Chapter 51 Chapter 51 "I'll go slower..."
It's not Zhao Qingyi's fault for being suspicious. She still has the lesson from the past. She let Zhao Manyi eavesdrop on her at the door because of her carelessness.
She kept a watchful eye on things and asked the servants when she went out. Unfortunately, the servants were clueless about when her second uncle came or whether he stayed outside the yard.
That evening, not long after Zhao Huailiang left his brother's study, the Wang family received a secret letter. After Wang Ci Fu unfolded it and took a closer look, his old face with the shoe prints on it became as gloomy as iron.
Your Majesty sent Zhao Huaiyi to Zhejiang specifically for more than just disaster relief and aid to the people. He also brought a secret decree.
The officials gathered around Wang Cifu were filled with worry. "The Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions are our foundation. If Your Majesty truly intends to try out new policies in Zhejiang, doesn't that mean we've already lost your favor?"
In other words, His Majesty sees them as thorns in his side and wants to get rid of them as soon as possible. Rectifying the Zhejiang bureaucracy is like cutting off their arms. "We can't just sit there and wait for death!"
"Things have come to this, it's probably hard to reverse the situation." Wang Ci Fu threw the secret letter into the incense burner. The flames rose, illuminating his sinister face.
As a subject, openly disobeying the emperor's will is courting self-destruction, so the only option is... to let Your Majesty give up.
"Since rumors can't stop Zhao Huaiyi, then let him go." A cold glint flashed in Wang Ci Fu's eyes. "If he dares to set foot in Zhejiang, I will make sure he... never returns!"
He just didn't believe that after Zhao Huaiyi dodged it once or twice, he could still do it a third time.
Wang's party all echoed his opinion and praised Wang Ci Fu for his great connections.
Even though he is far away in Beijing, he can still set up a tight net in Zhejiang. This shows that he has great ability.
Wang Cifu unconsciously felt elated, stroking his long beard and sighing slightly, with a hint of contempt in his reserve, "Your Majesty is still young and full of vigor after all."
Do you think that just because you won a few battles at the border, you can turn the imperial court around? What a joke.
This Daliang will only be the world of aristocratic families.
Zhao Huaiyi, a traitor and a scum in the eyes of the aristocratic families, is destined to have a bad ending!
—
Zhao Qingyi took a bath early tonight. The warm water wrapped around her body. She closed her eyes and couldn't help but recall what Chu Yuanhe said yesterday.
There were too many things going on yesterday, so he didn't show up at night. I don't know if he will come today.
Anyway, she had taken a shower earlier on purpose, so she couldn't let herself be embarrassed like last time.
Zhao Qingyi stood up in the mist and changed into a plain long dress with a thin kesi silk shirt loosely covering her shoulders. Her wet hair was wrapped with fine cotton cloth. She walked around the screen barefoot and saw a dark figure sitting at the table with his back to her, drinking tea leisurely.
“…”
Zhao Qingyi suppressed the surging throbbing in her heart, "How long... have you been here?"
Chu Yuanhe then turned sideways and smiled harmlessly, "Not long ago, around... when Tan Yue Qiaoyue just left."
Zhao Qingyi always likes quiet time when bathing. After preparing water and perfumed lotion, the two maids will leave.
He came so early, doesn't that mean...
The feeling of shame and anger surged up again, so she simply stopped wiping her hair and grabbed the dry cloth and threw it at Chu Yuanhe's head.
Chu Yuanhe was quick to grab it, then stood up and walked over to her, pressed her shoulders to make her sit down, and skillfully picked up a strand of her wet hair and wiped it slowly.
"Don't be angry." Although it was his first time doing this, he was very quick. As he wiped it, he tilted his head to examine Zhao Qingyi's expression. "I swear, I didn't peek."
Zhao Qingyi's expression eased slightly, "Don't bother Prince, I can do it myself." As he said that, he was about to take back the cloth.
Chu Yuanhe dodged with a flick of his wrist, "Why, you won't let me do this little bit of work?"
