Chapter 84 Fool
Beautiful women are pleasing to the eye.
A beautiful and intelligent woman will make a man want to conquer her.
Seeing her cry from anger one second and then wipe away her tears and cheer up the next, Xiao Cong said, "My dear, you should be a man's darling."
He made flippant remarks, yet gave the illusion of praise.
Li Qu remained calm, took out a piece of paper from his bosom, unfolded it, and presented it with both hands: "A gentleman's agreement."
Xiao Cong remained unmoved: "You are currently in my hands. What gentleman's agreement do I have to discuss with you?"
She smiled at him.
He laughed as if he had just mocked her.
"If Xiao Zuo doesn't show himself, fine. But if Xiao Zuo does show himself, how will A Qu dare to use the fake residence and household registration given to her by the Crown Prince?"
Xiao Cong was astonished by her boldness.
Aren't you afraid of being discovered?
“Aqu is even more afraid of falling into the hands of the Crown Prince.”
Xiao Cong's displeasure wasn't visible on his face; he remained gentle: "He's better?"
She did not answer the question: "Young Master Wu was summoned to the capital before the New Year, and Your Highness intends to go to the capital."
“If Your Highness is willing to establish a gentleman’s agreement, Aqu is willing to assist Young Master Wu in his actions.”
If you say this to Zhou Jin, he definitely won't take it seriously.
However, the golden egg at Xianbaozhai was devised by Li Qu, and Wu Xubai was driven to desperation by his elder brother, so he created it in a desperate last stand.
Li Qu also made significant contributions to the population survey in Yan.
Li Qu was indispensable in Zhao Lianqing's role as a pimp between the royal family and Tongbao Money Shop, facilitating Tongbao Money Shop's smooth entry into the capital.
Xiao Cong took it seriously.
"You trust him that much?" Xiao Cong studied her subtle expression. "In a year, you trust him more than I, the Crown Prince?"
Li Qu's gaze fell on the neatly arranged pith flower petals on the low table.
“Respect for others is a good virtue, but Your Highness has not yet achieved it.”
Xiao Cong did not think this assessment was correct.
He picked up the paper, lowered his eyes to read its contents: "Did you know you would encounter this young master?"
“Aqu’s falsified household registration and residence records could easily implicate others.”
"I had no choice but to accept the false household registration and residence provided by His Highness."
"I have prepared for the worst-case scenario."
"With the Crown Prince's extraordinary abilities, if he wanted to see Aqu, she would have no way to avoid him as she was all alone."
"So, this is your solution?"
Xiao Cong waved the paper in his hand: "Even if I agree to your terms now, what will you do if I break the contract later?"
“If this face is in the way, Aqu is not incapable of destroying it.”
She looked at him calmly, her eyes serious: "Aqu's initial intention in seeking wealth was to live freely, and she was willing to give up everything for it."
Why didn't you help him?
"If he had been willing to listen to Aqu back then, the Crown Prince would not have had anything to do with it."
Li Qu had a clear train of thought.
"The capital is Xiao's territory. If the Zhou family wants to take over, they can only do so by instigating a war."
"Today, the world is relatively peaceful. The Zhou family's large-scale uprising is not in line with the will of the people."
"If the world is destined to be divided between Zhou and Xiao, Aqu is willing to negotiate with Your Highness for the past to vanish like smoke, and for a free future."
He put down the paper in his hand, looked at her, and after a long while came to a conclusion: "You believe him, yet you hate him."
How can there be such a contradiction?
“He looks much more pitiful than I, the Crown Prince.”
“Your Highness sits firmly on your high platform, when has he ever bowed down for love?” Li Qu looked at him.
Xiao Cong is not love-struck.
He is always high and mighty.
His gaze towards women was gentle yet treacherous.
It has always been the woman who willingly kneels on the ground, begging for his mercy.
His only defeat was probably her.
"So, you never loved him?"
Li Qu chuckled: "Would Your Highness love someone you've gone to great lengths to get rid of?"
Xiao Cong smiled; clearly, the answer pleased him.
He got off the bed, his long robe trailing on the ground, his bare feet walking through the robe.
"His Majesty is unwell and won't last long. The capital will be in chaos, and everyone will be focused on that position, so no one will notice you."
"I will have Wu Liu meet you."
He took a tray of paints and placed it in front of Li Qu: "Pick one."
Li Qu casually picked a blue pigment.
He took out all the tools and began to color the rolled petals.
"Zhao Lianqing's secret mission has already yielded initial results."
Li Qu's eyelashes slid down, concealing the fleeting shock in her eyes.
Since it was a secret trip, how did Xiao Cong find out?
