Chapter 134 Victory
In a relationship, one person can't always be the one taking the initiative.
Li Qu buried her head in his neck and gently nuzzled him.
He smelled faintly of alcohol.
Knowing she was always sharp-nosed, he offered an explanation.
"I have a gathering tonight, so I showered before coming."
"Hmph~"
Her jealous little temper made him even more itchy.
Inside the carriage, there was no low table, only a soft and comfortable blanket.
This guy was prepared.
The man placed her on the blanket and casually took off her slippers.
She rested her elbows on the blanket, looking at him with a smile that was both alluring and seductive.
The foot moved down his chest little by little, with varying pressure.
He knelt on one knee on the blanket and reached behind him to close the carriage door.
He untied his waistband, turning his single-knee kneeling into a double-knee kneeling position.
She shifted her foot, then suddenly exerted a light pressure.
He staggered slightly from the kick.
Seeing this, she turned around, lay down on the blanket, and laughed.
Clothes were disheveled and tugged at.
She dared not make a sound, letting him lean in and grab her wrist.
His lips were taken, and his heavy, urgent breaths invaded her soul.
The clothes became increasingly thin.
Passion spread like wildfire, exacerbating thirst.
Her allure enticed his deepest desire.
The carriage cut through the cold wind, the crack of the whip urging it to speed away.
She asked, "Are you going to stay in Qizhou City?"
"Qizhou City is not safe now, let's go to the south bank."
He discovered that she had also made preparations for today.
The little dress is decorated with flowers and pearls, it's very pretty.
He admires it.
She took the opportunity to move back and get further away from him.
She propped herself up slightly on one elbow, moved her shoulder, showing herself yet shyly avoiding looking at him.
"Isn't it pretty?"
The clothes have small, pale yellow flowers.
Like a touch of spring on the mountainside.
Very beautiful clothes.
She kicked him gently.
"Dare to say it's ugly and try it!"
His Adam's apple bobbed.
"They all look good."
She's finished.
The arrival was so sudden that she couldn't adapt and cried out in surprise.
Realizing that her voice would be heard by the people outside the carriage, she quickly covered her mouth.
She always knew what he wanted at what time and was willing to give him the best.
How could he possibly leave her!
The horse-drawn carriage traveled through the night.
Spring's beauty stealthily intrudes into winter's chill.
He offered up something good (that the censors wouldn't let me mention).
Li Qu extended her index finger and wiggled it slightly.
Zhou Jin was also encountering this thing for the first time, and he coughed, saying, "They all use this."
Seeing his embarrassed expression, Li Qu chuckled to herself, "I don't believe them, I only believe you."
Cherish life and reject the fantastic ideas of the ancients.
He respected her opinion.
(How it happened is not allowed to be said during the review process)
When the carriage stopped, he was impeccably dressed and wrapped her tightly in his cloak before carrying her out of the carriage.
They returned to their lodgings and didn't rest until dawn.
When she woke up the next day, Zhou Jin had already left.
He received the order from Old Master Zhou on the fourth day of the month and rushed to Qizhou overnight.
Li Qu set off north on the seventh day of the lunar month according to his own plan.
Granny Xu entered the room to help Li Qu get dressed and stand up.
She had originally chosen a wide-sleeved robe, but upon noticing that Li Qu's wrist, which was hanging from the bed curtain, was red, she quickly changed into a narrow-sleeved casual outfit.
"We've just arrived in Qizhou, would you like to go out and have a look around, Madam?"
More than the local customs and culture of Qizhou, Li Qu wanted to know about the current situation between the North and the South.
After Zhou Jin left the Zhou residence, no new news was sent back to the Zhou residence.
"Need not."
After finishing her breakfast, she went to Zhou Jin's office study.
He was not in the house, and there were no outsiders in the study, so she could come and go as she pleased.
She sat in the main seat, a seat reserved for Zhou Jin.
She casually raised her hand to flip through the documents, and no one stopped her.
Granny Xu brewed her a cup of tea, and her heart was beating very fast.
"Madam, this isn't in our own residence. If someone sees us, won't they criticize our trip as inappropriate?"
