Chapter 30. For her, he was willing to overturn everything. ...
Leaving aside Pei Ji's ambitions for now, let's talk about this day, with a gentle breeze and a light drizzle. In a secluded room outside the Yan family's meeting place, Yan Yu angrily slammed a teacup to the ground, her tone revealing urgency:
"The Governor of Jiangnan? What a fine Governor of Jiangnan! He handled a brilliant case as soon as he arrived, fooling all those useless people and almost exposing us!"
To be fair, Yan Yu's temperament wasn't always so impatient.
Ever since he lost his dignity as a man, he gradually became gloomy and obsessed with controlling money, as if having money would allow him to regain the part of his missing self.
Over the years, Yan Yu has gotten used to making money, but lately she has been repeatedly thwarted and has even had to pay out of her own pocket. How could she not be angry?
A middle-aged man sat at the lower seat. He had a kind face and a plump build. He bent down to pick up the broken pieces of porcelain and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, don't get angry and hurt yourself over a little money. It's easy to lose your temper, and it's not worth it."
It was Wang Yi, the one in charge of the delivery station, who was Yan Yu's brother-in-law.
Wang Yi, with a face like a Buddha but a heart of a snake, leaned back in the chair with a smile. The faint beam of sunlight in the overcast sky shone on him, and fine dust particles scattered around as he spoke.
“Now that Yu Cheng has taken office as governor, let him investigate if he wants. If he gets suspicious, he will only check the accounts at the Ministry of Revenue. We have people in the Ministry of Revenue, and the accounts are clean. Even if there are deficits, there are so many officials, big and small, in the entire Southern Zhili. It’s still a long way off before it’s our turn.”
Yan Yu remained silent with a gloomy face.
Wang Yi continued, “Those landlords can be pushed away, but in Yingtian Prefecture, you are the top official. It’s no exaggeration to say that you can control everything. The summer tax is coming soon. Are you worried that no one will want to pay tribute to you? Those lowly people only have a few coins in their hands. If they want protection, they will still come to you.”
“A lot of silk was also sent up from Yangzhou Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture and other places. The officials below sent it up little by little. They were greedy, and so were we. The goods from Pei Ji’s side were worth a lot of money when converted into silver.”
"Can Yu Cheng really stay in Jinling for another six months? He still has to go down to inspect the area! Let's just be patient for now, put on a show, and once he leaves, won't all this money still end up in our pockets?"
Wang Yi tapped the broken porcelain shards lightly on the table. “Brother-in-law, don’t be afraid, don’t rush. We don’t leave many traces. So what if he’s the governor of Jiangnan? He’s a big shot, but he’s just relying on his family’s influence and the emperor’s favor to promote him. That’s why he was sent here to go through the motions. Decades ago, did you ever see a governor as young as him?”
"If the Emperor sends the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and those people swiftly execute us without warning, then we will truly be in grave danger."
After Wang Yi persuaded her, Yan Yu's expression softened slightly, and she said, "You're right. I was too hasty. There's no point in keeping those useless landlords alive. Tonight, send someone to silence them. Remember, don't leave a single one alive."
He sighed again, "Whether Yu Cheng is just a figurehead or not is another matter, but now that he's become the governor, how are we supposed to win him over? If you ask me, we might as well go all out."
Wang Yi sipped his tea and casually asked, "Brother-in-law, do you have any ideas?"
Yan Yu glanced at him, her mind racing with shady schemes, before she gradually sat back down behind her desk, leaving only half her face exposed to the light, making her look somewhat frightening. "I'll have to drug that Qian Yingyi a bit!"
"No!"
Yan Ruheng, who had been sitting silently to the side, immediately stood up upon hearing this, his expression one of astonishment. "Father, how could you use such a method on her?"
Yan Yu sneered at him, "My son is handsome and dashing. I'm just trying to advance your relationship. What, you can't bear to see her suffer?"
"Father, have you considered what will happen if this fails and the Qian family discovers our scheme?"
For the first time, Yan Ruheng's eyes were so resolute. "I disagree. If Father insists on using such methods, I will shave my head and become a monk right now and make it public. Without me, how will Father win over the Qian family and Yu Cheng?"
