Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 271 - 23: Phases of the Moon (Part 2)

Hong Sheng had heard people talk about Ruan Yu before, when he had just arrived at Hami Guard, and Ruan Yu had just arrived as well, only not in the same households.

He had heard from those veteran soldiers, things like "the unlucky one from the Capital," "the wandering Vanguard Soldier," "Lucky Rabbit," all these mocking nicknames belonged to Ruan Yu.

The arrival of Ruan Yu provided a lot of gossip for Hong Sheng, who knew nothing when he first arrived at Hami Guard.

It was said that Ruan Yu came from a noble and prestigious family in the Capital, and in the year the Emperor ascended the throne, his family stood on the wrong side and was exiled to the Northwest for military service.

First, he reached Ningxia Guard, one of the Northwest Guard Stations, at the age of eleven or twelve, with four younger siblings in tow. How did they endure the hardships of exile along the way?

He first served as a Fire Head Soldier, and by the age of fourteen, he joined the Vanguard Camp. Despite achieving many military merits, none were ever credited to him. The already meager rations became even less when they reached him.

The most hateful thing was that because Ruan Yu was good-looking, in this place devoid of even female mosquitoes, he was often teased implicitly and explicitly by those scoundrels.

Had it not been for Qin Dusi’s deep hatred for such matters, they dared only to disgust people with words, otherwise, there would have been fatal consequences long ago.

Even though the children were so miserable, some still added insult to injury. Beatings were common, though they were not fatal, they all caused hidden injuries.

Probably someone above wanted to torment them, but someone also wanted to protect them. Unable to stay at Ningxia Guard, they were transferred to Suzhou Guard and Sha Zhou Guard.

But some people seemed to be like clinging ghosts, and the result was the same.

Ruan Yu shed the arrogance of a child of a noble family and soon learned to be clever. On the battlefield, he no longer charged forward recklessly.

If someone attacked him, he fought back; if none attacked, he simply played dead, knowing military merits would never come to him anyway.

Because of this, those villains called him Rabbit, but he didn’t care.

Later at Sha Zhou Guard, because a noble kid who came to steal military merits injured his nephew, Ruan Yu got ruthless and used some tricks to break that person’s leg.

Ruan Yu was also a ruthless person, having no justification but still a life to live.

Afterwards, the commander of Sha Zhou Guard personally gave him a hundred military strokes, leaving him like a rag doll. Without even treating the wounds, he and his siblings were thrown into the most dangerous Hami Guard.

Soon after, news spread that the Ruan family had offended the most noble person in the world.

Fortunately, at Hami Guard, apart from Qin Dusi, Commander Liu wouldn’t even listen to the orders from the Heavenly Emperor.

Thanks to some reasons involving Mrs. Qin, the Ruan family brothers managed to live some peaceful days.

Ruan Yu knew that although Commander Liu loved money, he was most protective. He spent an unknown amount of silver to arrange for his brothers and nephews to enter the army; even being kitchen soldiers wasn’t bad, at least they could have a full meal.

Though there were still opportunists eager to curry favor with the Emperor, they could only inflict verbal insults and spirit and material damage by seizing military merits, at least no one dared to harm them under Commander Liu’s watch.

At that time, Hong Sheng didn’t care about these things, just listened casually. Who could have imagined that he would have some connection with a noble child tormented by the Emperor?

Now not only was Ruan Yu under his command, but also those Ruan family kids were assigned to him as kitchen soldiers.

If not for Ruan Yu being Susu’s cousin, Hong Sheng would have cursed. The youngest was only ten, what could they do?

But thinking about the dinner tonight, who would have thought Susu was so favored by Mrs. Qin!

The entire Hami Guard knew that Commander Liu was a wife’s slave, soft-eared; whatever his wife favored, he favored too, whatever she liked, he liked.

By his wife’s favor, he even called Commander Liu "Uncle," truly like a dream!

Thinking of this, Hong Sheng’s mood, initially depressed from knowing some things, improved somewhat. Even if he was useless, wasn’t there still Commander Liu? He could always make his wife happy!

In his heart, Hong Sheng considered and selectively shared some of Ruan Yu’s less dire matters, but even these made Susu very upset.

She could not outwardly show too much emotion, after all, he was a cousin she had never met.

"Susu, I think we should recognize our cousin in private. Someone seems determined to ruin them; could it actually be the Emperor? Had our cousin not had some luck, he might be nothing but bone dust by now."

Upon hearing this, Susu clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly, afraid she couldn’t hold back and let Hong Sheng see.

It wasn’t any luck, it was just Uncle Qin and Aunt Qin secretly looking after them!

Susu looked somewhat upset, but also understandingly said, "I was just about to tell you! Today when I saw Aunt Qin, she also told me that those above could not stand anyone with the surname Ruan doing well. If we acknowledged him, we might also implicate you, so we should think of a way privately instead! But now that he is under your command, you can look out for him somewhat."

Hong Sheng, already feeling guilty for not accomplishing such a thing for his wife, immediately agreed seeing her thinking so much on his behalf.

Hong Sheng also talked to his wife about matters in the garrison, saying he had just agreed to a military order. Coupled with those troublemakers, he might have to stay in the garrison for a while.

He was inclined to have his wife stay with him at the garrison for a few days, but considering the poor conditions there, he couldn’t bear to suggest it, thus the words remained unspoken.

He only said, "I have a room in the camp; just have someone prepare a bedding and some daily necessities for me. If you’re bored at home, invite the girl from the Yang Family to keep you company, or visit Liu Mansion. I see Mrs. Qin is very fond of you."

Upon hearing this, Susu was touched, glanced at Hong Sheng, and seeing he said nothing more, she simply nodded. It was late, and after such a busy day, Susu was tired, so after washing up, the two went to bed.

The next day, Hong Sheng left pitifully with half a cart of things Susu had prepared for him.

Susu got up, eating breakfast while thinking things over. Before she could finish, a servant announced that the housekeeper from Liu Mansion had come.

Susu quickly had the person invited in, and seeing it was the housekeeper, she hastily asked, "Why are you here, madam? Does Aunt Qin have any instructions?"

Mrs. Sun smiled, "Madam, don’t worry, there’s nothing specific. It’s just that because you’ve just moved, the lady was worried you might lack something, so she sent me to bring some things from the residence, just some dishes, bowls, and some rice and foodstuffs. The lady said, please don’t be too polite with her."

Susu, hearing this, smiled, "Aunt Qin still cares for me; I was just thinking about getting these things, and you came just in time."