Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Can this be comfortable? ...
There was a shimmering light in Zhao Qingyi's eyes, and her helpless look was both pitiful and captivating.
Chu Yuanhe was afraid of hurting her, so he stood up and stopped rubbing against her. Unexpectedly, she refused to let go and held his hand tightly.
He took a breath, his voice trembling, "Bangbang..."
"Let me help you..."
Zhao Qingyi finally softened her heart. Unable to bear seeing him suffer, she carefully confirmed again, "Is it... that kind of poison?"
She had no doubt about this. After all, the Jiang family did intend to poison the prince, but if the prince died, the higher-ups would definitely hold him accountable. Even if the people who caused the trouble were arrested to take the blame, the Jiang family would not be able to escape responsibility.
But if that kind of dirty medicine was given...
The drug does not kill people, but it can disrupt the mind. If Chu Yuanhe ruins the innocence of Jiang's daughter due to the effects of the drug, the Jiang family will become the party in a high position. They can fight for the position of Princess of a County, or use their reputation to threaten Chu Yuanhe to compromise with the Jiang family.
Zhao Qingyi sat up and led him into the bed curtains.
She was so well-behaved that Chu Yuanhe felt a little ashamed. "Have you ever thought about what if I was lying to you?"
The Jiang family gave him a muscle softening powder, but he had bribed servants in the manor, so the wine and drinks he got had been replaced long ago.
If you want to talk about poisoning... does it count as being poisoned by her?
Even he himself didn't understand why he couldn't help himself when he was close to her, and the closer they were, the more addicted he became.
His eyes became deeper and more focused as he stared at her snow-white face. In the end, he couldn't bear to deceive her. He had already hidden enough things from her.
"I was just kidding. I'm not poisoned." Chu Yuanhe gently brushed her hand away and held her in his arms. "It's just that when I saw you, I couldn't help but think of you... But your leg is still injured, so just rest well."
Zhao Qingyi looked up at him, a hint of affection etched in her eyes, "I don't want you to feel bad..."
Just a few words shattered Chu Yuanhe's conscience, which he had finally recovered.
Those misty eyes gradually gave rise to the darkness that he dared not show to others, and desire spread infinitely during this brief gaze.
Chu Yuanhe sighed heavily and stroked her cheek with his palm, "...Banban, are you being too indulgent with me?"
Zhao Qingyi still looked so innocent and pitiful, which always made him want to bully her.
"You'll spoil me if you let me have whatever I want." Just hugging her and kissing her was enough to make him tremble with excitement, yet she kept indulging him and seducing him.
Is it because he is too confident in his self-control?
Zhao Qingyi tilted her head and buried half of her face in his palm, not denying it. "This is something we both agreed to..."
She herself didn't even know when it started. It seemed that at first, she was just greedy for his looks and his body. She always believed that her heart had never wavered.
She wasn't in love with him, she just liked the feeling of being close to him.
But as time went by, she seemed to have really indulged him and her own heart without realizing it. The feelings were like spilled water and she could not save them.
"Chu Yuanhe..."
She held his big hand, kissed his palm gently, and said softly, "I think I like you, so what if I spoil you a little more?"
Isn't Chu Yuanhe also pampering her and protecting her?
"I can give you whatever you want." Zhao Qingyi's expression was gentle, but her voice was firm. "What I want is your honesty..."
She chose to trust and wait for him to explain to her in person.
"Just don't make me wait too long."
Chu Yuanhe stared at her blankly, the guilt in his heart turning into a thin blade at this moment, like her soft words, slowly cutting into his heart, making him feel extremely bitter.
For a moment, he wanted to tell it all.
But can she really accept his deception?
The lie he told casually back then deceived her for nearly five years.
"Banban, I'm sorry..." Chu Yuanhe didn't have the courage to confess at this critical moment. He could only sigh, "Everything will be settled when we return to Shangjing."
Whether she is angry or complains, he will accept it.
As long as she doesn't leave him.
Zhao Qingyi slowly lowered her eyelashes to hide the disappointment that flashed across her eyes, but in the end she still failed to find out his background.
With her intelligence, how could she not guess that Chu Yuanhe was deliberately changing the subject, he had a secret that he could not tell anyone.
A secret that even she couldn't tell.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't sad, but thinking about the many things that were still going on, her father still hadn't been found, and her cousin being imprisoned, she couldn't make a scene with Chu Yuanhe at this moment, as this would only hinder her and make the situation worse.
