al_squad
patreon
Finest Servant Chapter 430
🕑 Added 2023-09-01 16:18:25 +0000 UTCChapter 430 Confession
A sliver of rosy glow seeped in through the window, heralding the break of dawn. A glance around the room revealed it was neat and tidy, spotlessly clean. The crimson candle on the table was about to burn out, and the rhododendrons that had bloomed the night before were taken away. The place was deserted and left without a trace.
No wonder yesterday's wine tasted strange; it had been laced with a sedative by the Goryeo woman. So much for being a hunter; the hunter was blinded by the prey. Lin Wanrong rubbed his slightly aching forehead, struggling to rise. His eyes caught the bright little flower on the bed, and he stared, momentarily stunned.
Being seduced by a young girl, he must be the first in history. To think that the Goryeo woman had such courage, usually so soft and weak, yet so fierce at the critical moment. Sadly, in the haze of sleep, he had not appreciated her good figure and smooth skin. A great pity indeed.
He shook his head, tidying up the room with patience. The Goryeo woman had come quietly and left resolutely, without leaving a word or even a note. Reflecting on the mood and her expression the previous night, a sudden understanding dawned on him, albeit too late.
He put the document signed last night into his bosom and reluctantly went downstairs. All around was desolate, without a trace of anyone. The Goryeo woman's determination was clear. Thinking back on everything, it was like a spring dream. Looking back at the quiet little building, unable to cry or laugh, a myriad of indescribable feelings welled in his heart.
The people of Great Hua were early risers. Although it was before dawn, the streets were already filled with early pedestrians. Suddenly remembering that he hadn't returned the previous night, he wondered how he would explain himself if asked by Qingxuan and others. The Goryeo woman had truly put him in a terrible spot. His heart filled with silent complaints, he quickened his steps, hurrying home.
Upon reaching the Lin residence, he found the main gate tightly closed, silent and peaceful, presumably Qingxuan and the others were still asleep. His anxiety eased slightly. He knew better than to knock at this hour, and after a stealthy look around, he saw that the sky was still dim with no one in sight. His heart rejoiced, and he fetched a few large stones to step on. With great effort, he found a hollowed-out windowsill on the wall and clenched his teeth as he climbed up.
"Woof, woof!" "Woof, woof!" Suddenly, a sharp bark came from someone's yard. Lord Lin, who was holding onto the wall, nearly fell. He held his breath and inhaled deeply, not daring to move an inch.
The barking seemed to come from the neighboring yard and gradually faded. Cold sweat trickled down Lin Wanrong's back. He was angry and irritated. ‘Tomorrow I'll petition the Emperor to issue a ban on keeping large dogs, and put an end to these arrogant beasts.’
With a resentful spit, he climbed his own high wall, crossing his legs and panting heavily on the wall. The house was quiet, and from a distance, he could see a lamp still burning in a small building. He didn't know who was keeping vigil by the lamp. Lin Wanrong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling helpless. ‘A man making a small mistake in conduct is not a big deal. A man like me, consciously climbing the wall to return home, is already rare.’
"Who?!" A delicate cry from a woman suddenly came from the neighboring courtyard, followed by a bout of frenzied barking. A lantern loomed in the distance, and two big black-tailed dogs swiftly rushed toward the wall.
Lin Wanrong let out a cry, hurriedly lifting his legs as both dogs leaped simultaneously. Their teeth scraped his clothes, whooshing past with the wind, leaving him in a cold sweat.
"You, what are you doing on the wall of my house?" The lantern came closer, and a graceful figure entered his sight, her face tinged with a faint blush as she softly spoke: "Can't you do something proper?"
"Miss Xu, could you, first, call your two guard dogs away from me?" Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth in frustration, "I've always been allergic to dogs."
Seeing him perched on the wall, looking quite displeased, Xu Zhiqing covered her lips to hide a smile and said sweetly: "Lin San, Lin Si, come back; don't frighten him." As her words fell, the two ferocious dogs obediently returned to Xu Zhiqing's side, sitting and gently lolling their tongues.
"What did you call them?" The wall was too high, and fearing the names, Lin Wanrong asked, recognizing them faintly.
"I won't tell you," Xu Zhiqing laughed lightly, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "You, what are you doing on the wall of my house? If someone sees you, what will become of it?"
