Abandoned Wife? Her Starlight Shall Blind You!-Chapter 123 - 65: Becoming a Stand-In

Jun Moling’s hand on the oar suddenly paused, his body stiffened instantly. He turned his head to look at Shen Ruoxi, his gaze gentle yet tinged with a hint of jest. "Probing too deeply and exposing others’ scars can put people in an awkward position; it’s not advisable, you know?"

Shen Ruoxi also found it strange. Why is it that the much-respected Prince Zhan, the commander of the fearsome Dayi military camp, did not intimidate her at all when she faced him?

Moreover, looking back, except for that one time he forcefully brought her back to the capital, no matter how she lost her composure or acted willfully, he never showed her a trace of a cold face.

"So, tell me, were you thinking about your parents?" Shen Ruoxi blinked her eyes, which were red as if washed by clear water, and continued to ask.

Jun Moling’s hand unconsciously tightened, his knuckles turning white from the strain. After a while, he slowly spoke, "Not my parents, but thinking of her. It was I who caused her pain like you, and that’s why there’s guilt in my heart, a deep sense of pity."

For a moment, the atmosphere became heavy and oppressive again.

However, Shen Ruoxi suddenly broke into a smile, "Marshal, I really didn’t expect you to be so romantic."

Jun Moling glanced at her, his expression unchanged, "What’s wrong with being a romantic?"

Shen Ruoxi seemed to be lost in thought, seriously analyzing, "If it were someone else being romantic, I’d accept it, but when it’s you, I find it truly unbelievable. It just doesn’t seem right! Who are you? You’re the invincible, renowned Prince Zhan!"

"I’m just an ordinary person, after all. The emotions that ordinary people have are not alien to me.

Once, I truly felt unable to face her, but thinking about it now, it isn’t actually difficult because she is the best woman in the world, unmatched by anyone."

Jun Moling’s voice was deep and firm, as if he were declaring an eternal vow.

Shen Ruoxi instantly became interested, staring at him closely, "I’m suddenly very curious about what kind of woman she must be to earn such high praise from you and make you so obsessed. I must meet her someday."

Jun Moling looked at her with eyes as gentle as a pool of soft water.

It was that kind of gaze, full of deep feelings, that made Shen Ruoxi feel her skin crawling; it was such a strange sensation. "Marshal, I think I must resemble her. Please don’t look at me and think of her, okay? Also, stop hugging me at every turn; it’s not only disrespectful to her but also to me."

Hearing this, Jun Moling couldn’t help but chuckle softly, "Little girl, what’s the harm in looking at you a few times?"

She was already nineteen, being called a little girl felt strange.

But thinking that he was already twenty-five, the same age as her fourth and fifth brothers, she didn’t protest.

"Marshal, when we recapture Xia Pass and return to the Capital City, can you tell me who she is? I really want to meet her and become friends with her. I’m sure the woman you like and recognize can’t be wrong."

Shen Ruoxi looked at Jun Moling with expectant eyes.

Jun Moling lowered his head, the corners of his mouth lightly curling upwards, his brows and eyes full of deep affection.

"You disagree?" Seeing Jun Moling still hadn’t answered, Shen Ruoxi couldn’t help but frown, looking displeased.

Only then did Jun Moling raise his eyes to look at Shen Ruoxi, gently saying, "I agree, I will surely tell you who she is. Not only can you become friends, but perhaps even confidantes."

Hearing Jun Moling’s answer, Shen Ruoxi finally said, "That’s more like it."

Just as the two reached the shore, Mi Er hurried over, kneeling with a "thud," a face full of worry, "Master, Miss Shen."

When they headed to the center of the lake together earlier, Mi Er was so frightened, he quickly searched for a boat.

However, due to the ongoing war, even finding a single boat was extremely difficult.

Fortunately, seeing them board the small boat, his anxious heart was slightly relieved.

"It’s okay now!" Jun Moling said with a stern expression.

Yet they saw the boatman crouching on the ground, crying. Initially, he still wanted to seek justice, but now his heart turned cold.

He didn’t need to look to know these were important people he couldn’t afford to provoke; his boat was dismantled, and he could only swallow the grievance.

"Mi Er, quickly give the boatman one hundred taels of patterned silver."

