abcnovels
Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Inspector He fell asleep.0
He was snoring softly.0
Even after the masseur left with his stick,0
He still hadn't woken up.0
Perhaps the fact that even a blind man could marry, have a job, and dare to hope for his child to be born and go to school, had both shocked and deeply satisfied him. For the first time in ten years, he fell asleep just as dusk was falling.4
The Book Boy carefully reclined on a nearby couch, picking up some dried meat from the small table in front and eating it gently.0
There was no clinking of glasses tonight, it was rather quiet, and no one asked him about the master's preferences.0
For a long time, the master showed no signs of waking, his snoring growing louder.0
The Book Boy slowly got up and went to the adjacent tea room, took down a book, brewed some tea, ate some snacks, and flipped through the book. The rain had stopped, and the night wasn't so hot. A gentle breeze came through the window, and he could seemingly hear the sounds of children playing outside the walled courtyard.0
A little later, someone brought over a bowl of hot noodle soup.0
It didn't wake Inspector He who was sleeping inside.0
The Book Boy finished eating in the tea room, and then someone came to clear away the dishes and lit an incense stick, filling the room with a fragrant aroma.0
This thousand-tael-per-night inspector's suite seemed hardly worth it, but once you stayed in it, it felt comfortable no matter how you used it.4
......0
Jia also brought two distinguished guests to stay.0
Young Master Liu was very generous with his money, and he had originally demanded the top-tier suite, but the woman beside him persuaded him otherwise.0
The woman's voice was very pleasant to hear. Jia felt his heart flutter just from the sound of it, feeling certain she must be a great beauty.0
Young Master Liu booked two rooms.0
Although Miss Qingqing had lost her memory, her every move still betrayed her noble origins, indicating her extraordinary status.0
Liu Tong had been very polite to her throughout their journey.0
The two chatted and occasionally exchanged glances as they traveled.0
Liu Tong promised to take her to the Capital City.0
Jiang Wan had been well taken care of throughout the journey, making her think that perhaps, regardless of those things in her dream, she shouldn't go looking for Chu Xi. In this life, finding a man she liked and living a simple life might actually be very good.0
Young Master Liu was generous, rather naive, and had some scholarly pride.0
The sun set, and a half-moon rose.0
Although the two rooms weren't the top-tier suites, they were still quite high-end, costing fifty taels of silver per night. They came with a set of cleansing cream, toothpaste, and shampoo, which could be used freely.0
The candlelight in the room was very clean and bright.0
The bathroom was fragrant.0
For women traveling, the most inconvenient things were grooming and using the toilet.0
But in the inns of Jingzhou, one hardly wanted to leave. The bathrooms were so comfortable, there was even a pot of flowers in the bathroom. Not precious ones, but they inexplicably made one feel at ease.4
Jiang Wan lay alone on the bed, having washed off some of her makeup, still beautiful.0
Like a lotus emerging from the water.0
What she wore was bought on the road, since being in distress, she certainly hadn't brought a complete wardrobe.0
It was very luxurious, even more so than what she wore at home.0
At home, her father was devoted to Buddhism, her grandmother cursed daily, always complaining of this illness or that pain, needing medicine to keep her going. Her brother's funeral had cost a lot, hiring monks, the coffin, the cemetery, all were very expensive.0
Thinking of this, Jiang Wan was suddenly startled, her brother had passed away, yet she was still thinking about the expenses after his death.0
She felt a bit self-mocking, not knowing how she had fallen to this state.0
She remembered when Aunt Yao was around, she always said she was an extremely kind-hearted girl.0
She herself believed so too, she always felt distressed seeing others suffer, and would always give some alms.0
She was also diligent in her studies and had no bad habits.0
As for the power struggles in her dream later, she was just trying to survive, people often have many things they have no choice about.0
She wasn't a saint, she had all seven emotions and six desires, and had experienced both good and evil thoughts.0
