Chapter 39 That commander must be a scoundrel too! ...
The quilt was crumpled beyond recognition, and Qian Yingyi's eyes glistened with tears. She was so overwhelmed by the shock that she was unable to speak.
Qin Lizheng stood up and gently pulled her arms into his embrace. He tilted his head and kissed her cheek, waiting for her to calm down.
"...How...how could you kiss there?" After a long pause, Qian Yingyi finally lifted her eyelids, her trembling eyelashes glistening with tears. "I already said no, but you still..."
Qin Lizheng stuck out the tip of his tongue and licked his lower lip, first saying "Sorry," then adding, "But you like it, don't you?"
Qian Yingyi regained her strength and struggled to get off the bed, saying, "I need to wash up..."
As soon as he regained his footing, a hand wrapped around his waist. "Wait."
Qin Lizheng tightened his grip, rubbing his face against her soft belly. He was tall, and his strong muscles were visible beneath his loose-fitting clothes; his chest rose and fell with each embrace.
Like an unbreakable tree trunk, it enveloped her, confining her, unwilling to be separated even for a moment. "I like you so much, Yingyi, I love you so much..."
The moonlight cast a clear glow, casting two long, narrow shadows on the ground.
Qian Yingyi felt weak from his embrace and half-fell back, brushing away his face that had fallen onto her neck, wiping away the slight itch, and suddenly became interested, "Tell me, what if Xia Ling was worried about me just now and rushed in?"
He lifted her waist, and the indifference in his eyes reappeared, as if he wasn't the one who had been holding her tightly just moments before.
Actually, what he wanted to tell her was that he was always on high alert, and even when he was overwhelmed with emotion, he still kept a sliver of his attention on what was happening around him.
Knowing that she always craved that forbidden thrill, he deliberately said, "Then hide on your bed and deal with it with trepidation."
Qian Yingyi laughed, her shoulders shaking, but then she felt shy and grabbed the quilt to cover his face. "You wait here. I'm going to go behind that screen to wash up. You're not allowed to come over or look."
Qin Lizheng braced his arms behind his back, his face covered by the quilt, his laughter growing increasingly low and muffled as he repeatedly responded.
After Qian Yingyi tidied himself up, he transformed back into the guard who had never been tainted by decadence. He neatly fastened his nightgown, sat up, leaned against the couch, and closed his eyes to rest.
Qian Yingyi lowered her gaze and looked down at his waist. Thinking of the burning hot touch that had scorched her palms, her face inexplicably flushed.
She gently rubbed her delicate lips together, hesitated for a moment, poured herself a cup of tea, held it in her hand, approached him, and handed it to him, asking, "...Are you going back?"
Just then, Qin Lizheng lifted his eyes and stared at her. His lips, which had just kissed her, held the rim of the cup. He took two sips, put the cup back on the low table outside the bed, and gazed at her quietly with a smile.
His voice, clear and bright as if veiled, seemed to bewitch her into further succumbing, "That's not the right question. You should ask yourself, do you want me to stay?"
The two were not far apart, their eyes met, and Qian Yingyi suddenly burst out laughing, throwing herself at him, "You've been guarding me all the way to the bed, it's too late to leave now."
The moonlight reflected in the windowpane, and two hearts drew closer in an instant. Even on a humid summer night, they would snuggle together and dream a beautiful dream from which they would never wake.
The fragrance of lotus lingers, and the lotus blossoms are in full bloom.
After several days of sultry weather, the heavens sent down a rain, and sparse raindrops fell on the vast land of Nanjing. A cool breeze blew by, and even the surface of the Huai River was shrouded in a light mist.
As the Ghost Festival approached, Qian Yuxing went to the escort agency to retrieve a reply letter. He, Qian Yingyi, and Ren Yuqing sat in the pavilion, pondering its contents. Outside the pavilion, the rain pattered, while inside, their voices were clear and melodious like bells.
Qian Yingyi sat down on the round stool with a smile. "According to what you said in your letter, brother, he should be able to finish his business in Yangzhou and come home around the Mid-Autumn Festival, right?"
“That’s what I mean,” Qian Yuxing laughed, glancing at Ren Yuqing’s belly. She couldn’t resist poking it lightly with her fingertip and asked, “Tuan’er, Daddy’s coming back, are you happy?”
