Chapter 14 Meeting Tao [Minor Revision] Lu Li's Shura Field + Tao's First Kiss...
"Li Yu? What brings you here?" Qin Song was a little surprised.
Li Yu, wearing his clothes over his head, escorted her to the porch to take shelter from the rain. "It's a day off today, and I was planning to come anyway."
The two arrived under the eaves, and a torrential downpour began. The sound of the rain drowned out the thunderous pounding of Li Yu's heart, and the cold wind could not quell the burning heat on his cheeks.
He shook the water droplets off his clothes before pulling out a few storybooks from his pocket and handing them to her. "I came in a hurry and only brought a few storybooks. Flip through them when you're bored to relieve your boredom."
Qin Song took it, happily flipped through a few pages, and the corners of his mouth gradually turned up. There were few words and many pictures, which was more interesting than the Four Books and Five Classics.
She smiled as she flipped through the book, while Li Yu watched her quietly.
She thought the book was beautiful, and he thought she was beautiful.
The rain pattered softly against the bamboo grove outside the corridor, as if time itself had stood still.
Qin Song glanced at each book briefly, then closed it and turned to look at Li Yu. "The Duchess of Anguo has already come down the mountain. Did you come here specifically to see me?"
"Uh...yes." Qin Song asked directly, and Li Yu suddenly felt awkward. He pursed his lips, "After leaving the governor's mansion that day, were you alright?"
Qin Song chuckled to himself, thinking it was pretty good; he'd inexplicably gotten a kiss.
But she was quickly brought back to reality by Li Yu's face, and could no longer recall Lu Youchuan's good looks.
Li Yu took off his outer robe, and the satin belt with plain patterns accentuated his proud waist. The black jade headband made him look even more handsome and dashing, but the bruise on the corner of his mouth added a touch of worldliness to his otherwise indifferent features.
It's obvious without even guessing that Lei Heyang must have hit her after she left that day.
She raised her hand to touch the wound on the corner of his mouth. "Does it hurt?"
"It's nothing, just a minor injury. I'm glad you're alright." Li Yu lowered her eyes and stared intently at Qin Song.
He wanted to explain his engagement to Shuling and ask her how she left the governor's mansion that day, but at this moment he only wanted to stay by her side and didn't want to care about anything else.
They chatted about this and that, and as it grew dark, he mustered his courage and took Qin Song's hand in his own. "I apologize for my intrusion, Miss Qin."
Qin Song didn't know what he wanted to do, but she didn't mind. What was so offensive about holding hands and hugging?
The two smiled at each other, and Li Yu quickly untied the sleeve dart from his arm. "Time is running out. I need to get down the mountain as soon as possible. This is a sleeve dart that I've worn since I was a child. It's small and lightweight. You should carry it with you. Use it for self-defense in critical moments."
Qin Song watched him quietly. His long, slender fingers, typical of a scholar, carefully held her wrist, looped around her arm, and gently tied the small object to her forearm. The long hours of writing had given his index and middle fingers calloused slightly. Occasionally, the fingers would lightly brush against her skin, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.
What nimble hands! If they were used elsewhere...
Oh, what a pity, he's become someone else's possession. Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken much time to sleep with him.
Lost in thought, she quickly had the hidden arrow strapped to her sleeve. "Do you know how to use it?"
Qin Song suddenly came to his senses, looked down at the small wooden box, and shook his head silently.
"Then I'll teach you."
Li Yuzhen stared intently at her, carefully moved behind her, put his arms around her shoulders, lifted her arm, and pulled open the copper ring towards the dense bamboo forest. The brown arrow flew out and hit the bamboo node.
"See that? Aim at the target and pull back here. Remember to replenish your arrows regularly. I brought a lot of spare arrows, I'll give them to you. Don't worry, as long as you don't hit a vital spot, you won't die, but they're more than enough for self-defense."
They were so close that Li Yu could smell the faint scent of osmanthus blossoms in her hair and feel the warmth of her breath on his wrist, which made his fingertips tremble uncontrollably. He had to try his best to restrain himself so that he could pretend nothing was wrong.