"Your house wall?" Lin Wanrong's eyes widened. "Miss, please be clear, this is my house wall! Whether I'm on the wall or climbing to the rooftop to plant a flag, it's my freedom."
The wall stood between the two families, and it was unclear whether it belonged to the Lin or Xu family. Miss Xu spat, looked around, and softly said: "You really have no sense. You didn't come when invited, and now you sneak over the wall at dawn; you're shameless. What am I to you, born to be trifled with? What are you doing up there? Come down quickly, or my father might see you and break your legs!"
Lin Wanrong was drenched in sweat, realizing that Miss Xu thought he'd come over the wall to meet her secretly. Where could he go to declare his innocence?
Seeing Lin San lost in thought, thinking he was still hesitating, Miss Xu bit her lip, clearly annoyed: "Are you so afraid of your wife? Today she visited my house, and I deliberately hid. I want her to see that I, Xu Zhiqing, am a capable woman—what are you still doing up there?"
Lin Wanrong's heart pounded. He'd already made a mistake in Seo Jang Geum's affair; if he now climbed over the wall to meet with Xu Zhiqing and Qingxuan found out, his life would be over. He forced a laugh, looking to the sky, and feigned: "Miss Xu, you misunderstand; I came here to look at the stars, as standing higher allows seeing farther. This vast starry sky requires my deep eyes to find my constellation."
"You, you're really not coming down?" Seeing his evasions, Xu Zhiqing's small hand clenched, tears welling in her eyes.
He couldn't come down, even if it killed him. Lin Wanrong helplessly sighed: "Miss Xu, you should go back and rest. Once I spot Mars, I'll come to find you."
Xu Zhiqing's sorrow rose from the bottom of her heart, and she waved her small hand, exclaiming urgently, "Lin San, Lin Si, attack! Tear this treacherous and ungrateful thing apart!"
The two ferocious dogs barked madly, charging towards the wall. Lin Wanrong yelped twice, his balance atop the wall wavering, almost falling down. Xu Zhiqing's eyes widened in concern, but upon seeing him unharmed, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue. Tears welled in her eyes as she said coldly, "You have deceived me so today, Zhiqing will remember it in her heart. From this day on, I will no longer acknowledge Lin San. Lin San, Lin Si, let's go, let him look for Mars."
Miss Xu hurriedly left with Lin San and Lin Si, her departure resolute. Lin Wanrong was caught between a rock and a hard place, not knowing whether to call out to her or not. He suddenly felt that the most difficult thing in life was this very moment.
"From this day on, I will no longer acknowledge Lin San!" Miss Xu's decisive words echoed in his ears. He thought back to the unique and warm experiences of getting to know Xu Zhiqing. Unfortunately, Miss Xu had chosen the wrong day for romance.
He sighed helplessly, jumped over the wall into his own yard, and crept along, stopping now and then, fearful of being seen. Once inside the house, he found Ning'er and Qingxuan's rooms silent, with only Qiaoqiao's room showing some light. He thought for a moment. Among his three wives, Qiaoqiao was the most obedient and always supported him. He decided to seek her cooperation first, hoping to keep this incident under wraps.
He tiptoed up the stairs to Qiaoqiao's quiet room, wondering if the young girl was awake. After glancing around to make sure no one had seen him, he tapped lightly on the door, whispering, "Qiaoqiao, little sweetheart, are you up?"
"Big brother?" Qiaoqiao's joyful voice came from inside the room. "You're back?"
Lin Wanrong felt warmth in his heart and said, "Yes, big brother is back, especially to see you. Hurry and open the door, I have some intimate words to share with you."
Qiaoqiao hummed in response, seeming somewhat shy, and there was a long wait before the door opened. Lin Wanrong, growing impatient, was about to knock again when he heard a light rustling sound. Qiaoqiao's door had opened. He rushed in, exclaiming, "Little sweetheart, what are you—oh, Ning'er, you're here too. Little darling, you seem to have grown bigger since last night."
Luo Ning winked at him and pouted. Lin Wanrong's eyes swept over, and he immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Miss Xiao was sitting upright at the table, her eyes gazing at him calmly, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
A chill ran down Lin Wanrong's spine. He was doomed; his three wives must have foreseen that he would come to Qiaoqiao first. By the looks of it, they had been lying in wait for him for quite some time.
