Chapter 82: Repeated Torture and Numerous Bumps: His Majesty Called Me by My Childhood Name + Little Xie...

The evening breeze was cooler than the afternoon breeze.

Suspicion arose, ambiguity diminished, and the emperor's change of heart happened in an instant.

Ying Xi's appearance often leads to misunderstandings; even a slight smile can make people's hearts flutter.

He was once again captivated by Ying Xi's attitude; the bright moon seemed within reach.

But just as he was about to reach out and grab the moon.

The moon's reflection shattered across the entire pond.

Xie Qianli suddenly came to his senses and found that the bright moon was still hanging high in the sky.

Now, he felt as if countless piercing needles were hanging from all sides, and killing intent rose from beneath his feet.

It was as if if he uttered a single wrong word, he would immediately lose the emperor's trust, or even cause a great disaster.

Ying Xi is contradictory; sometimes she is the lively and spirited Xiao Xi.

But more often than not, he made people feel like they were walking on thin ice while serving him. Ying Xi was the emperor who ruled over the millions of people of the Qin Dynasty.

Xie Qianli unconsciously avoided looking at him.

"Look at me."

Ying Xi picked some flowers from the garden. As he wove the crape myrtle blossoms into the soft vines, a game he played as a child, taught to him by his mother, he pretended to be casual while actually observing Xie Qianli's expression.

The previous arrangement to talk to Prince Yong about official business was all groundwork. His sudden question caught everyone off guard; Ying Xi was most adept at proceeding step by step.

Yingxi pressed further, "Hmm?"

A layer of cold sweat appeared on Xie Qianli's forehead.

He dared not entertain any more romantic thoughts, and for a moment he felt dejected. His mind raced, and he concealed part of the actual situation.

Xie Qianli replied, "After Prince Yong took you away, I boarded that painted boat. The dancers on the boat revealed that Prince Yong sailed towards Guangling, and I followed the clues to the city walls."

Ying Xi is good at asking questions.

Xie Qianli was also adept at concealing his true feelings.

The education he received from a young age, coupled with the loss of his parents, forced him to mature. Xie Qianli silently calmed his mind.

Ying Xi calmly recalled, "I was trapped in Guangling at that time. I heard that you led troops to participate in the siege and put pressure on Jia Ruzhen. But if I wasn't in the city at that time, wouldn't your efforts have been completely ineffective?"

And they would be accused of disregarding the emperor's safety.

Xie Qianli's heart pounded even harder.

He thought he had done everything perfectly and concealed his actions flawlessly. He found out Ying Xi's whereabouts before joining the attack on Guangling.

How could he know that Ying Xi would push back?

The emperor actually guessed that he had a reliable source of intelligence!

My heart felt like it was being suspended in mid-air. Xie Qianli was indeed hiding something, and it was hard to deny it.

The high moon had not only returned to the horizon, but it was also a cold, bright moon, its clear light leaving him nowhere to hide.

Yingxi waited for his explanation.

He couldn't offer a reasonable explanation.

Xie Qianli said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is firmly here."

"Moreover, the Prince Yongning's residence is in Guangling. Based on my analysis of Prince Yong's temperament, he should take you back to your old home."

This explanation has two or three points of merit.

However, it also falls under the category of subjective judgment, leaving no trace.

Yingxi's fingers, which were weaving a flower wreath, did not stop.

Fingers danced swiftly, their fingertips as smooth as jade.

He lowered his eyes and said calmly, "If I weren't here, you'd never see me again if you guessed wrong. How could you do that?"

The voice wasn't loud, and the emperor might have believed it to some extent.

His tone became less cold.

The second half of the sentence vaguely contains anger and resentment, but it doesn't seem like it's meant to punish anyone.

It's as if they're only blaming him.

I blame myself for not taking people seriously enough...

Xie Qianli was already completely infatuated.

He immediately kowtowed, his armor plates rustling as he cried out, "Your Majesty, I deserve to die a thousand deaths!!!"

But he did not die; instead, a weight was placed on his head, and the emperor put a hastily woven flower wreath on his head.

The soft floral decorations on the valiant general finally softened his coldness, revealing a hint of his youthful naiveté, which would crumble at the slightest provocation.

"……His Majesty?"

"You have rendered meritorious service in saving the emperor, and I am rewarding you. You need not die."

Xie Qianli was covered in frizz, and his legs almost bounced up.

What is he going to do?

No matter how well-mannered or how much he could control himself, he couldn't bear the torment of Ying Xi's constant push and pull...

Good steed.

Bad foal.

I will punish you.

I will reward you.

