Your Majesty's Insight
The late night is a rare quiet time in the bustling city of Shanghai; even the sound of a needle falling would seem like someone deliberately making a noise.
Foam splattered on the washboard, and Qingcheng's frostbitten fingers continued to rub vigorously. Her throat felt like it was stuck with a fishbone, unable to swallow or spit it out. She tried hard to control her sobs, but tears kept streaming down her face. Stains on clothes could be washed away, but the stains in her heart could never be cleaned.
Everything is irreversible!
Her cold fingers traced her cheek. She didn't want this, she really didn't. If the traitors had chosen to be ordinary people from the beginning, living a prosperous life, no one would have complained about them, and they wouldn't have had to live in constant fear, only to betray them at the last minute and earn the infamous reputation of traitors.
They had clearly chosen the difficult path of revolution, so they should have anticipated the consequences. In the end, however, they could not resist their instincts and not only betrayed their beliefs but also betrayed the comrades who trusted them.
But what am I? What right do I have to judge them on behalf of the organization, or even take away their lives? We are all just ordinary people. She also wants to live. What right does she have to despise other people's instinct to survive?
The guilt overflowing in my chest was like a broken faucet that I couldn't turn off no matter how hard I tried.
Suddenly, a strange knocking sound broke the silence of the night. Qingcheng wiped the tears off her face haphazardly, her mind blank, and mechanically went to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, before Qingcheng could even see who it was, she was pulled into an embrace. Their bodies fit together perfectly, without a single gap. A sigh came from beside her, as if he had let out a long sigh of relief.
Oh, it's Ah Xiao! Qingcheng recognized who it was: "Why aren't you sleeping?"
"That's what I should be asking you. Why isn't the Sleepy Fairy sleeping? She's turned into a bubble spirit." Gao Junxiao wiped a clump of foam off Qingcheng's face and blew on it playfully. "You're doing laundry again. Why don't you ask me to do it for you too?"
Who is this "bubble spirit"? This scoundrel of a man has given himself all sorts of ridiculous nicknames again, and he even expects me to do his laundry. Qingcheng's pent-up grievances slowly resurfaced, and she punched Gao Junxiao hard.
"Don't mess with me, I'm in a bad mood too. None of them are giving me any peace of mind." Gao Junxiao complained as he skillfully closed the door and went inside, standing in front of the fireplace with a smile to admire the water lily oil painting.
"What are you doing? Get out. Your room is downstairs." Qingcheng dismissed him without a second thought; she needed to be alone.
"Don't be so quick to kick me out. I'm not a guest. Hmm, your sofa smells better." Ignoring the objections, Gao Junxiao sprawled on the sofa, crossing his legs like a big shot.
"Get out! You're trespassing! I'm calling the police!" Qingcheng tried to pull his arm, but the man wouldn't budge.
Suddenly, he pulled Qingcheng onto his lap, their lips almost touching. Gao Junxiao said casually, "Go ahead and report it. Anyway, the detective in charge of this area is my brother's subordinate."
Qingcheng struggled to get up, but her waist was held even tighter. Her nose was stuffy and she said in a tearful voice, "You say it is, so it is?"
“That’s right, even an upright official can’t settle family disputes. Everyone knows you’re my wife. If anyone doesn’t understand, I’ll show them.” Gao Junxiao kissed her cheek with lightning speed.
The warm breath felt so real, and Qingcheng seemed to have found a way to vent her emotions. She pushed the man away forcefully, buried her face in the armrest, and cried bitterly: "Ugh, you were upset outside, and then you came home and bullied me."
"If I don't bully you, who else would I bully? Stop crying." Gao Junxiao slapped her butt with his unruly hand.
He didn't use any force at all, but Qingcheng cried even harder: "Waaah~ You scoundrel, you still hit me."
Suppressed laughter came from behind. Gao Junxiao handed over a handkerchief, his mouth still smirking: "So what if I hit you? Who told you to be naughty? Your cute little face is all swollen from crying. Who's going to compensate me for my little princess with her flawless skin?"
