The Li family, in a grand and imposing manner, received Qiao Jingjing and Sun Shangxiang, hoping to gain some advantage and offer them a bribe. However, they were unexpectedly reprimanded by Qiao Jingjing in a huff.
They felt they couldn't save face.
Madam Li still looked embarrassed.
Li Jin was about to turn hostile immediately.
Li Jin flicked his sleeves, taking advantage of the fact that Qiao Jingjing was a woman and that she had a young maidservant named Princess by her side.
"Madam Da Qiao, you've had a bit too much to drink today, haven't you? It seems you're quite drunk! I'll have my wife escort you to your room to rest."
"Once Madam sobers up and reflects on whether she said anything wrong today, we can talk again."
Li Jin flicked her sleeves and stood up.
He's a grown man, not someone who wants to be lectured by Qiao Jingjing.
Just then, several plump women around Madam Li started to surround her, threatening to sideline Qiao Jingjing and Sun Shangxiang.
Liu Ji and Sun Shangxiang both drew their swords.
Sun Shangxiang put her hands on her hips and scolded:
"What are you trying to do? Are you committing insubordination? You said it was a banquet, how can you use a banquet to threaten me and my sister-in-law?"
What did my sister-in-law say that was wrong to you? Aren't you just fighting over territory among yourselves?
Aren't you just refugees who seized the territory of the Tong people? We asked you to get along with them, but you're not happy about it. What, do you want to wipe them out?
Are there really people as arrogant as you?
Sun Shangxiang's words angered the head of the Li family again.
Li Jin waved his sleeve, and a group of people stood up in the house in a flash.
Many people holding bows and arrows pointed their arrows at them.
Although Li Jin was from a powerful clan, he was nothing more than a barbarian. He was used to being ruthless in the chaotic world, and now that he was here, he was doing nothing but barbaric things. He wanted to be barbaric to the very end.
He knew perfectly well that if he dared to lay a finger on Sun Shangxiang and Qiao Jingjing here, he would be giving the Tong clan leader across the way an opportunity to attack him.
But Li Jin wanted to use the troops in his hands to intimidate the two weak women in front of him.
He wanted to subdue these two weak women and make them work for him, so that they could help him gain benefits and become the local tyrant of Guilin.
What a coincidence, the Li family really did fall into the trap.
His movements were being monitored by the leader of the Tong clan.
Just as Qiao Jingjing was about to reprimand the Li couple, Nong Jinshan's side had already begun preparations.
In just a short while.
The Tong tribe leader, having drunk half a jin of wine, and the sober Lu Xun, along with the men of the Tong tribe, had already surrounded the front of the Li family compound. In addition, there were two thousand guards brought by Ling Tong, who was with Qiao Jingjing, at the entrance of the compound.
With this kind of force, it wouldn't be a problem to throw these local bullies from the Li family into complete chaos.
The Li barbarians finally realized that the problem had gotten out of hand.
Madam Li's attitude immediately changed again;
He rushed over and knelt down beside Qiao Jingjing:
"Madam Da Qiao, Little Princess! Oh dear, look how foolish my husband is. He drank wine, he got drunk, and offended Madam Da Qiao. Oh dear, Madam Da Qiao, please forgive him, please forgive him!"
It was too late for Madam Li to change things at this point.
Qiao Jingjing pulled her sleeve aside, took Ye Rong's hand, and pulled Sun Shangxiang with her other hand.
“Let’s go, let’s leave this place of trouble. If someone is obedient, you can give them a meal. If they are disobedient, you can’t be bothered to argue with them. If you can fight, don’t bother with words.”
As Qiao Jingjing left, she reasoned with Sun Shangxiang.
At Lu Xun's behest, the leader of the Tong tribe led his men in and charged into the city, engaging in a bloody battle with the Li family.
The Li family was unprepared and suffered a crushing defeat, which severely weakened them.
After the Tong tribe won, Lu Xun appointed Nong Jinshan to take charge of the Guilin-Yangshuo area.
Qiao Jingjing and her inspection team then inspected the coastal area.
As they walked along, the scholarly air about the men diminished, and their eyes and features became more resolute.
Sun Shangxiang's face still had that childlike innocence, her skin was a bit tanned, but her eyes were even more lively and bright.
Qiao Jingjing felt the most relaxed.
Although the affairs were numerous and the people involved were many, and there were occasional dangers, they were all turned out to be safe, with capable people such as Lu Xun, Bu Zhi, and Zhuge Jin by their side to share the burden.
For nearly a year, Qiao Jingjing was very happy.
There were smiles on their faces.
In addition, Qiao Jingjing intentionally made the people around her, such as Ye Rong and A Luo, more relaxed, and would chat and laugh with them whenever there was nothing to do.
Wherever there are mountains and water, Qiao Jingjing would take her maid, sister-in-law, and sworn brother to play in the water, climb mountains, and enjoy the scenery.
Thus, the place halfway up the mountain came to be.
Under a vigorous pine tree, Qiao Jingjing and Sun Shangxiang sat facing each other playing chess, while Ye Rong and A Luo sat to the side brewing tea.
Liu Ji then drew this scene on paper.
It has become a beautiful scene.
Qiao Jingjing originally intended to relax.
However, Bu Zhi, Zhuge Jin, and others interpreted it as having a different meaning.
Zhuge Jin believed that Qiao Jingjing intended to bring Sun Shangxiang and Liu Ji, a young couple, together.
Alternatively, it may be thought that Qiao Jingjing meant the same thing as Lady Wu, or even Sun Quan.
The men would occasionally tell jokes to Liu Ji, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
They teased Liu Ji, saying, "Young people are better; they're handsome and knowledgeable, which is why they can win the little princess's favor."
After his father Liu Yao died, Liu Ji spent some lonely days in Yuzhang City.
Fortunately, Sun Ce had a kind heart back then and brought Liu Ji and his younger brothers back from Yuzhang City, and entrusted them to Qiao Jingjing's family to raise.
This led to Liu Ji's peaceful study life and respected status in the years that followed.
Liu Ji also weighed his own position.
In terms of talent, he was certainly not willing to be second to anyone, but when it came to his position, Lady Qiao was now the backbone of Eastern Wu. However, Lady Qiao was not his biological sister, but his adopted sister, and the Qiao family was entirely supported by Lady Qiao alone. The two minor centurions, Qiao Er and Qiao San, and Old Man Qiao were getting old. In the end, such family relationships could not support Liu Ji's reputation.
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