I……

A vigorous and powerful man who once commanded armies was now being tossed around like a puppet by an imperial court.

Xie Qianli couldn't help but lightly touch the wreath with his fingertips.

The petals are soft, yet the vines are thorny. Just like Ying Xi, who possesses both strength and gentleness.

He stole glances at Ying Xi's face, from her eyes to her lips, finally lingering on the slightly parted lip.

Xie Qianli was completely captivated: "Your subject thanks you for your kindness."

"You may leave. There's no need for me to stand guard tonight; I wish to take a walk around the palace by myself."

The setting sun illuminated the long corridor of the Yongning Prince's Mansion, the moon rose, and Xie Qianli remained in the same spot. He looked up.

Ying Xi's figure had disappeared into the secluded path.

***

It took only about five days to stabilize Guangling.

In five days, the imperial court replaced most of the officials in Guangling.

The sources of court officials are quite complex: the current dynasty already has the imperial examination system, and now there are two important ways to advance in officialdom.

One of them comes from the selection of exam papers;

Another method was recommendation by officials, with most of the recommended candidates coming from prominent families.

The cities occupied by the Jiangnan army were rather unique. The emperor didn't trust the officials selected by Li Zicheng through the imperial examinations. To appease the people, Li Zicheng eradicated many wealthy families in Jiangnan, leading to a decline in the number of talented individuals from the gentry.

In urgent situations, expediency is necessary. The emperor introduced a third method of selection: appointing officials from among the local scholars. The emperor conducted a thorough examination of these individuals, and those selected were directly appointed to official positions.

This also created a unique scene wherever the imperial army passed.

Fighting battles at the front, receiving rewards at the rear.

We're fighting and sealing off simultaneously, without neglecting either.

Xie Meng had already led his navy north again, with the main force heading ahead to Linchuan. Linchuan is a city nestled against mountains and beside a river.

The Longwu Army escorted the emperor's entourage behind them. The battle was already more than halfway through, so there was no need to rush like when the troops were first dispatched. In order to display the emperor's might, the emperor also had to put on a show to intimidate the rebels who had not yet surrendered.

The procession stretched for two or three miles.

Walking along the mountain roads of Jiangnan, you are surrounded by terraced fields and lush green tea trees.

Summer is not the peak season for tea picking, and recently we have been experiencing the plum rain season.

The weather was damp, with rain and fog everywhere.

For most of the Northern Dragon Martial Army soldiers, it was torture.

Lian Qing looked around with his head tilted back, and finally spotted a few women tending to the tea trees in the tea garden.

Southern women have smaller frames than northern women. Tea-picking girls wear headscarves and sing local folk songs. Southern accents are soft and gentle, like the warbling of orioles, but what are they singing?

Lian Qing couldn't understand.

The songs in the tea garden were sweet and soft, like the tip of the tongue touching the teeth, as if the mouth could not open wide, and the lips were smiling lips.

Lian Qing tried for a long time but couldn't learn it. He could only use his tongue to press against his front teeth and produce a few broken syllables:

“Cissasasasa…not dusty.”

Only the first seven characters were somewhat memorable; the pronunciation of the rest would leave anyone stumped. The military officers from Jiangbei looked bewildered, but that didn't stop them from listening intently.

Lian Qing always inquired about details he shouldn't have been curious about.

He took the reins and approached Xie Qianli. The general was dressed in white with silver armor and a dragon-shaped hilt, exuding a majestic aura, and his horse was snow-white.

Lian Qing, shameless as ever, rode alongside him, saying, "General, could you please offer some guidance?"

"explain."

What are the girls singing?

Xie Qianli's expression turned slightly cold: "I don't know."

I always thought you were a monk, but you don't look like one at all.

Lian Qing was unwilling to give up: "Could you please ask around for me?"

"Ask whom?"

Lian Qing remained silent, his gaze cautiously shifting towards the carriage.

The carriage was spacious, with four horses running side by side. The red paint on the carriage body shone brightly even in the misty rain, and the gold ornaments on the front of the carriage were dazzling.

Of course, he could understand Lian Qing's implication—the emperor was from Jiangnan.

"I won't ask, I'm resting," General Xie refused.

“Impossible,” Lian Qing said in a low voice. “He slept after lunch and just asked the army doctor for some miscellaneous books to read. Of course he’s awake.”

"A military doctor?"

Xie Qianli astutely captured the key words.

Military doctors are supposed to treat illnesses, so asking a military doctor for miscellaneous books seemed like a valid reason. However, in reality, he couldn't even finish reading all the secret reports that Jiangbei was chasing after him for.

"knew."

"Oh, General..."

