Chapter 140 Power
The rain continued, and the sound of galloping hooves seemed to come from the wind.
Li Qu stood under the swaying lanterns on the veranda, having changed into a pinkish-purple cloak.
Her dark hair was parted on both sides of her shoulders, with some falling across her chest.
A velvet flower adorned with rice-grain pearls sits atop a low bun behind the ears.
She possesses a gentle temperament with a subtle air of nobility.
As soon as Zhou Jinfu entered the courtyard, he saw her figure.
The beautiful woman dressed up nicely tonight.
Upon seeing him appear, she smiled, lifted her skirt, and gracefully descended the steps to greet him.
Her voice was gentle and joyful, with a hint of coquettishness: "My husband~"
As she saw him approach, she raised her umbrella high to hold it for him.
He walked past her expressionlessly, striding past without stopping.
She smiled and chased after him, saying, "My lord, the hot water is ready. I will serve you your bath."
"I dare not trouble you, Madam. You have been out and about all day, and your eyes and mind must be tired. Please rest early."
The man went up the corridor and headed straight for the bathhouse.
Li Qu held up an umbrella and went up to the corridor. She pretended to fall and cried out, dropping the umbrella and sitting on the steps.
Her response was a loud slam of the door shut.
Seeing this, Granny Xu quickly stepped forward to help Li Qu up.
The door opened again, and the man with droopy eyelids looked at her quietly.
She got up, took off her soiled cloak, and with a sweet smile, went forward to take his hand.
"Come in quickly, your husband is soaking wet."
She pulled him into the bathroom, closed the door, and pushed him to the edge of the bathtub.
"Raise your hand."
He raised his hand, looking down at her obediently within reach of his embrace.
She didn't mind the cold rain on his clothes at all. She wrapped her arms around his waist, her face almost pressed against his cold, wet clothes, and helped him undo his waistband.
She turned and put the next waistband aside.
"Tomorrow, I will also let Cuiguo go out in the rain."
While she turned around, he quickly took off his own clothes.
"What does that stupid servant girl have to do with it?"
She turned to reach out again, but his tone softened slightly: "I can do it myself."
She raised her hand and slapped his hand, giving him a reproachful look, and then untied his belt.
"Huaiqiu has not taken good care of her husband, which has caused me heartache. I will make him feel heartache in return."
"Stop with the sweet talk!" He looked away from her.
A strong smell of jealousy lingered: "Why did you go out to see him!"
"Would you like to see Young Master Lin?"
"You even cooked carp for him!"
"My husband has wronged me!"
"You knew perfectly well that he had designs on you!"
Zhou Jin became increasingly angry as he spoke.
"You promised me you wouldn't go out!"
"I didn't go to pick up your second sister in person!"
"Hiss~"
The man grabbed the woman's wrist as she attacked, his jealousy completely under her control.
Zhou Jin closed his eyes and gritted his teeth: "Let go!"
The man's bright red ear tips betrayed his embarrassment.
His clothes were completely undressed, his chest muscles wrapped in soaked fabric, a tempting sight.
She rubbed her little nose against the skin of his exposed chest.
Palm-sized toys became an instant hit.
As if unaware, she peeled back his soaked shirt with her fingertips.
"I thought my husband would praise me."
“I received a letter saying that when my second sister was ten miles downstream, my husband had already crossed the river.”
“I then knew that his true purpose was with my husband.”
"I have read the documents from Qizhou and know that the military defense of Qizhou is now in the hands of Marquis Lin."
"For my husband's sake, I immediately sent Huai Chuan to deliver a message to Marquis Lin, luring him away."
“He has no manpower to allocate, so even if he has countless schemes, he can’t do anything to his husband.”
"Then she sent Huaichuan to protect her husband."
"I have poured my heart and soul into my relationship with my husband."
The phrase "open your heart and lungs" nearly cost Zhou Jin his life.
He bent over and couldn't help but pull her into his arms, his movements both reluctant and pleading.
"A-Qu, you're guilty, you lack martial ethics!"
