Chapter 58 Reaching the Pinnacle
At this time of year, Guangzhou is always shrouded in drizzle, with low-hanging, dark clouds obscuring the sky for days on end.
At the Cen residence, Steward Cen's right eyelid had been twitching nonstop since he woke up this morning, leaving him feeling uneasy and anxious.
Just past noon, the gatekeeper, looking flustered, hurriedly led him to the gate. When he looked closely at the gate, he was nearly scared out of his wits. If the gatekeeper hadn't been quick-witted and caught Steward Cen, he would have fallen flat on his back in front of the gate.
Looking up, the Cen residence was completely surrounded by the Black Armor Army. In the drizzle, the black armor gleamed coldly, the swords were sharp and menacing, and the murderous aura was suffocating.
Who among the people of Fujian and Guangdong doesn't know that the Black Armor Army are the governor's personal guards? The Cen family is merely a merchant family; how could they have offended such ruthless figures? Moreover, their young lady also deals in military supplies with the army; given this connection, why, why...?
Steward Cen steadied himself, straightened up, forced a smile onto his old face, stepped over the threshold, and asked the black-armored soldier, "Sir, is there some misunderstanding? Our household is the direct branch of the Cen family of Zhaoqing Prefecture."
Upon hearing this, the leader of the black-armored soldiers didn't even lift an eyelid. In the light drizzle, with a clear "clang," the sword in his hand was drawn half an inch from its sheath, emitting a sharp, cold light. His voice was as cold and hard as iron as he said, "Go back."
Steward Cen was dumbfounded. He had never seen such a scene before, and he was almost scared out of his wits. He stumbled and rushed back to the mansion to report, but he was old after all. He hadn't run more than a few steps when his calves cramped, his knees buckled, and he staggered forward, almost falling to the ground.
When he arrived in front of Zhu Youyi, his clothes were soaked through. The wet clothes clung tightly to his back, and it was impossible to tell whether it was the cold rain or the cold sweat that had broken out.
Zhu Youyi had just woken up from her afternoon nap. Her hair was slightly loose, and she still looked a bit languid. She casually adjusted her hairpin and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry? Is Master drunk again and wants me to fetch him?"
Upon hearing this, Butler Cen swallowed his fear and thought to himself: "Everyone outside says that the young master is afraid of his wife. They must be blind. Their young lady practically worships this young master."
But now is not the time to ponder such things. Steward Cen steadied himself and said, "Master, something terrible has happened! For some reason, our manor gate has suddenly been surrounded by black-armored soldiers. I was just about to ask them why when the leader of the black-armored soldiers drew his sword and forced me to come back!"
Zhu Youyi, who had been lounging lazily on the cushions of the soft couch, her face hidden behind a brocade fan embroidered with spring scenes, yawned softly. Upon hearing the words "Black Armor Army," her languidness vanished instantly. She sat up abruptly, her beautiful eyes becoming serious as she stared intently at Steward Cen and asked, "What did you say? The Black Armor Army has arrived outside?"
When Steward Cen saw that his master looked surprised but not suspicious, his heart sank and he hurriedly replied, "Yes, have the Black Armor Army surround our mansion so that no one can leave or come in."
Zhu Youyi unconsciously clenched the leather fan in her hand, her fingertips trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, suppressed her surging emotions, and ordered Pearl, who was standing beside her, in a deep voice: "Where is the young master? Go and bring him here."
She thought to herself: Even with all their caution, they still couldn't hide it?
He regretted that he couldn't go and inform Meng Qingci at this moment.
For a moment, I had no idea what punishment I would ultimately face.
Zhu Youyi thought: Was she about to live to the end? Even just seeing her son one more time now would be good. But she didn't regret it. Only when she was with Meng Qingci did she feel she had a home again. Even if she couldn't win her love, it didn't matter.
"Reporting to Your Highness, the young master is also taking a nap. Judging by the time, he should wake up soon. I'll go right away." Pearl accepted the order and hurried out to the side room.
Zhu Youyi then instructed Steward Cen: "From this moment on, the mansion gates will be wide open. You must immediately gather all the servants in their quarters and they are not allowed to move around freely. If the Black Armor Army enters, there is no need to stop them!"
Butler Cen wanted to ask a few questions, but before he could speak, Zhu Youyi waved her hand and said, "Go away, there's no need to ask any more questions."
Just as Butler Cen left, Pearl came in carrying Cen Yichu, who was still sleepy and rubbing his eyes with his little hands. Upon seeing his mother, the little guy opened his arms and said in a childish voice, "I want Mommy to hold me."