Even Qing didn't get a definite answer from him, so whether he would let her ask or not.

He had previously misunderstood General Xie and the Emperor, thinking they had something going on, but it turned out they were just applying medicine. He dared not think anything further, lest he be seen in a compromising situation.

The mountain songs in the wilderness are soft and gentle, and the slanting wind and drizzle are like light ink.

Xie Qianli pulled on the reins and moved closer to the main vehicle. He gently tapped on the window with one hand and drove alongside it.

He leaned closer to the carriage, slightly lowered himself, and removed his helmet to prevent water droplets from the brim from dripping into the carriage.

Xie Qianli may not have noticed the meticulousness, but Lian Qing was stunned.

Although their general was born into a noble family, he was in the military camp and few of them were particularly meticulous!

Such meticulous care inevitably tempts Lian Qing to harbor wicked thoughts again—does this mean that even the relationship between ruler and subject must be like this? Why wouldn't I do the same?

They either doubt the relationship between the two or question their own loyalty.

Even the gentle mountain songs couldn't rouse Lian Qing from his reverie. Lian Qing remained lost in thought.

***

"Brother, the prescription I am providing you will refresh your mind and soothe your liver and regulate your Qi."

"Your Majesty, I was observing mourning for Elder Qiao at the pharmacy. Before I left, I took many of his medical books with me. Fortunately, the military doctor also has these medicinal herbs. I prepared a sachet with the medicine. Please smell it."

—It was Prince Yong.

Prince Yong's voice revealed a weakness stemming from his unhealed injuries.

There are no seats in the carriage, only couches.

On the couch sat a low table, facing each other. On the table were cups of tea, fruit, two books, and a sachet made by Prince Yong.

Prince Yong was holding the sachet close to Ying Xi's nose.

The sachet had a slightly bitter scent, and Yingxi took a light sniff.

His throat hurts today. He hasn't been taking good care of himself lately and has been traveling around a lot. His health has been poor since he took over Guangling County.

The herbal scent made him feel somewhat comfortable.

He had the army doctor secretly prescribe pills for him.

"Does it smell good? Doesn't it make you feel refreshed?"

King Yong asked.

Prince Yong has now restrained himself considerably, promised to observe mourning, and indeed has not been visiting brothels in Guangling.

Any progress made by Dang'er deserves encouragement.

Ying Xi coughed lightly and said, "Very good."

Ying Dang was not satisfied. He slowly brought the sachet to Ying Xi's nose and pleaded, "Brother, smell it again. There is licorice inside, and it has a wonderful fragrance."

Ying Xi had no choice but to take a deep sniff.

It has a strong herbal aroma, and you can't smell any special fragrance at first. The licorice scent is hidden in the base notes, which is a mild and soothing sweetness.

Ying Xi nodded: "It does smell good."

The last syllable of her words lingered in her mouth, and Ying Xi's body stiffened.

When Prince Yong let him smell the sachet, his fingers were stroking his wrist bones.

A fine, tingling sensation spread through my wrist.

The emperor frowned slightly and coughed a few more times unintentionally.

Prince Yong, however, remained composed and magnanimous, continuing to discuss the sachet with the emperor while touching his wrist from the wrist bone to the base of his wrist, completely captivated by the sight.

Unbeknownst to the emperor, his brother had already changed the tactics.

The Prince of Yong now holds Ying Xi in awe, but his covetousness has only increased, though he no longer resorts to force.

Let's go for the softer approach then.

He was good at using persistent pleading and cajoling, getting close enough to take advantage of others, until his brother was completely defeated.

Prince Yong was a seasoned connoisseur of romance.

Since he's performing so well, there's no need for his older brother to be so strict with him. Like a frog being slowly boiled in water, he'll eventually succeed.

Prince Yong had already made up his mind.

Therefore, Xie Qianli suddenly stepped into the carriage, and before he could ask the emperor if he was unwell, he was caught off guard and saw Deng Tu Zi harassing his brother.

Xie Qianli's breathing suddenly became much heavier, and he immediately said, "Your Majesty."

"Is there something you need, Xie Qing?"

Ying Xi naturally withdrew the dragon sleeve, sat back in her original seat, and placed the sachet back on the table. The fragrance of incense wafted through the carriage.

Upon seeing this person emerge from the window, Prince Yong visibly tensed up, clenching his teeth.

General Xie said expressionlessly, "Your Highness is in mourning. You should be sleeping on a bed of dirt and straw, and you should not have any entertainment. It would be even more inconvenient for you to ride a carriage. Your Highness should ride a horse instead."

"you--"

He didn't even say "please".

Prince Yong was furious and jumped up!