Chapter 480: The Noise In The Night
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
As soon as the staff from the Ministry of Works arrived, they began to take over the disaster relief work.
Previously, Xiao Jin didn’t immediately take action on Wei Zhongming and his subordinates. It was also because at this juncture, if everyone was captured, there would be many things that no one could follow up. Now that the people taking over the work had arrived, Wei Zhongming and his henchmen couldn’t be spared.
He would follow Su Ying and the rest back to the capital city to question them.
Wei Zhongming had already prepared himself mentally, but when he was really shackled, he still trembled.
“Please protect my life, my Lord.”
Xiao Jin glanced at him icily. “How come you didn’t know fear when you murdered the commoners?”
Wei Zhongming and his men were escorted onto the prison cart.
Su Ying also brought Zhou Qing onto the horse carriage.
Zhou Xiangrong followed them out and got into the horse carriage behind
them.
Once everything was ready, Xiao Jin got on his horse. Upon the issuance of his command, the convoy set off for the capital city.
In order to shorten their journey, Su Ying made everyone speed up.
Zhou Xiangrong sat in the horse carriage. The jolting motions almost shattered her bones. She pulled a long face, and her eyes were filled with the glumness of displeasure.
Along the way, there were still disaster victims everywhere. They were all heading south to flee the drought.
Due to their fast speed and the use of the well-laid official road, they arrived at
Lin City before dark.
The City Guardian of Lin City had long heard that the Empress had gone to Luo
City to help with the disaster relief efforts. Now that the disaster relief work had been handed over to the Ministry of Works, the Empress was going to return to the capital city. She would definitely pass by Lin City on her way back, so the City Guardian had been waiting at the city gate early to welcome her.
When he saw Su Ying’s convoy galloping in his direction, City Guardian Ma quickly went forward and knelt down to pay his respects.
“Your lowly subject hereby pays his respects to Your Imperial Highness.” When the convoy came to a stop, Su Ying’s icy voice rang out from the horse carriage. “You may rise.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness. I have already prepared a residence for you to stay in. This way please, Your Imperial Highness.”
From the time they set off in the morning until now, apart from the 30-minute break at noon, the rest of the time had been spent traveling on the road. Even with Su Ying’s strong body, she still couldn’t quite withstand the jolting.
City Guardian Ma had ordered his subordinates to tidy up a beautiful courtyard and had everything prepared earlier on.
After getting out of the horse carriage, Su Ying felt her body floating a little as she planted both feet on the ground.
“Your Imperial Highness, this place cannot be compared to the palace. If you need anything, feel free to tell me. Your humble servant will definitely send it to you.”
Su Ying’s gaze swept across the courtyard in front of her. At first glance, this courtyard didn’t seem to have any luxurious decorations, but the few ad-hoc decorations looked very valuable. These government officials didn’t have any other skills, but they certainly did have the ability to flatter and pander.
“I have no special requirements. Just prepare the food and send it up. Feed the horses and watch over the carriage.
“Yes, yes.”
City Guardian Ma had heard of Su Ying’s temperament, so he didn’t dare to offend her in the slightest. He quickly ordered the dishes that had already been prepared to be served.
The table that could seat eight people was filled to the brim with dishes. Su Ying didn’t say anything since she was able to finish all the food.
“Zhou Qing, go and rest. There’s no need to serve me anymore.”
Zhou Qing murmured her acknowledgment and excused herself. As soon as she left, Xiao Jin walked in.
“You want to keep her by your side after returning to the capital city?” Xiao Jin looked in the direction that Zhou Qing left.
Su Ying tore off a chicken drumstick and was about to take a bite when she saw Xiao Jin’s well-defined hand. With a twist of her wrist, she placed the drumstick in his bowl. “You don’t like her.”
Xiao Jin looked at the drumstick in his bowl and his eyes softened. It was rare for her to think of putting food into his bowl first whenever she ate.
