Before Xiao Ye could respond, a military wife outside snorted coldly. “She was just crying outside, claiming that Battalion Commander Lu caused her brother’s death! She said he deliberately delayed returning to lead the mission.”

“Nonsense!” The regimental commander slammed his hand on the table angrily.  

Xiao Ye, terrified of punishment and barely daring to breathe, resumed her tearful accusations.  

“Someone told me… my brother didn’t have to lead that mission. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have died…”  

Xiao Ye was so startled that she didn’t dare to breathe. Afraid of being punished, she started crying again.

“Someone told me that my older brother didn’t have to lead the mission. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have died…”

“I have proof that Battalion Commander Lu deliberately delayed! I saw him and Gu Xiaoxi on the train. A train delay due to a landslide is one thing, but if they were in a hurry to return, why did they get off halfway even after the train resumed service? Why did they arrive a whole day later than us? Isn’t that a deliberate delay?”

As soon as she said this, people around them started whispering.

“Really? I don’t think Battalion Commander Lu is that kind of person…”

“But it’s true that Battalion Commander Lu returned a day later than Xiao Ye’s group…”

“Stop making wild guesses. Who could have predicted that this mission would lead to casualties?”

Despite the murmurs, Lu Jiansen remained indifferent, his expression as cold as before.

The regiment commander glanced at Xiao Ye, then at the others. “Do you think the military is a place where you can spread baseless rumors? Even if Battalion Commander Lu had led the team, Battalion Commander Xiao would have still been on the mission. And more importantly, he volunteered to lead the team.”

“Moreover, Lu Jiansen got off the train because he was assigned a last-minute mission to capture enemy spies. He successfully completed the task with his wife’s help before returning to the unit. You people don’t know anything, yet you talk nonsense behind his back.”

The last sentence was directed at Xiao Ye.

Her face turned pale. A last-minute mission? Capturing enemy spies?

When did that happen?

Why didn’t she know?

The military must be making up stories to protect Lu Jiansen!

The political commissar shook his head as he looked at her expression. “Comrade Xiao Ye, your brother was a hero. Don’t tarnish his name. The military doesn’t make up such serious matters. We deeply regret and mourn his sacrifice, but that doesn’t justify you slandering others.”

Realizing she had become the villain, Xiao Ye panicked. Gritting her teeth, she said, “I heard that Battalion Commander Lu and Gu Xiaoxi just got married. Why didn’t he return to the unit immediately? Instead, he took the time to hold a wedding and bring Gu Xiaoxi along as a military spouse. That was just a delay! If not, then it must be because Gu Xiaoxi is a vixen who bewitched Battalion Commander Lu.”

Silence fell over the room.

No one had expected Xiao Ye to say such things.

Just as the atmosphere became suffocating, Gu Xiaoxi, supported by a nurse, walked over.

She stopped in front of Xiao Ye, raised her hand, and slapped her without a word.

Everyone was stunned. Even the regiment commander and political commissar were momentarily speechless.

Who would have thought that this delicate-looking girl would slap someone right in front of them?

This was going to be troublesome…

“You dare hit me?” Xiao Ye clutched her face, in shock.

Gu Xiaoxi, unafraid, looked at her coldly. “I understand what you’re implying—you’re saying your brother shouldn’t have died, and my husband, Lu Jiansen, should have. Sorry, but I won’t allow that!”

“I slapped you because you deliberately pushed me and caused my injury. I won’t ask you for compensation—this makes us even.”

“As for my marriage to Lu Jiansen, the day we got engaged, he received an urgent mission. He had to return to the unit immediately, cutting his leave short. We got engaged in the morning, held the wedding banquet at night, and before dawn the next day, I followed him back to the military base. If that’s not putting duty first, then what is?”

“You also told others that Lu Jiansen knew the mission was dangerous and that someone would die, so he deliberately delayed his return. That’s just manipulating people into thinking he’s a traitor. In that case, I have every reason to suspect that your brother was reckless and impulsive on the mission. Who says the team leader must be the one to die on a mission?”

She paused, then sneered. “Unless someone planned it that way.”

A chilling silence filled the room.

At first, many had been swayed by the rumors, believing Battalion Commander Xiao had died in place of Battalion Commander Lu.

But now, after hearing Gu Xiaoxi’s words, they started rethinking everything.

Yes—who decided that the leader had to be the one to die?

And Gu Xiaoxi’s last sentence… it sent shivers down people’s spines.

Even the regiment commander and political commissar exchanged uneasy glances before stepping in.

“This matter is just a misunderstanding. Anyone caught spreading rumors will face serious consequences. Comrade Xiao Ye, we have more questions for you—come with us.”

With that, the regiment commander ordered someone to take Xiao Ye away.

As she was led off, Political Commissar Luo patted Lu Jiansen on the shoulder. “Take good care of your wife. You have a day off tomorrow.”

Lu Jiansen said nothing, simply turning to support his wife.

“Still hurting?”

Gu Xiaoxi nodded. “Yes! I want to go home and lie down—I’m exhausted.”

“I’ll take you home.”

Lu Jiansen bent down, scooped her into his arms, and strode away without caring about anyone’s stares.

Gu Dachuan, worried, followed closely behind.

That night, many people found it hard to sleep.

The Next Day

The Lu Family in Beijing

Grandpa Lu looked at the photo in his hands and nodded repeatedly.

“This little girl looks lively and full of fortune. She’s a great match for Xiao Sen!”

Grandma Lu beamed. “That rascal has good taste—his wife is much better than the second son’s.”

Sitting beside her, Lu Jianye, the second son of the Lu family, sighed helplessly. “Grandma, I get that you like my sister-in-law, but don’t put down my wife.”

Grandma Lu snorted. “She is better than your wife—more generous and dignified. If someone slandered you, do you think your wife would stand up for you? Remember when you got injured? She visited you at the hospital once, saw you weren’t dead, and left.”

A brutal blow.

Lu Jianye: “…”

Lu Liansheng, the head of the family, was also satisfied with his eldest son’s choice of wife. Thinking about what he had learned from Luo that morning, he sighed.

“That poor girl—she just arrived at the military base and already got hurt.”

Grandma Lu immediately responded, “Send more supplies to Xiao Sen’s unit—food, daily necessities, ration coupons, everything!”

Then she turned to her daughter-in-law. “Mingying, the woolen clothes you mentioned last time—buy two and send them to Xiaoxi.”

Wei Mingying nodded. “Alright, I’ll go this afternoon.”

Lu Liansheng, however, said, “No need to send them. Jianlin is being transferred to Qingbei Military Hospital next month—let’s have him leave earlier and take the things with him.”

Wei Mingying’s eyes lit up. “That’s right! If Jianlin takes them, I can prepare more without worrying about them getting lost.”

Grandma Lu was surprised. “Why is he suddenly transferring to Qingbei?”