Hubby, Your Fox Fairy Wants Everything

Chapter 71 Old Friends Meet Again

Di Qing gained the Grand Marshal’s seal for Lin Xiaosa by scheme. Ordinarily, Di Qing was not stupid, but he always acted recklessly on matters related to Xu Linghe and lost his mind and wisdom as an Emperor should have. Faced with Xu Linghe, Di Qing was full of jealousy, since Xu Linghe would not spare at a glance at the things that Di Qing fought his way to obtain.

In the East Bridge at ten miles outside the eastern suburbs was situated the mansion of Princess Li of Qi Kingdom. Di Li got up early. And a decree came from the palace to ask her to live in the palace for some days. And Di Li herself hadn’t come to the palace for a few days, so she missed her brother and sister-in-law so much. The child’s frolicking voice rang from the courtyard. Through the thin window, Di Li saw her child playing with the aunt of Han family, as Madam Hou Qing was busing needling. Di Li pulled down the window gauze and chose the proper garment to go to the palace for herself. Then, a flame covered her from behind.

“Brother Lin.”

Lin Xiaosa did not say anything but just cuddled Li’er. “Since I can’t escape the fate, I should face it. Di Qing takes Xiaoli to threaten me. And it is the fate that I am unable to get away from. Being a man, I should stand in the breach to protect my wife and child. Finally, I have to get involved in the muddy water. I don’t know what will happen when I meet my brother on the battlefield one day.”

“My dear lord, take good care of Yan’er.”

“I will accompany you to see the brother and siser-in-law. Let Madam Hou Qing take care of Yan’er.”

“My dear lord, I just come back to my parental home, to the wolf’s lair.” Lin Xiaosa would not let Di Li know the conspiracy behind it, and just wanted a hold up a sky for his Li’er and make her live the life she wanted. All the way on the carriage, big hands clenched little hands tightly. Since they had Yan’er, Di Li seldom went out. Although the bustle and hustle in the busy streets were still yearning, Di Li was not the little girl that she used to be. Now, she was the Princess of Qi Kingdom. This honor was like a shackle on her: in the past, she could walk through the streets at will while at present, she could not act willfully because of her elder brother.

“Madam, come down and have a walk.”

“No, my brother is waiting!”

The two snuggled closely. When the carriage stopped, Di Li loosened her husband’s hands unwillingly. Seeing the Princess arrive, the palace servants knelt down in a hurry. Di Li raised her hand to signal them to retreat. In fact, Di Li did not like overelaborate formatalities. What a free and easy life she had had in Jiangnan.

“Your Highness, Mr. Lin, please wait and go to the imperial study. His Majesty has something to discuss with you.”

“My dear lord, I will meet the Queen and come back later.”

Not until Di Li’s figure had disappeared in the horizon did Lin Xiaosa leave for the imperial study. Palace servants greeted Lin Xiaosa with great respect, because the person in front was the Grand Marshal who held the military power. They were careful along the way and retreated at the gate of the imperial study.

“Pay my respect to Your Majesty.”

Lin Xiaosa gave a formally hierarchical salute to Di Qing. And Di Qing on the royal couch greeted him with unexpected enthusiasm.

“Princess Consort, you should protect the Grand Marshal’s seal well. I keep it specifically for you.”

“Your Majesty, I will protect the Grand Marshal’s seal with my life. But my child is still less than one year old, and I want to be a competent father.”

Di Qing had expected that Lin Xiaosa would evade. To deal with his brother-in-law, Di Qing decided to use a simple and rude method, that is, taking advantage of his younger sister. Di Qing knew that Lin Xiaosa had a weakness for Di Ling. As long as anything was involved in Di Li, anything else was nothing. Even if it was the moon in the sky, Lin Xiaosa would pick it up for Di Li, let alone being the Grand Marshal.

“This morning, Qingcheng spoke Xiaoli to me. Since you’ve come here, stay here longer and accompany her imperial sister-in-law. And I’ll take my little nephew to the palace for a few days... What do you think?”

Lin Xiaosa had expected that Di Qing would act in that way. To realize his own intention, Di Qing would make the most of the family love. Actually, Di Qing knew that Lin Xiaosa was not interested in authority, but he still coerced Lin Xiaosa to accept it only for his own wild ambition.

“Your Majesty, thank you for the kindness.”

The seal of the Grand Marshal looked exquisite, but Lin Xiaosa seemed to be loaded down with its burden. Di Qing exploited his own sister to gain his ends. And the days when they had taken up the wine cup and chatted merrily had gone forever. Fate pushed Lin Xiaosa, Xu Linghe and Di Qing to the antagonistic positions. Lin Xiaosa knew that Di Qing’s final objective was to dominate the three realms, and he was forced to be the Commander in Chief of all the military. One day, Lin Xiaosa would be placed to meet his brother armed with weapons. Perhaps it was the ending that Di Qing was willing to see. What Di Qing was doing now was to prove that he was more powerful than Xu Linghe, while Lin Xiaosa himself was merely a victim of Di Qing’s wild ambition. To tie down Lin Xiaosa, Di Qing took Di Li as his own chips, so Lin Xiaosa had no way but to accept the Grand Marshal’s seal.