Chu Yuanhe did not miss the lost expression on her face. He sighed silently in his heart and wanted to leave.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Qingyi was quick to grab his wrist and asked, "Why are you running?"
“I didn’t…”
Before he could finish his words, the woman lifted herself up and blocked his lips. Although it was just a light taste, it still disturbed his mood that had just begun to calm down.
"Banban..." He said helplessly, almost squeezing out the words through his teeth, "I took your discomfort into consideration, and you, feeling confident, flirt with me instead?"
"Or do you think that I can't do anything to you?"
He stopped running and squeezed back into the bed, pressing his palm against her flat belly and threatening her fiercely, "...be careful not to tease her too much and get pregnant with my child."
There was no contraceptive soup for her to drink in Heifeng Village either.
Zhao Qingyi ignored the second half of his threat and said timidly, "I... can help you... like before." She did what she said and acted quickly.
Chu Yuanhe hissed and almost couldn't breathe. The tense string in his mind was in danger again.
But he still prefers to be the one in control of the situation.
Chu Yuanhe grabbed her wrist and peeled her out in a few seconds.
Zhao Qingyi groaned softly and fell into the quilt. She looked at herself in surprise and doubt, "Did you... make a mistake?"
He was the one who needed to help, so why should he undress her?
"Looking at you makes me feel more comfortable." Chu Yuanhe chuckled softly, feeling indescribably happy. Seeing her blushing cheeks as he wished, he relieved himself and did not forget to check her wounds.
He had some hope in his heart, but the wound on his leg was faintly red, and he was afraid that he couldn't bear it.
Chu Yuanhe sighed silently, kissed her lips, and then buried his face in her heart and lingered. His low voice became more and more dull, "Don't bother with so much effort. Just lean on me, I can do it myself."
He placed a soft pillow at the head of the bed and helped her lean against it.
Zhao Qingyi was a little confused. As soon as she sat down, her hands were supporting two snowballs under his control.
She widened her almond-shaped eyes slightly. What was she going to do?
He held her slender wrist and fiddled with it, then said, "Just hold it."
The next moment, he untied himself and knelt before her, his tall figure standing before her like a dark cloud covering the sky, or a black dragon tumbling freely among the snowy mountains, bringing a strong sense of oppression.
Zhao Qingyi lowered her eyes, her eyes were burning with pain from just one glance, and she turned her face away in embarrassment.
Actually... it's still possible...
Chu Yuanhe was very happy, but he did not forget to tease her, "You secretly hid the fire avoidance map and never saw it? I think there is such a thing."
When the fire avoidance map was mentioned, Zhao Qingyi became excited and retorted, "I didn't hide it. That was... that was..." It was accidentally given to her by Zhang Wanyan on the day of her wedding, but she didn't want to involve others.
She hesitated, which seemed to Chu Yuanhe to be guilty. He smiled and sighed, holding her shoulders and continuing to rub her, like a dragon playing with a rabbit, appearing and disappearing from time to time.
The heat approached her face inch by inch, choking her and making her blush. After an unknown amount of time, her sore wrists could no longer withstand the force and fell onto the bedding. In an instant, the snow-capped mountains collapsed, and the jade-colored skin trembled and swayed.
Chu Yuanhe's breath was choked.
Along with a muffled groan, another flash of snow color burst out and merged with it.
Zhao Qingyi had nowhere to hide. She subconsciously closed her eyes when the rays scattered. When her trembling eyelashes slowly opened, her face was already stained with scattered traces.
The tent is filled with spring colors and a charming atmosphere.
Zhao Qingyi's fingertips trembled as he touched his face. It felt sticky, as if lava was splashing and melting the cold snow.
Chu Yuanhe rolled up his small clothes and wiped the dirt off her face and body. Seeing that she was still in shock, he pinched her fair little face and asked, "Are you scared?"
Zhao Qingyi came back to his senses and blinked blankly, "No..."
It was just a surprise. I didn’t expect there were so many tricks. Can it be comfortable like this?
Little did she know that this look of hers was extremely tempting to men, and after she had just relaxed, she began to build up her energy again.
Chu Yuanhe simply hugged her, gave her a gentle kiss, and slowly soothed her with his big hands around her neck.
