Chapter 23 Good heavens, how dare he kiss the young lady? ...
Outside, it was the height of spring, with flowers in full bloom and lush greenery. Qian Lanting took a break at noon to go home, lifting his face from his bowl with delight in his eyes, "Really?"
Qian Yingyi nodded vigorously, "It couldn't be more real!"
She was so excited last night that she didn't fall asleep until after 3 AM, and then sat up in her tent again at 7 AM. Even after two hours, she was still visibly excited, grinning as she said:
"Mother said that my sister-in-law is only three months pregnant and is frequently vomiting at home. She can't eat the food prepared by the cook at home, and Mother doesn't trust the cooks hired from outside. Mother herself is also confused and is afraid that it will harm my sister-in-law's pregnancy. She thought that my second aunt was in the same situation when she was pregnant with my brother, so she wanted to ask my sister-in-law to come to Nanjing and ask my second aunt to take care of her."
"Oh my, what a rare guest!" Xu Jun was overjoyed, laughing as she held her chopsticks. "Just call them over! Good heavens, I'm going to be a great-aunt!"
Qian Yingyi shoveled down a couple of mouthfuls of rice, not bothering to chew slowly, and hurriedly got up to leave. "Grandpa is also going to be promoted to a higher generation, so please eat slowly, you and Second Aunt. I have something important to do, so I'm leaving now!"
As Qian Yingyi ran out of the small flower hall, Xia Ling and Chun Tang hurriedly followed. Qian Yingyi ran towards the backyard, overjoyed, but then suddenly stopped halfway, grabbed Chun Tang's hand, and called out, "Little Tortoiseshell, where is Little Tortoiseshell!"
The boy rushed over, his eyes shining like stars. "Miss? What's wrong?"
Qian Yingyi gently nudged Chuntang and said with a double meaning, "There's a happy occasion at home, and I suddenly have a craving for sweet fermented rice balls. Chuntang knows my preferences, so you two should go and get them together."
Little Tortoiseshell knew perfectly well. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, then readily agreed and led Chuntang outside.
Qian Yingyi then walked through the corridor and instructed Xia Ling, "Good Xia Ling, do we still have quite a few wooden planks at home? Go and hire a craftsman now. The price is negotiable, just hire someone who does meticulous work. I need..."
She paused, her gaze fixed on the approaching guard. Remembering that the hairpin he had repaired was flawless, she thought he might know a craftsman specializing in such things. So she quickly went over and asked, "Do you know any skilled craftsmen?"
Seeing that her hair was slightly disheveled from running, Qin Lizheng twirled the hair behind his back and asked, "What do you need craftsmen for?"
“Of course, it’s to make a small bed for my unborn niece!” Qian Yingyi stared at his face, gradually drawn to the two moles, then quickly snapped back to reality, lightly stamping her foot to urge him, “Speak up, do you recognize me?”
"I don't know him."
Qian Yingyi scoffed inwardly and walked past him, saying, "What a waste of your time."
"But I will do it."
Qian Yingyi turned to look at him, somewhat incredulous, "Really?"
Qin Lizheng nodded. A beam of light shone obliquely between the two of them. He took two steps forward and stepped over the light, casually saying, "I learned how to repair houses when I was young. Making a cradle for a child to sleep in is no problem."
Seeing his serious expression, Qian Yingyi immediately spun her skirt and led him to a courtyard where miscellaneous items were stored. "That's perfect. It saves us from hiring craftsmen from outside. We can give you their wages as monthly allowances later."
Before long, they arrived at the courtyard. Xia Ling knew that Qian Yingyi was a clean person, so she went into the outhouse first, opened the door and windows, and dusted off the accumulated dust before calling Qian Yingyi in.
The room was filled with wood. Qian Yingyi bent down and pointed out each piece, instructing Qin Lizheng to move it out. Then she remembered something important and hurriedly said, "Xia Ling, go back to Yun Teng Pavilion and get my paper and pen. I'll draw a blueprint and have him make it according to it."
Xia Ling didn't think much of it. She was happy that her family was about to welcome a new little life, so she happily went back.
The young man was strong, and in two trips he threw all the wood he needed into the yard. However, he didn't throw it with much force, afraid that the dust he kicked up would hit her face.
Once he started paying attention to her, he forgot about himself.
Qian Yingyi noticed the sawdust covering his body, her brow furrowed slightly, and she coughed lightly, saying, "Dirty."