Seeing that she was about to bring up the social hierarchy again, Chu Yuanhe snorted, "You keep saying you're not willing to bother me, but you even dare to slap me in the face and hit me with a cloth just now." There was a hint of grievance in his tone as he said the last part.
Zhao Qingyi's eyebrows twitched. Okay, it would be okay if she just kept silent.
Chu Yuanhe was relentless, "Why aren't you talking again?"
His self-righteous look actually made Zhao Qingyi laugh. "Anyway, it's wrong for me to say it, and it's also wrong for me not to say it."
"Then tell me what I like to hear?" Chu Yuanhe asked back, his hands were not vague at all. No one knew how he wiped it, but Zhao Qingyi's hair dried faster than usual.
She unconsciously played with the ends of her hair that fell on one side, and her mood improved a little, even feeling a strange softness. She and him had actually developed such a relationship.
So I followed his words and asked, "What do you like to listen to?"
Chu Yuanhe paused and said in a gloomy tone, "...Banban, you are really good at asking questions even though you already know the answer."
Zhao Qingyi looked up with a hint of confusion. Wasn't her feelings obvious enough?
She had to say it herself.
That's too pretentious.
Inside the room, the steaming heat had not yet dissipated, enveloping the two figures.
Chu Yuanhe couldn't wait for her response and fell silent.
Was she... not yet that devoted to him that she wouldn't even say a single word of love?
Finally, Zhao Qingyi changed the subject, "You don't look well."
It's not that he was deliberately looking cold, he just looked like he hadn't slept well, with two slight dark circles under his eyes. However, he was handsome, and even with the dark circles under his eyes, it still couldn't hide his handsomeness.
It was rare for her to show concern, so Chu Yuanhe lowered his lips and hummed softly, but in his heart he secretly hoped that she would show more concern.
"If you didn't sleep well, you don't have to come."
"..." Chu Yuanhe's eyes were filled with resentment.
Zhao Qingyi picked up the teacup he had used and refilled it with warm water. Seeing his expression, she realized that her words were ambiguous. She coughed lightly and said, "...I mean, you should rest well in the mansion for a few hours. There's no need to come here at night."
After saying that, he felt something was wrong and added seriously, "During the day...it's best not to come." There are many people during the day, and there are groups of servants in the yard.
The result is that the more you describe it, the worse it gets, and it sounds so unkind no matter how you listen to it.
The gloom on Chu Yuanhe's face grew darker, and his sparkling peach blossom eyes dimmed, with almost no light shining through. He looked pitiful and a little dangerously oppressive.
Zhao Qingyi thought that he should just shut up.
"If you are tired of me, just say it." Chu Yuanhe threw the dry cloth in his hand onto the table, making a loud muffled sound, which showed that he was in a very bad mood.
Are you angry?
Zhao Qingyi blinked her almond-shaped eyes, rarely showing a trace of helplessness. It was really difficult for her. She had never learned how to coax others in her two lives.
It’s not possible to ignore Chu Yuanhe when he’s like this.
"My words may not be pleasant, please don't take them to heart." She pondered for a moment, then turned sideways, closer to him, and placed her hand on the back of his hand, where veins bulged, and curled her fingertips tentatively. "Is this...better?"
Chu Yuanhe's petal-like thin lips finally raised a slight arc, "Just barely enough."
It's still a face-saving thing.
Zhao Qingyi thought secretly, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.
It seems... it's not that difficult to coax people?
Chu Yuanhe knew how to take advantage of others, so he turned his hand over, palm facing up, and held her hand without saying a word. He stubbornly put each of his fingers through the gaps between her fingers, making them interlock.
His palms were always warm, and they made Zhao Qingyi's palms burn, but she couldn't struggle.
Never mind, as long as I can keep him stable.
Zhao Qingyi withdrew her gaze and stopped looking at him.
Chu Yuanhe's rough fingertips gently rubbed her hand. "Lord Zhao will be leaving for Zhejiang soon. Will you... be reluctant to leave?"
He did not test Zhao Qingyi's feelings in advance and decided this matter privately. Although it was for the public good, he still felt guilty towards Zhao Qingyi.