Li Qu didn't even look up, and chuckled, "I'm just looking. I'm not interfering with Third Master's decision, so don't worry."
Upon hearing this, Granny Xu breathed a sigh of relief.
I felt both afraid and proud.
Standing beside Li Qu, he held his head high and chest out, his expression radiant.
Li Qu's attention was focused on the Chinese paper in his hand.
'Chu Liang, Sima of Qizhou, respectfully presents this to the Third Master:'
Marquis Weiwu was ordered to transfer to Qizhou, taking over the military defense of Qizhou city and surrounding areas, and stationing 20,000 troops there…
Li Qu changed to a different book.
'...Duke Yao Zeng, the Protector of the Nation, was transferred to Hejian...'
Second sister-in-law's father.
No wonder Hejian remained unscathed even after Marquis Weiwu left.
What a clever move, to hesitate to harm the innocent.
However, this means that the Zhou family suffered a setback on the north-south front.
After finishing reading it, Li Qu switched to another book.
'...Our lord has already captured Fengxiang Prefecture...'
"Fengxiang Prefecture?" Li Qu got up and walked towards the map hanging in the room.
My father-in-law wouldn't ignore the north-south front and waste his efforts taking over a useless territory.
Li Qu located Fengxiang Prefecture on the map.
It's clear at a glance.
Then my scalp started to tingle.
This is a strategic choke point connecting the north, the capital, and the south, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
If Fengxiang Prefecture is held, the northern cavalry will be unable to advance eastward.
Furthermore, if troops are dispatched from Fengxiang Prefecture, heading east from Fengxiang Prefecture would lead to the Central Plains, which would be trampled by iron cavalry at will.
At that time, the soldiers will descend like a pack of wolves from the mountain.
"What a clever feint!"
It turns out that Qizhou and Hejian were just a smokescreen.
He truly deserves to be the lord of the Zhou family.
"This is a loss for the capital and the Yan region."
While Li Qu was lamenting, the Eastern Palace in the capital was already in an uproar.
*
The Eastern Palace.
The crown prince, pale-faced, sat leaning against his throne.
His physique, still recovering from a serious illness, could barely support the once majestic crown prince's python robe.
The high-ranking officials stood in a circle below the steps.
"Zhou's actions were truly an attempt to 'coerce the central government by taking advantage of strategic locations'!"
“Fengxiang is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Wei River flowing around it, and the twelve connected cities of the Forbidden Valley serve as a natural barrier.”
"If they cut off the Longshan Road, the Yan cavalry will be unable to march south to aid Beijing."
"Blocking the Chencang Road will prevent grain supplies from entering the pass!"
"The capital region has been captured and turned into an isolated city. Their wolfish ambitions cannot be tolerated!"
The capital city has just experienced a struggle for the throne and is now in a period of stability.
As a result, Fengxiang Prefecture was stolen without bloodshed.
Those who heard it were all furious.
"To steal from a country during a time of mourning is unrighteous; to seize a strategic location and threaten the ruler is disloyal!"
"Such despicable behavior deserves the scorn of the world!"
The room fell silent upon hearing this.
Now that the Zhou family has taken Fengxiang Prefecture, all they can do is curse them a couple of times to vent their anger; they are completely helpless against them.
Because the Zhou family did not expend a single soldier, did not disturb the people, and did not reveal any disloyal intentions.
Issuing a proclamation to condemn the emperor would make the people think that the Xiao imperial family was just looking for trouble.
No one knows how the Zhou ruler did it, but when the news came, everyone in Fengxiang Prefecture bowed down to him.
Fengxiang Prefecture has changed hands.
Just like what happened in Zhuzhou before.
When the news reached the capital, it was the result of Zhuzhou changing hands and Tang Xian dying to repay his loyalty.
No high-ranking officials died this time, but Fengxiang Prefecture is a strategic location that military strategists must fight over, even more important than Zhuzhou!
The kind and gentle Crown Prince understood the feelings his father had when he fainted in the Golden Palace.
Just how many moves did the Zhou family make on the Xiao family's empire?
