Chapter 58 Concubine.
Before she could take a closer look, he had already lowered his head and kissed her lips.
—Ever since that night, he always did this, and would become affectionate with her whenever he saw her.
But this time was different; he was rough and bit her lips so hard they hurt.
She gasped softly as his lips and tongue lingered on hers. He finally released her, his forehead pressed against hers, still gazing at her with a deep, unfathomable look.
She touched her lips; they were a little swollen. "You hurt me!"
Looking into her moist, glistening eyes and listening to her sweet, coquettish complaints, much of the resentment in his heart dissipated instantly. He chuckled and coaxed her, "Alright, alright, I'll be gentler this time."
"What...?" There's this time too?!
As soon as she opened her mouth, he took advantage of her vulnerability and they separated after a while, both panting. She was limp and only managed to stay upright by leaning on his arm.
His voice was hoarse: "What did you just eat? It's so sweet."
Lingyi was still in a daze, and subconsciously answered, "Do you want some candied bayberries?"
He laughed: "Eating you is enough."
Lingyi quickly covered his mouth as he leaned in again.
—It's really inappropriate for the two of them to be kissing like this in broad daylight without doing anything else.
Qin Lie chuckled: "Didn't your nanny teach you that husband and wife should be close to each other?"
This was something he added specifically; as for things like not being able to get addicted or not being proactive, he crossed them all out.
Lingyi looked at him suspiciously: "How do you know what the old lady taught me?"
In the past, the tutors taught the princess in the palace, and even now that they have left the palace, the prince consort should not know these things.
Especially since the nanny also teaches about marital relations, could it be that he knew about it too? If so, she would be utterly ashamed!
Qin Lie said, "Not only will there be someone to teach the princess, but there will also be someone to teach the prince consort. I have learned all of these before."
That's true. When they got married, someone came to teach the groom proper etiquette.
“They will teach me how to serve the princess well. I think I’ve learned it fairly well. Would the princess like to try it tonight?” He lowered his voice and asked close to her ear.
Having been taught by her governess and even seen a fire-avoidance diagram, Lingyi naturally understood the meaning behind his words.
Her cheeks flushed red, and she stood up, walked to the window, kept her distance from him, and remained silent with her head down.
Seeing her like this, Qin Lie knew that he would not be able to have his way tonight.
It wasn't that he wasn't anxious, but he didn't want her to feel any pressure or reluctance.
Besides, even if there's no relief these days, just spending time together like this is quite pleasant and comforting.
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After lunch, Qin Lie read a book while Ling Yi began copying books.
Although she sincerely wanted to learn, she felt that copying the "Admonitions for Women" was truly useless.
A woman should, of course, remain faithful to her husband until death; even if he doesn't copy books, she would never disobey.
In her heart, once she was married, even if her husband died, she would remain a widow for the rest of her life and would never have the thought of remarrying, let alone committing adultery.
So, she wasn't trying to be lazy; she was simply simplifying things.
Even now that she is a high-ranking official, she still maintains the airs of a princess and is unwilling to be known for disrespecting her teachers.
There are some things that Qin Lie needs to say on her behalf.
So she deliberately sighed, "I'm so tired!"
While complaining of being tired, she secretly glanced at Qin Lie with her dark, round eyes.
Sure enough, as soon as he heard this, he put down his book, came over, took her wrist, rubbed it, and asked with concern, "Does it hurt?"
"It hurts..." Lingyi looked at him pitifully, her voice drawn out, but unfortunately, she couldn't squeeze out any tears to prove it.
Qin Lie could tell she was lying at a glance. After looking at her for so long, he realized she had only copied three pages, which showed that she wasn't focused and it didn't tire her out at all.
But the way she looked at him so pitifully made it clear that she wanted him to take the initiative to stand up for her.
He enjoyed her dependence on him and didn't want to disappoint her.
However, he insisted that she copy the entire "Admonitions for Women" word by word, without allowing any room for discussion.
So he pretended to be angry and said, "This is the Prince's mansion, not the palace. Those two old nannies were hired by me and given generous rewards, yet they still dare to make things difficult for you! I will kick them out of the Prince's mansion right now!"
