Chapter 94 Deceiving Her
The pigeons traveled day and night, and when they reached Hejian, Zhou Jinyuan, who had become a workaholic, was far away in Qizhou.
The prefect of Qizhou, Xunmu, was a scholar who loved martial arts. He had twenty generals under his command, and his position served as a bulwark for the capital region to the south, as well as a strong ally for Hejian.
The painted halberds on the training ground are reflected in the evening glow, and the clouds, like fire, illuminate the flying crows.
During the sweltering summer, Zhou Jin would always try to stay still as much as possible.
Now, however, he personally takes to the field to fight against the generals under Xunmu's command.
Bare-handed, yet each move was fierce.
Dressed in a simple robe with bound sleeves, his body moved like a dragon, and the wind from his palms and fists inexplicably carried a fierce aura.
With his indifferent expression, he exuded an aura of 'come and let me hit you.'
The opponent lost morale before the battle even began.
They promised a friendly sparring match, but six of them have already been carried off the field.
Not friendly at all.
They secretly cursed that this week's Third Master Zhou was out of his mind.
In the exchange of blows, Zhou Jin launched a flying side kick, which his opponent raised his arm to block, but stumbled and missed his footing.
The seventh one, gloriously fell off the training ground.
Shunme, standing in the stands, stroked his beard with a laugh: "Hahahaha, good, good!"
Zhou Jin gestured for his next opponent to proceed.
Sweat soaked his clothes, his pale skin grew even whiter in the heat, and he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a straight body, and long legs—a captivating figure.
A group of women hiding behind the stands couldn't help but exclaim with delight.
Women are always powerless against handsome men who excel in both literature and martial arts.
Shunme heard the voice coming from behind the screen and stroked his beard with a smile.
It has been more than a month since the Emperor passed away, and the successor has still not been decided.
The one on the training ground is the undisputed heir to the South Floor.
Zhou Jin fought twenty men single-handedly, and fought to a draw with the last one.
Extremely resilient.
Huaiqiu stepped forward and handed him a handkerchief to wipe his sweat.
He thought to himself that his master had vented his emotions today, so he probably wouldn't torment his own people anymore. That was good.
Unlike the attitude of Marquis Lin Zhongtian, who kept Zhou Jin at arm's length, Xunmu personally came down from the platform, exchanged pleasantries with Zhou Jin, and praised him highly.
The rosy clouds were magnificent and dazzling.
Zhou Jin's mind was on Qizhou. When he met Shang Xun's gaze, his cold and aloof demeanor was softened by a touch of worldly gentleness.
Behind the stands, some women were completely mesmerized by the sight.
“‘Zhou Lang looked at me’ is indeed a well-deserved reputation.”
"Sister has taken a liking to him?" a woman teased.
"I've heard that Master Zhou is getting married."
The women who were egging them on laughed and said, "You can get divorced even after marriage. Sister, with Qizhou as your dowry, are you afraid that Master Zhou won't marry you?"
Shunmo also had this plan.
He had a daughter born late in life, his precious jewel, beautiful as a flower, named Qin Hui.
If Lord Zhou wants Qizhou to submit to him, he must marry his daughter!
He's going to be the father-in-law of the future ruler of the South!
*
A gust of wind cools you down.
Unaware that she had been exposed, Li Qu hid in the shade and listened to Granny Zheng gossip about this and that.
Li Qu took the handkerchief she had been embroidering for several days down from the embroidery frame.
He folded it neatly, with the embroidery facing up, and presented it to Granny Zheng with both hands.
"Grandma, you treat me so sincerely. This is a small token of my appreciation. Do you like it?"
"If you don't like it, I'll embroider a different style."
Granny Zheng was overjoyed. She had thought Li Qu was selling embroidered handkerchiefs, but she never expected that Li Qu was a gift for her.
It's still double-sided embroidery.
"How can I accept this?" She put down the fan in her hand, wiped her hands on her clothes, and carefully took it.
“My hands are so rough, how could I possibly be worthy of such a delicate handkerchief?”
As she spoke, she grinned and carefully touched the embroidery on the fabric.
Li Qu was also happy to see that Granny Zheng liked it: "It's a kalanchoe flower, and the other side has the character for 'longevity' on it."
Granny Zheng glanced at Li Qu and tapped her smooth head.
"It's really going to break my heart."
"You're pregnant, what are you embroidering for this old woman?!"
Li Qu smiled and said, "Grandma deserves it."
Granny Zheng laughed heartily, unable to stop: "Such a sweet talker!"
"Your man is blind; how could he bear to abandon you?"
