After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

Chapter 144 Human nature

Who would have thought that after getting through the toughest part, I'd still be in pain for several more days?!

The most annoying thing is that I took a big fall this morning.

It was a real fall; it wasn't an act to cover it up.

"Your Majesty..." Zhang Shan, who came in to report, happened to see Lu Jian's rich and varied expressions, and silently stepped aside, burying his head very low.

Lu Jian, whose vision was blurred from the pain, flipped his hand over, signaling the imperial physician, whose hand was so heavy it was almost painful, to get off him.

"Yes," the over-sixty-year-old imperial physician quickly picked up his medicine box, which weighed more than ten kilograms, and slowed down to the pace of a twenty-year-old hot-blooded youth.

After glancing at the imperial physician who had vanished like the wind, Zhang Shan took a few steps forward.

"As Your Majesty predicted, Commander Li is indeed inquiring about your whereabouts these past few days."

“…” With a sigh, Lu Jian leaned back in his chair, his exhaustion evident.

"I originally thought that Li Tong would not do such a thing."

Seeing Lu Jian's disappointment, Zhang Shan decided to be blunt and said, "This servant has some humble opinions, please take them as a joke, Your Majesty."

"...Speak," Lu Jian glanced at Zhang Shan for a while, and only agreed when he saw that Zhang Shan did not avoid him.

Zhang Shan lowered his head again. "This servant has heard that after Commander Li's first wife passed away, he has never remarried, and his eldest sister-in-law has been managing all the affairs of the household."

Others asked him why he didn't marry someone who cared about his well-being.

"He said he didn't want his children to suffer, and he also said that he had promised his deceased wife that he would not remarry when he got married."

"Everyone thought he was just talking, but they didn't expect him to actually live like that for more than ten years."

"In addition, the soldiers in the Imperial Guard often said that although Commander Li was strict in his administration, he never mistreated anyone, nor did he ever bully others by abusing his power."

"I believe that such a trustworthy, fair and just person would not easily do anything rebellious."

Lu Jian rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat irritable due to the dull pain all over his body.

"As a close attendant of the emperor, do you know what kind of crime it is to speak on behalf of court officials?"

“The emperor’s word is law. Since you have permitted me to speak, my words are not a crime.”

He watched Zhang Shanliang silently for a long time, seeing that the respect and sincerity on his face remained unchanged...

The sharpness in Lu Jian's eyes gradually faded. "A storm begins with a ripple; how can it subside without a dramatic and intense event?"

If Li Tong dares to speculate on the emperor's intentions and inquire about his whereabouts today, he may develop disloyal thoughts tomorrow.

Even if he is very easygoing, how could he not take precautions, how could he not treat it?

"Is Your Majesty aware that Commander Li and his deceased brother's children are all of marriageable age?"

"So what?"

"Parents have endless worries from the moment their children are born."

"Commander Li is getting old, so naturally he wants to take advantage of his remaining health to find a good home for his children."

Lu Jian's anger gradually subsided.

Zhang Shan paused slightly, and seeing that the person in the seat did not stop him, he continued.

"But given the current situation..."

"If I may speak frankly and offend Your Majesty, where else is there a good place to go besides the border and the capital?"

"But the border is too far away. No matter how nice it sounds, everything will need to be rebuilt after we get there."

"What if something really happens? Wouldn't the parents be powerless to help?"

"However, if you don't want to be mistreated when you marry into a wealthy family in the capital, you must have enough confidence."

“Commander Li’s family is not of illustrious lineage, nor is he the type to curry favor with the powerful. I imagine his family’s wealth is certainly not comparable to that of those high-ranking noble families.”

“Then the only source of this confidence is…” Zhang Shan glanced at Lu Jian, then said nothing more.

In and around the capital, Li Tong was not the only general with children.

Just because he wanted to secure a good future for his children, he would send someone to keep an eye on their words and actions so that he could be the first to seize an opportunity when it was advantageous.

How could he possibly believe that Li Tong wouldn't do something rebellious?

What's more -

Looking at Zhang Shan again, Lu Jian instantly understood what he really wanted to say.

He seemed to have almost made the same mistake his bastard father made without realizing it.

He only saw that Li Tong was spying, but didn't care why he was spying.

How is this any different from the old emperor who embezzled military pay and forced soldiers to defend their country and risk their lives for him?

Not counting the garrison troops protecting the capital, the Imperial Guards alone numbered 25,000, plus the household guards of various residences, the city gate guards, palace attendants, and officials of all ranks...

After carefully calculating, Lu Jian let out a heavy sigh.

My mind is much clearer now.

Ultimately, it all comes down to not having enough to eat.

The reason Li Tong did this was ultimately because opportunities were dwindling, while there were more situations where he would have to risk his life.

There can't be only one "Li Tong".

If Li Tong still possessed loyalty to the emperor and love for the people, then what about the other "Li Tongs"...?

How many children does he have?

Zhang Shan bowed slightly and answered truthfully, "Commander Li has one son and two daughters, and his elder brother has two daughters."

"I remember, his parents are still alive?"

"Yes"

"So...that means there's a whole family to support."

Seeing Lu Jian's relaxed expression, Zhang Shan fell silent.

As he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, thinking of those aristocratic families that had been passed down for hundreds of years, Lu Jian immediately had an idea.

"Summon officials of the fourth rank or above from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, as well as the Vice Ministers of the Censorate and the Ministry of Rites, to the front hall for a meeting."

"Yes"

"No, let someone else go."

Zhang Shan was an extremely intelligent man, and he immediately realized what was going on. "Does Your Majesty have any other instructions for this servant?"

