Chapter 92 Found
A person who is riding high on success stands on the steps, looking down with an air of composure.
Qi Nian, standing at the bottom of the steps, felt his chest heaving.
Ming Jikang, the military advisor of the Jingzhao Prefecture, couldn't help but raise his hand to support him, afraid that he might suddenly faint.
"Young Master Qi, are you alright?"
Qi Nian brushed his hand away: "I'll trouble you, Lord Ming."
"How could a thief have broken into Senior Brother Lin's courtyard? I must have been mistaken before."
"It is my fault that you made a wasted trip."
"Please forgive me, Lord Ming."
Those who navigate the officialdom are all shrewd and astute; Ming Jikang clearly understood this.
He cupped his hands to Lin Xiaocong and said, "I came to investigate after receiving a report from Young Master Qi that a thief had broken in and caused a disturbance..."
It's all just polite talk.
After exchanging a few words, Ming Jikang wisely led his men away first.
Only Qi Nian and Lin Xiaocong remained at the scene.
Qi Nian couldn't help but point at Lin Xiaocong and spit out insults: "Frivolous and immoral, shameless and despicable, behaving like a dog!"
"Senior brother, all your knowledge of the classics is wasted!"
"How could you do such a despicable thing!"
If it weren't for Li Rong's reputation, he would definitely have reported this matter to the emperor!
Lin Xiaocong smiled at him and said, "Junior Brother Qingbai, you haven't gone home yet?"
"What's the meaning?"
Just then, Qiu Chan came to invite Lin Xiaocong to dinner: "Young master, dinner is ready."
Lin Xiaocong raised his hand to tie his belt, not replying to Qi Nian's words: "It's rare for Senior Brother to use coercion and enticement. As for what you said before, I suggest Junior Brother think it over carefully."
The sharp-eyed cicada noticed the red marks on its master's body and exclaimed in surprise.
"Young master, were you bitten by a mosquito?"
Lin Xiaocong smiled and explained, "It wasn't a mosquito bite, it was a human bite."
"Ah! Who bit the young master? How dare they!"
"Anyway, it's not you, get lost."
"Oh." The cicada slipped away.
Lin Xiaocong's laughter was so hearty that it made Qi Nian's face look even more sour and unpleasant.
Lin Xiaocong fastened his clothes and turned to call into the house, "Rongrong, would you like to eat here?"
Li Rong refused.
He reminded him, "Remember to take your medicine."
Then he walked towards the dining room.
Seeing that he was no longer blocking the door, Li Rong took the veil that Qiu Hui had given her, put it on, and quickly ran out of the room. She went to Qi Nian's side and urged, "Hurry up, hurry up!"
Qi Nian couldn't see the expression on Li Rong's face, but her tone was too lighthearted.
He was in an even worse mood.
She didn't even cry, nor did she say anything about her innocence.
That's a normal woman's reaction after being humiliated!
Or is it that her senior brother is just too good, and she's too comfortable, so she's only focused on enjoying herself?
After leaving Chuntang Garden, Qi Nian remained silent the entire way.
Li Rong tried to break the ice by asking, "Do you have any connection with this Lord Ming?"
Qi Nian remained silent for a while, just as Li Rong was about to change the subject.
Qi Nian said, "His family member is sick, so he likes to come to me. We have some connection."
Li Rong quickly chimed in, "No wonder, he seemed very polite to you."
Qi Nian fell silent again.
Li Rong explained, "Nothing has happened between me and Mr. Lin during this period."
Qi Nian didn't believe it and remained silent.
Li Rong: "Um, is there anything you want to ask?"
Qi Nian: "No."
Li Rong didn't bring up her illness; she didn't want Qi Nian to know.
We walked all the way to Qingqiao Alley, to the entrance of the Li residence.
Li Rong felt that there were some things she should say herself.
"Well, our engagement will have to wait until next year, you know that, right?"
Qi Nian suddenly looked at Li Rong: "I don't know."
