The bright, fierce sunlight shone on Tao Da’s not-so-handso dark face, his copper bell-like eyes full of sincerity.
A heart full of thoughts, clear without words.
Kong Qingwan lowered her eyes, avoiding Tao Da’s gaze, and softly said, "He wasn’t speaking nonsense; he spoke the truth. I am indeed a woman from the bandit’s lair, tainted. I should have proven my innocence by death on the day I was rescued..."
Upon hearing this, Tao Da panicked and rushed in front of Kong Qingwan: "No! You cannot die!"
Luckily, he rembered his strength could easily hurt the delicate Miss Kong, so he didn’t dare to reach out.
Kong Qingwan retreated a few steps, widening the distance again: "Commandery Princess granted a second life. I will not seek death; from now on, I will live well and serve with loyalty to Commandery Princess."
"I’m deeply grateful for your concern for . However, a woman from the bandit’s lair has a bad reputation; you should stay away from to avoid others speaking ill of you."
Tao Da puffed out his chest: "They usually don’t say nice things about anyway. I was born thick-brained, and I don’t understand the intricacies. So, whatever they say, I simply don’t care. Miss Kong, don’t worry, you won’t implicate ."
Kong Qingwan: "..."
Indeed, not very clever.
She had spoken so directly, yet he still didn’t understand.
Kong Qingwan mustered courage, lifted her eyes to look at Tao Da, who was a head taller than her.
Due to his tall and strong stature, Tao Da appeared mature at a glance. Actually, he was only twenty-two years old this year. Upon closer inspection, his face still bore the look of youth.
Being gazed at by Kong Qingwan’s gentle and watery dark eyes, Tao Da suddenly felt like he had lost all his strength, with only his heart thumping rapidly.
"Tao’s personal guard," Kong Qingwan used a more formal address: "Given my circumstances, being alive is already a blessing. A woman like will not and cannot marry anyone again. Tao’s personal guard possesses divine power and exceptional skills; you should marry a good, honest girl, don’t waste ti on ."
Having said that, she turned and entered the military tent.
Tao Da stood dumbfounded in place; it was unclear how much of Kong Qingwan’s words he understood.
Kong Qingwan felt calm, entering the military tent, dividing the buns in the basin among the female bandits.
The female bandits devoured the buns, filled their stomachs, and continued discussing their identities without ntioning.
The personal soldier who had received a punch from Tao Da before felt inexplicably guilty and turned his head to the side.
...
An hour later, the events in the military tent reached Jiang Shaohua’s ears.
Jiang Shaohua raised an eyebrow, saying nothing.
Qin Zhan, who was sitting in the military tent discussing matters, furrowed his brows and squeezed his right fist.
After the discussion ended, Qin Zhan with a stern face went to Tao Da’s military tent.
Tao Da was widely recognized in Personal Guard Camp as the top young master for his formidable strength and bravery. On this bandit-clearing mission, Tao Da repeatedly made ritorious contributions. Upon returning, in terms of rewards, he surely ranks first. At the very least, he would lead a hundred-person team as a squad leader. Several personal soldiers were making jokes, but Tao Da ignored their laughter, not even raising an eyelid.
Qin Zhan strode in with a sullen face, and the trusted aides sharing the military tent with Tao Da fell silent imdiately, sneaking out of the tent with haste: "Let’s hurry out, Commander Qin will again beat up Tao Da."
"Let’s not get implicated ourselves. Sneak far away!"
Sure enough, after a few steps, the sound of fists swishing through the air ca from within the military tent.
The few personal soldiers, rembering Commander Qin’s fists, each shivered and ran faster than rabbits.
Bang, bang, bang!
Tao Da didn’t move, receiving three punches consecutively.
He had grown accustod to being "disciplined" by Qin Zhan since childhood, his skin was rough, and he wasn’t afraid of beating. Frankly speaking, if he dared to fight back, the outco could be unpredictable.
However, Qin Zhan was the Commander of the Camp and had always taken care of him as he grew up; even as reckless as he was, he dared not fight back. He could only stand rigidly and take the beating.
"Do you realize your mistake?" Qin Zhan scolded angrily.
Tao Da reflexively replied: "I realize my mistake."
"Where did you go wrong?" Qin Zhan paused, folding his arms across his chest, glaring.
Tao Da pondered seriously and answered: "I shouldn’t have arbitrarily punched people."
Qin Zhan: "..."
This stubborn kid! Is he acknowledging his mistake or being sarcastic?
Forget it, arguing with a fool over words is pointless.
Qin Zhan took a deep breath, softened his voice, and said: "At the military tent where the female bandits are detained, I arranged for four n to guard. Without orders, why did you go there? That evening, I explained everything to you clearly. If you want a wife, wait until you return, let your mother find a respectable, honest girl, send betrothal gifts, and bring her in as a wife."
"That Miss Kong is a pitiful woman. I sympathize with her plight. But sympathy is one thing, marrying a wife is another. Just stop thinking about marrying her. Your mother won’t consent. Even if your mother nodded, I wouldn’t agree!"
Tao Da’s stubbornness flared up: "I don’t need Commander Qin’s approval to marry a wife; all I need is to like her."
Qin Zhan’s anger surged instantly, reaching out for another thorough beating: "You scoundrel! Daring to speak to like this now! Got so nerve! I’m telling you, without my consent, don’t even think about marrying her."
Indeed, Tao Da is overly stubborn.
If Qin Hu or ng Sanbao were here, they’d dodge after a punch at most or make a quick getaway. But Tao Da refused to dodge or flee, just stood there and let Qin Zhan do whatever he wished.
After a few punches, Qin Zhan’s fists started to ache faintly, seeing Tao Da still with his obstinate look, greatly aggravated.
He couldn’t keep hitting, what if it caused so harm, he couldn’t explain to Tao Da’s mother upon returning. Qin Zhan withdrew his fists, issued a warning, then left with a sullen face.
To those unaware, it might seem as if he was the one who got beaten!
...
"Tao Da got beat up again?"
Jiang Shaohua, flipping through the papers where Kong Qingwan recorded the female bandits’ identities and backgrounds, casually asked with a smile.
Yin Zhu went out for a stroll, got news from ng Sanbao, chuckled and whispered: "He did. But as soon as Commander Qin left, Tao Da went for a al, seems perfectly fine. However, I heard that Commander Qin was so upset, hardly touched his lunch."
Jiang Shaohua gave a soundless smile, then sighed softly.
Tao Da’s biological father passed away early, Qin Zhan had long treated Tao Da as half a son. Frankly speaking, he hadn’t worried this much even over Qin Hu.
Tao Da’s stubbornness sought reason blindly; likely no amount of words from Qin Zhan would work. That’s why Qin Zhan was so vexed that he couldn’t eat.
After being reborn, she seldom recalled past events. But now, she couldn’t help rembering the ungrateful son she raised for more than ten years...
With such wholehearted devotion, what did she get in return?
Resentnt and discontent, enmity and hostility, the deepest betrayal.
That desolate, powerless grief and bitterness overwheld her in an instant.
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