Zhu Youyi took him in her arms with a tender heart and said gently, "Sleep a little longer, let Mommy hold you."
Cen Yichu buried his face in the crook of her neck, nuzzled her, and asked indistinctly, "Mother, who made you unhappy?"
These words filled Zhu Youyi with mixed emotions. She kissed the top of her son's head and coaxed him, "Mother is not unhappy. Mother just missed you."
Cen Yichu clung tightly to Zhu You's neck, not letting go, and muttered to himself: Mother is lying to him again.
With her son in her arms, Zhu Youyi felt much more at ease. She then instructed Pearl, "Go and fetch the young master's favorite booklet, and gather all his belongings together."
"Where is Mother taking me? Does Mother not want me anymore? Does Father not want me anymore?" Cen Yichu's little eyes widened in panic and confusion. He was only two years old, intelligent and sensitive. His uneasy little hands tightly gripped Zhu Youyi's clothes.
Zhu Youyi quickly patted the little guy's back, smiling and coaxing him softly, "You are my life, how could I bear to abandon you? I didn't mean to send you away." As she spoke, her throat tightened, and her eyes welled up with tears, "It's just... it's just... your father probably won't let you come with me..." Her voice gradually lowered as she spoke, unsure how to explain it to him, as it was too complicated for a child.
Cen Yichu looked confused. No matter how smart he was, he couldn't figure out why his mother would suddenly say such things when his parents had always been loving. He couldn't understand it for a moment and stubbornly said, "Father loves Mother the most. Father will never abandon Mother."
Zhu Youyi sighed helplessly, "Your father had no choice in the matter. You'll understand when you grow up. Remember, it wasn't easy for her to give birth to you. She even lost her life for you. When you grow up, you must protect her well."
Cen Yichu nodded his little head and solemnly said, "I will listen to Mother, and I will protect Mother." A wave of emotion instantly filled Zhu Youyi's heart. She hugged the little guy, her heart melting completely. She cupped his tender little face and kissed him.
Feeling his mother's love, Cen Yichu immediately burst into laughter, his laughter clear and cheerful.
At this moment, in the private room of the theater, the wealthy merchants, foreign merchants, and young ladies present were all captivated by Jin Yunnian's exquisite sword dance. Almost all of them held their breath and were so engrossed that they could not hear the sound of their cups and glasses. Some, like Miaoyan, even had their eyes filled with infatuation.
Dressed in a green robe and wearing a jade crown, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, she was as graceful as an orchid and a jade tree. When she wielded her sword, her figure was like a lone crane soaring in the sky. The cold light of the sword flowed like a swirling wind and swirling snow. She was heroic and agile. With each flick of her wrist, there seemed to be a shadow. The three-foot-long green sword in her hand moved like a dragon, controlled with ease. She was truly at the pinnacle of skill and unparalleled.
Chen Junyan saw that her brows were sharp and intimidating, without a trace of feminine charm, but rather she was extremely beautiful. Such charm made his heart pound so hard that it almost jumped out of his chest.
He thought to himself that it was no wonder that she had fooled everyone, but then he wondered what kind of charm she would have if she were dressed as a woman. Thinking this, he was overwhelmed with emotion and could not control himself. He just wanted to take her home and hide her away.
With the previous insightful comparison, the difference in skill was immediately apparent. Naron Tirasha was captivated by Jin Yunnian's exquisite movements and exclaimed in admiration at the exciting moment, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
Zhou Jichen was not an amateur opera enthusiast, but a true opera fanatic. He especially loved Miao Yan's cross-dressing performance as a female general today. Upon seeing Jin Yunnian's sword dance, he was immediately awestruck and exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful!"
Once everyone recovered, they cheered. Even the girl who had been stealing glances at Hongxiao had an indescribable look of jealousy in her eyes. They were all envious of Hongxiao's good fortune in having such a handsome and wealthy patron who was not only generous and chivalrous but also had a strong waist. Just looking at him made them feel his strength. If they could "eat" such good food, they would be willing to pay him for free.
Although Hongxiao was watching without blinking, her expression remained unchanged, but her fingertips, hidden under her sleeves, secretly dug into her palms, as if her heart was being squeezed tightly, making her feel as humble as dust.
Hongxiao knew very well that a woman of the night like her was not worthy of a man as handsome and charming as Jin Yunnian. Just being with him would be a defilement of him, so he never touched her, even though she was still pure.
