Chapter 53
Smash it!
As soon as he finished speaking, the door to the room opened with a "click!" and a woman in a pale yellow dress stood there gracefully, her slender fox-like eyes slightly raised, staring at the guard who was about to bang on the door.
"............" The guard reluctantly withdrew his foot, which he had only kicked halfway.
Yuan Qiong turned her gaze to Hong Xin, who stood at the door with his sword at the foot: "Lord Hong, why such a grand procession? Have I broken any laws?"
Hong Xin laughed heartily and said, "My wife, don't misunderstand. I saw you being kidnapped by thieves this morning, and I was worried that you were in danger, so I came to check on you."
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hong. I am fine." Yuan Qiong nodded.
Lin Qiang appeared behind her, his tall and muscular figure making Yuan Qiong appear quite petite. Hong Xin tilted her head to look, and the muscular lines outlined beneath his thin, coarse cloth shirt proved that this man possessed the explosive power of a beast.
The man smiled and pulled the woman into his arms with a sweep of his arm, clearly asserting his dominance, and looked at Hong Xin provocatively.
When Hong Xin saw this, the smile on her lips froze, and her eyes darkened with a hint of danger.
Who is this?
"I am her husband." Lin Qiang lowered his head and rested his chin on Yuan Qiong's head, his voice low and husky with amusement. "Can't this lady tell?"
Yuan Qiong frowned, displeased with his actions. However, she did not struggle in front of Hong Xin, letting Lin Qiang hold her.
This action angered Hong Xin, who frowned and said, "In recent days, some refugees have been posing as merchants and have entered the city. I have been ordered to arrest them. Please show me your identification and travel permits so I can check them."
"Oh?" Lin Qiang raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, Lord Hong belongs to the Second Office of the City Patrol Division, which is in charge of the security of the Jiangbei Provincial Capital. However, matters concerning the investigation of refugees fall under the jurisdiction of the Prefect's Emergency Response Office, which is not within Lord Hong's authority, is it? Isn't Lord Hong meddling a bit too much?"
These days, if officials want to cause trouble, they can use any excuse. Even if Lin Qiang produces a travel permit, Hong Xin will say it's fake and then stir up trouble.
"It seems you have a clear understanding of the division of responsibilities in Jiangbei City?" Hong Xin stepped forward expressionlessly. "I have reason to suspect that you have ill intentions and are a spy deliberately sent by the rebels!"
"Hehe..." Lin Qiang chuckled softly, completely unconcerned about the charges he had leveled against him.
He lowered his head and pulled the person in his arms tighter, whispering in her ear, "Girl, let's go." Just as he was about to retreat quickly, Yuan Qiong raised her hand and grabbed his arm, stopping him.
She turned around, looked up into his eyes, and said, "I don't want to leave." Her clear, glassy eyes held a resolute expression.
Regardless of what the bearded man was thinking, or whether he meant well for her, he didn't ask for her consent before doing those things. She could forgive this presumptuous behavior this time, but there absolutely could not be a next time!
She naturally believed that with Lin Qiang's martial arts skills, no one could stop them from leaving if they wanted to. However, this meant they couldn't stay in Jiangbei Provincial Capital, otherwise Hong Xin would have chased after them like a cat smelling fish.
Even if Lin Qiang had the ability to contact someone even more powerful, preventing Hong Xin from taking action against them, that was still something Yuan Qiong wouldn't want to see. Her pride wouldn't allow her to hide under a man's protection, becoming a parasitic vine that constantly clings to others for survival.
"I want to stay."
Her forgiveness of the bearded man's past actions doesn't mean she'll follow his lead in the future. Yuan Qiong has her own thoughts on the people and events she's gotten herself into this time.
"Please trust me, okay?"
Looking into her proud, bright eyes, Lin Qiang's heart melted instantly. How could his little girl be so adorable? He smiled brightly, lowered his head, and kissed her long, curled eyelashes: "Okay."
Those around them were almost blinded by the pink bubble scene. Be more mindful in public, okay?
Hong Xin's knuckles were white as she gripped the sword, and her face was as black as hell; she was practically ready to rush up and stab the two of them!