When Mi Er handed the silver note to the boatman, the boatman looked shocked, unable to believe it.

"It was my fault, old man; I hope you can buy another boat,"

Shen Ruoxi said, then turned to Jun Moling, "I didn’t bring any money with me, I’ll pay you back later."

Jun Moling glanced at her, "Do you not know that Miss Shen saved my life, and how much silver should I give you for that?"

Shen Ruoxi wanted to say, "Let’s keep things separate," but thought it over and decided not to be overly formal, "Alright, I won’t pay it back."

The boatman left, expressing endless gratitude, as Feng Ming approached.

She arrived a bit later than Mi Er but also witnessed Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling sitting alone on a small boat, a scene of a man and woman that made her heart skip a beat.

Moreover, after alighting the boat, the two were in complete disarray, with their pant legs and shoes all wet, Shen Ruoxi’s hair tousled, and one sleeve gone, exposing a section of her jade-like delicate white arm, her eyes red, as if she had just cried.

Even the usually immaculate Jun Moling was no better off—it was the most bedraggled she had ever seen the two of them.

"Miss Shen, what happened just now?" Feng Ming slightly tightened her fingers, her tone carrying some doubt and gravity.

Shen Ruoxi casually wrung the corner of her garment that had been drenched by the lake water and said, "I went after Chunyu Che, and he sure has a hard life. Next time, he won’t be so lucky. Let’s go back! I need to change my clothes."

"Yes," Feng Ming replied, then bowed to Jun Moling before leading Snow-Stepping and Shen Ruoxi away.

"Master, are you alright?" Mi Er asked with a worried expression.

Jun Moling instantly regained his usual sternness, saying, "I’m fine. Let’s go back!" Mi Er obeyed, following behind Jun Moling as they left together.

...

Inside the marshal’s tent.

"Marshal, you want all the information on Chunyu Che," Zhai Wen said.

"Yes, all of it." Jun Moling sat at the desk, his gaze firm.

"Mi Er has already gone to investigate. I’m curious, what on earth is going on? Why do you suddenly want to check on Chunyu Che?" Zhai Wen frowned tightly, his face full of confusion.

Jun Moling gently pressed his brow, his expression somewhat weary, "The war is over, and we cannot charge straight into the heart of Beichang.

Now, with both nations seeking peace, that foolish Beichang King must be replaced, and I must thoroughly evaluate what kind of person Chunyu Che is."

Upon hearing this, Zhai Wen was shocked, exclaiming, "Ah! Marshal, you absolutely mustn’t! No matter what Chunyu Che is like, he must die.

Please, don’t lose focus on this matter! Who becomes king of Beichang isn’t our concern; we just need to drive them out of our country and ensure our own safety.

He was the main general in the battle of Liuzhou City, don’t forget that the entire 20,000 strong Shen Family Army was wiped out at his hands.

Even for the sake of giving an account to the Shen Family Army and Miss Shen, he absolutely cannot live!"

Jun Moling’s gaze was deep as he slowly spoke, "Teacher, I understand everything clearly in my heart.

Yet Chunyu Che seems truly different. Today at the lake, hundreds of old, weak women and children desperately protected him.

If it had been Chunyu Chi, I’m afraid all that awaited him would have been the angry stones thrown by the people—this is where the difference lies.

Besides, at the center of the lake, in a perilous situation, he even released a small boat to save us, showing that he does not wish for war.

For a long time, the war between the two countries has already plunged the peoples of both into untold suffering.

If Beichang can have a wise king, allowing the two countries to forever maintain peace and never again experience war, wouldn’t that be the original intention of our valiant fight?"

Zhai Wen rarely got angry, his emotions surging, "The Shen Family Army was annihilated, and Marshal, you were so aggrieved that you nearly bled tears. For the sake of killing him, you almost lost your life.

If not for Miss Shen saving you at the risk of her own life, it’s likely that you wouldn’t even be alive now!

You feel such self-reproach, fighting so desperately to regain lost ground—what exactly is it all for?

Isn’t it to avenge the Shen Family Army, to uphold justice for those fallen soldiers?

Now you are considering sparing Chunyu Che, how can those dead souls rest in peace? How will you give an account to Miss Shen? Have you thought about her feelings?"