She snatched the handkerchief and blew her nose as usual, then pouted, "What's it to you if my face is swollen?"
Gao Junxiao leaned closer and said firmly, "Are you crying your eyes out? You're my wife, your problems are my problems, and I'm very protective of my own. No matter right or wrong, I'll only stand by your side. So can you tell me why you're unhappy?"
A warmth spread through her heart, and Qingcheng realized that the way the two were hugging from behind was too ambiguous. She turned her face away shyly and said, "Nonsense! It's just an engagement. I'm not married to you yet. Go away! I don't want to see you. Go away! Go away!"
"You're not going to show me any mercy, then I'm leaving." Gao Junxiao got up and took two steps, then suddenly turned 180 degrees and lay down on Qingcheng's lap, shamelessly announcing, "Hey, I'm back again."
Taking advantage of his advances, Qingcheng angrily punched him, only to have Gao Junxiao grab her slender hand and kiss it: "For the sake of my sincerity, tell me quickly."
Under her boyfriend's expectant gaze, Qingcheng hesitated and said, "I don't understand why some people, as time goes by, just become strangers to you?"
Gao Junxiao said in a pretentious manner, "It's normal. According to Taoist theory, to cultivate the divine, one must first cultivate the demonic; to cultivate the demonic, one must first cultivate the human; to cultivate the human, one must first cultivate the Tao; to cultivate the Tao, one must first cultivate the mind. All Taoist methods are natural, and all natural methods are Taoist methods."
After reciting a string of incomprehensible sutras, Qingcheng's head spun even more. Annoyed, she pinched the man and told him to get to the point.
"Their willpower wasn't strong enough. They didn't even behave properly, yet they wanted to skip levels in cultivation, so they failed," Gao Junxiao said in one breath. "Let me ask you a question first: do you believe in ghosts?"
"A ghost? I don't believe it. Oh! There was something glowing blue, about the size of an egg. Then, when you came in, I patted it and it flew away." Seeing Gao Junxiao's stunned expression, Qingcheng feigned ignorance and looked at his shoulder. "It was probably a large firefly from the south, or a bioluminescent moth, nothing serious. Oh dear, you still have some fluorescent powder on your shoulder..."
Before she could finish speaking, Gao Junxiao took off his coat and shook it three times. Even if he wasn't afraid, his aversion to large insects was ingrained in his bones.
Seeing Gao Junxiao acting foolishly and questioning his existence in the middle of the night, Qingcheng's mood seemed less depressed, and a clear smile appeared on her face.
When Gao Junxiao realized he had been tricked, he flipped over and pinned Qingcheng beneath him: "Look at you, so capable, able to control your crying and laughing so easily. Sometimes I wonder if you've been acting all along. What season is it now? Where would you find fireflies and bioluminescent moths? How could you even come up with that?"
"Hehe, I used to be a believer in science, but seeing you, I feel that lustful ghosts still exist. Where were your eyes looking just now?" Qingcheng gave the man a flick on the forehead without saying a word, since this lecherous ghost had been staring at her neckline.
"It hurts, so what? It's only natural for me to look at my own wife. If I were looking at someone else's wife, you'd be in a hurry." Gao Junxiao showed no remorse whatsoever.
"Want to see others too?" Qingcheng's cold gaze swept over Gao Junxiao. He's really gotten bold!
"I was just thinking, it was just a casual remark." Gao Junxiao swallowed and took a step back.
She threw a cushion at the man, then put her hands on her hips and yelled into his ear, "Thinking about it is a sin!"
"Then show me yours!" Gao Junxiao covered his ears, his voice rising uncontrollably.
The words of agreement almost slipped out, but Qingcheng stopped them in her tracks: "Ha, you really dare to ask? How do you keep your skin so thick as a city wall?"
