Chapter 47 "If you're willing, I'll be your dog..."
The lotus leaves were slightly withered, but the begonias were quietly in full bloom. Early autumn mornings are always a bit cool, and Qin Lizheng wore a black silk cross-collar robe, as if he wanted to disappear into the dim morning light.
He walked around the riverbank, and when he returned home, he was carrying a food box.
He gently pushed open the door, and the figure inside the tent remained curled up, asleep, without even turning over. Qin Lizheng lightly lifted the gauze curtain, his hand slipping under the covers to touch the soft flesh of Qian Yingyi's lower abdomen. "After I take you back, you can sleep well, okay?"
She made two soft "hmm" sounds from under the covers, then there was no further response.
Qin Lizheng silently smiled, and seeing that she showed no sign of waking up, he simply lifted the covers and pulled her up.
Qian Yingyi slowly opened her eyes, leaning against the warm embrace, languidly remaining silent.
It took her half a day to fully wake up. Her blurry eyes darted around, first checking the sky outside, then she glared at Qin Lizheng, before burying herself back under the covers. Her voice muffled, she said, "It's all your fault! I should have been asleep much longer! Doesn't your conscience hurt? It's not even fully light outside yet! How long have I been asleep?!"
Qin Lizheng chuckled inwardly, then scooped her up again, apologizing as he said, "I'll be more restrained next time, okay?"
Qian Yingyi punched his arm resentfully, a hint of weariness in her eyes. "You're treacherous and cunning! Don't ever mention my habit of insisting on even numbers again. If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have even thought of it!"
"Okay, I won't mention it anymore, I won't mention it anymore," Qin Lizheng mumbled in response.
Then he got up and searched the cabinet for a set of clothes: a bright blue stand-up collar jacket with pipa sleeves, paired with a white begonia embroidered round-necked vest, and a light blue satin embroidered horse-face skirt.
With his clothes draped over his arm, Qin Lizheng stood outside the tent, a smile spreading across the half of his face that was exposed. His thin lips parted slightly, adding a touch of teasing to his expression. "Will you dress yourself, or should I help you?"
Qian Yingyi glared at him, snatched the dress and put it on, slowly tying the ribbon, thinking to herself that the dress was really beautiful.
She didn't show it, and went to wash up under his burning gaze. When she sat in front of the mirror, she deliberately teased him, "Yesterday, Chuntang did my hair. The style was beautiful. I can't do it like that. Can you?"
Qin Lizheng immediately went up to her, picked up a thick strand of her hair and parted it, teasing her on purpose, "Hmm... let me think, what kind of hairstyle did I have yesterday? Hmm, I really don't know how to do anything too complicated, but I'm good at braiding."
Qian Yingyi's original intention was simply to have him comb her hair, as she was too lazy to braid it herself in front of the mirror. Upon hearing the voice, she asked, "Why do you know how to braid hair?"
"Oh, my dad used to teach me to ride horses, and I often braided horses."
"..." Qian Yingyi's forehead immediately twitched in disbelief, and she stared at him through the lens, "What did you say?!"
Qin Lizheng laughed out loud, his shoulders shaking. As if sensing that she was about to turn around and hit him, he quickly grabbed her wrist, placed his other hand on her back, leaned down and kissed her lips, saying indistinctly, "Just kidding."
Their breaths mingled, and her slightly dry lips instantly became wet. Qian Yingyi pushed him away breathlessly, her face flushed slightly.
Qin Lizheng simply moved his mouth away, but didn't move his hands. He lowered his eyes and gazed at her, unable to resist kissing her soft cheek again. "After the matter in Jinling is settled, I will escort those people back to the capital and explain everything to the Emperor. Then I will return to Jinling to pick you up and go back together."
He turned her back and continued braiding her hair, saying, "At that time, I will go to your father to apologize and ask for your hand in marriage, and bring you into the family as soon as possible."
Qian Yingyi blinked, her heart filled with sweetness, like eating a ripe apricot, bursting with sweet juice with every bite. But when he told her he had to return to the capital first and would come back to pick her up later, it was like the lingering taste of that apricot lingering in her heart, slightly bitter and sour. Out of nowhere, she scoffed, expressing her dissatisfaction.
Before long, Qin Lizheng finished braiding her hair, led her to sit at the table, and pushed the steaming breakfast over to her, saying, "Have some."
