Chapter 128 Backing You Up
The time is 5-7 PM, which is the perfect time for the evening market.
Lin Xiaocong and Li Rong waited at the gate of Lin's Girls' School to pick up Li Han after school so they could go shopping.
Li Han's situation at the girls' school was not good.
No secrets stay hidden forever. Because Li Rong lived with Lin Xiaocong without any official status, she was isolated, ostracized, and looked down upon by all her classmates at the girls' school, including some of the teachers.
Normally she wouldn't fight with people, but if someone dared to say something unpleasant, she would catch a spider and throw it at their collar in retaliation.
Today, however, I couldn't resist and started a fight with someone.
Fortunately, Qiu Shi appeared in time, and the scene of her being surrounded and attacked did not last long.
She was heartbroken that the new velvet flower hair accessory her second sister had bought for her had been torn and trampled into the mud.
And his face was scratched.
She held the mud-covered velvet flower in her palm and listened quietly to the reprimand from the headmistress.
After the reprimand was finished, he silently walked out with Qiu Shi.
When she arrived at the door, she saw Lin Xiaocong who had come to pick her up.
The culprit crossed his arms and leaned against the carriage window, talking to the people inside.
The light, gentle blue color made his smile appear clean and bright.
Li Han suppressed all her emotions and gripped the velvet flower tightly in her hand.
She beamed with a bright smile and shouted, "Second brother-in-law!"
Lin Xiaocong's gaze followed the sound, and his smiling eyes noticed the scratches on Li Han's cheek.
He straightened up and went to meet them.
He bowed down in front of Li Han.
He examined the injuries on her face closely: "Who did this?"
She laughed nonchalantly: "It's just a minor squabble, nothing serious."
Qiu Shi, standing to the side, said, "It was Miss Le Zhen who led the people to do it."
Lin Xiaocong straightened up: "Little smarty, you've been taken advantage of."
"Although I suffered a loss earlier, the moment I was pulled away, I took advantage of her unpreparedness and slapped her back! Her face wasn't much better off than mine."
Li Han, when it comes to eating and drinking, she can't stand to be at a disadvantage!
"As for the others, a gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years!"
"I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"
"Ten years would be too pathetic," he said, patting her head with a laugh. "Let's go get our revenge now."
Lin Xiaocong strode toward the girls' school, saying, "My second brother-in-law will back you up."
Li Han was still a child after all, and at that moment, all the grievances in her heart surged up.
She wiped away her tears with her sleeve, turned around, and ran past Lin Xiaocong like a little cheetah.
She ran into Lin Lezhen and her group, the same people she had just fought with, as she entered the room.
Lin Lezhen was still crying because her face was disfigured.
Looking up, I saw Li Han running towards me.
By this time, the servants who were supposed to greet the young ladies had already joined them.
Lin Lezhen was surrounded by a group of people.
Enemies meeting are bound to be extremely hostile.
Lin Lezhen screamed and ordered the maids and servants around her: "Scratch this whore's face to pieces for me!!"
The other young ladies surrounding Lin Lezhen also instructed their attendants: "Beat this disgusting whore and kick her out of the girls' school."
In an instant, all the maids and servants rolled up their sleeves and came toward Li Han.
It was at this time that Lin Xiaocong stepped into the industry.
His tall figure appeared behind Li Han, his smile warm.
"Li Han, beat them until they're terrified."
Li Han darted out.
Lin Xiaocong considerately closed the door and called to Qiu Shi, "Hurry up, it's time for the big to bully the small."
Qiu Shi stepped forward with a blank expression.
The servants opposite, who were still hesitating because Li Han had asked her parents to come, looked bewildered and asked their master what to do.
Before she could even hesitate, Li Han had already broken free of the servants and rushed to Lin Lezhen. She immediately pushed Lin Lezhen to the ground, and before she could react, she mounted her and began to attack.
The sudden situation startled the ladies around Lin Lezhen, who quickly moved aside.
The maids and servants tried to stop him, but Qiu Shi kicked them all away.
At first, the young ladies thought that the matter was over after Li Han hit Lin Lezhen.
Unexpectedly, after Li Han beat Lin Lezhen to the ground, crying her heart out, she randomly grabbed someone and started attacking again.
This stirred up a hornet's nest among the wealthy young ladies, who then surrounded Li Han, ready to gang up on her.
The ruthless Qiu Shi stood in their way.
