Chapter 108: Precognitive Dream (Qin Lie)
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The couple hadn't seen each other for months, and as soon as they met, they had a huge fight.
The fight caused Qin Lie's wound to reopen and he almost lost too much blood, while Ling Yi caught a cold and developed a fever. Even two days later when Granny Qian arrived, the two were still lying in bed. Granny Qian sighed in exasperation: "What a pair of sworn enemies!"
Fortunately, Qin Lie managed to dodge a fatal blow by turning to the side at the crucial moment. He only needs to rest and is not in great danger.
Lingyi only caught a chill; after taking some medicine and sweating it out, she was fine.
Under Granny Qian's meticulous care, the two were able to get up within a few days, and the three of them sat at a table to eat.
At first, Granny Qian refused to sit down, but since she wouldn't sit, Lingyi and Qin Lie stood with her, and that's how the three of them ended up sitting at a table.
Since that night, Lingyi and Qin Lie have been recuperating in different courtyards and have not seen each other since.
Upon meeting, Qin Lie's eyes fell on her. Although Ling Yi only spoke to Granny Qian from beginning to end and deliberately avoided looking at him, one could still feel the burning heat and heavy pressure from him.
Lingyi felt no joy, only fear. She felt as if she was about to be engulfed by flames and crushed by a mountain.
Not satisfied with that, he insisted on forcing her to say she liked it.
But his expression was too solemn, his eyes too deep, making it difficult for her to breathe. She didn't have time to think much; only one thought remained in her mind: escape! Escape as far away as possible!
So, when she couldn't break free from his grip, she instinctively bit his wrist until she tasted blood. After he released her, she panicked and turned to leave.
He tried to pull her up again, but only managed to grab the hem of her skirt. Injured and powerless, he was pulled down by her and fell off the bed, his wound reopening. She lay on the floor, her face flushed, her body alternating between heat and cold, unable even to get up.
If it weren't for Qin Xiaoshan being there, they probably would have really become a pair of doomed lovers.
Even after these past few days, Lingyi still feels ashamed whenever she thinks of that scene.
So she turned her body further away, not wanting to see the culprit even out of the corner of her eye.
As uncomfortable as Ling Yi was, Qin Lie was just as shameless. He sat down at the table and said that he couldn't lift his right arm and needed someone to feed him porridge.
There were only three people at the table; Qin Xiaoshan was standing next to them...
Lingyi wanted to pretend she didn't hear, but Granny Qian was smiling at her. She still had to live in the Prince's mansion, so she couldn't leave the old lady with any more impressions of marital discord. Gritting her teeth, she picked up the bowl and turned to face him, only to meet his smiling eyes. She didn't want to look, so she lowered her eyes and focused on the white porridge.
I scooped up a full spoonful and handed it to him, but he kept his lips tightly pressed together and refused to open them.
Lingyi knew he was deliberately making things difficult, but she couldn't expose him in front of Granny Qian, so she patiently said softly, "General, please have some."
Qin Lie then opened his mouth and let her feed him a mouthful. He swallowed it, licked his lips, and said, "This porridge is really sweet."
It's clearly four words, but the first two are spoken lightly and quickly, while the last two are spoken heavily and slowly.
It's hard to tell what they're praising just by listening to it.
Lingyi couldn't hold back any longer. She turned her back to Granny Qian and glared at him fiercely. He raised his eyebrows, curled his lips into a smile, and laughed heartily.
Compared to before when he would get angry and rage at the drop of a hat, his temper has been unusually good these past few days.
As soon as he was able to get out of bed, he went to see her, but she refused to let him in. If it were any other time, he would have kicked the door open without hesitation. But now he was all smiles and gentle, even with a humble attitude. He told her to take good care of herself outside the door, and then left without saying another word.
Lingyi naturally wouldn't let her guard down just because of his attitude.
In the past, his temper was characterized by sudden outbursts of anger; now, his method is to act subserviently.
He was high above her, doing whatever he wanted, and she was the only one forced to adapt and helplessly accept it.
Fortunately, he didn't cause any more trouble after that, and we finally finished our meal.
Before he finished rinsing his mouth and spoke, Lingyi asked to go learn how to make pastries from Granny Qian, using the opportunity to escape from Qin Lie.
Lingyi had originally planned to rely on Granny Qian to shield her from the situation and then return to Jizhou together.
To avoid him constantly needing her to come to his room to take care of him, even though his injuries were worse when she wasn't there, he didn't have so many problems. But as soon as she came, he was either thirsty or hungry, or cold or hot, forcing her to keep her gaze fixed on him.
Once he returns to Jizhou, his enthusiasm may have subsided. Even if it hasn't, he will only return to the backyard at night, at least he will have some leisure time during the day.