Qin Song found this little gadget really interesting, and mimicking his movements, he fired another one, but unfortunately his aim was poor and it landed lightly on the ground.
She pouted dejectedly, which tickled Li Yu's heart, but she kept her head down and didn't see his earlobes, which were red to the point of bleeding, or the corners of his mouth that he couldn't suppress.
He chuckled silently, continuing to stare at the hidden dart, and held her arm. "No rush, like this, aim carefully before firing."
"Whoosh—" Another arrow flew out, piercing the tender bamboo steadily.
Qin Song clapped her hands happily, and Li Yu looked down at her with doting eyes as she smiled and frowned.
The wind and rain were still raging. In the distance, under a black oilcloth umbrella, a young man in black stood in the rain for a long time. His eyes were like a sharp knife, tightly stuck in Li Yu's throat. Apart from his five fingers gripping the umbrella handle tightly, he did not make any other movements.
Li Yu had long noticed the gaze fixed on him, and he even turned around to meet it defiantly, his gaze filled with hostility, warning, and contempt—a complex mix of emotions he had never experienced before.
He smiled and looked away, then continued to bury his head in instructing Qin Song, the two of them standing very close together.
"This is a royal Taoist temple, and ordinary people cannot enter or leave. It is relatively safe, but things may be a bit unsettled lately. You should stay in the temple and try not to go out."
It was indeed not peaceful; those indignant people were too aggressive. Qin Song nodded obediently.
But she felt uneasy, as if someone was watching her, their gaze seemingly fixed on her lips or the side of her neck, making her inexplicably flustered.
But every time she tried to turn her head to look around, Li Yu would suddenly interrupt her, making it impossible for her to figure out the source of this eerie feeling.
The rain, as big as beans, was still pelting down.
Having returned from gathering information, Yun Qian ran back in the rain. Passing through the dining hall, she suddenly bumped into a young man in black robes who stood silently in the rain, holding an umbrella, like a demon. "Imperial Censor Lu?"
Her already damp cheeks nearly turned pale, and she hurriedly bowed, "Greetings, Imperial Censor Lu."
Lu Youchuan seemed to have finally been awakened from a nightmare. His shoulders relaxed slightly, his eyes sank into still water, without a ripple. He didn't respond to the sound, turned and left without a word, like a lost ghost.
Yun Qian didn't think much of it and rushed towards Qin Song in the rain, only to see two people standing very close to each other under the eaves.
"Miss, you mustn't!" Yun Qian quickly pulled Qin Song away.
Yun Qian was soaked through, but Qin Song didn't care about anything else and rolled up his sleeve to wipe her down.
Li Yu glanced into the distance, politely stepped back two paces, bowed and said goodbye, "Excuse me, it's getting late, I'll head back now. Please take care, Miss Qin."
He didn't want to be separated from her, but if he didn't leave now, he would never want to leave again.
After Qin Song watched Li Yu leave, the rain gradually subsided, and Yun Qian quickly led Qin Song back to the room.
After washing up and changing, Qin Song asked, "Have you found out anything?"
"I got some information. It is said that the Zhenbei Army suffered heavy losses this time and even lost a city. The ashes placed in the Taoist temple this time are only a small part. Most of the soldiers' bodies were not even recovered."
As Yun Qian spoke, her expression grew increasingly grim. "General Tao was brought back with his military power confiscated, and Miss Tao the Second was also seriously injured and has been bedridden ever since. It's so pitiful. It's a pity we're locked up on this mountain and can't visit her."
That did sound terrible. Qin Song slowed down her movements as she tidied her hair, and after a moment of silence, she asked, "What about my father? Is there any news about him?"
"Yes." Yun Qian thought for a moment, "I heard from the guards at the foot of the mountain that the master has been very busy lately and seems to have encountered a lot of trouble. He can only visit him on the mountain during his next day off."
Encountering trouble? Is it because of what those worshippers said?
Qin Song couldn't understand it. After another round of rest and vacation, Qin Song finally waited for her father to come up the mountain.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Qin Daoji, Qin Song got down to business. She cried, "Father, I'm scared. Everyone says you're a bad person. A few days ago, some people even took out their resentment against you on me. I don't dare to get involved in your politics, but I don't dare stay on the mountain. I'm so afraid I'll never see you again."
