When he asked like this, Qin Zheng didn’t know where to start.
She sighed and said, “I haven’t even figured it out myself, let alone explain it. Let me think about it on my own.”
Even though she had some ideas in her mind, there was little she could do at this stage.
She needed to plan slowly.
Seeing that she still didn’t want to speak, Chu Chengji didn’t ask further and just said, “Alright.”
He glanced at the blueprint on the table and changed the subject, saying, “We don’t need to expand the cableway on the back mountain for now. At the latest tomorrow night, I will lead people down the mountain to capture Qingzhou City. Just in case, you should cut off the cableway with the people left in the mountain stronghold.”
Qin Zheng’s attention was instantly diverted.
She looked up in astonishment and asked, “You want to detour to attack Qingzhou? If the thirty thousand elite soldiers at the foot of the mountain turn back to take the city, can our people hold it?”
Just then, someone hurriedly came to report from outside the courtyard, “Military strategist! The officials besieging the foot of the mountain have started to withdraw in large numbers!”
Chu Chengji looked outside and said, “I’ll go over right away.”
The messenger received the reply and hurriedly left.
Qin Zheng also recovered from her thoughts.
She realized that when Chu Chengji first planned to repair the cableway, the purpose might not only be to transport food and supplies into the stronghold, but also to use the cableway to leave the stronghold.
When the court’s army was pulled away, they could attack Qingzhou City.
She stood up and said, “I’ll go to the kitchen and bring you two steamed buns. You can eat them on the way without delay.”
Chu Chengji grabbed her wrist. “Don’t bother. I’ll discuss tomorrow’s raid tactics with them in a moment. It won’t take long.”
Qin Zheng was already standing, but Chu Chengji didn’t let go of her wrist.
He even exerted a little force. “The former members of the Lu family have sent a letter. Your sister is on her way to a marriage alliance.
Your mother and brother have also been smuggled out of the city by the former members of the Lu family and will arrive in Qingzhou soon.”
He said these words to reassure her, so she wouldn’t worry that he would use the Qin family as leverage after occupying Qingzhou.
The Lu family in the capital and the Lu family in Yingzhou were closely related, but as an imperial family, they were inevitably suppressed and suspected.
For the sake of convenience in communication, the Lu family had established many taverns and tea houses as secret communication bases.
This was also the reason why the Lu family’s bases in the capital could still operate after all the Lu family members in the capital were imprisoned.
The Qin family was originally in the capital, and the Duke of Qin was upright and disdainful of using such means, which led to the Qin family’s isolation and helplessness overnight.
Qin Zheng sincerely thanked him, “Thank you, Husband.”
“Hmm?”
Qin Zheng remembered what he had said that night.
When she looked up, she met his long and deep eyes.
The hand holding her wrist was warm and strong. The warmth was not burning but flowed into her heart like a warm stream.
The palpitation in her chest made her purse her lips and change her words, “Huaizhou.”
Chu Chengji’s expression remained the same, but the slight relaxation of his eyebrows showed that his mood seemed to have improved slightly. “I’ve said before, you and I are husband and wife. Why do you need to say ‘thank you’ again?
Moreover, if it weren’t for you building the cableway on the back mountain, not only would there be no food and supplies, but also the night attack on Qingzhou City would not have been possible.
When the food and supplies are exhausted, if we fight to the death with the officials and soldiers left at the foot of the mountain, the chances of winning are slim.”
Because at that time, not only was there a huge difference in numbers, but also in hard power and morale, they were completely overwhelmed.
“I can only do so much,” Qin Zheng said.
Chu Chengji asked her back, “Isn’t this enough?”
This was the first time he had so directly affirmed her.
Qin Zheng didn’t think that building a cableway was a big deal. But being praised by him like this made her face blush slightly.
The previous frustration was swept away, and she said, “Do you have to praise me at this time?”
Seeing that her mood had improved, Chu Chengji raised the corners of his lips and said, “I’m going to the dam cave. You eat first.”
Qin Zheng nodded.
After sending Chu Chengji away, she lost her appetite when she thought about going to war.
She only ate half a bowl of rice with Lao Lu. Lao Lu heard that they were leaving at the latest tomorrow night, so she took out the needle and thread basket and coarse cotton cloth.