Little did anyone know that Granny Qian had sharp eyes and had learned six or seven tenths of the old lady's kung fu, and had already noticed the strangeness between the two.
Previously, when he saw the couple, the Third Young Master always seemed somewhat tense, but this time he was lazy and relaxed, like a lion patrolling its territory or a peacock preparing to spread its tail feathers, exuding an indescribable ease and comfort.
Granny Qian was not so oblivious as to stand between the two of them. Besides, the rumor that the Third Young Master was seriously injured and on the verge of death was just that—a rumor. He was recovering better every day. And since she was worried about the Old Madam, she took her leave after a few days and wanted to return to Jizhou.
Lingyi wanted to go back with her, but was persuaded by her saying, "The Third Young Master's injuries have not healed yet, and someone needs to take care of him here." She could only watch helplessly as she left.
As soon as Granny Qian's carriage left, Qin Lie naturally took Lingyi's hand.
This was the entrance, and there were not only passersby but also a bunch of servants nearby. Lingyi wanted to pull her hand back, but Qin Lie held it very tightly, and she couldn't break free. He led her to the back.
Qin Xiaoshan had prepared a carriage in advance. Qin Lie lifted her up and said with a smile, "Come on, let your husband take you to admire the flowers!"
Before revealing his true feelings, Qin Lie was always conflicted and uneasy, and he was constantly sulking.
Once you admit it, instead of feeling ashamed, you feel a sense of sudden enlightenment.
In military campaigns, the worst thing is to stay put and waste military supplies. Once the mission is determined, it doesn't matter if it's difficult; just get it done.
Is the difficulty of falling in love comparable to that of fighting a war?
When his grandfather placed high hopes on him, he had read a lot of cheesy poems, which were nothing more than talented men and beautiful women, romance under the moon and flowers, what's so difficult about that?
Therefore, as soon as Granny Qian left, he couldn't wait to bring her to admire the plum blossoms.
He had also prepared a pot of fine wine for the evening, just in time to drink it with her.
In this way, these two pieces are considered complete.
Ke Lingyi was not a refined person to begin with. Although she felt that it was unnecessary to drive dozens of miles in the cold to see a plum grove, she could not accept it. However, she found it hard to understand why it was happening to the two of them.
If it's with the Sixteenth Princess or Lady Zhen, it's just like going out for some fresh air, chatting and laughing, and there's still some novelty and fun.
Unable to stand being stared at any longer, she asked irritably, "Why are you looking at me instead of the flowers?"
Qin Lie said, "You are prettier than a flower."
The gnarled and twisted tree trunk and the sparse, pale flowers were really nothing to look at.
I don't know where those literati and poets got so much praise for it, saying that it was born in the cold, had no intention of competing for spring, and was proud and unyielding.
What a joke! Winter plum blossoms and autumn chrysanthemums are simply natural phenomena; why insist on attributing them with so many imagined qualities?
If being born in the cold is worthy of praise, then why doesn't it grow in the heat of summer? Is it because it fears the heat?
Moreover, the plum blossom is always absent when all flowers are vying for beauty, which shows that it is a cowardly and inferior thing that cannot be presented in a respectable way.
In the palace, what Lingyi saw most often was a group of concubines gathered together. No matter how they fought in public, it was all considered elegant. Poetry, painting, music, and chess were all tools to showcase their talents. The plum blossom theme had been used countless times, and she was already tired of it. Not to mention Xie Yu, who taught her to write poetry. He started with poems about plum blossoms. In his words, plum blossoms could never be wrong. Everyone thought their ambitions were lofty and unconventional, whether in the harem or the court.
This was a rare instance of him showing a sarcastic attitude, and Lingyi still remembers it to this day.
Unexpectedly, she was so engrossed in hearing this kind of "twisted logic" from Qin Lie for the first time that she couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her eyes widened at first, and then she couldn't help but chuckle.
Her smile was like a peach blossom in full bloom, a peony in shy blush, making all the plum blossoms in the forest pale in comparison.
Qin Lie held her hand and asked, "How is it? Don't you think I'm different from everyone else now, and like me even more?"
Upon hearing this, Lingyi's smile immediately vanished.
When she and Xie Yu were in love before, they would only try to spend more time together, smile at each other, and occasionally give each other gifts. They also had to be careful to maintain the proper distance between men and women so as not to give others anything to gossip about.
Liking someone is like an occasional exchange of glances, subtle and secretive, unspoken and sweet.
Qin Lie's actions didn't seem like affection at all; they sounded more like coercion!
Lingyi shook off his hand and walked forward, but Qin Lie didn't care and followed closely behind.
She must have liked him to some extent; he only found out later that she had braved such a heavy snowstorm just to come to his side.
What women value in a man is power and status, and he has none of those qualities.
In terms of affection, he believed he was ten thousand times better than Xie Yu.