Fortunately, Yuan Qiong broke free from Lin Qiang's embrace and took a few steps forward, putting some distance between them. This prevented Hong Xin from going berserk.
Turning around, Yuan Qiong's entire demeanor changed. Her dark eyes were like light ink, and she was aloof and indifferent. No one could see through what she was thinking.
"Lord Hong, I think there must be some misunderstanding in this matter. Shall we talk about it?"
Hong Xin stared at her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Misunderstanding? There's no misunderstanding at all!" She made no attempt to hide her arrogance: "Don't you know why I saved you, young lady? Since you and your husband are so deeply in love, why did you have to make such ambiguous promises to my pursuit?"
Thinking of this, Hong Xin felt a surge of anger that she couldn't swallow. So these two were just making a fool of him?
"I'm going to lay my cards on the table right now: no matter what you two are like, since I've set my sights on you, you can't escape! Either you submit to me, or you two die together!"
"Oh? Does Lord Hong mean that if I don't comply, you'll forcibly take it from me?"
"right!"
"Then I will."
"Huh?"
Before Hong Xin could finish her tirade, she was nearly choked to death by the name Yuan Qiong.
What did you say?
I said I'd go with you.
"........"
Hong Xin looked at her incredulously. Yuan Qiong's face remained completely expressionless, as if she wasn't joking at all. He turned his gaze to the tall, imposing man beside him, who was still looking at Yuan Qiong with doting eyes, seemingly ready to unconditionally support any decision she made.
The script doesn't seem quite right!
Yuan Qiong straightened her butterfly-patterned cuffs and stood in front of Hong Xin: "Lord Hong, you are my savior. I don't know where I offended you to make you so angry. If arresting me can appease you, I am willing to go with you. However, the crime of being a spy is too great. Lord Hong, please don't put it on my head so easily. I can't bear the responsibility."
He then gestured for her to leave and went out of the room on his own.
"......."
Hong Xin had no idea what she was up to. She was stunned for a moment, and just as she was about to take the man down, he suddenly disappeared!
"Walk!"
A large group arrived in a grand procession and left just as grandly. The innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling a little worried for the woman.
Indeed, a woman's beauty can be a sin!
**
Under the warm breeze, Lin Qiang watched the little girl leave with them from afar, and suddenly felt a sense of joy, like a father seeing his child grow up.
Actually, he knew that the little girl still had some resentment towards him for taking her out of the palace without permission, but he didn't regret it at all.
"Boss, are you still looking? Everyone's already gone."
Lin Jiangzhi, dressed in an elegant white scholar's robe, appeared beside him with a zither and said with a smile, "I've always heard people in the village say how clever and quick-witted Miss Yao is. Now that I've seen her, I can confirm that the rumors are true."
"That's natural."
Lin Qiang showed no modesty whatsoever, his face beaming with pride. His little girl was, of course, the most intelligent woman in the world!
“Hong Xin’s identity is not simple. Aren’t you worried, Boss, about Miss Yao going there like this?”
Someone with an unusual background? So what?
With unrest imminent in Jiangbei provincial capital, the little girl's decision to stay was perfectly timed. War, at any time, is the best opportunity to temper a person.
Lin Qiang sat down on the roof ridge with a smug grin, looking at him with a smile: "I didn't transfer you from Jiangnan to listen to your sarcastic remarks. I won't stop her from doing what she wants, whether it's right or wrong, so I'll leave the task of gathering refugees and inciting rebellion to you."
Some things just have to be done by someone. For the sake of the little girl, let him be the bad guy.
Wrong talk? Oh dear, Lin Jiangzhi wouldn't dare. He quickly agreed, "Alright! Leave it to me, brother, don't worry."
Thinking of the situation in the city, he laughed wildly: "Now several rebel armies have their eyes on the refugees from Shandong, which is quite a force. They all want to bring this force under their banner. We don't need to worry about instigating them."
"But you must promise me, brother, if Miss Yao gets hurt, don't take it out on me if you feel sorry for her."
Author's Note: First update
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