There were no maids in the Black Wind Village, so after they had sex, he went out to fetch water and helped Zhao Qingyi wash up. Then they went to sleep with their clothes on.
Zhao Qingyi finally recovered from the afterglow of the previous moment. "Now can you tell me, what are your plans next?"
Chu Yuanhe had been preparing to go to bed, but he woke up after hearing her words. In the darkness, he met her clear eyes and asked, "You were so obedient just now, were you waiting to be asked this?"
That "sacrifice" is too great.
But having just tasted the sweetness, it was hard to refuse her. After thinking for a while, he could only ask, "Do you still remember the people who caused trouble at the county government office that day?"
Zhao Qingyi naturally remembered that Chu Yuanhe hadn't taken them seriously at the time and had simply indulged them in their riots. "What's wrong? Do you want to hold them accountable?"
"I've checked the man leading the riot. His name is Shi Dachui. He was originally a butcher in the south of the city. Because the Qiantang officials pretended to obey the new policies but actually exploited them, making it difficult for the people to make a living, Shi Dachui led the people in the south of the city to gather in rebellion."
Zhao Qingyi had been to the south of the city. He could not help but feel some sympathy for the poor people who were desperate, but gathering a crowd to cause trouble and openly opposing the new policy was a crime of treason.
"They have also been deceived by treacherous officials..." In her heart, she did not want the struggle between imperial power and the aristocratic families to affect the common people.
"I know." Chu Yuanhe held her in his arms, caressing her thin back with his palm. He said cheerfully, "That's why I sent people to negotiate with Shi Dachui, encouraging him to rise up in rebellion and fight against the government."
Zhao Qingyi froze and raised his head in disbelief, "You...are you planning a rebellion?"
Could this be the secret that Chu Yuanhe has been hiding?
That's really...
"Don't worry." He patted her on the back.
But his comfort at this moment was of no use at all. How could Zhao Qingyi not be anxious? Rebellion was a serious crime punishable by the execution of nine generations of the clan. What was Chu Yuanhe thinking?
"No wonder you didn't tell me everything in detail. I wonder if you had this idea... this idea... You didn't even consider the possibility of being exposed..."
"No such thing as a chance of that happening." Chu Yuanhe said firmly.
He rebelled against himself, so who would punish him and his entire clan?
As early as when the people in the south of the city surrounded the county government office and openly opposed the new policy, he had made up his mind to make the situation bigger. Treason was undoubtedly the most powerful fuse, enough to plunge the Zhejiang officialdom into turmoil. At that time, he could justify himself in the name of suppressing the rebellion and eliminate the power of the aristocratic families and King Qi.
But I can't confess these to her for the time being.
Seeing her horrified face, Chu Yuanhe jokingly said, "When His Majesty caused your father to disappear, didn't you curse His Majesty as a tyrant? Now he has caused your father to disappear again. If I avenge you, will you be unhappy?"
Zhao Qingyi was almost going crazy with anxiety. He sat up from the bed and said righteously, "I was young and impulsive at the time. Besides... besides, His Majesty is not a tyrant."
She had scolded him, but she couldn't deny the current emperor's achievements. "He was able to immediately take up arms and personally lead an expedition to the northwest, bringing decades of peace to the border. After returning to the capital, he bravely implemented new policies against all odds to benefit the people... These things are enough to prove that he is a good emperor."
It was rare to hear good things about him from her, and Chu Yuanhe couldn't help but smile, "What else?"
Zhao Qingyi recounted many small things in detail, and to put it more recently, she was able to divorce thanks to the wisdom of His Majesty. Whether for herself, the Zhao family, or the common people, she did not agree with Chu Yuanhe's absurd idea.
Thinking that the person she loved was so ambitious, Zhao Qingyi regretted it. If the truth came to light, given her relationship with Chu Yuanhe, the Zhao family would definitely be implicated.
Chu Yuanhe could actually smile. "If I succeed, I will immediately make you my queen. Don't you want to?"
"I don't want to." Zhao Qingyi said firmly.
"Why?" Chu Yuanhe was puzzled. "If you become the queen, your father will be the father-in-law of the emperor, second only to the emperor, above everyone else..."
Why isn't she tempted by so many benefits?
"Every dynasty changes on the shin by trampling over the corpses of common people and soldiers. But the group besieging the county government office are nothing more than unruly common people. They are exploited by corrupt officials and can no longer survive, so they risk their lives to cause trouble. How can such a group of people challenge the imperial power?"