Between them, it was nothing more than a transaction; it was just that Jin Yunnian took pity on her. Such a noble young man, untouched by worldly affairs, had the heart of a Bodhisattva to save those suffering and pity these women of the night. Which woman could resist his pity and willingly succumb to his charms?
As Hongxiao thought this, she glanced at Miaoyan, who was completely infatuated with her, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
Meng Qingci is not a dancer. She used to learn how to play male roles in Yue Opera for filming. As a result, she can play a man in front of people without being seen through. Her sword is sharp and powerful, which makes people ignore her slender and weak figure.
The reason Meng Qingci readily agreed to the sword dance was to make people firmly believe that she was a man.
This whole process, judging from the state of everyone's condition, was just right and had a remarkable effect.
Despite the fact that he was raising an army, Fu Heng traveled day and night to Guangzhou Prefecture. Upon learning that Meng Qingci was having a banquet at the theater, he immediately spurred his horse and galloped there.
Throughout the journey, he was consumed by anxiety and resentment, his heart burning with rage. The closer they got, the more restless his desolate heart became, almost shattering his ribs. How could he not know? She resented him for forcibly taking her, resented him for "planting incense" in her body, forcibly binding her to his side.
Over the course of two years and more than seven hundred days and nights, Fu Heng had thought countless times that if heaven were to take pity on him and allow him to regain what he had lost, he would definitely change his ways and treat her well.
Now that he knows she is not only alive but has also given birth to their child, he imagines that she must have suffered a lot during childbirth alone. He secretly tells himself that this time, upon their reunion, he must restrain his temper and not hurt her again.
Unexpectedly, the moment he pushed open the door to the private room, he saw Meng Qingci wielding her sword with effortless grace and spirit, a sight he had never seen before.
She was so happy when he wasn't around; how could she be happy without him?
And those gazes fixed on her, like maggots clinging to her bones, so real they made him want to rip their eyes out, regardless of gender. What were they? How dare they watch the future empress of the world dance with her sword?
Fu Heng's eyes were as cold and abyssal as a deep abyss. A fierce killing intent surged in his chest, and he wished he could personally draw his sword and make blood splatter five steps away. His knuckles gripped the hilt of his sword, and he suppressed the urge to draw it.
The atmosphere in the private room was electric when the sound of the door being broken abruptly interrupted everyone's excitement. Turning to look, they found no one they recognized.
Xue Tianlu's mood was ruined, and he impatiently snapped, "Who is this? How dare they act so arrogantly in front of me? Have them thrown out!"
Fu Heng had noticed early on that Meng Qingci's gaze was not innocent; if he hadn't been afraid of frightening her, he would have killed him with a single sword strike.
Without uttering a word, he simply waved his hand, and Mo Jian ordered his men to gag Xue Tianlu and drag him away.
Those inside the private room were greatly shocked by the scene, especially the girls who were serving drinks. They all hid in the back, trembling with fear, and dared not utter a sound of surprise.
Some people had already seen the black-armored soldiers following Fu Heng. Although most of them did not recognize him, they had some guesses.
None of those present who were on friendly terms with Xue Tianlu pleaded for him, for they were afraid he would drag them down with him.
When Chen Junyan realized that the person dressed in dark black casual clothes was none other than the Governor of Fujian and Guangdong, Lord Fu, his pupils contracted slightly and he was stunned for a moment. However, he reacted very quickly, immediately stood up, stepped forward past the still stunned crowd, and respectfully knelt down, saying, "This humble subject, Chen Junyan, pays his respects to Lord Fu."
Chen Junyan had the privilege of meeting Lord Fu before. He keenly sensed the chill emanating from the other man, whose head was lowered even further, and whose words were very cautious: "If you have any orders, sir, please do as you command."
Fu Heng didn't even glance at Chen Junyan, who was kneeling on the ground. His burning gaze was fixed on Meng Qingci, scrutinizing her inch by inch from head to toe, not missing a single spot, as if to confirm that she was intact and whether she was real.
The private room was eerily quiet and oppressively suffocating. Everyone held their breath, afraid of disturbing the man who held the power of life and death in Fujian and Guangdong.
Meng Qingci turned her back to Fu Heng as soon as she saw him, and at this moment she felt like she was being pricked by needles but dared not move an inch.
Fu Heng gazed at her tense back and finally sighed helplessly. He suppressed all his surging emotions, afraid of disturbing her, and spoke in a low and tender tone: "My wife has been looking for me for a long time. Now that you have had your fun, come back with me."
