TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 117: Murong Ke

Chapter 117: Murong Ke

Ran Min was at the fortress tower. When Chen Rong got there, he was giving orders to a few of his subordinates. At this time, Ran Min and his commanders were dressed in normal clothes. It appeared their presence in Nan'yang had not been let known.

Chen Rong hid away in the side room when she saw that Ran Min was occupied. She opened the bundle and held up a soft golden armor. Though it was very lightweight, its remarkable toughness provided protection for the vital chest area. In the past, she had heard from Ran Min that there were no more than ten of these in the world.

Chen Rong dropped her gaze and brought the armor to her face, murmuring, "It's not as if you don't know that even the royal princes would feel ashamed in your noble presence... Why would someone like you treat me so well? Knowing I'm low and vulgar, yet you are still so good to me. Are you trying to make me remember you all my life?"

She chuckled.

The moment her eyes welled with tears, Chen Rong quickly wiped them using her sleeve. She then removed her robe and put the armor on.

"Where's Ah Rong?" she heard Ran Min's low bark from the main hall.

Chen Rong put on a smile and replied, "I'm here." She turned and pushed the door to go in.

Ran Min knitted his brow as he stared at the map on his desk. He heard the sound of her arrival, but did not lift his head. "Where were you last night?" he asked.

Chen Rong paused. Quickly, she made a bow. "General, did you forget? The moment I got here, the maids had made arrangements for me." Wasn't this common sense? Typically, the servants would make arrangements for a visitor's female relatives.

Ran Min raised his head.

He stared at her and impatiently said, "I'm asking how far were your bedchamber from mine? Why did you wake up so late?"

Chen Rong lowered her head. She did get up too late this morning. It was her mistake to stay in bed at a time like this.

Ran Min did not want to pursue the subject when he heard no answer from her. He waved his hand and shouted, "Never mind. Ah Rong."

"Aye."

He waved his right hand to say something, but at this moment, earth shattering drums gave sound outside, accompanied by gallops and panicking shouts. These noises completely drowned out Ran Min's voice.

The door banged opened to the entrance of a soldier. "General, Murong Ke is here," he cried.

Ran Min shot a glare at him and shouted, "So what if Murong Ke is here? Why are you so surprised that you have to be so loud about it?"

Next to him, a commander intervened, "General, it seems Murong Ke has come in haste. Given the circumstances, do you want to meet him?"

"Nay, let's not," another said. "Murong Ke knows how to read an opportunity. If he sees our general now, he will take his army away."

He then turned to Ran Min with a laugh. "In my opinion, you should keep wearing your hat and watch the fun from the sideline, sir."

Ran Min nodded with a smile. "Let's do that." He had forgotten what he was going to say to Chen Rong.

She had by now approached him. She took his robe and hat from the side and helped him put them on.

The beating drums grew louder outside.

After being appropriately dressed, Ran Min moved outside, prompting Chen Rong to hurry after him.

Once they left the tower, she found that the nobles on the wall were leaving in a frenzy. She craned her neck to see people fleeing and crying on the distant streets.