Chapter 61 Bowing one's head
As the person lifted the curtain and entered the room, the candlelight inside flickered in the breeze.
Standing outside, my cheeks felt icy cold, but once inside Mianxiaoju, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me.
After Bai Shisi Niang entered the room, she took off her warm cloak and handed it to her maid, revealing a pink dress that accentuated her figure. She then gently stepped forward to greet Zhou Jin.
"This concubine greets Your Highness."
"I have learned two new dishes, please try them, my lord."
The future ruler of the Zhou family's power in the south, if pushed too far, is qualified to overturn the table and challenge that figure in the capital.
Countless people wanted to hitch a ride.
Unfortunately, he rarely lingered on the river island, and no one knew his temperament and preferences.
Since his return to Hezhou, people from all sides have been trying their best to probe and get closer, attempting to climb this big tree that can reach straight to the sky in the south.
The Bai family's business ventures were inseparable from the Zhou family's support.
Bai Shisi Niang entered Qinghuai Courtyard carrying the heavy burden given to her by her family.
What she wanted was not the love of the Third Master Zhou, but the unbreakable bond between the Zhou and Bai families—the offspring of the Third Master Zhou.
And whose pink outfit she's copying today is self-evident.
She seemed used to Zhou Jin's silence and went about setting out the food with the maid.
Hesitantly, she finally ladled out a bowl of soup with added ingredients and gracefully handed it to him: "Try it, this is a new seafood and bean curd soup that the cook taught me today."
Zhou Jin's gaze remained fixed on the tattered purse on the desk the entire time.
The purse is embroidered with red beans.
Red beans symbolize longing and affection.
If it weren't for Haoyue's affair, would she have smiled sweetly and said to him:
Jinlang, you must wear this when you go out in the future. If you miss me, just look at this purse, and I will surely be thinking of you too.
A smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
Suddenly, the barely perceptible smile froze on his face.
My illusions were shattered.
In his mind's eye was that delicate girl hiding behind a pillar, her eyes red as she watched him leave with a complex expression.
I feel inexplicably tightness and irritability in my chest.
Outwardly, this manifests as an increasingly frighteningly cold and oppressive atmosphere.
Already feeling guilty, Bai Shisi Niang noticed this and didn't dare to breathe too loudly. She stood respectfully to the side, her hands unconsciously gripping her handkerchief tightly in her sleeves.
Suddenly, Zhou Jin moved.
Bai Shisi Niang was startled.
Zhou Jin raised his hand and picked up the purse, seemingly unaware of Bai Shisi Niang's unusual behavior.
He took out a note from his purse.
I want to know what sweet words she wrote to me.
I unfolded the sticky note that she had folded into the shape of flower petals.
The first thing you see is a cool male cartoon head and a female cartoon head happily sticking on the male cartoon head.
Her thoughts are always so delicate and sweet.
The words on the paper are no longer about dusk or willow tips.
Instead, it was twenty-two words that made his scalp tingle, his whole body tremble, and his skin crawl.
'To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations.'
He picked up the creased piece of paper, his brows furrowing deeply.
He had not expected that besides romantic love, she also harbored lofty ideals.
These twenty-two characters were concise yet powerful, deeply moving him.
She was a pampered young lady confined to the inner quarters of her home.
Where does this perspective come from?
At this moment, Zhou Jin thought of the Prince of Yan in the north, a man as handsome as jade.
Why is Xiao Cong treating her so well?
So good that he could let her listen to politics? So good that he could talk about ideals with a woman?
Compared to him, what am I?
The usually arrogant and condescending Master Zhou suddenly felt a sense of inferiority.
What followed was a sense of crisis.
If this is Xiao Cong's ideal, then Xiao Cong will undoubtedly become his formidable rival in the future.
He was not only a formidable political rival, but also a formidable rival in winning her heart.
He couldn't help but think more.
