Chapter 1998: Those Girls Went to the Southwest

Chapter 1998: Those Girls Went to the Southwest

Lu Wu scratched his head somewhat awkwardly and said, "I have something I'd like to ask County Princess for help with."

Meng Yunzheng glanced at them, then turned to Shu Yu and said, "You two talk. I'll go rent a carriage."

Once he left, Lu Wu hesitated and then said in a low voice, "County Princess, I... "

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, curious about what could make him so hesitant. Lu Wu was usually straightforward, but now he seemed to have trouble finding the right words.

"Just say what's on your mind; I promise I won't hold it against you."

Lu Wu took a deep breath and said, "County Princess, I heard... I heard that you've been to the southwest before."

Shu Yu suddenly realized what he was getting at and chuckled. "You mean my exile to the southwest? It's not a secret; many people know about it. There's no need to be so hesitant."

Lu Wu didn't expect her to be so nonchalant, as if being exiled was an ordinary matter. He was momentarily stunned.

"County Princess, don't you mind?"

"Mind what? Do I mind what others say behind my back about not having a noble enough background, about my embarrassing past? I don't. Back then, it wasn't because I committed a crime that I was exiled. Later, I earned my title of village lord through my own efforts and merits. I even had the chance to meet the current Prime Minister Qi, on the way. It's like a blessing in disguise."

Lu Wu widened his eyes, absorbing her words and falling into deep thought.

"County Princess, you're right. I've also experienced something similar. Although I stayed in the black market for a while, that wasn't what I wanted. Later, when I fought alongside you against the rebels and achieved great deeds, I became the patrol inspector of Chenggu County, leading more than a hundred men. My experience in the black market was just a small part of my life. Now, I have a successful career, a beautiful wife, and I've become more steady in temperament. Isn't that a blessing in disguise?"

Lu Wu suddenly felt enlightened. Yes, his time in the black market was just a brief stage in his life, and he didn't need to dwell on it. What others said didn't matter; they were probably just jealous of his current status. He had friends who supported him, so why should he care about others?

He lifted his head abruptly. "I understand now. Thank you for your guidance, County Princess."

He was about to leave, but Shu Yu twitched her lips. She had just praised him for becoming more stable, yet now he was reverting to his previous self.

"Wait a moment, Lu Wu. Did you forget something? You wanted to tell me something, right? It's not just to confirm whether I've been to the southwest, is it?"

Lu Wu smacked his forehead. "Right, I almost forgot." He became more articulate this time, "It's not about me; it's about my wife, Qiao Rou. I don't know if County Princess remembers her?"

"I remember her. What's going on with her?"

"Several of the girls who were with her in the black market have gone to the southwest."

"So far away?" Shu Yu was aware of the arrangements made for the girls. Some of them, like Qiao Rou, had married men from the black market. Some willingly married soldiers in the army who hadn't married yet, while others simply wanted to find a place where no one knew them and start anew.

Shu Yu had been involved in arranging these options, but as far as she remembered, no one had gone as far as the southwest.