As if he had heard a compliment, Gao Junxiao said earnestly, "Humans are so complex. Food and sex are human nature, plunder and destruction are demonic, while national integrity and the revival of China are divine. And what we have revered since the time of Yan and Huang is people full of divinity."
"So, what level have you reached in your cultivation?" Qingcheng stared at him, waiting to see what other tricks he could come up with. Human pursuits gradually rise from material abundance to spiritual fulfillment; this is a natural law.
“Of course I’m human. Too much divinity goes against humanity. I haven’t seen through the illusions of the world!” Gao Junxiao looked at Qingcheng, her reflection shimmering in his clear black eyes. “However, a gentleman seeks harmony without seeking uniformity. In this chaotic world, if we have to fight against bad people, we must first understand their methods and be even more ruthless and vicious than them. Sometimes, when I do things, my methods aren’t exactly honorable, but I do it for good. So I’m still a good person because my heart is set on the light. You are the same.”
The water lilies in the oil painting seemed to bloom behind Gao Junxiao, making his face shine. The faint fragrance of the lotus was exceptionally alluring. Qingcheng was momentarily lost in thought, her bright, star-like eyes magnified before her eyes, and she gently placed a kiss on his lips, cautiously like a deer sipping water by a spring.
The two gazed intently at each other, as if they could see the vastness of the world in each other's eyes. Idealists are always hopelessly stubborn, but fortunately, with you, I am not alone on this path.
It was Kiyosumi who came to her senses first. She looked away from his panicked eyes, patted him on the shoulder like a brother, and encouraged him to keep going, assuring him that she would always believe in him. Then she pressed on, "But what if you hurt innocent people when you use tricks?"
Having gotten the better deal, Gao Junxiao didn't tease her as usual. He simply took her hand gently and sighed, "You feel guilty, so you've gripped your hand like this. Don't do it again. Have you done anything to betray your country and people?"
"Of course not." Kiyosumi denied it outright, turning her body away from him, both embarrassed and annoyed that her wound on her hand had been discovered, and furious that her boyfriend had questioned her principles.
Gao Junxiao gently pinched her nose and said, "That's settled then. The problem has already arisen, so there's no need to dwell on the process. Great people don't concern themselves with trifles. I think you've done very well. You're only human, after all. Just keep moving forward towards your goal, and in the future, cultivate your demonic nature to the point where you can control it at will, and that'll be about it."
Suddenly, Qingcheng realized that she couldn't let herself be defeated. Whether she lived or died, since she dared to carry out the revolution, she had to see it through to the end. The mission of the proletariat was to liberate the whole world and let our descendants enjoy peace as naturally as breathing and drinking water.
She was too protective of her reputation, which was why she was so confused. She should think of her comrades fighting in the heart of the enemy; the dirty work they faced was far more difficult than her own.
Having been in the organization for so long, she had to overcome her innate sensitivity, shed all her burdens, and resolutely take the leap.
The discomfort on her stomach brought Qingcheng back to her senses. Gao Junxiao pinched her flabby flesh while muttering, "You've lost a bit of weight. Have you not eaten again?"
Sure enough, this spineless man wouldn't stay still for more than three seconds.
Qingcheng calmly pulled his hand away, put on a smile and flattered him in return: "I can't help it, I'm so happy to have your favor at my age, I can't sleep at night. Just seeing you makes me feel full, even a little stuffed. If you have nothing else to do, you can leave gracefully."
"Hey, I braved wind and rain, and I didn't even get to taste a bite of hot mutton before you're kicking me out. You should at least let me smell it and know if it's good or not." Gao Junxiao hugged her and took two deep breaths, a satisfied smile on his face.
Shameless! Qingcheng quickly pulled over a cushion to separate the two: "No way, wait a little longer, it's not cooked enough yet, I'm afraid your stomach won't be able to handle it if it's undercooked."
"Heh, Miss He, you really know how to talk, and you're still a bit awkward. Maybe we're not familiar enough? You should have said so earlier, and I would have added fuel to the fire." Gao Junxiao squinted and grinned mischievously. Qingcheng felt uneasy under his gaze, and the next second she felt a wet touch on her earlobe, which made half of her body go numb.
