Untitled 131

  After walking for about two tea cups, Zhou Mama felt that she couldn't walk anymore and had someone bring a stretcher to take Rujing back to Longxianju. However, Rujing strongly disagreed, saying that her body was very healthy and walking such a short distance wouldn't be a problem, and going back also wouldn't cause any issues.

  But Mother Zhou wouldn't have it, and in the end, she couldn't be dissuaded, so she had to sit on a sedan chair and be carried back to Longxianju by four strong eunuchs.

  She slid into the main house of Long Xianju, directly passing through the ceremonial gate and entering the main room. Just as she was about to enter the main room, she suddenly saw Pinlan hastily coming out from inside, and her brow furrowed in anger. "Stop right there! How did you end up in the main house?" The servants of Long Xianju were divided into first, second, and third-class maidservants. Except for the first-class maidservants, all other slaves were strictly forbidden from setting foot in the main house. Pinlan was a third-class maidservant who was supposed to be guarding the outer courtyard, yet she had appeared inside the main house, which truly enraged her.

  Pin Lan's face turned pale with fright, and she hastily curtsied. "Your Highness, the Prince has returned. Because Your Highness had gone out, there was no one to attend to him in time, so I..."

  "Even if I leave, there are still other maids in the house, why does it have to be you who takes charge? Have the rules of Longxianju become mere decorations?"

  Pinlan's face changed, and she hastily knelt down. "Your Highness, please calm your anger. Earlier, Pinhe said that the prince had returned, but there was no one to attend to him, so I let the servant girl come in to serve him. The servant girl truly did not intentionally mean to break the rules of Longxian Residence."

  He didn't bother to waste words with her, and coldly said to Chen Xiang: "You're the eldest sister, you should know how to handle this."

  Chen Xiang bowed his head and accepted the order, then said in a loud voice: "Trespassing into the main house for the first time will result in a penalty of one month's worth of silver rice. The second time will be three months' worth of silver rice and twenty strokes of the cane. The third time, twenty slaps on the face, expulsion from Long Xian Ju, and demotion to a lowly servant girl. Pin Lan, I'm really sorry, but please pack your bags quickly and go to the laundry house."

  Pinlanhua's face lost color, just waiting to be besieged, when several old women suddenly appeared from the side, grabbed her tightly and pushed her out.

  Shunzi, who had rushed out from inside, saw this but didn't say anything. Only after Pinlan was dragged away did he hurry over, bowing at the waist and saying: "Your Highness, the Prince has returned and wishes to discuss an important matter with you."

  As if something unexpected happened, he hastily rushed past the threshold and entered the inner room.

  In the side hall to the left of the main house, Li Xiang was sitting at a round table with carved five bats on it, wearing the same purple and gold dragon-embroidered long gown he had worn that morning. He wore a two-dragon crown with purple and gold jewels, looking elegant and refined. Seeing Ruqin, he quickly stood up to greet her, "A pregnant woman should not be walking around everywhere."

  "Your Highness can rest assured, I'm not made of water, so I won't be that fragile."

  Li Xiu helped her sit on the couch, looking at her rosy cheeks and the quiet yet playful smile on her face, also softened his facial expression, whispering, "I really like your lively personality, but for someone who's pregnant, you should be more careful." He sat down beside her, one arm around her shoulder, the other hand gently rubbing her slightly bulging belly, "I truly hope it's a girl, and she'll look just like you."

  He shot her a glance, "Everyone wants to have a son, but you're different, you actually want to give birth to a daughter. How strange."

  Li Xiu couldn't help but smile, "That's also true. But I've always hoped that this child would be a girl, one who looks just like you."

  "What's the reason?"

  "My daughter is so considerate, but my son is too mischievous."

  "Although it's true what you said, I still want a son."

  Li Xiang thought for a moment, "Then let's have Mr. Li's son." Then he bowed his head and kissed her face, "Anyway, we'll have another one."

  Her face turned red with anger and she couldn't help but push him away, saying: "How annoying! Do you think I'm a sow?"

  "Even if it's a sow, it's still the most beautiful sow."

  As she was still fuming, she made a gesture to pinch him and said, "You damned ghost, how dare you say I'm a sow, I've had enough of living..." Suddenly, she felt that using such coarse language really didn't fit the image of a virtuous wife. Ruqiu hastily covered her mouth. "I didn't mean to..."