The people present were already filled with fear and trepidation, and upon hearing this, they were even more astonished. Several pairs of eyes turned to Jin Yunnian, many of whom had been close to her, and their gazes lingered on her with disbelief.
No one could possibly connect the dashing and refined young gentleman before them, the maritime broker who could discuss the sale of large treasure ships with ease, with the governor's wife.
However, after the governor revealed the secret, upon closer inspection of the eyebrows and eyes, one could discern a hint of feminine delicacy in the overly slender figure. Upon further examination, it was truly impossible to tell whether the person was male or female.
Fu Heng stood at the door, his gaze fixed on her with a deep, dark look. Having finally found her, he didn't want to force himself on her the moment they met. Even though he only wanted to slaughter everyone here at that moment, he softened his voice and said, "Our son is still waiting for you to come back."
As expected, upon hearing this, Meng Qingci's body, which was turned away from him, stiffened and trembled slightly. Now that he had found her here, he knew everything about her. She worried about Zhu Youyi and the child.
Knowing that her plans over the past two years were destined to be in vain, she could only resign herself to her fate and exhale her resentful anger. She angrily threw the sword in her hand onto the table and walked towards Fu Heng with a cold face and reluctance.
Fu Heng reached out his hand to her, waiting patiently. Those few steps felt like a perilous journey for Meng Qingci; no matter how unwilling she was, she had no choice but to yield.
Meng Qingci had long seen through his true nature. The gentler he was towards her, the more terrifying he was when he lashed out. He would naturally not harm her in the slightest, but he would take the lives of others. She dared not gamble with Zhu Youyi's life.
When she was only a step away from him, Fu Heng suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms. Before she could react, he had already scooped her up in his arms, wrapped her tightly in his cloak, and strode away with her in his arms.
The room fell silent, leaving only bewildered guests staring at each other in disbelief.
The Black-Armored Army followed Fu Heng in their retreat. In the private room, the lively banquet was reduced to a cold, sparse mess in an instant, and everyone was still unable to recover from the shock.
"Good heavens!" Naron Tirasha finally came to his senses and uttered a slang phrase he had learned: "I'm actually a guest of honor of the Governor's wife. I really am a lucky man." With his status, to have the Governor's wife's connections in the future, hehe~~ such a good thing, he didn't even dare to think about it!
Miao Yan looked like she had just woken up from a dream, her heart broken, and she couldn't shake off her thoughts for a long time.
Hongxiao gripped the fan in her hand, trying to remain calm. It is said that "female prostitutes are heartless and actors are unrighteous," but at this moment, compared to the difficulties she would face after losing Jin Yunnian as her sugar daddy, Hongxiao was more worried about Jin Yunnian's current situation.
Hongxiao might know little about other things, but having grown up in brothels, she understood matters of the heart better than anyone. 'Jin Yunnian' clearly did not want to be with that governor; otherwise, why would she give up being a governor's wife and enjoy such a blessing to disguise herself as a man and mingle among a group of men?
The other girls at the banquet were filled with envy and jealousy. They envied the woman who had won the favor of the governor, and were jealous of Hongxiao's good luck. The patron was a woman, while Hongxiao was a virgin. You should know that Jin Yunnian had spent more than ten thousand taels of silver on Hongxiao.
Once these women of the night are put up for sale, their value will only decline. Now, Hongxiao is not only still a virgin, but as the top courtesan who was once patronized by the governor's wife, her value has actually increased due to her close relationship with the governor's wife.
From then on, scions of prominent families and wealthy merchants, drawn by her reputation and hoping to catch a glimpse of her beauty and curry favor with her, would likely flock to her in droves.
The glory here is beyond the reach of any courtesan's title; it cannot be expressed with mere jealousy or envy.
Zhou Jichen touched his smooth chin, pondered the events that had just transpired, and thought that his family was well-off and had always been loyal and low-key. He had not known the governor's wife before, and had taken good care of 'Jin Yunnian' in the past two years. As the saying goes, ignorance is no excuse, and merits and demerits cancel each other out. He was sure that the governor would not hold a grudge against him, and he felt much more at ease.
He couldn't help but think that there was plenty of time in the future, and with this relationship, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. Who knew when he might benefit from it and make the Zhou family rise to prominence.
Zhao Jinglun broke out in a cold sweat. He was the host today, and seeing that he almost suffered the same fate as Xue Tianlu, he couldn't help but sigh. Xue Tianlu was probably in grave danger. On the other hand, he secretly regretted not having cultivated a better relationship with 'Jin Yunnian'. Compared to Zhou Jichen and Chen Junyan, his vision and perspective were indeed shallow.
