Chapter 33 Play with Lu and Little Lu (Part 1)
The hand protecting Qin Song's waist was very strong, holding her tightly by his side.
The sound of clashing weapons continued, and Qin Song's heart was in his throat.
But the presence of those around her provided her with great comfort.
She moved with him like a puppet, her gaze always fixed on his face.
He wore a black face mask that covered the lower half of his face, but when the wind and snow blew, Qin Song could easily see his taut jawline, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, and his deep and fierce eyebrows.
He looked ahead, his sword flashed swiftly, and he knocked three of his opponents off their horses in succession.
"withdraw."
He coldly gave the order, picked up Qin Song, nimbly climbed onto the back of one of the horses, spurred the horse's belly, and quickly retreated.
Seeing that Qin Song was out of danger, the last three soldiers who had not yet fallen also seized horses with all their might, carried the unconscious Jiang Yue, mounted their horses, and followed behind.
As the saying goes, "Don't pursue a desperate enemy." We had already approached the city gate when those northern barbarians spat on the ground, turned their horses around, and retreated to the west.
Qin Song's heart, which had been tense all night, finally calmed down, and he leaned against the broad chest of the person behind him as if all his strength had been drained.
The person behind her leaned forward and hugged her even tighter.
"Lord Lu, please hand her over to me."
As they approached the city gate, Qin Song noticed a middle-aged man who looked like a civil official standing beside the carriage, waiting for Lu Youchuan.
"No need." Lu Youchuan rode his horse extremely fast, much faster than the three soldiers behind him. He spoke decisively, then dismounted and personally carried Qin Song into the carriage.
The cold wind swirled outside the carriage, howling like a mournful cry.
Qin Song was placed in the main seat, and Lu Youchuan knelt on one knee on the ground, raised his sleeve to wipe the bloodstains on Qin Song's cheek, ruffled her messy hair, and checked her body from top to bottom for any injuries.
He remained silent, his movements were flustered, his hands trembled, and he never dared to look her in the eye, a stark contrast to his usual calm and deliberate demeanor.
Whether from exhaustion or shock, Qin Song felt weak in his limbs and his throat was dry. He couldn't even get the strength to pull off the black cloth covering his face.
"Greetings, Prefect Xue." Outside the carriage, three surviving soldiers also rushed over, landed on their feet, and bowed to the middle-aged civil official outside the curtain.
Prefect Xue? So that man was Xue Ci, the Prefect of Yunzhou.
He did indeed go to find Lu Youchuan and brought him to Yunzhou.
Hearing the sounds outside the curtain, Lu Youchuan took the water pouch from his waist, then opened the bundle inside the carriage and took out a flatbread, which should be the dry food they had prepared for the journey.
He unplugged the water bag, poured out water to wash his hands, then tore off a piece of cake and put it into Qin Song's mouth.
While waiting for Qin Song to chew, he finally looked up and met Qin Song's gaze. Those eyes were covered with fine red veins, suppressing unspeakable anger, self-blame, anxiety, and pity.
They met eyes, and Qin Song was suddenly startled. She had never seen such complex emotions in someone's eyes before, as if they wanted to engulf her, burn her, and devour her.
However, he didn't look at her for long. He put the water and cake into Qin Song's hands, stood up, cupped her face, pressed his forehead against hers, and whispered, "Bear with it a little longer."
His voice was hoarse and slightly choked up. After uttering just three words, he lifted the curtain and left.
"Carry them inside." He glanced at the people under the car and gave the cold order.
The person outside the curtain was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly helped Jiang Yue into the carriage.
After the soldiers withdrew, Lu Youchuan took the reins of the carriage and personally drove the horse. Prefect Xue quickly climbed onto the throne and followed the carriage, whose wheels were spinning wildly, into the city.
"Who is this woman? How could she have made Lord Lu risk his life to save her?" Lu Youchuan was riding too fast, and the cold wind made Xue Ci's speech somewhat incoherent.
Lu Youchuan was anxious to enter the city and blurted out, "My wife, Qin Song."
Xue Ci could not hide his shock: "Your wife? When did he get married?"
Qin Song overheard the conversation between the two men inside the carriage and couldn't help but peek through the curtain at the middle-aged civil official, who was also looking into the carriage with a surprised expression.