Qin Lizheng glanced down at himself, guessing she was again disgusted by his dirty appearance. He chuckled softly and raised his arm to slap him, but then he remembered their first meeting. He was soaking wet, and she had just as disliked his dirtiness, throwing a handkerchief at him...
He paused, patted his back with his hand, and then turned around to look for the saw.
"Wait a minute."
Qin Lizheng slowly turned to look at her pursed lips, blinked, and asked, "Hmm?"
Qian Yingyi pointed to his back with her delicate hand, "There are some on his back too, they weren't photographed cleanly."
"Is that so?"
He reached behind him and tried to brush it away, but couldn't quite find it. Finally, Qian Yingyi couldn't stand it anymore. She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and ordered, "Stand there and don't move! Turn your back!"
Qin Lizheng obediently did as instructed.
Light footsteps soon reached him from behind, and a hand gently touched his back, once, twice. The handkerchief rubbed against his clothes, making a faint sound that gradually amplified in Qin Lizheng's ears, like a fierce pounding on his heart.
The owner of the hand remained silent. After a while, she stepped back, and for no apparent reason, her voice became softer, as if trying to make amends: "Alright, I like cleanliness. I'll pay more attention to it in the future. Little Tortoiseshell is clean from head to toe. You should learn from him."
"Yes, thank you, Miss."
The sun was high in the sky. Qian Yingyi stood under the eaves, her red lips chattering away, from how big the small bed should be to every little detail. She added, "Oh well, Xia Ling will bring paper and pen over later, and I'll draw it for you so you can see."
Qin Lizheng silently sawed the wood in two, only occasionally glancing at her smiling face. He seemed to be touched by her smile as well, and asked gently, "Are you that happy?"
"Of course!" Qian Yingyi glanced at him sideways, as if annoyed that he didn't understand where her joy came from. Uncharacteristically, she patiently explained to him, "In the past, my brother and sister would come to Jinling to see me every year. Later, my brother passed the imperial examination and became an editor. He married my sister-in-law, and my sister also got married. Gradually, they came to Jinling less and less often. The last time I saw them was three years ago at the end of the year!"
"Let me think..." She smiled and counted on her fingers, "The first year was because my sister went back to her hometown with my brother-in-law to pay respects to our ancestors. My sister-in-law is the only daughter in the family, so my brother went back to her parents' home for the New Year. The second year was the same. The third year was supposed to be the same, but my brother and brother-in-law were busy with their official duties and couldn't leave for a while. Only my parents came back."
Her expression was lively as she spoke, like a bird chirping in the treetop. Qin Lizheng slowed down his sawing motions considerably, fearing she might accidentally swallow sawdust. He simply turned his back to her and asked, "Your brothers and sisters have all married, and you haven't returned to the capital?"
"Well..." Qian Yingyi chuckled softly behind him, a little embarrassed. "When my brother got married, I caught a cold. When my sister got married, I went to the gold shop to pick up the wedding gift I had prepared for her, but I was so frightened by a big dog that I developed a fever that night, which also delayed me."
Qin Lizheng suddenly stopped moving, recalling that night when she had overheard her talking about how she had bumped into him as a young boy fighting with someone over a dog on the street.
He did love raising dogs when he was young. The dog was found by his older brother and given to him. He named it Songsong, and it was a curly-haired white dog.
She said she was most afraid of dogs.
Qin Lizheng looked somewhat embarrassed, a rare sight on his face. He had previously thought that she seemed to be born to test his patience.
Looking back now, it's not just these things. It's as if they were born to be on opposite sides of each other, whether it's because of their preferences or something else.
But this didn't stop him from secretly keeping the matter in mind. Qin Lizheng silently thought that if she had feelings for him, once they returned to the capital, Songsong... or perhaps he should first send her to Chu Zhiyan's place to avoid trouble.
After a long silence, Xia Ling finally returned to the courtyard with paper, pen, and ink.
Qian Yingyi immediately became interested and asked him to bring out a square table. After Xia Ling wiped the long bench clean, Qian Yingyi sat down and began sketching on the paper in the bright sunlight.
Perhaps because she wasn't used to painting in the light, Qian Yingyi would rub the corners of her eyes from time to time. When she was about to dip her brush in ink again, the sunlight shining on the table was blocked, quietly casting a shadow.
She suddenly looked up.
The young man seemed oblivious, simply standing in front selecting timber, as if he had merely happened to be blocking the light.
She couldn't describe how she felt. After a long while, she could only lower her head and continue with the unfinished painting.