Chen Junyan slowly stood up and walked out dejectedly. A deep melancholy lingered between his brows, and a bitter smile played on his lips.
No wonder he couldn't find out her background; it turned out she was the governor's wife who had been missing for two years. How ridiculous that he even harbored such infatuation, though thankfully he never uttered it aloud.
Judging from Xue Tianlu's fate just now, if the governor were to find out that he had even the slightest thought of her, not only would his head be lost, but the entire Chen family would probably be in danger of losing their lives.
He couldn't help but wonder what she wanted from him when she asked to meet him alone today. At that moment, the two of them were so close, and the faint fragrance emanating from her still haunted his dreams and made him unable to resist.
Inside the carriage, Fu Heng's warm fingertips gently wiped away Meng Qingci's makeup, revealing her naturally beautiful and refined appearance.
His lingering gaze remained fixed on her features, his long, narrow eyes brimming with an intense, possessive, and obsessive passion.
His thumb slowly traced her soft lips, the touch just like he remembered, instantly igniting his long-suppressed desire for her. Fu Heng's eyes suddenly darkened, the surging dark tide of passion in them almost devouring her.
Meng Qingci leaned against the side of the car, turning her head to avoid his touch, and said in a rather irritable tone, "Where are we going? Where's the child?"
"Of course I'm taking you home." Fu Heng grabbed her slender wrist tightly, his grip too strong for her to break free. His bloodshot eyes churned with obsession and pain as he accused her, "Why doesn't Madam ask me anything? How have I survived these past two years without Madam by my side? Madam, how cruel you are!"
His well-laid plans had been ruined, but Meng Qingci remained outwardly composed, though inwardly she was burning with rage. Hearing this, she raised her leg and kicked his shin, lifting her eyelids to look at him with a displeased expression, and said sarcastically, "What do I have to ask you? Your affairs are just gossip among aristocratic families and wealthy merchants. Now that you have gunpowder, you have a powerful tool to dominate the world, and you are riding high. What's there to ask?"
Fu Heng raised an eyebrow, pinched her chin, and smiled faintly: "This is all thanks to Madam."
Meng Qingci was indeed furious upon hearing this, and glared at him angrily, saying, "Since you've received the benefits, we're even. You know I don't want this, so why are you coming to me?"
"You don't want to?" Fu Heng's face darkened, a flash of pain crossing his eyes. His voice was low and hoarse: "I don't believe you have no feelings for me whatsoever. You were clearly kind to me when we first met..."
Meng Qingci shoved him abruptly, interrupting him, and said sharply, "No, shut up, I've never..."
Fu Heng relaxed his grip and leaned against the car wall. He gave a self-deprecating low laugh: "Never? Never liked me? Or never had even the slightest affection for me?"
Meng Qingci's heart pounded violently. In the past, the two of them had tacitly avoided mentioning the time when they first met. Not wanting to get entangled in those old stories with him now, she coldly changed the subject: "How did you find me?"
Because Zhu Youyi had just provided him with a batch of Tencel cotton military supplies, she knew that he was about to raise an army. At this critical moment, with countless political affairs to attend to, she never expected that he would take time out of his busy schedule to come and find her.
Fu Heng's lips curled into a mocking smile: "I also have to thank my good junior brother. If I hadn't been curious about why he lingered at the Maritime Trade Office and refused to leave, and hadn't sent people to investigate, I really wouldn't have been able to find Madam so quickly."
Meng Qingci pursed her lips, ignoring his obvious provocation, but finally revealed her true intentions and couldn't help but ask, "How is Zhu Youyi?"
"If I can't find you again, I'll die of exhaustion and heartbreak within a year?" Fu Heng's eyes suddenly sharpened like knives. He pulled her onto his lap and whispered menacingly in her ear, "She's an insider who's been interfering and driving a wedge between us. I'll make sure she doesn't die a good death."
The surprise in Meng Qingci's beautiful eyes seemed genuine, and Fu Heng knew that she was indeed completely unaware of this.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Meng Qingci: I've tested the waters, and it seems we can still talk. She didn't go crazy, and she's not very angry.
Fu Heng: Ha~ I almost died. This isn't over yet.
Author: I originally thought I could update 10,000 words, but the output is really pitiful, so this is all I can do. Fortunately, this story is not very long, so let's bear with it together!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