It was a bowl of wontons with the wrappers removed. Seeing that he knew her habits so well, the bitterness in Qian Yingyi's heart completely disappeared. She happily scooped up some meat and put it in her mouth. After chewing slowly for a while, she remembered something and asked, "You said that Liang Tu also faked his death to avoid trouble. Will he help you or not?"
Qin Lizheng thought about it silently for a moment, but he wasn't really sure either.
Qian Yingyi glanced at him sideways and said to herself, "I think he might help. Look at the walls of his shop, they're covered with Xixi's scribbles. I've never been a parent, but I know all too well. I was like Xixi when I was little, and my dad treasured all my drawings..."
"Although he faked his death back then, upon closer examination now, it's not much different from actually dying once. You saw it yourself that day; when Xixi went missing, he was frantic. Now that Xixi is out of danger, he might be stubborn for a few days, but if we think about the long term and want Xixi to live comfortably, the best way is for him to stand in the light again."
Qian Yingyi muttered to herself, making perfect sense, "So, I guess he'll come looking for you in a few days, do you believe me?"
She was very astute when she scrutinized the details, which startled Qin Lizheng. After a while, he exclaimed with admiration, half-jokingly saying, "If you were a female official in the capital, within a year at the latest, everyone in the capital would call you Lord Qian."
Qian Yingyi suddenly looked disgusted. "Ugh, ptooey, ptooey! I've always admired the title of female official, but I can't actually lock myself up in the capital. You're not allowed to say that."
The two sat facing each other for a long time, and a bowl of wontons was already empty. Qian Yingyi had exhausted half her strength last night and was really tired. She had no idea that there were so many ways to do things even before going all the way. If they really got married and confirmed that thing... God, would she still have the strength to get out of bed?
Qian Yingyi couldn't help but steal a few glances at Qin Lizheng, her curiosity piqued, and slowly asked, "You...don't you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
Qin Lizheng was sipping her hot tea when she heard this. She paused, gave a faint smile, and asked, "The selection process for the Embroidered Uniform Guard is very rigorous. If I were to feel uncomfortable in any way, wouldn't you be utterly disappointed, Miss?"
Qian Yingyi pursed her lips. Seeing that he put down his cup as if he was about to hug her, she was startled when she thought of the kiss he had tricked her out of earlier. She simply got up and walked around to cleverly avoid him.
She paced back and forth gently, then asked again, "Yesterday you mentioned Pei Ji, and I was wondering why I couldn't hear him all of a sudden. Did you do something to him?"
Qin Lizheng's gaze still held a predatory glint. When she tried to avoid him, he played along, slowly rising and walking step by step toward her, his expression serious. "Do you remember that time outside the city?"
“That was a martial arts figure that Pei Ji spent a lot of money to find. He couldn’t get close to you, so he wanted to get rid of me first. That day when I saw you fall from the tree, I was so angry that I broke both of his legs when I got back.”
Seeing him approach, Qian Yingyi retreated to the other side, chuckling awkwardly, "No wonder... Speaking of which, I haven't seen Yingniang for a long time. I only heard Yanyan say that she often goes out and sings operas. If Pei Ji is a scheming man, and Yingniang is so naive, wouldn't she be deceived by him?"
“Hmm… I can’t control what others do,” Qin Lizheng followed after her. “This actress named Yingniang is indeed as you said, simple-minded and easily manipulated. If you still want to listen to opera in the future, you should change to another opera troupe. It’s not too late to invite her after everything has settled down.”
Before the words were even finished, his figure had already enveloped Qian Yingyi, ending this somewhat lingering chase.
Qin Lizheng lowered his gaze and smiled at her, gently lifting her chin with his thumb and forefinger. He remained silent, studying her intently. After a moment, he asked, "Why are you hiding? You won't let me hug you? Or you won't let me kiss you?"
Qian Yingyi's eyes were half-closed and half-closed. She lifted her eyelids slightly to look back at him. Seeing that she couldn't avoid him, she simply said, "My mouth is numb, and I don't have any strength. I don't want to hug or kiss you. How about another day?"
Qin Lizheng was always very easy to talk to in front of her. But he was a little stubborn on this matter. He grabbed her waist and put her on the table, showering her with kisses and holding her tighter. "No."
This intimacy caused another delay. Qian Yingyi raised her forehead and glared at him, her pupils glistening with moisture, even her lips were unusually red. She said resentfully, "How long do you intend to drag this out before sending me back!"
Qin Lizheng kissed and licked her neck with adoration, making soft, wet sounds, his mouth sticky with desire, "Wait a little longer, you know, I can't live without you."