Qin Lizheng held the wood and scanned it repeatedly, finally gazing at her when she was off guard. She looked very serious while painting; although her head was lowered, her back was still very straight, and her whole person was as gentle and soft as a cloud in the sky.
He suddenly thought of those two volumes of storybooks. The portraits of the martial arts performers in them were so lifelike, and the long spears of the performers seemed to be as magical as the spirits she depicted, capable of seizing one's heart. It was very strange; how could such a gentle person write such bloody and cruel things?
It was so cruel that even the imperial prison of the Northern Garrison Command paled in comparison.
It seemed that Qin Lizheng had taken another step closer to her.
His gaze followed the tip of her pen, and he sketched her in his mind, seemingly indirect yet frank. Whenever Qian Yingyi looked up, she could see the change in his eyes.
A gentle breeze stirred the warm sun, causing the shadows of the trees to sway. The brief moment passed abruptly under Qin Lizheng's watchful gaze. Qian Yingyi picked up the painting, blew on it, and beckoned to him: "Come here, and do as this is done."
Qin Lizheng gradually composed himself and walked over, glancing down at the painting in her hand. She chuckled and said, "The style at the bottom is the same as in ordinary homes, but you need to add a wooden board on top to cover half of it, and then place two thin wooden beams in the middle..."
She pointed to the colorful balls in the painting and said, "Then I will find some thin colored ropes to make balls, string them into a beaded curtain, and hang them here. Do you understand?"
Qin Lizheng smiled quietly, "I understand."
"Then hurry up and get it done!" Qian Yingyi was still excited and secretly rubbed her hands together. "I'll watch from the side. This is my first time being an aunt, so the crib I'm giving to my niece must be very exquisite!"
So, together with Xia Ling, the three of them turned this cluttered courtyard into a warm cradle for new life. Qian Yingyi would occasionally offer some pointers, and Qin Lizheng would simply follow along.
Gradually, the setting sun shone like gold, and twilight enveloped the courtyard. Wildflowers on the wall exuded a rich fragrance. Qian Yingyi was unusually talkative today, her mouth dry from talking so much.
The tea that Xia Ling had casually brought earlier was almost empty, so she smiled and said, "Madam hasn't told you to have dinner yet. Are you hungry, Miss? The kitchen is nearby, so I'll go and get some first, and I'll also brew a pot of warm tea."
This was exactly what Qian Yingyi wanted to do. She waved her hand dismissively, and Xia Ling left with a smile.
Qin Lizheng casually put a sip of the tea infused with mint leaves into his mouth, then buried himself in his work again, repeatedly polishing the small wooden bed until it became smoother and more even.
Noticing a gaze fall upon his face, he merely fluttered his slightly curled eyelashes, continuing his actions as before.
Qian Yingyi rubbed her cheeks as she watched him work, and idly began to scan his figure.
An ordinary person doing this kind of work would be covered in dust and grime after a while, but he was relatively neat and clean, and his movements were very skilled. Even when he was bent over, he still seemed to have a tall and imposing figure. As he half-squatted down to polish the small bed, a wisp of hair slowly fell from his forehead...
Qian Yingyi pursed her slightly dry lips and slowly got up to walk towards him. Before she even realized it, she asked him a very clumsy question: "When you put mint leaves in your cup, doesn't it feel cold when you drink it?"
Qin Lizheng glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and secretly smiled, "It's not cold, I'm used to it."
As dusk fell, the girl stepped closer and noticed that the small bed had been polished to a very smooth finish. She reached out and touched it, momentarily surprised: "Wow, you really know how to make this. I think it's even better than what the craftsmen outside make."
Qin Lizheng got up, flipped the small wooden bed over, then half-squatted down again, half-jokingly looking up at her, "Good job, is there a reward?"
The fiery red sunset on the horizon was breathtakingly beautiful, even tinging the leaves of the trees in the courtyard with red. It warmed the often indifferent faces of the young people, and even their eyebrows and eyes seemed to hold a hint of a smile.
Because he was half-squatting, Qian Yingyi looked down at the stray hairs on his forehead. The next moment, she finally couldn't help but reach out and brush them away. The instant her fingertips lightly touched his hair, she was defending herself again: "Didn't I say that I should be clean and tidy?"
A thin layer of sweat covered his face, which felt cool and damp in the breeze. Qian Yingyi's heart skipped a beat, and she felt that she shouldn't have done that, so she abruptly withdrew her hand and chuckled awkwardly, "What kind of reward do you want?"
Although his tone remained calm, his eyes had already darted around.