Of course Zhao Qingyi was reluctant to do so, but the father and daughter had discussed it and decided that the court's move was, on the one hand, due to its reliance on her father, and on the other hand, out of helplessness. There were very few people who truly supported the new policy, and even fewer who were worthy of being reused.
"Is this why you can't sleep well?" Zhao Qingyi's voice was soft and had a soothing power, which made Chu Yuanhe feel warm in his heart.
He knew that Zhao Qingyi's vision was more than just that. He nodded, "That's just one reason. After all, he's your father. This trip is quite dangerous, and I don't want you to be frightened."
The truth is far more than that. The Empress Dowager also went to the Purple Palace to look for him.
Many of the memorials presented to the emperor asked him to deal with Zhao Huaiyi, but he didn't want to pay any attention to them. The Empress Dowager put pressure on him at this time, and in the end he suppressed those memorials with thundering means, which made him very anxious.
Chu Yuanhe really wanted to issue an imperial decree to eradicate all these so-called clean families, but the families had been in existence for many years and their power was intertwined and complicated. A single move could affect the entire body, just like the implementation of the new policy in Zhejiang, which involved the interests of the Empress Dowager's maternal family.
"This matter is beyond your control." Zhao Qingyi was unusually understanding, and every word he said was full of understanding. "I'm not surprised by Your Majesty's decision. Besides, what my father is doing is a major cause that benefits the country and the people. Even if it's dangerous, it's his duty."
Chu Yuanhe stared at her soft profile. At this moment, she seemed to be shrouded in a layer of holy halo in his eyes. It had nothing to do with her appearance, but was an incomparable aura that came from her heart.
It has to be said that the Zhao family raised their daughter very well. She was able to sympathize with the difficulties of the court and sympathize with the suffering of the people.
In his heart, she is the only choice for the mother of the nation.
"You are right. The new policy is indeed beneficial to the country and the people, but I am afraid that the common people do not understand it and may be instigated by those with ulterior motives to obstruct the implementation of the new policy." That is why he could send Zhao Huaiyi in the name of disaster relief, but did not dare to make a big fuss under the banner of the new policy.
However, Zhao Qingyi took the worry he casually mentioned to heart, thought about it carefully for a moment, and came up with an idea, "Isn't the palace examination coming up soon?"
During the palace examination, Your Majesty can personally examine the character and talents of these people, select the capable ones, and work with the scholars of the prefectural academy to run a new policy school, preach the true meaning of the new policy, and analyze how it will benefit the people's livelihood.
"...They are all newly minted Jinshi (Jinshi) or Tongjinshi (Jinshi) scholars, and are role models for scholars and students throughout the country. If they explain the new policies to the people, they will surely set the trend. If one person spreads the message, ten people will spread the message, and ten people will spread the message to a hundred people. How can we worry that the people of Daliang will not understand what the new policies are?"
Chu Yuanhe's eyes lit up with wonder, and he thought this method was wonderful. "What else?"
besides……
Zhao Qingyi tilted his head in thought, unconsciously fiddling with the teacup filled with water in his hand. "If we want to reach the masses quickly, we need to come up with a unique way of spreading the word."
It is instinctive for intellectuals to be concerned about current affairs because it involves their own and family interests, but most people only care about their own little piece of land and toil in the fields all day long. They have limited acceptance of literary things. The New Deal School is mostly effective for scholars.
"What do you think about turning this into a play?"
This was the most common method Zhao Qingyi could think of. When his father's new policies began to show initial success in Zhejiang, he would immediately compile the results and benefits of the new policies into a play and hire troupes to perform them in the city and the countryside, which would have a more direct effect.
"If we can win the hearts of the people, let them see the court's determination to reform, and see that the new policies have brought them tangible benefits, they will spontaneously support the new policies. Then, Your Majesty can implement them nationwide, and it will be a natural progression."
As the saying goes, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. In this way, even if the powerful families who oppose the new policy want to obstruct it, they will be cautious and at least will not dare to be too presumptuous in public.
Zhao Qingyi spoke seriously and didn't notice that the man next to her was getting closer and closer. When she reacted, their noses were touching and their breaths were intertwined.
