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Chapter 41 Vinegar Lin
Situ Yaohua and Situ Yuanxiao were dumbstruck. The servants behind them also had the expression that they saw a ghost. Lin Qing was also stunned. Then, he quickly reacted, kissed Zhao Zimu on the forehead and laughed, “If you like it, this lord will treat you every day like this in the future.”
The tone was ambiguous and made people be lost in wild thoughts as if they truly had done something. This was giving Situ Yuanxiao a fierce slap in the face, telling him with facts that even if Lin Qing is a eunuch, he still could satisfy a woman.
“Damaging the country and cause the suffering of the people!” Situ Yuanxiao said angrily after he understood. Then, he said to Zhao Zimu, “Miss, if you have suffered any grievances, just speak up. I will give you justice. Don’t worry, my Great Liang has strict laws and will never let an innocent woman suffer. As long as you are unwilling, no one can force you!”
Zhao Zimu felt that Situ Yuanxiao was stupid. Didn’t he know to what kind of place he had come? What innocent woman? Which one of the women here didn’t receive customers voluntarily? Besides, even if the women of here were involuntarily forcee to work here, on what standpoint could he stand to get justice for them? Was he really stupid?
But being stupid was okay, Zhao Zimu thought. Zhao Zimu glanced once at Situ Yaohua who let Situ Yuanxiao act stupidly. She felt that it was very boring. Zhao Zimu pulled Lin Qing’s hand and said, “Lord, let’s go.”
She had known Situ Yaohua in her past life. If it wasn’t because of him, Lin Qing and she wouldn’t have ended up like that. Zhao Zimu would settle the account between them slowly.
Xiao Lianzi had long been waiting at a side respectfully. Hearing this, he immediately followed behind Zhao Zimu and Lin Qing. Now, Xiao Lianzi didn’t dare to show the slightest disrespect towards Zhao Zimu. He had never seen Lord Qiansui treat someone so special. Naturally, he didn’t dare to neglect her.
The two bowed to the two princes and were about to leave. Suddenly, Situ Yaohua asked the beautiful figure in front of him, “Is miss not someone from this Lasting Fragrance House?”
Situ Yuanxiao finally regained his senses and looked at the two people in front of him. Zhao Zimu looked at Lin Qing with a smile. The corners of Lin Qing’s mouth lifted and revealed a provoking and mocking smile. Then, he said to the two princes behind them, “This is my wife.”
The two left, leaving two dumbstruck people. Situ Yuanxiao said asked Situ Yaohua a bit foolishly, “Eldest big brother, Lin Qing has a wife?”
“…Don’t know, but there should be many beauties in his residence.”
“Then, he…took his beauty to visit a brother?”
“…Yes.”
“Sure enough, he is an old evildoer who doesn’t know honor and shame and is disgusting!”
After Zhao Zimu and Lin Qing returned to the residence, at the bedroom door, Lin Qing turned around and said to Zhao Zimu, “Not allowed to come in!”
Zhao Zimu, “…” You already walked to the door with me. Isn’t it too late to refuse now?
Zhao Zimu grinned and said, “Mm, tonight is a bit cold. If I don’t go back, Ling Er will be worried. In fact, the little girl is very timid. It is better that I not let her be afraid.” As she spoke, she turned and was about to leave when her arm was grabbed.
What Ling Er will be worried? What in fact the little girl is very timid?
Could it be that you still want to sleep with your little maid?! Lord Qiansui’s face was so gloomy that it almost dripped water. He looked at Zhao Zimu with an unkind expression, grabbed her hand and said, “Serve me tonight!”
Zhao Zimu did as if she was in a difficult position, “…This.”
“You want to go against me?!” Lin Qing asked coldly. Zhao Zimu revealed a bitter smile and said, “Someone should go inform my little girl, otherwise, she would be looking for her miss in the middle of the night.”
Zhao Zimu smiled.
“You care about her,” Lin Qing said with an unclear expression.
Zhao Zimu didn’t answer him. She just turned around and wanted to leave. Lin Qing said coldly, “Stop.” Then, he said to Xiao Lianzi who was waiting outside, “Go to Osmunda Yard and inform her.”
Xiao Lianzi disappeared in a blink of an eye. Lord Qiansui’s indefinite temper seemed to have become more indefinite because of this person. Xiao Lianzi felt that it was better to stay farther away.
Zhao Zimu obediently followed the person into the room and undressed him. Until when there was only a thin last layer left did she stop under the unpredictable gaze of the person in front of her. She took off her own clothes and only left a close-fitting white robe. Zhao Zimu took Lin Qing’s hand and wanted to walk to the bed.
She pulled for a moment, but there was no movement. Zhao Zimu stopped, looked at him.
“Why don’t you continue to undress? Afraid?” No emotions could be heard from Lin Qing’s voice.
His expression was buried under the shadow of his scattered hair. The dim light stretched his figure very long. He looked cold and lonely.
Afraid? Is it that you are afraid or that I am afraid?
Zhao Zimu reached out and brushed his hair behind his ears, revealing his cold and effeminate face. She kissed it gently until the coldness on his face was licked away. Zhao Zimu said softly, “As long as you want, there is nothing that can’t be done. If you want something, you have to just tell me. If I have it, I will give. I won’t do what you don’t want.”