Was it because Xiao Cong refused to give her the love she wanted that she ran away?
He never believed that she was indifferent to Xiao Cong.
He raised his hand to pinch the space between his eyebrows, then slumped back in his chair.
His gaze fell on the bowl of soup on the table. He then looked at Bai Shisi Niang and asked, "Is it good?"
Bai Shisi Niang shuddered, meeting Zhou Jin's dark and indifferent gaze, and suddenly felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
She was, after all, just a fifteen-year-old girl confined to the inner quarters, possessing a bit of cleverness within the household. But when she truly faced Zhou Jin, whose accumulated authority and imposing presence were evident even without anger, she was instantly exposed like a demon revealed by a magic mirror.
He was deflated and collapsed to the ground.
"Third Master, spare my life!"
Thinking of her ninth sister's fate, tears welled up uncontrollably. She trembled and prostrated herself on the ground, only managing to utter, "Third Master, spare my life."
Looking at the trembling figure crawling on the ground, Zhou Jin thought of the first time she had crawled before him.
She was undoubtedly afraid of herself at that time; her cautious eyes couldn't lie.
But she didn't tremble. On the contrary, she was calm, composed, clear-headed, eloquent, and slippery, trying to escape from his fangs.
At that moment, he was pleasantly surprised.
He thought that his woman should be incomparably beautiful and intelligent.
That night, he ate her iced bowl and became certain that he wanted her.
Since you've decided to do it, then do it.
She was just as wonderful as she had imagined.
It's a bit spicy.
The slaps he delivered were brutal and forceful; when he grabbed him, he truly went all out.
His desire to conquer was overwhelming.
Women are naturally weaker than men, and he tied her hands with a belt.
She cried in anger and cursed him, calling him inhuman.
He also said a lot of nasty things, but he can't remember them all.
All he remembered was that she was soft, white, fragrant, and tender...
My brain was suddenly assaulted by a tingling, pleasurable memory.
He suddenly felt his mouth was dry, so he raised his head slightly and loosened his collar to make it easier to breathe.
He asked Bai Shisi Niang in a deep voice, "What did you put in?"
Bai Shisi Niang was both ashamed and afraid, and tears and sweat fell onto the carpet together.
"Yes, yes, it is Hehuan San (合欢散)."
"Just, just a little bit, really just a little bit!"
Her voice trembled with suppressed sobs.
As he spoke, his face had completely lost all color.
"Hehuan San is not good."
Zhou Jin's sudden comment left Bai Shisi Niang somewhat stunned.
"I have something even better."
Bai Shisi Niang was completely unprepared for Zhou Jin's reaction.
She caught a glimpse of him getting up, walking to the bookshelf, taking something, and returning to his desk.
Then she heard the sound of a spoon colliding with a porcelain bowl.
In an instant, she realized what Master Zhou was planning.
He would surely give her a potent aphrodisiac, then reward her to a servant or throw her to a beggar as punishment for her offense and transgression!
She completely broke down: "Please, please, Third Master, for my father's sake, let me die innocent!"
"I am, after all, surnamed Bai!"
"To insult a concubine is no different from insulting the Bai family!"
"Third Master, have mercy! Let me die a clean death!"
Fearing a dirty end, she got up and was about to crash into the corner of the desk to end her life, but was suddenly terrified by what she saw and sat down on the ground in shock.
Did Third Master eat that bowl of seafood and bean curd soup with added toppings himself?!
After finishing his meal, he even said, "Give me another bowl."
Bai Shisi Niang belatedly realized what was happening and hurriedly got up, wanting to serve him another bowl. She had already reached out her hand when he took the bowl back, glanced at her, and walked around the desk to the dining table.
"Kneel properly, and we'll deal with you as we see fit."
He was cold and ruthless, yet still the unfathomable and dignified man in her eyes.
Bai Shisi Niang closed her eyes in despair. Hearing the clinking of the porcelain spoon, he probably ate another bowl of soup.