The sky remained half-dark, and the neighbors gradually lit their yellow gauze lanterns outside their doors. The lingering moonlight, with its cold white glow, fell upon the dark houses like a hook, drawing out a girl's soft cry:
"Hiss! Qin Lizheng! Are you a dog or something?"
"If you're willing, I'll be your dog."
A moment later, Qian Yingyi's delicate voice crackled with sobs, "I really can't kiss you anymore, don't bite... can you please let me go..."
"Give me another kiss."
Just as dawn was beginning to break, the bedroom door creaked open.
The young man took off his cloak and covered the girl with it, a smile playing on his lips. There was a deep ring of teeth marks on the palm of his hand as he wrapped the cloak around her, but he seemed oblivious, and hurried towards Pipa Alley, avoiding everyone around him.
Once she was standing in the familiar bedroom, Qian Yingyi finally breathed a sigh of relief, poked her head out from under her cloak, and lightly slapped Qin Lizheng across the face, accusing him in a low voice, "You've gone too far!"
Qin Lizheng's gaze fell on her increasingly bright red lips, and his heart softened instantly. He said abruptly, "Autumn is dry. I'll bring you some honey-based lip balm later. Go back to sleep. I'm leaving."
Qian Yingyi subconsciously pursed her lower lip, her thoughts suddenly becoming complicated, and at this moment she was reluctant to let him leave.
She paused, then lightly tugged at his arm with her fingertips. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly remembered something rather serious. "Don't just focus on dealing with the Yan and Lin families; pay more attention to Prince Rui."
Qin Lizheng knew she was worried about him. He gently stroked her head with his broad hand, his voice reassuring, "Don't worry, he wouldn't dare."
As Qin Lizheng had predicted, Prince Rui, Yu Chenghe, indeed dared not.
The autumn weather is unpredictable, with begonias blooming along both banks of the Huai River. They bloom in the sun for a few days, only to be drenched by the drizzling rain. From a distance, they resemble a painting that is both beautiful and melancholic.
Rain dripped from the eaves. In the study of Prince Rui's mansion, Yu Chenghe sat cross-legged on the couch, a blue cushion behind his back, his eyes half-closed, a large string of Buddhist beads twirling in his hand, without uttering a word.
Princess Rui sat opposite him, holding a cup that emitted a delicate fragrance. After a long while, she asked, "What is Your Highness thinking about?"
Yu Chenghe pondered for a long time, listening to the light, misty rain outside. He turned halfway around, his gaze shifting uncertainly as he looked at Princess Rui. "This Qin Lizheng is Qin Liran's younger brother. So many years have passed, and I still haven't found an opportunity to silence him..."
"When the late emperor was still alive, in order to make the act more convincing, I didn't set my sights on the capital for the first few years. I just honestly acted as a prince in Nanjing, so that the late emperor would think that I really had no intention of rebelling. But when I was about to take action again, the person sitting on the dragon throne had changed, and everything was overturned and started over. As a prince, it was even more difficult for me to take action again."
"That couple from the Qin family are not easy to approach... Right now, the entire officialdom in Jinling is secretly speculating about the Emperor's plans. Tell me, what exactly is Qin Lizheng doing in Jinling?"
He bombarded him with questions: “I’ve met him twice. If he wanted to avenge his brother, why didn’t he do it?”
Princess Rui didn't take it seriously. She happily peeled an orange, tearing off the white pith as she did so, saying, "How long has it been since this happened? The Prince holds the imperial edict personally bestowed by the founding emperor. Even the late emperor couldn't do anything to the Prince, and he's still doing just fine in Jinling, isn't he?"
"The current emperor has always been very polite to the prince. At the end of the year, he even sent a messenger eunuch to deliver a message and bestowed many festival gifts upon the prince. What does this prove?"
"It was that fool Prince Heng who plotted the rebellion that day. You were just implicated. Didn't you politely decline the Emperor's invitation to go to the capital? As long as you stay put, the Emperor won't suspect anything, and everything will be fine."
"As for Qin Lizheng, he wants revenge, but he has no witnesses, no evidence whatsoever, and he's just making baseless accusations that you really had the intention to rebel back then. Who would believe that? Over the years, we've always been considerate of the people in Jinling, and we've put on a good show. Even if word gets out, no one will believe it."
“Even if he is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and has the authority to execute first and report later, he still needs a title. All the strategists from back then are dead, and all evidence that is unfavorable to the prince has been destroyed. I don’t know what the prince is afraid of.”