"I think you shouldn't leave after you give birth. If you don't mind, you can be my daughter."
"She's even more heartwarming than my own daughter!"
Li Qu smiled.
The leaves cast dappled shadows, and rays of sunlight gently caressed her tender features.
In the Zheng family, Grandma Zheng's favoritism is the ultimate rule.
Life is like a fish in water.
*
Time flows slowly, the sky is draped in a dark veil, adorned with countless stars.
In the darkness of night, the struggle between protection and plunder rages.
The man in the light purple robe looked at Huai Chuan, who was blocking his way, and clapped his palms with the fan in his hand.
"Can't we even meet once?"
He wore an earring in his left ear, had a feminine air about him, a tall and slender figure, fox-like eyes, and a gaze that was both affectionate and ruthless.
Huai Chuan wore a bamboo hat and carried a sword in his arms.
Upon hearing this, he flicked his thumb, and with a whoosh, the sword was drawn slightly from its sheath, revealing a hint of cold glint that drew people's attention.
"Tsk, I came so late at night because I didn't want to bother her."
"Are you forcing me to visit you in person during the day?!"
Huai Chuan ignored it.
"Alright, if I scare her away, you'll regret it."
Huai Chuan drew his long sword and pointed it at Wu Xubai.
Wu Xubai quickly waved his hand: "I'm a good-for-nothing, if you're so fierce I'll call for help!"
Huaichuan attack.
Wu Xubai cried out and turned to run, yelling, "Help!"
The lights in the surrounding houses lit up one by one.
It illuminated the pale figure deep in the alley.
Xiao Cong frowned and glanced in the direction Wu Xubai had fled.
Huai Chuan returned to defend in time and stood in front of Xiao Cong.
Extremely vigilant.
Seeing this, Xiao Cong turned around and led Xiao Zuo to the other end of the alley.
It's no longer possible to take them away silently.
His presence in the capital cannot be revealed yet.
Someone went out to check, but the night was quiet.
There was a discreet, noble person, their footsteps making a calm, deliberate exit.
Calm and even.
A carriage was parked at the entrance of the alley, and Xiao Cong got in.
Wu Xubai rushed over from the other side, shouting as he ran, "Wait for me, wait for me!"
The driver seemed not to hear, cracking his whip and driving the chariot.
Wu Xubai chased after the car to its original spot, but it had already driven far away.
He stood panting, hands on his hips, and collapsed to the ground, exhausted: "Heartless!"
*
Pedestrians weaved through the streets, and the sound of the curfew drum urged people to return home and rest as soon as possible.
Under the same sky.
The prefect of Qizhou, Xunfu, hosted a banquet for Zhou Jin.
Halfway through the banquet, thoughts began to wander as the wine flowed.
Zhou Jin's long eyelashes drooped as he leaned back against the soft seat with his legs bent.
The cup moves flexibly between the fingers, from one finger to another.
He thought that if she were with him, he would never dare to drink so much.
There was a faint blush on her cheeks.
It added a touch of approachability to him.
The girl dancing in the field was spying on him.
He was thinking of running away from her.
Regret, longing, and a burning, unbearable pain.
A faint sadness enveloped her. The dancing girl stepped forward to pour wine, her face veiled, her eyes filled with shyness and timidity.
Xunmu laughed and introduced, "Master Zhou, this is my daughter Qin Hui. Would you do me the honor of having a cup of wine?"
Zhou Jin stared at the woman, tossed aside the empty wine glass in his hand, curled his fingertips, and tapped the low table in front of him with his knuckles.
Dududu, long at the beginning and end, short in the middle.
The woman looked away in fear as soon as she met those indifferent eyes.
The disapproving gaze of someone in a superior position can inexplicably make one feel uneasy.
She obediently tried to put the cup back where he had just knocked.
Suddenly, a suppressed cry of pain came from the head of the table.
She turned her head and saw her father with a crossbow bolt in his chest, blood spurting from his mouth, pointing at...
Her gaze followed the direction her father was pointing, and she turned her neck with difficulty, only to catch a glimpse of a dark, heavily embroidered robe as he rose and left.
"Lord Xun abused his power and arbitrarily reneged on his children's marriages. He was assassinated by his most valiant general, Chu Liang, out of resentment, and unfortunately died."
"Lord Qiu witnessed it with his own eyes; he should immediately order the arrest of Chu Liang."
At the musicians' table, a fat man with a long beard, holding a pipa, spontaneously played two cheerful tunes.
Then he put down the pipa, stood up, and bowed in the direction Zhou Jin had left, saying, "Thank you for your help, Third Master. I will certainly keep my word."
