Chapter 53: The green tea with Li Nan is really delicious.
The water got cold and dirty.
But New Year's Eve finally arrived.
By the time the two finished washing up, it was already dusk. In the distance, from the occasional houses, came the sound of children setting off firecrackers. If this place weren't so remote, it would probably have been a lively scene by now.
Li Yu helped Qin Song put on her clothes and applied medicine to her shoulder again. "When we get back, apply some medicine there too."
It would have been better if he hadn't said anything; once he was reminded, the discomfort intensified significantly, and Qin Song nodded silently.
"I'll be gentler next time," Li Yu said, feeling somewhat guilty.
“It’s not a matter of force,” Qin Song said, biting his earlobe. “It’s about moderation.”
Size and frequency.
Of course, you can only control the number of times.
Li Yu's earlobes turned red again.
He coughed lightly and buried his head in helping her tie her sash. "I took a contraceptive pill. I swallowed it when I kissed you just now. It will take effect in an incense stick's time. You'll be fine."
Xiao Liyu is quite considerate.
While he was getting dressed, Qin Song pinched his chin again, "Good boy, I'll spoil you more in the future."
Li Yu lowered her head as she tied her belt, her cheeks flushing red.
Qin Song was overjoyed; this person was so easy to please.
The carriage had been waiting outside for quite some time. The two got ready and headed back to the city.
Li Yu is very clingy; as long as no one is watching, he will definitely pull her into his arms.
I have to say, sitting on his lap is much better than sitting on a hard stool.
"You went to Jiangnan to seek the help of the gentry?" Li Yu kissed her from time to time, his mind still preoccupied with her words about going to Jiangnan.
Qin Song felt ticklish from his kisses, and kept shrinking his neck back. He endured the ticklishness and briefly recounted the information he had learned from Li Niang.
Li Yu still had his arm around her waist, but his expression had become much more serious. "So the Princess has already learned that there might be a major disturbance in Yunzhou, a disturbance that could affect the survival of the entire city?"
Qin Song nodded, "Yes, Liniang wouldn't say exactly what the news is, but I guess it's related to this man-made disease."
Li Yu pondered for a moment: "I'm afraid that's not entirely true. The disease has already appeared. Even if we didn't know it was poisoning, it wouldn't have caused such a drastic change in Yunzhou. Besides, it's poison, and a slow-acting one at that. It's not contagious, so why would we flee?"
“I also thought of this, so I guess what really wants to destroy Yunzhou is a brutal crushing. What I’m worried about is that this disaster was caused by us, or rather by my father. Yunzhou and even Tanzhou are just collateral damage. But the reason is no longer important. We have already been trapped. The Zhenbei Army must break the stalemate in Danzhou City as soon as possible and free up troops to deal with this still uncertain conspiracy to destroy us.”
Qin Song's concern is not without reason. Given the court's recent actions, which have repeatedly put the Qin family in a passive position, the powerful force behind the scenes may have long planned to eliminate the Qin family's influence. However, because those instructed by Qin Daoji have infiltrated various parts of the officialdom, they are worried that a single move could have far-reaching consequences, so they simply eliminate the Qin family directly to avoid shaking the foundation of the state.
Li Yu tugged at her sash and fiddled with it. "So you had Elder Qin send a message back to the capital, claiming that the situation in Yunzhou was urgent, in order to lower the enemy's guard and slow down their attack."
"Well, the only way the eldest princess could know information before others is from the palace. Therefore, the disaster that Yunzhou is about to face is likely a conspiracy by the royal family. But this person who can control the sky and stir up trouble can definitely intercept the messages my father sent back. If they relax their vigilance even a little, they will gain more hope for Yunzhou and Danzhou."
“That makes sense. The news of Chen Peizhi leading his men to trample Yunzhou was clearly maliciously intercepted. The ambiguous attitude of several cities in the south of Yunzhou definitely indicates something is amiss. The Northern Barbarian army that you previously robbed of grain also arrived suspiciously; it's not something an ordinary person could do.” After saying this, Li Yu's heart softened. Her hand, which was resting on Qin Song's waist, unconsciously caressed her. She lowered her head and kissed her again. “But I want to go to Jiangnan with you.”
He was terrified that she would take another risk, whether it was stealing grain or being kidnapped this time; he was filled with lingering fear.
He never wanted to suffer this torment of fear again, especially since his father was never around.
Qin Song's lips were numb from his kisses. "You still have duties to attend to. My going to Jiangnan is a choice I had no other choice but to make."
If Yunzhou has already been targeted, then all messages sent out by the government may be intercepted. If they want to seek help from Jiangnan, they cannot use the method of sending messages. They can only send a trusted person to make the trip in person. She is a young woman who has never been paid special attention to her trips to and from Jiangnan. She is the most suitable person at the moment.