She covered her face with a handkerchief and sobbed as she wiped away tears.
Qin Daoji was heartbroken. His expression froze, and he lowered his head, letting out a deep sigh: "It's all your father's fault. It's all my fault."
After a moment of silence, he frowned and looked at Qin Song, "Song'er, don't be afraid. Everything your father has done is for you. One day, you will understand your father's good intentions, but now is not the time."
It's a very familiar phrase; many parents say this to their children, and as long as you don't refute it, it will just go in one ear and out the other.
She didn't delve into the details, only noticing his next sentence: "It seems we can't stay on this mountain anymore. Don't worry, Father will bring you down the mountain as soon as possible."
Qin Song was so happy she almost jumped for joy. She tugged at Qin Daoji's sleeve and said ingratiatingly, "That's wonderful! Your daughter wants to stay home and take care of Father every day."
"Alright, after we return to the manor, your father will invite two tutors to reopen the private school. You can stay at home most of the time. You haven't studied hard for many years, it's time to pick up your studies again." Qin Daoji patted Qin Song's shoulder with satisfaction.
Qin Song's lips suddenly fell into a deep smile. She really needed to pick up her studies again, but the kind involving men. She hadn't improved even a little bit since coming to this world!
But she dared not say it outright, and could only express her displeasure and decide to leave the Taoist temple first.
Qin Daoji was good at reading people's expressions and could see Qin Song's little mood. He comforted her, "If you still want to practice martial arts, that's fine too. As long as you stay in the manor obediently, your father will hire another martial arts master for you, how about that?" Qin Song couldn't remember how she stammered and managed to get by with her father's grand plan. She just looked at the mountain gate countless times every day, eagerly waiting for the carriage her father would send to pick her up.
Finally, after a long three days, a spacious carriage bearing the Qin family's insignia arrived at the mountain gate.
Qin Song had already packed his luggage, and as soon as the carriage arrived, he happily embarked on his journey home.
Because she was in a great mood, she felt that this unfamiliar old man had become much more approachable along the way, and chatted with him all the way down the mountain.
For the first time, Qin Song truly felt the intimacy of a father-daughter relationship. After all, she was an orphan in her previous world, pitifully possessing only the love of eight young men who looked like miniature models...
The entire household held a welcome banquet for her, and Qin Song slept soundly on her soft, luxurious bed. When she woke up the next day, Qin Daoji had already gone to the palace.
She skipped dining in the main hall and went to the small kitchen for breakfast. Just as she sat down, she heard two women whispering to each other outside:
"Have you heard? It's all over the streets. The Minister of Justice's son... is dying."
"What do you mean by 'can't go on'? Does it mean you're going to die at such a young age?"
"No, it's that he's impotent, and the entire Minister of Justice's family is under surveillance. It's quite a problem; they're reportedly seeking revenge throughout the city..."
Before Qin Song could finish listening, Yun Qian returned from outside and scolded the two maids away.
Immediately afterward, footsteps approached the small kitchen. "Miss, look, is this your portrait?"
Yun Qian anxiously unfolded a crumpled, rough portrait.
Qin Song took a closer look, and it was indeed her. The hairstyle and clothing were exactly the same as what she wore at the Governor's Mansion that day. "Where did this come from? Who did this? Why did they paint me so ugly!"
Upon hearing this, Yun Qian's expression became even more solemn. "Miss, is it really you? Yun Qian has never seen you with this hairstyle before, but you absolutely must not show your face in public again. You don't know, someone is using this portrait to search for you everywhere. You are the master's only daughter, and from childhood to adulthood, countless people have openly and secretly wanted to marry you. Fortunately, you rarely go out, otherwise it would be very dangerous."
They've even gone so far as to use her portrait to inquire about her everywhere. It seems quite a few people paid attention to her at the Governor's Mansion back then.
Qin Song looked at his face in the mirror from left to right and was extremely satisfied.
After having breakfast, Yun Qian saw that the weather was fine and suggested, "Miss, shall we go to General Tao's residence later?"