“Go…” Lu Jian thought for a moment and decided it would be better to go and talk to the Empress Dowager himself.

"Go to Baili Prefecture and tell them it's okay."

Pat your sleeves and straighten your clothes.

Lu Jian then said the following words with particular ease: "By the way, ask Patriarch Baili if we can buy some land from her."

"Ideally, the area around Xishan. If possible... please also send some seeds and farming tools."

"what?"

"Ok?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhang Shan silently withdrew from the inner hall.

......

When Wang Qingyan returned from outside, Baili Ce was catching up on sleep.

Seeing several floral sketches on the table in the room, I knew she was seriously considering her wedding dress, so I didn't plan to wake her.

only......

He picked out one of the crane and cloud pattern designs and looked at it a few more times; it seemed somewhat familiar.

"When did you get back?" Bai Li Ce tidied her hair; she hadn't expected to see him the moment she opened her eyes.

"Just got back, did I wake you up?"

Saying "yes" would probably kill me.

To be precise, I was awakened by an instinctive warning of crisis.

"no"

"If you're still sleepy, go back to sleep for a while."

Bai Li Ce snapped out of his daze, threw off the covers, put on his coat, and got out of bed. "I'm not going to sleep anymore. I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at night if I sleep too much."

Wang Qingyan tested the kettle and found it was still warm, so he poured her a glass. "Have you chosen the pattern for your wedding dress?"

"Hmm," Baili Ce replied, while finding the sketches of wheat ears, peonies, and the meander pattern. "Here they are."

She hadn't originally intended to choose any of them, but seeing that the oldest of the embroiderers was only thirty-five, she felt there was no need to make things difficult for the working class.

Seeing that she ultimately did not choose the crane and cloud pattern design, Wang Qingyan naturally did not say anything more.

Instead, she took out a bracelet from her pocket and said, "I got your things back for you. Keep them safe."

Although the bracelet looked clean, Baili Ce could still smell a faint scent of blood because of the keen senses of the Baili family.

So, with a heavy heart, I accepted it and reminisced for a while before resolutely picking up the paperweight I had used to press down the sketch and smashing it to pieces...

"..." Wang Qingyan didn't say a word, and his expression was unreadable.

Baili Ce, on the other hand, seemed both dejected and somewhat helpless.

"The last thing my mother left me, besides the thirty-two coins, was this."

"Then why not leave it?"

"Because the bracelet was originally part of the Fourth Madam's dowry."

“It was my birth mother who was too greedy, which is why she instigated my father to steal it as well.”

"So you would rather have thirty-two coins than this bracelet."

"Unfortunately, the people of that time were no longer human."

He not only wanted the money and the bracelet, but also wanted to eat her.

Wang Qingyan was silent for a moment, then asked, "Don't you hate me?"

“…” Baili Ce shook his head, then nodded.

He explained, "I hate those refugees."

Indeed, she survived.

She also knew that it was the times that had forced them to become less than human.

But she could never forget that eager, greedy look in her eyes.

Similarly, she couldn't forget how the old master had arrived long ago, but insisted on seeing her suffering and pleading before finally saving her at the last moment.

Therefore, to some extent, she was pleased that Wang Qingyan killed someone for her and retrieved the bracelet.

"But what about Madam Fang..."

He gently hugged Wang Qingyan and said, "I was indeed a little gloating."

"But I don't want her misfortune to come from me."

"..." Wang Qingyan was stunned for a while after being hugged by her.

After feeling the warmth on her waist for a while, she hugged her back tightly. "You want to forgive her?"

After adjusting his position, Baili Ce rested his head against his chest as if scratching an itch.

"I guess we're even."

Fang Lanzhi represents one of the most deeply affected groups under male chauvinism.

For those who have been persecuted by her, whether directly or indirectly, unintentionally or at her behest, there is no such thing as "growing up" and "it's all in the past."

"..." Wang Qingyan's whole body tensed up as she rubbed against him.

But this is clearly different from her stiffening up due to resistance.

"Even if we're even?" Relaxing slightly, Wang Qingyan looked down at her, his breath trembling with barely suppressed excitement. "You plan to do the same to me?"

"......" No, how can this accurately identify pitfalls?

Bai Li Ce was truly impressed with himself.

But this is definitely an issue that cannot be avoided.

So he said directly, "Between you and me, there are more favors than grudges; how can we possibly clarify things?"

What's the point of arguing! Just stab him to death and be done with it!

"..." Soft and ardent affection slowly seeped from her lips into her breath... until she was somewhat unable to resist and wanted to retreat.

Leaving that hurried yet shy beauty, Wang Qingyan's voice was low and somewhat hoarse, "It's all about love and hate."

This means they are not willing to let Fang Lanzhi go.

"What do you want?"

"Let's make a bet."

"You win, I'll listen to you this time."

"On the other hand, you listen to me."

"What should we bet on?" To be honest, she wasn't afraid of losing.

I'm afraid Wang Qingyan is a sore loser.

You'll find out in a few days.

Bai Li Ce thought for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Scope, time?"

"No time frame."

Shock! !

This means that—

Wang Qingyan allowed her to leave the manor?!

Even run it again!!

Seeing her incredulous expression, Wang Qingyan subconsciously lowered his head... but then deviated from his direction and kissed her neck.

"Hmm..." Baili Ce shuddered and shrank back.

He, however, was all smiles, radiant with joy, and exclaimed, "Ha~"

"You always do this..."

"Shut up!" Baili Ce quickly covered up his lewd words.

Seeing her getting anxious, Wang Qingyan decided to "stop while he was ahead," pulled her hand down, kissed it gently, and said, "Get ready well~"

"This is your last chance."

......