After leaving the National Medical Bureau, he went all the way to Chuntang Garden. He saw her being carried into Chuntang Garden by her senior brother, and then he turned around and went to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Li Rong felt a little guilty: "This is what I wanted to tell you today."
"Don't misunderstand, it's just that the birth chart was splashed with sugar water, which is not a good omen."
"My mother has postponed our engagement until next year."
Qi Nian raised his hand and lifted the veil hanging on Li Rongmi's fence.
The sky was overcast.
Her skin was very fair, her eyes were bright, and even in dim light, her beautiful appearance was clearly visible.
He looked at her and asked seriously, "Is it really just a simple bad omen?"
Li Rong's heart skipped a beat when she was asked the question, thinking that Qi Nian knew she had other thoughts.
"Has it nothing to do with my senior brother?"
"Of course!" Li Rong said without hesitation, her voice rising two decibels. "How could it possibly have anything to do with him!"
"There's been a misunderstanding between us, and I actually wish I could get as far away from him as possible!"
"He insisted on coming up to me!"
"I can't do anything about him!"
"I carried a dagger with me to defend myself, but he grabbed my wrist so suddenly that I dropped the dagger!"
As she spoke, she made a gesture.
Open and honest.
Qi Nian hesitated before asking his question, ultimately uttering not a single word.
They are not engaged yet, what right does he have?
After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a question: "Do you have any medicine at home?"
He didn't want her to get pregnant with his senior brother's child.
"What medicine?"
Qi Nian's tone was sour: "It's the medicine my senior brother made you drink."
Li Rong remembered the medicine placed on the woodpile: "There should still be some left."
"You even keep medicine on hand at all times!"
"I didn't prepare it; Qiu Hui brought it..."
"Enough!" Even with Qi Nian's mild temper, he finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Excuse me, I was rude."
"It's getting late, you can go inside now, I'm going home first."
After saying that, he turned and left without waiting for Li Rong to speak.
Li Rong thought Qi Nian was angry because she had accepted Lin Xiaocong's things.
He quickly chased after her, saying, "I was planning to burn that medicine!"
"I don't want him..."
"Li Rong!" Qi Nian's voice was sterner than Li Rong had ever heard before.
"Don't you have any shame?!"
He finally spoke up in rebuke.
After saying that, he felt he had no right to speak, so he bowed to Li Rong and said, "Farewell."
Li Rong stood there, watching his figure disappear into the alleyway.
Shrugging: "Would a girl with any sense of shame take the initiative to show you concern, rush to bring you food and an umbrella, and fawn over you?"
"What is shame and honor worthless?"
Is life important?
Although I said I didn't care, I felt very uncomfortable inside.
He turned around, went back to his front door, and pushed it open.
Li's mother stood in the courtyard with her arms crossed.
Li Rong was startled: "Mom, it's really scary that you're not wearing a veil at night."
Li's mother sneered: "I told you not to fawn over others and to stay at home. I'll find you a husband myself, but you wouldn't listen."
"Now look what happened, people are calling me shameless."
"Aren't you ashamed!"
Li Rong entered the room, closed the door, and dragged her feet towards the bedroom.
"Go take a bath first, Han'er. I've already prepared the water for you."
Li Rong turned toward the bathroom.
After washing up and entering the room, Li's mother was indeed still there.
"So many years have passed, why can't you let it go!"
"Didn't the third brother avenge you?"
Li Rong lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling: "Young Master Lin said he could cure my illness."
"Why don't we let him give it a try?"
Li's mother nodded repeatedly: "Isn't he some kind of miracle worker?"
“Back when we were in Hezhou Prison, I wanted him to show you this.”
"You just feel ashamed and don't want to!"
"It took quite a bit of time."
Li Rong: "After I recovered, I stayed at home obediently and didn't care what kind of husband you found for me."
Li's mother asked, "Is the consultation fee expensive?"
Li Rong closed her eyes: "I don't know. I'll ask when I go for acupuncture the day after tomorrow."
"If it's too expensive, I won't get treatment."
I need to go and coax Young Master Qi again tomorrow.
The illness hasn't been cured, but we can't abandon Young Master Qi.