“I know, but you can’t travel alone. I believe Lord Qin will agree.” Li Yu hugged her waist tightly and gently bit her chin.
"Are you a dog? You're so clingy." Qin Song didn't mind; it was probably good that he could come along. She didn't say anything more.
Li Yu rubbed her hands, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Who do you think wants to kill Yunzhou?"
Qin Song shook her head; she dared not make a judgment for the time being.
Li Yu licked her lips, a hint of probing in her voice, "Could it be... Imperial Censor Lu?"
Qin Song immediately looked up at him.
As if she could see right through him, Li Yu immediately turned his face away, pretending to look elsewhere, and weakly explained, "I'm not making malicious speculations, it's just that everyone knows he's at odds with Elder Qin. Elder Qin's mission to Yunzhou this time was also due to his advice, so it's hard not to be suspicious."
No, he was just making malicious speculations, or even deliberately instigating it.
Li Yu felt guilty and didn't dare to look at her, but he secretly hoped that she would become more suspicious of him.
Qin Song had certainly suspected him, but she thought the possibility was very small.
It was indeed Lu Youchuan's suggestion that the Qin family come to Yunzhou, but if he wanted to destroy the Qin family, even if he couldn't find the Crown Prince during the search of the Qin residence, he could have easily smeared the Qin family's situation, which would have been even worse than it is now.
However, if it really is him, it would be easier to handle. It's not that she believes in her own charm, but rather because of his influence.
Lu Youchuan's adherence to his principles was commendable; the people needed such a good official. However, the imperial court was not. Judging from what Master Shen had taught him, Lu Youchuan was utterly alone in the court.
He was a knife held by the imperial power and the people over the heads of all officials, and was bound to be irreconcilable with them. Even if he held a high position, as long as his enemy was only him, he was not to be feared at all.
Of course, his family, the Lu family, was indeed a century-old family, but he was cold and ruthless and had almost no contact with his family. So he had neither followers nor backers, only a lifetime of integrity and standing proudly on his own shoulders.
“I know you like him, but the court is not a game, Songniang. Don’t be fooled by his appearance.”
Qin Song pondered for a moment, then Li Yu looked at him anxiously, grabbed his hand, and pressed it against her face, saying, "I will never betray you."
He stroked the back of her hand with his fingers, his delicate cheek brushing against her palm.
Explosion, satisfaction to the point of explosion.
Qin Song was delighted beyond measure by this scene; her little Li Yu was playing the green tea tricks.
She likes green tea, but adding the word "male" before it makes her even more addicted.
She smiled, her dimples shining like stars in the sky.
She caressed his lips with her fingertips for a while, then suddenly lowered her head and gave him a light kiss on the corner of his mouth.
"Little Li Yu, I like you too—"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yu grabbed the back of her head and kissed her deeply.
His relentless pursuit was more intense than ever before, as if he wanted to leave some kind of mark on her body to prove their connection.
"No, stop kissing me," Qin Song gasped as she pushed him away, her misty eyes and rosy cheeks alluring. "I don't want to take a bath tonight."
She didn't know which of her words had touched a nerve, but his Adam's apple bobbed. He pulled her closer to him, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her lips again, silencing the soft sounds she made.
The carriage slowly made its way through the capital. As the city grew noisier, the subtle sounds inside the carriage were drowned out by the clamor, leaving only the two people tightly embracing each other to hear them.
...
"Bang!" The sound of firecrackers rang out, pushing the anticipation of spring to a climax.
"Young master, we've arrived." The carriage slowly came to a stop, and Ah Zhao stood outside the carriage door.
Li Yu gently withdrew his beautiful hand, his lips still lightly kissing her earlobe, "I'll help you clean it when I apply the medicine later."
Qin Song leaned on Li Yu's shoulder, panting and trembling slightly.
The sound of my heartbeat became scalding, intense, and rapid in the cramped carriage.
Once she calmed down, he helped her straighten her clothes, then straightened his own robes before slowly getting out of the car.
Chen Xing, Jiang Yue, and Chun He, along with three maids, were waiting at the door. As soon as Qin Song stepped out of the carriage, the three of them came to greet him.
"Miss, you're finally back. Are you alright?" The three of them surrounded her again, checking her over and asking questions.
"Let's chat later. Where's my father?" Qin Song reassured them.
Chunhe said, "After the guard who just returned conveyed the message to the master, the master told the tutor to talk to him in the room and asked the young lady to inform him immediately upon her return. I have already sent someone to inform the master."
"Okay, let's go in first and talk about it."
Qin Song stepped into the room, but stopped after taking two steps and turned to look at Li Yu, who was standing to the side with her cloak pulled tighter to cover herself.
"By the way, young master, there is something else I need to ask you." Qin Song stood on the doorstep, looking down at the door.