Upon hearing this, Lingyi pleaded for the nanny: "I've heard that the palace nannies are very strict. They've been too respectful to me, even a little timid. Besides, they're just doing their duty and don't mean to make things difficult for me. Please don't send them away! It's just copying books. If other princesses can copy, so can I!"
Qin Lie chuckled inwardly, but forced a nod and said, "Alright, I'll let them go this time."
Lingyi sat up straight again, picked up her pen, and continued copying.
Qin Lie had gotten what he wanted, but seeing her unhappy expression, he still couldn't bear to part with her.
Walking over, I saw that she had just started copying the second chapter of "Husband and Wife". After thinking for a moment, I said, "How about this, you only need to copy 'Women's Conduct' and 'Concentration', and I will write the rest for you."
The "Admonitions for Women" is divided into seven chapters. The "Women's Conduct" chapter defines the virtues, speech, appearance, and work of women, while the "Concentration" chapter advocates that women should remain faithful to one man until death and not marry twice.
The other articles either describe women as weak and needing to be respectful and obedient, or teach them to be filial to their elders and to maintain harmony with their sisters-in-law.
Lingyi didn't understand why he only asked her to copy these two pieces; she just thought he was being delusional: "Do you think the old women are too blind to see that our handwriting is different?"
Qin Lie smiled slightly, picked up his brush, and wrote a line of characters almost without pausing.
Lingyi looked over, her eyes widened immediately, and her red lips parted slightly.
The paper clearly displayed her delicate yet loosely structured handwriting.
He could write with powerful, elegant strokes, and he could even perfectly imitate her weak, unsteady wrist movements, making it almost indistinguishable from hers.
She looked at the paper, then at him, then at him again, then at the paper again.
His eyes gradually filled with admiration, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "So amazing!"
"It's just a trivial skill." Although his tone was indifferent, a smug look appeared on his face, even more so than when he returned victorious and was flattered by the ministers in the court.
His gaze then fell on her lips, and he asked meaningfully, "Has the princess rewarded me for all this trouble?"
Considering that he had done things for her, and even things that were not to be told to outsiders, Lingyi tiptoed and kissed his cheek.
"This favor is not enough." He sat down with a smile, pressed her onto his lap, lifted her chin, and leaned down to kiss her.
Why need bayberries to enhance the experience? Her tongue is already sweet and her lips and teeth are already brimming with honey, making it impossible to get enough of her!
.
Qin Lie was successful in love, but the opposite was true in the imperial court.
Recently, an imperial censor submitted a memorial accusing the soldiers of looting cities and plundering gold and silver, causing widespread resentment among the people.
This statement is partly true and partly false. Most of those generals rose through the ranks from ordinary soldiers because of their military achievements. They were mostly rough men who risked their lives to win battles. Faced with gold, silver, and women, few could resist the temptation, and it was inevitable that they would not be honest.
However, Qin Lie was extremely strict in disciplining his army, and they only looted the mansions of high-ranking officials in the city, never harassing ordinary people.
However, the censor was a member of the Crown Prince's faction, so naturally some people in the court spoke up for him. In addition, there was gold and silver treasure found in the general's house. That was one thing, but there were also tributes that should have been handed over to the court. It could indeed be considered an overstepping of authority.
This was a blatant test, to see if this Prince Duan was truly detached from worldly desires and didn't even protect his own subordinates.
I'm also curious to see what connections and resources this Prince Duan has, and whether he can protect his subordinates.
Let's also see how His Majesty decides, and judge the status of this Prince Duan in His Majesty's heart.
Many people were waiting to see how Prince Duan would resolve this matter. If he did not protect his subordinates, it would surely discourage his other subordinates. However, if he resolved the matter satisfactorily, it concerned the tribute, so he would have to show some of his skills.
As everyone eagerly awaited the news, the imperial censor was tied up, severely beaten, and then thrown into the bustling marketplace on his way home from court.
Anyone with eyes in the court knows who did this, and even those who don't know will be informed by the Crown Prince's officials.
In an instant, memorials poured in like snowflakes, forming a thick stack on the cabinet desk, yet none could reach the Emperor.
The emperor himself was a military general and didn't care about these things at all.
What are military generals risking their lives to march and fight?
Horses won't get fat without night grass; if they only rely on the government's salary and rewards, who would be willing to risk their lives?
But this can't be said openly.