"Surname Qin? And this outfit..." He couldn't see what was going on inside, so he could only mutter to himself.
Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Could she be Lord Qin's daughter? This... it's inconvenient for you to reveal your whereabouts on this trip, so... can this Miss Qin be trusted?"
So that's why Lu Youchuan disguised himself. Although he was still wearing a black robe, he had a headband and a black cloth covering his face. It would be difficult to identify him without careful observation.
Lu Youchuan was extremely impatient and focused on driving into the city, so he did not intend to respond. Qin Song swallowed a few mouthfuls of flatbread and took a sip of water before replying from behind the curtain: "I will always remember the life-saving grace of Prefect Xue and your staff."
A still weak but firm female voice came through, and Xue Ci was slightly taken aback. Realizing that he had been worrying too much, he finally suppressed his doubts and did not speak again.
As the carriage was about to reach the city gate, Qin Song suddenly spoke up again: "Wait."
Without a second thought, Lu Youchuan immediately stopped the carriage, turned around, lifted the curtain, and his anxious eyes fell directly on Qin Song's face. "What's wrong?"
Qin Song was scalded by his fiery gaze. After a brief eye contact, he turned his face away, opened the window, and instructed the soldiers behind the carriage: "The city is sparsely defended. The northern barbarians in the west may launch a counterattack at any time. You two go and inform General Tao immediately, and then follow his orders. You do not need to come back to my side."
She then glanced at another person: "Go to the avalanche site and find out about Lord Qin's situation. Be sure to return as soon as possible to report back."
The three men, covered in blood, exchanged a glance and said, "Yes."
As soon as the words were spoken, the three men turned their horses around and galloped north.
Lu Youchuan didn't delay any longer and continued riding his horse into the city. As he approached the gate, it opened automatically.
The people inside the city were waiting behind the gate, patiently awaiting the carriage to enter.
About half an incense stick's time ago, several carts of grain and fodder entered the city. The people, whose faces had been filled with worry, now had a glimmer of hope in their eyes. This "encirclement and suppression" campaign seemed to have brought them the hope of getting through this long winter.
The chorus of admiration and flattery spurred the group who had reclaimed the supplies to recount their "great achievements" in vivid and exaggerated detail, despite their exhaustion.
The name "Qin Song" has been repeatedly mentioned.
Overjoyed, they discovered that the "divine lady" they spoke of had not yet returned, and the city was unable to spare any extra troops to rescue her. Fortunately, scouts on the city wall saw that Qin Song had escaped danger, and tens of thousands of people spontaneously waited behind the city gate to welcome him.
When the city gates opened, they were met with Xue Ci and a masked man they had never seen before. The group was stunned for a moment before hastily bowing.
They immediately swarmed around him, asking about Qin Song's condition.
Lu Youchuan tightened the reins, intending to pass through the crowd and settle the people in the carriage, but the crowd blocked the way.
Upon hearing the sound, Qin Song lifted the curtain and came out, the dried blood on his face highlighting the hardships and difficulties of this journey.
People who have endured hardship are more emotional; countless people had red eyes, and some even shed tears.
They gazed silently at Qin Song, their lips moving slightly, their soft, hushed voices rising from the crowd, but the wind made it impossible for Qin Song to hear what they were saying.
A moment later, an old man knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to express his gratitude to Qin Song for her righteousness: "Thank you, Miss Qin, for sacrificing yourself for the people. I am willing to chant sutras and pray for Miss Qin, wishing her a long and blessed life." Then countless people knelt down one after another, saying, "Thank you, Miss Qin, for sacrificing yourself for the people. We are willing to chant sutras and pray for Miss Qin, wishing her a long and blessed life."
Seeing the people kneeling on the ground, Xue Ci, as the local official, was startled and had to look at Qin Song in a different light.
Qin Song was terrified. This was absolutely unacceptable; one wrong move and he could face utter destruction.
She quickly said sternly, "Everyone is a warrior, there is no need to elevate one person's reputation. Everyone is starving, so please, Prefect, arrange for fires to be lit and meals to be provided as soon as possible. All the servants and maids who came with us from the capital are at your disposal. Those who work hard tonight will be given priority, followed by the city's garrison troops, the elderly, women and children. The rest will be dealt with according to their circumstances. This is what I promised everyone, please grant my request, Prefect."
