Chapter 69 Goblin
Zhou Jin returned very late, and Li Qu, unusually, waited for him.
He drank the wine, but he wasn't drunk.
But the moment he stepped into the room at Fanghua Garden, he felt drunk.
The room was filled with a lingering, warm fragrance.
Inside, there was a screen separating the room, and what came into view was the alluring projection of a woman on the screen.
The sound of silver bells rang out, and the woman on the screen beckoned to him with her finger.
He shook his head, stepped inside.
A fragrant veil fell on his face, its delicate scent filling his nostrils. He removed the soft veil from his head and shoulders, and saw the woman's fair, delicate feet, like a nimble fish, disappearing into the bed curtains.
The silver bells came from the pink floral and silver bell anklet wrapped around her feet.
"Jinlang~"
He was certain he was drunk.
He arrived at the bed curtains in a daze, and just as he was about to lift the curtains, a silver bell landed on his chest with a light but firm touch.
"It's filthy, go wash it."
He grasped the fish that had slipped into the bed curtains through the veil.
He gently pinched and kneaded, his voice hoarse: "A-Qu."
Through the thin veil, her toes gently pressed against his palm: "I look beautiful tonight, and I'm only showing it to you."
With rare patience, he kissed her feet through the gauze curtain: "Okay."
Entering the shower room and being rinsed with cold water instantly cleared my head.
He wiped his face with his hand and stayed in the bathroom for a long time before finally leaving.
The moment he stepped out of the bathhouse, a fragrant veil was draped over his head, and she stood right in front of him.
A delicate pink ribbon struggles to hold up the precariously hanging hair, with two strands of black hair falling into the deep ravine, drawing the eye to explore further.
Below that was a slender, supple waist, with a delicate chain adorned with silver bells.
A silver bell encircles the navel, and a delicate pink flower adorns the small navel.
Further down lies a secret hidden beneath a light veil.
She stepped back with her long legs, hooking him forward.
She turned around, her waist-length hair cascading down to her plump, peach-like buttocks.
The light gauze hanging on her hips swayed gently as she walked.
Both innocent and alluring.
When he saw that pink dress, he knew she would become a fairy when she wore it.
really.
She turned to him and asked, "Jinlang, am I beautiful?"
He could not deny: "He was beyond compare."
She smiled charmingly, her eyes captivating and alluring.
"My beauty is meant only for Jinlang to appreciate; Jinlang must cherish it."
She pushed him onto the bed, pressed herself against him, and said in a tender yet seductive voice, "Did you hear me?"
He swallowed, trying to pull off the veil covering his face.
Through the thin veil, she kissed his lips: "Jinlang, why won't you allow me to go to the dock?"
He felt like a thirsty fish, desperately awaiting rain from heaven.
She pressed his arm above her head, mimicking his posture, kissing his face, kissing his nose, and whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
“Aqu.” His throat bobbed.
She bit his Adam's apple.
He finally couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
He flipped her over and pinned her beneath him, ripping off the veil that was in the way. His eyes were as deep as the sea, and his desire was as overwhelming as a raging torrent.
Her eyes were filled with a suggestive, watery light. Her fingers traced his cheek, down his neck, and then his chest as she whispered tenderly, "Why?"
With just two words, the raging fire she had ignited in him was suppressed and shrouded by a continuous stream of fine mist, unable to spread.
"Jinlang~"
Her fingertips were teasing.
He avoided the question and kissed her alluring lips.
"Fairy!"
She giggled and called him seductively, "Jinlang~"
The fine mist gradually turned into rain, nourishing everything silently and extinguishing the fire.
He finally said to her, "I'm sorry."
He felt guilty, ashamed, and afraid that she would leave.
He heard her say that she didn't mind him marrying the mistress because she loved him, but he knew she did mind.
She's such a jealous person.
He promised to give her love, but how can the boundaries of love be clearly defined?
When the mistress entered, it became even more difficult to distinguish them.
Even more so, he knew that her position was awkward, and even with his protection, she still couldn't catch the eye of the mistress, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
He suddenly felt a sense of disgust for the world. Disgust for the social hierarchy and the distinction between the noble and the lowly.
Those who despise the world's rule of taking a concubine as a wife shall be stripped of their titles, dismissed from their official positions, and sentenced to three years of penal servitude.
He even took his anger out on her for having such a low status, which made him feel awkward and worried.
The palms are smooth and soft.
Her small hand deftly slipped under his robes, its touch captivating his soul.
The more this happened, the more he felt that he was being torn apart from within.
For the first time ever, he let her go and fled in panic.