"Then we'll all die together!" Yan Yu suddenly slammed his hand on the table, smashing things all over the room with a crash. He said sternly, "What your uncle said may be true, but what if Yu Cheng is cunning? If you don't act first, we'll just wait to be discovered little by little, and then we'll all be sent to the underworld together!"
Yan Yu strode quickly to Yan Ruheng, her eyes, which bore a striking resemblance to his, filled with threat. "Those who embezzle should be executed. I, your mother, your sister, your brother-in-law, your uncle, and even your second uncle and aunt in Fengyang, all must die."
“My son,” Yan Yu softened his tone, emphasizing “second uncle and second aunt”, making his expression even more sinister and terrifying, “are you willing to let so many people die together?”
Seeing Yan Ruheng's expression change instantly, Yan Yu laughed and patted his shoulder, "Father knows you like her, but a real man shouldn't be bound by love. Some things I'll only say once, do you understand?"
"As long as we stay closely tied together, even if something happens, someone will care whether we live or die."
Yan Ruheng's hand, hidden in his sleeve, gradually clenched, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, all his anger extinguished.
He was well-versed in literature from a young age, and his path to adulthood was remarkably smooth.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that he could be manipulated by family ties time and time again, and that he could be so pathetic.
It was probably a struggle, for her, and also for himself.
Yan Ruheng's gaze shifted slightly, and suddenly he snatched the shard from Wang Yi's table and held it to his throat, coldly saying, "I'm reluctant to part with it, but I can decide my own life. Father, you decide for yourself."
He exerted force, and blood immediately seeped out from the gleaming fragments.
Wang Yi's eyes darted back and forth. Seeing that the disagreement had escalated to this point, he quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Oh dear, what's going on between this father and son? If you're not going to drug her, then don't. Brother-in-law, I think Sanlang is right. That girl from the Qian family isn't from an ordinary family. If you drug her so easily, they might investigate and find something out. Calm down first."
He then grabbed Yan Ruheng, saying, "Sanlang, you're getting more and more temperamental. Your uncle remembers how obedient you were when you were little. Oh, does it hurt? Let go of my hand first, and let's put some medicine on your wound!"
Yan Ruheng stood rooted to the spot like a solid wall, his white robe already stained with blood, his gaze fixed stubbornly on Yan Yu.
Yan Yu coughed, her anger rising, and pointed at him, about to say she'd die with him! Just then, footsteps sounded outside, and Yan Yu grabbed a cup and threw it at them, yelling, "Who's there? Get lost!"
After a while, Yan Wenying's voice rang out from outside the door, "Father, it's me."
Upon hearing that she was the eldest daughter, and indeed her own flesh and blood, Yan Yu's expression softened. She gave Yan Ruheng a cold glance and said, "Let go of me."
This is tantamount to compromise.
Then she called out to the door, "It's Yingying, come in."
A moment later, the door was pushed open, revealing Yan Wenying's somewhat haggard face.
Seeing this, Yan Yu frowned and asked, "What happened? Why are you home at this hour? Did Lin Yuhu bully you again?"
Yan Wenying's eyes stung with tears, and she immediately rushed forward and threw herself into Yan Yu's arms, crying, "Father! I want a divorce!"
Strange, why would someone want a divorce when everything is fine?
It turned out that Lin Yuhu only cared about having fun every day. Because Yan Ruheng had made arrangements with the brothels, all the brothels had already turned Lin Yuhu away. Unable to find any entertainment, and disliking Yan Wenying, Lin Yuhu simply took the liberty of hanging out with several of the maids in her household.
Unfortunately, Yan Wenying's wet nurse discovered this, and Yan Wenying has recently dealt with all the maids, sending some back home and kicking others out.
However, one of them developed the idea of becoming a concubine and led Lin Yuhu to visit her most often. As a result, she became pregnant.
Since it was a life at stake, Yan Wenying couldn't be scolded or beaten, so she frequently argued with Lin Yuhu.
Lin Yuhu initially avoided her, but later perhaps he came to a realization that he could never get along with her anyway, and gradually, he would push her a couple of times and hit her a couple of times during arguments.