Everyone's gaze shifted from Qin Song to Xue Ci, who had landed on the ground, while only Lu Youchuan's eyes followed the figure behind him closely.
She stood with one hand on the carriage door frame, her hair disheveled, her cheeks dirty, and half of her dress wet, looking unkempt, yet she shone brightly.
Lu Youchuan suddenly realized something and felt ashamed of himself. He regretted his past ignorance and shame for having desires for her, even wanting to strangle her. Now he really wanted to kill himself.
The more I resented my own reactions back then, the more I feel guilty now.
These people before him were subjects of the Great Yu, and the very principles he had upheld since becoming an official. Yet, for a fleeting moment, he felt a vile hatred for them. If it weren't for them, Qin Song would still be the same Qin Song.
The young woman who was clinging to him and teasing him recklessly.
If he marries her and keeps her hidden away, he can be her guardian angel and protect her for life.
But now, he knows full well that she is not someone who is confined to the inner quarters. He used to be so confident that he could crush Tao Qingyang and the young man from the Duke of Anguo's family, but now he is somewhat insecure...
In a daze, Xue Ci orderly directed the crowd to disperse, and Qin Song returned to the car.
Lu Youchuan cracked his whip, drove off, and followed Qin Song's instructions, hurrying back to the back hall of the yamen.
Almost all the servants and maids in the yamen were transferred to the city defense camp and the clinic. Only Shen Xing and the two original yamen runners remained to take care of the families of the warriors who went out of the city to grab food.
The carriage stopped, and Lu Youchuan carried Qin Song back to the back hall quickly, while Chen Xing and another woman helped Jiang Yue back to her room.
Lu Youchuan placed Qin Song on the wooden couch and, without turning his head, ordered the maid outside: "Quickly prepare hot water and hot food."
Qin Song's skirt and shoes and socks were soaked with snow. She didn't feel cold while walking desperately in the snow, but now she was shivering from the cold.
Lu Youchuan was filled with anxiety and no longer cared about etiquette. He sat on the stool at her feet, quickly took off her shoes and socks, and tore off the hem of her wet skirt, revealing a pair of cold, jade-like feet in his hands.
The warmth of his palms covered her skin, but it wasn't enough to warm her feet; she could only feel his hands trembling.
He covered those delicate feet in his hands and rubbed them together, then brought them to his lips and breathed warm air on them. "I'm sorry... Ah Song, I'm sorry..."
He was like a child who had made a mistake, bowing his head and covering her feet, repeatedly saying sorry, his voice trembling with self-reproach.
Qin Song couldn't see his expression, but the tickling sensation on her soles made her involuntarily shrink back. "Why are you apologizing? Why did you suddenly come to Yunzhou?"
Noticing Qin Song's movement, Lu Youchuan instinctively grabbed her ankle to prevent her from pulling away.
He held her legs on his lap, pulled up his outer robe and sleeves to wrap her feet, then moved a little further in, firmly covering her waist and abdomen: "It's my fault! I shouldn't have gone to Lin'an."
If he hadn't gone to Lin'an, he might have already welcomed her into his family, and she wouldn't have suffered this calamity.
He hadn't expected her to leave the capital. It was only after receiving a letter from Pan Chengjie that he learned she had come to Yunzhou with her father.
Unable to contain himself, Lu Youchuan dealt with the Lin'an matter with force and secretly changed his itinerary to come to Yunzhou, where he encountered Xue Ci, who was secretly looking for him, on the way.
Upon hearing this, he rushed here even more urgently.
Fortunately, he made it in time!
Thinking of the terrifying consequences, Lu Youchuan couldn't help but bury his head and kiss her knee for a long time. "There's something strange in Yunzhou. Come back to the capital with me tomorrow."
"Returning tomorrow?"
Qin Song was surprised, but she also sensed that he seemed to be angry about something, and he subconsciously increased the pressure on her feet.
The heat from his body beneath his clothes finally brought some feeling back to Qin Song's stiff feet.
She greedily wanted to explore further inside.
But this movement caused her to bump into something else, and something bulging kept pressing against her.
She knew what it was, and even remembered its horrifying shape...