Is this still the Xiao family's empire?
Why can't everyone get along well?
His breathing gradually became heavy.
Just then, a foolish minister spoke up:
"The Zhou family, based in Fengxiang, covets the imperial throne. Like ants trying to swallow an elephant, if they are not eliminated, won't they gradually devour the Xiao family's empire!"
This is a possibility that anyone could think of, but at present no one can do anything about the Zhou family, let alone dare to say it in front of the Crown Prince.
Upon hearing this, the crown prince's breathing became even more rapid, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Your Highness!"
"Pass on the tradition of traditional Chinese medicine!"
The Eastern Palace was in complete chaos.
*
The cicadas were also in complete disarray.
His young master fell off his horse!
"Young Master!"
The sky has fallen for the cicadas in autumn.
Fortunately, the horse was intelligent and didn't drag Lin Xiaocong along when he fell.
Qiu Chan quickly dismounted and removed Lin Xiaocong's foot from the stirrup.
He held Lin Xiaocong in his arms and, without saying a word, took out the pills that Lin Xiaocong had given him earlier.
Take out two pills, ruthlessly pry open his jaw, shove them into his throat, and then force-feed him water.
The water entered his throat, stimulating Lin Xiaocong to lift his eyelids.
"Young Master!"
Lin Xiaocong closed his eyes.
"Qiu Hui doesn't want you for a reason; you look too ugly when you cry."
Autumn Cicada: "Waaah..."
Lin Xiaocong took out a handkerchief from his sleeve.
"And didn't you drool on my face?"
"Waaaaah, it's your nose bleeding, young master."
Did Lin Xiaocong stuff his nose with a handkerchief?
He knew perfectly well that he had a nosebleed.
He stuffed a handkerchief into his nose and said, "This young master is too weak to ride a horse. Let's go buy a carriage."
Qiu Chan cried even harder: "Young master, what exactly did you feed yourself?"
"How come you can't even ride a horse?"
Lin Xiaocong propped himself up and sat on the ground.
"Naturally, it is a poison that, if not treated in time, will send one to the heavens."
Blood began to flow back into his throat from his nasal cavity, and Lin Xiaocong leaned forward slightly.
"Hurry up, we'll take a horse-drawn carriage, it'll be slower."
"If we fail to catch up, you will be held responsible."
Qiu Chan wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, grabbed the reins, and mounted her horse.
"We've just passed through a town; I'll go back and rent a carriage right away."
"Young master, you are such a lowly servant."
Lin Xiaocong leaned forward to prevent the blood from flowing back into his throat.
"Go."
After the cicadas left, Lin Xiaocong pulled out the handkerchief blocking his nose, and instantly, blood gushed out, soaking the road.
If I don't take a hard line on myself, how can I convince that old man and my grandmother?
Those who are loved take it for granted.
He smiled.
"It's better to be weak; Rongrong will feel sorry for me if she sees me like this."
"Being too weak is also not good."
If she doesn't want to come back, he won't be able to catch her, and if she gets away, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?
He pinched his nose and got up.
Whether it was because he got up too quickly or because his body was too strained, he stumbled and fell straight to his knees, looking utterly disheveled.
The once radiant young master from a prominent family suddenly seemed much dimmer.
He waved to his mount.
The mount, seemingly possessed, drew closer with a hoarse cry.
He pulled himself up from the stirrups, removed the bundle from the horse, took out silver needles, and began to acupuncture himself.
After all that fuss, he was covered in nosebleeds and his clothes were stained.
Fortunately, when Qiu Chan returned, the nosebleed had stopped.
Qiu Chan helped him onto the carriage, and the master and servant set off again.
After traveling for half an hour, Qiu Chan got off the carriage to relieve herself.
After urinating, Qiu Chan stood by the carriage and asked, "Young master, would you like to use the restroom?"
No one answered from inside the carriage.
Qiu Chan quickly lifted the carriage curtain to check.
Lin Xiaocong, still suffering from lingering poisoning, rode his horse at breakneck speed, causing profuse nosebleeds that eventually led to exhaustion and fainting.