Yan Wenying's tears fell like beads down Yan Yu's clothes. She said, "That heartless beast! He dared to hit me, Father, he dared to hit me!"
These words infuriated Yan Yu, who also wanted to teach Lin Yuhu a lesson.
Thinking that he and Lin Bianhong were in the same boat and could not afford to fall out, he could only pat Yan Wenying's back repeatedly and say, "Alright, alright, I'll talk to your father-in-law later and make sure that Lin Yuhu is caught and punished. Your father-in-law will also deal with the pregnant maid!"
They didn't mention Yan Wenying's request for a divorce at all.
Yan Wenying abruptly pulled away from his embrace, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Father! He hit me! Do you understand? He dared to lay a hand on me!"
People often only realize the motives and schemes of others when it involves themselves.
Yan Wenying felt the same way. Although she had previously rebuked Yan Ruheng, she couldn't help but feel indignant about herself now that it was her turn.
She glanced around at the three of them, her gaze lingering for a moment on Yan Ruheng's wound. Suddenly, she nodded her chin and commented sarcastically, "You're discussing your grand plan again. I must have stumbled upon this."
After saying that, she turned to look at Yan Yu. Perhaps she was suddenly stung by the blood on Yan Ruheng's body, and her eyes filled with tears. "Father, for your schemes, my brother and I are going to sacrifice ourselves and become your bargaining chips to win over others. Judging from my brother's appearance, he is not willing to do so."
Her voice was soft, her grievances turning into indignation, "Father, I'll ask you one more time, can you let me divorce Lin Yuhu? I can't live like this for another day. I don't want to be a seemingly glamorous but actually pathetic young mistress in the Lin family anymore."
She had everything she wanted since childhood, and should have had a happy marriage.
Her father said that Lin Yuhu was someone he had watched grow up, that she was quite well-behaved, and that her family background was a good match. Moreover, he was marrying down, so he could keep Lin Yuhu firmly in his grasp and their lives would be incredibly fulfilling.
But Lin Yuhu's actions over the years have been nothing short of disgraceful and contemptuous of her marriage!
On what grounds?
Yan Yu and Lin Bianhong are related by marriage and both know about each other's embezzlement. They are like grasshoppers on the same rope, how can they be severed so easily?
Therefore, Yan Yu suddenly felt irritated, feeling that her two children were causing trouble. She flicked her sleeve and said, "Don't talk about divorce anymore, and don't be indecisive and risk your life for a woman. If you don't have any ability, don't be my Yan family's children! Get out!"
The implication is that they simply brushed it off.
Yan Wenying took a deep breath, nodded, and pulled Yan Ruheng along as they rushed out.
The siblings walked until they reached the base of a wall, where Yan Wenying couldn't help but cover her face and sob.
Yan Ruheng herself was still in pain, but seeing her crying like this, all she could do was pat her and say, "...Sister, I'll stand up for you."
Only now did Yan Wenying seem to see his true colors. Staring at the wound on his neck, she said in a hoarse voice, "What is Father going to do to Qian Yingyi? Why are you so anxious?"
Yan Ruheng lowered his eyelids slightly and explained Yan Yu's plan concisely.
Yan Wenying sneered, "So that's how it is. You did the right thing. This method is too underhanded. Do you really like Qian Yingyi?"
Yan Ruheng nodded in agreement.
Perhaps it was because she was a woman and felt stifled and wronged in the Lin family, or perhaps it was because she went home to ask her father for help but was met with a harsh blow from him, that Yan Wenying suddenly felt envious of Qian Yingyi and her heart softened. "If you like her, then go and show her what you're made of."
Yan Ruheng keenly noticed that her tone was different from before, and his mind raced for a moment. The next moment, he tentatively asked, "Sister...do you want to break free from the present?"
He thought that if he could find a way to force Yan Yu to stop, perhaps his sister could also get a divorce smoothly, and he could approach Qian Yingyi with a clear conscience, without having to feel guilty and remorseful anymore.
His future may still see the light of day again.
How could Yan Wenying not understand? After all, they weren't related by blood, so she cautiously peered at Yan Ruheng, suspecting he might be up to something.
