Chapter 53 Enjoyable
As the lights gradually brightened, the undercurrents hidden in the darkness receded.
After lighting the lamp, Kaiseki respectfully withdrew, leaving the space to his master.
After placing the food box on the table in the room, Granny Xu tactfully retreated outside the door.
Li Qu cautiously entered the room, glanced around, and noticed that he was writing something on his desk.
It was obvious that he didn't want to listen to her.
She stepped forward respectfully and greeted him gently, saying, "This concubine greets Your Highness."
He gave a soft "hmm".
Fortunately, he still paid attention to her.
Li Qu breathed a sigh of relief and consciously stepped forward to the desk, respectfully grinding ink for him.
He didn't even look up; his desk was piled high with documents that had been delivered from various places that day.
Once something is delivered to him, it means it requires his decision.
Li Qu didn't dare to look at first, but seeing that Zhou Jin was letting her stand beside him as if no one was there, she couldn't help but glance at him.
Once you've seen it before, you get used to it, and eventually you become completely absorbed in watching it.
When she realized that Zhou Jin had been leaning back in his chair and was looking at her with a silent gaze, she felt a chill run down her spine.
Forcing herself to remain calm, she looked at Zhou Jin and said, "In my humble opinion, the story in the document about you hiring soldiers and turning against the emperor is just a deceptive statement and should not be taken."
"If the master were to act without a legitimate reason, he would surely be condemned by scholars throughout the land. This is the first point."
“Unjustifiably stirring up public unrest will also lose the support of the people. This is the second point.”
"Now, if I don't act rashly, the advantage lies with me."
"The Emperor wants to win over the grain transport troops, but he is even more afraid that they will rebel. If he pushes you too far, he will be giving you a pretext to send troops."
"But if you act rashly, you will surely ruin the Zhou family's three-hundred-year-old foundation."
She tried hard to recall what she had heard about the Southland.
"First, there is Yan in the north, and second, the Zhou family's heartland is also pierced by the sharp knife of Tang Xian, the Provincial Administration Commissioner."
"The world is at peace now, the north is watching and waiting, and Zhuzhou remains unmoved."
"If chaos breaks out, all that is needed is for the 200,000 troops of Zhuzhou to hold you off in the south of Zhongzhou for a month or so. Then the land north of Zhongzhou will be devoured by the Prince of Yan and the Emperor of the North."
"Third Master's advantage lies in having a large number of soldiers and generals, but this is also his disadvantage, as he is easily attacked in a piecemeal fashion."
"Not to mention, Third Master still has close relatives in the capital!"
“If Third Master doesn’t even care about his own family, who would dare to fight for him? That’s the third point.”
“In that case…if we start now, we will surely fail.” Her voice trailed off.
The scene fell silent.
As if no one was around, the crickets' clear and rhythmic chirping rang out from an unknown corner outside the window.
In an era when women were dependent on men for survival and confined to the inner quarters, her words undoubtedly exceeded the understanding a woman should have, and were therefore presumptuous.
Li Qu couldn't discern Zhou Jin's thoughts.
Her choice to create a topic that benefits her to obscure the fact that she was spying is undoubtedly dangerous.
But she didn't want to miss this great opportunity.
To fulfill the old lady's request, she couldn't passively wait for Zhou Jin to tell her about his affairs.
She needs to take the initiative.
But today's great opportunity has come at an inopportune time!
Zhou Jin already suspected her today.
Cold sweat gradually soaked through her inner garment. She finally couldn't withstand the pressure Zhou Jin exerted on her. She took a step back, lifted her skirt, knelt down, and prostrated herself on the ground: "I know I was wrong."
"I dare not speak ill of your affairs again."
"I accept the punishment."
Her voice carried a hint of pitiful fear: "But, but since I saw it by accident, I feel uneasy if I don't speak of it."
"I only wish for Third Master's Chang'an."
After a long pause, Zhou Jin's voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, rang out: "Where did you hear these remarks?"
"I learned this from Zheng Gong and from the few words that Master and the old lady exchanged last time."
"The Emperor has long been wary of the Zhou family's control over the grain transport troops and wants to take them back to the court. He has ordered the Third Master to go south, which is a self-inflicted wound."
"As for the rest, these are my heartfelt words, not just what others have said."
He then asked, "How do you know that there are 200,000 troops in Zhuzhou?"
"How could I have known that he could hold me off for over a month?"
Li Qu remained silent for a while before speaking: "I, I once hid behind the screen and watched people make predictions."
It goes without saying who this 'person' refers to.
Zhou Jin took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
My initial reaction was one of scrutiny, followed by surprise, and then astonishment.
My emotions progressed layer by layer, and I watched as she grew increasingly happy.
Now, all emotions have transformed into a vast ocean of jealousy.
No wonder Xiao Cong still wanted to find her even though he knew someone had deliberately erased her traces.
She is truly beautiful and intelligent.
She is also delicate and charming.
He could hear his own heart pounding.
He attributed the indescribable stirring in his heart to liking.
This fondness is becoming increasingly clear.
It was so clear to him that he wanted to ignore the things he had doubted before she arrived.
Seeing that Zhou Jin did not get angry, Li Qu decided to further emphasize her image as someone who was so concerned about him that she lost her composure.
"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty's advantage lies in your large and powerful army. In peacetime, it would not be an exaggeration to say that you could control the fate of the nation."
"Now the Emperor fears chaos and dares not act rashly. The advantage lies with you, so why would you do something that defies the world's will?"
"I...I only wish for you, my lord...ah!"
Li Qu was picked up by the armpits like a kitten, which frightened her so much that she screamed.
When she was placed on the desk, she saw the lustful look in Zhou Jin's eyes and snapped back to reality.
Hearing the noise, Granny Xu went inside to check, only to find the usually aloof Third Master forcefully kissing his concubine who was sitting at his desk.
She blushed with embarrassment, quickly covered her eyes with her hand, and turned around to go out and take care of the follow-up matters.
Zhou Jin's sudden change of attitude was a turning point.
Li Qu let him kiss her, from her lips and tongue to her cheeks, earlobes, and neck.
She stopped him in a panic as he reached out to undo her belt.
"My lord, we can't stay in the outer courtyard; the old lady will punish me."
He didn't answer and tossed her belt aside.
At this moment, only possession can fill the emptiness in my heart and soothe the throbbing and numb feeling in my body caused by the palpitations.
Only then can the jealousy caused by Xiao Cong dissipate.
“Master, this violates the family rules.”
She tried to push him, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.
"Waaah, please spare me, my lord!"
One by one, her clothes fell to the ground, her long, slender, fair legs dangling under the table, forced apart, her toes curling in shock.
The window was open, the candlelight was bright, and her pleading voice carried far.
The crickets heard it, the leaves rustled and chuckled, and the spiders in the branches peeked out without moving.
Vibrant and fragrant.
He thought that even though Xiao Cong had raised her so well, he would never see her with flushed cheeks, trembling eyelashes, and slightly panting breaths in his entire life.
The more I do it, the more enjoyable it feels.
The possessiveness born of jealousy was satisfied like never before.
The inexplicable throbbing in my blood was soothed, slowly returning to my heart, settling and accumulating.
He said, "Aqu, you are beautiful, really beautiful."
The Art of War states: "When the army takes a risky move, it will achieve victory by surprise."
Zhou Jin naturally didn't need her to remind him of those obvious truths.
She wanted to tell him that she was different.
She can be different.
A beautiful appearance may bring joy, but an irreplaceable soul is even more captivating.
The Third Master's order for water at Mianxiao Residence shocked the entire household.
By the time everything was finished, it was already late in the day.
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