"It's my husband who's being unreasonable!" She not only didn't let go, but instead held on even harder.
"I have made thorough preparations before leaving home."
"Transfer a ship downstream right under the noses of the patrol boats in Qizhou."
"Not only did he successfully transfer Lin Hou away, but he also avoided putting himself in danger."
"If I wanted to see him, why would I need to make such a big fuss?"
Her gentle fingertips traced patterns on his strong lower back, as she looked up and pouted.
"My husband comes home angry. Could it be that he's fallen for a scheme by outsiders and wants to distance himself from me?"
Her response was a kiss from the man that gripped the back of her head.
She's right beside him, trying to sow discord?
Does he care about those few words that sow discord?
It's just the incompetence of losers.
All he ever cared about was her.
He was consumed by insane jealousy at the thought that her past had been possessed by another person.
Was her habit of enjoying tea and flowers influenced by him?
They used to fish in the wild. Did he fish while she washed her hands and cooked?
He stopped begging her to let go and instead began to ravage her.
Unable to resist his passion, she let go and pushed him away.
How could she possibly resist a man who was both jealous and burning with lust?
As she retreated, she was enveloped by his presence, losing many pieces of clothing that she couldn't hold onto.
He cornered her, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.
He cupped her face in his hands: "Aqu, I treat you with more sincerity than he ever did."
Her lips were numb, she was panting, she lifted her eyelids to look at him, gently pecked his lips, shook her chin, and shook off his hand.
She tilted her head back, her eyes gentle and tender, smiling sweetly.
"My husband, I love you even more than you think."
"Don't get jealous next time."
Who would remember what they ate for lunch three years ago?
Mo Yue doesn't remember what he ate for lunch three days ago.
“But I remember my husband said last night that he wanted to eat yam and mutton porridge today.”
As she spoke, she raised the back of her right hand.
"My husband doesn't care whether my bottom hurts when I fall."
"Don't you even care if my hand gets itchy from accidentally getting some yam peel on it?"
Zhou Jin's gaze fell on the back of her raised hand, and sure enough, he saw that the back of her hand was scratched red.
She angrily raised her hand to block their path.
"I don't care about the good days to come, but my husband is giving me a sour look because of the past that I don't care about."
She pretended to be angry, but her gentle and lovely demeanor was so charming it seemed like you could squeeze water from her.
His chest heaved.
Bullying her and spoiling her are things that no one can stop him from doing.
He slowly approached, enveloping her in the realm of his desire.
She played hard to get, which made him increasingly unable to control himself.
The pearl-studded stamens in her hair trembled with her soft calls.
She grumbled, "I washed my hands and cooked porridge for you, and you come back with a sour face and haven't even apologized!"
Master Zhou apologized to her through his actions.
They just wouldn't speak.
She angrily jabbed his chest with her teeth.
Outside the window, the wind and rain shook the leafless branches.
Everything trembled under the chill of early winter.
Li Qu took a bath and left first.
Zhou Jin steeped the tea for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
When he was getting dressed, he discovered that he hadn't prepared any clothes.
He shouted, "Someone come here!"
No one paid him any attention; Li Qu's voice came from outside the door.
"Apologize to me, or you'll come out naked."
Zhou Jin opened the door.
Li Qu screamed, threw the clothes in her arms at him, and ran away.
"shameless!"
Zhou Jin watched her cover her face and run away shyly, his eyes and brows beaming with joy.
She sent all the servants away, and the inner room was empty.
The room was filled with the scent of her as the charcoal smoke.
He threw his clothes onto the couch and picked them up one by one to put them on.
Then walk outside.
She was in the dining room.
Just as I was about to leave, a foot suddenly stuck out from the doorway.
He chuckled, stepped over her, and pulled her hand toward the dining room: "You put medicine on the back of your hand?"
"You've rubbed it all off."
He hooked his index finger around hers: "Next time, have the servants do it."
"You think just anyone can eat my cooking?"
"You are the first man outside your family to taste my cooking."
His gaze shifted to the wind and rain outside the corridor, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Apologize to me."