The shock vanished, and Qingcheng grabbed Gao Junxiao's sweater, warning him fiercely, "Bastard, is this the only dirty trick you can pull? If you do it again, I'll break your arms and legs and throw you into the Huangpu River."
"Oh my god, someone's trying to murder her husband! Help!" Gao Junxiao cried out for help, but his fingers provocatively traced the side of her neck. "Don't threaten me every time I explore a new area. Only you. I wouldn't even bother to look at anyone else."
"Heh heh, should I thank you for your 'special' treatment?" Kiyosumi sneered through gritted teeth.
"No need to thank me. Just get a little more familiar with it every day, and you'll be at the right level. See how considerate I am?" Gao Junxiao's words once again lowered Qingcheng's standards.
The string in her mind snapped. In a fit of anger, she grabbed the blanket from the side of the sofa and slung it over Gao Junxiao's head, giving it a good thrashing. His head was as hard as bronze, and her hands were tired from handling it.
"I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic." Gao Junxiao pulled down the blanket as if he didn't feel any pain, his face was all red from rubbing, and he even mischievously pinched her hand and pulled it towards his waist and abdomen, "Wife, where else would you like to explore? I will definitely offer it to you."
"Ew~ Pervert!" Kiyosumi pulled her hand back as if she had been electrocuted, belatedly realizing what new nickname that bastard had given her: "Wife"?
As if he could read minds, Gao Junxiao explained in a serious tone: "Don't be surprised. 'Madam' is an honorific title for you. You are my wife. I have to report all matters, big and small, at home, including the time, place, and methods of social interactions outside, to you in a timely manner, and you make all the decisions."
"Hehe, before your kindness kills me, please go back and rest, Director Gao. Otherwise, it won't look good if the boss sees me yawning all the time tomorrow. Goodbye." Qingcheng closed her eyes weakly. She was sleepy and tired and really didn't want to argue with the glib-tongued Gao Junxiao anymore. She had to get some sleep before dawn, otherwise she wouldn't have the energy to go to work.
Suddenly, the world spun around her, and Qingcheng abruptly opened her eyes to find the two of them lying on the sofa together. The lights were off, and Gao Junxiao, his eyes sparkling, covered her with a blanket, saying nonchalantly, "I'm not going. I get annoyed just seeing those monkeys! How about... you ask for leave for me?"
So this whole charade was because he needed her help. This guy's slacking off and wasting taxpayers' money... well, never mind. Qingcheng rolled her eyes helplessly, pointed to the phone, and told him to make the call himself.
Gao Junxiao hugged her tightly, rubbing his neck and tickling her: "Can you help me call? Commander Xiong will approve the leave because of you. I'm really exhausted and don't want to go to work. It's almost Chinese New Year, there's nothing to do there anyway."
Unable to bear the disturbance any longer, Qingcheng simply covered his mouth to tell him to be quiet and not to make a fuss, saying she would hit him later, as Commander Xiong was still sleeping at this hour.
"Yes, Your Majesty! Your Majesty's insight is brilliant." Gao Junxiao said with a beaming smile, whispering in Qingcheng's ear, "Go to sleep."
The tingling and itching in her ears spread throughout her body. Who would sleep with him? Qingcheng pushed the man uncomfortably, telling him to go downstairs to sleep. But Gao Junxiao pulled the blanket over his shoulder and closed his eyes. He seemed determined to cheat.
My God! What kind of karma is this, that I'm being persecuted by a man whose cerebellum is underdeveloped, and who gave him the courage to lie next to me and shamelessly breathe the fresh air of the 20th century?
How utterly shameless! But no amount of complaining can wake someone who's pretending to be asleep.
Qingcheng tried to take the blanket off Gao Junxiao, but Gao Junxiao grabbed her first and wrapped the blanket around her even more.
