Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 94

Time slips away like sand through an hourglass, and ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Yu Hong governed the prefecture, known as the Four Exhausted. Chongba played chess, seeking three ingots of gold. Zhang Wu of Chenliu, injured his back and broke his thigh. Greedy scoundrels, filthy...filthy..."

The servant respectfully opened the carved door, and Qing Jianyue walked into the large study, looking refreshed. He carried a large wicker basket lined with a small floral cotton cushion, where a white fox lay comfortably. It stretched its head out to look curiously at the student who couldn't recite his lessons—correction, not a student, but He Zhiqiang, whose face was flushed red.

Kiyomi Tsuki opened her bright black crystal eyes wide and looked curiously at He Zhiqiang, who was scratching his head and looking embarrassed. "Are you reciting a text? What are you reciting? I can't understand a word of it?"

"Ah, no, no, I wasn't reciting aloud," He Zhiqiang hurriedly explained. "I just couldn't remember how to pronounce the next part?"

Lu Qingcheng threw the book in her hand onto the table. "Ignorant fools. Yu Hong, when he was governor, was known as the 'Four Exhaustions.' Chongba, while playing chess, demanded three ingots of gold from his opponent. Chenliu and Zhangwu, injured their backs and broke their legs. Greedy scoundrels, they defiled my wise ruler."

He Zhiqiang nodded vigorously.

Kiyomi Tsuki placed the large wisteria basket on the table and asked, "What do you mean by 'when Yu Hong was the prefect, he was known as one of the Four Perfections'?"

Lu Qingcheng patiently explained: "Yu Hong was a man from the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties. He followed Emperor Wu of Liang in his campaigns and served as the governor of Nanqiao, Xuyi, and Jingling. He once said to people that when he was governor, there were four things that were exhausted: fish and turtles in the water were exhausted, deer and roe deer in the mountains were exhausted, rice and grain in the fields were exhausted, and the population in the villages was exhausted."

"My God, he's even more greedy than me. People like him won't have a good end. Even if the emperor doesn't kill him, and even if the chivalrous heroes who help the rich and rob the poor don't kill him, God will punish him. He'll be reborn as a fish, turtle, deer, or roe deer to be eaten." Kiyoshi smacked his lips, as if he had already tasted the food and was savoring the aftertaste.

He Zhiqiang couldn't help but chuckle.

Kiyomi Tsuki then asked, "So, what about the three ingots of gold that Chongba demanded?"

Lu Qingcheng smiled and said, "An Chongba, a man from Shu, was greedy for bribes when he served as the prefect of Jianzhou. He was never satisfied. In the prefecture where he was in charge, there was a wealthy oil merchant named Deng who liked to play chess. An Chongba would invite Deng to the yamen to play chess. When playing chess, he would make Deng stand, and after each move, he would make Deng step back to the window until An Chongba had decided what to do. In this way, they could only play a few dozen moves a day. Deng was tired and hungry from standing, and he simply couldn't stand it anymore. The next day, when he wanted to play chess again, he gave Deng three gold ingots. From then on, An Chongba refused to let Deng play chess anymore."

Qing Jianyue fantasized wildly, "If I use this method to deal with Qingfeng, I wonder if I can extort three gold ingots from him?" Lu Qingcheng grabbed a book from the table and threw it at his head. Qing Jianyue jumped back in a panic. "What happened when Marquis Chenliu injured his back while carrying the cloth, and Prince Yuan Rong of Zhangwu broke his leg?"

Lu Qingcheng put down her book. "Li Chong, the Marquis of Chenliu of the Later Wei Dynasty, was extremely greedy. When Emperor Xiaoming and Empress Dowager Ling inspected the Left Treasury, they ordered those who followed him to carry cloth as much as they could, rewarding them accordingly. Li Chong and Yuan Rong, the Prince of Zhangwu, carried too much and both fell. Li Chong sprained his back, and Yuan Rong broke his leg. People at the time said, 'Chenliu and Zhangwu, injured back and broken leg. Greedy scoundrels, disgracing the wise ruler.'"

Kiyoshi said disdainfully, "What an idiot. If I were to carry the cloth, I would not only carry the most, but I also wouldn't hurt my back or break my hips."

Enraged, Lu Qingcheng threw a book at him again. He dashed to the heated couch, climbed on it, and started eating the snack box. Lu Qingcheng glanced at He Zhiqiang, who wanted to laugh but dared not be too presumptuous, and said seriously, "I understand what you mean. You want me to take back the reward and simplify the wedding."

"Yes, that's exactly what I meant." He Zhiqiang said loudly, "Although I have made some minor contributions, they are all inseparable from the cultivation of the Lord of the Fortress. The Lord of the Fortress did not mind that Miss Zhao refused to marry me, and generously granted my marriage to Miss Zhao. Even if I died a thousand times, I would not be able to repay him. How dare I ask for any more rewards? The finances of this fortress are tight right now, and both the Madam and the Lord of the Fortress are cutting expenses. How dare I be extravagant and wasteful? That would diminish our blessings."

Lu Qingcheng laughed and said, "Did your wife teach you those words just now?"

He Zhiqiang smiled shyly and said, "She taught me, but I'm too stupid. I remember the first part but forget the second."

Lu Qingcheng teased, "You really do listen to your wife."