But perhaps she couldn't swallow the anger she suffered at Lin Yuhu's place. After a long while, she simply took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears and said, "Take care of yourself first. Go and ask a doctor to bandage you up. Once the blood has dried up, there's no point in talking about leaving or not leaving."
Suddenly, a strong wind arose, and the drizzle that had stopped for a moment instantly intensified into a downpour. Yan Ruheng hurriedly pulled Yan Wenying to the corridor to take shelter from the rain.
Not far away, an apricot tree was swaying precariously in the wind, and the apricots on the tree kept falling down, one, two, and bursting open on the ground.
Perhaps at this moment, something indestructible is being quietly cracked open, waiting for the right moment to collapse completely.
.
The night rain had not stopped. Qin Lizheng, holding an umbrella, walked out from both banks of the Huai River through the downpour.
I just exchanged information with Chu Zhiyan.
To catch a thief red-handed, evidence is essential. Upon investigation, Pei Ji indeed had a backup plan, possessing ledgers detailing Yan Yu and others' smuggling and embezzlement.
It turns out that Wang Yi had always looked down on Pei Ji, but after being coaxed into drinking and praised to the skies, he let slip his secret in a moment of pride.
However, Pei Ji was extremely cunning and hid the account book so well that even the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't find its hiding place for a while.
A single account book wasn't enough evidence, so Qin Lizheng spoke with Chu Zhiyan again, speculating that Yan Yu might try to silence them, and that they must rescue the landlords if necessary.
The young man, holding an oil-paper umbrella, walked alone near the shops when a carriage rushed by, splashing water droplets that soaked his robe.
Qin Lizheng was not annoyed; he simply raised the umbrella slightly and looked in the direction of the sound.
The carriage of Prince Rui's mansion.
Perhaps it was Princess Rui who sent someone to buy some delicacies to please her son.
The conversation I had with Chu Zhiyan just a quarter of an hour ago suddenly came to mind.
They had just finished discussing serious matters when Chu Zhiyan teased Qin Lizheng, "Hey, Commander, I heard that the Prince Rui's heir is throwing tantrums at home every day. You too, breaking the Prince Rui's heir's leg, such an important matter, why don't you show it to your sweetheart?"
Yu Minsen had repeatedly offended Qian Yingyi and deserved to be taught a lesson. Qin Lizheng, however, didn't try to win a woman's favor with such things, so he changed the subject, asking, "How's the investigation going on with those advisors who followed Prince Rui back then?"
Chu Zhiyan straightened his posture and said in a deep voice, "We have some clues. Back then, in order to absolve himself of responsibility, Prince Rui returned to Jinling and ruthlessly killed a group of his advisors. One of them was clever enough to take a fake death drug in advance and escaped by bribing someone working for Prince Rui. However, we still need to patiently search for where he escaped to."
The fact that he didn't die means there's hope for his brother's exoneration.
Qin Lizheng felt his blood boil and was in a good mood. After chatting for a few minutes, he remembered that Qian Yingyi was afraid of dogs, so he entrusted his beloved dog Songsong to Chu Zhiyan.
Chu Zhiyan stared in disbelief, “You’re already thinking about marrying Miss Qian after we return to the capital? The two of you aren’t even that close yet!”
Because of the sudden downpour, the shops along the street, seeing that they couldn't do business, all closed their doors tightly.
Qin Lizheng snapped out of his thoughts, thinking of Qian Yingyi. He smiled and then walked alone in the rain, holding an umbrella.
Upon returning to the Qian residence, he bumped into Yu Cheng.
The case of suing the landlord a few days ago was ostensibly decided by the governor, but in reality, it was Qin Lizheng who made the suggestions behind the scenes. Although Yu Cheng helped him complete the task assigned by the emperor, he was still wary of him.
He hadn't forgotten his brother-in-law's instructions.
Yu Cheng, already married and experienced, could tell at a glance that there was something fishy going on between Qin Lizheng and Qian Yingyi. He was an honest man, and suddenly glanced at the torrential rain outside the eaves, saying, "Commander Qin, do you think Jinling is about to change?"
Qin Lizheng flicked away the raindrops from the hem of his robe and said calmly, "Speak plainly if you have something to say."