Zhou Jin enjoyed dealing with such sensible people.
Those who lack tact always lust after his beauty.
The elegant shoes stepped out of the banquet hall, and only then did the slow, panicked scream of a woman echo behind them.
Armored soldiers rushed over at the sound, and Qiu Zailu, the Prefect of Qizhou, gripped the short crossbow he had pulled from Xunmu's chest, raised it high, and shouted:
"Chu Liang is so audacious that he covets Miss Qin Hui!"
"Because he was dissatisfied with the master's intention to marry Miss Qin Hui to someone else, he dared to assassinate the master!"
"I saw it with my own eyes, and I have his special short crossbow as proof!"
"Issue the order to immediately apprehend Chu Liang and bring him to justice!"
As for those who witnessed the entire process today, Qiu Zailu will handle them properly.
Meanwhile, Chu Liang, completely unaware of the situation, was stopped on his way home by an old man with a red flower tucked behind his ear.
“Brave warrior, I see that your forehead is dark, indicating that you are about to suffer a bloody disaster.”
"If you are willing to offer Qiu Zailu's head as a sacrifice to Lord Xun, then do ten more things for this old man."
"Then I went to the flower boat by the river to find this old man."
"I will show you a way to survive."
Chu Liang cursed, "Old man, are you courting death?!"
He walked down one street when his trusted aide stopped him: "Sir, the traitorous assassin has targeted you! Escape at once!"
Chu Liang cursed and then dragged his confidant into the shadows.
When I turned around, the old man with the flower in his hair was nowhere to be seen.
*
Zhou Jin settled down on a pleasure boat by the river, waiting for good news about Chu Liang.
He enjoys dealing with sensible people.
But it won't do if the people who know what's good for them aren't one of their own.
He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes to rest.
I feel like I can see her everywhere I go.
There are also flower boats in Qizhou.
His longing and concern gradually eroded his relatively lenient desire to control her.
Qin Sixing was playing the erhu on another noisy pleasure boat, surrounded by entertainers who beat drums and sang, exuding elegance and charm.
The master and apprentice were waiting for chaos to break out in Qizhou.
The section from Dingzhou to Qingzhou was thrown into chaos, and the line of defense that the capital region had to block the southern regions was broken.
*
The sun rises and the sky is clear.
A magnificent horse-drawn carriage arrived at Qingqiao Hutong.
Li Rong was still in a bad mood during the day, so she closed her shop for a day off.
They are currently cleaning fish in the yard.
Hearing a knock on the door, I answered loudly, "Who is it?"
She quickly washed her hands and opened the door.
I was greeted by a noble, smiling, and kind face.
Li Rong remembered that the last time she saw such an old lady with an air of nobility was at the Zhou Mansion in Hezhou.
Before she could ask, the elegant old lady outside the door spoke up.
"Rongrong, I am Mingxu's grandmother."
Men who like to seduce Li Rong and elderly men and women who are curious about her appearance often use this as an excuse to knock on her door.
But this person clearly doesn't look like that kind of person.
Li Rong: "I don't know Mingxu."
"Are you... in the wrong room?"
The old lady Yue, who was supporting Madam Lin, quickly added, "Our young master is the seventh young master of the Lin family of the Marquis of Weiwu."
Li Rong was somewhat taken aback and a little uneasy: "Please wait a moment, the house is small, let me tidy up a bit."
"It's nothing, I apologize for disturbing you, it was my oversight."
Li Rong quickly went inside and found her mother. She told her mother that Lin Xiaocong had agreed to marry her, then put a veil over her mother's head and told her to go and greet the guests.
When Li's mother heard that this Young Master Lin wanted to marry her daughter, she couldn't stop smiling.
They warmly welcomed the old lady into the house, offered her a seat, and served her tea.
Grandma Lin, holding her teacup, said with a smile, "To be honest, Mingxu's mother is not someone to be trifled with."
"Mingxu means that Rongrong should live in Chuntang Garden from now on and not go back to the Marquis's mansion to meet her mother."
"After all, your family is weak."
"His three sisters-in-law all suffered at the hands of their mother, even though they had their own families to back them up. What about Rongrong?"
Li's mother said it was no problem: "As long as Rongrong is well, that's all that matters."
"During the national mourning period, things must be done discreetly. I wonder if your family can accept that?"
Li's mother nodded repeatedly: "No problem, as long as the etiquette is proper."
Grandma Lin took off a blood-red bracelet from her wrist.
"This is a gift from me to Rongrong. Please let Rongrong come out so I can take a good look at her. I didn't see her clearly when I opened the door just now."