“Let’s work hard tonight. We should be able to finish several sets of cloth armor. When Lao Lu first came to the two dams, some people were taken away to conscript soldiers. They all made a set of cloth armor to wear. The battlefield is unpredictable, but it can save lives.”
Qin Zheng had only seen armor with iron plates in costume dramas before, but had never seen cloth armor.
Lao Lu cut out the fabric, lined it with thick cotton, and then sewed the cotton into two-finger-wide vertical strips with thread.
The cotton was tightly packed and had a considerable resistance. If the force was not strong enough, it would not be easily cut. It could also cushion and reduce injuries.
Qin Zheng learned from Lao Lu and inserted extra cotton into the crevices to prevent Chu Chengji from getting hurt.
However, because her stitches were too big, the cotton was squeezed out.
Qin Zheng expressionlessly pushed the cotton back in and re-sewed the edges twice.
Lao Lu couldn’t help but chuckle several times watching her work as if she was going to war.
With the departure of the twenty thousand troops, the number of ships anchored below Liangzhou Mountain instantly decreased by more than half.
The imperial envoy sent by the court looked grimly at Shen Yanzhi, the thin man sitting calmly in the cabin reading official documents, and shouted, “Shen Yanzhi, how dare you defy the imperial decree?”
Shen Yanzhi smiled and looked over, appearing modest and gentle, but the smile did not reach his eyes. “If I were to defy the decree, I would not have ordered twenty thousand soldiers to break camp and head to Minzhou.”
The envoy was extremely angry. “The Emperor’s order clearly stated that you were to go to Minzhou, and Qingzhou was to be handed over to me!”
Shen Yanzhi, having finished dealing with the documents, set them aside.
The daylight filtered through the carved window, shining on the hand he placed on the documents, his fingers long and pale almost to transparency.
“I, Shen, am temporarily taking over Qingzhou in place of the former Lord Xue. When the food and supplies on the mountain are exhausted, and the bandits in Qingzhou and the former prince of the previous dynasty are all executed, I will go to Minzhou. During this time, Lord Xue will have to bear with it.”
The envoy was full of horror and was about to explode in anger, but Chen Qing entered with his men, knocked him down, and easily gagged and bound him.
Shen Yanzhi didn’t even raise his eyelids. “Take him away and keep a close watch on him.”
The envoy was soon taken away by several soldiers with a black cloth over his head.
Shen Yanzhi asked Chen Qing, “How is it in the capital?”
Chen Qing replied, “The Princess Consort is now living in the Shen family, claiming that the lady is ill, and the Princess has returned home to care for herself. Li Xin is also afraid of pushing you too hard and forcing you into rebellion. At present, he is only sending people to monitor the Shen family. However...”
Shen Yanzhi interrupted, “However, what?”
Chen Qing hesitated, “The second Miss Qin from the Qin family has been named Princess Shengping and sent to marry the Northern Rong.”
Shen Yanzhi’s hand holding the wolf hair brush tightened, and a blot of ink instantly spread on the snowy white paper.
The curve of his lips deepened, but his smile looked even colder. “Even the Marquis doesn’t send a single soldier, watching as Northern Rong takes down Liangzhou and opens the gates of Beiting? No wonder he is so anxious to send me south to contain Prince Huaiyang. It turns out he wants to swallow Beiting.”
A chill ran down Chen Qing’s spine. “Are you saying... he’s collaborating with the enemy?”
Shen Yanzhi recalled the past, his aura becoming cold and chilling, and a sneer appeared on his lips. “Hasn’t he always been unscrupulous?”
Sending Qin Sheng to marry was not only about the death of the Duke of Qin but also about winning the people’s hearts, suppressing the Qin family, intimidating the courtiers, and disgusting him.
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
Shen Yanzhi’s hand holding the brush exerted so much force that the knuckles turned white.
He slowly said, “Have the Shen family’s hidden guards follow to Northern Rong. No matter what, ensure the safety of Miss Qin.”
Chen Qing hesitated before replying, “Master, the Crown Princess no longer remembers you. Even if she knows about these things, what can she do? Without those memories, she is not the same person.”
“Shut up!” Shen Yanzhi suddenly swept his sleeves, and the papers on the table scattered all over the floor.
He leaned on the desk with both arms, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at Chen Qing. “Do you really think I won’t kill you?”