“Hey, it’s not that I’m afraid of him,” Yu Chenghe shook his head, emphasizing the word “afraid,” and straightened his expression. “I knew he became a commander a few years ago, but I couldn’t reach that far because of my limited reach. I only knew a few bits and pieces of information about him. I was thinking of finding the most suitable opportunity to get rid of him, and then slowly wear down his parents, and that would be the end of it…”
"I was a little nervous when I met him and found out he was in Nanjing."
He said, “I know that with the imperial edict in hand, he can’t do anything to me. But when it comes to people’s conduct, it’s hard to fall asleep at night if someone has something on me. I have to be prepared for the worst. I’m afraid he’s secretly plotting to take my life.”
“I was in the open, he was in the dark. He knew that I really intended to rebel back then, but I couldn’t openly expose the matter. I was already at his mercy.”
“How dare he?” Princess Rui disagreed.
"Whether he dares or not is another matter. What about our son?" Yu Chenghe suddenly changed the subject, a calculating glint in his eyes. "He returned from the academy yesterday, but I haven't seen him make a move. Does he like that girl named Guo Yue? Guo Yue..."
Yu Chenghe thought carefully, "His father is Guo Qi, who was recently transferred to the Right Army Commander's Office as a centurion?"
Princess Rui pinched and kneaded the orange pith, a hint of disdain in her eyes. "This is all thanks to our family. Guo Qi used to just coast along in the prison, and he was only a ninth-rank prison warden. Whenever our son had a day off, he would follow that girl around all day long. I don't know what he likes about her."
"Wasn't Wen Jianzhou from the Ministry of Personnel exiled? Ultimately, it's because he had no one to protect him; otherwise, why would he have ended up like this?"
"Lord Li, who is also a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is much smarter and also wants to curry favor with our family."
Gradually, Princess Rui's voice grew louder, and her hairpins swayed wildly as she spoke. "It just so happens that a group of low-ranking officials in Jinling are about to be transferred. Seeing that our son is relentlessly pursuing that girl, we bumped into him outside one day, and Lord Li gave him face."
"Hmph, they forced Guo Qi to be promoted to a sixth-rank centurion, and wrote all sorts of good things about him in the memorials they sent to the capital. As a result, it passed the hurdle of the Ministry of Personnel in the capital, and the Emperor approved it."
Princess Rui grew increasingly indignant as she spoke, throwing down the oranges in her hand, crossing her arms, and glancing sideways at Yu Chenghe, "They really benefited greatly from our family!"
“I’m saying this right here in front of you. Guo Yue isn’t a simple girl. She doesn’t seem to like our son that much. She’s just from a lower background and wants to marry into the royal family to rise to the top. I have no intention of bringing her into the family. If you think our son likes her, then let him be. I’ll make a scene for you then.”
Yu Chenghe remained silent for a long while, then slowly picked up the orange, plucked a segment and put it in his mouth. With one bite, the juice splashed out, slightly sour and astringent.
This caused him to furrow his brow slightly, but his eyes cleared considerably. "When it comes to marriage, it's all about mutual consent. Don't look down on us. Our son is such a slacker; he's bound to offend people with his words. Go ask around and see which family would be willing to marry their daughter to our son?"
"It's because we spoil him too much," Yu Chenghe chewed on an orange, swallowed it after a few moments, and said with a meaningful tone, "He likes Guo Yue, so we told him to invite Guo Yue to our house from time to time..."
"Guo Qi is serving as a centurion, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will be in charge of Chaoyangmen and Bei'anmen. Didn't I just say that we should prepare for the future?"
“Don’t forget,” Yu Chenghe reminded him as if he had just thought of it casually, “Wei Ming just arrived in Yingtian Prefecture a few days ago, and the first thing he did was open the prefectural treasury to check the silver. Although this is part of the usual procedure for taking office, it seems a bit unusual at this time.”
"Wen Jianzhou was exiled, Yan Yu was dismissed from his post, and Lin Bianhong's protector collapsed. Do you believe there wasn't something fishy going on?"
The rain outside was getting heavier, and a chill blew in through the cracks in the window. Yu Chenghe simply lit a silver lamp during the day, letting the flame burn in his eyes. "Even if Qin Lizheng can't find any evidence against me for the time being, we've eaten a lot of money with the Yan and Lin families. If the Emperor appoints him to come to Jinling to investigate corruption, and that accusation is pinned on him, do you think I can escape?"
