Chapter 45 Quieting the Battle: My Brother is Also a Man
Jin Suiqing couldn't push away an adult male. She opened her mouth helplessly, waiting for the pain to come, but instead, she was met with an unexpected treatment that was even sharper than being bitten.
Jin Shiyu withdrew his teeth, pushed open Jin Suiqing's collar, and sucked hard on her shoulder. Jin Suiqing almost let out a soft moan, hurriedly covering her mouth. Jin Shiyu, on top of her, struggled to sit up, their noses touching.
A flash of lightning illuminated his dark, brooding eyes as he held her tightly, saying, "I will catch you."
After saying that, Kim Shi-ok finally fainted.
After a while of thunder and lightning, the chaotic rain finally subsided.
Jin Suiqing didn't dare to breathe loudly. He struggled to crawl out from under Jin Shiyu and collapsed to the ground.
Whether from the cold or fear, Jin Suiqing trembled uncontrollably. Jin Shiyu's words, which seemed to be uttered through clenched teeth, terrified her. After a while, she shook off goosebumps, got up from the ground, and ran to the wall in the rain, where she released the large scythe hidden in her hair bag.
The scythe flew over the wall, and a moment later, the burly Gong Dagou jumped over the wall: "Little Princess!"
Jin Suiqing bit her lip hard to stay alert and said sternly, "Hurry up and go back to the Jin residence."
Gong Dagou dared not delay. He carried Jin Suiqing on his back, extended a flying rope from his sleeve, grabbed the trumpet creeper tree by the wall, and flipped out of Zhanxing Tower.
With ziplines intertwined, Gong Dagou carried Jin Suiqing as they swung through the drizzle. After holding back for a while, he finally spoke: "Your brother already suspects you, yet you still return to the Jin residence?"
“Go back,” Jin Suiqing said. “We must go back.”
If she didn't reply, the perverted system would probably tear her apart. Jin Suiqing rubbed her itchy shoulders: "If I don't reply, he'll be even more suspicious."
Gong Dagou nodded, asked no more questions, and focused on swinging. Soon the two arrived at Jin Suiqing's courtyard. As soon as she landed, the door was opened, and Huihong hurriedly stepped forward, wrapped her tightly in a cloak, looked around, and helped her into the house.
Dressed in women's clothing, Gong Xiaoyang exchanged a glance with Jin Suiqing, nodded slightly, and walked out of her room, leaving the Jin residence with her brother Gong.
Huihong quickly closed the door and asked Jin Suiqing, "Little Princess? How is the situation? Did the young master recognize you?"
Jin Suiqing lied and said, "Don't worry, nothing's wrong. Go to sleep."
Huihong breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and said, "That's good, that's good. Tonight really scared me to death."
Jin Suiqing took off her clothes: "Have you prepared the water and cooking oil?"
Huihong yawned and pulled Jin Suiqing to the dressing table: "Everything is ready. I'll help you remove your makeup."
Jin Suiqing shook her head and told Huihong to go to sleep first. Huihong had been worried and scared all night, and was exhausted and sleepy. She couldn't refuse Jin Suiqing, so she went to sleep first, and soon her steady snoring could be heard.
Jin Suiqing lit a lamp, but didn't rush to remove her disguise. She lifted her collar and, by the lamplight, looked at the marks left by Jin Shiyu on her shoulder.
He used a lot of force, and that dark, purplish patch gleamed ambiguously under the dim light.
Jin Suiqing sighed, picked up the powder puff, and pressed it onto her shoulders.
The rain didn't stop until dawn. Inside the pavilion, Kim Shi-ok slowly woke up. The wooden planks were damp and cold, but he didn't feel cold. He lay there for a while before sitting up.
Recalling last night, she was like a cunning fox, scratching at his heart with a mix of sourness and itch. Jin Shiyu lowered his head and chuckled, rubbing his sore and tired neck before getting up to change his clothes.
Half an hour later, Jin Shiyu, dressed neatly, left Zhanxing Tower in a rhinoceros-horn carriage. Upon arriving at the Jin residence, Steward Mingjing, who had been waiting all night, greeted Jin Shiyu as he alighted from the carriage and asked, "Young Master, you haven't returned all night. Would you like some soup to help you sober up?"
Jin Shiyu glanced at Ming Jingjian for a moment, then answered irrelevantly, "Did His Highness the Crown Prince tell you what happened last night?"
Mingjing nodded. "What are you saying, young master? I don't understand."
Jin Shiyu chuckled and looked up at the gate. "Where's my sister?"
Mingjing said, "The young princess went to bed early after returning home last night and hasn't gotten up yet."
Jin Shiyu repeated Mingjing's words to himself a few times, then smiled and said, "I'll wake her up so we can have breakfast together. Butler Ming, go and prepare it."
Mingjing stepped aside and ordered people to prepare a meal. Jin Shiyu then said, "The meal shall remain the same, but please prepare an extra dish of jujube blossom pastries."
After giving his instructions, Jin Shiyu headed straight for Jin Suiqing's courtyard. He was walking in a hurry and tripped, almost falling. Without bothering to brush the dust off his clothes, Jin Shiyu took two big strides to the front of the house, paused, and then raised his hand to knock on her door.