Unfortunately, before her hand could return to her side, he grabbed it.
Qian Yingyi was so shocked that she tried to pull away, but she couldn't overcome his strength. Her face changed in a flash. "What are you doing?"
"Miss reminded me to be clean and tidy, but I didn't pay attention to myself." Qin Lizheng slowly stood up, towering over her. He grabbed her hand, forcing her to hold it in front of his eyes. She watched his calloused fingertips climb up her palm, down her knuckles, and finally stop at her fingertips, pressing them. "It's dirty here."
How dare he? Qian Yingyi's eyes showed a hint of shock, and a feeling arose from the bottom of her heart that if she did not rebuke him, would he just keep holding her like this?
Unfortunately, it seems he was simply offering her a reminder.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I let go of her.
Qian Yingyi watched his back turn as he continued working, and laughed in exasperation. She also acted like a child, defying him, "A reward? You can ask me for it after you've finished making it completely. It's not even painted yet, it's not even close to completion! I... I'll wipe my hands clean if they're dirty, do I need you to remind me?"
She stared at his back with feigned amusement, as if trying to bore two holes in him and kill him. "Don't think that just because you did this for me, I can let you do whatever you want. You don't understand the rules of this household, so I'll remind you again!"
"Never lay a hand on someone inappropriately!"
Seeing that he didn't react, she stomped her foot again, "Did you understand?"
After waiting for a long time without receiving a reply, Qian Yingyi assumed that he was still the same rough and unruly man as before, and snorted several times in anger.
Perhaps because she had been so startled that her insides were still twitching, she suddenly sat back down at the square table, far away from him, and lay face down on the table, no longer looking at him.
The courtyard fell silent instantly. Qian Yingyi had only slept for two hours the night before, and as the initial excitement subsided, she gradually felt drowsy, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier...
Qin Lizheng kept a close eye on her movements. He wasn't deliberately ignoring her, but he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to control his feelings for her.
Hearing her even breathing, Qin Lizheng turned his head to look and realized that she had fallen asleep on the table.
Qin Lizheng quietly watched her, washed his hands, and sat down beside her with his cup of tea. Actually, his lie was clumsy; there was nothing dirty on her hands at all. Why hadn't she noticed?
The girl in front of him was already fast asleep, turning her face over so that only the back of her head was visible to Qin Lizheng.
There was no one around, and the sunset was beautiful. The moment the mint water touched my lips, it stirred up some hidden thoughts.
Qin Lizheng got up and went around to the other side, staring at her for a long time.
The next moment, he held his breath, afraid of disturbing her, and leaned down to give her a warm kiss mixed with a hint of coolness, pressing it onto her lips.
He kissed her lightly, with an involuntary tenderness, afraid that his breath might wake her. Yet the burning desire in his eyes seemed to consume him. Only when he was almost at his limit did he slowly move his lips away.
As the moonlight gradually appeared, something exciting happened next door; fireworks suddenly burst into the sky, startling Qian Yingyi, who was lying prone on the table.
She was a little dazed. She looked around and saw a lamp lit on the table. Xia Ling was sitting upright beside her, watching her. She asked, "Am I asleep?"
Then he asked, "Where is Lin Zheng?"
The sky was filled with glittering silver flowers, which made Xia Ling's expression look a little strange. "Oh, him? Little Tortoiseshell and Chuntang are back. He's been busy all afternoon. I told him to go and fill his stomach."
Xia Ling was still somewhat terrified. She had returned with the food and happened to witness that scene. Good heavens, how dare he kiss Miss?
And they dared to kiss for so long!
If the young lady finds out, won't she beat him to death?
Amidst the flickering lights of the fireworks, Xia Ling's heart grew increasingly conflicted. On one hand, she wondered whether she should tell her mistress, and on the other hand, she worried that her mistress might find out she had seen it too...
In short, Xia Ling was caught in a dilemma, and her usually cheerful face became somewhat stiff.
How long has Lin Zheng liked Miss?
Unable to contain her curiosity, Xia Ling glanced at her mistress and said jokingly, "Miss seems to ask about him more often lately, and even asks about Little Tortoiseshell less often."
He likes the young lady. Does the young lady feel the same way? If the young lady herself feels the same way, can she tell the story of that scene with a clear conscience?
Qian Yingyi was stunned for a moment, and it took her a while to come to her senses. Recalling the seemingly unintentional touch in the evening, she said confidently, "How could that be? It was just something I said casually. He was still here this afternoon. I woke up and couldn't find him, so I asked him what was wrong?"
