Chapter 143 Iron Rod: You Want It? I'll Give It To You
A-Jing didn't ask any more questions. With a "Giddy up," he turned the horse around, and the overturned wheels headed straight for the Ma family's house. Dust flew up, and Lu Xiaojun, pulling open the car window, swallowed a mouthful of dirt. He saw the familiar front door gradually blurring. In the haze, he seemed to see his father going out to find him. He must have come to see his children off, carrying a large package in his hands. As the carriage drove away, there was no regret on his face. He saw Lu Xiaojun peeking out and even smiled and waved to his son.
Many years later, Lu Xiaojun finally understood that his father's smile was one of relief that his children were striving for survival, while at that moment, all he could think about was... whether his father had his sword in his bundle. Lost in thought, he forgot to wave goodbye to his father. He had thought it was just a short trip out of the city with his sister... but little did he know... it was a final farewell to Tianhufang.
Thinking about it, Wan Qixi suddenly burst into tears. Her farewell to her father was still vivid in her mind. According to Cui Jin, Xingguo Ward was about to follow in the footsteps of Tianhu Ward, dragging another family to their deaths for the sake of one family's revenge. This was not the outcome Wan Qixi wanted.
The indescribable feeling upon returning to Rongdu... When A-Jing's carriage rushed out of the Vermilion Bird Gate, Lu Xiao-Yun, who was hiding inside the carriage, smelled a bloody stench. Even after many years since Wan Qi-Xi returned to Rongdu, that bloody stench still lingered, and today, it seemed even stronger.
"Young master, if you harbor hatred in your heart, you should no longer feel compassion. You pity others, but does anyone pity you? If you had killed Guan Ye back then, Xingguo Ward today would be nothing to fear."
"Stop talking!" Wan Qixi shouted and turned away. "The Grand Preceptor has been planning this for many years with extraordinary methods. What if I feel pity? The Grand Preceptor can wipe out Tianhufang."
Cui Jin slowly lowered his single eye, his wide black robe blending him into the night, making him indistinguishable from the others.
Xingguofang
Gazing at the creaking windmill turning on the windowsill, Ajiu calmed down and quietly approached the quiet room. She reached out and stroked the still-bright windmill blades as if stroking Guan Ye's cheek.
The window was suddenly pushed open, and Guan Ye stretched out her hand, saying, "Take it out."
Ajiu seemed to have expected that the girl had heard her footsteps. She twirled the windmill with her fingers and said without looking up, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Guan Ye leaned over the windowsill and peered at A Jiu's other hand. Seeing that the hand was tucked behind her back, she reached up to grab it. "I want to see what good things the Emperor has given you since he kept you up so late at night."
Ah Jiu chuckled softly, deliberately holding the items in her hands above her head. "These are all treasures I've never seen before. Want them? Come and take them."
Guan Ye didn't care. She quickly shrank back to close the window, yawned, and said, "It's like nobody cares. Take it away, take it away."
Ah Jiu pressed her forehead against the window and said in a hoarse voice, "I came to see you every night because I was planning to give this to you. I know you don't care for it, but take one look before I take it, okay?"
After a moment of silence, Guan Ye heard some rummaging inside. She opened the door, crossed her arms, and said, "Instead of using the main entrance, you prefer the side door. If this happens again, I'll nail the windows shut."
Just as Ajiu was about to step into the house, Guan Ye opened her arms to block her way, then leaned out and looked into the courtyard to make sure no one else was watching before she lowered her arms and hurriedly closed the door.
Ah Jiu suppressed a laugh: "I thought Master Guan was fearless, but it turns out he's afraid of being seen too."
"I'm afraid of them?" Guan Ye poked his forehead. "I'm afraid you'll stay here and refuse to leave. Hurry up and take it out. Take a look and then leave."
As Guan Ye spoke, she added some lamp oil to the lamp, making the room brighter. A Jiu slowly unwrapped the package, pulled out an object, and waved it at Guan Ye. "This is a jeweled dagger from Persia that was brought to the palace. The scabbard is inlaid with seven gemstones. This is malachite, this is pigeon bloodstone, this is..."
"All show and no substance, all bark and no bite." Guan Ye glanced at it with disdain. "This dagger isn't even good enough to slaughter a chicken. You can keep it for Ji Fang to play with. What else?"
Ajiu then took out an exquisite brocade box, opened it, and said, "This is a glass pot from India that was brought to the palace." Seeing that Guan Ye had no interest, he picked up the handle of the pot and brought it close to the lamplight, saying, "Don't be fooled by its inconspicuous appearance at night. In the daylight, the pot's surface shimmers and dances, dazzling your eyes. Look at it again tomorrow, and you'll know its wonders."
"This kettle is empty in half a sip; it's not as good as Aunt Lou's earthenware jar." Guan Ye fiddled with it for a few moments before pushing it to A Jiu. "You can keep it for Lou Cangyu. Is there any more? I'm so sleepy if there isn't."
Ah Jiu looked helpless. "The next thing is a reward that the Emperor specifically requested for you."
"Reward me?" Guan Ye thought she had misheard. "I didn't do anything right today, why would you reward me?"
Ajiu pinched her cheek and said, "You didn't do anything wrong. The Emperor even praised you for having the qualities of a master craftsman, saying that you will surely become a pillar of the nation in time."
As Ah Jiu spoke, she magically produced a gilded box and pushed it towards Guan Ye's hand, saying, "Open it and take a look."
Master craftsmanship, pillars of the nation? This box must contain rare and precious stones and materials. Guan Ye eagerly opened it, and upon seeing what was inside, rubbed her eyes, thinking she was seeing things. "This is... pearl material?"