A heater was placed inside, making the room warm and cozy, and Qin Song couldn't help but feel his mind wander.
She removed the black cloth from his face, revealing his strikingly handsome features.
Her thin lips were slightly parted, her chest heaving, her Adam's apple protruding, and the corners of her eyes were red... Qin Song's favorite face was adorned with the expression she loved most. She was hungry again and wanted to eat something else.
She bent down, wanting to kiss his lips.
"Miss, the water is ready." Chen Xing brought in a basin of hot water and strode into the room with her head down.
As soon as I entered the house, I stopped abruptly.
What were they doing? They were being so intimate! She blushed and left.
Immediately afterwards, the strange man also came out: "Go and serve them quickly."
Shen Xing kept her head down and didn't dare to look at him, but she felt that he looked familiar. However, he exuded a powerful aura that made her afraid to look directly at him.
"There's hot water in the backyard, please use it, young master," she said simply, and quickly carried the water into the house.
After Qin Song finished washing up, he finally felt warm all over and his fatigue was relieved. However, Jiang Yue's condition was worrying. At first, he didn't notice, but when Chen Xing took care of her, he found that she had been stabbed in the waist with a two-finger-wide wound. She had lost too much blood and had fallen into a coma.
Qin Song quickly ordered Chen Xing to accompany the women in the hall to escort Jiang Yue to the clinic.
It was already late at night. Xue Ci returned briefly, secretly instructing the yamen runners on matters concerning Lu Youchuan, before busily departing again.
Having heard about Qin Song's relationship with that mysterious person, the kitchen staff quietly brought two bowls of noodles to Qin Song's room and then took it upon themselves to lead Lu Youchuan, who had finished washing up, to Qin Song's room.
Qin Song was looking at the two bowls of noodles with surprise when he saw Lu Youchuan, who was also surprised, come to the door.
The two exchanged a glance and instantly understood each other's intentions. Lu Youchuan immediately stepped back and stayed in the maid's room outside.
The constable and the cook looked at each other, silently pondering what was going on. Then the cook went into the inner room and brought out a bowl of noodles, placing it in the outer room.
"Please, esteemed guests, we are in the backyard and ready to serve you at any time." Sensing the oppressive atmosphere, the bailiff and the cook bowed and quickly withdrew.
The room was unusually quiet. The dim yellow oil lamp and the smell of plain noodles wafted through the air, but they couldn't mask the pine scent emanating from the person in the outer room.
Yunzhou City is not large, and the government office is not spacious either. The room where Qin Song lives was originally a storeroom, which is very small, so much so that her bed is right next to the partition between the outside room and the main room.
Unable to hear the sounds from outside, she asked softly, "Have you eaten?"
Come in when you're full, and let her have her turn to eat.
She had already studied the classics of the world with her teacher, but she did not agree with the concepts of chastity or female virtue.
She has always respected and faced desires squarely.
After a long while, a dry "hmm" came from outside the door, as if it were a soft murmur in her ear.
He's lying; there wasn't a sound of bowls or chopsticks being moved outside at all.
Qin Song arrived at the door, intending to expose his lie.
She moved gently, held the handrail and waited quietly for a moment, then suddenly pulled open the door.
The scene before her made her heart skip a beat.
The firelight outside was dim, and the person she had been looking forward to stood in the doorway in astonishment, his right hand, which had been touching the door panel, still hanging in mid-air.
Lu Youchuan's thin eyelids trembled slightly, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
The door closed, but he was reluctant to leave. In the dim light, he traced the silhouette of the person inside, as if just looking at her outline could fill his heart.
The figure inside the room suddenly moved, and he couldn't help but reach out and touch the silhouette.
If Qin Song doesn't open the door, he might stand there all night, and he won't leave even if the people inside lie down.
But he didn't expect Qin Song to suddenly open the door.
He looked away, trying to retract his hand that was frozen in mid-air, attempting to conceal the delusions overflowing in his pupils.
Qin Song immediately grabbed his hand; she loved him just the way he was!
She's no saint. After a thrilling night, she's desperate for comfort. Even if he forces himself on her, she won't let him go tonight!
With their palms pressed together, Lu Youchuan's breathing was even heavier than when he had just defeated three northern barbarians.
