Transmigrated Empresses (Male and Female)

Chapter 52

"If you were with me, would you cheat on me?" I don't like men and women who stray, of course I'm an exception.

"No." He looked at me and said it quite seriously.

"Why?" No man dislikes having two women on his left and two on his right.

"I don't like crowds. My father married so many women, yet he made each and every one of them heartbroken." Liu Er lowered his head, as if recalling a past he didn't want to remember.

I patted him on the shoulder and promised, "If you marry me!" I emphasized the word "marry," "then I will only be good to you and give up the entire forest plan."

After I finished speaking, Liu Er stopped walking and helped me stand in front of him. His expression was extremely serious, and his tone was unusually earnest: "Ziyi, if you become my husband, I will give up all my hunting and fighting to herd horses and sheep with you, and do all the laundry and cooking for you." His eyes never left me as he spoke, and neither did I. In fact, any kind of life is a lifetime. Isn't simplicity good too? Do I have to fight with my husband until death like in my previous life?

Just as I was about to nod and choose a calm approach, I suddenly felt someone standing behind me. Liu Er frowned and looked at the person who had come.

I turned around, about to unleash my boundless roar, but upon seeing it was Chou Qian, I immediately forgot everything that had just happened, broke free from Liu Er's hand, and ran towards Chou Qian with a smile.

MD prayed he hadn't heard anything.

"Qianqian, why are you out here?" Ugly Qian didn't dodge, and I easily grabbed his arm and rubbed against his clothes that didn't match his face.

Chou Qian said in a sarcastic tone, "Am I not allowed to walk on this street today?"

I gave him a forced smile and said, "Of course not, the street is always ready to welcome your arrival."

"Is that so?" Chou replied modestly, then looked at Liu Er: "This brother must be Young Master Liu, I've heard so much about you."

Liu Er clasped his hands in greeting to Chou Qian: "Greetings, Young Master Sikong."

I shrank back, unsure how to start the conversation. Had he heard something he shouldn't have?

"You flatter me, Lord Sikong. I am the one who admires you the most." Liu Er said this politely but without much sincerity.

Chou Qian spoke in a calm tone, without any hint of goodwill: "Young Master Liu has quite the refined taste, actually bringing Lord Shen out for a stroll."

"I was just worried that my future husband would be bored, so I thought I'd do something of little help." After Liu Er finished speaking, I stared at him without blinking. Damn it, do you think I'm too old to live?

Ugly Qian's muscles were visibly tense, a sign that he was unlikely to talk much. I nudged him closer and said, "Qianqian, want to go for tea? I'll go with you."

Chou Qian didn't look at me, but calmly stared at Liu Er, uttering threatening words, "Young Master Liu, you'd better not waste your time here. Someone is waiting to expose your secrets."

"Thank you for your advice, Lord Sikong. I have my own solutions," Liu Er said, straightening his back and remaining unperturbed by Chou Qian's words.

I silently held Chou Qian's hand, not daring to speak up for Liu Er.

Chou Qian said, "Does Young Master Liu really think that the west wind is far from the east? If the Prince of Shouping's Mansion joins forces with the Su family, even if you don't consider your family's situation, you should still worry about your long-hidden plans."

After Chou Qian finished speaking, Liu Er finally looked at Chou Qian properly, his brows furrowed tightly as he said, "Young Master Sikong seems to know a lot."

Chou Qian threatened my poor Liu Er, saying, "Young Master Liu had better know his place. Sometimes it's not that you're not good enough, but that some people don't recognize your excellence." Chou Qian put his arm around my waist and continued to speak to Liu Er, "Young Master Liu, you'd better leave. You're not very welcome here."

Liu Er was momentarily lost in thought, but quickly regained his composure: "I don't want to fight with the two great families, but I have the support of Mother Shen."

Chou Qian chuckled and looked at him like he was a fool for the first time: "Do you think Madam Shen's words have any effect?" The simple question conveyed the most obvious meaning.

I glanced at Liu Er, who was pondering the meaning behind Chou Qian's words.

I stood there quietly. I'm not stupid. Sometimes, some people's patience has its limits, but I don't want to give up the people and opportunities that I've worked so hard for.

I put on a docile expression and reassured Chou Qian, "Let's go." Chou Qian glanced at me and said what Liu Er should have been saying: "Young Master Liu, I've said all I need to say. Whether you listen or not is up to you. Farewell." He forced me to walk forward. I stood beside him, pondering whether to confront him. Since things had come to this, I should at least try to gain someone like myself.

I deliberately followed him, signaling Liu Er, who was not moving behind, to leave.

I followed Chouqian to Yaxian Pavilion closely, and since Chouqian didn't speak, neither did I. Just when I felt the silence was unbearable, the old man reluctantly moved closer to him, using his peripheral vision to observe how easily Chouqian could be fooled.