"Ah, Qingxuan, why did you get up so early? Why not sleep a bit more? A lack of sleep gives women dark circles under their eyes. That won't do; I must go out and buy some ginseng, bird's nest, bear paw, and shark fin to nourish you. Wait here for me; I'll be back shortly."
With trepidation in his heart, he dared not linger. Quickly, he shrank his head and turned to leave. Xiao Qingxuan stood up, her face lighting up with a sweet smile. She took a few quick steps, gently grabbing his hand and softly saying, "My Dear, don't worry, this trivial matter is no obstacle. You've been working tirelessly for the country, and after a sleepless night, you must be very exhausted. It's time for you to rest."
Miss Xiao's voice was melodious, and her smile was radiant. Lin Wanrong's heart warmed, but then he felt something was wrong. Apart from Qiaoqiao, neither Ning'er nor Qingxuan were simple characters. Would they really let him off without asking any questions?
"Qingxuan, I—" he began to speak, but a delicate jade hand covered his lips. "My Dear, don't say anything. I'm your wife, as close to you as your own hands and feet. Whatever you do, I support you!"
Was this for real? Lin Wanrong's mouth fell open. The situation was far removed from the storm he had anticipated. It was so unbelievable that although he was prepared to face hardship, he found no place to use his prepared defenses.
Miss Xiao's eyes were filled with deep affection, her face flushed. Taking his large hand, she placed it on her small belly, speaking with unparalleled gentleness, "This is our bloodline. A husband and wife are one, and there can be no mutual suspicion. Whatever you need to do, you don't need to tell me. Just go ahead and do it. Qiaoqiao, Ning'er, and I will wholeheartedly support you."
"This," Lin Wanrong began, overcome with emotion. He grabbed Miss Xiao's small hand, tears brimming in his eyes, "Qingxuan, you treat me too well. Actually, last night, I—"
"My husband, please sit down," Xiao Qingxuan placed both hands on his shoulders, gently pushing him into a chair. Her small hands softly massaged his shoulders, "You've been working hard outside. When you come home, just rest. You don't need to worry about anything in this house; my younger sisters and I will handle everything."
Miss Xiao's skill was unparalleled, her gentle touch causing Lin Wanrong's entire body to go limp with relaxation. He placed his hand back on her shoulder, tenderly stroking her small hand, "Qingxuan, having you as a wife is the greatest accomplishment of my life. But yesterday, I carelessly—"
Seeing the indescribable fatigue in his expression, Xiao Qingxuan genuinely felt for him and pressed him down onto Qiaoqiao's bed, "My Dear, take some rest now. Whatever you have to say can wait. There's no rush." She sat beside the bed, gently covering him with a blanket and softly patting his shoulder, "Rest well, my husband. I and our child will be here with you."
Qiaoqiao and Luo Ning exchanged glances. Their sister's gentle treatment of their big brother, without any interrogation, left them wondering what she intended to do.
The emotions in Lin Wanrong's heart were beyond words. Compared to his behavior the night before, he felt like nothing but a beast. He firmly grasped Miss Xiao's hand, agitatedly saying, "No, Qingxuan, if I don't talk about this, I won't be able to eat or sleep. I'll feel cold, and my heart will be unsettled."
Xiao Qingxuan stroked his cheek, smiling tenderly, "Why are you acting like a child, unable to sleep soundly? I won't allow you to speak. Just rest quietly for a while."
‘Damn it, I can't take this anymore. Qingxuan is truly my nemesis!’ Lin Wanrong suddenly threw off the blanket and sat up, his face resolute, "Qingxuan, I must confess! Last night, something unbelievable happened. I lost something very important!"
Xiao Qingxuan's brow furrowed slightly as she tightly grasped his hand. "My Dear, what has happened? What have you lost again?"
"To tell you, you might not believe it," Lin Wanrong shook his head in sorrow, "I can hardly believe it myself. Last night, I was negotiating with a female official from Goryeo. Afterward, we had some rice wine, and in my befuddled state, I felt a woman trying to undress me. I struggled fiercely, fighting and defending my chastity. But—" Lord Lin's eyes filled with tears, "As the saying goes, 'two fists cannot defeat two bosoms,' and ‘a brave man struggles in vain against a grinding mill.' Despite my desperate struggle, I was overcome and ended up losing some incredibly precious seeds!"
