Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!

Chapter 711 - 710: Close-Quarters Combat [Extra Update]

Lu Qing checked on the others and saw Zhu Yu sitting grandly under a tree, so he walked straight over to her, reaching out to pull her up from the ground.

"Springtime is not for sitting on the ground, now that we are in Jin Country, it isn’t as warm as Lan Country, the ground is cold and damp, sitting directly will make you catch a cold." He held Zhu Yu’s hand, trying to pull her up, but felt she was clearly exerting force downward, seemingly unwilling to get up.

"Don’t pull, don’t pull..." Zhu Yu shook her head, glanced furtively at the others in the distance, and said in a somewhat embarrassed whisper, "It seems like my legs got chafed while riding during the journey, they hurt terribly."

Lu Qing was startled; they had been traveling in haste recently, and Zhu Yu suffered a lot, visibly growing more haggard, even her disguise had to be reapplied secretly at night due to her weight loss leading to wrinkles.

He had seen all of this, feeling quite heartbroken, yet helpless.

He hadn’t expected her urgent and long riding to cause her legs to chafe.

He had experienced that feeling to some extent when he learned to ride himself, knowing how uncomfortable it was.

He nodded silently, then went to fetch a cushion, walked behind Zhu Yu, bent down to encircle her waist with one arm, almost "lifting" her up, while quickly placing the cushion under where she was sitting before gently placing her back down.

His action startled Zhu Yu immensely, but she managed to swallow back the screech that almost escaped her throat.

In their convoy, only an old guard from the Prince Lan Mansion knew Lu Qing was a Lord Imperial Censor from the Upper Country; everyone else did not know Zhu Yu was actually a woman, Lu Qing’s wife.

Therefore, Lu Qing’s actions were overly ambiguous, and would certainly arouse suspicion if seen.

"Are you crazy..." Zhu Yu whispered a protest after Lu Qing sat beside her, "I could spread the mat myself, what if someone saw you doing that!"

"No worries, if spotted, let them think I have some unmentionable fetish." Lu Qing joked lightheartedly, then sighed softly, "You’ve had a hard time with me, since being by my side, I haven’t let you have a few days of peace."

Zhu Yu thought for a moment: "Come to think of it, it’s true! But compared to facing those zithers, paintings, porcelain every day in the inner chambers, life now is more interesting.

People are just so contradictory.

Look at me complaining about the hardships of constant travel, but if I have to hide somewhere later unable to show myself freely, I might even miss this freedom."

Lu Qing instinctively raised his hand, almost touching the man-styled bun atop Zhu Yu’s head but turned to pat her shoulder instead, about to say something, then stopped, listening intently before abruptly standing.

"Extinguish the fire, everyone stay quiet." he ordered those who had just started the fire to make flatbreads for the group.

Those people hurriedly snuffed out the fire, darkness returned instantly, everyone fell silent, yet remained on high alert.

Lu Qing carefully lifted Zhu Yu from the ground, both of them moved to hide behind a tree.

"Hoofbeats, somewhat chaotic, likely a fair number of people, watch carefully." he whispered in Zhu Yu’s ear.

Zhu Yu nodded silently.

Initially, she heard nothing, but soon she indeed faintly heard hoofbeats, somewhat chaotic, suggesting quite a number of people.

Worriedly, she glanced at the others.

The majority of these people were porters responsible for transporting goods to Jin Country, apart from Lu Qing, the talisman runes, only two guards could barely manage.

If those approaching were mere travelers passing by, it would be alright.

But if there was indeed some issue, a conflict would make the odds of winning uncertain.

While she was deep in thought, the talisman runes, initially motionless, quietly crept toward them too, adopting a similarly cautious posture.

"Sir, there are others deeper in the woods." the talisman softly informed Lu Qing, "They were originally hidden well, now stirred by the hoofbeats."

"Let’s wait and see." Lu Qing said, then glanced at Zhu Yu, "Fu Lu."

"Lord, I know." Fu Lu replied quietly without needing detailed instructions.

He had long imprinted this task in his mind, traveling outside required him, should conflict arise, to first ensure the safety of his wife.

The hoofbeats drew closer, Zhu Yu felt as if each thud resonated with her heartbeat.

Suddenly, even her ordinary hearing detected a strong, robust voice from afar: "After leaving the Capital, stay alert, do not slacken in the slightest!"

Soon, plenty of people responded affirmatively.

The responding voices were scattered and unruly, but the initial speaker’s voice was one Zhu Yu knew very well.

Cao Tianbao!

The voice undoubtedly belonged to General Cao Tianbao!

Why would General Cao suddenly lead a team away from the Capital at this moment?

In her impression, Cao Tianbao was not easily dispatched away from the capital, his departures as rare as Situ Jing and his father’s visits.

But regardless, if it was Cao Tianbao and his men, there was no need to be overly worried...

But she hadn’t yet had time to relax when suddenly more than a dozen shadows emerged from the distant woods, their movements swift, at the nearest merely three or four feet away, yet they didn’t even glance towards them, directly aiming at Cao Tianbao’s approaching troops.

"Lord, what now?" Rune asked.

Lu Qing quickly decided: "Fu Lu stays guarding Zhu Yu, Rune gets those two guards, come forward with me to assist General Cao, the others remain here guarding the goods."

Rune was always obedient to Lu Qing’s orders, whether understood or not, so without another word, hurriedly gestured to those two guards, four people heading towards the road, preparing an encirclement position with General Cao’s forces.

Zhu Yu quickly instructed the others to remain vigilant around the goods.

Soon, the troops on the road engaged in close combat, the sounds grew more chaotic, Zhu Yu strained her ears, listening to metallic clashes of swords, cries of pain from injuries, and her own pounding heartbeat.

After a while, the chaos on the road gradually subsided.

A swift battle had already concluded.