Su Tang was ticulous in her work. She had even inspected these sorted dicinal herb sample bags before her shift ended.
She was familiar with traditional Chinese dicinal herbs, but the items Hu Jianjun had gone to great lengths to find were nearly identical to those in the sorted sample bags.
「The next day」
When the pharmacy was sorting the samples Su Tang had brought back, an experienced old pharmacist discovered a few poisonous seeds that shouldn’t have been there.
This imdiately caused a huge uproar. Pharmacy safety was of the utmost importance, and mixing in unknown poisonous seeds was an extrely serious offense.
The matter went straight to the hospital director, who ordered a thorough investigation.
Everyone who had co into contact with this batch of samples was questioned.
As the last person to handle them, and since she was the one who brought the samples back, Su Tang naturally beca the primary suspect.
Although she vehently argued that she couldn’t have and had no reason to do so, all the evidence pointed to her.
Worst of all, there were no surveillance caras in those days, so nothing Su Tang said mattered.
Instigated by Zheng Jinxin, a few of the hospital’s junior nurses even claid that Su Tang was doing it to get revenge for being bullied by them.
The rumor that the rich young lady was so petty she would resort to poisoning spread in an instant.
In the social context of that particular era, this kind of argunt based on class background was highly inflammatory.
Seeing the situation escalate, Vice-Director Jiang Kang had no choice but to request the involvent of the Security Section.
Before the matter could be fully investigated, for safety reasons and to quell the gossip, the higher-ups decided to place Su Tang under temporary isolated investigation.
In other words, solitary confinent.
She was taken from her post and the family courtyard and locked in a small, empty room under guard, forbidden from contacting the outside world.
Jiang Kang did this to protect Su Tang.
With Lu Xiao away, there was no man in the house. If sothing were to happen, they would have a hard ti explaining it.
The conditions in the confinent room were spartan and oppressive, as if she were a prisoner.
However, Jiang Kang didn’t mistreat Su Tang. He just said they would let her out as soon as the investigation was clear.
"Xiao Su, this is also to protect you. Please don’t get upset."
Recalling Vice-Director Jiang Kang’s words, Su Tang sighed helplessly.
’Ever since I transmigrated into this book, I’ve really been through all sorts of novel experiences.’
But this also gave Su Tang a chance to think.
What exactly had happened during her shift that day?
「Late on the third night of her confinent」
The door to the small room was pushed open gently.
A tall figure stepped in silently, bringing the night’s chill with him.
The young soldier on duty clearly recognized Lu Xiao and let him in without much fuss.
Lu Xiao looked travel-worn, his eyes betraying the fatigue of a long, hard journey, and his jawline was tight.
He hadn’t even had ti to change out of his uniform, which was stained with dust and sweat.
"Lu Xiao!"
Su Tang’s head snapped up, her eyes instantly shining with light, like a drowning person spotting a piece of driftwood.
The tension that had gripped her for days suddenly loosened, and a powerful sense of reliance almost made her want to throw herself at him.
But she forcefully suppressed the urge, rely steadying herself on the edge of the bed as she stood up.
"You... you’re back? Was the mission successful?"
Lu Xiao’s gaze swept quickly over her face.
Under the dim yellow light, her face was pale, with faint shadows under her eyes, and her lips were slightly chapped.
She seed to have lost so weight in the few days he hadn’t seen her.
Lu Xiao could tell Su Tang was holding back tears.
He strode over to her, getting so close she could feel the lingering chill and the faint sll of gunpowder on him.
"I just got back to the barracks and heard about what happened to you."
The man’s voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried a hint of gentleness, intended to ease Su Tang’s frayed nerves.
"They said you mixed sothing into the dicine? And put you in solitary?"
Every word was laced with disbelief and suppressed anger, but more than that, with heartache for her.
Hidden beneath his cold, hard exterior, Su Tang caught it instantly.
He was back, and despite his exhaustion, the first thing he did was co find her.
She opened her mouth, wanting to calmly explain that it wasn’t her, that she had checked everything, that soone had frad her—to prove her innocence.
But her throat felt as if it were tightly blocked by sothing, and all that ca out was a choked, bitter sob.
The feeling was like that of an aggrieved child who suddenly finds their parents, and she felt her eyes begin to swell.
Lu Xiao saw a thick film of moisture instantly well up in Su Tang’s almond-shaped eyes, which were usually so calm.
She bit her lower lip hard, trying to push back the ill-tid weakness.
But her tears were like pearls from a broken string, rolling down her cheeks one after another in silence.
Fat teardrops hit the dusty floor, blooming into small, dark marks.
She stubbornly turned her head away, not wanting him to see her in such a pathetic state.
"I..."
Su Tang’s voice was thick with nasality, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Did I... did I cause trouble for you again?"
The question was as light as a feather, yet it weighed a thousand pounds.
Su Tang was used to putting on a strong facade, but in front of him, that facade was devastatingly fragile.
Her choked words were like a blunt knife stabbing viciously at Lu Xiao’s heart.
Lu Xiao hadn’t seen Su Tang cry since she arrived in the Northwest.
This rich young lady, whom he had assud to be weak, actually had an optimistic, cheerful, and incredibly strong mindset.
This was the first ti she had shed tears in front of him.
Almost on instinct, without a hint of hesitation, Lu Xiao extended his arms and pulled her into his embrace.
Su Tang’s body suddenly stiffened, as if she were stunned.
His embrace was cool with the night dew, yet it was filled with a sense of security.
"A cunning rabbit has three burrows, but eventually it will slip up."
"Who told you that you were trouble for ?"
Lu Xiao’s arms tightened around her, as if to squeeze out all her grievances and anxieties.
The hug was clumsy and direct, without any fancy techniques—only the most primal comfort and protection.
Yet, it was more heart-stirring than any romance Su Tang had ever witnessed.
"Alright, I’m back now."
Those four simple words were like a tranquilizer, completely setting Su Tang’s mind at ease.
It was as if with him here, even the sky falling wouldn’t be a big deal.
Just as Lu Xiao had said before, what would a man who didn’t even fear death have to be afraid of?
In his arms, Su Tang’s stiff body slowly began to soften.
Her taut nerves finally relaxed, and the long-suppressed grievances found an outlet.
She didn’t wail, but simply buried her face deeper into his solid chest.
Hot tears quickly soaked the front of his shirt.
Her soft whimpers were more heart-wrenching than any loud cry.
Lu Xiao didn’t offer any more words of comfort.
He simply used his broad palm to pat her back gently, again and again, as if soothing a frightened child.
The dim yellow light cast the shadow of their embrace onto the wall.
Like a weary bird returning to its forest, Su Tang found a long-lost feeling of ho in Lu Xiao.
After a good while, Su Tang’s sobs gradually subsided.
She seed a little embarrassed and shifted slightly, wanting to pull away from his embrace.
Lu Xiao released her, his hands resting steadily on her thin shoulders.
He looked down, and the calloused pads of his rough fingers clumsily wiped away the tear tracks on her face.
The man’s movents were gentle, as if he were polishing a priceless treasure.
"Now, can you tell what really happened?"
"Start from the beginning. Don’t leave out a single detail."
’I’d like to see who dares to stir up trouble right under my nose.’
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