General Tao? Oh, Qin Song remembered, the original owner's best friend was still bedridden, and the general's mansion sounded incredibly masculine, definitely a good place to start a harem.
Qin Song suppressed his good mood and tried to make himself look serious. "Of course I have to go. A'Yao is suffering, how can I not care?"
"That's great! Yunqian will go prepare now. Does Miss have any instructions regarding the gifts?"
"You can pack it up. You know how I feel about her. I'll wait for you in the front yard."
Qin Song casually gave the order, got up and went to the front yard, lifted his sleeve to reveal the hidden arrow that Li Yu had given him, and started practicing his aim out of boredom.
She fired an arrow at the pool, the pillars, and the osmanthus tree, but unfortunately, none of them were very accurate.
The servants retrieved the arrows for her and reloaded them. Qin Song then moved around and activated the mechanism, firing an arrow that pierced the air. Qin Song immediately sensed something was wrong.
Because the arrow flew directly towards the corner of the screen wall, where two footsteps happened to come from!
"Get out of the way!" Qin Song immediately shouted, giving a loud warning.
In the blink of an eye, the arrow was already aimed at the man's cheek.
Qin Song's eyes widened, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Once the arrow had found its mark, her heartbeat became erratic, and she almost forgot how to breathe.
It's so beautiful!
This arrow actually shot out a stunningly handsome man!
Dressed in red with black hair, her skin was as white as snow. Tall and graceful, she held a jade flute with tassels in her hand. Her mere figure was enough to attract the attention of countless women.
He was originally wearing a silver half-mask, obscuring his face. Thanks to the flying arrow, he dodged to the side, which happened to snag the mask strap near his ear, revealing his exquisitely beautiful face.
Her features are smooth and her bone structure is excellent, especially her delicate and charming peach blossom eyes, which are as captivating as stars and the moon, making it hard to look away.
"Is General Tao alright?" The steward, Uncle Zhao, who led him in, quickly picked up the mask from the ground and handed it to him.
He glanced down at it, smiled, tucked it into his sleeve pocket, and then looked back at Qin Song. "Sister Song, you have a good aim."
His voice was so alluring, as if he was urgently urging her to come closer.
Qin Song's mind was filled with thoughts of how to strip him naked. He managed to pull a little thought out of his mind before he remembered who General Tao was. He was the leader who had placed the ashes at Taixu Temple that day, and the general who had supposedly suffered a crushing defeat in a city, Tao Qingyang.
I never imagined that a man with such a beautiful face would be such a fierce and valiant general on the battlefield. It was a real pity that I didn't get to see her face at the Taoist temple that day.
No wonder the eldest princess said: of all the officials in the court, she only wanted Lu Youchuan and General Tao.
Sorry, Princess, she wants both of them too, if we're only talking about looks.
“Miss, General Tao, he…” Uncle Zhao wanted to explain Tao Qingyang’s purpose to Qin Song, but he seemed to have something difficult to say and stammered, unable to speak.
Qin Song was too lazy to ask further. Why not just ask the person in front of her? She slowly approached Tao Qingyang, instructing as she went, "Uncle Zhao, you may all leave."
"Yes." The group reluctantly withdrew.
Qin Song finally arrived at a position two steps away from Tao Qingyang. Their two pairs of alluring eyes, filled with probing gazes, locked in a silent exchange.
Everything around her seemed distant; Qin Song's eyes were only on the man who had captivated her.
She beckoned with her slender hand and smiled, her eyes sparkling with affection. "General, shall we kiss?"
Yes, she knew it was a bit abrupt, but his eyes were already glued to her, so how could kissing be offensive?
The man with a smile in his eyes did not show the same frowning and disgusted expression as Lu Youchuan, nor the same frightened and blushing reaction as Li Yu. On the contrary, he raised his captivating peach blossom eyes and quickly accepted her wonderful request.
He put his arm around her shoulder, turned slightly, and switched positions so that she was facing away from the door.
He lowered his head and kissed him.
At this moment, two footsteps passed through the screen wall and entered the Qin residence. Qin Song could not see the people coming, but he felt that the surrounding air pressure was so bad that it was hard to breathe.
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