"Knock, knock, knock," Jin Shiyu heard Hui Hong whisper, asking who it was. Then he heard a rustling sound from inside, followed by a click as the door bolt lifted and the door opened a crack. Jin Suiqing, her hair disheveled, peeked out, her eyes still sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and said, "Brother? What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Jin Shiyu ruffled her messy hair, then slipped his hand through the crack in the door and pulled it open with undeniable force, exposing Jin Suiqing completely. "Let's have breakfast. It's been a long time since we ate together."
Jin Suiqing, seeking coolness, wore only a tank top and a thin shirt draped over her shoulders. Leaning against the door as if boneless, she said, "Brother, your food is too bland. It's no fun. I'd rather eat by myself."
Jin Shiyu's gaze swept over Jin Suiqing's shoulders. Jin Suiqing was wearing an outer robe, which just covered her shoulders.
He waved, gesturing for Jin Suiqing to come closer.
Jin Suiqing staggered in front of him in a daze, and Jin Shiyu took off the outer garment hanging on her shoulder and shook it gently.
As he did these actions, Jin Shiyu turned his head away, his fingertips never touching her skin. He only glanced at Jin Suiqing's shoulder out of the corner of his eye; her skin was fair. Jin Shiyu subtly withdrew his gaze, draped the shaken outer garment over her shoulders, and pulled it forcefully, covering her chest.
Jin Suiqing stumbled as he pulled her, and Jin Shiyu's cool hand grabbed her shoulder through her thin shirt, the force neither too light nor too heavy, and steadied her.
Once Jin Suiqing regained her footing, Jin Shiyu quickly withdrew his hand, but leaned forward, his shadow completely covering her. Jin Shiyu leaned close to Jin Suiqing and coldly whispered in her ear, "Does my sister know that her brother is also a man?"
Jin Suiqing, still half-asleep, suddenly widened her eyes and looked at him in disbelief. "Of course I know, otherwise I would have stopped calling you brother and started calling you sister."
Jin Shiyu lowered his eyes to look at her fair neck, and quietly sniffed. He didn't smell any cosmetics, just a refreshing girlish fragrance.
He decisively withdrew, saying, "Since you know that, don't dress like that and show up in front of me next time."
Jin Suiqing was slightly annoyed. She kicked his shin, leaving another footprint on his dusty robe. "It's all because you knocked on the door early in the morning and disturbed my sleep. And you're blaming me? Humph, apologize."
Jin Shiyu bent down and brushed the dust off his clothes. Where Jin Suiqing couldn't see, he released all the sinister intent in his eyes. He unconsciously increased the force of his hand, making a slapping sound as he patted the clothes. He said, "Get dressed and eat. There are jujube blossom pastries for breakfast today."
He listened intently to Jin Suiqing's movements.
The younger sister clapped her hands happily: "Great! At least you still have some conscience, brother. I'm going to change my clothes." With that, she slammed the door shut.
Jin Shiyu's hand slipped and slapped her leg, making her hand go numb.
After dusting himself off, he straightened up and stood in front of the door, his hands clenched tightly at his sides, trembling uncontrollably. Jin Shiyu gripped the door tightly, his fingertips almost digging into his palm, and he resisted the urge to push it open.
He stood there for a long time until the pain completely suppressed his filthy urges.
Kim Shi-ok turned and left.
Inside the door. Jin Suiqing, who was squatting in front of the door, nodded to Huihong and said, "He's gone."
Huihong collapsed to the ground, letting out a sigh of relief. Still shaken, she said, "I was so scared, I couldn't sleep all night."
Jin Suiqing laughed and lightly punched Huihong: "Nonsense, I heard Sister Huihong snoring loudly in the middle of the night, and now her face is rosy and she looks great. She doesn't look like she didn't sleep well at all."
Huihong was filled with shame and indignation, and covered her face. What servant could sleep even more soundly than his master?
Jin Suiqing grabbed Hui Hong's shoulders and pushed her toward the wardrobe: "Quickly help me find an outfit to wear today."
Huihong rummaged through the clothes: "What is the young princess wearing today?"
Jin Suiqing hadn't slept all night and was yawning constantly: "Whatever, as long as my shoulders are exposed."
Huihong responded with an "okay".
*
Inside the Ziwei City.
Under the cover of night, Li Han carried a birdcage about half his size, covered with a black cloth. He walked hurriedly, the birdcage swaying in the night wind.
Upon arriving at the East Palace, Li Han dared not stop. Holding his breath, he rushed to the front of the Mingde Hall, "Your...Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Huangfu Li didn't look up, focusing on the official documents on the desk. Li Han then said, "The things are ready, and I've brought them back to you."
Huangfu Li then looked up, a look of joy in his eyes.
Li Han placed the birdcage on the table, finally getting a chance to catch his breath. His burly body bent over, supporting his knees, and large beads of sweat rained down onto the ground.
Seeing this, Huangfu Li chuckled, "Is this thing very heavy? It was just carried from the Magic Weapon Sect, yet it's made you so tired?"