Chou Qian was engrossed in playing with his teacup; his appearance was unattractive and lacked elegance, yet he seemed detached from worldly concerns. "Qian..." I tried to speak.

"What's wrong?" His tone was indifferent, seemingly not angry. But he's a capricious and complicated person, so I really didn't dare to make any assumptions. I usually stay far away from him, but today I have to curry favor with him. Damn it, I'm in a bad mood.

Qian, Liu Er is a good person. I'll start with something simple to test his reaction; he probably doesn't have any ulterior motives towards me.

"Not bad." Chou Qian lined up his cups in agreement with my assessment, his expression remaining relatively calm. I pondered the possibility of him convincing Wu Hui, and how much of a chance my decision to marry Liu Er had. "I think... after the New Year... with him..." I cautiously began, knowing that even if I married an ant, some people would still find a way to chop it into eleven thousand pieces, even if I didn't say anything.

"It's impossible for you not to think about anything. Chou Qian was absolutely adamant that there was no room for negotiation."

I devised a strategy and began: "If you can control Wu Hui, I have a way to turn the impossible into reality." Wu Hui is such a fool; he's fearless and reckless, and when he gets angry, he's hard to deal with. You can't reason with that hothead; he completely disregards propriety and shame.

Ugly, humble, and wise eyes looked into mine, and I sat upright, not avoiding his gaze, letting him see.

"You're trying to get something out of a tiger." Chou Qian spoke clearly and precisely.

"I know, but if you're willing to help me, I have a way to resolve some issues after the New Year." "I'm already sixteen, the age for marriage proposals. Prince Shouping and Prince Zhenyuan talked to me about some things they shouldn't have. I don't consider myself invincible; I can't possibly defeat the second most powerful family in Dongqing, which has such immense power."

"It's no use. Let me tell you something so you can give up those inappropriate thoughts. Liu Er's every move has been reported to Wu Hui daily ever since he entered Dongqing at your mother's invitation. I reckon Liu Er is practically dead by now." Chou Qian spoke casually, his middle finger twitching slightly, causing the cups to obediently line up. He continued to shatter my remaining confidence: "Wu Hui has endured this long not out of mercy, but to prepare a fatal blow for Liu Er, or more precisely, for Liu Zhijin and your mother."

I looked at him with a sense of unease, guessing that there must be a reason for the peaceful time I spent with Liu Er, and I never expected that he would also target my mother.

"Perhaps your mother's original intention was to join forces with the Liu family of Xifeng to send you out of someone's sight, but she forgot that she wasn't dealing with just one person. This is Dongqing; there's nothing we can't know, only things we don't want to know. Money is sometimes just a toy; it can't be a bargaining chip for the current regime! And you…" Chou Qian looked at me calmly, picked up the fragrant tea he had brewed, and handed it to me, saying, "Just drink well, eat well, sleep well, and play well, and everything will be fine. Don't think about things you shouldn't, lest you tire out your little brain."

"Smash!" I slammed the cup to the ground, stood up, and glared at him angrily. "You think I'd be threatened by you?!" Chou Qian picked up a towel and helped me wipe away the tea stains, but instead uttered the deepest resentment in my heart: "You know who's in charge in this world, so why make a futile struggle that hurts yourself and others? Haven't you been having a great time these past two years? Keep playing."

"Play with you, my foot!" I kicked away the broken cup in front of him, pounced on him on the soft couch, and said with a smirk, "You want me to play with you? Fine, I'll play with you first!" I unceremoniously pinned him down and tore open his ornate shirt. Ugly Qian calmly looked at me: "Ziyi, think carefully about what you're doing!"

"I don't need your permission to do what I want!" I retorted, kissing his lips and waiting for him to push me away. But after I nibbled on his lips for a long time, Chouqian still didn't try to kick me out.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him (praying he wasn't dead).

Chou Qian gave me a mocking look, a slight smirk playing on his lips. My eyes burned with fury (I'm so angry! I've been kissing him for ages and he's not even blushing or out of breath! How can I not be angry?)

"You think I wouldn't dare to sleep with you?! I didn't mean that, I just felt you weren't a reckless person." Chou Qian's words were so nonchalant; wasn't Qi just putting on a show? I glared at him, gritting my teeth, and said, "Nonsense! I don't even know what I'm thinking, and you dare say I wouldn't dare to sleep with you?" I resolutely lowered my head and kissed his newly parted lips, my tongue exploring his mouth, savoring the delicate, scholarly scent within. I pressed my legs against his lower body, pressing my upper body even closer. Chou Qian squirmed uncomfortably, and I took the opportunity to slip my hand inside his clothes, kneading his broad chest. "Zi Yi!" Chou Qian's voice was suppressed, but it wasn't lust that was suppressed; rather, it was dissatisfaction.