In reality, Ren Yuqing had no idea whether the child in her womb was a boy or a girl. However, the whole family hoped it would be a girl, so they decided on a nickname for her early on, calling her Tuanjie'er.
Ren Yuqing smiled gently like a spring breeze, and was very happy. "He's finally coming back. I was just afraid that he would be late in returning, and that Tuanjie wouldn't recognize him when she was born."
Qian Yingyi laughed out loud, not taking it seriously, "A little kitten like this, how could it recognize anyone?"
“Don’t underestimate a baby like this,” Qian Yuxing glanced at her. “When you were born, before your eyes were even open, your brother would hold you and you would cry, but when I held you, you were fine. Do you dare say you didn’t recognize me?”
Qian Yingyi found it intriguing and was about to ask a few questions when Qian Yuxing's words struck her like a drumbeat: "Perfect timing, since it's just the three of us today, you tell your sister and sister-in-law what's going on between you and that guard?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She awkwardly sipped her tea, her eyes darting towards the wall outside the pavilion. "What...what's going on?"
Ren Yuqing pursed her lips, but finally couldn't help but say, "Yingyi, you like him, don't you? We all live under the same roof, eating, washing, and sleeping together. Don't we think we can tell who you hate and who you like?"
For the first three years, Qian Yuxing and Ren Yuqing were unable to return to Jinling to visit their younger sister. Although they were more insightful about love than their sister and wanted to offer some advice, they ultimately had no intention of breaking up the couple.
Qian Yuxing sighed and said, "I heard he's also from the capital. I have eyes to see what kind of person he is, and I can judge him. But have you considered that Father is always so rigid? Would he accept this?"
"Let alone your father, even your grandfather has cherished you since you were born. How could your grandfather bear to let you marry a man who has nothing?"
Perhaps it was because her elders, "father" and "grandfather," had given Qian Yingyi a nudge, and knowing that this was a difficult hurdle to overcome, Qian Yingyi lowered her chin and did not deny that she liked Qin Lizheng, only saying, "Actually, I was thinking... a live-in son-in-law would also be acceptable."
Qian Yuxing gasped, shocked. "You've already thought about marriage?"
Qian Yingyi glanced at her quickly, her slightly pouting lips muttering, "Ever since I turned seventeen, the word 'marriage' has always been swirling around me, hasn't it? Father wants me to get married early, so naturally I have to choose someone I like. Thinking about this isn't wrong, is it?"
These words stung Qian Yuxing, leaving her speechless for a moment. After a long while, she finally said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about Grandpa and Father. If my brother knew that you had been kidnapped by the family's guards, he would definitely chase after them and beat them up!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Yingyi clenched her fist on the table. "He wouldn't dare!"
Ren Yuqing casually chimed in, "What kind of temperament does your brother have? A few years ago, he bumped into the newly appointed commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in front of the Hanlin Academy. Your brother was sharp-tongued and held a grudge against the commander after the commander said he looked like a hypocrite. Since then, he has made sarcastic remarks whenever he sees him."
"He remembers such a small matter. You are his youngest sister. If he knew, how could he dare not? He would be being lenient by not drawing his sword and killing your guard."
Qian Yingyi pursed her lips and secretly rolled her eyes. "Brother's mouth is a bit sharp, and his temper is a bit impatient. How handsome he is in his official robes! The Imperial Guards are all fierce and menacing. If they can casually say that brother is decent-looking, then the commander must be a scoundrel! A-Zheng always indulges me. How can the two be compared?"
She casually called out to A-Zheng, her words full of protection for him. Qian Yuxing and Ren Yuqing exchanged glances, remaining silent for a long time, their eyes filled with helplessness.
He secretly thought that his younger sister was also stubborn; once she made up her mind to do something, not even a few oxen could pull her back.
The two sighed, listening to the pattering rain outside the pavilion, thinking—if Qian Linye returned home and found out about this, his family would surely be turned upside down, and he would really go to great lengths to create a huge mess before it was over!
Meanwhile, the "rotten person" that Qian Yingyi mentioned was sitting in the dark room of the music hall, sipping a cup of tea.
Before him was a chessboard, and he had completely wiped away the gloom between his brows. When he smiled, his whole demeanor softened.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window. Chu Zhiyan sat opposite him, his fingers twirling a white chess piece, hesitating to place it. He first teased him, "Oh dear, what did someone say the other day? That Qian Yingyi is really spoiled and annoying. What woman is as difficult to please as her?"