The door was wide open, letting in a blast of cold air. The thin strap on Li Qu's shoulder had slipped down to his arm, and the soft rabbit had escaped, still seemingly warm from his palm.
Qingguo, who was keeping watch, hurriedly closed the door, bowed, and asked, "Auntie?"
Li Qu took the quilt and wrapped herself in it: "It's a bit cold. Add some charcoal and start a fire. The bigger the fire, the better."
*
The next day, the mansion was bustling with activity as the women of the main branch of the family from the capital returned home.
The First Lady, Princess Xinrong Zhao, was of royal blood. The old lady and other female relatives opened the main gate to welcome her, as a sign of respect for the royal family.
Zhao respectfully treated the old lady as her mother and dutifully fulfilled her duties as a daughter-in-law.
But when his gaze fell on the second wife, Yao, it carried an air of superiority and dislike.
As for the concubines standing behind Yao, they were like filth that splattered her eyes, and she avoided them at all costs.
The eldest son of the family had concubines, but they were all just passing through his life.
The eldest son's family had no children born out of wedlock.
The male member who came to see him off was Zhou Yang, the youngest son of the eldest son who had not yet entered officialdom.
He immediately kowtowed to the old lady and called her "Grandmother." He was sweet-talking and handsome, which made the old lady happy, and she kept calling him "Good grandson."
The mansion was bustling with activity as they welcomed the eldest son back home. Li Qu wasn't entitled to step forward, but she had her own matters to attend to.
She finalized the arrangements for the families of those living in the hospital today.
There was a banquet at the mansion that evening, and all the masters of the mansion attended.
The three concubines from the second wife's household were also present, as they were helping to manage the household affairs.
However, they were the ones who stood while serving.
When Zhou Jin returned home late from his outing, he arrived at the banquet pavilion and overheard his second brother talking loudly, which made everyone laugh.
The moment a servant announced, "Third Master has returned," the place fell silent.
The younger generation from the capital were curious about this young and powerful uncle.
The younger generation in Hezhou were afraid of his stern and unsmiling demeanor.
As soon as he entered, Second Master Zhou Yan said to him, "If you're any later, we won't wait for you."
The tone was familiar, revealing a deep brotherly affection.
Princess Zhao raised an eyebrow upon seeing this.
In recent years, the eldest son and the third son have lived in Beijing. Due to the large age gap between them, they haven't had a deep relationship.
Furthermore, the second son abandoned his official career to go into business, which was met with strong opposition from the eldest son's family, creating a rift between them.
Therefore, the eldest son's wife and the second and third sons' wives were not close.
Although Princess Zhao was a woman of the Zhou family, her mother was a royal princess of noble status, and she considered herself half a royal, with her heart set on the royal family.
After Zhou Jin bowed to the old lady, she asked as soon as he sat down, "I heard that my third brother was unwell. Is he feeling better now?"
Zhou Jin's expression was ordinary as he picked up his cup and drank his tea: "Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law. It's alright."
"As luck would have it, on this journey south, I met Princess Baihua, who was traveling through the mountains and rivers. She knew that I had returned to Hezhou and had no destination, so she came with me to enjoy the scenery."
"Third brother has met Princess Baihua. When you have time, why don't you take Princess Baihua around?"
The old lady smiled and replied, "How can we let the princess stay outside when she comes to Hezhou?"
"May I ask where the princess is currently residing? We will present our visiting card and welcome her back to her residence tomorrow, where we will certainly do our best to be hospitable hosts."
Princess Zhao looked at Zhou Jin and smiled: "Princess, your true intention is not what you think. I'm afraid you came because my third brother personally invited you."
Zhou Jin frowned slightly: "Sister-in-law, be careful with your words, lest you tarnish the princess's reputation."
“We’re all family here, so it’s alright.” Princess Zhao looked at the old lady.
"Mother, you don't know this, but the year my third brother passed the imperial examination and was paraded through the streets, Baihua was thirteen years old. When she saw my third brother's handsome face, she declared that she would not marry anyone but him."
"Princess Keshang wanted to retire from her official post, but the Emperor, valuing talent, rejected Baihua's request."
"Unexpectedly, Baihua remained devoted to him, wasting seven years in the process. Now she is twenty years old and still refuses to marry another man."
"My third brother has rendered meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion in Shanxi. When he returned to the capital in triumph, the Emperor originally intended to strip Princess Baihua of her title and bestow her in marriage upon my third brother."
"Unexpectedly, he was rejected by his third brother, which angered the emperor. In a fit of anger, the emperor banished him to Hezhou and appointed him as some kind of military commissioner."