Li Rong, who was eavesdropping inside the room, immediately tidied her appearance.
Her mother called her twice before she shyly went out.
Grandma Lin's kind smile lingered on Li Rong's bright eyes for a moment, and as she served tea, her gaze swept from top to bottom.
My mind wasn't on the tea, and I accidentally choked on the bitter, low-quality tea, which made me cough.
Granny Yue quickly stepped forward to pat Old Madam Lin's back, and Li Rong quickly changed Old Madam Lin's sugar water.
A simple two-courtyard house, a beautiful young woman who doesn't understand the rules of a wealthy family...
Grandma Lin sighed inwardly.
He stopped coughing and put the bracelet on Li Rong's wrist.
Touching Li Rong's calloused hands, he said, "If Mingxu bullies you, then come and tell your grandmother."
Li Rong's face instantly turned bright red.
Has she successfully shifted the blame for her own trouble onto someone else?
He nodded blankly, "Yes, thank you, Grandmother."
Grandma Lin was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.
"Good boy/girl."
After exchanging a few words, Old Mrs. Lin left a gift for the Li family and then took her leave.
Throughout the entire process, there was never any mention of Li Rong being offered as a wife to Lin Xiaocong.
Ambiguous.
The carriage drove out of Qingqiao Alley, and halfway there, a young nobleman in a blue robe carrying pastries boarded the carriage.
After Lin Xiaocong got into the car, he diligently unwrapped the pastries and placed them next to Old Mrs. Lin.
"Grandmother, you saw the person. Your grandson didn't lie to you, did he?"
Grandma Lin looked at him with annoyance: "You didn't lie to your grandmother, but you're planning to lie to that girl!"
"Grandmother thinks Rongrong is a kind-hearted child, why would you lie to her!"
Lin Xiaocong poured tea for the old lady.
She shamelessly revealed her thoughts: "She seduced her grandson, so isn't it only right that she give herself to him?"
"should?"
The old woman raised her hand and slapped him, saying, "You should be the one to call me! You should be the one to call me!"
"Don't hit him! Don't hit him!"
"That's what my grandson Hun said!"
The old lady withdrew her hand and sat there in a bad mood.
"I heard you say that she only wanted to be the legal wife and did not want to be a concubine or mistress."
"I thought she was a girl with lofty ambitions, trying to use her beauty to climb the social ladder."
"I see you going to great lengths to persuade your grandmother to help you create the illusion that you're going to marry her to coax her."
"I was curious about her, which is why I decided to make this trip."
She glanced at her grandson and said, "Now that you've seen the person, Grandma regrets it!"
Lin Xiaocong's smile cracked slightly: "Grandma~"
Grandma Lin reached out and pinched her grandson's ear: "You've grown up, and your heart has become wild!"
"You actually planned to deceive a good, innocent girl into becoming your mistress and bearing your children!"
"That's how your grandmother taught you since you were little!"
Lin Xiaocong cried out in pain as the hand was pinched.
"Grandmother, don't be angry. You've seen it yourself; she's simple."
"Mother is determined to have her grandson marry Cousin Mingyang. How can she possibly have a good life after she marries into the family?"
"My grandson was only thinking of her."
Grandmother Lin hit her even harder.
Lin Xiaocong was squeezed until tears came to her eyes.
"Grandson won't dare again, grandson promises not to lie to her!"
"I swear, if I lie to her, may I suffer the pain of unrequited love and die alone!"
Grandma Lin raised her hand and slapped him on the head: "Children's words are innocent, let them go in the wind!"
She stated, "I will have Granny Yue explain this matter clearly."
"If it's really not a good match, then don't hold the girl back!"
Lin Xiaocong rubbed his ears: "Grandmother, let's slow down."
Old Mrs. Lin's eyes were unfriendly.
He quickly covered his ears and told Grandma Lin about Li Rong's experience when she was fourteen and how she developed a mental illness because of it.
"Since things have come to this, let's wait until my grandson cures her illness before we talk about anything else."
Grandma Lin was puzzled: "What does lying to her have to do with you treating her illness?"
Lin Xiaocong sat quietly a little further away from Old Mrs. Lin.
"Well, my grandson was a little abrupt with her before."
"This has made her very wary of her grandson now, and she doesn't allow him to get close to her."
"Only after her grandson said he would marry her did she agree to let him come close to her to treat her illness with acupuncture."
"Grandson promises that once she recovers, he will personally tell her that the marriage proposal was a lie."
Old Mrs. Lin sneered: "You can't trust a lecherous man!"
“Turn around, Granny Yue, you go and sound out Rongrong yourself, see if what this rascal is saying is true.”