Chu Zhiyan chuckled, "Congratulations, Commander! From now on, you'll be indulging her every day. Isn't it even more satisfying to have your sweetheart like you? It's even better than when you were in the position of Commander!"
Qin Lizheng glanced at him and urged him to make a move. "Let's get down to business. Chang Rong has been imprisoned pending investigation. The Emperor is not happy. After reading the letter we sent, he said that he would transfer Lord Wei of the Censorate to Yingtian Prefecture as the Prefect, revoke Yan Yu's silver seal, and temporarily dismiss him. We will discuss Yan Yu's future after Yan Wenying's case is completely resolved."
"Isn't His Majesty's move like hanging a knife over Yan Yu's head without letting it fall, just keeping him hanging?" Chu Zhiyan laughed. "Old ginger is spicier. His Majesty wants them to fight each other more fiercely. I reckon His Majesty is running out of patience and wants to wipe them out as soon as possible. That's why he transferred Lord Wei here to provoke them."
"With a change in the top official of Yingtian Prefecture, wouldn't it be a case of 'when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter'?"
Speaking of this, Chu Zhiyan straightened his crooked body slightly and said, "By the way, Commander, the Yan family has already won over Wen Jianzhou from the Ministry of Personnel, promising him a 10% commission."
"Lin Bianhong has been busy with two things lately. On one hand, he has to deal with Xun Yun's urging for him to secretly search for Yan Wenying's whereabouts. On the other hand, he has to compete fiercely with Yan Yu and secretly build up his own faction. Perhaps because of Chang Rong, he has won over fewer officials than Yan Yu."
Qin Lizheng placed a piece, his eyes filled with coldness. "So, if the news of Chang Rong's imprisonment reaches Jinling, those officials that Lin Bianhong has won over will probably be busy distancing themselves from him again. Yan Yu has the upper hand for now."
"But once Lord Wei's transfer appointment is finalized, it's uncertain whether Yan Yu can still hold his post, and Lin Bianhong will turn the tables and suppress him."
"The two were already blinded by the gold and silver treasures. It was a matter of how these two ants on a hot pan would fight each other to the death."
He slightly raised his eyelids and looked at Chu Zhiyan, "They did a clean job. Have you found out the mole in the Ministry of Revenue who covered for them?"
Chu Zhiyan nodded. “If we catch who it is, we’ll deal with them severely. But putting that person aside, there’s something I find strange.”
"Commander, where exactly do you think Pei Ji hid the ledger?"
"It's really strange. Even when a person dies and turns to ashes, the Imperial Guards can still find clues. But a simple, square ledger has been nowhere to be found for so long."
Qin Lizheng replied casually, "It doesn't matter. As long as he is a merchant and a distant relative of Wang Yi, he won't destroy the account books. This is his trump card to curry favor with higher-ups. All he's doing is trying to find the greatest protection for himself. We don't need to worry about him, just keep guarding them."
After pondering for a moment, he added, "The summer tax was already levied in mid-May and will be paid by early August. The Ministry of Personnel in the capital is very quick to draft and submit the documents. With Lord Wei as a powerful figure to keep them in check, these greedy parasites will not make any more moves on the summer tax, at least not before the end of the year."
"The Emperor may be anxious, but if we want to wipe them out in one fell swoop, we still have plenty of time to wear them down slowly."
Chu Zhiyan expected to stay in Jinling until the end of the year, so he nodded without saying anything.
Seeing that Qin Lizheng had become more humane, he thought of something and said, "I just told you that Wen Jianzhou was won over by the Yan family. Earlier, because of the matter of transferring Yan Ruheng, Wen Jianzhou secretly received more than 100,000 taels of silver from the Yan family. This is a huge amount. It shows how much they have embezzled over the years."
"The Yan family takes the lion's share. This time, they've won over Wen Jianzhou, promising him a ten percent of the profits, which isn't a small amount. Isn't Miss Qian a close friend of that young lady from the Wen family?"
"Commander, have you considered that if the Wen family is implicated and imprisoned, Miss Wen will also be implicated? What should we do if Miss Qian finds out the truth?"
He said, "Would she just stand by and watch Miss Wen die? We are working for the Emperor, and we would rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free. Without the Emperor's order, how could we let Miss Wen go?"
