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Chapter 9 Stingy with love
The Prefecture of Arrest department.
After Lin Qing finished dealing with things, he said to the person around him, “Head back to the residence.”
A young lad adorned in dark brocade asked puzzled, “Lord Qiansui?”
Lin Qing turned and looked at him. This person was called Lin Jiu and was his adopted son. Lin Jiu had followed him for three years already. He was smart and quick-witted. As long as there was more training, it wasn’t impossible for Lin Jiu to take up his position in the future.
Everyone knew that eunuchs couldn’t pass their lineage on. So, some eunuchs could only adopt sons. When they got old, there would be someone to look after them and arrange a proper burial after they die.
Lin Qing didn’t care about that point. What look after the old? If he truly could get old, then, he wouldn’t be far from dying.
There were too many people at the court who wanted him dead. As long as he had no power in his hand, those people would swarm around him and eat him bit by bit. So, he couldn’t be without power even if that meant that he would attract more resentment.
As for how he would die, he truly didn’t care. When it got to that time, it wouldn’t be up to him.
He recognized Lin Jiu as his adopted son just because he was clever, quick-witted and he also knew to be within the norms. Moreover, there was ambition in his eyes. Such people, as long as you give them a bait, they would climb desperately and one wouldn’t be afraid that he wouldn’t use his utmost effort to do everything.
Lin Qing smiled and took out a box from a drawer. Lin Jiu recognized it. This was something Lin Qing brought back from third prince’s residence that night. Although, he didn’t follow Lin Qing to the feast that night, he also knew about some things. This was an authentic painting of that Du Sheng. He didn’t know what that third prince gave his adopted father this painting for.
Ling Qing took it out and slowly rolled it open. A red sun was printed in front of him. Then came the mountains and rivers, thousands miles of Shenzhou. There was also a small inscription at the bottom.Shenzhou is an old name for China. It literally means godly province.
Rivers and mountains refer to a country
Lin Jiu was dumbstruck for a moment. Wasn’t this literally a painting of rivers and mountains?
He secretly glanced at Jiu Qiansui who was looking at the painting with a smile. Lin Jiu didn’t spoke.
“Lin Jiu, third prince can’t wait any longer.” Lin Qing’s voice always had an impenetrable meaning.
“What does Qiansui think?” Lin Jiu hesitated. He had never been able to guess Lin Qing’s thoughts. Could it be that Qiansui wanted to stand on third prince’s party this time? Lin Jiu’s heart skipped a beat.
Although, there were rumors at the court that Lin Qing was third prince’s people, but Lin Jiu knew that that was not the case. The time that Lin Jiu had followed Lin Qing was not short. He knew a lot of things better than others. Although, the princes fought for the throne in secret long ago, but Lin Qing had never truly supported any prince and even made everyone his enemy.
Could it be that godfather made up his mind this time? Lin Jiu couldn’t help but ponder in his heart. At the same time, his heartbeat quickened. If this was the case, then the probability that third prince would win was much greater.
It was obvious that Lin Jiu’s state of mind was a mess now and Lin Qing had also turned and walked to the door.
If Lin Jiu didn’t guess wrongly, then the third prince would be eager to visit his godfather and Lin Qing was giving him this opportunity.
—
“What? Qiansui returned to the residence again?!” After Ling Er heard this news, she hurried towards her own courtyard and grabbed the sleepy Zhao Zimu who was lying under the tree and reading.
“Miss, miss…” Looking at the little girl who was shaking her, Zhao Zimu was dizzy and quickly pulled Ling Er on her lap and asked comfortably, “What’s wrong? Look at how excited you are. If I remember correctly, I was woken up like this by you the day before yesterday. It wouldn’t be that there was another liveliness again, right? Look at how excited you got.”
This little girl was really very cute, petite and clever. So, Zhao Zimu liked to tease her, but most of the time, she would spoil Ling Er. However, she wouldn’t regard her as little sister because she couldn’t afford such things.
Those who truly understood Zhao Zimu would know that Zhao Zimu was not only cold on the surface, but truly cold from her heart and with her feelings. Although, such a person would smile at you on the surface and sometimes may even let you feel that she was warm and gentle, but when one truly wanted to get some kind of love from her, they would realize that it was impossible.
Zhao Zimu was stingy with her love because she knew that once she gives it, she would become weak and she didn’t want to become weak easily. If there was truly such a person who would let her willingly turn into someone like the wind and yielding, then, she would give all her love to that person.
This was what others call a heartless person, but they were also those who would love the deepest. Zhao Zimu was such a person.
Ling Er fluttered her big watery eyes and put her hands around Zhao Zimu’s neck. Her buttocks shook on Zhao Zimu’s lap. She liked to wear pink dresses. Zhao Zimu felt that the pink thing on her body was a bit dazzling and quickly clasped her hand on Ling Er’s waist to not let her fall.
A closer look at the two’s position, was really a bit…indescribably…
The little girl blushed like a red apple. It made Zhao Zimu truly wanted to take a bite. Because the place where she was grabbed was a bit itchy, Ling Er disturbed her a bit more.
A moment later, the little girl straightened her shy face and said, “Miss, do you know? Qiansui returned to the residence again.”
“Oh.” Zhao Zimu narrowed her eyes and looked at her, “And?”
The little girl’s whole body was lying on Zhao Zimu and rubbed her head on Zhao Zimu’s chest, “You have to get up early tomorrow.”
Zhao Zimu, “…”
She felt that she needed to popularize the joys of life to Ling Er lest she only put her mind on the affairs of the inner courtyard all day long. Zhao Zimu was afraid that Ling Er would learn the bad things…
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