“Lin Bianhong has been as anxious as an ant on a hot pan these past few days, fearing that he might accidentally end up in prison. He desperately sought help from the Prince’s Mansion, but I sent him away,” Yu Chenghe rubbed his hands over the flame and sneered, “He has the guts to do it, but he doesn’t think about a way out. I’m not as stupid as them.”
"Let's maintain a good public relationship with the Guo family," he said. "Everything's fine now, but what if things really come to a head..."
“When the Yan and Lin families embezzled money over the years, weren’t they particularly clean in their dealings? As long as the embezzled money is well hidden, the other side can’t produce any evidence and has no reason to arrest me. In addition, the people guarding the city gate are our own people. We can take our son and quietly leave the city to avoid disaster. If we survive, we can always make a comeback.”
"Hmph, I was able to shift the blame onto Qin Liran back then, and this time I'll find a way to clear my name again."
When it came to embezzlement, Princess Rui was not as confident as before.
Firstly, since there were no witnesses or evidence of the treasonous plot back then, she no longer took it seriously. However, embezzlement was something that had been going on in recent years. If embezzlement was discovered and the emperor held them accountable, as members of the imperial family, the worst outcome would be death, and the best outcome would be the reduction of their fiefdoms and demotion.
After much deliberation, I realized that neither outcome would be a good one.
Therefore, Princess Rui nodded slightly, not mentioning her criticism of Guo Yue, and continued the conversation, saying, "My son went out early this morning, saying he was going to buy some jewelry that girls like. Guo Yue is having her birthday soon, so we should give her a surprise."
"Judging by the time, he should be back by now. Do you have something important to discuss with him?"
Yu Chenghe kept his eyes half-closed and did not answer. The couple sat quietly for a while, when strangely enough, footsteps outside gradually became louder and more hurried. They guessed it was Yu Minsen.
As expected, Yu Minsen stopped outside the study, brushed the raindrops off his shoulder, pushed open the study door, and shouted, "Father, Mother, your son has something urgent to tell you!"
Yu Chenghe thought he was nagging about Guo Yue's matter, so he glanced at him and was about to reply when his gaze fell behind the screen window. Seeing a figure standing there, his eyes immediately turned fierce. "Who did you bring back?"
Yu Minsen waved his hand behind him, and the man slowly walked to the outside of the study. His shoulder was damp, and his face was as handsome as jade. It was Pei Ji, whose legs had fully recovered.
"This humble servant greets Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort." He lowered his gaze and bent over in the rain.
It's quite strange, how did Yu Minsen know Pei Ji? This story goes back a month. The two of them happened to have broken their leg bones and happened to get their medicine from the same clinic. They started exchanging a few words after a while.
Unable to get close to the Qian family, Pei Ji now sees the Yan and Lin families gradually losing power and has set his sights on the Prince Rui's mansion.
Yu Minsen was as stupid as a pig, and could be easily fooled with a few words. It was not difficult for him to lead Yu into the Prince's mansion.
Yu Chenghe frowned, about to reprimand Yu Minsen for bringing strangers into his home, especially to the study, when Pei Ji cut him off, saying, "Your Highness, you are of noble status and may not recognize me. My surname is Pei, my given name is Ji, and I am from Huai'an. I am a cousin of one of the concubines of Lord Wang of the Transport Office."
Upon hearing this, Yu Chenghe understood and remembered who he was. He propped himself up on his knee, draped his arm over him, and said coldly, "Oh? What brings you here to see me?"
With both the Yan and Lin families in trouble, if anything were to happen, Wang Yi would be implicated, let alone a mere merchant. Yu Chenghe was only interested in clearing himself of any wrongdoing, so naturally he wasn't going to be friendly.
"This humble servant has come to share Your Highness's burdens. In my hand... I have an account book."
"...What did you say?" Yu Chenghe was slightly taken aback, then gradually straightened his posture, looked him up and down, and said, "Come in and talk."
Pei Ji smiled and responded. He didn't sit down after entering the room, but instead took out the account book and handed it over, saying, "This is evidence of the embezzlement by the Yan family, the Lin family, and the Wang family over the past few years. It was said by Wang Yi himself when he was drunk, and there is also Wang Yi's fingerprint on it."
He concealed the scheming in his eyes, "To be honest, Your Highness, I would never have done this if I were not trying to protect myself. The current political situation in Jinling is in turmoil, and even the head of Yingtian Prefecture has been replaced, which is enough to prove that I did not do anything wrong."