Xia Ling had been with her mistress since childhood. Whether her mistress was lying, feeling guilty, or being stubborn without even realizing it herself, Xia Ling could easily tell. As a result, her heart sank, and she couldn't help but think about the disparity in their social status at this moment.
If the master finds out that the young lady has a relationship with one of the family's guards...
In a short time, Xia Ling had considered all sorts of consequences.
The best outcome would be to become a son-in-law.
"What are you thinking about?" Qian Yingyi waved her hand suspiciously in front of her. "I called you twice and you didn't respond."
Xia Ling suddenly snapped back to reality and forced a smile. "What did you say, Miss? The fireworks were too loud, I didn't hear you clearly."
Qian Yingyi said, "I said let's not just sit here and go back. The food is getting cold. I'm hungry."
Her gaze swept to the small, smooth, and tidy wooden bed in the corner. Xia Ling suppressed her thoughts and did not want to mention Lin Zheng in front of her mistress again.
So she stood up with a smile and started the conversation: "Alright, I'll go ahead and light the lanterns. These fireworks are really beautiful. They remind me that Miss Yan's birthday is coming soon. When the eldest young master and the second young lady return, Miss, go to the Yan family and see if those people outside still dare to laugh at you!"
Qian Yingyi looked up and smiled as she hugged Xia Ling's arm. "Isn't it common for people to laugh at me? After all these years, do you feel wronged?"
Xia Ling was taken aback, then shook her head. "I wouldn't say I feel wronged, I just think they're gossipy."
Qian Yingyi's smile widened. "That's it! We live behind closed doors, you and I know what we're doing. We're comfortable, so these little things don't matter. Of course, we don't feel wronged! On the other hand, they seem glamorous, but they love to talk big. Who knows how miserable they are in private? Don't you think? If they were doing well, why would they keep bringing up such trivial matters?"
Xia Ling smiled and said, "Anyway, I'm very happy to know that the eldest young master and the second young lady are coming back."
The two laughed together, and their figures gradually disappeared from sight.
After a long silence in this deserted place, Qin Lizheng finally emerged from an inconspicuous corner, his expression unreadable.
After finishing dinner, he returned. He figured Xia Ling might have seen him kissing Qian Yingyi, so he didn't go over there and just stayed quietly.
What she just said was a lie; only he knew that.
If she hadn't cared about the gossip, she wouldn't have revealed the truth on that rainy night when she was drunk.
If she needed him, he could silence those people, even make them unable to speak forever. But he also understood that she was simply a little unhappy, and if he actually did that, and she found out one day, she would hate him instead.
So Xia Ling is right. She does need some people who can openly support her. She can muster up her courage and shut up gossipy people, just like she slapped Yu Minsen.
She comes from a prominent family, and as the youngest daughter, she has the right to be unrestrained; that's what she deserves.
Qin Lizheng walked slowly in the unlit darkness, and for no reason pursed his lips. She was so soft, and he could hardly control himself from getting any closer to her.
His desire was obvious, and that's why, when he thought about Qian Linye and Yu Cheng arriving in Jinling soon, the anxiety in his heart grew heavier.
"boom--"
Fireworks burst into the sky again, abruptly pulling Qin Lizheng back to his senses. He looked up at the dazzling display of lights, and thinking of Pei Ji next door, his eyes gradually hardened with malice. He turned and left the Qian residence.
“Here, this is the result of my men keeping an eye on them,” Chu Zhiyan said, chewing a pastry in his mouth as he handed Qin Lizheng a secret letter in a music hall on the banks of the Qinhuai River. “They really can’t accept having their money cut off halfway.”
Upon seeing Pei Ji's name on the list, Qin Lizheng's expression suddenly turned stern. He patiently read on, then couldn't help but sneer, "For money, they really go to great lengths."
"Who says otherwise?" Chu Zhiyan leaned casually on the chair, crossed his legs, and flicked non-existent dust off his knees. "This Pei Ji is also a relative of Wang Yi. He is a cousin of one of Wang Yi's concubines. He is very cautious in his actions. It was only with great difficulty that we found out that he had been smuggling silks and satins to Wang Yi for many years. Do you think Wang Yi turned around and gave half of it to Yan Yu and the others?"
"Hmph, everyone looks out for themselves, he was greedy for himself! Because of this, Wang Yi gradually became more friendly towards Pei Ji and no longer cared that he was a merchant. Pei Ji was probably not satisfied with just working in Huai'an Prefecture, so he moved to Yingtian Prefecture this year and happened to live in Pipa Lane."