There are people from the Prince of Yan in the central government!
"The struggle for the crown prince position in the capital will not end until Zhao Lianqing gets things done."
"It's easier to catch fish in murky water."
Despite speaking of bloodthirsty chaos, he remained as serene as a chrysanthemum, his spotless moon-colored robe making him appear like an immortal detached from worldly affairs.
"In recent years, the government has been strictly guarding against the Yan region."
"This resulted in the Yan region having very weak control and understanding of the Jing region."
"This young master intends for Xianbaozhai and Tongbao Qianzhuang to flourish in the capital."
"We need to know the connections and conflicts of interest among the major families in the capital after the succession dispute is resolved."
Xiao Cong was very skillful; he could dye each petal a beautiful color in his hands.
"Thanks to you, I've been discovered."
You should have had two more days to write a proper business plan.
"Now, you probably only have four hours left."
"If this young master is satisfied, this gentleman's agreement may be stamped with the official seal of my Prince Yan's mansion."
Li Qu got off at the hotel and bowed to Xiao Cong, saying, "I will not disturb Your Highness's work any longer. I will take my leave."
Xiao Cong didn't even look up: "Mm."
Stepping out of Xiao Cong's room, a warm breeze blew in, making Li Qu feel more comfortable.
Zhou Jin lacked love, while Xiao Cong valued profit.
We need to treat the symptoms.
Xiao Zuo escorted Li Qu to her room and then left rudely.
Li Qu didn't care and pushed open the door to go inside.
After she sat down, a maid brought her writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. She sat on the couch in the room, quickly analyzing the current situation in her mind.
She seemed to be in a meditative state, and it wasn't until half an hour later that she began to pick up her pen.
On the mutually beneficial operation model of Xianbaozhai franchise and money shop loan support
An hour later, Li Qu's article was presented to Xiao Cong.
The pith flower in Xiao Cong's hand had been dyed.
A speck of color clung to his fingertips, making the snow-white paper he held stand out even more.
That's all?
The overall benefits and general direction of development.
"This is quite different from the Xianbaozhai business plan you wrote before."
He put it down and looked up at her.
Li Qu smiled and said, "Times have changed. I will present the specific measures when you arrive in the capital."
He gazed at her for a long time, then slowly smiled: "You have somewhat moved this young master."
"Your Highness has connections in the capital, so there's no need to worry about Aqu being inactive."
"I suddenly find Aqu's gentleman's invitation pointless."
Xiao Cong looked at her tenderly: "How about we make a bet?"
Li Qu asked, "What are we betting on?"
"I'll bet your entire future on you."
"If you help me succeed, all past mistakes will be forgiven."
"Go live the life you want to live."
"If you fail, come back to my side and be my obedient child again."
Li Qu agreed, "Okay."
"There's a betting agreement on the table, go sign it."
"Your Highness didn't just suddenly remember that?"
"It's just a little bit earlier than suddenly."
Li Qu paused for a moment.
Xiao Cong smiled gently and gestured for her to sign the document.
Li Qu got off the bed and walked over.
Xiao Cong followed with his eyes.
Reaching the table, Li Qu lowered her head and carefully read the betting agreement.
As Xiao Cong said, two copies were made and stamped with the official seal.
Li Qu signed and sealed the document swiftly.
Xiao Cong withdrew his gaze.
"It will take another three hours to reach the nearest rendezvous point. Let's go and rest for a while."
He lowered his head, focused on his craft, and dismissed the customer.
Li Qu took a betting agreement, bowed, and took his leave.
For the next three hours, she ate and slept, making the most of her time to rest and conserve her strength.
Three hours later, it got dark.
Xiao Zuo told her she could leave, so she picked up her bundle and opened the door.
On the functional deck, Xiao Cong changed into a formal robe, one hand behind his back, his jade crown tied high, his back view was handsome.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned slightly to the side.
The small boat was launched, and the rope ladder was prepared.
Li Qu, carrying a bundle on her back, stopped in front of him and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for personally seeing me off."
He looked down at her eyes and brows: "Without your weakness in my hands, you seem quite at ease."
"See you in the capital." She said calmly and politely, bowing respectfully before taking a step to leave.
He suddenly reached out, grabbed her wrist, slipped it behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.
The next moment, another hand grabbed her other wrist and slipped it behind her back.
He grabbed her wrists, which were behind her back, with one hand and held the back of her head with the other.
He tore off his mask of pride and self-restraint and kissed her fiercely.
Even if a lost treasure changes hands, once it returns to one's own possession, one cannot resist playing with it carelessly.
Human nature.