"After much thought, I believe that you are the most noble person in the entire city of Jinling. Therefore, I wish to pledge my allegiance to you and ask that you provide me with some protection in the future."
Pei Ji confidently declared, "With this ledger in hand, Your Highness can use it as leverage to completely sever ties with them. As long as they want to keep their lives and refuse to confess, they won't dare to implicate you."
Yu Chenghe was indeed very tempted. He spent half a day flipping through the account book, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became. He thought to himself that Pei Ji was a treacherous person. Just as he was turning the page, he suddenly smelled a strong scent of ink.
Yu Chenghe was born into an imperial family and received imperial education from a young age. He had a particular fondness for composing poems and couplets, and his calligraphy skills were among the best in Nanjing. He frowned, sniffed the account book lightly, and suddenly asked, "When did you compile this account book?"
"What does Your Highness mean by this?" Pei Ji's heart skipped a beat. After thinking carefully, he hurriedly said, "This account book is from last year..."
"Hmph, you speak so eloquently, you seem like a smart man, how come you didn't notice?" Yu Chenghe threw down the ledger and abruptly interrupted him, "If this ledger was made last year, the smell of ink would have faded long ago, why is it so strong? Your ledger has been switched long ago!"
Yu Chenghe had originally calmed himself down, intending to clear himself of any wrongdoing without making a sound.
Unexpectedly, upon learning of the existence of the account book, and that it had been switched, the hidden panic in his heart resurfaced. His eyes darted left and right for a moment, then he suddenly grabbed the silver gong beside him and smashed it on the ground, shouting at Yu Minsen, "Take the person out!"
After Pei Ji, who looked bewildered, left with Yu Minsen, Yu Chenghe turned to look at Princess Rui and said with certainty, "I had no idea there was such an account book. It must be Qin Lizheng's handiwork. I can say with certainty that he came to Jinling this time to investigate embezzlement."
"There's no need to guess anymore; the Emperor has decided to kill the corrupt officials in Nanjing."
"If I am captured, I will not escape my fate!"
Princess Rui was also terrified. This time she was truly scared. In her panic, she spoke incoherently, "What should we do? Besides the Yan family, the Lin family, and the Wang family, no one else knows you were involved. Oh, right, there's also Pei Ji from earlier. Should we kill him to silence him?"
Yu Chenghe immediately slipped on his shoes and got off the bed, heading straight for the door. Before he reached it, he turned back, took a deep breath, and sat down in a chair. "Don't panic, don't panic, let me think about it carefully...think about it carefully..."
He sat quietly in the chair, his posture no longer as relaxed as before; with his life at stake, his expression became increasingly cautious.
After a half-day's delay, he lowered his voice, stood up, and leaned closer to Princess Rui, saying, "As previously arranged, have my son invite Guo Yue to our house to play, to build a good relationship with Guo Qi. In the next few days, secretly transfer all the money..."
“We have our own secret guards, so the Embroidered Uniform Guards can’t keep an eye on us secretly. They’re not on high alert right now,” Yu Chenghe said with a resolute look in his eyes. “Once the silver is all transported out, we’ll use the secret guards as cover to leave the city through Guo Qi’s place.”
“Since Qin Lizheng wants to investigate corrupt officials, he won’t dare to go too far from Jinling, nor will he send too many people to chase us. With the secret guards around, we can escape as far as we can. We can take a waterway to go around to the capital, and then accuse Yan and Lin of embezzlement. We can catch them off guard and then clear ourselves of all charges!”
"As for Pei Ji, his account books were switched, so he was naturally targeted by Qin Lizheng. There's no need for us to go through the trouble of silencing him. It's not a good thing to cause trouble for ourselves."
Princess Rui composed herself, crossed her arms, and snuggled closer to him, saying, "I understand, I understand."
The sounds of wind and rain mingled together, and the couple's scheme was suddenly and completely covered up by a thunderclap in the sky. A storm was brewing, and how could anyone know if everything would change at this moment?
Meanwhile, Pei Ji was completely bewildered. After leaving the palace somewhat disheveled, his face darkened completely, and he cursed Qin Lizheng as utterly shameless!
He was a merchant, and even if he were exposed for colluding with officials to embezzle goods, the punishment he would receive would be far less severe than that of an official. Therefore, when he learned that the account books had been switched, his anger had already outweighed his fear.
After much deliberation, Pei Ji still couldn't swallow his anger. Now, with old and new grudges intertwined, he walked along with his umbrella, unknowingly reaching both banks of the Huai River.