  Li Xiang's face showed no anger, but he stared at her intensely, "What did you just curse me with?"

  Her heart skipped a beat and she hastily shook her head like a rattle drum, "Your Highness, I was just mistaken earlier, please don't take it to heart."

  Li Xun stared at her frightened face, as if she was really afraid that he would vent his anger on her. He couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration and said, "We're husband and wife, why be so formal?"

  As if choked with emotion, she muttered: "Grandma taught me that a husband is the wife's heaven... a wife should take her husband as her heaven..."

  Li Xue abruptly cut her off, "You just take her words as fart." Jian Ru's face turned red with anger, glaring at him. He hastily changed his tone, "What I mean is that we're husband and wife, there's no need to be so polite. I...I like your straightforwardness."

  Her face suddenly lit up, and she couldn't help but look up at him, asking with a smile: "Really?"

  Li Xibo's face turned stern, "Is that still fake? Can't you take off the mask in front of me after being husband and wife for a lifetime?" This wife was perfect in every way, except she loved to pretend in front of him.

  "But, a husband is the wife's lord..."

  "Damn it, wife!" Li Xiao couldn't help but blurt out a curse. Seeing his little wife shrink back, he softened his tone and said: "You have to remember, we're already husband and wife. Between husbands and wives, there's no need to hide one's true nature. Usually, you're always so polite to me, but I feel like something's missing...". He paused, then used both hands to turn her shoulders, forcing her to look him straight in the eye, his forehead pressed against hers: "That 'dead ghost' you said earlier actually helped me find the problem... In front of me, there's no need for you to suppress yourself."

  "I, I don't have..." She has always been able to yield and stretch, no matter where she goes, she is always calm and composed.

  "No, you do. In front of me, always being so careful as if afraid of offending me." The man said with growing discontent, "Am I not good enough to you? Why can't you ever improve? Could it be that I'm going to eat you up or something?"

  It's unbelievable that there are still people in this world who automatically scold others.

  ……

  After that, Li Xiu and Ru Qing discussed the recent events in the imperial court for a whole afternoon. Following this, due to the White Lotus uprising in Shanxi, they finally came up with a feasible plan today. The Emperor appointed Left Supervising Censor Fang Zhili as Governor of Shanxi, overseeing military and administrative affairs in the province. Marquis Yang Qitai then led troops to suppress the heretic sect.

  As for Li Xiao, he entered Shanxi as King Jing, which was a covert investigation.

  The White Lotus Sect in Shanxi has become increasingly violent, even openly defying the imperial court. So far, they have killed several magistrates and a prefect, waving the banner of "carrying out heaven's will". It is unknown how many officials in Shanxi they have killed. Although some of these officials were corrupt or incompetent, this is still a severe blow to the imperial court's authority.

  Especially the governor who went to Shanxi recently was also assassinated, and he almost lost his life. When the news reached the capital, the emperor was furious and declared that he would wipe out the White Lotus Sect once and for all.

  However, the White Lotus Society came and went without a trace, wanting to capture them was by no means easy, so they could only be taken with cunning.

  But this clever move has put all the civil and military officials in a difficult position.

  "Recently, the imperial court was almost in an uproar, but unfortunately, no one could think of a good solution." Li Xiao said with emotion, "The emperor can only reassign the governor and send out 50,000 troops to suppress it. The previous governor was seriously injured and still cannot get out of bed. Moreover, eliminating the evil cult is not easy. Although fame and fortune are important, one's life and family are even more important. Surprisingly, no one in the court dared to take on this task. Fortunately, Mao Sui volunteered and bravely took on the responsibility."

  With emotions of joy, worry and concern, with the ability to know etiquette, he was promoted from the fourth rank of Zuoduyushi to the second rank of Provincial Governor. If successful, his family would be elevated to a higher level, with the lowest position in the capital being that of a third-rank Shilang official, and if appointed outside, at least as a provincial governor or even several provinces' governors. But if he failed...

  Li Xiao knew Ruo Qing's concerns and said, "Knowing the propriety of being a person is steady and heavy. If there isn't an eighty percent grasp, it wouldn't be like this either. You can rest assured, I'm here too."

