CH 34

Zhou Qing did not expect the always decisive Commander to say such words. She could not help but be dazed for some time before she continued to persuade, “Lord, although the pig brain is a bit fishy, it is good for the body. You can bear with it for a bit. It is not good to let people worry.”

A trace of luster flashed in his obsidian eyes; Xie Chong asked in a deep voice, “Worried? This official’s parents died when he was young. In the eyes of my blood relatives, I am no different from an evil ghost. Who will care?”

Even if she spent a night with this man, causing her to get pregnant with his blood and bones. In all fairness, Zhou Qing did not know Xie Chong. She only knew that he was the Commander of the Jin Yi guards, was a Third Rank Senior Officer, and was in charge of the North Zhenfu Division. It was not an exaggeration to say that his power was monstrous.

The Emperor trusted him and reused him. He would use this sharp sword to cut through the corrupt officials and deal with the traitors. His Majesty became a benevolent ruler with the world in his heart. The people were no longer subjected to the corrupt officials’ oppression, and the treasury was no longer empty. Except for Xie Chong’s infamous name, everyone benefited.

If blood relatives could understand one or two, Zhou Qing would not feel so uncomfortable. But recalling Xie Ling’s detestable attitude toward the Commander, her heart trembled, and there was deep concern in her moist eyes.

Anyone would feel sad if treated like this. People were flesh and blood. Xie Chong may appear indifferent on the surface, but in reality? The pain could only be licked alone, keeping it from the outside world.

Filled with worry on the woman’s fair face, she firmly said, “Those Jin Yi guards, including those who have received your favor, have some conscience. How could they not care about the safety of their benefactor? As for those cold-hearted and heartless bastards, even if you don’t do anything, they still won’t understand you.”

Xie Chong’s throat slid up and down as he met that clear gaze, and his heart rose with warmth, like a tired traveler who finally returned to his long-lost hometown. This feeling of comfort was new to him.

Long fingers clutched the pen as his gaze slowly moved from the woman’s flat belly to her neatly combed bun. He could not help but ask, “This official helped Miss Zhou keep the Xuande furnace, which is considered a helping hand. Were you giving comforting words just now, or was it to return the favor?”

Zhou Qing raised her eyes and looked at the Commander in front of her. She did not know how to answer.

There were three reasons why she cared so much about Xie Chong’s life.

First, the Commander saved the Zhou family from the fire. This kindness could never be forgotten. Second, he was Zhenger’s biological father. Although he forced himself into her, it wasn’t intentional; third, the Jin Yi guards have the effect of deterring all officials. The year before last year, a Governor embezzled millions of taels of silver for disaster relief. If it were not for Xie Chong, who rushed into the mansion with his guards and raided the Governor’s private treasury, the victims would be in mayhem and suffering.

No matter how ruthless his means were, such a person, his heart was good. What he did was for the good of the country and its people. It was too late for her to admire him. What could she do?

Pink lips closed, more delicate than the branches of the blooming rose. Zhou Qing did not even notice that she had spoken most of the thoughts in her head. At first, the voice was very small, like a mosquito humming. But later, the man heard several sentences.

His expression softened a lot; Xie Chong stared at her closely and slowly said, “The pig brain… This official will eat it. But Miss Zhou, you have to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?” Zhou Qing has some doubts. She was just an ordinary woman. Apart from her quite passable herbal blending skill, she did not have the slightest strength in anything else. She feared that it would be difficult to help the Commander.

As he sniffed the soothing fragrance, Xie Chong’s thoughts became clearer than usual. He tapped his knuckles on the table and said about his condition, “Now, Miss Zhou has been living in the Herbal Store. If you go back to the Luo family and come to the Xie Manor every three days, I’m afraid it will be a bit difficult for you. For the sake of my health and also your reputation, I can only wrong Miss Zhou and ask you to temporarily separate from Recorder Luo.”

Zhou Qing did not want to go back, but she had previously promised Luo Yu. If she reneged, how could she avenge her previous life? Zheng’er was killed alive by Luo Yu’s mother. With such vicious means and a cruel mind, as long as she thought about it, she could hardly breathe. She could not wait to rip Mother Luo alive to relieve the hatred in her heart.

After a moment’s hesitation, she slowly shook her head, “Even if I return to my in-laws, I will not delay the blending of herbs. The Lord can rest assured.”