Hearing faint opera singing, a gentle and pretty face floated into his mind. Remembering that Yingniang and Qian Yingyi still had a harmonious relationship, Pei Ji suddenly let out a sinister smile, "That Jinyiwei commander, repeatedly ruining my plans! I, Pei Ji, swear..."
He gritted his teeth in hatred, "I won't let you get away with this."
Let's set aside the intricacies of the first few lines.
The rain stopped after two nights. As dusk settled over the mountains, the sky above Nanjing was covered with a beautiful, red, silken sunset.
When Qin Lizheng climbed into Yunteng Pavilion, Qian Yingyi was engrossed in writing at her desk. He quietly approached her from behind, tilted his head to take a look, and couldn't help but laugh out loud. "The lotus leaves stretch to the sky, an endless expanse of green. Qin Lizheng has angered me. Someone leans alone against the evening makeup tower. Qin Lizheng, did you take two punches from me? Are you writing a poem to scold me?"
Qian Yingyi was startled by him. She subconsciously raised her arm and quickly closed the window. She twirled her skirt and glared back. She was stunned and couldn't take her eyes off him for a long time.
The young man looked like he had just finished his official business. He was wearing a bright red straight-cut robe with a cross-collar and right-fastening front, with a narrow white collar. The robe was slit and had two hems. He had a flying fish patch on his chest, a waist badge, and an embroidered spring knife. He was wearing clean soap boots.
His eyelashes were like raven feathers, his eyes like black lacquer, his nose straight, and his lips thin. His strong brow bones were slightly raised, and his expression was languid.
Qian Yingyi blurted out, "You're so handsome..."
Qin Lizheng put his arm around her waist, looked down at her, and said, "Hmm? What did I do wrong that made you unhappy and made me want to take two punches from you? Tell me."
Seeing him bend down, Qian Yingyi quickly blocked him with her hand, shoved him impatiently, and said in a low voice, "How dare you say that! I'm asking you, what kind of business is it to send two Imperial Guards to guard me?"
Qin Lizheng secretly guessed that this was the matter. He let out a sigh and leaned closer to her, "Since I'm not by your side, and Little Tortoiseshell is a bit careless, I have to send two people to protect your safety."
Qian Yingyi didn't care about any of that. She just felt uncomfortable being stared at. Seeing that he wouldn't budge, her cunning eyes darted around, and she suddenly jumped onto him, cupped his face, and gave him a quick kiss. "Get out of here! Get them out of here, okay? I don't like it!"
Her lips were warm, which Qin Lizheng found quite pleasant, but reason prevailed. He pulled her legs closer and pondered, "Hmm... let me think. If I'm here at night, then it's fine. During the day, when you're at home, they won't appear. But if you go out, they'll still have to follow you from a distance."
When Qian Yingyi heard that this trick hadn't worked, she put on a stern face and climbed off him again, turning her head away angrily, "No."
She caught a glimpse of him leaning over, and after a moment's thought, she squeezed out two tears and sobbed softly, "You said you wouldn't make me angry anymore, go away, I don't want to see you."
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and began to wipe away her tears.
“I can grant you any other request, but this one,” Qin Lizheng paused, staring at the earring dangling by her ear, before continuing, “I won’t.”
Qian Yingyi was so angry she wanted to turn around and hit him, but she held back. She puffed out her soft cheeks and said, "Then leave! I don't want to see you right now! I don't!"
There was no reply from behind. After a long while, footsteps sounded, followed by two clicks as the west window opened and then closed tightly again.
Qian Yingyi's thin shoulders slumped instantly. She clenched her fists in anger, sat back down at her desk, and began to draw his portrait with ink while cursing, "A commander is a commander, and a guard is a guard. There's a difference. The flying fish robe makes you look handsome. Look at how capable you are! I won't listen to anything you say! You're clearly too busy to come see me, so you sent two people to get rid of me!"
"What do you mean, 'you're here at night'? It's been two or three days since I last saw you! You damned Qin Lizheng, you wicked Qin Lizheng, you stinking Qin Lizheng, you dare to come and go as you please, you're so disobedient, you're not even as good as you were when you were a guard! Humph, you left so easily, but if you want to come back, I won't let you. I'll go outside right now and call Little Tortoiseshell to get the long nails!"