Li Han finished one and then moved on to the next.
Those with a fiery temper wanted to fight back, but Qiu Shi grabbed their hands as soon as they raised them.
Today's main themes are protecting their own and arrogance.
Even the headmistress who rushed over to stop them was beaten up by Qiu Shi.
Completely incomprehensible.
The angry instructor shouted, "What kind of behavior is this!"
After venting her anger, Li Han stood there quietly.
In front of her, the classmates who had bullied her were huddled together, trembling and weeping.
She went crazy from the fight; her heart was pounding, her arms were shaking, and her palms were numb.
She looked down at them and found the feeling of being superior to them quite comfortable.
She took out the velvet flower from her bosom, and seeing that it was still there, she put it back into her bosom.
She abandoned the trembling young ladies at her feet, put on a smiling face, and skipped towards Lin Xiaocong.
She stepped forward and grabbed Lin Xiaocong's sleeve, her smile radiant: "Thank you, brother-in-law, for supporting me!"
Lin Xiaocong asked with a smile, "Doesn't your hand hurt?"
"pain."
"Then why not make an example of one of them to scare the others, and let them fight each other?"
Li Han's eyes lit up: "Second brother-in-law, that's a great idea!"
He smiled and turned to walk outside: "Let's go, your second sister is starving."
"Wow, are we eating out again today?"
"Um."
"Second brother-in-law, won't you be eaten out of house and home?"
Not for now.
Behind him came Lin Lezhen's pitiful accusation: "Seventh Brother, you're siding with outsiders! I'll tell Dad when I get home!"
Her father was Lin Xiaocong's second uncle.
Lin Xiaocong didn't care at all.
Li Han released Lin Xiaocong's sleeve, stopped, turned around and looked at Lin Lezhen expressionlessly, raising her fist.
Startled, Lin Lezhen quickly withdrew her hand and took two steps back.
Li Han turned around, a smile spreading across her face: "Second brother-in-law, wait for me."
Lin Xiaocong, being tall and long-legged, had already left her behind and reached the carriage.
He lifted the curtain of the carriage and his gaze fell on Li Rong, who was peeling melon seeds inside the carriage: "Rongrong."
Li Rong casually handed him a melon seed.
He caught it with his lips, not forgetting to kiss her fingers.
She quickly withdrew her hand, annoyed and embarrassed, and scolded, "Behave yourself in public."
"Heh~ Go back and stop being so indecent."
Li Rong blushed and ignored him.
Seeing Li Han approach, he said, "I have something come up tonight."
"You and your fourth sister go shopping and have some fun. Buy whatever you like."
"Qiu Hui had already reserved a private room at Cyclamen Restaurant, so she can rest there when she gets tired."
"Don't worry about the scratches on Fourth Sister's face, I have an endless supply of Vitality Jade Complexion Cream."
Li Rong, inside the carriage, immediately became serious: "How could there be scratches?"
Li Han lifted the curtain as she boarded the carriage and answered for Lin Xiaocong: "Someone is jealous of my good looks, and we had a quarrel."
She entered the carriage, sat opposite Li Rong, pointed to her cheek, and said with a smile, "It's just a little injury. With my second brother-in-law here, it's nothing."
She changed the subject: "Second sister, I'm so tired from today's etiquette class."
"I want to eat cyclamen chicken and corn soup, braised ark shell, and braised fish bones!"
Li Rong's attention instantly shifted to Li Han.
Lin Xiaocong, who had been banished to the cold palace, silently lowered the carriage curtain.
Qiu Hui and Qiu Shi got into the car and went with the two sisters.
The carriage started moving, and the curtain was opened again.
Lin Xiaocong looked up and met Li Rong's gaze.
Her voice was gentle: "Come back soon."
Lin Xiaocong smiled, full of enthusiasm for what he was about to do.
"good."
After the carriage had driven away, Qiu Chan approached Lin Xiao Cong and said, "I found out."
"The incident occurred because Miss Lezhen and her companions offended the Second Miss with their words. The Fourth Miss argued with them, and the argument became heated. Unable to hold back, she slapped Miss Lezhen. Afterwards, Miss Lezhen led her people to surround the Fourth Miss."
"Which family's overly demure young ladies are these?"
The Lin Family Girls' School has stood for a century, enrolling not only Lin family girls but also girls from outside the clan.
