Chapter 73 Earning Money Cleanly and Unharmed
"His Majesty recently bestowed a horse farm upon the Prince, and with the horse races just around the corner, there's been a lot going on. He's been short-handed for a while, so he sent me here to help out. I'm recording one tael of silver for each horse..."
Qu Maoze, dressed in white, held a rolled-up sketchbook and a small sketchbook in his hands. The sketchbook, when opened, revealed pictures of horses of various colors.
Each horse possesses remarkably fluid lines, some robust, others lean; each differs only slightly in details, yet all are so lifelike that one can instantly recognize them.
Niu Tielan was somewhat lost in thought.
Qu Maoze looked down at the magnificent pony she was pointing to, a smile playing on his lips: "This is Jingyun, a pony bred by Benlei at the Yunchi Mountain Range horse farm. It has a lot of its father's flair."
Niu Tielan snapped out of her daze, inexplicably annoyed. She pursed her lips, her tone slightly sarcastic: "Yes, he was born to his father."
Qu Maoze paused slightly, then smiled gently: "I misspoke, please forgive me, Madam."
Niu Tielan was even more annoyed
Qu Maoze chuckled softly, "I'll apologize to Madam, I'll make amends. How about Jingyun? It's only two months old, very intelligent, usually well-behaved, but it can be a bit of a headache when it gets stubborn."
Niu Tielan sensed that he was implying something. Her fair cheeks flushed, and her almond-shaped eyes widened slightly, flashing with annoyance. She raised her finger, about to close the picture book.
With a snap, the picture book was already closed.
Song Jin picked up the picture album and shoved it into Qu Maoze's arms, scoffing, "Who cares about horses? Giving away horses? Do you even have the money to give them away? You're good at pretending, aren't you?"
Qu Maoze looked at the child, his heart clenched, and he sighed deeply, "Jinjin..."
Song Jin raised her chin, crossed her arms, and shoved her mother back, moving her aside and brazenly standing between the two of them, separating them completely.
She scoffed, "Show me some respect. Call me Princess, or I'll punish you."
Qu Maoze continued to sigh, "Your Highness, you possess such great imperial power! You've adapted quite quickly."
Song Jin: "Praising me won't help."
"..."
Was he praising him? This child
Qu Maoze couldn't help but glance at Niu Tielan, who seemed delicate and frail behind her, and sighed again.
Nothing needs to be said, yet everything has been said.
Niu Tielan retorted angrily, "What are you looking at? Didn't you hear what the princess said?"
What right does someone who did nothing but disappear have to be picky?
Qu Maoze looked at this person, then at that person, sighed silently, and made a gesture of bowing.
"This humble citizen pays his respects."
Princess Song Jin stood there, chin raised, gloating as she waited for him to bow, when suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her buttocks.
Her wide smile froze. She grabbed her mother's merciless hand and, gritting her teeth, changed her tune: "Alright, alright, stop pretending. Who cares about your gifts? Go paint your pictures, go flirt with your girls, we're leaving."
Qu Maoze raised his lips and stood up, stepping forward to grab Song Jin's wrist, his expression mocking under her angry glare.
"Wait, Jinjin, you're wronging me. When did I go out and flirt with girls?"
Song Jin didn't care whether he flirted with girls or not; what did it have to do with her? She raised her foot to kick him, but then felt another sharp pain in her waist.
She had no choice but to silently retract her right foot, stomp down, and smirk: "Whether you're flirting or not, let go of me. Haven't you heard of the saying 'men and women shouldn't touch'?"
Qu Maoze wasn't even flinched when his foot was stepped on; a smile played on his lips, and his eyes held a hint of indulgence, as if he were looking at a child.
This sight only made Song Jin more annoyed. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists.
Qu Maoze released her, shoving the scroll he was holding into her arms. While she looked on in confusion, he reached out and ruffled Song Jin's hair, watching her expression instantly change, on the verge of exploding.
He grabbed Niu Tielan and turned to run.
What a brilliant feint attack, striking at the heart of the problem!
Song Jin was stunned. After a while, she rubbed her hair, which had just been touched, in disgust. She watched helplessly as he pulled her away, and she couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
What the hell?
Is this person poisonous?
It can even influence her mentally.