"It's nailed down. Let's see how you get in now!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately put down her pen, lifted her skirt and walked outside. Before she knew it, she turned around and caught a glimpse of Qin Lizheng, who was supposed to be leaving, standing with his arms crossed against the wall, staring at her.
"..." Qian Yingyi's face darkened instantly. Although she looked angry, a blush quickly crept up her cheeks. She stood there without moving for a long while before saying, "You didn't leave?"
Qin Lizheng was amused by her words. He tied his arms behind his back and slowly walked towards her. After a moment, he leaned down in front of her, his face hovering in front of her eyes. "So angry? Why don't you slap me a couple of times to vent your anger? I definitely won't dodge."
Qian Yingyi was indeed so embarrassed and angry that she hit him. After hitting him, she stomped her feet repeatedly, her cheeks burning hot, and said angrily, "How could you be so mean! You were eavesdropping on me! I've lost all face!"
Qin Lizheng found it increasingly amusing. Taking advantage of her turning around, he pulled her close, and the refreshing minty scent instantly enveloped the two of them.
He immediately lifted her off the ground and walked straight to the round table, placing her on it. "Don't be stubborn. Actually, you're not that opposed to them. You just miss me, aren't you?"
Qian Yingyi turned her face away from him, trying to ignore him. Perhaps she also found the scene just now really funny, and she couldn't help but burst out laughing again. She swung her embroidered shoes and lightly kicked his leg, saying, "Hey, don't ask out loud."
When Qin Lizheng stared at her, his eyes would often turn from dark to fiery.
He got up and turned around behind the screen. When he came out, he was holding a handkerchief in his hand. Then, under Qian Yingyi's suspicious gaze, he approached her, pushed her swaying legs apart, and his cool lips landed precisely on her cheek, lips, and neck.
A moment later, his fingertips brushed against the hem of her skirt, and when he pulled them out, he smiled rather boldly, rubbing his fingertips back and forth lightly. "I don't ask. I always prove things through actions."
Qian Yingyi was lost in thought when he interrupted her, bringing her back to her senses. Just as she was about to scold him, he suddenly rushed in again, his deep voice drawing her involuntarily to hug him, "I missed you too."
She gave a soft hum, lightly pinching the flesh on his waist with her fingertips. She breathed heavily, and her lips, which had been hard for so long, gradually softened. "Actually, I didn't mean to scold you...you...please don't..."
Qin Lizheng did not answer. He held her hand and gently bit it, looking down at her increasingly rapid breathing and increasingly hazy eyes.
After a long while, the room fell silent, even breathing became still. Qin Lizheng leaned down and kissed her cheek, then whispered in her ear, "So, how about we keep them by your side to watch over you?"
Qian Yingyi leaned on his shoulder, her voice muffled, "When do you plan to close the net?"
Qin Lizheng chuckled, puffing out his chest. "Soon. I don't have anything important to do tomorrow. Where do you want to go? I'll go with you."
She was still sulking a moment ago, but now Qian Yingyi was happy again, smiling as she lifted her head from his arms. "Hmm... let me think about it. I went to Boss Chen's yesterday, and he gave me quite a bit of money. Yesterday afternoon, I went to Yan Yan's poetry club, but I didn't find it very interesting. They spoke in such flowery language that it made me sleepy. I think... I think..."
Something flashed through her mind, and she suddenly grabbed him tightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's right! Chuntang and Xiao Daimao's wedding isn't far off, and I still need to make jewelry for her. I think the craftsmen at the He family's blacksmith shop are extremely skilled; they can make gold jewelry there, right?"
"Then I'd like to take Chuntang and Xialing to He's blacksmith shop tomorrow. You can pick me up directly at the blacksmith shop then!"
"Yes, yes, and another thing, Tuan'er has been crying every night these past few days. Second Aunt said that children are easily frightened. So, after you pick me up, we'll go out of the city this afternoon to Jinghai Temple to get a peace charm for Tuan'er, how about that?"
She finished speaking in one breath, then blinked and waited for him to nod.
Qin Lizheng's eyes were filled with tenderness. He gently nodded his chin, as if to refute her earlier grumbling. He transformed back into the obedient guard he used to be, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. "I'll do whatever you say."
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Author's Note: [doge] Qin Lizheng just loves teasing Yingyi.
Yingyi's inner monologue during her awkward moment: Help! Is there any more dignified way for me to get away from this?!
Prince Rui was plotting: Let's do this first, then that, and then turn the tables on them!
Qin Lizheng sneered: If I let you leave the city, I'll write my Qin name backwards!
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