Zhao Qingyi was startled and the teacup in her hand fell over. The tea immediately soaked the silk table curtain and dripped down.
Her slender back pressed against the edge of the table, and the invisible pressure made her instinctively lean back to avoid it.
Chu Yuanhe's big hand passed through the black hair hanging behind her and firmly grasped the back of her head, leaving her no room to dodge.
"Banban..." Chu Yuanhe pressed his hand against her forehead, his tone helpless yet coaxing, "The night is short, let's do what we should do and not talk about anything else."
Zhao Qingyi's delicate body stiffened slightly, not daring to move. "It was you who started this conversation..."
This time her voice had changed, becoming soft and gentle, a tone that even she herself found unfamiliar, three parts resentment and seven parts innocence.
"That's it." Chu Yuanhe's heart was tickled by her, and he rubbed his tall nose against hers slowly, his movements were very slow, and from time to time a few imaginative sighs came out of his throat.
Obviously, nothing has been done yet.
Zhao Qingyi's eyelashes trembled, and she didn't dare to look directly at the enlarged handsome face in front of her. It was too close, and it was easy for her to have wild thoughts.
But she forced herself not to look, but she couldn't block out those charming voices from entering her ears, "Can you... stop making strange noises?"
"Um?"
Chu Yuanhe was puzzled and nudged her affectionately, "What do you mean by strange noises?"
How to describe this?
Zhao Qingyi was almost coaxed into imitating the voice on the spot. Fortunately, she was not completely irrational, but her mind couldn't help but recall everything that happened the night before.
They were also so close at that time, his lips held her earlobe, kissed her cheek, her neck...
Zhao Qingyi suddenly felt hot all over and his heart was beating very fast.
So he was going to kiss her now?
Chu Yuanhe was much taller than her, so even when their noses were touching, she still had to tilt her head up slightly, her cheeks reflecting the candlelight, rosy as clouds.
She was secretly expecting something, and Chu Yuanhe could see it. Does this mean...she already likes him a little?
No, it seems a little bit short.
His Adam's apple moved slightly, but he finally held it back.
The atmosphere was already so heated that Zhao Qingyi was already feeling a little dizzy, but she didn't get the kiss she had expected.
Chu Yuanhe raised his body and opened up the suffocating distance. The airtight feeling of oppression instantly faded away. Instead, a cool air came in and dispelled the beauty in Zhao Qingyi's mind.
She was dazed, then confused, and then embarrassed by the huge gap.
Was he teasing her?
Being so close yet so far, playing hard to get?
Zhao Qingyi was thin-skinned and felt ashamed of her wild imagination, but also slightly angry that he did not move his hand. It was obvious that he was vying to be hers, but now he was playing tricks on her. Wouldn't he ask her for an answer anymore?
Zhao Qingyi’s first feeling was that the fishing line she had accidentally released had broken, and the other party seemed to have no intention of continuing the chase with her.
Chu Yuanhe did not miss the subtle change in her expression and silently curled the corners of his lips.
People are like this. They won't cherish what they get too easily. What he wants is her cherishment and her love, so he can't let her feel that her feelings can be despised.
Zhao Qingyi really took the bait. She stared at him with her watery almond-shaped eyes, questioning him with her eyes, is that it?
Chu Yuanhe raised his eyebrows and said righteously, "I am a man of principle. How dare I do anything without your consent?"
Although he vowed in his heart when he left her room last time that he would never let her go next time, when the moment came, he changed his mind.
He can't always be the only one who is busy and has no fun. Love between men and women requires mutual affection, not a one-man show.
Zhao Qingyi unconsciously clutched the hem of her pajamas, wanting to ask, "Haven't you messed around enough?" Now she's being reserved again.
The feeling of being teased and then inexplicably pushed away was not pleasant. Zhao Qingyi felt like there was a fire burning in his stomach with nowhere to vent, so he simply stood up and pushed the person under the window.
"Get out."
Chu Yuanhe staggered and was confused for a moment.
No... This was far from what he expected. Could it be that he had been teasing her for so long but still failed to disrupt her will?