Lin Xiaocong's smile cracked slightly: "Grandmother, are you my grandmother or Rongrong's grandmother?"
Stop grinning! Let's get this straight up and down!
"You dare to abduct a woman?"
"Don't blame your grandmother for being ruthless and having your father come back personally to punish you according to family rules!"
Lin Xiaocong: "No, she had a relapse and it didn't work out!"
A cup of tea poured over noodles.
Lin Xiaocong raised his hand and wiped the tea leaves off his face.
Old Mrs. Lin: "Go back and kneel in the ancestral hall!"
"yes."
"Hmph!" Old Mrs. Lin turned away and refused to look at her grandson anymore.
After a while, the grandson whispered, "Once she recovers from her illness and is willing to become my concubine, I won't be able to refuse."
"If she's willing, then there's nothing to say." Old Mrs. Lin picked up her teacup. "She's to my liking."
"You must treat her well, don't resort to underhanded methods! Otherwise, your grandmother will not forgive you!"
"Yes, grandson promises to be an upright person and to do things honestly and openly."
Granny Yue subtly inquired about Li Rong's situation, and the answer was exactly as Lin Xiaocong had predicted.
Li Rong admitted to Lin Xiaocong's previous rudeness towards her and said that since he was willing to marry her, the past could be forgiven.
She will also focus on getting better treatment and strive for a result that is good for everyone.
After resting, Old Mrs. Lin immediately confessed to Li Rong that Lin Xiaocong had asked her to pretend to coax her.
"Grandmother will have Granny Yue visit Rongrong every few days."
"Once she recovered from her illness, my grandmother immediately had Granny Yue tell her the truth!"
Lin Xiaocong readily agreed, "Yes, I will do whatever Grandmother says."
He took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped his soaked clothes, a smile he couldn't shake off on his lips.
He will have ten or even a hundred ways to get Rongrong to agree to him getting close to her.
This kind of thing is pointless if you have a seizure and faint.
He longed for her to be awake, waiting to be slaughtered.
*
The capital is not peaceful; those in power are openly and secretly vying for the supreme position.
Qizhou is also in chaos.
The prefect of one prefecture and the deputy prefect of another prefecture were assassinated at the same time, leaving the government leaderless.
Zhou Jin's forces seized the opportunity to enter.
Chu Liang served as a ladder for Zhou Jin's forces to invade.
This person comes from humble beginnings, is trustworthy and keeps his promises, and possesses superhuman strength; he is usable.
Things are progressing smoothly as planned.
Zhou Jin began to deploy his forces in Qizhou, using both overt and covert methods. Even while eating, he was constantly thinking about who would be placed in which position.
During the day, the prefectural government and the deputy prefectural government of Qizhou were holding a funeral in grief.
He had Qizhou under his control.
Zhou Jin was busy, and the think tank members around him were also working tirelessly.
That evening, after dinner, Zhou Jin went straight to his study.
The team of advisors was also prepared to work through the night.
Only by quickly bringing order to Qi Prefecture can we move on to conquer the next prefecture.
Before the capital city can react, let's seize as much territory as possible.
With high spirits and great strides.
Damn it!
The carrier pigeons from Hejian arrived in Qizhou around this time.
An ordinary carrier pigeon, flapping its wings, landed by the study window.
Coo coo coo.
Nothing special.
Zhou Jin is looking at a map.
The think tank analyzed the affairs of Qizhou.
Huaiqiu stepped forward, took the letter, and handed it to Zhou Jin with both hands.
Zhou Jin tapped the table, and Huai Qiu placed the letter with both hands where Zhou Jin could reach it.
He picked up his teacup, but his gaze remained fixed on the riverbank.
Hejian must be captured; it is a vital passage where rivers from east to west and north to south intersect.
He took a small sip of strong tea to refresh himself, put down the cup, and casually picked up the rolled-up letter, unfolding it.
With a screeching sound, the chair scraped against the floor and was pushed back.
The strategists turned their heads and saw Zhou Jin standing there.
He held the desk with one hand and a thin strip of paper in the other.
He shook his head.
He looked at the note in his hand again.
His heart was pounding more and more, and his arms were trembling uncontrollably.
Huaiqiu waved his hand, and the group of strategists withdrew.
He stepped forward and asked, "Sir, is there something important?"
After a long while, Zhou Jin finally spoke through gritted teeth.
"Zheng, you scoundrel! I spared your life out of kindness, yet you dare to hide my wife and children!"
A while later.
Uncontrollable laughter rippled out softly, gradually spreading outwards.
Their child is still alive!
She was just still angry, not that she didn't love him!
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