Although hoarding tribute was disrespectful to the Emperor, how could that mounted archer general know what tribute was? Not only did he not know, but even the Emperor himself did not know before the censor presented the memorial, only thinking it was an excellent piece of embroidery. This general did not recognize it either, which is why he gave the embroidery to a lover in a brothel, and thus the censor seized on this, causing this whole commotion.
Not only did Prince Duan have subordinates, but the Emperor, who also came from a military background, also had a group of old subordinates.
If we're going to meticulously calculate the spoils, no one's hands are clean.
Therefore, the Emperor was bound to side with Prince Duan in this matter, also to reassure his old subordinates.
Before he could even make a move, Prince Duan did. Thinking of his son's methods, the Emperor felt both helpless and amused. "Qin Lie," he thought, "truly lives up to the name his grandfather gave him. He's as fiery as fire, intolerant of the slightest injustice, and in the end, I have to clean up his mess."
The emperor, who had not worried about his son for a long time, suddenly felt a surge of fatherly affection, even though he had suspected that Prince Duan was pretending to be low-key and had ulterior motives.
Looking back at the Crown Prince, his methods became increasingly sophisticated, and he handled everything flawlessly, leaving no room for criticism.
Such a perfect successor must have greatly pleased the court officials; otherwise, so many people wouldn't have followed him to impeach Prince Duan!
The Emperor was displeased, feeling that the Crown Prince's faction was too hasty.
He naturally understood the concerns of the Crown Prince's faction—if he were in the position of Crown Prince, having such a distinguished younger brother would probably make it difficult for him to eat or sleep.
But he was the emperor, and whether it was the crown prince or the Prince Duan, they were all his sons.
He believes he is in his prime and that a balance of power between the two sides is the situation he most desires.
If they share the same sentiments, then he should be the one who has difficulty eating and sleeps at night.
Today is the first day of the lunar month, and the Emperor, as is customary, came to the Empress's palace.
The Emperor had long since lost any romantic feelings for the Empress; all that remained was the affection of an old married couple.
He came here not only to give the Empress and the Empress a dignified presence, but also for the sake of the Crown Prince and Prince Duan.
After the meal, the Emperor brought up matters of the previous dynasty, hoping that the Empress would persuade the Crown Prince.
In the Emperor's eyes, Prince Duan had relinquished his military power, lived a secluded life, and never interacted with other court officials; he was ready to retire.
On the contrary, the Crown Prince's faction was pressing him aggressively. He favored the Crown Prince, but he did not want to see them so arrogant.
He wanted his two sons to check and balance each other, but that didn't mean he wanted to see them end up fighting to the death.
He originally intended to use this opportunity to subtly intimidate the Crown Prince, but the Empress completely missed the point of his words and kept talking about her nephews and nieces. She mentioned what gifts this person had given her and what that person had done for her. Her family members were all extremely filial, not only pure in their filial piety but also capable and loyal. All that was missing was for the Emperor to entrust them with important responsibilities.
He would hear these words every time he came over; they were nothing more than people asking for official positions and titles.
The emperor was filled with disappointment, feeling that if this happened a few more times, the little remaining affection between husband and wife would be completely worn away.
Fortunately, after speaking for a while, the Empress finally turned to the Crown Princess, saying, "She is a filial daughter. When I was unwell a while ago, she took care of me for more than half a month without taking off her clothes, and she didn't even step out of the palace gates. Not only is she filial, but she is also generous. Now both of the Crown Princesses in the Eastern Palace are pregnant, and the Crown Prince has few children. This time, perhaps one or two more grandsons will be added, and only then will my heart be at peace."
The Crown Prince has only one son, who is in poor health, which is a source of criticism from the court officials. Only by having more grandsons can the officials be appeased.
"And then there's Prince Duan. It's one thing that he's been busy with military campaigns, but now that he's settled in the capital, his household should have someone. Otherwise, what kind of talk is it if he doesn't even have someone to manage the household affairs?" The Empress muttered. "Those noble ladies in the capital are indeed incomparable to those in Jizhou. I'm envious of them. Does he not even like any of them?"
When she started nagging about the children, the Emperor immediately became more lenient with her. These days, only the Empress Dowager and the Empress could chat with him about everyday matters. There were so many fresh and beautiful women in the harem; no matter how much pleasure he felt during the moment, he would feel lonely afterward. Those fresh and delicate faces, uttering similar auspicious words, all made him feel like he was basking in a spring breeze. It wasn't that it was disrespectful, but hearing it too often made him uneasy. What was the purpose of all this flattery?