He grabbed Zhao Qingyi's wrist, his voice almost squeezed out from between his teeth, "Can't you..." Can't you give in once, take the initiative once, and ask for something once?
He wanted a definite answer and a firm choice from her.
But when the words came to his lips, Chu Yuanhe swallowed them back, feeling unprecedented frustration.
"That's all..."
The next moment, Zhao Qingyi grabbed his wrist with her backhand. No one knew how she did it, or perhaps Chu Yuanhe simply didn't think of resisting. His tall and strong body was easily pushed by the woman in front of him, and his back hit the cold window frame heavily.
He was caught off guard and his upper body fell backward due to inertia. In order to avoid falling out, he could only hastily open his hands to hold on to the window frames on both sides.
Zhao Qingyi took the opportunity to press down his strong and straight legs under his brocade robe, held up his face with her bare hands, pressed her red lips slightly, and finally covered him as she wished.
What she wants, she must get.
In her two lives, Zhao Qingyi had never taken the initiative towards any man, but this time she admitted that she was blinded by lust. She liked this appearance and was greedy for the feeling of being close to him.
He was the one who initiated the flirtation with her, so she couldn't blame him.
Zhao Qingyi gently kissed the man's lips, which were so soft that they were incompatible with him. They carried his unique cool breath, which was addictive.
At that moment, Chu Yuanhe's hands that were holding the window frame suddenly tightened, and the muscles hidden under his clothes instantly became knotted and tense. The blood seemed to rush to his head, making his face flush.
He tried hard to control his breathing, fearing to disturb the woman who had finally taken this step. He maintained this awkward posture stiffly, allowing the other party to do whatever she wanted.
Zhao Qingyi did not disappoint him and was as bold as ever. However, as she grew up, she always became more cautious and careful in her feelings towards him, which required repeated consideration and scrutiny.
The fact that he could take this step showed that he already lived in her heart.
In the silence, Chu Yuanhe could hear his own deafening heartbeat.
She actually... kissed him.
It was not until the soft and slightly cool touch was truly imprinted on his lips and rubbed against each other that Chu Yuanhe dared to believe that this was not just another dream.
It really happened.
Chu Yuanhe's heart, which was as silent as stagnant water, suddenly began to ripple.
Zhao Qingyi was troubled. She didn't know what to do next. Should she continue kissing him? Would it make her seem too unrestrained?
Obviously, she had rejected him many times before.
Zhao Qingyi had never thought that at this moment of confusion and passion, she could still be distracted to think about these things. Just when she was about to give up and wanted to withdraw from those tempting lips, Chu Yuanhe's hand that was supporting the window frame suddenly came back, wrapped around her slender waist, and easily lifted her up.
He was tall and held her as if she were a child. There was no skill at all. He relied purely on his strength and absolute advantage in size. After picking her up, he even lifted her up.
Zhao Qingyi screamed in a low voice and instinctively hugged the other person's neck tightly, fearing that he would fall.
Chu Yuanhe carried her and strode back to the inner room, put her on the bed, squeezed his knees into her skirt, and trapped her on the head of the bed. This time, he held the back of her head and kissed her.
Zhao Qingyi felt something was different again. His lips were no longer soft and clear, but extremely hot and strong. He rolled them freely on her lips, showing a toughness that he rarely showed in front of her.
Even his limbs were full of strength. His knees pressed down on her wide and gorgeous skirt, as if nailing her in this position. His arms were wrapped around her, trapping her firmly in this small brocade bed, leaving her no room to escape.
Chu Yuanhe didn't have many skills. He only knew that the woman in his arms was the one he was obsessed with. He only had the most primitive instinct towards the person he loved so much.
It's a man's instinct.
He rubbed and sucked hard, then pried open her petal-like red lips and went straight in to meet her tongue tip.
The moment she was invaded, Zhao Qingyi's mind went blank. She held his shoulders in vain, lying on her back to endure his pursuit, letting out a trembling soft moan.
It was even more shameful than his previous sigh.
Zhao Qingyi's cheeks flushed with shame and her breathing became more rapid. She regretted that she shouldn't have taken the initiative, which undoubtedly exposed her answer nakedly in front of him.