"As a result, Baihua left the capital to travel and has not yet returned."
"Oh?" The old lady pretended not to know the inside story.
"That's why my daughter-in-law said that Baihua's visit to Hezhou was not for the sake of the wine."
Zhou Yan casually interjected, "Now that the future third sister-in-law is about to enter the family, no matter how devoted Princess Baihua is, she can't be wronged to be a concubine."
These words struck a chord with Princess Zhao: "Second brother's words make sense."
"I heard that Ms. Tang is ill and it is not advisable to exchange betrothal letters before the end of the year. Has the betrothal letter not been exchanged yet?"
Understanding the meaning behind the voice, the old lady said, "That's right."
“In that case, the engagement between my third brother and Lady Tang is not considered formal.” Princess Zhao looked at her youngest son sitting below her.
"Yang'er is nineteen years old, and she is about the same age as the Tang family girl. They are a good match."
Zhou Jin's face revealed no emotion.
The old lady smiled faintly as she twirled her prayer beads.
The government did not want to see the Zhou family's third branch and the Tang family unite in marriage.
But they wanted to find a breakthrough by talking to Zhou Jin.
So they devised the underhanded scheme of exchanging brides.
Interspersed among them is Princess Baihua, a woman of noble birth and utterly devoted to her love.
They came prepared.
Zhou Yan sneered: "What are you saying, sister-in-law? It was originally my third brother who was going to marry Ms. Tang. How can you just change it like that!"
Princess Zhao objected: "Second brother, be careful with your words. The betrothal gifts haven't been exchanged yet, and the marriage isn't settled. If this gets out, it will ruin the reputation of the Tang family."
"Hey!" Zhou Yan was speechless.
The old lady smoothed things over, saying, "I'm getting old, and it's not good for me to eat dinner so late."
Everyone then escorted the old lady to the dining room.
At a family banquet, the old lady is naturally the most respected, with Princess Zhao in second place.
Laughter and conversation filled the air, entertainers added to the merriment, and there was even a game of passing a flower while urging someone to drink.
Zhou Jin looked at the three concubines of the second wife who were busy at work, but in the end they didn't even have the right to sit at the table. He raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.
If his beloved Aqu is like this in the future, how can he sit comfortably and enjoy his position?
At that moment, he shattered the beautiful ending he had imagined.
Even if the future mistress enters the family, and the wife is as virtuous as the second sister-in-law, what difference does it make?
His Aqu didn't even qualify to sit at the table.
On what grounds?
To the well-prepared members of the main branch of the family, this scene appeared as Zhou Jin considering a marriage exchange.
Unable to swallow, Zhou Jin did not touch the chopsticks in front of him the entire time.
They drank one glass of alcohol after another.
He raised his hand again to pour wine, but the wine pot was empty.
He casually tossed the wine jug onto the table.
“Zhou Kang was transferred to Hezhou to marry a woman from the Tang family.”
"Zhou Yang will stay and help your second brother with his wedding arrangements."
Zhou Kang was the second son of the eldest son's wife. He was twenty-two years old, held an official position, and was not yet married.
In addition, Zhou Rui, the eldest grandson of the first branch of the family, had already been transferred to the southern region.
In this way, all three male members of the eldest son's family returned, leaving only the eldest son still holding an important position in the capital.
"Second sister-in-law is six months pregnant. The marriage between the Zhou and Tang families cannot go wrong. Eldest sister-in-law, please don't go to the capital after the New Year. Stay and help second sister-in-law."
Since you're all back, let's all stay.
After Zhou Jin finished speaking, he stood up, the chair making a jarring sound as it was pulled out. This instantly silenced the younger generation who were playing the game of passing the flower, their smiles vanishing instantly, leaving them speechless and bewildered.
He looked at Princess Zhao directly opposite him: "I don't like old women. Tell Xiao Baihua to stay away from me."
"If Xiao Baihua really lacks a man, then Zhou Fengzheng needs a concubine."
"Don't even think about coming to my room again, I don't like it."
After saying that, he looked at his second brother, Zhou Yan, who was watching the show.
"Second Brother is usually so tender-hearted and gentle with women, how could you bear to see your beloved concubine standing in the room, unable to stop herself from rubbing her waist and legs, and ignoring her?"
Zhou Yan looked at the second concubine standing not far away.
Aunt Hu, who was secretly massaging her lower back, exclaimed: "!"
Aunt Zheng, who was secretly massaging her legs: "!!"
They stood straight, eyes downcast, respectful and orderly.