It was silent for a long while. Lin Qing finally raised his head and said, “What if I want you to send away that little maid in your yard?”
Zhao Zimu, “…She is still young. You don’t have to mind her. When she is a bit older, I will find a good person for her to marry.”
Lin Qing continued, “If I remembered correctly, the golden leaves that you gave to those women at Lasting Fragrance House were something I especially let people sent to you, right?”
Zhao Zimu, “…” Especially?
Lin Qing’s face was gradually filled with an eerie smile and looked at Zhao Zimu, “Also which one of the women in my backyard hasn’t received things from you? Moreover, those things were all sent to you by me. It isn’t that you don’t know, right?! What if I let you go get them all back? Will you go? Didn’t you say that as long as I want, there isn’t anything you wouldn’t do? Then, I want you to go retrieve all those things back! Can you do it?”
Zhao Zimu, “…It’s better not to…” Where did the person who was covered in a sense of loss, loneliness and pain have gone to? Could it be that she saw wrongly?
“Humph!” Lin Qing sneered, “You can’t even do this, you…”
Zhao Zimu covered his mouth and soothed, “Alright, since you don’t like it, I won’t give to them anymore. If I give to them again, then you shouldn’t give me any thing in the future anymore, alright?” Zhao Zimu smiled.
“Zhao Zimu!” Lin Qing said angrily. In order to prevent Lord Qiansui’s sharp mouth from saying anything that would make her want to escape silently, Zhao Zimu directly used force to drag Lord Qiansui to the bed, put him firmly in the quilt and then hugged him tightly.
The person on the bed gradually stopped struggling and calmed down. From the quilt, Zhao Zimu felt that the person she was hugging was soft. Lin Qing was faintly looking at her.
Zhao Zimu pressed her forehead against his forehead and then gently asked Lin Qing, “I treated you like that before, why was your reaction so stiff? You have served many years in the palace and should’ve seen many of such things. How come you don’t know how to please women?
Lin Qing looked at her for a long time before saying in a low voice, “Not long after I entered the palace, I was assigned to third prince who is the emperor now. Not long after, the emperor was separated from the palace and got his own residence. Moreover, he got his title of the prince of first rank. At that time, I lived at the residence for a prince of first rank. The fight between the princes was fierce. The fierce competition for the throne caused the women in emperor Jinghui’s backyard not to fight for affection because of the difficult times at that time. At that time, I was still a small internal servant. I had no chance to come in contact with those things about pleasing people. More later, the emperor became emperor and my status also got higher. Naturally, there would be no one who would come to make things difficult for me.” It was I who made things difficult for people.
Lin Qing spoke slowly. He would say what he wanted to say. Some things that he didn’t want Zhao Zimu to know, he would not speak about them. After all, he didn’t want the woman in front of him see his bad side.
Zhao Zimu caressed his face and said, “Mm, I know now.” Her voice was very gentle, making Lin Qing’s heart inexplicably became peaceful. Those battles in the deep palace seemed to have left him and being at her side was where he wanted to be in the end.
Zhao Zimu got to know what she wanted to know. She chose to not ask about what Lin Qing didn’t want her to know. She would leave him the choice, but all this will be based under the premise of his safety first. It didn’t matter if Lin Qing didn’t know about this.
The night was long, but it felt so warm because the other was around.
—
Soon, the Xiongnu of the north not only expressed their desire to live in peace forever with Great Liang, they also asked for the hand in marriage of a beautiful princess of Great Liang.
Everyone at court knew about this, but they didn’t know what the Xiongnu meant by this. Because usually during this time in previous years, they would’ve long raised their sabre at Great Liang because of the predicament of the grassland. When had they became so kind and honest?
However, even if they couldn’t figure out the Xiongnu’s intentions, emperor Jinghui still welcomed them in a friendly and grand manner. Also, he let second prince Situ Jinkang be in charge of this matter.
Naturally, Situ Jinkang was very happy because if this errand was done well, not only would it be a great achievement, it would also make him be more valued to emperor Jinghui. His weight in emperor Jinghui’s heart would increase and of course he would be a step closer to what he wants.
Therefore, Situ Jinkang was very enthusiastic and attentively hosted the Xiongnu’s envoys in the palace. However, what everyone didn’t expect was that Situ Jinkang had messed up this matter.
On the first day, the Xiongnu were still fine, drank and sang loudly and they also expressed their desire to increase the business with Great Liang. The group of people enjoyed themselves.
On the second day, princess Ningan caused a great uproar because of the marriage alliance. Even the Xiongnu had heard the talk about it. Naturally, it was not a good thing.
On the third day, finally something went wrong. Several envoys of the Xiongnu fell ill because of food poisoning. The investigation by the Administration of the Capital found out that it was because the food was not clean! This made emperor Jinghui furious and nearly punished the second prince. Because the plea of the people at court, he was allowed to make up for his crime.
However, no one expected that on the fourth day, some Xiongnu died because of the unclean food. This caused a great uproar at court. They thought that this was impossible.
However, it happened. The most important thing was how they should deal with the reaction of the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu certainly wouldn’t leave the matter at that and the second prince who was in charge of this matter would naturally be unable to escape responsibility.
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