Song Jin gritted her teeth, her toes barely touching the ground. She desperately wanted to fly over and block the person, but looking at Niu Tielan, who was being pulled along without any resistance or struggle, her legs felt as heavy as if they were being crushed by a boulder.
Finally, she pointed at Qu Maoze's retreating figure and shouted, "Hey, if my mother loses a single hair, watch out for your dog's head!"
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of my wife," Qu Maoze's cheerful voice floated into my ears. "You must take good care of yourself too, my dear daughter."
The last three words were drawn out, leaving the listener wanting more.
Disgusting
Song Jin immediately regretted her momentary moment of weakness; she should have gone and snatched her mother back! She was so angry!
...
But it's a bit too late now.
Niu Tielan and Qu Maoze had already passed the stables and were heading into the back building. There were too many people outside; it wasn't convenient to say anything, and anything they did would be seen.
Although, from the moment Qu Maoze grabbed her, what happened afterward was no longer important.
So Niu Tielan didn't struggle much; she just lowered her head and looked at the person holding her hand.
His hands were large and strong, easily gripping her wrist and even enveloping her palm. However, his palms were smooth, without a single callus or scar, just like him—almost remarkably new.
Niu Tielan's eyelashes trembled slightly, concealing a complex emotion within.
Qu Maoze pretended not to notice. At first, he walked faster to avoid people, but later he slowed down, holding the other person's hand tightly as they slowly walked into the courtyard of the horse farm.
It's called a small courtyard, but it's actually another stable, though rooms for the stable boys have been built here.
Qu Maoze has been helping out here for the past few days and has a private room.
Of course, that's not what he meant.
Seeing Niu Tielan's wary expression, Qu Maoze said helplessly, "I'm just introducing you."
Niu Tielan did not let his guard down.
This man, though he appears to be a gentleman, upright and steady, is in some ways far from being a gentleman. Otherwise, the two of them, who were initially unmarried and without any official status, wouldn't have ended up having a child together.
Those months, in retrospect, were beyond absurd.
Niu Tielan, on guard, blushed slightly. She bit her lip and took two small steps back.
Her hand was being held tightly, and she couldn't go far at all.
Qu Maoze looked at her like this and couldn't help but chuckle. His eyes shifted, and he said meaningfully, "Madam, why are you blushing? Is something interesting on your mind?"
Undeniably, because of her past, Niu Tielan always felt guilty and uneasy when facing Qu Maoze, but she was no longer a little girl in her teens.
Over the years, facing a daughter who seems like a reincarnation of the Monkey King, her skin, while not invulnerable, is certainly thicker than most people's.
She immediately sneered, "Otherwise what? If you're so capable, go run a couple of laps around the horse farm, and let's see if you're not ashamed."
Qu Maoze joked, "I really don't have that ability. I'm not as lively and active as Madam, and I have no interest in racing horses."
Niu Tielan took a deep breath, finally suppressing her chaotic emotions. She smiled gently and said, "You're older after all, so it's normal that you don't understand the fun of young people."
"..."
Qu Maoze raised an eyebrow, reached out and pinched her thin cheek, a half-smile on his face: "You think I'm too old?"
Niu Tielan slapped him across the face, glaring at him: "This has nothing to do with me. And don't you dare lay a hand on me. Mind your place."
Qu Maoze curled his lips, a glint of light flashing in his phoenix eyes, and enunciated each word clearly: "What is my identity? A handsome painter who flirts with people indiscriminately, the father of your child, or perhaps, the wild man you're messing around with?"
This person is really capable.
Niu Tielan's anger, which she had just suppressed, was reignited. She stomped on him, furious: "Shameless bastard, what did you bring me here for? If not, I'm leaving."
Qu Maoze joked, "You're not leaving because you have something to do?"
Niu Tielan turned and left, her steps hurried, her black hair fluttering, filled with anger.
Qu Maoze crossed his arms, stood there leisurely watching, and softly murmured a number.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
Before he could finish counting down, Niu Tielan, who had just stormed off, turned back and aggressively pulled him to a corner, pushing him against a pillar while gritting her teeth.
"Don't lie, what exactly are you planning to do at the horse farm?"
The race day is almost here, and all sorts of important figures are coming and going at the racecourse, many of whom will be riding horses. If something were to be sabotaged...
