Cui Ling raised her head and saw a woman dressed in simple attire, holding a lantern and standing timidly in front of her.

  That girl looks like she's fifteen or sixteen years old, not particularly beautiful, but with a delicate and weak charm that makes people feel sorry for her.

  She couldn't quite place what status the other was, so she nodded and said, "I am indeed Yuan Cui's wife, but I don't know who you are..."

  That girl curtsied to Cui Ying, "My surname is Liu, my name is Jianyue, thanks to General Wu's rescue, I am now living in the mansion of Commander-in-Chief. Because the mansion lacks manpower, so these few days I came over to help take care of Madam Wu and the young master."

  She was very enthusiastic and took a few steps forward, wanting to pull Xiao Ge's hand.

  Xiao Ge didn't like strangers touching him at all and instinctively dodged back.

  Liu Jianyue didn't get angry, still smiling gently and softly as always, "The general ordered to watch the fire in the kitchen, Jianyue came over to take a look after hearing the commotion in this house."

  She opened her big, shining eyes and asked, "I secretly took a look, the beef was already cooked, but I don't know what to do next..."

  Cui Ling knew she wasn't a maid from the mansion as soon as Liu Jianyue introduced herself.

  It sounds a bit abrupt and strange to hear General Wu say something like that, it feels like he's intentionally saying it for her sake.

  Why is that?

  She discreetly sized up the other person, under the dim light, Liu Jianyue's pair of watery eyes occasionally flashed with complex emotions.

  There is admiration, there is jealousy, there is fawning, and also something else.

  Cui Ling secretly thought: Could it be that this girl has taken a liking to Yuan Wulang's effeminate ways?

  After seeing Yuan Wulang in person, she had doubts again about her previous decision to get along well with him and spend the rest of her days with him.

  And this time, her suspicion turned into resistance, like a weed growing wildly, gradually reaching an uncontrollable level.

  Good heavens! If Yuan Wulang was that mustachioed man, she would certainly be delighted to cultivate feelings with such a masculine husband.

  Why does he have to be a man who looks more delicate than a woman and likes to wear bright red clothes like a sissy?

  She can't stand this kind of man anymore!

  So, having felt the extraordinary sensitivity of this Miss Liu Yue, perhaps possibly roughly speaking, she might have developed some special feelings for Yuan Wulang. In Cui Ying's heart, not only was there no trace of jealousy, but also a sense of pity for Miss Yue.

  She was raging in her heart. Girl, are you out of your mind? Is it really good to have a crush on a man who is more beautiful and more feminine than you?

  But she just thought about it and wouldn't say it out loud.

  Choi Yong's current idea is simple and straightforward.

  Anyway, her marriage to Yuan Wulang was an imperial gift and could not be changed. Her position as the first wife was as stable as Mount Tai, and she didn't need to pay attention to the threats from those concubines.

  She just hopes Yuan Wulang can live a safe and stable life.

  She doesn't care about anything else.

  That girl wants to fly into the fire. As long as Yuan Wulang is willing to accept her, she has no opinion at all.

  Choi Yeong thought to herself. Her attitude towards Liu Jianyue was even better than before, and she smiled as she said, "The beef is cooked with a lot of seasoning because Brother Yu likes to eat it softer, so I specifically instructed them to cook it for a longer time."

  She looked up at the sky, "It's already this late, the fire is sufficient. Wait for me to go and take out the things, then adjust the seasoning."

  "Brother Wang heard this and smacked his lips a few times. 'Auntie Wu, hurry up, I'm starving to death!'"

  Cui Ling took over the lantern in Liu Jianyue's hand and said, "Miss Liu, you haven't had dinner yet either, let's go together."

  She's good at recognizing roads. Although it was her first time coming to Yaqing Xiaozhu, she still remembered the way to the kitchen.

  Arrived at the kitchen, first took out the beef, drained and cut into slices.

  Her knife skills were poor and she cut unevenly.

  But Lu Shifu didn't know where he went at this time, and Yu Ge was shouting that she was hungry. She couldn't care about the appearance, so she had to get up herself.

  Then use secret methods to adjust, perfectly combine various seasonings needed with beef slices, and finally sprinkle with scallions, ginger and garlic.

  A perfect stir-fry beef dish is ready, with an appetizing color and a fragrance that hits your nostrils.

  Xiang Ge was attracted by the fragrance and didn't stand on ceremony, taking out the pastry that had just been steamed at noon to eat with this dish.

  Cui Ying was also hungry.

  She smiled and invited Liu Jianyue, "Miss has been watching the fire for a whole afternoon, you must be hungry too. If you don't mind, let's have something to eat together. The beef and mutton from the northwest are better than those in Shengjing City. After removing the fishy smell and the gamey smell, and then seasoning, it's really a delicacy!"

  Liu Jianyue's eyes flashed, and her face was slightly embarrassed.

  But she still picked up her chopsticks and picked one up, "Since Wu Niangniang is sincere in inviting you, if Xianyue pushes back again, it would be ungrateful."

  After taking a bite of beef, she exclaimed with a surprised face, "It's really delicious!"

  Cui Ying had never considered this girl as a love rival and didn't even think of her as a threat, still treating her with a very ordinary attitude.

  Seeing Liu Yue's face full of admiration and joy, it didn't seem fake, she was also very happy.

  Yes, good food has such a magical power. When the dishes you make with your own hands are recognized by others, no matter who they are, it makes people happy beyond words.