Since it was just the two of them, Yu Cheng spoke frankly: "Then please forgive my bluntness, Commander, your feelings for Yingyi are obvious to my elder brother and me. But you are not suitable to stay by Yingyi's side. When the capital changed hands, your parents-in-law avoided you. Your identity is a potential danger. Yingyi was pampered and loved by her family growing up. There should be no danger around her. Do you think your parents-in-law would agree if they knew?"
When has the capital ever changed hands? Oh, it did change hands once, when Prince Heng rebelled.
The Qin family was avoided by many prominent families in the capital after that upheaval.
Yu Cheng's implication was: Your Qin family was once mired in trouble. Even if you're living peacefully now, you're still connected to "treason." Even if the current emperor doesn't care, and you, Qin Lizheng, hold a high position and are now the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who can guarantee that this old case won't be brought up again in the future? What good is publicly declaring that you've severed ties with your family? It's just fooling others. A family is still a family; even if the blood is broken, the tendons are still connected. You, Qin Lizheng, will always be the same Qin family's second son. Can Yingyi truly live a smooth life after marrying you?
Their desires and positions differed, but Qin Lizheng, understanding the implication, was not angered. He merely smiled and said, "What if I said it was an imperial decree?"
Yu Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled as well, "Then I'd like to advise you, Commander, it's best not to do that. If things get unpleasant, it'll be your sister who suffers."
Qin Lizheng remained silent, finding no common ground in their conversation, and brushed past them as he walked away.
After returning to his dormitory to wash off the dampness and changing into a clean, dark-colored round-necked robe, Qin Lizheng went to find Qian Yingyi.
Little did they know that Qian Yingyi was not at Yunteng Pavilion.
After a thorough search of the entire Qian residence, they finally found her in a secluded triangular pavilion.
A slender figure lay motionless on the stone table; only upon closer approach did one realize that he was asleep.
The damp air from the night rain made the two stray strands of hair on her forehead curl and stand up like ears on her head—it was quite adorable. Qin Lizheng couldn't help but chuckle to himself. She was all alone here, in complete darkness, without even a lamp lit. Wasn't she afraid?
He gently scooped her up, and before she woke up, he couldn't resist rubbing his nose against her cheek a little more.
Qian Yingyi was having a dream. In her dream, she walked to a cliff and felt as if something was chasing her from behind. She was caught off guard and lost her footing, and her body suddenly became light and airy.
He suddenly woke up with a start and realized that he was being carried horizontally in someone's arms.
Upon recognizing who it was, she hurriedly shook her legs, her voice slightly hoarse from just waking up, "Put me down!"
Qin Lizheng bent down and put her on the ground, staring at her with a smile without saying a word.
Qian Yingyi patted her chest, turned around and sat down in the pavilion. She drank two cups of cold tea to calm her nerves before looking up at him. "How did you know I was here?"
"I've been searching for you all this way," Qin Lizheng said, walking slowly to her side. He took out an oil paper package from his pocket and placed it in front of her. "Xia Ling told me you didn't eat dinner. Are you hungry? I went outside for a bit. Here's some Poria cocos cake, which you like. Have something to eat first. I'll go to the kitchen to find something to eat."
Qian Yingyi unwrapped the oil paper package, sniffed it lightly, and suddenly felt hungry. She took a bite without thinking. Seeing him turn to leave, she quickly said, "Wait!"
Qin Lizheng stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at her, and asked in a soft, gentle voice, "What's wrong?"
He picked up the yellow gauze lantern and said, "Are you scared? If you are, come with me."
Qian Yingyi puffed out her cheeks and chewed slowly. After swallowing, she lowered her eyelids and whispered, "...Stay and sit with me for a while longer."
Qin Lizheng was surprised for a moment, wondering why she had taken the initiative today. After all, it had been more than ten days since the three rules they had agreed on, and she had always avoided him.
He had no choice but to lift his robe and sit opposite her, his gaze lingering on her face as he asked, "You were perfectly fine when I left at Shenshi (3-5 PM). What happened?"
Speaking of this, Qian Yingyi was not happy. She put the Poria cocos cake on the stone table and said, "In the evening, Xiao Daimao came to me and said that he wanted to pick a good day to marry Chuntang."