She turned to the side, curled up into a ball, and hugged her arm.
A cool breeze blew against her skin; it was Li's mother fanning her.
She asked, "Mother, can I never get married?"
After being slapped on the backside, Li's mother scolded her, "What nonsense are you talking about? What woman doesn't get married?"
Li Rong remained silent.
Li's mother continued to fan her, and from an angle where Li Rong couldn't see, her eyes were full of heartache and guilt.
If she had protected her daughter better back then, would her daughter have avoided that tragedy?
She is always so incompetent.
Li Rong fell asleep quickly and slept soundly through the night.
Qi Nian didn't sleep a wink all night.
When he returned home, his mother, Qi, came up to him crying and slapped him.
'How dare you lay a hand on Young Master Lin's mistress!'
"Living in the capital is no easy feat. It was thanks to Young Master Lin's help that our family's pharmacy was able to be successfully established!"
"Even the medicine merchants your father currently works for only treat our family well because of your good relationship with Young Master Lin."
'Not to mention, Young Master Lin has taken excellent care of you at the National Medical Institute.'
'Even though she's a mistress, she's still Young Master Lin's woman!'
How could you do such an ungrateful thing!
'You've offended Young Master Lin! Are you crazy?!'
Qi Nian wanted to say that it was all a misunderstanding; she was a woman of good birth, and it was her senior brother who wished to take care of her.
But the thought that she had already been intimate with her senior brother caused the initial warmth in her heart to dissipate instantly.
He remained silent.
'Go apologize to your senior brother Lin tomorrow!'
'I will find you another wife!'
*
The next day, the sky was clear, and the sun was exceptionally scorching.
After finishing her work at the shop early in the morning, Li Rong bought some pastries and went to Qi Family Pharmacy.
Qi's mother received her with the usual gentle manner.
Li Rong felt much lighter and greeted her with a smile, "Auntie."
"Better late than early, come in quickly."
Li Rong entered the door happily.
In the courtyard of Qi Family Pharmacy, he met the eyes of a pretty girl standing under the eaves.
Qi's mother smiled and explained to Li Rong, "This is Hongxiu, she lives over at the old house."
“I specially hired her to be Qingbai’s concubine.”
"Today is an auspicious day; it's suitable for consummating the marriage tonight."
Li Rong's smile froze on her face, and the pastries she was carrying fell to the ground.
*
Li Qu, worried that Li Rong might be imprisoned, could no longer contain her anxiety. Before dawn, avoiding the neighbors' sight, she left Zheng's house and went to the steamed bun shop.
She did not appear in person, but followed Li Rong from a distance.
They followed them all the way to Qi Family Pharmacy.
As the sun rose higher, the veil she wore covered her from head to ankle, making it feel somewhat stuffy.
Seeing Li Rong enter the Qi Family Pharmacy, he went to the Qing Tang Tea House across the street to rest.
Unexpectedly, just as Li Rong turned to enter the Qing Tang Tea House, she happened to be leaving the Qi Family Pharmacy.
She lost track of Li Rong.
He inadvertently exposed himself to Huai Xia, who had just arrived at Li Rong's side and was lying in wait.
At a glance, the perceptive Huai Xia recognized Li Qu.
*
Found it!
*
The midday sun was so scorching that even the air seemed distorted.
Li Rong stood in the shade by the gate of the National Medical Institute, carrying a food box.
Qi Nian arrived late.
"Young Master Qi."
Her voice remained light and cheerful.
He stepped forward and took the food box from her hand: "It's so hot today, what brings you here?"
There are some things I want to tell you.
He led her into the corridor of the National Medical Center, where the two of them often had lunch together.
In summer, the corridor is covered with climbing vines.
The corridor is shady and has stone tables and benches.
The two entered, and Qi Nian placed the food box on the stone table and sat down by himself.
Previously, Qi Nianhui would place the handkerchief on the stone bench and invite Li Rong to sit down first.
Seeing this, Li Rong spread a handkerchief on the stone bench, sat down, and removed her veil.
Previously, meals were prepared by Qi Nian.