  Even if you subconsciously nod in agreement, it's considered a failure, but with the support of the He, Yang, Zhong families and the Jingwang Fu, your vital energy won't be harmed.

  "The king has no position in the court, why does the emperor still want to send you?"

  Li Xiao fell silent. Since he knew that the matter was related to state secrets, he didn't ask any more questions. He only pitifully said: "Do you really have to go?"

  Li Xiu's face showed a hint of apology as he reached out to gently rub her belly, "Sorry about this, I was the one who asked for it this time."

  "Like a flirtatious eyebrow, 'Why?'"

  Li Xue bitterly smiled, "Bai Lian Jiao was already rampant in Shanxi last year, but at that time it hadn't developed to this extent. If I had killed him off back then, he wouldn't have such power now." He looked at Ru Qing with a guilty gaze, "But last year, for the sake of marrying you early, I didn't care about anything else... This time Bai Lian Jiao's sudden rise to power is also because of my selfishness. Therefore..."

  With a look of shock and anger, she pounded her chest and stamped her feet, "You, you, you, you actually disregard the country's safety for personal reasons, you...". Indeed, this is a super spoiled brat, only knowing how to enjoy the imperial court's offerings but not contributing to the imperial court. Suddenly, she glared and asked, "Now, who dares to call me a femme fatale?"

  Li Xiao was stunned, with a smile on his face, "How could that be? My wife is virtuous and filial, intelligent and elegant, gentle as water, and has nothing to do with the seductive femme fatale."

  "But you actually disregarded the sacred decree of the Emperor just to marry me... At that time, the Emperor had already issued a marriage edict, were you still afraid that I would not be able to marry?"

  "But I'm still afraid of having too many dreams at night." The man's gaze carried a hint of resentment and grievance, "I was also very scared back then, fearing that you would take advantage of my trip to Shanxi to persuade the empress dowager, and have the emperor revoke his decree. My only thought was to first cook this detestable yet lovable duck, and then make other plans."

  "Like a sunny pout," she said, "I'm already a cooked duck now, so the prince can rest assured and go to his Shanxi."

  Li Xiao held her in his arms and whispered: "You don't want me to go?"

  As she felt depressed, she followed the man to eat imperial rations and enjoy the court's preferential treatment. She had to make sacrifices, which was fair. Having enjoyed it, she had to pay it back, which was her duty. So she cheered up and asked, "When are we leaving?"

  "The sooner the better, probably by the end of this month."

  Today is already twenty-three, and by the end of the month, it will be just a few days.

  "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Li Xiao held her hand and kissed it gently on the lips. His wife's hand was smooth and soft to the touch, white and plump, making him reluctant to let go. But then again, he didn't know if she had given him a love potion or cast a spell on him, because he felt that every part of her body was lovable, even the thin layer of fat on her lower abdomen was so soft and elastic.

  "What's your task this time?" As far as she knew, this guy had been following Old Master Wang since he was a child, couldn't recognize many characters, but was good at martial arts and sword fighting. Letting him assist in handling official duties wouldn't be a problem if he didn't drag his feet. But sending him with Yang Qitai to kill those Taoist priests wasn't realistic either.

  Li Xiao fell silent for a moment before responding, "My task is very simple, and it's nothing more than that." He gazed into Jing's eyes, "However, it involves state secrets..."

  "Since it's like this, then don't say anything more. I...I believe you."

  Li Xixin's heart was moved, and he tightly grasped her hand. "I'm sorry, you're pregnant now, I shouldn't go out again." Especially with this task of his, although it looked comfortable on the surface, in reality, it hid many dangers.

  She said with a hint of melancholy: "If I had to choose between a vigorous and untamed eagle, and a tame and gentle canary, I would choose the eagle." She gazed at the man's eyes, her own eyes shining with determination as she continued: "I couldn't bear to clip the eagle's wings for my own selfish desires, depriving him of his ambition and passion." For men, one must give them a vast sky to soar in; keeping them tied down by your side every day is not the way.

  Li Xixin was deeply moved, but his way of expression was to hold her tightly in his arms.

  ……

  Digression

  My brain is tired and I really don't want to think anymore.