"Wouldn't Miss Qian then be at odds with you?"
Having said all that, Chu Zhiyan lowered his gaze to the chess pieces, pondered for a moment, and then simply posed another question, "Now that you and Miss Qian have reached an understanding, when do you plan to reveal your true identity?"
It was late afternoon, and the sound of rain falling from the eaves touched people's hearts, tapping lightly. The half-lit sky reflected a trace of melancholy on Qin Lizheng's face.
Yes, a sense of loss.
He rarely showed such an expression. He pursed his lips and said, "The entire Qian family adheres to the concept of self-cultivation, especially Old Master Qian. When he was an official in the capital, he did not participate in any court disputes."
"Qian Linye and Yu Cheng both know my identity. I used the mission to warn them not to tell anyone. I also want to be honest, but firstly, if the entire Qian family finds out, they will avoid me like the plague. How can they expect me to stay by their side then?"
"Secondly, she dislikes the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so I'm a little uneasy."
Chu Zhiyan, being all alone, couldn't understand his deep worries and sorrows. He pursed his lips and finally sighed, "After careful consideration, you can only tell me at a very appropriate time."
Qin Lizheng stood up abruptly, no longer maintaining the somewhat dull topic. Thinking of the Wen family matter mentioned earlier, he said, "You said she might be at odds with me. I think I won't let that day come."
It's like saying nothing, yet it's like saying everything.
Chu Zhiyan didn't bother to think about it and got up to see him off, saying, "It's raining outside, remember to take the umbrella with you."
A light drizzle fell, and the summer heat dissipated.
Qin Lizheng walked in the rain with an umbrella, his figure slender, his eyes and eyebrows outlined with a coldness by the damp rain. He was led to a dessert shop in Sifu Lane and bought a lychee shaved ice dessert that Qian Yingyi wanted.
He stopped in front of the shop, his cool voice mingling with the sound of rain, "Boss Liang, it's raining today, business doesn't seem too good?"
Liang Tu, who was crouching at a square table in the corner, looked up when he heard this, and quickly stood up with a smile, "Oh, it's wet outside, why don't you come in and sit down?"
Qin Lizheng had just closed his umbrella and stepped into the shop. He sat down on the long bench, ordered the lychee shaved ice, and stared at Liang Tu's busy profile as he asked, "Where's Xixi?"
Liang Tu laughed, "She ate until her belly was round at noon and is now taking a nap in the children's clothing shop next door. Judging by the time, she should be waking up by now. Speaking of her, I'm really worried."
“It’s been raining these past few days, and she’s been trying to cool off, but she’s caught a chill in the blink of an eye,” Liang Tu said as he cut lychees with scissors, his words seemingly reflecting his worries and helplessness as a father. “She’s arguing with me right now.”
Qin Lizheng lowered his eyes, his slightly curled eyelashes concealing the emotions within.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "On my way here, I heard that the Prince Rui's Mansion has been doing good deeds around the Confucius Temple recently, and has invited some female doctors to take pulses and diagnose illnesses for the people. Xi Xi is stubborn and refuses to see a doctor, probably because she doesn't like those rude and perfunctory male doctors. Didn't you take her to the Confucius Temple for a stroll, Mr. Liang?"
Liang Tu suddenly looked up, his knuckles white as he gripped the scissors, his eyes instantly turning cold, and even his scarred face became terrifying.
He stared silently at Qin Lizheng without speaking. After a moment, he pulled the bolt on the shop door, locking it from the inside, and reached for the knife on the table. "Who are you?"
Qin Lizheng glanced at them lightly, his thin lips parted slightly, and he spoke in a heavy voice, “My surname is Qin. Qin Liran, the compiler of the Hanlin Academy who was involved in the case of the rebellious king, was my deceased elder brother.”
"Mr. Liang, there's no need for such a strong reaction. I meant no harm."
Upon suddenly hearing the name Qin Liran, Liang Tu's eyes flickered slightly, clearly recalling this past incident. His lips pressed into a straight line, and his grip on the knife hilt remained firm. He bluntly stated, "You've been scheming to get close to me, hoping I'll overturn your brother's case?"
Whether Qin Liran actually committed treason back then, or whether he secretly communicated with the strategists under Prince Rui, is something that others might have to consider for a long time to verify.
Only Liang Tu knew that this was clearly a miscarriage of justice.