She heard rustling sounds, as if he was doing something again, and then she heard him stride away without looking back.
She understood instantly.
What she thought was an opportunity turned out to be utterly ridiculous.
In order to go to Fanghua Garden to find Li Shi, Third Master actually made a way out for himself!
What a shocking and terrifying truth!
Qinglan Courtyard is indeed an unlucky place; whoever lives there will be cursed.
The maidservant scrambled to her side, trembling with fear.
"What should we do, Miss?"
What can we do?
Bai Shisi Niang looked at her personal maid: "Am I ugly?"
"Miss is pure and beautiful, how could she be associated with ugliness?"
"Doesn't this young lady look better in pink than that Li woman?"
"Miss is even more delicate, and wearing pink makes her look even more frail and pitiful than Aunt Li."
"How did Li manage to capture Third Master's heart?"
Bai Shisi Niang couldn't understand it.
*
Li Qu, whose dinner was suddenly interrupted by Zhou Jin, was also puzzled.
She felt that given Zhou Sanye's temperament, this argument would likely leave him hanging for a long time.
After all, the persona she created for herself was so deeply affectionate, and what she wanted was so unrealistic.
But he just suddenly appeared in front of her.
After seeing her stunned expression, Zhou Jin's eyes suddenly lit up with surprise.
His heart was filled with joy, as if fireworks had exploded.
She got up and rushed towards him, burying her head in his chest. Just a moment ago she was very happy, but now she was crying out, "Waaaaah!"
"Jinlang, please don't ignore me. I will never again ask you to love only me."
His reaction was unexpected: "Really?"
He thought she would take advantage of his affection for her, treat him coldly, and continue to throw tantrums.
He came fully prepared, thinking that no matter how much she made a fuss, he had a reason to stay tonight, and he was determined to stay.
She sobbed and didn't respond to him, only hitting him.
He was being beaten so hard that sparks flew everywhere, and he felt the raging heat from the medicine suddenly boil over.
He asked, "Why are you saying one thing and meaning another?"
He took her small hand, squatted down, picked her up with one hand, and carried her to sit on the dining table.
He shook the food off the table and ordered in a deep voice, "Prepare water!"
The maids were frightened and shocked.
She was stunned.
He saw tears clinging to her long, fan-like eyelashes as she stared at him, mesmerized.
Meeting those clear, beautiful eyes, he felt a little shy for the first time, and his ears felt hot.
He attributed all the reasons to the fact that Bai Shisi Niang had given him aphrodisiac.
He stared at her slightly parted lips, closed his eyes, and kissed her.
soft.
satisfy.
She seemed to have drunk osmanthus rice wine; the fragrance of osmanthus and the sweet aroma of wine lingered on her lips and teeth.
An irreplaceable fondness.
The soul was soothed.
He said, "Ah Qu, I will learn to love you."
He seemed annoyed that he had given in first, and his originally gentle kiss turned fierce.
"You must not run away."
He murmured and tried to cover something up with the sound of tearing silk.
Li Qu never expected to hear these words from Zhou Jin.
She was a little incredulous, raised her hand to cup his head, and looked at him earnestly: "Is what Jinlang said true?"
"real."
What an unexpected and wonderful surprise!
She smiled.
She laughed for less than a second before biting her lip and closing her eyes.
She knew what he wanted to hear right now.
"I will never betray my beloved Jinlang."
The dining room was already empty, and the sensible maids shyly left the space to Master Zhou.
Li Qu sensed that he was different from the ordinary.
She asked him, "Jinlang, what's wrong?"
He lied without batting an eye: "There's something wrong with the soup that Xiaobai sent to you, sir."
He would never let her know that he had drunk the soup voluntarily and that he had added the spicy seasoning himself.
Upon hearing this, she kicked him with her leg: "Jinlang, you're drinking someone else's soup; you should go find someone else!"