Even in terms of appearance, which he felt was the least important thing for a man, he was no less than anyone else.
In her past life, he didn't give her a proper title, took Huan'er away, and broke her heart.
She has already changed her ways in this life, so there's no reason for her not to like herself.
She's just naturally shy and embarrassed to admit it.
He grasped her hand again, holding it tightly in his palm, and said solemnly, "I've said many hurtful things and done many wrong things in the past, hurting your feelings. But you're also stubborn and have committed mistakes that no man could forgive." Her bewildered expression was truly adorable, and he couldn't help but lower his head to kiss her, his voice becoming indistinct, "We'll forgive and forget everything from the past, including what happened to your father and brothers. From now on, you must love me more, and only me. If you can do that, we'll live a good life together; if you can't, I will definitely take revenge for all my past grievances. This time, I will show no mercy!"
Lingyi blinked. She didn't quite understand everything Qin Lie said, nor did she know why he seemed a little angry at the end.
But she clearly heard him say that he wanted to live a good life with her.
Finally hearing those words, she felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. She lowered her eyes, smiled, and nestled gently into his arms. "Okay."
.
The ancients were right; while the time spent among flowers may be somewhat boring, the time spent under the moon is undeniably more meaningful.
Lingyi couldn't bear his intense gaze any longer and had to drink to avoid it. Although she sipped it little by little, she still got quite drunk. This was a boon for Qin Lie, who spent the whole night coaxing and cajoling her, indulging in countless novelties. If it weren't for the fact that he had an arm in a sling, he probably would have kept her up until dawn.
What's even more surprising is that the princess is the kind of person who, when drunk, doesn't act crazy but just silently blacks out.
I have absolutely no recollection of what happened after I drank last night.
Qin Lie immediately decided that if a couple had to establish some kind of rule, the three monthly moonlit drinks must be the top priority, and everyone must strictly abide by it like a military order; otherwise, they would be considered deserters and would need to be severely punished.
Speaking of punishment...
A burning sensation rose in Qin Lie's abdomen, and his eyes darkened.
Unfortunately, Lingyi was oblivious to romance. Although she couldn't remember the details, the two of them were now lying naked together, their physical sensations so distinct, that she naturally knew what had happened last night.
When Huan'er was six months old, her menstrual flow had resumed. Now, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. She hadn't expected this to happen when she came; she hadn't brought any contraceptives. Fortunately, it was difficult to conceive these past two days, but once the contraception was lifted, if she stayed any longer, given Qin Lie's enthusiasm for sex, there would surely be consequences she didn't want to see.
So she suggested to Qin Lie that they return to Jizhou. There was no need to make up a reason at all. He was recovering well and was no longer afraid of the bumpy road. Besides, it was almost the end of the year, so of course he wanted to go back to the palace for the New Year.
Qin Lie, however, was unwilling.
Once you get back, there will be endless things to deal with.
Even if one has some leisure time, there's no reason for a grown man to spend all his days loitering in the backyard.
How could things ever be like this again, where I can see her as soon as I look up and hug her as soon as I reach out?
Qin Lie knew this idea was dangerous, as it carried a hint of infatuation with beauty.
He has fought in many battles and made great contributions. Now that he is injured, shouldn't he reward himself?
Besides, it's only natural for couples to be loving and affectionate; how can that be considered self-degradation?
Not only did he refuse to go back, he also asked Qin Xiaoshan to bring Huan'er over so the family of three could spend the New Year in Huangzhou.
Huan'er's arrival only allowed Lingyi to escape Qin Lie's clingy behavior and burning gaze during the day. But at night, after the wet nurse took Huan'er away, the intertwined breaths, ardent kisses, and scalding embraces would overwhelm her.
Although it had been like this before, those were either marital obligations or exchanges of benefits, and she had no reason to refuse, so she could only accept them.
But now, his focused gaze, his wandering hands, and his moist lips and teeth wove a large net, binding her tightly within it, forcing her to endure, every thread and knot flowing with sticky love.
In the past, Lingyi would not have believed that someone's love could be so intense as to be tangible and impossible to ignore.
She was alarmed and slightly annoyed by it.
She longed for the innate blood ties of family and the recognition and respect from the world. As for those ethereal emotions, although she had dreamed of them, she always hoped to only dabble in something uncontrollable and never get deeply involved.
Moreover, the more vibrant and beautiful the scene, the more it will eventually fade away and disappear in disappointment.
Only by maintaining a steady and continuous flow can one remain evergreen and invincible.
She believed Qin Lie liked her; after all, he had no reason to lie to her.
But so what?
He has status, power, and a vast sky to roam freely; love is simply too insignificant to him.
Moreover, liking something is never static.
He likes her now, he liked Cheng Hui and Aunt Liu before, and he will like many, many more people in the future.