At that time, Qin Liran exchanged letters with Prince Rui and talked at length. He and a group of strategists all felt that this boy was exceptionally intelligent, and if he could be used by Prince Rui, he could replace all of them.
At that time, they were jealous and feared that Qin Liran might actually have such thoughts, so they ordered Prince Rui to dismiss them and their group.
However, Qin Liran always regarded Prince Rui as a friend, and the contents of his letters were mostly philosophical discussions.
It wasn't until news of Qin Liran's death reached Jinling that these strategists came to their senses, shocked by the cruelty of Prince Rui's methods. The fear of losing their interdependent partner instantly swept over them.
Prince Rui acted too quickly. To him, they were all "evidence" that he should not exist in the world, "evidence" that proved that he had indeed participated in the rebellion and had rebellious intentions.
If he hadn't taken such a risky step, he would be nothing more than a skeleton lying in the mud now.
Now that the old story has come to mind, and with Qin Liran's younger brother right in front of him, Liang Tu's feelings are a complex mix that is hard to describe.
Perhaps for this reason, he gradually loosened his grip on the knife handle, his lips moved, and a sigh escaped his lips.
At the same time, he suppressed his voice and said coldly, "I regret your brother's death, but look at me. In order to survive, I personally cut off almost my entire face and took a risk to hide in Jinling. Only then can I be said to have survived successfully."
He spread his hands, “I only call myself Liang San in public. That day, Xi Xi let it slip and told you my name. I was terrified for a long time.”
"Since I have disappeared without a trace, there is absolutely no possibility of me getting involved again. Today, I will pretend that you were never here, and I do not know that your surname is Qin. Please leave."
Qin Lizheng withdrew his gaze, still not giving up, "You can hide for a while, but can you hide forever? Since you escaped by faking your death, I guess you haven't been to the yamen since the moment you escaped from Prince Rui's mansion."
As he continued speaking, his voice became more and more certain, “Since Prince Rui has dealt with you secretly, he naturally wouldn’t send anyone to the government office to report your deaths. In the government office’s household register, you are still alive.”
"You've been hesitant to send Xixi to the private school because you're worried about this," Qin Lizheng stood up, suddenly raising his eyes to stare intently at him. "Liang Tu, you're afraid the private school will ask you for Xixi's household registration. I guess Xixi isn't registered under your name yet, is she?"
"You can still hide now, but what about later?"
"I know you're planning to take Xixi away from Jinling, but do you think Xixi will agree? If she stays in Jinling, she'll grow older. You've been smart all your life, do you really want your daughter to never go to school or interact with people?"
Liang Tu was momentarily speechless when pressed for answers.
Qin Lizheng stared intently at him, took out the waist token of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and persuaded him again: "If you can help me clear my brother's name, then Prince Rui will suffer a terrible fate, and you will no longer need to hide with Xixi, and you can walk openly in the light of day."
Liang Tu's eyes flickered slightly, and his heart seemed to pound. He admitted that this was an extremely tempting offer for him.
"Huh? Why is this dessert shop closed today?" Just then, two customers passed by outside the shop and muttered a few words.
Liang Tu suddenly snapped out of his daze, but ultimately dared not gamble. He immediately turned around, his tone hardening, "It seems you didn't understand what I said. I said, please leave."
Everything seemed to have returned to square one. Qin Lizheng waited quietly for a moment, then sighed, put away his waist token, and sat back down on the long bench. "Lychee ice cream, please be quick, Mr. Liang."
They simply let the matter drop and didn't mention it again.
Before long, the lychee sorbet was ready. Qin Lizheng silently took the food box, and the locked door was opened again.
He walked out unhurriedly, passing the children's clothing store. Just as he was about to quicken his pace, a series of light and chaotic footsteps suddenly appeared behind him.
Four legs stepped into puddles, splashing water in scattered sounds.
Two children wearing raincoats passed under his umbrella, one of them calling out with a grin, "Xixi, wait for me! My shoes aren't on yet!"
Liang Xizhao turned around and made a face at her playmate Chen Yuansheng at the children's clothing shop, "Tch, I'll wait for you for a little while. Hurry up and put your shoes on. If you're any slower, I'll go play at the temple by myself!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Liang Xizhao looked up, as if only then realizing it was Qin Lizheng. Her slightly dirty nose twitched slightly, and she gave him a smile, "Brother Azheng!"