Zhou Yan withdrew his gaze, staring at Zhou Jin's departing figure, and asked Yao Shi beside him, "Could it be that seeing these three standing there all day made him think of the woman in his room and feel sorry for her?"
Yao smiled and offered him a glass of wine.
If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute.
Princess Zhao could no longer maintain her smile.
What's the meaning?
If you beat Zhou Jin with a meat bun, then no one who comes to Hezhou can go back, right?
First it was Imperial Censor Zheng, then Lin Xiaocong, and then her and her sons?
Arrogant!
The old lady smiled and said, "Third brother is joking. The marriage between the Tang family and the Zhou family is more suitable for the third brother and the Tang family's daughter."
Princess Zhao forced a smile, enduring Zhou Jin's arrogance and rudeness.
"Since Third Brother has made his decision, we should listen to him and bring Kang'er back to marry Tang's daughter."
How could the emperor allow Zhou Jin to touch the knife he plunged into the heart of the south?
Fortunately, the main branch of the family and the royal family have long been inseparable.
In this round of competition, both sides achieved the optimal outcome they desired.
"But what about Princess Hundred Flowers?"
The royal family still wanted to place their own people around Zhou Jin.
The old lady, with a kind and gentle face, said, "Feng'er is a good child. If it's inconvenient for you to speak up, I'll use my old face to try and match them up."
Princess Zhao hesitated, then said, "Princess Baihua is, after all, a princess."
The old lady said, "He's not young anymore. The third son is picky. His concubine is ten years younger than him, as beautiful as a flower, delicate and alluring."
Princess Zhao: "..." I should have brought a younger one.
As for Princess Baihua, who had been worn down by time, she had a rare opportunity to escape her manipulated fate and inquire about Zhou Feng.
A wealthy and handsome man made her readily agree.
An unfavored princess just needs someone to rely on for the rest of her life.
Throughout history, many princesses who went to marry foreign rulers died abroad.
She has a very positive outlook.
That so-called Master Zhou, his eyes seem to hide daggers, whoever loves him can go ahead and love him!
Anyway, she was terrified.
Now let's talk about Zhou Jin.
After turning down the marriage proposal to the Tang woman, he instantly felt refreshed.
He no longer felt ashamed to face his little Aqu, and happily trotted off to Fanghua Garden.
He thought that he should make sure she wore that pink dress today.
She mentioned it the day she went to the Wei family to see the plum blossoms, but she kept putting it off until last night.
Last night... cough, he had something important to do!
Tonight is a good night!
Wonderful.
Upon arriving at Fanghua Garden, his heart skipped a beat when he saw that the main house was dark.
He strode forward and pushed open the door: "Where is everyone?!"
No one answered.
Turning around, he raised his voice: "Are all the people in Fanghua Garden dead?!"
The voice was so loud and the tone so heavy that it startled everyone in Fanghua Garden, who were all huddled together in the kitchen for a meal, and they rushed out.
They knelt down at the kitchen door, barely daring to breathe.
Li Qu emerged from the orange-yellow light, like the moon embedded in the night, instantly illuminating his eyes.
She was still wearing a sling.
He strode forward and saw clearly the delicate white skin on her beautiful face.
The anxious, panicked, and fearful voice in his heart gradually calmed down, and he stood in front of her: "What are you doing?"
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I will be busy, so I have decided to have a small gathering with the nannies in the kitchen today."
She was clearly startled as well, and explained gently, "There was a banquet at the manor, and I didn't expect Jinlang to come at this hour, so I didn't leave anyone in the room to light the lamps."
She reached out her flour-covered hand and tugged at his robe: "Why are you so angry?"
Her behavior reminded him of some unpleasant memories.
He loved seeing her charming smile, carefree, bold and unrestrained, gentle, or like last night when she was possessed by a bewitching spirit, but never this cautious one.
He raised his hand and used the pad of his thumb to wipe the white powder off her face: "I'm sorry."
It's like talking about the past, and it's also like talking about the present.
"Did I scare you?"
Seeing that his tone had softened and there was no hostility about him, Li Qu's heart gradually settled down.
She hadn't heard him speak so sharply in a long time.
In an instant, I dreamt of Mid-Autumn Festival.
She almost thought he had caught her doing something wrong.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling like crescent moons, charming and lovely: "It's alright, whatever bad things you do, Jinlang, I will forgive you."
That's exactly how she should be.
He felt better.
Amid her gasp, he hoisted her onto his shoulder and ordered, "Light the lamps and prepare water."
Tonight is a good night to subdue demons.
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