a calming pill. I wanted to see if you truly have filial piety or if you merely want to use the name of filial duty to compete for the Wu family wealth and seek luxury. Your father was fierce and decisive when he was young, who would have thought that an illegitimate child would inherit his traits? Lucky for you; if you hadn't taken that, you would have died here today."
…
The family sat together for dinner, and after receiving Chang Rushuang's permission, Luo Yu and his mother took their seats, along with Wu Chengliang and Chang Rushuang's eldest son, Wu Rubai, also a fierce general who had followed his father into the military since childhood.
A legitimate wife, an eldest son, a beautiful woman, and an illegitimate child—this was a rather strange scene.
Wu Chengliang didn't dare speak, for Chang had made it clear to him that she would never allow the mother and son into the household. After commanding the battlefield for so many years, he never expected his hardest battle would take place at the dining table. The mighty Eastern General could only helplessly serve dishes to the two women, his demeanor pitiful.
It was Wu Rubai who broke the deadlock. "Father, you left the capital without permission, and staying out for too long could attract gossip. Those old foxes in the court are watching you closely. Furthermore, with the Western Qiang army pressing down, the patrols are in danger at any moment. Just a few days ago, some scouting teams were ambushed by Qiang soldiers, and the entire teams were wiped out. The atmosphere in Longxi is tense. We only brought fifty personal soldiers—this little force is insufficient to even fill their teeth. We should hurry back to the capital."
Wu Chengliang was the Eastern General, but this was the western border of the Qianyang Dynasty. For both emotional and practical reasons, he shouldn't be appearing here.
"But…" Wu Chengliang awkwardly glanced at Luo Yunshu and her son, his intentions to bring them back to the capital clear.
"Quit dreaming," since the topic was out in the open, Chang Rushuang no longer played coy. "If you want medical care, you can find a larger city in Longxi to recuperate. If you have no money, the Wu family can cover it. But to seek a name or entry into the family, that is absolutely impossible!"
"No, my mother must go to the capital! She must have a name!" Luo Yu raised his head to stare directly at Chang, his tone resolute. "My mother has suffered greatly; getting a name is what she deserves! For treatment and recuperation, I can only feel at ease by her side, and I don't trust anyone else."
"Boy, this matter is not for you to decide!"
"Alas!" Wu Chengliang and Wu Rubai both sighed inwardly at the same time, realizing the conversation had hit a dead end.
"Qiang soldiers are attacking! Engage them!" "Protect the General!" Suddenly, loud shouts echoed from outside the tent, followed by a crescendo of fighting sounds.
What bad luck—they really encountered Qiang soldiers!
Both Wu Chengliang and his son sprang to their feet, drawing their swords and rushing out of the tent. Before leaving, Wu Chengliang turned to Luo Yu and said, "You're a man; protect your two mothers well!"
The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Outside, voices were raised in chaos, and the sound of anguished wails echoed in the night sky. No one knew how many Qiang soldiers had arrived; they could only sense that the battle was intense.
"Madam Chang, please step back a bit."
"I am the General's wife. What scenes haven't I seen? You should step back, little child who has just lost your milk teeth."
With the hot face against the cold butt, Luo Yu scoffed and put away his disdain. He picked up a stool, arming himself with it, his face full of vigilance as he focused on the entrance. As the only man present, if he didn't step up, should he rely on women to face the enemy?
Just then, a Qiang soldier, seemingly by accident, rushed in, charging straight for Luo Yunshu with a sword drawn!
"Mother, be careful!" Luo Yu rushed forward, kicking aside the sword tip just in time. Then, he brought the stool down heavily on the Qiang soldier's head, knocking him out with a loud bang.
"Swish—" Just as he dealt with this soldier, the tent's curtain on the other side was suddenly torn open, revealing another Qiang soldier in fur wielding a long sword, lunging directly at Chang Rushuang.
Chang's expression changed drastically. She stepped back repeatedly, her steps in disarray as the sword approached swiftly.
In a life-and-death moment.
"Get back!" Luo Yu had no time to react, so he dove forward, blocking in front of Chang and shoving her aside.
"Shh—" The long sword, extremely sharp, pierced through his left shoulder, blood spraying out.
Luo Yu gritted his teeth against the overwhelming pain that coursed through his body. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the sword and swiftly slapped the Qiang soldier's chest. With a powerful force, he sent the soldier flying out of the tent.
The tent was torn apart, and outside, chaos reigned. Figures clashed as both sides fought.
Luo Yu's injury caught everyone's attention.
"Yu'er!" "Little Yu!" In Wu Chengliang's startled shout and Luo Yunshu's horrified gaze, Luo Yu crashed to the ground.