She glanced around at him from left and right, asking, "Where's Sister Yingyi?"
Qin Lizheng stared down at her, a sudden thought prompting him to restrain her so he could use her to coerce Liang Tu.
He paused for a moment and then said, "Sister Yingyi is taking a nap at home, and Xixi just woke up from her nap, right?"
Liang Xizhao nodded with a grin. Seeing that Chen Yuansheng had put on his shoes, she quickly tugged at the hem of his raincoat and ran into the misty rain, leaving only her voice behind, "I'm going first! Chen Yuansheng! Come on, let's go have some fun!"
Qin Lizheng stared quietly at the backs of the two children as they gradually disappeared into the rain and mist, and the memories buried deep in his heart suddenly pulled him back to the past.
At that time, he was about the same age as them, and he followed behind his older brother with a big smile on his face.
As they ran and played, they got tired, so the older brother held him on his lap to rest.
At that time, his elder brother was studying in the capital, but he was not yet at the age where he would cling to books. When his brother mentioned that he should study hard, he said dismissively, "Tch, all you have to do is read fancy books. What's so good about that? I'm not going to study."
The elder brother said, “If you don’t study, how will you learn the principles of being a person? Ah Zheng, a wise man keeps his talents hidden until the right time to use them. You can learn these literary things and put them into your mind. If you don’t like them, just let them stay in your mind. Sooner or later, you will need them.”
"Don't you love comparing yourself to others? Songsong has also followed your bad example, often fighting and being fierce with other dogs. How do you know that those kids you compare yourself to aren't knowledgeable? Maybe they study hard at home, they just don't let you see it."
It was evening, and even the wall behind us was glowing red from the sunset.
The elder brother's voice seemed to drift away, "Ah Zheng, speaking of which, I also have to say a few words to you. A gentleman is cautious even when alone, and does not deceive in secret. It's okay if you are a little naughty, but you must never do anything against your conscience in the future."
The heavy memories struck Qin Lizheng's heart. He stared at the two figures that had long since disappeared, and suddenly realized that he had harbored malice because of his obsession with revenge.
After many years, my brother's words still resonate in my ears at this moment.
Yes, he shouldn't have plotted so sinisterly.
But he hated his brother's tragic death. His brother was such a good and upright person. Why did he have to bear such a stigma even after his death?
Qin Lizheng stood alone in the rain and suddenly closed his eyes.
After a long while, he turned around and went back to the dessert shop. When he came to Liang Tu, who looked slightly surprised, he bent down as low as possible and said in a very sincere tone, "Please help me, sir."
Liang Tu was surprised that his return was completely different from his previous aggressive attitude. He opened his mouth to speak, but then heard him say, "If you are not willing, sir, I will wait. Farewell."
Liang Tu stood there for a moment, slightly stunned, feeling uneasy.
As evening approached and the wind picked up, Qin Lizheng returned to the Qian residence. The wind rustled the leaves incessantly, and with the lingering sorrow in his heart, it sounded as if every leaf was pleading for his brother's injustice.
Taking a deep breath to release the emotions suppressed in his heart, Qin Lizheng carried the food box to look for Qian Yingyi, only to find that she was not in Yunteng Pavilion.
Qin Lizheng stood there for a moment and then turned and walked towards the very secluded pavilion in the house.
Sure enough, they found her again soon after.
His gaze softened, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he approached her softly. He then gently sat down in front of her, gazing at her sleeping face as she drifted into a deep sleep, and reached out his fingertip to gently stroke her soft cheek.
Qian Yingyi was fast asleep, a cloak draped over her shoulders. She got up impatiently and slapped his hand away. "Don't bother me!"
Seeing her adorable appearance, Qin Lizheng smiled silently, took out the lychee shaved ice, and held it in front of her for a moment.
Qian Yingyi twitched her nostrils slightly, her expression like a cat that had just spotted a fish. She immediately opened her eyes and sat up straight in a flash!
She had gotten up too quickly and felt dizzy. She closed her eyes for a moment and then came to her senses. When she saw it was him, she opened her arms to him generously and said, "Hug."
Qin Lizheng's heart softened, and he wrapped his cloak around her and pulled her into his arms. "Why are you here alone again?"
He paused briefly, tightened his grip on her arm, lowered his gaze to observe her expression, searching for clues on her face. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Is something bothering you?"