He won't apologize.
She bit his hand.
His smile deepened.
She's making a scene.
He was smiling.
Outside the corridor, the wind and rain raged.
Those who strategize with others win the hearts of the people.
*
On the north bank, separated by a river, Xiao Cong and Lin Xiaocong officially met.
In the living room of the Prefectural Governor's residence.
Lin Zhongtian occupies the master's seat.
Xiao Cong occupied the lower, most honored position.
Lin Xiaocong stepped inside.
Wearing slippers, casual clothes, and a piece of wood casually pinned to her dark hair, she sat down opposite Xiao Cong with a clatter.
His disappointment was hard to hide.
He leaned back in his chair and looked at Xiao Cong: "Thank you, Your Highness, for sending the letter to remind me at Jimin Pharmacy."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for granting my request to marry Rongrong."
Xiao Cong replied calmly, "You're welcome."
It's just a promise to an old friend.
He promised her that if he didn't interfere with her family, he wouldn't care about Li Rong's marriage.
Why not do Lin Xiaocong a favor by going along with the flow?
"Has the young master known my whereabouts and been watching me for a long time?"
Xiao Cong: "Young Master Lin is shining brightly in the Marquis of Chengen's mansion; it's hard not to notice him."
Lin Xiaocong knew why Xiao Cong was paying attention to him.
He took out the strange jade pendant with the center hollowed out from his pocket and casually tossed it onto the coffee table.
"I failed to keep her, and the Crown Prince bears an unshirkable responsibility."
Xiao Cong picked up his cup: "You failed to keep her, what does that have to do with me?"
Lin Xiaocong: "It's all the young master's fault for not keeping his third sister here!"
Xiao Cong paused for a moment while sipping his tea.
"If the young master had put even a fraction of his ambition into vying for the throne and winning over Lady Zhou, he wouldn't be all alone now."
Lin Zhongtian, who was sitting in the main seat, choked on his tea and was forced to eat a bite of melon.
"The current situation is all the Crown Prince's fault!"
Xiao Cong: "..."
Is that what he wanted?
Not in the mood for tea, he put down his cup and asked, "Shall we bring those sisters back together?"
"How confident is the young master?"
"If Young Master Lin is willing to help, I will offer 70%."
"Seventy percent is acceptable. What are your plans, Your Highness?"
"First of all, Young Master Lin must take care of himself. It's one thing for a doctor to use his skills, but it can't happen a third time."
"I don't understand."
"The first time, it was Marquis Gui; the second time, it was the Fourth Prince."
"Does Your Highness have evidence?"
There isn't one.
but……
"My words are the proof."
It was calm, yet it contained a profound meaning.
Emperors don't need evidence; they can kill people based solely on conjecture.
Lin Xiaocong laughed: "When an emperor wields his power and authority at will, none of his subjects dare to disobey."
Derogatory.
Lin Zhongtian rebuked: "Insolence!"
Xiao Cong's gaze fell indifferently on Lin Xiaocong: "Young Master Lin, we are born to be on the same boat."
Lin Xiaocong lowered his eyes.
If it weren't for the safety of his family, why would he have ended up like this?
When Xiao Cong gave him the jade pendant, the letter he sent not only said that he was willing to help him and Li Rong get together.
There's one more thing.
"Your talent, sir, is misplaced in this southern land. It would be tantamount to betraying your clan and bringing shame upon your family. Public opinion will be difficult to silence. I urge you to reconsider."
Xiao Cong hadn't brought this up, but he spoke up.
He could not go south.
He couldn't afford the price of going south.
Compared to Xiao Cong, he still preferred the gentle and kind Crown Prince.
Trust him, and he'll be easy to manipulate.
By controlling the ruler of the court, one can gradually influence court affairs.
This guy is not easy to deal with.
Lin Xiaocong sat up straight, the disappointment between his brows gradually fading and replaced by a smile.
He stood up and respectfully bowed to Xiao Cong.
“Your Highness is absolutely right. You and your subject are destined to advance together.”