"Silly." Ajiu couldn't help but chuckle, picking up the round beads from the box and stuffing them into Guan Ye's hand. "These are deep-sea pearl earrings. I heard that not everyone in the palace has them. Your pair of beads is a bit small, but you're small too. The Emperor saw that you're as pure and beautiful as a lotus flower, and specifically instructed that you can wear these pearl earrings to the New Year's Eve palace banquet..."
Guan Ye touched her earlobe. Could it be... that she had to poke two holes in herself just to eat a meal? She could lose her head and let her blood flow, but she couldn't poke holes in her earlobe. If eating a meal was this troublesome, she might as well not eat at all.
"We'll see." Guan Ye's expression darkened as she put the pearl pendant back into the box. "Put your things away. I'm sleepy."
Ajiu scrutinized her expression. "You don't like any of these? Then what do you like?"
Guan Ye stroked A Jiu's cheek. The lamplight illuminated his handsome face, and his dark eyes held an uncontainable flame. Guan Ye stared blankly at him. A Jiu rubbed against Guan Ye's soft palm and suddenly gently took her finger in his mouth. "Tell me what you like, and I'll give it to you."
"What I want, you can't give me." Guan Ye tried to pull her fingers away, but A Jiu wouldn't let go, sucking on them. Guan Ye slapped him away, and A Jiu suddenly released her grip, pressing down on her wrist with one hand, his powerful body looming over her like a mountain.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Ajiu's breathing became heavy, and the fire in her eyes grew even more intense.
"I want..." Guan Ye wrapped her arms around his neck, but before she could say what she wanted, her half-open red lips were fiercely sealed by A Jiu.
Ah Jiu breathed heavily, pulling at his snow-stained brocade robe, his burning body enveloping the woman beneath him. "You want it? Then I'll give it to you, please..."
The lamplight flickered with Ah Jiu's movements. No one knew what was wrong with him today. Compared to his cautiousness the night before, tonight he seemed to have taken a strong drug that disturbed his mind, making him no longer restrained and only seeking pleasure.
"If Guan Xiaotian can live, why can't I? If the Guan family girl can return to Rongdu alive, why can't I return to the capital?"
As Wan Qixi's words echoed in his ears, Ajiu suddenly stopped. When Wan Qixi said those words, Ajiu was suddenly filled with fear. He saw the dark currents rising from the deep sea, engulfing everyone on the ship. Some of them jumped into the sea to escape like Song Mian, some huddled at the corner of the ship waiting for disaster to strike, and some gripped their swords and fought to the death. But who could possibly win?
Of course, Ajiu knew that in Cui Jin's plan, Xingguo Fang was nothing more than a dead piece that had been revived. What good was reviving a dead piece? It was just a fleeting moment to help someone rise to the top. Once the goal was achieved, the dead piece would become a discarded piece. Everyone in Xingguo Fang... as well as the people left behind on Canglang Island... had no way out in Cui Jin's plan.
If there is truly no way out... Ah Jiu gazes deeply at the girl he loves in his arms, and then he will use his sword to carve out a path.
"A-Jiu," Guan Ye murmured, her fingers clenching around his. "A-Jiu?"
Ajiu snapped out of his daze, picked up Guan Ye and placed her on the bed. He took off her undergarment, revealing her smooth, muscular body. Guan Ye blushed and felt hot inside. She pulled the quilt over her eyes, but Ajiu ripped the quilt off her hand and pressed it down without a word, forcing her to look directly at him. "Look at me. I want you to look at me."
“It’s not like I haven’t seen them before.” Guan Ye glared at him. “I’ve seen even bigger ones than this.”
"Hahahaha." Ajiu chuckled and rolled over to lie down next to Guan Ye's pillow, propping himself up with one hand and pressing closer to her. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill Lou Shitou?"
Guan Ye twirled a strand of hair around his open chest, sending shivers down A Jiu's spine. He was already brimming with virility. "You're cold on the outside but warm on the inside. When Lou Shitou got beaten up at the foundry, you wanted to stand up for him, but Jiang Muyun beat you to it, didn't you?"
Ah Jiu felt a surge of satisfaction, smoothed Guan Ye's black hair, and gazed at her intently, saying, "You know everything."
"I know all of that."
Guan Ye touched his lips, and this sudden reward pleased A Jiu greatly. He was slightly stunned for a moment, and before Guan Ye could react, he had already embraced her and pressed her down. He was afraid he would lose control.
"It hurts," Guan Ye groaned in dissatisfaction.
"Does it hurt?" Ajiu muttered to herself. She hadn't even moved yet, so why was Guan Ye crying out in pain? She had thought Guan Ye was made of steel, but it turned out she was a delicate girl after all. She had to be careful and not be too rough.
"Where does it hurt?" A-Jiu's forehead was beaded with sweat, and she became somewhat nervous.
"Here," Guan Ye reached out her hand, "I feel unwell."
Ah Jiu frowned and whispered, "Ah... no, Guan Ye, don't move, don't move there."
Guan Ye suddenly let go. She wasn't in that much pain herself, yet A Jiu looked like he couldn't take it. Men and women are different after all. The sword wound on his brow bone was so deep that the bone was visible, but he didn't even groan. Yet, when she touched it, it was as if he was going to die.
Ajiu gasped, then grabbed Guan Ye's hand tightly, pressing her damp forehead against her cheek. "Don't move. This is something a man should do first."
Guan Ye tensed up. She vaguely knew what A-Jiu was talking about, but not clearly. Her mother had passed away early, and no one had taught her anything. This matter? What was this "matter" A-Jiu was referring to?
"You know how to do this?" Guan Ye asked tentatively. She was puzzled. Ajiu had no parents and no one to teach him, so how could he do it?
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