"No way!" Qian Yingyi pouted, took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, straightened her back confidently in front of him, stared at him, then lowered her gaze again after a moment, her two rounded shoulders drooping down, "It is a bit annoying."
She scooped up a spoonful of lychee sorbet and put it in her mouth, then asked him if he wanted some. When he shook his head, she put two more spoonfuls in his mouth before saying, "My brother sent a letter back saying he can return home before the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'm worried... what if he wants to hit you?"
She blinked, stepped off his lap, and asked, "You're so skilled, would you let him hit you?"
A light rain was falling outside the pavilion, and the wind made her skirt flutter gently, making her look like a restless bird.
Qin Lizheng stared at her, then suddenly burst out laughing.
He pulled her back and kneaded a few of her fingers. "Are you worried about me, or about your brother? Are you worried that if I don't fight back, your brother will beat me half to death, or are you worried that if I fight back, your brother won't be able to beat me?"
Qian Yingyi had just woken up and was still a little groggy. Seeing his grinning face, she got annoyed and grabbed his hand, biting it hard. "You're still laughing! I'm annoyed!"
Qin Lizheng chuckled softly, his chest even vibrating.
After laughing enough, he met her bright eyes and said, "These things are not for you to think about. If you really want to hold me accountable, it's because I stole you away. Even if you beat me to the point of death, it's my fault."
Hearing how serious it was, Qian Yingyi suddenly felt reluctant to let go. She touched the deep tooth mark on his tiger's mouth where she had bitten him, and snorted through her nose, "I know, when it really comes to that, I will stand up to protect you."
A gust of wind swept away the gloom in Qin Lizheng's heart. He pulled her closer, cupped her face in his warm palm, and reverently placed a kiss on her forehead.
He immediately said, "Eat quickly, don't think about these things that haven't happened yet, just be happy every day."
There were still some days before Qian Linye returned home. After thinking about it for a while, Qian Yingyi realized that this made sense. She put her worries aside, sat back on the round stool with a smile, and scooped up spoonfuls of lychee yogurt into her mouth.
Qin Lizheng looked at her quietly, and suddenly the matter of Wen Ninglan mentioned by Chu Zhiyan came to mind. With a change of heart, he took advantage of her happy mood and asked, "Yingyi, what do you think of corrupt officials?"
"A corrupt official?" Qian Yingyi didn't even look up, picking through the lychee flesh, licking her rosy lips, and said, "Let's see how he's corrupt."
"Did your grandfather teach you these things?"
Qian Yingyi picked out a large piece of fruit and put it in her mouth. She chewed it slowly and swallowed it before gently nodding her fair and delicate chin. "Yes, Grandpa mentioned some things. I myself was watching a play outside before, and there were also corrupt officials who committed heinous crimes in the play. So I have my own opinions."
Qin Lizheng raised an eyebrow, propped his head up with one arm, and stared at her intently. "Then tell me what happened."
Qian Yingyi then looked up at him suspiciously, her fair face upturned. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Fortunately, she didn't dwell on this sudden strange feeling. She stopped after finishing half a bowl of lychee sorbet, wiped the lychee juice from her lips with a handkerchief, and then began to talk eloquently.
She said, "In my opinion, not all corrupt officials in this world are unforgivable. If they are corrupt for their own benefit and drink the blood of the people, they should die. But if they are corrupt out of necessity and for the benefit of the people, they may be spared death."
Seeing Qin Lizheng staring at her intently, her face flushed slightly, and she said, "Don't be fooled by my family's wealth. It's all thanks to our ancestors' riches. I couldn't live such a luxurious life on the meager salaries of my grandfather, father, and second uncle. It's just that our ancestors started out as merchants."
"You're suddenly asking this? Did you hear something bad about our family?" Gradually, her expression became slightly suspicious.
Qin Lizheng sighed inwardly at her open-mindedness, shook his head, and said, "I just suddenly wanted to ask."
He fabricated a story that was almost identical to the Wen family's situation, and then tentatively asked, "What would you do if your friend was implicated by his family and there was no way to save him?"
Qian Yingyi listened to it as just a story, and after a moment's thought, she said, "That depends on the situation."
The wind howled, and her rational and calm voice, mixed in with the sound, reached Qin Lizheng's ears: "If this friend and her family enjoy the benefits of greed, even if she is a friend, I cannot condone her. Perhaps I would feel sorry for her, but if I were to save her, then... what about those people who have been exploited? Who will save them?"