It was unusually cold inside today, and the blanket made Qingcheng's nose itch, so she couldn't help but sneeze. Gao Junxiao, who had already closed his eyes, hugged her even tighter.
The embrace brought a continuous warmth that soothed Qingcheng's limbs, making her feel as if she were back in France, leaning against the fireplace in a rocking chair, the ethereal music from the music box lulling her to sleep.
The music in her ears suddenly turned into the sound of even breathing. Qingcheng opened her eyes abruptly. Luckily, she almost fell for his trick.
As her senses returned, Qingcheng stared at Gao Junxiao's sleeping face and began to ponder. In terms of strength, she couldn't compare to him; in terms of shamelessness, she couldn't either. Was she just going to let this scoundrel bully her like this?
No, once a rebellious thought pops into my head, it's impossible to suppress it. It's just a competition of limits, right? I'll throw off all pretenses and use you as my practice subject.
Taking advantage of his relaxed state, Qingcheng suddenly slipped her hand inside his sweater, her muscles tightening instantly. "Hehe, you'll freeze to death, you silly man!"
This is a high-quality heating resource delivered right to my door. Why not take it? It saves me the trouble of boiling water and making a hot water bottle. Thinking of this, Qingcheng was so happy that she wanted to hum a song. Her slender hand tentatively searched for the most comfortable temperature on his body, moving from his chest to his armpit. Yes, the temperature here is just right.
Just as she was about to press on and go deeper, Gao Junxiao coughed twice as if he had triggered some kind of mechanism. Qingcheng quickly withdrew her hands, feeling guilty as if she had been caught doing something wrong. But she didn't think she had done anything wrong. It was so embarrassing to scare people like that in the middle of the night.
Forget it, let's try somewhere else. This time, Kiyosumi was much more cautious. She only opened one eye and approached her waist and abdomen but stopped. As expected of the human body's command center, the temperature was much higher than other places. Tsk tsk, just warming her hands might waste some of the heat. Could she also save her cold butt?
The two were almost touching, and the man's hand was like a vise, restricting Qingcheng's movements. But Qingcheng was always a person of action, and she would not give up until she achieved her goal. She adjusted the angle again and twisted her waist forcefully.
Unexpectedly, the man released her grip at that moment. Due to the inertia, Qingcheng froze, her heart leaping into her throat. Fortunately, a pair of large hands caught her as she nearly fell off the sofa, and her back bumped against the man's hard chest, allowing Qingcheng to finally exhale.
"Sleep well." The man's voice was low and stern.
Wow, the stove spoke! Qingcheng didn't react at first and thought he was hallucinating. He suddenly pressed down on the restless Qingcheng with his foot, making him unable to move.
The real pressure and the even hotter heat on her back made Kiyosumi feel like she was on fire all over, and her intuition told her that she was in some kind of danger.
However, she had achieved her goal; her bottom was no longer cold. She could worry about the rest tomorrow. Qingcheng fell into a deep sleep in the warm embrace.
The next day, as soon as Commander Xiong arrived at his office, his secretary informed him of Director Gao's leave request.
"Oh, he's sick. Should we send someone to visit him?" Commander Xiong asked with concern.
Of course not! Then the secretary mysteriously said that the call came from Miss He's house, and that Miss He had also helped to get the leave. However, Director Gao should have been nearby, as she had heard his voice.
Hehehe, I see. That brat, he's really impatient. Commander Xiong smiled knowingly at his secretary. "Granted," he said. "Anyway, it's almost New Year's, so no matter how many days off Director Gao asks for, I'll grant it."
Lei Shanhai, who was also in the military camp, waited anxiously all day, but he did not receive the wrath of the governor. Had the governor forgotten about him?
I saw Inspector Gao again two days later in the morning.
"Lei Shanhai, step forward. The rest of you, continue training." Gao Junxiao held the scorebook, his expression unreadable.
Ah, what's coming will come. Shan Hai stepped forward with his chest out and followed Gao Junxiao's steps toward the office.
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