Hearing these words, the man’s expression became very cold. He could not help but sneer, “Just now, Mrs. Luo said a lot of words. It made this official think he was doing a benevolent deed, and there were grateful people. But now, it seems that Mrs. Luo takes her husband very seriously and does not care about my life. In that case, you can go back to the Luo family. Anyway, there is a fragrance ball in hand. There is no need for the wife to run around personally.”

A knock suddenly sounded outside the study, “Your Excellency, something has happened to the one from the Natural Harmony Pavilion.”

Zhou Qing couldn’t help but be a little bewildered. She didn’t understand why the Commander’s attitude suddenly changed. But at this moment, Xie Chong had something to do and she couldn’t argue. She could only stand up and prepare to leave the Xie Manor.

However, the woman’s legs were numb from sitting on her knees for too long, and she fell straight to the ground. Thanks to the Commander’s quick eyes, strong arms wrapped around the woman’s slender waist, which allowed her to stabilize herself.

While clutching the embroidered flying fish pattern on the man’s chest with her two hands, Zhou Qing’s face turned white. She let out a few sharp gasps until they settled. When the numbness from her body gradually faded, she only said, “My Lord, I can stand firmly now. Please let go first.”

She kept her head down as she spoke, and when Xie Chong let go of his hold, Zhou Qing quickly walked out of the study and brushed past Liu Baihu, who had come to report.

The light fragrance of orchids faded away. The Commander looked cold and solemn as he said with some impatience, “What happened to Yan Ru? Did I not send you to keep an eye on her?”

Liu Baihu swallowed his saliva and replied respectfully, “I did not want to disturb you, but Yan Ru is a ruthless one. She decided to directly hang herself. This woman is a famous herdswoman of the Natural Harmony Pavilion. She said that you ruined her innocence and wanted to enter the Xie Manor as a concubine. But you did not agree to this. She is now seeking death in front of the King of Cheng County, wanting others to decide for her. She is obviously trying to force you to compromise!”

At these words, Xie Chong’s face remained unchanged, but his eyes became gloomier as if dark clouds of heavy rainstorms were accumulating, making it hard for people to breathe.

He remembered very clearly that night. Xie Ling had drugged the wine and locked him into the room in Natural Harmony Pavilion.

His heart surged with anger and his medullary sea stung like a knife was twisted, so he retained a trace of sanity and forced himself to endure the pain and leave the brothel. Finally, the drug in his body kicked in. Although he got involved with a woman, whether that woman was Yun Ru or not was yet to be seen.

“What did the Cheng County King say?” Xie Chong asked.

“He asked his subordinates to bring you a message, saying that this matter can be big or small. If you lend the Xuande furnace for him to enjoy for a few days, the matter of Yun Ru will not spread. Otherwise…… Cheng County King is afraid that he will want to make a scene in front of His Majesty.” Liu Baihu wiped the cold sweat on his head. The more he said, the lower his voice became.

Xie Chong hated people threatening him. As he heard Liu Baihu’s words, thin lips hooked up a cold smile, and the bottom of his eyes surged with killing intent, even if he was born handsome to the extreme, his current body made no difference with the beast that chooses people to devour.

“Jing Zhaoqi is really well-informed. To know that the Xuande furnace of the Zhou family’s Herbal Store is in the hands of this official, his calculation is good. He used a deep-minded prostitute in exchange for a valuable herbal ware of the former dynasty. Did he believe that this official was a fool and that he had fooled him?”

Every time the Commander said a word, Liu Baihu shivered a little. In the end, he secretly cried out in his heart and couldn’t help but ask, “What if this matter really reaches the Emperor? What do we do?”

The long wolf-hair pen broke, and Xie Chong said, “So what if it reaches the Emperor’s ears? Will His Majesty remove this official from his post? Go. Give the information in our hands to the people of the Metropolitan Inspection Court. When he can’t take care of himself, he won’t have the guts to threaten this official anymore.”

The Jin Yi Commander was, to put it nicely, a close minister of the Emperor. But if you put it badly, the phrase “hawk and dog” was enough to describe it.

The Zhenfu Division has a lot of people. Besides monitoring the officials, even the Royal relatives were not immune. The Cheng County King’s every move could not be hidden from the Commander. At the moment, for a useless thing, he turned against this official. One may fear that the King’s mind was intoxicated. Otherwise, why would he do such a confusing thing?

After thinking about this, Liu Baihu’s face became clear from worry, and he said, “Don’t worry. I will definitely send the news to the Imperial Court. Tomorrow morning, the King will regret it and will never dare to have any ideas about the furnace again.”