Chapter 83 Presenting Treasures
Li Qu got her wish and changed boats, but ended up on Xiao Cong's private boat.
Her disguise had been washed away completely, and her dress was a light blue-green color that Xiao Cong thought suited her.
Her long hair was draped behind her head, the ends slightly damp with water stains on the back of her dress.
Temperatures are rising and the river breeze is getting warmer.
Li Qu was led to the door of the room.
As soon as the door was opened, a blast of cool air hit us, and the temperature difference between inside and outside was obvious.
"Go in!"
Xiao Zuo pushed her into the room.
With a bang, the door slammed shut again.
Inside the room, Xiao Cong, dressed in moon-colored casual robes, his dark hair tied back with a jade hairpin, was sitting on the couch twirling bougainvillea flowers.
Li Qu stepped forward, picked up the fallen petals from the ground, placed them on the couch, and sat down opposite him.
He lowered his head to study the object in his hands, completely absorbed.
She pondered for a moment, then spoke calmly, "With the success of the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, the Prince of Yan's control over the Yan region has been further strengthened, Your Highness."
He responded in a clear and pleasant voice: "It can't compare to Zhuzhou's swift and decisive move, which broke His Majesty's arm and slapped my Xiao royal family in the face."
"The matter in Zhuzhou has nothing to do with Aqu."
"You are his wife, husband and wife are one."
"It's just a stopgap measure."
Without looking up, he said, "Just like you treat me, the young master?"
"Prince Aqupan's goal is to attract businesses to Xianbaozhai, which will benefit the prince."
"The battle at the beginning of the year was fought brilliantly, and it was all thanks to you."
"The Crown Prince has helped Aqu a great deal, and Aqu has also helped the Crown Prince. It's a win-win situation for us."
He paused in rubbing his hands together, then looked up.
In her relationship with him, he was always the one in control.
This time, her gaze did not waver.
He put down the materials in his hand, and the atmosphere in the room became subtly tense because of his action.
"You want me to settle this once and for all?"
"Is the Crown Prince willing?"
"Unwilling."
"It's pointless for the Crown Prince to continue this entanglement."
"So... my dear, you really never had feelings for me?"
He added, "This prince wants to hear the truth."
Her lips moved for a long time before she raised her hand and brushed his hand away, finally choosing to tell the truth.
"Half a day, does that count?"
This answer was unexpected.
He thought she would say never.
"Which day?"
She turned her head away, her gaze lowered, and she thought of that snowy afternoon.
“That day, Aqu thought the young master was really handsome. Even the red plum blossoms in your courtyard couldn’t compare to the beauty of his lips.”
He knew which day it was.
"Why only half a day?"
With her eyelashes drooping, she slowly recounted, "Because of the splendor of the Prince of Yan's mansion, and the sight of chickens and dogs running rampant in my own yard when I returned home that day, it was like heaven and earth."
"The price for a mortal to become an immortal is the sacrifice of dignity."
“And in this world, there is no man worth Aqu abandoning her dignity, and Your Highness is no exception.”
"Your Highness can understand this as Aqu loving herself more."
Xiao Cong's gaze followed her profile and landed on her earlobe, which was free of earrings.
"If you love yourself so much, why are you trying to get close to me?"
Li Qu frowned, turned around, and was caught off guard to find that Xiao Cong's gaze had fallen on her lower abdomen at some point.
She instinctively protected her stomach: "A-Qu admits that she practiced calligraphy diligently back then because she wanted to make a good impression on Prince Bo."
“But Aqu’s approach to the Crown Prince was not a meaningless act of flattery.”
“A-Qu wants to partner with the Crown Prince to make money.”
“You have power, Aqu has ideas, and Young Master Wu is willing to provide the funds.”
"Facts have proven that Xianbaozhai's business model is very successful."
"It blooms everywhere in the Yan region."
"...Aqu has not disappointed the expectations of the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince."
Xiao Cong looked at her serious face and suddenly smiled.