When she's unhappy, she always pouts her lips, as if her whole body is screaming "unhappy." Her fists clench lightly, and her shoulders slump down. These characteristics are especially noticeable tonight.
Qin Lizheng understood and smiled at her, "You can't bear to part with Chuntang? That's why you came here alone to sulk?"
“Didn’t I tell you not to hold a grudge?” He pushed up her downturned lips, teasing her half-jokingly. “Otherwise, shall I go and beat up Little Tortoise for you? He’s seriously injured and won’t be able to marry Chuntang.”
Qian Yingyi slammed her fist on the table, angrily saying, "If I had known, I wouldn't have rushed them together so quickly! How could it have happened so fast? It hasn't even been that long!"
Qin Lizheng chuckled, his shoulders shaking, guessing she was quite angry, and asked, "What does Chuntang mean?"
Qian Yingyi deflated instantly, slumped onto the stone table, pressed her face against the cold surface, and looked rather listless. "That's exactly why I'm unhappy. I eagerly ran to ask Chuntang, and Chuntang nodded at me. She nodded at me!"
"Although Xia Ling has been with me since she was a child and we are very close, Chun Tang is no less so! If she marries Xiao Dai Mao, it won't be good for her to stay by my side anymore. It's not that I want her to continue serving me, it's just... it's just..."
She turned her face away, presenting the back of her head to Qin Lizheng.
The rain had gradually subsided by this point, the sound of raindrops pattering softly. Outside the pavilion, the wind was still howling. Her voice was muffled by the wind, "It's just that I can't bear to part with her. In my heart, she and Xia Ling are equally important."
Qin Lizheng was genuinely envious of Xiao Daimao's upcoming marriage.
Staring at the back of the person's head, knowing that she still retained her innocence and naivety, he raised his hand and gently pulled her head, placing his warm palm under her face, coaxing her, "But Chuntang and Xialing can't stay by your side and not get married. Xiao Daimao is upright and never complains when she works, and Chuntang likes her. They got married, you should be happy, there's no need to be sullen here."
Qian Yingyi was slightly taken aback. The half of her face that landed in his palm suddenly felt like it was on fire. She wanted to dodge, but then suddenly felt a warmth, so she froze and didn't move. She just said, "I'm just unhappy, what do you know?"
As she spoke, her lips gently brushed against his calloused palm, as if kissing him. Feeling extremely uncomfortable, she changed the subject: "What's so good about getting married? In the past year or two, I've heard the word 'marry' so many times my ears are practically calloused. I don't want to get married... Ouch! What are you doing?"
Qin Lizheng lightly poked her face with his fingertip, making her soft cheeks twitch upwards, and she couldn't bring herself to say "I don't want to get married".
Qian Yingyi propped herself up and glared at him, as if deliberately trying to get back at him, and then continued, "Oh, I was just thinking that when a woman wants to get married, it's nothing more than a stirring of spring in her heart, wanting to spend her life with that man. But women are always too easy to fool. Some men pretend at first, but then they stop pretending. If you ask me, men are all the same—petty! They only care about themselves!"
Qin Lizheng found her words even more amusing. He thought to himself, this young lady from a sheltered family, could speak so eloquently and logically. He leaned closer, flashing an increasingly unrestrained smile. "You're indirectly calling me petty? You can make a deal with me, but you won't let me cover your mouth to prevent you from saying things I don't like? You're not me, how do you know I'm the same as those men?"
Ever since he voiced his feelings of affection, Qian Yingyi has often refused to lower her head in front of him. At this moment, she stares straight back at him, unwilling to lose face.
As his eyes gradually darkened and his face drew closer, as if he were about to kiss her, she recalled the dizzying kiss from that night and suddenly stood up without any reason, pulling closer to him.
Qin Lizheng looked up at her.
Qian Yingyi suddenly poked his hair tied on top of his head hard and said fiercely, "Are your eyes crooked or what? There are mirrors in the house, at least look at yourself and straighten them!"