Niu Tielan's limbs went weak at the thought. Pressing down on Qu Maoze's neck, she said fiercely, "I don't care what your intentions are, but you absolutely cannot involve Jinjin and me."
Qu Maoze lowered his head and sighed softly, "It truly breaks my heart to see Ling'er like this."
Niu Tielan's gaze sharpened: "Don't change the subject."
Her health has improved considerably, but she still has a slender frame and delicate posture, appearing fragile and vulnerable. Her gentle nature makes her seem like a caged bird, both endearing and lovable.
But now, she really does resemble a female eagle.
Qu Maoze smiled and slowly reached out to twirl her hair: "It's been years, and you've become quite impatient."
Niu Tielan sneered: "You're really good at calculating; sixteen years becomes several years in your mouth."
Qu Maoze: "It's sixteen years and three months."
Niu Tielan froze instantly, staring at him in disbelief.
Qu Maoze gently stroked her chin with his hand, which was twirling a strand of hair. The touch was as smooth and cool as soft jade. He smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Is it strange?"
Niu Tielan pursed her lips, quickly regaining her composure: "What's so strange about it? I'm just surprised you can calculate faster than an abacus. No wonder His Highness Prince Qi asked you to do the accounting."
Qu Maoze sighed, "You..."
Niu Tielan continued, "You still haven't answered me. What are you doing here?"
A fleeting sense of helplessness crossed his mind. He tilted his head back and pulled a brocade pouch from his pocket.
Niu Tielan took it suspiciously, opened it and looked...
It's filled with golden beans.
"If you say this is also a connection, then I indeed cannot avoid being implicated. It's not much, it can't buy much, but it's what I've earned these past few days."
Qu Maoze paused here, then emphasized, "Earned honestly and cleanly."
Niu Tielan: ...
She looked at the heavy gold nuggets in her hand, which were worth about two taels of gold. She pursed her lips, then handed them back, saying, "No, keep them for yourself."
Qu Maoze's usual smile faded. He looked at the money pouch in his hand, weighed it lightly, and then exerted force.
The light blue money bag drew a curve in the air.
Niu Tielan was taken aback: "Are you sick?"
That's gold, not copper coins.
Qu Maoze said calmly, "I'm leaving. I'll take you back."
Seeing that he really didn't care, Niu Tielan bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help but mutter "crazy" under her breath. She then lifted the hem of her skirt, turned around, and ran quickly towards the horse pen.
In the stable, a silver-white pony lay in a corner, nibbling on straw and wagging its tail.
Niu Tielan opened the gate and came in. The little white horse quickly stood up halfway, its big, round eyes meeting hers.
She recognized it at a glance; it was Jingyun from the previous sketchbook. Its mane was rather long, and it possessed a striking, spirited appearance. In just over a month, it was clear it was destined to be a fine horse.
Normally, Niu Tielan would have happily stepped forward to touch it, but now, she was more interested in the purse embroidered with golden bells.
The stable was large, filled with dry, golden hay, and the gilded money pouches inside looked like gold falling into a barn.
She carefully stepped onto the fluffy straw, searching little by little.
The creaking of a door latch sounded behind me, followed by the rustling sound of footsteps on dry straw.
"Look, look! We can't find anything! What are you standing there for? Come on, help us look! You're so annoying, you're over 30 years old..."
This person's unreasonable behavior is just like that brat.
It's just as annoying.
Frustrated, Niu Tielan habitually started cursing. Her words weren't pleasant, but they were undeniably honest, unlike her previous cold remarks and lacking any suspicion or distrust.
After waiting for a long time without receiving a response, Niu Tielan couldn't help but stop and turn around to look.
Qu Maoze stood against the light under the stable, his expression obscure in the dim light.
Niu Tielan frowned, and her hand, which had been reaching to the side, finally touched the soft, different material. A look of delight flashed across her face, and she grabbed it.
"turn up"
Before she could utter the word "了", she was suddenly pulled down onto the haystack by a force.
The man, who had been gloomy just moments before, was now in front of her, gripping her neck and pressing down on her. A strong, ink-like scent wafted over her, invading her lips and tongue.
...
"Achoo!"
On the other side, Song Jin leaned against the railing with her hands behind her head, a straw dangling from her mouth, swinging one leg, when suddenly a sneeze struck.