"Except for the father of one Miss Chu, who is a general and difficult to deal with, the fathers and brothers of the other Misses are all civil officials."
Lin Xiaocong closed his fan: "General Wei, Chu Jincheng, let's go meet him first."
Today, Yixing is in turmoil.
*
Meanwhile, the Li sisters, Li Rong and Li Han, bought gifts, booked a meal at Xiankelou Restaurant, and went to the Li residence.
Seeing the heartbreak on Li Han's face, Li's mother was filled with grief and cursed the culprit's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Fortunately, Qiu Hui arrived with the ointment in time, and her emotions calmed down after the ointment was applied.
Li Rong brought the packed meal to the table, and the family happily gathered around the table to eat.
"This is delicious, Second Sister, you should eat more."
"Dad, I specially ordered this braised pork with dried vegetables, your favorite."
"Mother, let me serve you some rice."
Li Han's warmth is like the rising sun, more comforting to her family than the candlelight in the house.
Li Rong ate with a smile, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaocong was fighting on an empty stomach.
*
General Wei was in charge of the northern and southern armies of the capital and was the highest-ranking general in the defense forces, holding the rank of second grade.
Those who held this official position throughout history were all men of exceptional talent and influence.
The current General of the Guards, Chu Jincheng, is forty years old.
After Lin Xiaocong had Li Han unilaterally beat his daughter, he still dared to post a message criticizing her for not raising her daughter properly and challenging him to a fight.
He'd be furious.
He shouted, "You arrogant brat, I will surely crush you today!"
The two then started fighting in front of the Chu residence.
Pure hand-to-hand combat, exchanging moves, and striking at the target...
Chu Jincheng: I'll stop when he's done. Today I'm going to beat him into a pulp.
In the end, Lin Xiaocong delivered a powerful elbow strike to the chest, causing him to lose his balance and retreat repeatedly.
Lin Xiaocong, who had gained a slight advantage, withdrew his stance and respectfully bowed to Chu Jincheng, saying, "Thank you for your concession, General Chu."
Chu Jincheng steadied himself, letting the sweat drip down his face.
Looking at the polite young man opposite him, he finally understood why Chen Gao of the Northern Office admired him so much.
"It is already remarkable for a person to be proficient in one thing."
"You are proficient in both medicine and martial arts. You are a true prodigy among your generation, and your reputation is well-deserved."
Lin Xiaocong politely took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat: "Thank you for your praise, General Chu."
"Military affairs are busy, but you should also take care of your children's upbringing."
"Your daughter used foul language today to insult the sister of a distinguished guest, which is unbecoming of a lady."
"I urge the general to keep a close eye on him and prevent him from doing such improper things again."
In martial arts, whoever has the strongest fist has the final say.
Chu Jincheng was displeased, but he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
"Sorry."
Lin Xiaocong put away the handkerchief, lowered the rolled-up hem of his clothes, and straightened his clothes: "Since it is an offense, shouldn't you prepare a gift to apologize?"
Chu Jincheng: "Don't push your luck! That little girl beat my daughter pretty badly!"
"What business is it of us adults if the little girls are fighting? I didn't interfere."
"You didn't let the maids in your household take over!"
"Didn't your servants also take action? If they were less skilled, whose fault is it?"
Chu Jincheng was speechless, and nodded angrily with his hands on his hips: "Fine."
He will arrange a maidservant for his daughter tomorrow.
"The apology gift can be delivered to the girls' school tomorrow. If you are off duty, it would be even better if you could deliver it in person."
"roll!"
Seeing this, Madam Chu, who was watching from inside the gate, could not swallow her anger.
Look at her daughter, she's been beaten so badly, covered in bruises. What a vicious whore!
She stood inside the door and called out, "What honored guest?!"
“Young Master Lin, if you are afraid of what others say, you should keep yourself pure and upright.”
"You refuse to marry, and when your attempt to deceive people into marriage failed, you resorted to abducting women. You are truly a despicable scoundrel!"
"Now the sister of that woman is even more arrogant and domineering."
You are a disgrace to your kind!
Lin Xiaocong bowed to Madam Chu and said, "Rumors stop with the wise."
"You!" Madam Chu, maintaining the demeanor of a principal wife, was too ashamed to argue with him any further, and angrily turned and went back to her residence.
Lin Xiaocong bowed to Chu Jincheng and said, "This junior takes his leave."
Chu Jincheng walked in with his hands on his hips, too lazy to even look at him: "Get out of here!"