  She was in a good mood and also picked up several chopsticks continuously and put them into her mouth to chew.

  The beef has become completely tender, and with a crisp bite, it melts between the lips and teeth, accompanied by the fragrance of seasoning, and an unparalleled sense of satisfaction flows in the mouth.

  It's just...

  Cui Ling's eyebrows furrowed, and she felt as if there was an extra bitter taste in her mouth that shouldn't be there.

  She was the emperor's tongue, extremely sensitive to the taste of food. If the chef added a little more salt or less sauce, she could detect it very keenly.

  There's something wrong with this beef!

  She hastily asked Yu Ge, "Don't you think this beef is a bit bitter?"

  Brother Wang looked confused, "No, it smells good and tastes great!"

  But as soon as the words fell, Yu Ge's small hand sank, and the chopsticks fell with a clatter.

  Cui Ling was certain that the beef stew had been drugged, and she anxiously pushed the little boy a few times, "Yu Ge'er, what's wrong with you?"

  At this time, "plop" sound, sitting at the other end of the table Liu Jianyue also fell down.

  She struggled to get up, but her legs were a bit unsteady. After some effort, she managed to retrieve the small awl that was hidden in her sleeve. She wanted to prick herself to wake herself up.

  But her hands were very weak, and the small cone slipped from her palm and fell to the ground.

  She finally couldn't resist the strong dizziness in her mind and fell head-first onto the table.

  After a while, Liu Jianyue lifted her deeply buried face from her arm and looked at Cui Ying and Yu Ge'er who were lying on the table, unaware of anything. A hint of guilty tears flashed in her eyes.

  "She whispered softly, 'I'm sorry, Fifth Granny, I... I had no choice!'"

  Everyone in Quan's village was killed by the Rourans, and it was General Yuan Wu who saved her life.

  She secretly admired General Yuan Wuding's bravery, but she hid this feeling very well. She protected it humbly and carefully, never letting anyone notice.

  Even if she had woven the most beautiful fantasy in her dreams, she knew that as a lonely girl from the northwest border, she and the majestic general were worlds apart.

  What's more, the person she loves already has a wife.

  So she envies Yuan Wunai. In her heart, it's inevitable that a jealous emotion will arise.

  But she had never thought of doing anything bad to Yuan Wuniang, and would not have done such a despicable thing that made everyone angry.

  She still held onto that hope. If she could gain the favor of this ***, perhaps she could even bring her to Shengjing City. She didn't have any grand ambitions, as long as she could be a lowly maid in the General's estate and catch a glimpse of the person in her heart from afar, she would already be content.

  But things turned out to be contrary to his wishes.

  When she wanted to make a good impression in front of Yuan Wunai, someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

  That man's facial features were deep and did not resemble those of a Central Plains person; at a glance, it was clear that he was a Rouran bandit.

  She fought back with all her might, wanting to kill the man with her hairpin and avenge her family.

  But she was just a weak woman with no power to bind a chicken, her resistance in the face of the fierce and powerful Rouran bandits was simply laughable, like a child's game.

  That man effortlessly subdued her and calmly said, "Your youngest brother is still in our hands. If you die like this, do you think he will immediately go with you?"

  Liu Jianyue was shocked extremely.

  When the Rouran cavalry trampled on Liu's village, she was hidden by her father in an abandoned cellar that had been unused for a long time.

  When she was rescued by General Yuan Wuming, she only saw the corpses of the whole village, and heard that the entire village had been annihilated. She was so grief-stricken that she fainted on the spot.

  The meaning of "destroying the village" is that no one was left alive.

  Twenty-odd households, over a hundred people, all dead.

  But the Rouran woman said that her little brother was still alive!

  The Rouran man pulled out a cotton hat and a jade pendant from his bosom, "Your little brother looks sturdy and cute, but if you, as the elder sister, don't cooperate, that cute little guy won't live to see tomorrow."

  His tone was icy and cold, with a murderous aura that seemed to come from hell itself. "Whether your brother lives or dies is entirely up to you, Miss Liu."

  How could Liu Xiangyue abandon his last and only relative in this world?

  Even if it costs her life, she must bring back her brother.

  So she sold her soul to the devil.

  Flickering candlelight, a chilly kitchen, Liu Jianyue struggled to hold back her fear and trembling, using coarse rope to tie Cui Rong up tightly.

  When her fingers touched Xiao Ge's body, she still couldn't bear it.

  Her little brother and Yu Ge were about the same age, thinking of that child suffering in the enemy's prison, her heart ached.

  Nian Wu and Yu, she felt that she had no way to treat her brother like this.

  Fortunately, the Rouran people only knew that General Yuan's wife was coming and did not know that his nephew had also arrived.

  She and the Rouran people's transaction did not include this poor innocent child either.

  Liu Jianyue thought for a long time, and finally her conscience prevailed. Taking advantage of the fact that no one had come to pick up the response, she carried Brother Yu into the storage cabinet in the kitchen and closed the door heavily.

  Before he could react, a middle-aged man dressed as a peddler suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Even in the dark of night, it was clear at a glance that this person came from the Rouran tribe.

  He pointed at Cui Rong who had been tied up by Liu Xiangyue and asked, "Is this Yuan Wu's wife?"

  Liu Jianyue nodded with red eyes, and with one hand holding onto that person's arm, "I've done everything you said, please return my brother to me!" (If you like this work, welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

  PS: This is the revised Chapter 71!