Qiu Chan panicked completely: "Young Master! Young Master!!"
"You didn't say what your servant should do after you faint!"
"Young Master!!!"
*
Lin Xiaocong's side stopped advancing, but Li Rong's side continued to slowly push southward.
Inside the carriage, Li Rong lifted the curtain and looked back.
She didn't even know what she was looking at; she would habitually lift the carriage curtain.
Qiu Hui always advised, "Second Miss, be careful not to catch a cold."
Then the carriage curtains were lowered.
Li Rong was always silent and liked to hold her package and stare blankly.
She entrusted most of the gold and silver he gave her to her eldest sister to take away.
Consider it as money he gave for the expenses of raising the baby.
In her bundle, besides her change of clothes, there was only a pair of fox fur masks.
Time always flies when you're daydreaming.
Seventeen o'clock.
Weary birds return to their nests, and the sound of galloping horses can be heard outside the carriage.
Li Rong abruptly lifted the carriage curtain.
The horses reared up and neighed, blocking the carriage.
The horse's hoof landed, and above it was Huaiyan.
The carriage curtain fell.
Huaiyan's voice came from outside the carriage: "Zhou Nu Huaiyan is hereby ordered by the Third Madam to escort the Second Miss south!"
Li Rong leaned against the carriage wall and closed her eyes.
After confirming the other person's identity, Lin Sange, who was outside the carriage, handed the person over to Huaiyan.
Qiu Hui looked at Li Rong: "Second Miss, is there anything you want me to tell the young master?"
Li Rong didn't even open her eyes: "No."
"Take care, Second Miss." Qiu Hui kowtowed and got out of the carriage.
The people from the Marquis's residence withdrew, and the people from the south took the stage.
When Huaixia lifted the curtain to get into the carriage, Li Rong was crying while holding her bundle.
People's joys and sorrows are not shared.
Huaixia, not understanding Li Rong's feelings, asked her about it.
Li Rong shook her head, wiped away her tears, and continued to stare blankly.
The wheels rolled forward.
*
As the sun set, Qiu Chan drove into the city and parked at a Jimin Pharmacy.
Then he ran into the pharmacy and said something, and the shopkeeper immediately led people out to greet him.
When Lin Xiaocong stepped down from the carriage, the innkeeper had already come up to him and bowed respectfully: "Young Master."
"Just a place to stay." Lin Xiaocong walked towards the pharmacy. "Get me a few doses of medicine to take with me."
"Yes, what medicine does the young master need?"
Lin Xiaocong kept walking.
"Astragalus membranaceus 3 qian, Coptis chinensis 2 qian; Angelica sinensis 3 qian, Poria cocos 2 qian;"
"Gardenia 1.5 qian, Ligusticum chuanxiong 1 qian; Licorice 5 fen, Ginseng root 7 fen."
"Grind it into a fine powder, and sift it through a silk sieve to obtain a fine powder."
"Another jar of Shaoxing wine, please."
Qiu Chan followed, carrying her bundle.
A pharmacy worker led the carriage away.
The innkeeper arranged for someone to guide Lin Xiaocong and his servant to their lodgings, and personally wrote down the prescription.
Those in the know understand the intricacies.
This formula aligns with the principle in the "Huangdi Neijing" that "where evil gathers, the qi must be deficient," clearing toxins, nourishing the original qi, harmonizing the blood, and stopping bleeding.
He recalled the expression on Lin Xiaocong's face that he had just glimpsed.
The innkeeper hurriedly instructed the waiter: "Go across the street and order a table of food. No raw, cold, or gamey dishes. Bring out the best of everything else."
This recipe avoids raw, cold, and fishy foods.
The clerk accepted the order and went to carry it out.
The shopkeeper had just finished arranging the medicine preparations when he turned to go to the backyard to find Lin Xiaocong and his servant.
Xiao Zuo then walked into the pharmacy.
The shop assistant stepped forward and asked, "Do you need medicine or a prescription?"
Xiao Zuo placed a letter on the counter.
"Please hand it over to Young Master Lin immediately."
Having said that, he took a step back, turned around, and left.