But was that wrong?0
All people are like this.0
Jiang Wan lay on the bed, able to see the half-moon hanging in the sky through the window.0
A knock sounded at the door.0
She got up to open it.0
Outside was Liu Tong, with an unremarkable-looking young girl.0
Liu Tong glanced at Miss Qingqing's appearance and his face turned red, looking a bit flustered as he said, "Miss Qingqing, this, this is the maid I found for you. There have been many inconveniences along the way. Do you, do you want some tea? Would you like to freshen up and then come for tea?"0
Liu Tong's face was red as he spoke, and it turned even redder when he glanced at Jiang Wan midway through.0
At this moment, Jiang Wan wasn't as carefully dressed as during the day, she was more casual, with her hair slightly disheveled.0
But this appearance was even more attractive.0
Jiang Wan looked at the little maid who was lowering her head, and nodded in agreement.0
She actually didn't want a maid, worried about being recognized, but which young lady from a good family didn't have someone to serve her?0
The maid came in very properly and carefully.0
"Miss, let me help you with your hair."0
Jiang Wan didn't refuse.0
After grooming and changing into another set of clothes, Jiang Wan followed the maid out to the tea room that Young Master Liu had mentioned.0
It was a tea house provided by the inn for guests, which could be closed and locked, forming its own space, with a view of the river outside the window, the scenery was beautiful.0
There was a soft couch and a tea table.0
At night, there were boats on the river, the sound of string and wind instruments, and twinkling lights.0
When Jiang Wan arrived, Liu Tong was already brewing tea.0
He was very serious about it, as he brewed, his long fingers touched the beautiful porcelain cups, looking very nice.0
Seeing Jiang Wan arrive, he immediately stood up.0
"Qingqing, this is the popular way of brewing tea in Jingzhou. I've been practicing for quite a while. Let me brew for you, you'll definitely like it."0
Hot water poured over the tea leaves, creating steam.0
The bottom of the cup that had held tea was especially fragrant.0
She didn't taste anything special from drinking the tea, but the fragrance of the cup was excellent.0
Slightly hot, she held it in her hands and lowered her head to smell it gently.0
The evening breeze wasn't hot, blowing in from the window, gently lifting her skirt and the tips of her hair.0
The tea fragrance flowed, and ambiguous feelings also flowed.0
Jiang Wan was very good at grasping that ambiguous yet open feeling, as if she was naturally adept at it.0
Liu Tong drank three cups of tea in one go, as if not afraid of the heat, then he finally gathered the courage to speak: "Miss Qingqing, to be honest, my family has already arranged a wife for me. After this trip, I will prepare to go back and get married. She is the daughter of my father's superior, and our families are close. Sister Dong is also a good girl. I can't let her down. I've observed your behavior and manners, your status must be extraordinary. If you have any difficulties you can't speak of, I can help you. I shouldn't have had inappropriate thoughts about you. I've been too greedy on this journey."0
Jiang Wan was stunned for a moment.0
At this moment, she only felt the aftertaste of the tea was very bitter, with no sweetness, only bitterness.0
There were only her and Young Master Liu in the room.0
She held the cup, stood up, and went to the window.0
The window was open, the pleasure boats outside were like stars in the human world, twinkling, not bright enough to light up that patch of darkness.0
Young Master Liu also stood beside her. Throughout the journey, no matter how ambiguous things got, Young Master Liu had always been very proper.0
He avoided suspicion as much as possible.0
As soon as they arrived in the city, he immediately found a maid for her.0
Jiang Wan stood there, hearing Young Master Liu talk about Sister Dong, suddenly remembering such a girl, when the new emperor ascended the throne and the Crown Prince was selecting a consort.0
At that time, as the Empress's niece, she wasn't even considered as a candidate.0
Her aunt didn't want her to marry Chu Xi.0
A girl surnamed Dong stood out, she was naive and innocent, when she smiled, her front teeth were uneven, with a particularly pointy little canine tooth, and very deep dimples.0
Her skin was very white, her face round and chubby.0