Only the Empress could put his mind at ease. Admittedly, she had selfish motives towards the Zhen family, but when it came to the child, their goals were the same. She would never harm the child, nor would she ever harm him.
He suggested to her: "In a few days, find a reason to hold a palace banquet, and bring over a few noble ladies who are both talented and beautiful. I will call the Third Prince over so he can choose one for himself. Even if he can't find a principal wife, he can at least choose a concubine to marry into the household!"
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The Emperor and Empress were concerned about their son's affairs in the inner quarters, unaware that Qin Lie was also troubled by the same issues in his own household.
Not only is land in the capital incredibly valuable, but it is also teeming with powerful and influential officials. Even the residences of princes in the capital cannot compare to the former residence of the General of Jizhou.
The Prince Duan's Mansion was built by merging two other residences, thus increasing its size. Consequently, the backyard was divided into east and west sections, separated by a hanging flower gate.
Qin Shuo and Qin Can lived in the west courtyard. They were busy with their studies and rarely came to the east courtyard unless summoned.
Lingyi was unaware of the existence of the West Courtyard; the group lived in the Prince's Mansion but were unaware of each other's existence.
Unfortunately, Princess Qin Yinrong, who was supposed to return to Jizhou with her maternal grandmother to visit her family, said she would wait until the autumn weather was more comfortable before returning. However, she returned to her residence early without prior notice.
She lived in the east courtyard. Seeing maids coming and going in the formerly empty courtyard, she stepped in out of curiosity and bumped right into the princess.
Qin Xiaoshan touched his forehead to the ground: "It was my momentary negligence that allowed the princess to barge in. Please punish me, Your Highness!"
Qin Lie closed his eyes. Qin Xiaoshan had been with him for over a decade and was the most capable person he could be.
Qin Lie had previously promoted him to deputy general, but unfortunately, he was seriously injured and plagued by nightmares. Qin Xiaoshan was worried about him and volunteered to continue serving him. Otherwise, based on Qin Lie's military achievements over the years, as his deputy general, he would at least be a fourth-rank general by now.
Now that his nightmares had subsided considerably, and considering that the princess had been found and there were only a few people left in the manor, he figured there wouldn't be any major trouble. That's why he had Qin Xiaoshan familiarize himself with military affairs so that he could be assigned a task later. For this reason, Qin Xiaoshan wasn't at the manor today, but had gone to the military camp.
Who would have thought that it was precisely during this brief interval that the princess returned to her residence, as if by divine intervention.
Qin Lie stepped towards the backyard. "How is the princess?"
Qin Xiaoshan got up and followed, "The princess said some...unpleasant things. After hearing them, the princess locked herself in her room and wouldn't let anyone in. As for the specifics...I...I don't know."
Upon hearing this, Qin Lie quickened his pace and soon arrived at the princess's courtyard. He pushed open the door and saw the princess sitting by the window, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
He slowly walked over and sat down beside her as usual, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to lie to her and fool her.
This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this, but it was hateful that Xie San Niang had exposed him last time.
Now he has even more power to cover things up. As long as he wants to hide something, even if she has any doubts, she will never be able to find any evidence.
Over time, all doubts will fade away. When they have children in the future, she will have no choice but to follow him wholeheartedly.
Even if it's exposed then, it won't have any impact anymore.
He usually plans things out before acting, but this time his concern caused him to panic and he came too hastily, failing to explain himself before he could even speak.
And her eyes were already looking over.
Her skin was fair all over, naturally radiant and smooth, a complexion rarely seen even in Jiangnan, and possessed the translucency that comes from being pampered as a princess.
Perhaps because of this, the color of their eyebrows and eyes is lighter than that of ordinary people.
The sunlight outside the window was bright and clear, filtering through the leaves by the window and falling on her face. Her eyes, as moist as amber, looked at him.
He knew she was waiting for his explanation.
His mind raced, and several lies were already forming, but looking into her clear eyes, he couldn't bring himself to speak.
At that moment, he would rather she angrily question him than have her look at him calmly like this.
In a hurry, he looked away.
Lingyi's heart sank.
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