At this point, Chu Zhiyan's expression became slightly more serious, and he straightened his posture. "Commander, according to my men's investigation, a large batch of Yun brocade will be transported from Huai'an Prefecture soon. According to Yan Yu and his group, they intend to keep half of it for themselves!"
"In two months, the other prefectures in Southern Zhili will also be preparing tribute items. Wang Yi is in charge of the transport office, so he's bound to make a big move. Should we take this opportunity to strike?"
"Let's hold on for now," Qin Lizheng stared intently at Pei Ji's name, having fully regained his senses. He suddenly smiled and said, "This Pei Ji might be a breakthrough. I noticed something was off about his deliberate approach to Yingyi yesterday. If he only wanted to curry favor with officials in Yingtian Prefecture, he wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."
“Wang Yi, Pei Ji, Yan Yu, Lin Bianhong…” He looked back at Chu Zhiyan, his tone firm, “They are gathered together for profit, but if trouble arises, they can also separate for profit and do their own thing. Pei Ji is obviously a smart man, he must have a backup plan. Continue to send people to keep an eye on the Yan family, and send a few more people to control the situation and find out what his trump cards are.”
“Yu Cheng has been appointed by the Emperor as the Governor of Jiangnan. Although I do not know the Emperor’s intentions, this move will surely cause Yan Yu and the others to curry favor with Yu Cheng,” Qin Lizheng said. “Didn’t they say they wanted half of the silk? So greedy, we will give them a surprise and see if they can handle it.”
"It's not just them. If we investigate layer by layer down from Yingtian Prefecture, there are probably more corrupt officials than you and I can imagine. The Emperor said that what we need to do is... to wipe them all out."
Chu Zhiyan clicked his tongue repeatedly, "Sigh, such a big place, the outside is full of wealth and glory, but if you dig it open, the inside is all rotten and black."
After discussing business, Chu Zhiyan teased him again, "Oh, Yu Cheng is coming to Jinling? Doesn't that expose your identity? And what was your name just now? Yingyi?"
Chu Zhiyan shook his head repeatedly, "You're calling her that so mushyly, as if you and she are truly in love."
Qin Lizheng glanced at him indifferently, surprisingly not beating him up as usual. After a long while, he simply said, "Do you think Yu Cheng will expose me?"
"What do you mean by 'exposing' you?" Chu Zhiyan held a cup of tea in his hand. "Just tell him the truth. Tell him you went to Jinling secretly on the Emperor's orders. That's how it is. The fewer people who know your identity, the easier it is for us to get things done. Do you want to ruin everything?"
Qin Lizheng listened with his eyes down, without saying anything.
After a long pause, he simply stood up and said, "Let's do as we just discussed."
They didn't mention anything else.
Chu Zhiyan shrugged indifferently, got up to see him off, and said, "I understand."
The two left the music hall one after the other. It was the time of revelry and singing on both sides of the Qinhuai River. Unexpectedly, Qin Lizheng bumped into someone. He turned around and glanced at him, and immediately frowned.
Yu Minsen was dressed in a flowing brocade robe, with a gold-embroidered pouch at his waist, exuding an air of nobility. It was unclear why he was not at the academy but instead appeared on the riverbank.
Upon seeing that it was this guard, Yu Minsen immediately flew into a rage, still holding a grudge, and his tone was far from polite, "You bumped into someone and don't you know how to apologize?"
"What is it?" A voice asked from the side. Qin Lizheng turned his head and saw that it was Prince Rui, Yu Chenghe.
Chu Zhiyan recognized the father and son at a glance. He was one of the few people who knew that Qin Lizheng intended to kill them. His heart skipped a beat, fearing that things were about to go wrong. He quickly stepped forward with a smile and tried to smooth things over, "Oh, young master, you look quite dashing! You've come to the river to have some fun, haven't you? Why don't you come to my music hall and listen to some tunes?"
Qin Lizheng suppressed his anger and, not wanting to linger, silently turned and left.
But Yu Minsen wouldn't let it go, picking up a pebble and throwing it at his foot, yelling, "Stop!"
He quickly ran up behind Qin Lizheng, figuring he was just an ordinary guard and wouldn't dare to fight him. He immediately reached out to pry him off, asking, "Did I say you could leave?"
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Author's Note: One-sided kiss achieved.
Xia Ling: The sky has fallen...
Songsong: You're so high and mighty, you're going to send me away! [Angry]
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