"Really?" Qin Lizheng grabbed her hand and pulled her between his legs to stand still. He held her hand and ruffled her hair haphazardly on his head, letting the stray hairs fall down. His tone was regretful, "It's a pity I don't have a comb. I just used your hand to brush it a bit. Is it neat now?"
Qian Yingyi was startled and glanced around guiltily before turning back to glare at him.
After a moment of silence, she lowered her gaze to his somewhat messy head, and her heart itched even more, but she still clenched her fists, refusing to smooth it for him.
Qin Lizheng simply held her wrist tightly, staring intently at her.
The two sides were locked in a stalemate. Qian Yingyi suddenly closed her eyes, finally unable to bear it any longer. She pulled out a silver hairpin from his black hair, and while raising her hand to tidy up each strand of his hair, she gritted her teeth and cursed him, "Shameless, stingy, and full of scheming. Don't think I didn't see through you. You did it on purpose. You just wait. I'll go and tell Second Aunt and have you kicked out!"
Qin Lizheng lowered his eyes and suppressed a laugh, letting her rant.
Sure enough, after her hair was styled, Qian Yingyi immediately grabbed the yellow gauze lantern and ran outside, twirling her skirt.
He pulled hard, and the lantern fell to the ground, sparks crackling and popping, plunging the surroundings into darkness.
Her buttocks were leaning against the edge of the stone table, and her waist was bent slightly by his weight.
"Before you send me away, please let me give you something in return," Qin Lizheng tilted his head to look at her, then leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you for tying my hair up."
Seeing her eyes widen in slight shock, he said in a seductive tone, "Close your eyes."
A hand naturally rested on her trembling eyelashes.
Qian Yingyi only heard him say, "This will count as what I asked you for before I left."
Two warm lips pressed against hers, carrying his usual minty scent. There was no deep penetration, just a gentle, slow caress on her lips.
Unlike last time, she wasn't bursting with anger, and he didn't have the ambition to devour her. He simply pressed his lips to hers, as if in this way, their hearts could grow closer with each peck.
A light drizzle fell, and the wind was biting. Some tiny raindrops slanted onto Qian Yingyi's shoulders and slid into her clothes. This gave her the illusion that she, too, had become damp.
She refused to admit that she could feel her heart flutter at a kiss from him.
Therefore, she steeled herself and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Qin Lizheng stiffened slightly, immediately realizing she was challenging him. He lifted her up, pressed her against the pillar, and used his shoulders and back to shield her from the fine rain, deepening the kiss.
Until Qian Yingyi pushed him away, turned her face away, and breathed heavily.
His gaze fell on her face, and he suddenly smiled, "Want to kiss me again?"
Qian Yingyi pursed her numb lips and refused to let go.
Qin Lizheng put her down, his face hovering in front of her eyes. "Don't forget your promise to me. If you say you want to kick me out before the three-month period is up, I'll ask you for this again."
He knew her too well; she was two-faced, stubborn but soft-hearted.
Qian Yingyi covered her mouth with her hand and pushed him away without saying a word. As for the blush on her face and her slightly moist eyes, Qin Lizheng didn't bother to think about it.
He simply picked up the lantern, relit the candle inside, and quietly followed behind her.
Because of her, his heart came alive. His blood surged so much that it seemed to pull him back to years ago, to reunite him with the spirited self he once was.
Yu Cheng was not wrong. His background was not a good match for hers. She was born to live a happy life. Everything about him was too heavy. He and she were not compatible in terms of joy and sorrow.
But there was still hope for his brother's situation, which did not stop him from beginning to have expectations.
For her, he was willing to overturn everything. To clear his brother's name, to let his parents see him again before they die, and to give himself a second chance at life, to be the unrestrained and flamboyant Qin Lizheng he once was, so that he could be worthy of her again.
He was determined to overcome all obstacles to stay by her side.
forever.
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Author's Note: Yingyi: You're being a scoundrel!! [Angry][Angry][Angry]
There won't be any drugging scenes, so please don't worry~ I already wanted to kill off Yan Yu, but for the sake of the story's integrity, I chose to hold back.
For those who are cunning and calculating, and only care about their own interests, the most fatal blow may come from those closest to them.
Honestly, my daily joy is reading your comments!!! [Crying emoji]
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