The young man, whose eyes were still misty with emotion, stiffened slightly upon hearing this.
Separated by only one door of the carriage, the atmosphere between the two was completely different from what it had been just moments before.
The young nobleman who had just entered officialdom was also of noble birth and was promising, but after this distant question, he humbly retreated to his rightful place. He was polite on the surface, but his expression showed some disappointment.
Looking up, he met the gaze of the beautiful woman on the steps and politely said, "Miss Qin, please speak."
Qin Song nodded politely: "What did you do with the people you captured?"
Her name was Xue Ci, and Li Yu understood what she meant: "The trial results are not yet available, and she is still detained."
He had no evidence to prove that Xue Ci colluded with the Northern Barbarians. He only interrogated him because he was desperate to find Qin Song and had him arrested in secret. He was subjected to severe torture, but unfortunately, Xue Ci was very stubborn and refused to confess.
“Stubborn people should not be let off easily. However, I don’t seem to have seen Lord Xue. He’s been working so hard, could he have overworked himself and fallen ill, and is now bedridden?”
Qin Song spoke in riddles, but Li Yu instantly understood the meaning behind her words.
She was telling him that Xue Ci was related to her disappearance, and since he was still locked up, she shouldn't give him another chance to wake up.
In times of crisis, it is imperative to control every variable.
Li Yu was delighted by their secret relationship that they understood so easily, but then he turned away without feeling disappointed. He smiled at her and said, "Lord Xue is busy with the trivial matters of the city day and night. Even the strongest body can't withstand that."
Qin Song smiled back at him.
Just then, the craftsman unleashed a shower of sparks, illuminating the barren New Year's Eve and the emotional faces of the two people standing on the steps in front of the door.
"A perfect match."
"The man and woman are in love."
Shen Xingjiangyue and Li Yu kept staring back and forth at Qin Song and Li Yu, pinching each other excitedly, but still couldn't help but sigh.
Qin Song didn't pay attention to their voices, but simply looked away and walked inside.
Chunhe, supporting Qin Song, glanced weakly at the two maids from the Duke's mansion, "Don't talk nonsense. What concubine?! She is clearly my young lady, Canruo Mingzhu."
The group entered the yamen hall, and Qin Daoji also came out of his room. Chunhe quickly took the two maids to the kitchen to instruct them to prepare the meal.
Only the Qin father and daughter and Master Shen remained in the hall.
After the three exchanged pleasantries, Qin Daoji intended to send Qin Song back to check on her injuries. However, Qin Song did not leave immediately and briefly explained what she knew, inquiring about the progress of Qin Daoji's letter.
"I have already sent a letter back to the capital. Song'er has such foresight and has not disappointed Master Shen and his father." Qin Daoji, whose leg was injured, sat down after entering the house.
Qin Song bowed respectfully: "It is thanks to the excellent teachings of my father and teacher. However, I must set off as soon as possible to contact the clans in Jiangnan."
Master Shen sat down next to Qin Daoji, coughed violently for a while, and said, “This matter is indeed urgent, but it is too risky for you to go. I can go south in your place.”
Although Master Shen's illness has been largely relieved, he still coughs incessantly. Previously, he thought it was a serious illness, and he assumed that the symptoms would heal on their own once they lessened. Now it seems that without finding out what kind of poison it is, it is impossible to cure him completely.
He then coughed again.
Qin Song patted Master Shen's back and said, "But Master Shen's illness is not yet cured, and the journey is also inconvenient. Otherwise, I will go south with Master Shen?"
Qin Daoji pondered for a moment, "Very well, we don't need to go all the way to Jiangzhe. We can just pass through Rongyang and enter Qingze City. The Qin family's branch is located here. We just need to bring my letter, and they will take care of everything."
If it's just a matter of going to Qingze, it's simple. It's not far from Yunzhou, and it can bypass the only road to the capital. Even if there's some big event in the capital, you won't run into it.
Master Shen nodded: "That's acceptable."
Qin Song naturally had no objections.
But before he could finish speaking, Li Yu entered. “Greetings, Lord Qin. This humble official humbly requests permission to escort Mr. Shen and Miss Qin southward.”
“No, we must travel discreetly. As the Junior Chamberlain is an official in the court, we are bound to be recognized.” Master Shen was the first to refuse.
Li Yu pursed his lips, mustered his courage, and bowed again: "I understand, but Mr. Shen is old and Miss Qin is a young lady. Even if there are guards accompanying us, it will be inconvenient to act when there are many people around. I have heard that there is a serious disease in the cities we are traveling south. I can disguise myself and accompany you to investigate the poisoning."
As he finished speaking, his palms, clasped together, were slightly sweaty. He earnestly prayed that they could go together; if they were lucky, being able to pretend to be husband and wife would be a great blessing.
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Author's Note: [Dog head with rose in hand]
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