Xiao Cong remained silent.
Lin Xiaocong sat down again: "Your Highness, what are your orders for summoning me down so late?"
Xiao Cong: "Nothing else to instruct me on."
"Just letting you know that if anything happens to me in Qizhou, the entire Lin family will be buried with me."
Lin Xiaocong smiled and said, "Your Highness is joking?"
"You can take this as a joke from the Crown Prince."
Xiao Cong said calmly, "Young Master Lin should think carefully about his future."
After saying that, he got up and walked outside.
As for the jade pendant that could prove his identity, it's incomplete and won't be needed anymore.
There were only three people in the room.
Lin Xiaocong's murderous intent flickered between his brows.
But Lin Zhongtian stared intently at him.
His father was able to stop him.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Xiao Cong went out.
Lin Xiaocong spoke up: "Father, what if we take his life and frame the Zhou family? What if it throws the world into chaos?"
Why are you so insistent on protecting him?
If the world falls into chaos, the Lin family has the power to establish a separatist regime.
Lin Zhongtian looked at Lin Xiaocong and exclaimed, "Your father is truly wise!"
"The fact that you were able to marry my mother proves that you are not very wise."
“No, Father is very wise.” Lin Zhongtian said quite seriously.
"If we had told you to enlist in the army back then, the world would have been plunged into chaos and death within the first two years."
Lin Xiaocong remained silent.
He didn't care about any living beings; he only cared about Rongrong.
All he wanted was a small family!
Lin Zhongtian: "The letter that arrived today from the capital to the prefect of Qizhou is the edict of the late Crown Prince."
"Order all officials, high and low, to protect the Prince of Yan wherever he goes. If anything happens, all officials of rank in the area he passes through, along with their entire families, shall be executed."
“That means we can’t do anything to him in Qizhou.” Lin Xiaocong got up and walked outside.
"Mingxu, don't act recklessly!" Lin Zhongtian's voice was unusually serious.
"Now the North and South are evenly matched and are moving towards peace."
"One must not disrupt the peace and stability of the people for personal gain."
Lin Xiaocong walked with a shuffling gait.
“Your grandmother wrote a letter saying that if the girl is willing to stay, your father can allow her to stay.”
"Now, the future ruler of the North can also tolerate her."
"Mingxu! You should reflect on this."
"Why did you do so much? Why is she clearly interested in you?"
"I'll choose to leave!"
Lin Xiaocong's robes had already floated outside the door.
"Yes, my son doesn't have enough power."
Lin Zhongqi, spitting blood, cried out: "You can forget about getting any power!"
If this rebellious son were to seize power, wouldn't the world descend into chaos?
*
Power can be blinding.
Li Qu, who could mobilize ten warships to accompany her downstream with just her face and a word, also had this experience.
The next day, the sky was clear and the temperature dropped by two degrees.
Li Qu saw Zhou Jin off at the door.
News from Beijing arrived in Yancheng two days ago.
The day Xiao Cong ascended the throne was the most tense time in the relationship between the North and the South.
Zhou Jin will be very busy from now on.
Li Qu stood at the threshold, smiling as she waved goodbye to Zhou Jin on horseback.
She had never coveted power before, because it was not allowed.
Now that she's been exposed to it, she finds it very enjoyable.
"Don't forget to eat, add clothes if it's cold, if my husband is well, then I am well."
"If you need anything, tell Huaichuan to come find me."
Yesterday, Zhou Sanye was so jealous that he threw away his straw hat and raincoat, looking gloomy.
This morning he appeared gentle and spoke softly.
"Mmm." She blew him a kiss.
His heart skipped a beat, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he quickly glanced around.
Seeing that the guards all had their eyes downcast and dared not look directly at her, he then looked at her.
He seemed to be scolding her for being naughty in public, but he also seemed to enjoy it.
She raised her hand as if to blow him a kiss, and he spurred his horse to gallop away.
Her silvery laughter came from behind her.
A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, his heart blossomed with joy, and he was in a wonderful mood all day.
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