They can't even fight against a businessman like Mr. Jiang. Instigating them to revolt is no different from committing suicide.
Chu Yuanhe still looked nonchalant. "It's not a big deal. A rebellion only requires the support of the people, but we don't necessarily need them to lead the charge."
The people in the south of the city needed someone to seek justice for them, so he sent someone to them. The bandits in Black Wind Village were quite good. They came from the military and were quite capable. Once they showed up, they would definitely cause headaches for the Qiantang and even Hangzhou governments.
Zhao Qingyi's expression turned completely cold, and she broke free from his embrace. "Are you so determined?"
"What? Are you scared?" Chu Yuanhe also sat up, looked at his empty arms, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Don't you want to be a queen?"
"I don't want to." Zhao Qingyi refused decisively.
Chu Yuanhe was both happy and disappointed. He was happy that he had not misjudged her, and that she was not the kind of person who would do anything to gain power. However, he was disappointed by her cold and resolute attitude.
She really had no idea about being a queen.
"But I want to be with you forever."
He was unwilling to be just her mistress, he wanted to stand by her side with dignity.
Zhao Qingyi couldn't understand what he was thinking. What was the inevitable connection between rebellion and being with them?
"We are always by your side." After all, she couldn't bear to see him go astray, so she held his slightly cold hand and softened her tone to persuade him a few words.
Chu Yuanhe lowered his dark eyes and suddenly said, "Then marry me."
Zhao Qingyi couldn't believe her ears. Was he threatening rebellion and her own life and property to force her to marry?
Chu Yuanhe said seriously, "As long as you are willing to marry me, I will do whatever you say."
Zhao Qingyi was speechless for a moment, feeling angry and wanting to laugh at the same time, "Don't you think this is too ridiculous?"
Her tense nerves relaxed. After spending so long together, she understood his personality. She immediately realized that Chu Yuanhe was joking. Perhaps...
It also means testing her.
He was testing her for himself, and also for His Majesty to test the Zhao family.
She could understand that the emperor was suspicious, but why did Chu Yuanhe suspect her?
This made Zhao Qingyi breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt a subtle displeasure. She glared at him, shook off his hand, and turned over to lie back down.
Chu Yuanhe noticed her mood was different and quickly got under the covers, hugging her tightly from behind. "Okay, okay, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have scared you with such a big thing. Just treat those words as a joke... The only thing I really want to do is marry you."
He could see that Zhao Qingyi had no intention of becoming the mother of the country. Since that was the case, it would be the same for her to be his wife.
He had a hunch that if he missed this opportunity, it would take forever to finally speak up again, so he had to seize the moment and make the decision as soon as possible.
Zhao Qingyi is a person who keeps her promises. Once it is decided, she can't run away. Even if he confesses everything at that time, she can only be his queen and his wife.
Zhao Qingyi was still angry and pushed him away with her elbow, telling him not to touch her.
“Panpan…”
Chu Yuanhe kept pestering her, "I won't make such jokes again, don't be angry... I'm just scared..."
His voice gradually weakened, and he said aggrievedly, "I'm afraid that one day you'll abandon me and find another man to be your concubine... But if you're willing to marry me, then I won't have any more wild thoughts..."
Zhao Qingyi didn't buy his tricks and snorted coldly, "Even if I marry you, what difference does it make? I can't have a concubine, but it won't affect you taking a concubine."
She is not stupid. She has fallen into the same trap once before with the Li family. How could she fall into it again?
Marriage is only a bondage for women.
"If you want to get married, go find someone else, don't come to me." Zhao Qingyi said harshly in a fit of anger.
Chu Yuanhe's whole body froze. At that moment, he seemed to have lost the instinct to breathe. When he caught his breath, his throat seemed to be blocked by something, pressing heavily on his heart, making him feel sore and astringent.
He didn't want to show anything unusual, but the arms around her waist were trembling slightly, betraying his uneasiness.
Zhao Qingyi had her back to him and couldn't see his expression, but she could feel his silence and fear.
She seemed to realize that the words were too harsh.
Even when they had a quarrel last time, she had never said such decisive words.
After a little thought, Zhao Qingyi turned around, and as soon as she moved, the arm on her waist retracted.
"Feel sorry……"
His eyes dimmed slightly, and his beautiful peach blossom eyes hid a hint of self-mockery, "I think I am too important."