Very likable, and probably clever too, otherwise she wouldn't have been chosen as a candidate for the Crown Prince's consort.0
But at the final stage, when it was down to just Miss Dong and Miss Zhang, with one to be chosen out of the two, Crown Prince Chu Xi clearly preferred Miss Dong, smiling at her several times.0
At the last moment, however, Miss Dong voluntarily refused, stating directly that she had someone she liked, "I grew up with Brother Liu as childhood sweethearts. He hasn't let me down, so I can't let him down either. Therefore, I can only refuse the Crown Prince's favor."4
At that time, a group of people looked at this Miss Dong as if she were a fool.0
Jiang Wan was the same, thinking, how could a childhood sweetheart compare to being the Crown Prince's consort? That would be the future Empress. The Miss Zhang beside her was cautious, yet this Miss Dong voluntarily refused.0
Jiang Wan now stood by the river, remembering that scene.0
She later entered the Crown Prince's Mansion only as a concubine, never imagining that someone would directly refuse to be the Crown Prince's consort.0
She wanted to laugh.0
So it turns out that Miss Dong refused the Crown Prince for Liu Tong.0
Round and round, round and round.0
She had observed Young Master Liu throughout the journey, he was indeed a man of integrity, without any major flaws.0
The feeling she exuded was one of vulnerability, easily taken advantage of. If Young Master Liu liked her, he could simply take her back with him, where she would serve him tea and keep him company. Yet Young Master Liu remained steadfast in his principles.0
At this moment, his confession to her implied that he had no intention of taking her with him.0
Jiang Wan had gone from being a widow to the Crown Prince's concubine to the Empress.0
Deep down, she was not one to admit defeat.0
She envied the innocence and carefree nature of that young Miss Dong.0
She had been jealous in her past life, and even now, thinking back, she was still jealous. How could someone so easily reject such an honor? Didn't she regret it?0
She stood by the window, her heart resolute.0
She could nod and agree; Young Master Liu would likely arrange for her. She could go to the Capital City to find her mother, or seek refuge with her aunt - both seemed possible.0
It was said that in the capital, because the current emperor was feeling unwell, the princes were all making their way back.0
It was for this reason that she had seen Young Master Liu as a lifeline and had run away with him.0
But suddenly, she felt discontented.0
Why should she settle for this?0
She couldn't believe that help without genuine feelings was as thin as paper, easily torn apart.0
Even in her dreams, scenes of life-and-death struggles were prevalent.0
She didn't trust others.0
Standing by the window, her beautiful eyes shed crystal-like tears.0
When she looked up at Young Master Liu again, she had become a tear-stained beauty, sorrowfully enchanting.0
She tilted her head slightly to gaze at Young Master Liu. They were very close to each other. With tears streaming down her face, she gently bit her lip and looked at him. She said nothing, her gaze unfathomable.0
Liu Tong turned his head away, unable to look at her, feeling awkward and unsure.0
However, she leaned into his embrace.0
She buried her head in his chest, her tears soaking his clothes.0
"I don't know what to do, I don't know how to act. I'm so scared, Brother Liu. If you leave me, what will I do? I'm just a weak woman, with no one to rely on. I only have you, no one else." Jiang Wan's voice was filled with grievance, her body trembling slightly, soft, helpless, and alluring.4
Liu Tong was nervous, not knowing where to place his hands. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. With her soft body leaning against him, at this moment, Sister Dong's deep dimples and smile faded away.0
His hands found their way to her soft waist, pulling her tightly against him, fitting together without a gap. He succumbed to the most basic physical desire.0
He liked her, he admired her. From the first glance, seeing her beautiful, vibrant, wronged, vulnerable, noble - it was like a spell.0
"I'm sorry, Qingqing. I'm sorry," Liu Tong said apologetically, flustered as he lowered his head to kiss her lightly, unable to resist caressing her, kissing her, embracing her.0
Outside the window, a song drifted from a passing boat:0
"Since ancient times, beauty has been ill-fated,0
Drifting east and west, hard to find compassion.0
..."0