She lived in a tiny place; no matter how big the palace was, she could only see the sky in four corners when she looked up.
Once feelings develop, the entanglement inevitably becomes more and more burdensome.
To rashly give away one's heart can lead to heartbreak at best, and even death at worst.
She had seen too many such things in the palace, even her mother was no exception, so how could she dare to repeat the same mistakes?
Lingyi truly didn't understand that even if it weren't for such chaotic times, being able to live a peaceful and uneventful life would be something many people dreamed of.
Why does it have to be so extreme when it comes to Qin Lie?
They are either moody and unpredictable, or passionate and intensely affectionate.
Why must she respond with the same passionate affection?
Forced into a corner, she had no choice but to play along, pretending to be deeply in love with him.
He seemed to believe her, and even enjoyed it somewhat, but at night, he would curse her in a harsh voice, leaving teeth marks all over her body, forcing her to hug him tightly and repeatedly say that he liked her before he would reluctantly stop.
Aside from these private matters that are best left unsaid, the New Year was quite fulfilling.
There are no family dinners where you're destined to sit on the sidelines, and no outsiders to deal with. You can sleep until noon every day, eat whatever you want, and do nothing if you don't want to.
Anyway, she is the most respected person in this mansion, so there is no need to worry about losing face.
What delighted Lingyi even more was that Huan'er had learned to walk, so her greatest entertainment these days was taking a rattle drum and teasing him to walk step by step.
Huan'er had just learned to walk, so it was inevitable that he would fall down sometimes. However, Qin Lie wouldn't allow anyone to help him up. Lingyi could only watch as Huan'er sat on the ground and cried. After crying for a while, he realized he had no one to rely on, so he stuck his bottom out and huffed and puffed to his feet. He then staggered into her arms, his big eyes still wet with tears as he looked at her. In Lingyi's eyes, Huan'er was silently condemning her for her cruelty.
Lingyi's heart immediately softened, and she hugged Huan'er, coaxing and explaining, "Good Huan'er, you're so clever! You got up and found your mother by yourself! I wanted to hug you just now, but your father wouldn't let me. Let's ignore him, he's a bad person!"
Huan'er, drooling, repeated indistinctly, "Daddy...bad!"
Heaven and Earth, the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues—how can a son possibly scold his father?!
Qin Lie raised an eyebrow, ready to teach her a lesson, but seeing Ling Yi's smiling eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say anything more.
After a pause, he had someone bring him writing materials. After the wet nurse took Huan'er away, he called Lingyi over to take a look.
Lingyi glanced at it casually and saw that the paper depicted the scene of her holding Huan'er. The image was very lifelike, and the joy in it was almost palpable through the paper.
It was as if the village in Huangzhou in her dream had been reenacted. She was amazed by his superb painting skills, and he repeated what he had said back then.
In the end, even though I knew I shouldn't, I still blurted out that sarcastic question.
"What does the princess think of this painting compared to Xie Yucheng's famous 'Autumn Dwelling in the Mountains'?"
In her dream, she didn't know why he asked her that question. Even she herself didn't understand why she cared so much about Xie Yu and wanted to compare herself to him in everything.
But at this moment, they all knew perfectly well that he was jealous, and even though they knew it was a long-standing jealousy, he was jealous without any shame, and even felt justified in it!
His gaze was fixed on her, wanting to see how she would respond this time.
Lingyi pondered for a moment and said, "Naturally, the general's painting is superior, but..."
She frowned slightly, and Qin Lie immediately felt nervous. "But what?"
"Only if the general could also include himself in the painting, would this painting be truly complete." She looked at him with boundless tenderness. "With the general, we are truly a family."
Even though he knew she was deliberately saying things he wanted to hear, Qin Lie couldn't help but smile so wide it almost reached the sky. He even stroked his non-existent beard and said, "Princess, you have excellent taste. No wonder you have such a wonderful husband!"
Even someone as particular about her demeanor as Lingyi had to endure it for a while before she could show any disgust at his childish and pointless competitive spirit and shamelessness.
It's not entirely without its advantages that Qin Lie likes her.
He was a restless man, and arrogant about his health. As soon as his injuries improved slightly, he refused to continue taking his medicine. Finding the room stuffy, he even wanted to go out and ride horses. In the past, who would dare to stop him, and who could stop him? But now, as long as Lingyi tugged at his sleeve and feigned a tearful, worried look, he would immediately shut up and do whatever the doctor told him to do. If his former teachers saw this, they would probably want to vomit blood, regretting that they were born at the wrong time.
After discovering this, Lingyi thought that since he insisted on liking her, she might as well like him for a longer time, preferably until Huan'er grew up and became independent, and she and her son no longer needed his protection.
[Author's Note]
I wrote too much; it didn't even finish in October, which was beyond my expectations.
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