Chapter 80

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Chapter 80: Title

Gu Hengbo excitedly pulled Lianyang, walking back and forth outside the pigpen. "This sow is nice; you can see it’s of good breed. We can sell it for a good price during the New Year."

Lianyang’s face turned slightly red as he responded softly.

Zou Yuan, dressed in bright red court robes, walked over from a distance. Gu Hengbo could still recall how, five months pregnant, she looked stunning in those robes, making her ancestors proud.

Thinking of that woman, with a big belly arguing with officials and the emperor in the court, made Gu Hengbo laugh until she almost ran out of breath.

"Little Gu, little Gu, I have asked around. Lord Li has relatives in the northern desert. See when you have time. I’ll accompany you to take a look. I thought it over; raising cattle, sheep, and chickens is good, but pigs? No way, that’s too smelly and cheap,” Zou Yuan said, looking like a beautiful person, but her character didn’t match.

Gu Hengbo pouted, feeling troubled. "Didn’t my brother tell you? Even if I don’t raise anything else, I have to raise pigs. I love pigs; they are cute and plump."

When Zou Yuan heard Gu Hengbo mention Gu Cheng, her expression changed instantly. Without hesitation, she waved her hand, "Alright, I’ll support you. But from now on, don’t mention your brother in front of me. He has married someone else, and it just makes me sad to think about it."

Gu Hengbo thought, that’s not sadness. She just felt frustrated; how did Gu Cheng end up knowing her?

While thinking, Gu Hengbo tugged at Lianyang’s sleeve, "What do you think?"

Zou Yuan caught the small movement of Gu Hengbo. Over the past few days, she had guessed Lianyang’s identity. Even though Gu Hengbo hadn’t said, she kept calling him Lianyang. "Lian" was Dongyin’s royal surname. Who else could it be but someone from the royal family? But she didn’t ask. Gu Hengbo was the Second Miss of the Dongyin Prime Minister’s residence, and her marriage to Prince Rong was known throughout the nine states. Naturally, it wasn’t news to her that she was Gu Cheng’s sister. Now that she had left Prince Rong’s residence for Northern Region, and there was a prince by her side, their interactions didn’t resemble an uncle and niece, but rather a newlywed couple. At first, she was startled by this realization, but when she thought of Lian Rong’s status, she couldn’t help but smile. After all, they were both women, and her doing this was quite reasonable. She was already accustomed to their little understandings and said nothing when she saw them whispering together. Turning, she got into the sedan chair and told her subordinate to remind them to go home later.

Gu Hengbo stroked her chin and glanced at the little pigs in the pigpen. "Actually, I don’t have anything big going on here. I have funds; I just need more hands. As long as there’s money, I can handle anything. As for you, having stayed here for a while, your injury should be almost healed. Don’t go to Liangzhou; pick a day to return to the royal city. Don’t make your Mother Empress worry."

Lianyang nodded, saying, "I am not clear about the third brother’s situation now. I can only plan once I ensure he is safe. You don’t need to hurry me."

Gu Hengbo was taken aback but then laughed. "Who is hurrying you?"

Lianyang laughed along and said, "I understand what you mean." He slightly lowered his head. "I just want to stay a little longer. I can help you, and once everything goes smoothly, I can leave later."

Gu Hengbo shook her head while smiling. Over the past few days, she discovered that apart from occasionally blushing while talking to her, Lianyang could now look directly at her, and his speech wasn’t hesitant like a shy boy anymore. This was progress; he had finally escaped the shadow of being a junior.

*

In the luxuriously decorated room, Lian Rong, dressed in a qilin-patterned robe, sat quietly on an ornate chair. Guessing the time, she glanced at the orange curtains swaying not far away.

After a moment of silence, Lian Rong gently spoke, "The Southern Emperor really has skills beyond what ordinary men can reach."

As soon as she finished speaking, the moans inside the tent suddenly stopped. Barely a moment later, a series of suppressed gasps gradually grew louder. After a while, the orange curtains moved slightly. A long, fair hand reached out, revealing a face of extreme beauty, dark and gloomy. "I thought Prince Rong would remain sitting there forever."

Lian Rong, sitting not far away, had a smile at the corners of her mouth. "This king is just surprised. With the Southern Emperor’s physique, I wondered whether he is capable in bed or not."

Qin Qixian looked at her with a fierce gaze and lifted her hand to pull down the obstructive curtains.

The three naked beauties inside the bed were suddenly exposed to the open air, and sounds of surprise escaped their mouths. Upon seeing the relaxed person across from them, the three naked women hurriedly started looking for something to cover their bodies.