Chen Qing knelt down. “This life of mine belongs to the Prince.”
“Go and do what you should do. If you overstep again, you won’t need to keep this life.”
The girl who promised to be his bride, turned her head and married someone else in red, and they didn’t even have a proper farewell.
“I volunteered to marry into the Eastern Palace. Qin Zheng is a person who admires vanity, which Shen Prince misunderstood. From now on, we part ways. I hope Shen Prince will have a bright future, step by step into the golden palace, marry a good wife, and grow old together.”
The last time he saw her, she smiled and said these words before turning and leaving.
Whenever he dreamed back at midnight, it pierced his heart like a twist.
He used to only drink plain tea, but later only drank strong alcohol.
However, even when drunk, he never had a moment of peace, but at least she was in his dreams.
Can’t get, can’t let go.
Chu Chengji returned from the caves but didn’t go straight back to the small courtyard. Instead, he went to Wang Dannie’s place.
“Isn’t this rare? Is the strategist here to eat?” Wang Dannie asked.
Chu Chengji said, “No,” and then said, “Excuse me for a moment, I just want to know what happened at the Wang’s house today.”
Qin Zheng refused to say, and he didn’t want to press her to avoid embarrassing her, but that didn’t mean he would forget about this matter.
Wang Dama sighed and recounted the whole thing about the quarrel between Wang Xiu and her grandson.
Chu Chengji’s face turned ice-cold when he heard what Wang Xiu had said, and his aura dropped to the lowest point.
Wang Dama had never been afraid of anyone in the mountain stronghold, but at this moment, she was also somewhat intimidated by Chu Chengji’s aura.
She lowered her voice a bit, “I have informed the chief...”
“She should apologize to my wife.” Chu Chengji interrupted Wang Damma’s words, his tone light and breezy, but there was no room for refusal.
“But my wife probably doesn’t want to see her again. Before you deal with her, gather all the people in the stronghold and let her publicly confess in front of everyone. Whatever lies she fabricated, she should retract them in the same manner.”
Wang Dama agreed to everything.
When Chu Chengji returned, Qin Zheng was still struggling with the armor she was sewing.
Because the cotton was compressed tightly, it was very difficult to sew the stitches.
By the end, her thumb and index finger, which were pinching the needle, were burning with pain, but at least she was entering the final stage.
Lao Lu sewed fast and had already made two pieces, which she had sent to Lin Yao and Wang Biao.
Qin Zheng finished the last stitch, tied a knot, and cut off the thread.
She picked up the vest-like armor and inspected it.
She wanted to admire her hard work, but when she looked up, she saw Chu Chengji standing by the door, not knowing how long he had been watching her.
Qin Zheng pretended to be calm and put down the armor, asking, “When did you come back? Why didn’t I hear you speak?”
Chu Chengji’s smile was faint. “Just came back.”
Qin Zheng felt that his gaze seemed a bit different from usual, but she couldn’t tell for sure.
She glanced at her hard work for the afternoon and knew that the armor she sewed was quite ugly, but she used so much cotton, it could absorb shock and protect, very practical!
She invited Chu Chengji over with a calm face, “Try it on to see if it fits. Although it’s not very beautiful, on the battlefield, safety is the most important. If it doesn’t work, you can wear it inside, and no one will see...”
She couldn’t finish the rest of her words.
She was holding his arm, preparing to let him try it on, but Chu Chengji suddenly grabbed her head and kissed her without warning.
Not too gentle.
Qin Zheng was stunned, feeling him ravaging between her lips and teeth, her long eyelashes trembling twice.
Perhaps she was too much like a silly goose.
She didn’t react for a long time.
When Chu Chengji stopped, he slightly pulled away, his breath not quite stable, “Close your eyes.”
Qin Zheng still thought about the armor she had sewn so hard for him, “You try it first...”
Chu Chengji approached directly, and Qin Zheng subconsciously backed away, her back against the corner of the cabinet.
Chu Chengji covered her eyes with one hand, held her chin with the other, and kissed her again.
The setting sun reddened half of the sky, and the room was filled with orange light through the window mullions.
Chu Chengji’s hand covering Qin Zheng’s eyes gradually turned into holding her wrists, and his tall figure completely enveloped her in shadows.