He has a beautiful smile, giving people the feeling of an immortal descending to earth.
Do you still remember the day you first met me, Your Highness?
Looking back, Li Qu felt somewhat dazed.
Of course she remembers.
"At that time, the first Xianbaozhai in Yicheng was coveted by the eldest son of the Wu family."
"The Sixth Young Master desperately wants someone with power and influence to step in and protect this mess."
"Therefore, I sent invitations to the Crown Prince no less than ten times."
But there was no response.
She was eight years old that year.
Xianbaozhai was the first golden egg that she and Wu Xubai painstakingly created.
It was about to be plundered by the eldest son of the Wu family.
How could she possibly accept this?
"That day it rained heavily. I heard that the young master was going to Qibaozhai to meet guests, so Aqu chased after the young master's carriage and went there."
"As a result, naturally, we did not see the Crown Prince."
She gave a self-deprecating laugh: "So I held up the Xianbaozhai business plan, knelt in the conspicuous rain, and shouted it over and over again..."
"Li San, the pageboy of the sixth young master of the Wu family, pays his respects to the heir!"
She was ridiculed and driven away, but she just wouldn't leave.
She wasn't allowed to kneel on the east side, so she knelt on the west side.
She knew the opportunity was fleeting, but once she seized it, she could not only protect Xianbaozhai, but also have a protective charm in Yicheng, Yandi.
Her persistence gradually silenced those around her who had laughed at her.
She looked at Xiao Cong and smiled, "Your Highness has finally met me."
Xiao Cong's smile deepened.
The same thing, but in his eyes, is a completely different story.
“That day, you knelt in the rain, holding up some kind of plan wrapped in oil paper, begging me to take a look at the treasure in your hand.”
"Little did you know that your master, Wu Liu, was in the private room upstairs, pointing at you and saying to me..."
'I told you she was different from others, didn't I? Your Highness is kind-hearted, why not keep her as a pet?'
Li Qu's pupils suddenly contracted, and she looked at Xiao Cong in disbelief.
He continued, "You were led into the private room looking like a pitiful drowned rat."
"Kneel down and kowtow to me, the young master."
You carefully unwrapped the oil paper package in your arms.
"You have presented me with a long and beautifully written treatise."
“You are as lowly as an ant, but when you talk about your long treatises, you seem to forget the rules, talking non-stop with bright eyes.”
"That day, you were both disheveled and radiant."
"You've offered up your self-righteous treasure."
Little did he know that you were the treasure his master had presented to this young master.
He suddenly leaned forward, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe, his large hand, along with her half-dry hair, gripping the back of her neck, forcing her to lean forward to meet him.
Face to face, their breaths mingling, he said, "Why should I, the young master, blame you for not giving you dignity?"
“You were the one who abandoned your dignity and appeared before me first.”
"wrong!"
At that moment, she met his gaze firmly.
"I have never abandoned my dignity! Never!"
She corrected, "It is you who have disregarded my dignity!"
"It's your fault!"
She condemned them, but it wasn't just condemnation.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she was about to cry, because of the sudden betrayal she had learned, and because of the contempt she had been given by those in power.
The moment the tears fell, he let go of her and took out a handkerchief to wipe them away.
She avoided his touch again.
He placed the handkerchief within easy reach of her.
"Sweetie, let bygones be bygones."
"Get rid of the bastard in her womb."
"Come back to Yan with me, Your Highness."
"Since Lin is under house arrest, she will not hurt you again."
"I will not allow anyone to harm you again."
"Forget about what happened in the South, okay?"
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears and looked at him: "The turmoil in Zhuzhou has not been long. Your Highness is traveling from south to north. Your purpose in this trip is not Aqu."
"Now that we've been open and honest, we've finally explained why we've reached this point."
"If our views differ, why be so persistent?"
"The South is ultimately not the land of Yan."
"What good is there in seeking trouble and reaping benefits?"
"How about we make a deal?"
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