The curtains were pulled down by Qin Qixian, but Lian Rong’s gaze remained fixed on Qin Qixian, who was wearing white inner clothing. She didn’t spare a glance for the three panicking women. "Don’t think I don’t know that those women in white the other day were your people. If I find out you really have any connection with Youmeng Tower, don’t blame me for turning against you."

Qin Qixian looked expressionlessly at the three on the bed and ordered, "Get out."

The three women, feeling they were granted amnesty, didn’t care about putting on clothes. They grabbed their garments from the floor and ran outside, casting one last glance at Lian Rong. This scene didn’t escape Qin Qixian’s notice; a flash of malice crossed her eyes. In an instant, the three women lay on the ground, their hands clasped tightly around their necks, their originally beautiful faces visibly decaying at a rapid pace.

Lian Rong remained unmoved by this scene, or perhaps she was already used to it. She picked up the tea cup beside her and took a gentle sip. "Fei Yu’s tea-making skills are getting better. None of the girls in Prince Rong’s residence can compare."

Qin Qixian coldly looked at the pool of blood on the floor, the room filled with a nauseating smell. It was astonishing that she could enjoy her tea with such a face. "No wonder your little crown princess ran away; it’s all because of you."

Lian Rong did not speak. After the people outside finished cleaning up the three bodies in the room and burned incense, she slowly glanced at Qin Qixian and said, "Run? Do you think she can escape?"

Qin Qixian got out of bed and sat next to her, crossing her legs and settling into the chair. "Oh, even Prince Rong has times when he doesn’t get what he wants. Today, I am truly seeing new things."

"How did you know about the jade pendants?" Lian Rong asked in a calm tone.

Qin Qixian rested her head on her hand and squinted her eyes. "Guess?"

Lian Rong looked at her. "Could it be that the Southern Emperor also wants Dongyin’s kingdom?"

Qin Qixian chuckled. "A-Rong, that’s just a rumor. How old were you at that time? Maybe that old beggar tricked you."

Lian Rong lowered her eyes. "The other jade pendant is in Gu Meisheng’s hands. There can’t be such a coincidence in the world."

Qin Qixian tilted her head to look at her, her expression filled with meaning. "You didn’t marry her just because of that, did you? Tsk, I thought you had really fallen for that girl."

Lian Rong raised an eyebrow. "She is already a woman."

Qin Qixian couldn’t hide her disdain. "Truly less than a beast, you’re sixteen years older than her, and you’ve already made your move."

Lian Rong shot her a glance. "Sixteen? Do you see her as a seventeen-year-old girl? I’d believe she is older than me, she simply has a few screws loose."

"It’s been so many years, and there’s still no news of that old beggar. Just based on his one word, you want to destroy so many lives? The massacre of the Zeng family back then didn’t teach you a lesson. Lian Rong, you are ruthless," said Qin Qixian, adjusting her position in the chair.

Lian Rong smiled. "The Zeng family was innocent, and I was wrong in that matter. It’s too late to say anything now."

"I’ve always been curious, do you not feel even a little bit of guilt toward the Zeng family?" Even the old and the children were not spared. When she learned about it, she couldn’t help but get angry. If she had no self-reproach or guilt at all, what was she?

Lian Rong replied calmly, "Why should I feel guilty? The Zeng family was innocent. Is she guilty? Qixian, every step I take now is for her, for the Rong family. Those who took everything from her never reflected on their actions. Why should I let feelings of guilt hinder me? They destroyed her and the entire Rong family; shouldn’t I do something?"

"What about Duan Rulan?"

Lian Rong’s lips curled up slightly. "In a few days, I will be going on a trip. You can stay here; soon there will be a good show for you to watch."

They took everything from her, and now they were taking away her beloved woman. How could she let it go?

"You aren’t going to find your little crown princess, are you? A reward if you guess right," Qin Qixian straightened up, her slender fingers spread out before Lian Rong, eagerly begging for a reward.

Lian Rong smiled gently, took her fingers and lightly kissed them. "I already told you, she won’t escape."

Qin Qixian withdrew her hand, rubbing it disdainfully on her inner clothing. "You can do whatever you want with others, but that little girl is innocent. If you don’t want her, you can give her to me." She looked just acceptable, but her personality was quite to her taste.

Looking up, Lian Rong had already walked to the door. Qin Qixian squinted her eyes. "Did you even hear what I said?"

Lian Rong pushed the door open and walked out. After a moment, her slightly lingering voice came, "I didn’t marry her because of the jade pendant. If you dare to have ideas about her, watch your right leg. Also, I will be leaving in mid-September; come see me off then."

Qin Qixian instinctively jerked her right leg, an old habit she had learned to control from this woman.

She sulked, angrily sweeping the tea cup just used by Lian Rong to the ground. "I not only want to have ideas about her; I’ve already decided on this person. Lian Rong, there will come a day when you will ask me for favors."