She struggled and backed away.
He approached her step by step and pinned her against the gunwale of the ship.
Xiao Zuo silently looked away.
The master has lost his manners.
She bit him, the metallic taste of blood spreading between her lips and teeth.
He seemed oblivious to pain, and kissed her even deeper.
She gradually gave up struggling and let him do as he pleased.
He had had enough and finally let go of her.
His lips were stained crimson with blood, and his eyes were filled with a hint of desire. He kissed her lips again, not stopping until the corners of her lips were stained with the blood from his lips.
“Good heavens, if you dare to give birth to this child.”
"In the future... you must give birth to two children for this prince before we can be even."
Li Qu refused to communicate with mentally ill people.
He lifted her collar and found that the bite wound on her shoulder hadn't left a scar at all, then lowered his head and kissed it.
Let go of her.
With a snap.
She slapped him hard.
He turned his head away, and a red mark gradually appeared on his jade-like face.
He reached out to straighten her clothes, but she dodged away and straightened them herself.
"Your writing is so good, I couldn't resist. I'm sorry."
He reverted to his usual self-possessed and aloof demeanor.
Even his apology sounded very serious.
Li Qu ignored it.
He raised his hand and tucked the pith flower he had made that day into her hair bun.
"Apologize to my sweetie."
Li Qu didn't want to provoke him, so she let him tuck the flower into his hair.
He complimented, "It looks beautiful on Guai Guai."
After he withdrew his hand, she said, "If you don't leave now, Aqu won't be able to leave."
He patted the back of her head: "Go ahead."
She left without hesitation, and only after the small boat disappeared into the night did he raise his hand to wipe the wound on the corner of his lip.
Looking forward to meeting you.
*
The moonlight shone on the crystal-clear river surface, making it sparkle.
Li Qu jumped ship and escaped.
The three skilled swimmers on the boat immediately went into the water to search.
Unfortunately, it was dark, and the situation in the water was not clear.
By the time they found their target, the cunning woman had already rowed her boat some distance away from them.
She took off the pith flower from her hair and threw it hard into the water.
He crumpled up the betting agreement he was holding and threw it out.
"There's a disease called mental illness, and your master is seriously ill!"
"Tell him to get treatment as soon as he's sick!"
After she finished cursing, she rowed the boat with all her might.
The delicious food we ate at Xiao Cong's place today was transformed into energy to propel the boat.
The three men said that someone would meet them at the pier on the south side of the riverbank.
She rowed towards the north bank of the river.
*
Xiao Cong had not expected his guest to arrive so quickly.
Before he could return to his cabin, the large ship was forced to stop by a warship.
A gangway was placed between the two boats.
Huaiqiu led his men across the springboard first and greeted Xiao Cong.
The guards stood around Xiao Cong, protecting him.
Zhou Jin walked over from the springboard.
Rivals meet.
Seeing the wound on Xiao Cong's lip and the handprint on his face, Zhou Jin threw a punch at him.
Xiao Cong raised his hand and caught the punch; they were evenly matched.
Zhou Jin took two steps back, and Xiao Cong took two and a half steps back.
Zhou Jin put his numb fist behind his back: "Search!"
"The person is gone." Xiao Cong said calmly, his arm hanging limply at his sides.
"I'm willing to use the official documents from my third aunt's registered residence to discuss a deal with you, Uncle. I wonder if you'd be interested?"
Zhou Jin's men quickly launched a search operation.
Xiao Cong continued, "The Zhou family is the wealthiest in the world, and in addition to their inland business, they also thrive in maritime trade."
"If Uncle is willing to give up a shipping lane..."
"The river channel, north of the river, will grant you ten years of unimpeded travel."
Zhou Jin stood there, his robes shimmering with gold and silver threads under the torchlight.
His fruitless search over the past few days added a touch of melancholy to his expression.
Compared to the pitiful Zhou Jin, Xiao Cong had a gentle expression and was in a good mood.
He ordered someone to bring the official documents that had been prepared in advance.
"Add a duty-free shipping route to the south, in five years."
"I will grant you ten years, and I also ask that Your Highness allow the Silk Road to the west to open up for ten years."
As the search team returned and shook their heads to report, Zhou Jin felt even more tormented.
When Huaiqiu returned last, he shook his head: "I didn't see Madam anywhere."
Zhou Jin looked even more depressed and took a step to leave.
Xiao Cong said, "Deal."
The negotiations, which had lasted for half a month in Hezhou and had broken down because Xiao Cong refused to hand over the documents, were now resolved in just a few words.
Zhou Jin kept walking.
The think tanks of both sides will then discuss the specifics of this matter.