Li Han gasped, "The things aren't heavy, they're very light. It's just that my old arms and legs are really no good anymore. I get out of breath after walking just a few steps."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Li immediately stood up, but instead of looking after Li Han, he was so anxious that he wanted to remove the black cloth covering the cage.
Li Han said it's light? How light?
Ordinary ritual implements are made of stacked gold and silver, each one heavier than the last. If a eunuch who cannot lift a finger or carry a heavy load can say that it is light, then it is a rare item.
Huangfu Lixin, who was fond of curiosity, made no attempt to hide it. He said to Li Han, "That's perfect, you can help Li Han lose some weight."
Knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince was pleased, Li Han shut his mouth and stepped aside to wait.
Huangfu Li grabbed the edge of the black cloth and yanked it open, causing the cloth to fly away and reveal the magical artifacts inside the bamboo cage.
It was an unremarkable magical peacock.
It is a magical peacock made according to Zhu Feng's blueprints.
Huangfu Li picked up the cage and tried it out. Li Han was right; it was indeed very light. With the same materials, Zhu Feng had eliminated many unnecessary connecting parts, resulting in such a lightweight device.
Huangfu Li looked closely at the peacock and couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly following the wind, its design concept is unmatched by ordinary people."
Li Han also found it strange. Observing it from a distance, she asked curiously, "It's light, but can it move?"
After a moment's thought, Huangfu Li opened the cage and patted the bird's head in the usual way of activating the magic device, but the bird did not move at all.
Li Han was quite disappointed. "Fake?"
Huangfu Li raised his hand to signal him to shut up, his heart pounding. To observe more closely, he circled the cage. When he reached a spot where the peacock was fully exposed to the light, the peacock stirred and opened its eyes.
Li Han exclaimed in surprise, "It moved!"
Huangfu Li then went around to the front of the cage, and his shadow fell on the peacock, which closed its eyes again.
Huangfu Li found a flaw, "Bring me a lamp!"
Li Han quickly handed over the lamp, then stopped and joined Huangfu Li in looking at it from the cage. Huangfu Li removed the lampshade, revealing the golden lamp, a magical artifact that shone brightly.
The peacock in the cage seemed to gain sentience; it opened its eyes, shook its metal wings, and made a rustling sound. Huangfu Li lifted the peacock from the cage and placed it on the ground.
The magical peacock stood firm, its glassy eyes fixed on the lamp. After a while, it spread its wings, flapped them twice, and hopped away into the air.
Li Han exclaimed, "Flying! It's flying!"
Not only did it take flight, but the magical peacock circled around the lamp, striking various poses in the air, making the Buddha appear as lifelike as a real peacock!
Huangfu Li and Li Han's eyes were filled with peacocks. Huangfu Li watched the peacocks fluttering about, while Li Han clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect and congratulated, "Congratulations, Your Highness, on acquiring this treasure!"
Huangfu Li didn't respond. He held the lamp and played with it for a while. When Li Han was bent over so much that his back was almost broken, Huangfu Li flicked his finger and turned off the sulfur lamp. The peacock immediately lost its guidance and fell from the sky, smashing to pieces.
Li Han exclaimed in surprise, "This..."
Huangfu Lihuan kicked the parts with a smile and said, "It's a treasure, let's put it away."
Li Han was trembling with fear and was about to call someone to clean up when Huangfu Li said, "Wait, I'll clean up myself."
Huangfu Li took out a wooden box and collected the parts from the ground into it one by one. He made sure to check for any missing parts, feeling the floor inch by inch to make sure nothing was left out. After confirming that nothing was missing, Huangfu Li closed the wooden box and locked it in the cabinet.
Only Li Han, who was close to Huangfu Li, knew about the cabinet. It contained some of Huangfu Li's favorite things from childhood to adulthood, and in the corner sat a magical cicada stained with blood.
Li Han was even more apprehensive, not daring to utter a single breath.
Huangfu Li looked at the cabinet for a while and then smiled, "Have the craftsmen who saw the blueprints tonight finished making their work?"
Li Han hurriedly said, "It's been taken care of, and everything is sorted out."
"Where are the blueprints? Do you have a backup?"
Li Han: "Indeed, there was one. The craftsman secretly kept a copy, but the slaves found it and burned it."
Huangfu Liyang laughed loudly, "Good, excellent! No one in this world should possess this treasure except for me and Zhufeng. Do you understand?"
Li Han nodded repeatedly.
Huangfu Li waved his hand with satisfaction, dismissing Li Han. As if nothing had happened, he sat back down at his desk to review official documents. After a while, he stopped reviewing and started writing and drawing on the paper.
In no time, the paper was covered with two words.
"Chasing the wind".
Huangfu Li trusted no one, not even Empress Huangfu Ying; he only trusted himself.
If he were to fight against someone in the future, no matter who Zhu Feng was, he would be determined to win.
Author's note: Without a ranking, I'm feeling restless.
A poor office worker commented: "I think about it during the day and cry at night. I even dream about increasing my collection count."
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