Lin Xiaocong strode away, and Qiu Chan immediately came forward, offering him a fan.
Autumn Cicada: "The next Hanlin Academy Reader-in-Waiting, Lord Yan, comes from a humble background but is a distinguished scholar-official. His invitation is ready."
A fourth-rank civil official, with no connections and poor.
Lin Xiaocong opened his fan with a "poof": "No need for invitations, just come to their door and pick a fight with their whole family."
"Oh, alright. Are you hungry, young master? I just bought some sesame cakes, and I tried one; they were quite good."
"Mmm, it tastes amazing. I'll buy some to take back to Rongrong."
The sound was muffled and unclear; it must have been from someone biting into a sesame seed cake.
Chu Jincheng stood in front of the Chu residence and glanced back at his master and servant, who were eating sesame cakes side by side.
If this son cannot be used by the heir apparent, he must be eliminated.
*
The autumn wind is bleak, and the curfew drums urge people to move on.
Lin Xiaocong stood at the entrance of Chuntang Garden, holding a brass ring, about to knock on the door, when he suddenly stopped.
Autumn Cicada: "What's wrong?"
Lin Xiaocong turned to Qiu Chan and said, "You punch me."
Qiu Chan's eyes popped out of their sockets: "Young Master, has General Chu damaged your brain?"
After all, every subsequent provocation was a one-sided display of skill and crushing victory by his young master.
Lin Xiaocong walked down the steps and stood next to Qiu Chan, making it easier for Qiu Chan to do it: "Hurry up! Shoot it in the eyes, hit it hard."
Qiu Chan said with a bitter face, "Young master, your kindness to this servant is as heavy as a mountain, how could this servant dare to say that?"
"I'll give you Qiu Hui in marriage."
"ah!"
Lin Xiaocong was caught off guard, saw stars, and took a punch.
The cicada knelt down.
Waaaaah.
"Young master, spare my life..."
Lin Xiaocong crouched down, staring at Qiu Chan, and asked, "Can you see the marks?"
Qiu Chan stared at it for a long while, then nodded as if she had lost her parents: "It's starting to turn red."
Hearing the commotion, the gatekeeper opened the door and, seeing his master return, quickly bowed: "Young master, you're back... Ah, who hit you, young master!"
Lin Xiaocong rushed to Chuntang Garden without waiting.
"Rongrong, waaaaah, I'm hurt."
Its voice was plaintive and sorrowful.
Startled, Li Rong sat up in her sleep.
He was facing Lin Xiaocong, whose eye was slightly red.
Li Rong looked sleepy and a little dazed.
What happened to your eyes?
"What time is it?"
Lin Xiaocong moved closer to Li Rong and, with a pitiful tone, took her hand.
"It's already the end of the Xu month."
"Rongrong, I promised I would protect your family just as I would protect you."
"My fourth sister was bullied today, so naturally I have to stand up for her."
"Although I was accidentally hit and my eyes hurt a lot, it's all what I, as the second brother-in-law, should do."
When her fourth sister was mentioned, Li Rong's dazed expression gradually cleared.
Lin Xiaocong shook Li Rong's hand: "We ate sesame seed cakes for dinner, and I want to eat the sesame seed cakes that Rongrong cooked herself."
Li Rong looked away from Lin Xiaocong's face, her eyelids drooping: "Why was Fourth Sister bullied?"
Lin Xiaocong asked guiltily, "Didn't Fourth Sister tell you?"
“I told her because someone looked down on her and bullied her because of me.”
Lin Xiaocong gripped Li Rong's hand tightly: "The matter has been resolved."
"I've already taken my fourth sister and beaten them all up."
"Today I also beat up those elders who bullied my fourth sister, the young lady Zhu."
"Those people will bring gifts to apologize to Fourth Sister tomorrow."
"This can have a deterrent effect."
"From then on, the girls at the school would no longer dare to bully Fourth Sister."
Li Rong's emotions fluctuated noticeably.
"Fourth Sister didn't actually say anything, only that the conflict started because someone was jealous of her good looks."
Lin Xiaocong stepped forward and kissed her cheek, looking at her intently.
"Rongrong, don't worry, I'll give two more maids to Fourth Sister tomorrow."
He was actually fooled by her obedient Rong'er.
Li Rong was in a bad mood and lay down with her back to him.