“She’s your subordinate. Just retain her if you find her useful.” To Xiao Jin, she just looked as annoying as Lin Zhuyu.
“Isn’t she your subordinate?”
“If you want her, she’s yours.” Xiao Jin wasn’t in a hurry to eat. Instead, he picked up the fish on the table and began to pick out the bones for Su Ying.
His movements were earnest and meticulous as if he was doing something very important.
“Open your mouth.”
A piece of pork rib was brought to Xiao Jin’s mouth. He smiled as he gave her a glance and opened his mouth to eat the pork rib. She was beginning to care for him more now.
Su Ying took a sip from the soup bowl. The piping hot chicken soup made her stomach feel warm and fuzzy.
“No matter what happens in the future, you have to eat properly.
Xiao Jin pushed the fish he had deboned to Su Ying. “I will.”
Although Xiao Jin was busy during the time he was in Luo City, he always followed Su Ying’s instructions to eat on time. He did not miss a single meal. Now, he looked a little more fleshy than when he first met Su Ying, but he was still far from what he was previously.
Under Su Ying’s request to Xiao Jin and her own efforts, the table full of dishes was wiped clean.
After eating her fill, Su Ying exhaled a breath of contentment.
The maidservant brought the tea into the room and looked at the empty plates with her eyes wide open.
When Zhou Qing returned to the room and saw Xiao Jin sitting with Su Ying, she found it a little strange no matter how she looked at the scene. This Lord Siao was really too unruly. Why was he still here with the Empress so late at night? Wasn’t he afraid of ruining the Empress’s reputation?
“My Lord, it’s getting late. Her Imperial Highness needs to rest. Please go back, my Lord.”
“I still have something to discuss with Her Imperial Highness. You may leave.” Zhou Qing felt that she was already being very tactful. Why couldn’t this guy understand?
“Your Imperial Highness, do you wish to take a bath?”
Back in Luo City, Su Ying felt guilty after taking only one bath because of the drought. Now that she was in Lin City, she wanted to take a good bath.
“Mm-hmm. Go prepare the water.”
Zhou Qing glanced at Xiao Jin. When she saw that he was still sitting there without moving, she became even more displeased. The Empress was about to take a bath, yet he still refused to leave!
Zhou Qing’s gaze was impossible to ignore. Xiao Jin could only stand up with a long face. When they returned to the capital city, he would definitely make her go to the laundry department to wash clothes for a month!
After taking a bath, Su Ying lay down on the bed. After a whole day of rough traveling, she was indeed a little sleepy. After lying down on the bed, she felt somewhat drowsy immediately.
While she was in a sleepy stupor, she felt a figure coming to her bed. With the help of the hazy moonlight, she saw the person clearly and instinctively moved her body further in on the bed.
In the next moment, she was enveloped by a familiar embrace.
Su Ying closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. Just as she was about to continue sleeping, that pair of dry and callused hands started misbehaving.
Su Ying grabbed the misbehaving hand of the miscreant precisely and murmured softly, “I’m sleepy.”
“You don’t have to do anything.” The deep voice exuded a lethal charm.
Su Ying opened her eyes. He had already taken off the mask on his face. Previously, he had declared in an overbearing fashion that when she was in the deepest throes of passion, she would definitely see this face of his.
What an immature man.
Su Ying didn’t know how long Xiao Jin kept tormenting her. In the end, she was so pissed off that her sleepiness evaporated instantly. If she couldn’t beat him, then she would join him ruthlessly!
When the commotion gradually died down, the two of them hugged each other and drifted off into a sound sleep uninterrupted by dreams.
When Su Ying woke up, Xiao Jin had already left. Zhou Qing would come over in the morning. If Zhou Qing saw a man on her bed, she would probably go nuts. In order not to let Zhou Qing see the traces of her wild fling last night, she got up, took the dress from the screen, and dressed herself properly before letting Zhou Qing enter the house.
“Your Imperial Highness, did you hear any noise last night?
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