Li Rong put the veil aside and, seeing that Qi Nian was waiting motionless, quickly got up and set the food on the table one by one.
She smiled and said, "I made them all myself, please try them."
Qi Nian's gaze fell on the food.
These are indeed all foods he likes to eat.
She served him rice and handed him chopsticks with both hands.
He quite enjoyed her attentiveness: "Thank you."
"After you've eaten, you're not allowed to be angry with me anymore, okay?" She sat down.
She didn't know when the handkerchief on the stone bench had fallen to the ground.
He saw it, but didn't say anything.
She rested her chin on her hands, tilted her head, and looked at him with a smile: "Hurry up and try it, I put a lot of effort into it."
She smiled brightly, her cheeks flushed pink from the summer heat, and her eyes were full of adoration when she looked at you.
Now she's even willing to lower herself to please him...
Qi Nian gripped his chopsticks tightly, showing no appetite whatsoever.
What are you trying to say?
"Eat first, then we'll talk," Li Rong said, serving him food.
Qi Nian picked up his chopsticks and ate his meal in small bites.
Li Rong rubbed her legs and said, "Did you know that your aunt took you in as a concubine?"
He didn't know.
He replied to her, "I hold a seventh-rank official position and am permitted to take two concubines."
"Officials are not prohibited from holding weddings or celebrations within a year of their official appointment."
Qi Nian looked at her and swallowed the rice he was chewing.
He said, "However, since no one has sent any official documents to the Censorate, our marriage can be conducted discreetly."
"Rongrong, let's get married first, and then go to the government to finalize the three documents after the national mourning period next year, okay?"
This was the first time Li Rong had heard Qi Nian call her name.
She smiled and refused, "No."
"If you misspoke, wouldn't I become a lowly concubine without any status?"
"You don't believe me?"
"Young Master Qi is certainly trustworthy; it's my fault for being suspicious and overly sensitive."
She changed the subject and explained the main purpose of her visit that day.
"I do not want your illegitimate son to be born before your legitimate son."
"So you don't mind me taking a concubine?" Qi Nian put down his chopsticks.
Li Rong expressed her understanding: "My brother-in-law also has a concubine, but only one."
"Don't worry, I will treat your concubine well."
She served him food: "I went to the market a little late today and couldn't find the mandarin fish you like."
"This fish has few bones..."
Qi Nian got up and left.
Li Rong stood up and called out to him, "Young Master Qi!"
Qi Nian didn't even turn his head back.
She caught up with him and said, "Young Master Qi, I think that when two people are getting along, they should make things clear."
"You insulted me yesterday for no reason."
"How dare you bring up yesterday!" Qi Nian suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Rong.
He took a deep breath.
"Li Rong, how did you manage to go to my senior brother's place yesterday and then come here today with the shamelessness to say that you want to treat my concubine well?"
"Don't you know how I got there yesterday? I was forced to..."
"It's become a fact that it was forced upon us!" Qi Nian said firmly. "You may not care, but I do!"
He cares about her innocence.
"If you hadn't said it was a misunderstanding that you stayed in your senior brother's courtyard, and that you were from an innocent family, I wouldn't have associated with you!"
Li Rong didn't think in that direction; she felt she had already explained it last night, so she didn't grasp the key point of his words.
Her silence was, in Qi Nian's eyes, a silence that left him speechless.
Qi Nian stared at Li Rong's bright and beautiful face.
His eyes were filled with an unyielding resentment: "Do you like me?"
Li Rong nodded.
He felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"I want to hear you speak."
Li Rong said, "I like it."
She liked him because he was a gentle, frail, and helpless gentleman.
He couldn't help but raise his hand, wanting to stroke her face.
During the time they were dating, he never made any inappropriate advances towards her.
His expression was somewhat strange.
Li Rong subconsciously took a step back.
"I can't even touch it!"
Li Rong explained, "No, I don't think I should be in this mood."
He grabbed her chin and pinned her down.
His strength was much greater than Li Rong had imagined.
"What kind of feeling must that be?"