An ambiguous atmosphere permeated the room.
Qin Song removed his headband, her lips parted, and said, "Stay with me tonight."
Upon hearing Su Yin's voice, Lu Youchuan's habitual restraint melted away under his fan-shaped eyelashes, and he uncontrollably replied, "Okay."
As his muffled voice faded, he wrapped his arms around her waist, suddenly lowered his head, and kissed her passionately.
Their lips met, their soft tongues slipped in, and a fierce, passionate kiss made the night seem endless.
He pulled her close and hugged her tightly. Qin Song had no power to resist and moved closer to him. Their bodies were pressed together almost seamlessly.
He was still exerting force, almost lifting her entire body up.
Their tongues intertwined, their breaths lingered, and their panting sounds mingled together.
Kissing, caressing, hugging... they were doing the most intimate things between a man and a woman.
He was moved by emotions, his heart was stirred, and he was overcome by impulse, making it impossible for him to resist.
He kissed behind her ear, the tingling sensation making Qin Song's body go weak. The position of their necks intertwined made her dazedly see the untouched bowl of noodles on the table from that night.
She was almost out of breath. She propped herself up with her arms and gently pushed his shoulder, gesturing with her eyes to the noodles behind him. "Want some?"
If he doesn't eat, she'll start eating.
The desire in her eyes was almost overflowing, and Lu Youchuan understood it at a glance.
He picked her up, glanced behind him, but didn't go to the table. He carried her into the small couch in the inner room, where the noodles on the low table remained untouched.
The two exchanged a glance, their hearts no longer able to hold any food; nothing could compare to the deliciousness of the person before them.
Lu Youchuan pushed aside the low table, and his kisses fell again, tracing his forehead, eyebrows, nose, chin, and neck...
He lingered and lingered in every place.
Qin Song's clothes were piled on the other side of the wooden bed, just like when he had covered her feet earlier. He squatted on the ground, but raised her legs even higher.
His kisses were very skillful; every kiss he gave her was incredibly satisfying.
Before he had even taken off his clothes, Qin Song arrived twice.
After the tingling numbness subsided, Qin Song's body trembled.
The snow outside the window melted, turning into clear liquid.
Lu Youchuan gently lifted her up, pulled her onto his lap, and kissed her earlobe, his fingertips gradually becoming wet.
He didn't say a word, but kept his eyes fixed on her reactions, trying to glean the right action from her subtle expressions.
Qin Song's eyes were almost unfocused, yet he was impeccably dressed. Apart from the lust in his eyes, his reddened ears, and his heavy breathing, it was difficult to deduce what extraordinary thing he was doing.
The more he acted this way, the more Qin Song became infatuated. She reached down and deftly untied his belt...
The sound of fabric rustling faded away, and except for one spot, he remained impeccably dressed.
Qin Song thought of two terms: "refined scoundrel" and "suit-wearing thug." Well, in this era, they should be called "brocade-clad thugs."
His suppressed lewd thoughts were now blatantly exposed, and he momentarily lost his composure, instinctively trying to restrain himself.
He didn't think about himself; he only wanted to take care of her.
Qin Song might let him off once, but he would never let him off a second time.
She gave him no chance to escape, and slowly stood up, clinging to his shoulder.
The blatant act caused Lu Youchuan's chest to heave so violently it felt like it was about to burst, his temples to bulge with veins, and his mind to go completely blank.
Qin Song squatted down, but hissed.
Lu Youchuan froze, at a loss, because they hadn't even met yet.
Qin Song clung tightly to his neck, wincing in pain as she leaned on his shoulder: "...My legs hurt, I can't sit."
Running in the snow was too strenuous, and now my leg muscles are aching terribly; even getting up and squatting down is incredibly painful.
Lu Youchuan instantly understood the reason. He relaxed slightly and gently kissed the tip of her nose. "I'll do it."
He firmly supported her waist, lifted her legs, and carried her to the bed.
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Author's note: Not finished yet, there's more in the next chapter.
Why Lu was the first? Because the female lead's feelings for Lu were already quite natural, while Tao hadn't yet cleared up the rumors of her impurity. Li Yu, being a loyal dog, would actively seek out her [starry-eyed][starry-eyed]
It's a snowy night again, and I'm dreaming back to that night.
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