She blinked, her expression still serious, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "On the contrary, if she hadn't enjoyed it, her guilt might not have warranted death. Knowing it was wrong, I couldn't bear to watch her die."
Qin Lizheng took in her expression, his gaze lingering on her face without ever leaving it.
She possessed a heart that was sufficiently sincere, resilient, and rational. Although her mouth sometimes revealed a touch of arrogance, upon closer examination, given her rare and bright state of mind, even if she were a shrew who would hurl insults at anyone, he would not be able to resist getting closer to her because of her sincerity.
In her presence, even his earlier probing seemed utterly ridiculous.
A surge of emotion welled up in Qin Lizheng's heart, drawing him in tightly.
So he gently turned her face to face, stared into her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Yingyi, actually I am Jinyi..."
"Ah! Someone come here! Quickly drive it away, drive it away!"
Suddenly, a scream rang out from the southwest corner. Qian Yingyi shuddered, broke free from his hand, and ran towards the screaming man. "A-Zheng! Something happened in my sister-in-law's yard!"
The two rushed to Ren Yuqing's courtyard. Qian Yingyi was still outside when her voice reached inside, "What's wrong? What happened, sister-in-law? What happened?"
After a while, Ren Yuqing emerged from the main room. She was terrified, her face pale, and she clutched her chest, saying in a trembling voice, "It's alright now. There was a snake in the yard. I only saw half of its tail before it slithered away along the wall. The servants are searching for it everywhere. Your sister is also afraid of snakes, so she ran out to buy realgar!"
Qian Yingyi was shocked, her scalp tingling. "Snake? Heavens, I'm most afraid of such things. Come to think of it, I forgot to drive away snakes and insects this year. Don't be afraid, sister-in-law, I'll stay here with you."
After waiting for half a day, Qian Yuxing finally returned carrying two tightly wrapped packages of realgar powder.
Thinking of how frightened Ren Yuqing had been, Qian Yingyi had to comfort her for a while. It wasn't until dark that Qian Yingyi finally breathed a sigh of relief and came out of Ren Yuqing's courtyard with her chin down.
Qin Lizheng was ostensibly just her bodyguard, and it wasn't appropriate for him to enter the courtyards of other women, so he waited for her in the corner of the corridor.
Qian Yingyi didn't actually see the snake. She was scared at first, but she calmed down after a while. As soon as she saw him, she looked around to make sure no one was watching, then wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "Sister-in-law, you're so scared your face has turned pale. Do you think there might be a snake in my yard?"
Qin Lizheng gently poked her forehead, "With me here, not even a snake, let alone the insects you're afraid of, will be here."
Qian Yingyi smiled happily again, quickly tiptoed and kissed him on the chin, "That's exactly what I wanted to hear, so I'll let you come find me tonight."
After speaking, she clapped her hands and twirled her skirt towards the small flower hall. Halfway there, she suddenly turned back to his side, tilting her head and asking, "What did you say to me earlier? The Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
"You want to be a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Qin Lizheng was slightly taken aback, not expecting her to misunderstand. He opened his mouth, about to speak again, when he saw her smilingly cross her arms and take two steps back. She looked him up and down with her eyes, first nodding her chin in satisfaction, and then offering her comments.
"I heard that the selection criteria for the Embroidered Uniform Guard are broad-shouldered, wasp-waisted, and mantis-legged. You seem to fit the description, but do you know that the Embroidered Uniform Guard selects sons of officials?"
She shrugged with a grin, counting on her little finger, "Although you're already quite good in my eyes, you're still a long way from being a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
Then he patted his arm and said, "Come on, don't just stand here like an idiot."
A sliver of her skirt fluttered like a butterfly's wing, and in no time it was gone.
Qin Lizheng stood there in a daze, speechless for a long time. Finally, he let out a sigh and raised his hand to furrow his brow.
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Author's Note: Qin Lizheng: I nervously exposed myself, but she didn't take it seriously at all [fear]
Qian Yingyi: [Angry] What kind of bullshit commander is this? How dare he say my brother is a respectable man? What a scoundrel! What a scoundrel!
Qin Lizheng: Who's talking badly about me behind my back?
We're just slowly making our way towards revealing our true identity!
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