Just as Zhou Jin was about to step onto the diving board to leave, the cries for help from three people in the water made him stop in his tracks.
"Help! Help! We are the people escorting the Third Sister!"
Due to the exhaustion from traveling a long distance without a foothold for an extended period, all three were physically drained.
After rescuing the person and bringing them onto the deck, Xiao Cong did not hide anything from Zhou Jin and had someone speak.
The three then recounted in public Li Qu's words that Xiao Cong had called a lunatic.
One of them offered the pith flower.
The other person held the waterlogged, unfoldable gambling agreement in their hands: "The water has soaked through the paper; it can't be preserved."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jin stepped onto the springboard.
It's still possible to catch up now.
His men retreated completely like the tide.
Take the gangplank, and the warships will go first.
Xiao Cong, who was on the deck, walked up to the three people kneeling on the ground and picked up the water-soaked pith flower: "Go and receive your punishment."
"Yes." The three of them carefully withdrew.
Xiao Cong held up the pith flower in his hand and plucked a strand of hair from it.
He wrapped his hair around his little finger and turned to go back into the cabin.
"I've been scammed again."
*
Li Qu alone rowed the boat, which was naturally faster than the warship with a hundred oarsmen rowing.
Under the moonlight, on the inconspicuous pier on the north bank, a woman's clothes clung to her body due to being soaked, and the obvious bulge in her abdomen instantly caught Zhou Jin's eye.
Zhou Jin hid in the shadows on the deck so that his vision could adjust to the darkness and he could see more clearly.
Originally, he was searching with his hands behind his back, his expression natural.
The moment he spotted the target, he instinctively leaned forward, gripped the gunwale tightly with both hands, and stared intently at the figure.
"Found it."
*
After observing the area, Li Qu found a pier where no boats were moored and went ashore.
The pier is about one meter wide, and the length from the shore to the part extending into the water is about three meters.
It's not conspicuous.
The moment Zhou Jin's gaze locked onto her, she seemed to sense something, looked up, and saw a large ship moving forward at full speed.
The ship was bustling with people, but she didn't notice the figure hidden in the shadow of the large ship.
I felt inexplicably uneasy.
My brain is still working.
Expecting those in positions of power to reason with you is like expecting a sow to climb a tree—a pipe dream.
If she settles in the capital, and Xiao Cong succeeds one day, he can forcibly abduct her, and she will have nowhere to seek justice.
What disfigurement?
Being beautiful is not wrong; being wicked is.
Why would she hurt herself because of someone else's mistake?
As for that bullshit agreement...
"Only a fool would take it seriously."
She wrung out the water from her hair, tugged at her close-fitting dress, watched as the boat she had punctured gradually filled with water, picked up her bundle, and turned to leave.
Make use of everyone you can.
Xiao Cong was also on her list of people she was using.
This journey will take about a day to reach Kyoto Momo.
Although the capital city is not suitable for settling down, it's still acceptable for her to secretly go there for a short rest.
She hoped that Xiao Cong would take the bait she offered and help slow down Zhou Jin's progress.
*
She had a beautiful plan, but little did she know that ever since she ran away, Zhou Jin's heart had been filled with a dense, unbearable pain, as if it were being devoured by ants.
This feeling tormented him so much that he couldn't sleep at night and was going crazy.
He had no interest in sitting down with Xiao Cong to talk about things.
All he wanted was to find her.
*
The six hours of rest during the day are now proving useful.
Li Qu was full of energy. Under the moonlight, he walked quickly along the ridges of the wheat fields by the river, where the wheat was ripening but not yet ready for harvest.
For some reason, I felt increasingly panicked.
Suddenly my foot slipped, and I almost fell.
She stopped in her tracks.
The panic I felt was all because of the ship I had just seen.
Go back and take another look. Once you see that the ship has sailed away, you'll probably be able to cure this sudden ailment.
She turned around and walked towards the pier again.
They walked quickly, eager to get started.
She stepped onto the pier, and her steps gradually came to a stop.
The inexplicable panic was now explained.
The bundle in my hands slipped from my grasp without my noticing.
She stared blankly ahead.
The man lifted the hem of his coat and stepped from the small boat onto the pier.
The dark brocade robe was even darker than the night.
With a pale, cool complexion and a droopy eyelid when looking at people, she can give off a heavy, oppressive feeling.
He loosened his coat and looked up.
In an instant, Li Qu felt as if she had lost all five senses and could only hear the pounding of her heart.
She staggered backward without realizing it.
He didn't move.
The darkness of night could not conceal the turbulent emotions swirling in his eyes.
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