"Rongrong, don't be angry. It's all my fault. You can hit me or scold me as you please."
Li Rong ignored him.
"Rongrong, Third Sister has sent a letter."
Li Rong sat up, and Lin Xiaocong noticed that her eyes were red.
His heart felt a little heavy.
I wasn't planning on giving her the letter from the South, but I'll try to appease her first.
She asked, "Where's the letter?"
"Rongrong, things are becoming more and more stable for us now."
"Once everyone in the capital understands, they will stop bothering us."
"We've covered about 70-80% of the distance now, and the road ahead will only get easier."
Li Rong couldn't help but pout.
He couldn't help but cup her face in his hands and kiss her forehead and the tip of her nose: "Humans eat grains and other foods, who can be without illness?"
"The late emperor bestowed upon us the honorary title of National Medical Master, and I saved the Crown Prince's life."
"People are precious and cherish their lives."
"No one in this capital city dares to offend me to the death."
"I can give you a title that is real but not official; just give me some time."
She looked at him, her lips moved, she swallowed the words she wanted to say, and finally said, "I'll go cook you some soba."
"Let Qiu Hui cook it; the letter is in the study."
She quickly lifted the thin blanket and got out of bed.
He got up, brought her clothes, and helped her put them on.
He held her hand, not letting her leave: "Rongrong, my eyes hurt."
Li Rong looked up and demanded, "When did the letter arrive?"
"Qiuchan told me this at noon when she was off duty. I was planning to tell you when I got back in the evening."
"real?"
"Absolutely true."
She reached up and climbed onto his neck, pulled his head down, and kissed his slightly reddened eyelids.
She let go of him, her voice a mix of reproach and amusement: "You get beaten up sometimes too."
“I got beaten up, and Rongrong didn’t even feel sorry for me.”
"Who beat you up? I'll go beat up his wife tomorrow."
Lin Xiaocong found it amusing and let her read the letter while he went to the bathroom.
Li Rong ran all the way to the study.
Qiu Hui took a wax-sealed bamboo tube and handed it to her with both hands.
She opened it quickly.
He sat down on the tatami mat nearby.
Second sister, I hope you are well. You have given birth and both are safe and sound…
Li Rong jumped up from the couch, her joy evident in her eyes.
'...My heart is in turmoil; he is perhaps the final destination of my journey...'
'...If Lin Qi doesn't release you, he will come to pick you up himself...'
Li Rong was deeply moved after reading it.
I'm glad that my third sister is doing well.
The third sister is coming to pick them up.
She's leaving him.
She's leaving.
Feeling somewhat lost, she sat there blankly for a long time.
Then a hand appeared in front of her: "Rongrong, let me see."
Li Rong quickly clutched the letter tightly: "This is my letter."
He sat down next to her and asked with a smile, "What did your third sister say?"
Li Rong was somewhat hesitant to look him in the eye: "She gave birth to a son, and she's living a good life. There's nothing wrong with her."
"Her status in the Zhou family is more secure now that she has a son. Didn't they say they'd take you to live in the south?"
Li Rong shook her head and remained silent.
She did the same thing that night when he forced her to say she wouldn't leave him.
He doesn't like it.
I feel a tightness in my chest.
Do you think this is pretty?
Li Rong then noticed that he was carrying a thin gold chain in his other hand.
"Gold is too soft and useless. This is gold-plated, which is Rongrong's favorite color."
Li Rong looked at him in disbelief.
He said with a smile, "Tomorrow I'll hire a cat for Rongrong to play with."
"If you chain her up, she won't get lost."
He placed the chain in her hand: "See if you like it."
Li Rong threw the chain away: "I don't like cats."
He leaned closer to her, his breath brushing against her face: "Do you like me?"
She hurriedly got up to leave.
He pulled her onto his lap and drew her into his arms, his chest pressed tightly against her back. Only when he smelled her faint feminine fragrance did the pent-up frustration in his heart begin to dissipate.
He held her tightly in his arms, his breath warm against her neck, kissing her earlobe: "Rongrong, don't go."
She struggled, "I don't want to be here, let's go to the bedroom."
He planted a deep kiss on her neck, looked at the marks he had made on her body, and then turned her over and pushed her onto the couch.
"Ah... um."
The man, bursting with possessiveness and a desire for control, pinned his little raccoon cat beneath him.
"My dear Rong'er, guess how I'll punish the little raccoon who doesn't recognize its home?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