He always believed that love and desire were closely linked and inseparable. He loved her, so he longed for her and wanted to make love with her all the time, which naturally meant that she was the same as him.
Only if you love him will you accommodate and indulge him in bed.
But it was not until this moment that he suddenly realized that for Zhao Qingyi, the two could be separated.
She enjoyed being intimate with him and even didn't mind having sex with him, but that was all.
Her heart is still her heart. Even if she had liked him before, it was not enough to make her lose her mind and run towards him.
...Perhaps her liking is no different from her pity for cats and dogs.
All those sweet words from the previous moment were just to coax him into revealing his secrets.
Zhao Qingyi reached out to grab him, but Chu Yuanhe lifted the quilt and left first. Her hand froze in mid-air and she didn't catch anything.
"I will try to rescue your cousin... You should go to bed early." Chu Yuanhe carried the bed on his back, quickly put on his outer robe, and didn't even dare to look back at her before rushing out the door.
Zhao Qingyi stared at his lonely back in a daze. The huge room suddenly became empty and deserted after he left.
An urge to chase after him surged in my heart, but as soon as my toes touched the ground, I pulled it back.
From the very beginning, she only treated him as a concubine. Even though she was moved, she never thought of changing the relationship. She admitted that she couldn't afford to gamble and couldn't afford to lose.
And she had firmly thought that as long as Chu Yuanhe had the idea of getting married, no matter whether he wanted to marry her or someone else, she would immediately sever ties with him and have no further contact.
Now, it has only come to this.
Zhao Qingyi felt a sour feeling on the tip of her nose and tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't chase after him in the end.
Chu Yuanhe walked around the village aimlessly for several times, but did not wait for Zhao Qingyi to come out. He was angry in his heart, which was even more uncomfortable than when he found out that she had secretly taken contraceptive soup.
How could that woman say such cruel words? What did she take him for?
Or in her eyes, he can get along with any woman?
This not only hurt his self-esteem, but also trampled on his feelings.
Chu Yuanhe became angrier the more he thought about it, and paced back and forth in the village.
Cao Hu was drinking in the pavilion. Seeing him from afar, he hurried over to greet him. "Your Majesty...Master, why are you awake so late at night?"
Chu Yuanhe was feeling upset, and when he saw that he had wine, he asked for a pot as well, but he just drank without saying a word.
Cao Hu used to be one of his soldiers, having fought with him for many years. This was the first time he had seen him so frustrated. He couldn't help but wink at the person in the room, "Did you... have a quarrel with the Madam?"
In the past, Chu Yuanhe would never tell others about his affairs, but at this moment, he was feeling depressed and needed someone to talk to. He couldn't help but ask him, "A woman refuses to marry you no matter what. Why do you think that is?"
Cao Hu stared with wide eyes. Is there any woman in this world who is unwilling to marry His Majesty?
But that's not right. The woman seemed very intimate with Your Majesty during the day, so how could she not want to marry Your Majesty?
"Could it be that she has some difficulties? Or is she... shy, reserved?"
Chu Yuanhe glanced at him.
Cao Hu scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, "Well, I'm still single, so I don't quite understand..."
"Forget it, it's useless to ask you." Chu Yuanhe vaguely guessed something, but he really didn't know how to resolve Zhao Qingyi's concerns. Should she promise him not to take a concubine?
He is the emperor, even if he promised, she probably wouldn't dare to believe it.
A small Li family would have to fight hard to break free. If she married the emperor, how could she have the chance to struggle? Once she knew her identity, she would probably hide even further away, never having anything to do with him again.
The more Chu Yuanhe thought about it, the more upset he became, and he took a few more gulps of liquor.
Cao Hu grimaced. "Hey, I've been a bandit for a few years now, so I think if I want something, I just grab it. No matter what she thinks, I'll just get it and talk about it later."
"Or... let her get pregnant first?"
"Asshole!" Chu Yuanhe smashed the wine pot and glared at him. "What kind of stupid idea is this?"
Cao Hu shuddered with fear and quickly knelt down. "I was just saying it casually! Please don't get angry. This method is a bit despicable, but..."
Chu Yuanhe didn't listen to the rest of the words. He smashed the wine pot and turned to leave. Only Cao Hu was left kneeling there in a daze, completely confused.
Would a dignified emperor also be trapped by love?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com