The waiter didn't dare delay and quickly handed the letter to the backyard to report to the manager.
After the shopkeeper checked and confirmed that everything was correct, he handed it to Lin Xiaocong.
At that moment, Qiu Chan sat down at the table, staring at the delicacies on the table and swallowing her saliva, waiting for her young master to take the first bite.
Lin Xiaocong had just finished washing up and came out. He took the letter from the shopkeeper and opened it.
After reading the contents of the letter, he walked outside while still making a ball.
"Autumn Cicada, hurry up, we can't catch up!"
He was just taking a day off to rest and recuperate, how could he run so fast?
Qiu Chan looked miserable: a wretched servant.
He grabbed a roast chicken and followed his young master.
As for the medicine he had just asked for, Lin Xiaocong didn't care anymore.
This time, the master and servant rode horses and set off overnight.
After the master and servant left the city, Xiao Zuo, who had been following them from a distance, returned to the inn and reported through the door.
"The person has already left the city."
Inside the door, Xiao Cong sat on a couch, sipping tea.
He poured two cups of tea.
One cup of tea is placed in front of me, and another cup is placed opposite me.
The cold moon rose higher and higher, its clear light like a ribbon, perfectly round and flawless.
The cups and saucers on the low table had gone cold.
He will not sleep tonight.
Even with victory assured, I couldn't sleep.
Without that "Congratulations, Your Highness," it just feels bland.
*
Frost heavy, the Eastern Palace desolate; lamps cold, the night still young.
The Crown Prince's bedroom was where high-ranking officials from the six ministries of the cabinet and members of the imperial family gathered.
Old Man Huangfu roused the crown prince from a coma with a single needle prick.
After the eunuch helped the person up, he stuffed a soft pillow behind his back and tidied up his appearance and bedding.
Only then were the screens separating the important officials removed.
Old Man Huangfu stepped aside, ready to intervene and treat the Crown Prince at any moment.
Four days ago, after the Crown Prince was so enraged that he vomited blood, his health deteriorated rapidly.
To this day, without the old man Huangfu's acupuncture, it is impossible to wake the person up.
The Xiao imperial family is once again facing turmoil.
In the charcoal brazier, wisps of smoke rose from the Atractylodes lancea.
The intention of the high-ranking official in waking up the crown prince this time is very clear.
The crown prince needs to designate a successor before his death in order to stabilize the court.
The atmosphere was serious and sad.
Finally, an old minister stepped forward, knelt down, and solemnly remonstrated:
"Your Highness, the rise and fall of a nation depends on the establishment of a crown prince."
"For the sake of the stability of the country, Your Highness should issue an edict as soon as possible."
The crown prince has reached the end of his life, but there is no heir to succeed him.
According to the rites and laws, he should be adopted by a member of the imperial clan.
Zongzheng stepped forward and knelt down: "Now that the southern lands are eyeing us covetously and Fengxiang Prefecture has been captured, it is no exaggeration to say that the Xiao family's empire is in grave danger."
"Your Highness, please reconsider."
The Xiao family's empire now needs a member of the imperial clan who can turn the tide and confront the Zhou family head-on.
The young master is excluded.
The weakened crown prince, barely able to keep his eyes open, considered the pros and cons for the sake of the Xiao family's empire, and asked a question amidst the quiet waiting of the court officials.
"Whom did Uncle Wang send to the capital for the funeral?"
The Crown Prince's uncle, a close relative of the Prince, was the Prince of Yan in the north.
They come from the same lineage.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward and knelt down: "The Crown Prince of Yan is leading the people of Yan to the capital, and they will arrive in about three days."
The prince closed his heavy eyelids.
None of Xiao Cong's adult half-brothers surpassed him.
Moreover, since Uncle Wang has stationed troops in Hezhong, Fengxiang Prefecture will have to rely on Uncle Wang to retake it.
More importantly, the capital and the Yan region must not be at risk of being separated.
He remained silent for a long time.
He slowly began, “My father has placed high hopes on me, but I am of meager virtue, and my lifespan is nearing its end as I inherit this great legacy…”
I'm so unwilling to accept this...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