"Should I be happy that you are so virtuous and generous!"
"Li Rong, what exactly do you see in me?"
"You said you like it?"
"But when you like someone, you can't tolerate a third person appearing!"
"Just like how I feel right now, I can't tolerate you having any connection with my senior brother!"
"Not even a little bit!"
Li Rong also didn't want anything to do with Lin Xiaocong: "Then marry me, marry me right now!"
"I don't care about any ceremony, as long as you go to the government office to file a report, I'll move into your house tonight!"
"I don't want to be bothered by anyone!"
"If I marry you, he won't bother me anymore!"
Qi Nian found it laughable.
What do you take Qi Nian for?
"What makes you think you're already like this?"
"Why would I willingly accept this trouble from you?"
"Like this?" Li Rong looked incredulous. "Troublesome!"
"Yes, my senior brother forced me to break up with you!"
He unconsciously tightened his grip, wanting to let go of her, but his overwhelming resentment remained unresolved.
He liked this girl and was willing to break ties with his senior brother for her sake.
But she actually said 'comfortable'.
He unconsciously moved closer to her.
Tell yourself, if my senior can do it, why can't he?
She has no shame and doesn't care.
She tried to break free from him, but he raised his other hand and grabbed her shoulder.
He was such a thin and weak person, yet he was so strong that she couldn't budge him.
Li Rong was completely stunned.
She watched him slowly approach.
There seemed to be a sound of my beliefs collapsing in my mind.
Her breathing became rapid and involuntarily quickened, and her eyes gradually became vacant.
She wanted to shout, "Qi Nian, no!"
But when he opened and closed his mouth, not a single sound came out.
Qi Nian's heart pounded wildly. The beautiful girl's lips were full and moist, and he was both thirsty and cautious.
He moved closer to her, and closer still.
Their breaths mingled, and a sweet aroma filled the air.
She tasted sweeter than I had imagined.
"Rongrong, you've lost your virginity, how can you be my wife? Be my concubine, okay?"
*
A slap.
He cut off her lips from his kiss.
Qi Nian staggered two or three steps after being hit, and then fell to the ground in a sorry state.
He angrily turned his head and looked up, only to meet his senior brother's cold eyes.
Lin Xiaocong held the limp, unconscious girl in his arms with one hand and wiped his palm on his sleeve.
He looked down at Qi Nian with droopy eyelids, his face unusually expressionless.
He said, "Rongrong is timid, you scared her."
Qi Nian's cheeks were visibly red and swollen.
He got up from the ground: "So what if you got her body, senior brother? She loves me."
He withdrew his large hand that had struck the person, and patted the person in his arms, as if to comfort them.
"She's just been away from her senior brother for too long and couldn't stand the loneliness, so she gave you a little attention."
"Don't pat yourself on the back."
"If I truly love you, I'm not here today to tell you not to have an illegitimate child, but to tell you not to take a concubine."
These words struck a nerve with Qi Nian.
“Junior brother, Rongrong will be settling down in the capital with your senior brother from now on.”
"She would be unhappy if she encountered a lecher like you."
"I'll give you three days to resign and leave the capital."
He crouched down and picked her up.
"This time, there was no bribery, only coercion."
The corridor was dappled with light and shadow.
He was the only Chinese medicine doctor at the National Medical Administration who dressed casually.
His azure robe was made of expensive silk satin, with elaborate embroidery, indicating his distinguished family background.
As the long robe trailed past Qi Nian, Qi Nian unconsciously took a step back.
People of noble birth often possess a cold and intimidating demeanor.
He clenched his fist tightly in his sleeve.
The taste of blood in his mouth irritated his chest.
The thumping sound of my heartbeat vibrated my eardrums.
He spat out, "Senior brother, you are despicable and shameless!"
"If you hadn't used underhanded means to force yourself on her, I would never have let go!"
He was met with a very soft laugh from Lin Xiaocong.
From an angle that Qi Nian couldn't see, the smile on his lips was even harder to suppress than AK's.
The bad guys were successfully driven away.
Rongrong is safe.
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