She spat out the grass, rubbed her nose in frustration, and muttered, "Why isn't she back yet? Has Mother been sold off?"
It shouldn't be that bad, right?
But it's hard to say.
Song Jin struggled again, reaching out to pluck a flower from the side, and squatted down to count the petals.
"Sell"
Not for sale
"Sell"
...
Unable to decide which flower to bloom, she picked another. After muttering to herself for a while, a rain of petals appeared in front of her, and the once lush flowers around her were sparsely damaged.
In the partitioned ceremonial chamber opposite, Qi Ye, dressed in plain white, squinted at them, shaking his head helplessly after a while: "This girl, I'll have to keep a close eye on her from now on. The flowers in my garden can't withstand her ruining them like this."
Wearing the same long robe, Qi Zheng watched from afar as the person lay there listlessly destroying the flowers, and said in a deep voice, "A flower should be picked while it's in full bloom. Rather than withering away and losing its color, eventually merging with the mud, it's better to fall at its most beautiful."
Qi Ye chuckled: "You young people spend all your time in and out of the city, while your father only has eyes for those flowers. You don't care, but you're not allowed to mess with my flowers."
Qi Zheng: "...I have no such plans."
Qi Ye: "That's exactly what you mean, just like your mother. I remember that year, I brought home a bunch of extremely beautiful peonies, and before I could even take a second look at them, she picked them to make steamed buns."
Qi Zheng thought he had misheard: "Steamed buns?"
Qi Ye nodded, half annoyed and half wistful: "It's steamed buns, she loves steamed buns the most."
Qi Zheng has been back in the palace for over half a year, but he knows very little about his biological mother.
All that is known is that she was of humble origin, married Qi Ye as a commoner, later became his concubine for some reason, and then, after the establishment of the new dynasty, she firmly held the position of empress, only to die from the grief of losing her son.
Qi Zheng: "What kind of person is she?"
Qi Ye sighed with a mix of nostalgia and emotion: "She was an incredibly capable person. If it weren't for me, she would have been the first female general of the Great Yan Dynasty."
Qi Zheng's voice was hoarse: "So, she really did die because of me?"
The female general should be in very good health.
Qi Zheng shook his head: "Of course you're sad to have lost her, but her early death was because her health was damaged when she was young. She suffered from cold and fatigue in those years, and her health never recovered."
But no matter what, if she hadn't given birth, if she hadn't lost her child, she probably wouldn't have died so young.
Qi Zheng was somewhat melancholy.
Qi Ye didn't comfort him; they were both adults, and some things they had to figure out on their own. Qi Ye patted his shoulder and said...
"Go ahead, you young people can have fun on your own. Although my garden shouldn't be ruined, what you said earlier is right: 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' Young people should be fearless, otherwise they'll only have regrets when they're old."
His biggest regret now is that when he was forced by that woman that year, he hesitated and ultimately, in order to prevent his sister from being harmed, he caused her the greatest injury of her life.
Even if that decision wasn't wrong when they were at their lowest point, life isn't just about right and wrong.
Qi Ye left with a sense of loss.
...
On the other side, Song Jin had picked all the flowers, and after searching for a while without finding a single one, her gaze fell on the countless leaves. She twirled them between her fingers, itching to pick them.
This should take a long time to count, right?
"Jiangnan jasmine, one tree costs a hundred coins."
The familiar sound of stinginess came from behind her. Song Jin rolled her eyes, plucked a leaf, stuffed it into her mouth, and said sarcastically.
"Oh, isn't this our Prince Qi? Is Your Highness not going to school today?"
Qi Zheng looked at the large pile of petals on the ground, and gently touched them with his toes. Suddenly, the colorful petals floated up from the ground, flowing upwards like a flower waterfall, stopping in mid-air, and then instantly dispersing.
Very beautiful
Just like the bright eyes of the person in front of me
but
Qi Zheng stared at her intently: "Have a match, and if you lose, you'll apologize to me."
Song Jingang, her heart heavy with the falling petals, re-tied herself up. Stepping on the scattered petals, she moved forward, her eyebrows raised, her phoenix eyes wide open, flames leaping within them, dazzling and carrying another kind of fervor.
She said, word by word, "You're doomed."
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