More direct and certain than any words.
It was just an irresistible action, but it became a spark that started a prairie fire and became unstoppable.
Zhao Qingyi had no way to defend herself. Her bare hands on his shoulders unconsciously exerted force, causing two wrinkles on his smooth and ironed brocade robe.
She was clearly trying to stop him, but in Chu Yuanhe's eyes, it looked more like she was playing hard to get, pushing the man to make further advances. His clever tongue was always stirring in her mouth, tempting her to join in the pleasure, and plundering her remaining breath bit by bit.
Zhao Qingyi was so fascinated by his kiss that her lips became red and swollen, but the tingling sensation increased instead of decreasing, far exceeding her limit.
She gradually lost her strength, and her bare hands slowly slid down his broad shoulders, across his solid chest, and fell dejectedly onto the brocade mattress. Chu Yuanhe then picked her up again and pressed her hand forcefully against her chest.
When her fingertips touched his solid and powerful chest muscles, Zhao Qingyi felt a burn. She wanted to leave, but she was obsessed with curiosity.
I'm curious about what he looks like under his noble brocade robe.
The fingertips slid in.
This was not the first time she had done this, but it was the time when she felt it most strongly and most focused. Wherever her fingertips passed, there was a clear barrier and a thin layer of sweat on the texture.
Unconsciously, Chu Yuanhe's clothes came loose and tilted, revealing half of his powerful shoulder and neck.
The lips that had been rubbing against each other finally separated, bringing out a trace of crystal clear water. The man deliberately slowed down his movements and looked at her trapped in the brocade silk, her red lips slightly open, her breathing disordered, her eyes as deep as a pool.
I want to kiss her again.
Just to give her a brief chance to catch her breath, Chu Yuanhe leaned over again.
Zhao Qingyi felt unwell all over. She pressed her palm against his vaguely visible chest. She was really tired.
"I'll go slower." Chu Yuanhe could only start from behind her ear, his deep voice tempting her to give in. "...Kiss me again, okay?"
You can't blame him. God knows how long he has been thinking about it, in his dreams and in reality, for countless days and nights.
Besides, it was Zhao Qingyi who spoke first. She took the initiative and he was just responding.
"Just once." He looked like he was begging for her pity again. Before she agreed, he was really well-behaved and only lingered behind her ears and neck, leaving behind small kisses.
But how is this different from teasing?
Promise him, it will happen sooner or later.
Chu Yuanhe left a few red marks on her neck, and Zhao Qingyi slowly put her arms around him, "Go on..."
Before he could finish his words, the frenzied pursuit came back with a vengeance. The hand holding his arm tightened, silently reminding him to slow down. He obediently slowed down the pace, guiding her to adjust her breathing in between kisses so that she would not be dizzy and unable to resist after just one kiss.
This time he was much more patient, and Zhao Qingyi gradually adapted and tried to kiss back...
"County Lady!"
The maid's urgent voice broke through the door, instantly dispelling the beauty in the room.
Seeing the situation inside the room, Qiao Yue was stunned. She immediately covered her eyes tightly and turned away. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm so rude! I'll get out right now!"
My God, after serving the county lady for many years, she has become more and more arrogant and rude, and still comes in whenever she wants as before.
I should have knocked on the door first!
Qiao Yue covered her eyes and dared not look around. Tan Yue, who came in right after her, was also frightened by the scene. She quickly grabbed the reckless Qiao Yue and closed the door.
Chu Yuanhe, who prided himself on being thick-skinned, was rarely embarrassed. He supported himself with his hands on both sides of Zhao Qingyi, not knowing whether to stand up or continue.
Zhao Qingyi also woke up and wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
It was Chu Yuanhe who spoke first. His eyes fell on her red lips. "...Are you still going?"
Zhao Qingyi didn't know how to answer, so she was gently pulled into the other person's arms.
Chu Yuanhe still complied with her previous request, held her in his arms and kissed her again. As soon as their lips touched, Qiaoyue pushed the door in again.
She was more panicked than ever before. "Oh, my Lady, it's the Madam! The Madam is here! She's already in the yard!"
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