He Zhiqiang disagreed, saying, "My wife is right, we should listen to her. Doesn't the Lord of the Fortress always obey Young Master Jianyue's words?"

Just as Kiyomi Tsuki was picking a pastry out of the snow-white porcelain plate and putting it in her mouth, she suddenly heard the last sentence and exclaimed in surprise, "How did this get involved with me? What does it have to do with me if you listen to your wife?"

Lu Qingcheng slammed her hand on the table. "Good, well said, absolutely right." Qing Jianyue was dumbfounded. Lu Qingcheng said with a beaming smile, "Let's do it your way. He Zhiqiang, I didn't misjudge you. You're a good man, and you've married a good wife."

He Zhiqiang said happily, "Thank you, Lord of the Fortress. I will not disturb your and Young Master Jianyue's rest any longer. I will take my leave now."

Lu Qingcheng nodded with a smile. He Zhiqiang bowed and strode out of the study.

Qingjian Yue stared at Lu Qingcheng, who was carrying a large vine and walking over with a smile, as if she were looking at a monster. "What did he mean just now?"

"Think for yourself." Lu Qingcheng placed the large wisteria on the lacquered small table and took the white fox out from inside. "Come, let me see how your injury is healing? You are Young Master Jianyue's precious darling. If anything were to happen to you, Young Master Jianyue would be heartbroken."

The white fox cried out, and its large, snow-white tail swayed.

Kiyoshi stared at him with her mouth agape, and the more she looked, the more she felt that he was acting strangely today, making her completely baffled.

After examining the white fox's injuries, Lu Qingcheng said with satisfaction, "Good lad, it won't be long before you're running wild again. Jian Yue?"

"Huh?" Kiyomi Tsuki answered blankly.

Lu Qingcheng used his finger to tease the white fox's small snout, and the fox immediately took his finger in its mouth affectionately, licking and nibbling at it. Of course, it didn't bite hard, just gently nibbled with its teeth. Lu Qingcheng said in a low voice, "Don't look at people with your mouth open, it will make them want to do bad things."

Qing Jian Yue quickly shut her mouth, swallowed hard, and asked, "Lord of the Fortress, what's wrong with you today?"

"What's wrong with me?" Lu Qingcheng raised her face.

"With your mouth open, how could anyone want to do something bad? And what strange things did He Zhiqiang say that made you so happy?" Qing Jianyue took a bite of her pastry.

Lu Qingcheng didn't answer him, but asked instead, "Why didn't you hide in your little courtyard today, but instead came here? Usually, I have to beg and urge you three or four times before you'll come over."

Qingjian Yue said irritably, "It's all because of those women. Their embroidered shoes have almost worn out my doorstep. I'm so afraid of them that I have no choice but to hide here with you."

Lu Qingcheng snorted, "Don't you like it? Beautiful women bring you delicious food and fun things every day. I heard that the stuff piled up in your room could be enough to feed you for a year."

“I’ve seen through it all. They use looking at the fox as an excuse, but what they really want to see is the Lord of the Fortress.” Qing Jian Yue said with a sour tone, as if she had eaten a whole jar of pickled plums. “The happiest one is the fox, because it has the fragrant and soft bosom of a beauty to lean on every day.”

Lu Qingcheng laughed, then leaned back on the couch. The white fox climbed onto his chest, stretched its legs back, and lazily lay down, basking in the sun. Lu Qingcheng stroked its soft, warm fur, closed his eyes, and remained silent.

Qingjian Yue craned his neck and called out across the lacquered table, "Lord, you haven't answered your subordinate yet."

"Think for yourself," Lu Qingcheng said irritably.

"Why is it that line again?" Qing Jianyue began to think seriously, trying hard, racking his brains, thinking and thinking, but still couldn't figure it out. He tilted his head, blinked his dark crystal eyes, and said innocently and cutely, "I've racked my brains, but I still can't figure it out. Lord, please give me a hint."

He turned to look at Lu Qingcheng and was startled. He didn't know when, but Lu Qingcheng was staring at him with an unfathomable gaze. A sudden chill ran through him, as if he'd been burned. Lu Qingcheng abruptly stood up, reached into her sleeve, and pulled out a delicate little brocade box, handing it to him. Qing Jianyue took it, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"Open it and take a look," Lu Qingcheng said.

Kiyoshi opened the small brocade box and was immediately stunned. Inside were a pair of rings, with a gold base and platinum carvings of a white fox, its eyes inlaid with yellow gemstones, lifelike and exquisite, both luxurious and unconventional. Moreover, their styles were completely different; the larger one exuded an untamed and domineering aura, while the smaller one was petite, charming, and utterly adorable. Yet, when placed together, they were a perfect match.

"Lord of the Fortress, this?" Qing Jianyue was so surprised that she didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Do you like the ring I promised to give you?" Lu Qingcheng took out the smaller ring, grabbed Qing Jianyue's right hand and put it on his middle finger, saying with satisfaction, "It fits perfectly. Take that one out and put it on me."

Qing Jianyue blankly picked up the ring and put it on his finger. Then, Lu Qingcheng held his hand, and sunlight streamed in, making the rings gleam blindingly. Qing Jianyue's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at him strangely. Lu Qingcheng affectionately played with his hand, his eyes burning with passion. Qing Jianyue suddenly felt an unbearable heat rising within him.