She got angry: "I won't serve you, let me go!"
Her soft struggle touched his heart.
He held her even tighter.
“Aqu”.
The room was filled with absurdity, yet it was all bathed in the light of spring.
He had finally won her heart. He asked for water three times, but seeing her pained little face, unwilling to endure it any longer, he didn't force her.
He chose to soak in ice water to relieve the remaining effects of the medication in his body.
When Li Qu came out of the bathhouse, he was already asleep.
The mattress was newly replaced with a spring-green embroidered white plum blossom pattern.
It made her exposed skin appear even whiter, and the red plum blossoms on her skin even more vibrant.
Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, he murmured again, "Aqu, you must not run away."
He can find you anywhere, no matter where you are.
"You can't escape."
*
The following day, it snowed, and Zhou Jin did not go out, but stayed in Fanghua Garden to watch Li Qu.
That's right, just stare at it.
She was gathered with Granny Xu and several maids discussing embroidery, while he sat to one side, his eyes fixed on her.
She was playing childish bluff with the maids on the veranda, while he stood inside the window, his eyes fixed on her.
Xu Mama led the way, smiling as she looked at her, while the maids below giggled and laughed, delighted that their mistresses had reconciled.
She blushed at his laughter and went up to him to ask, "Why does Jinlang keep staring at me?"
"They all laughed at the concubine."
He raised his hand to brush the snowflakes that had fallen on her shoulder.
It didn't bounce; the indoor heating caused a large temperature difference, and the snow melted.
He then flicked the pendant hanging from her earlobe with his finger.
"If you won't let me play, can't I even watch?"
"You told me to do whatever I wanted, and not to worry about you."
"Um."
"What does 'um' mean?"
He just looked at her openly and honestly.
She felt shy and a little scared under his gaze.
She smiled and lightly pecked his lips, then shyly nestled her face against his chest, avoiding his gaze, before feeling a little more relaxed.
"Where did you hear the saying, 'To establish a heart for heaven and earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations'?"
So that's the crux of the problem.
She pulled away from his chest and asked happily, "Is that a good thing to say?"
He nodded: "This is the direction in which people with lofty aspirations live."
"Does Jinlang think it has any meaning?"
"It makes sense."
She smiled and said, "I heard this from a scholar who called himself Mr. Zhang at a student forum. I was deeply moved at the time and have kept it in mind ever since."
She took his hand and said, "I have never told anyone else about this, I only shared it with you, Jinlang."
Zhou Jin was slightly taken aback.
The "other person" naturally refers to Xiao Cong.
A smile appeared in his eyes.
Where is this person?
"At the time, we were discussing something else. He was an old man, an observer, and I don't know which sentence he heard that resonated with him, but he just said it offhand."
“I happened to overhear it and remembered it. I thought you would like it, so I wrote it on a note and shared it with you.”
"Hmm, what kind of reward do you want?"
She was surprised: "You can really ask for a reward?"
"Can."
"Why?"
"Master likes Aqu to share everything with him."
She giggled and pulled him outside, saying, "I want my beloved to go out and get soaked in the snow with me."
He was a man of his word, and ordered someone to fetch her a cloak and put it on her: "Don't catch a cold."
She also tied the belt on his cloak.
There was a response.
He was going to put the hood of his cloak on her.
She didn't want to wear it.
He's not allowed to wear it either.
The snowflakes are like goose feathers.
The servants and attendants all kept their distance.
Seeing her smiling happily, he let her lead him on a walk in the snow, feeling her joy and sharing in her happiness.
She stopped and looked up at him as a layer of snow gradually settled on her head.
"If we get soaked in the snow together today, then we can consider it as growing old together in this life."
"Jinlang, the one who will grow old with you is not me, but if you are willing to give me your unique love, I will be content."
His happiness suddenly took a turn for the worse.
For some reason, looking at her satisfied smile, he suddenly felt as if he owed her a great deal.
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