The Queen’s bedchamber was well-illuminated. Di Li never expected that the Queen had prepared so much treasure for appreciation. Besides, her royal sister-in-law said all the treasue was given to her by her brother. “My brother is so considerate and has spent many thoughts on each treasure. What’s more, every time the sister-in-law mentions brother, her eyes are gleamed with tender feelings.” Di Li did feel happy for her brother, because her brother could have such a good wife to love him and it was a blessing for her brother. “But for Brother Xu’s assistance, there would not have been such a happy match! Has Brother Xu been reincarnated? In the past, the royal sister-in-law once had an affection to Brother Xu. But everything and everyone have changed. It’s hard to predict anything in the world, for example, I fall in love with Brother Lin again.”

“Li’er, sleep with me tonight! Let’s talk some women’s things.”

“My husband is still waiting for me. And how can I occupy this phoenix bed? This is the most honorable phoenix bed in Qi Kingdom.”

“Xian’er.”

Hearing You Qingcheng’s call, Ni Shang stepped out of the corner. Sure enough, You Qingcheng’s enthusiastic detainment had been organized well with Di Qing. What happened in the Royal Court yesterday gave rise to much discussion, and now the news that the princess’s husband would be the Grand Marshal spread all over the Qi Kingdom. And countless people strived for the position with miliary power. However, Lin Xiaosa did not take it seriously at all. Di Qing was reluctant to give the position to the other, afraid that if one day the Grand Marshal achieved higer accomplishment than he, he would not control him. So to consolidate his regime and military power, Di Qing would hold them tightly in his hands. And the only person that could make Lin Xiaosa surrender was his own sister, Di Li. Di Qing held Li Xiaosa’s weakest point and deprived Lin Xiaosa of his any force to fight back. Family love was a weak point for kind people; but for a villain, it served as a chip. Ni Shang would not cling to anyone, and she chose to live on herself. She had almost lost her life once she relied on the Wolf King, and had put into jail once dependent on Di Qing. Therefore, they were all consequences of relying on others. Although it was a bit late to realize it, she felt lucky that she understood it finally.

“Report to the Queen, the palace servant said His Majesty has had meal in the imperial study.”

“Did His Majesty say when he will come here?”

“His Majesty is playing chess with Princess Consort in high spirits.”

“My sister, have you heard it? Your brother is playing chess fervently. It seems that the brother-in-law can’t leave now. You might as well accompany me. And I will send you back tomorrow morning.”

Ni Shang felt ridiculous inwardly, thinking that, “The couple do act well and even scheme against their sister.” Originally, Ni Shang had a good opinion of You Qingcheng, but now, the opinion disappeared completely. The palace was a huge dye vat. You Qingcheng looked so innocent in the very beginning. But at present, having followed Di Qing, such a fraudulent person, You Qingcheng changed a lot just as the saying went, “Anyone that touches pitch shall be defiled.” What a husband-sing-wife-accompany!

In the Qi Wu Palace, Xu Yin told You Qingmo that the Emperor was playing chess with the the princess’ husband. And You Qingmo asked Xu Yin to have a look at the Feng Wu Palace and knew that the princess would sleep there. You Qingmo also knew why the princess was kept to sleep in the Feng Wu Palace. The whole Qi King had already knew that Lin Xiaosa would be the new Grand Marshal, and the Emperor needed such an assistant. Then, You Qingmo had a plan in her heart: since the princess was so important, why not let the princess Li disappear for some days? If so, Lin Xiaosa was bound to follow the Emperor to find the princess, and You Qingcheng would be inevitably punished, or even she would be put into the Cold Palace. At that time, You Qingmo herself would be the beneficial owner for sure. The more You Qingmo thought, the more complacent she became. Although Xu Yin was not sure of success, he was quite familiar with roads in the palace, believing that it was easy to hide a person in such a large palace. You Qingmo masked her face as Xu Yin did and lurked quietly into the Feng Wu Palace. For Xu Yin, he was glad to see each of Di Qing’s good things ruined. Since Di Qing wanted Lin Xiaosa to take charge of the military talisman to make the Authority more concentrated, Xu Yin would not allow it to happen as Di Qing wished. Xu Yin quietly pushed the door open, while You Qingmo was on the lookout. In fact, You Qingmo was at sixes and sevens about doing that at night. But just as the saying went, “Fortune comes from danger,” You Qingmo believed she had to strive for good luck herself. Xu Yin looked around and found nothing unusual, so he took out a pill. It seemed like a poisonous drug, but it was actually a knockout powder when sniffed. After the Queen went faint, Xu Yin began searching the princess’ trace. “Is the princess not here?” Xu Yin was about to leave the room when he spotted the princess was sleeping on the couch beside. Xu Yin approached her quietly, put a pill into the princess’ mouth and carried the princess on the back to leave. Ni Shang jumped out from the corner. The thief was bold indeed, daring to steal people in the Feng Wu Palace. Xu Yin had never thought that he would be discovered, so he desperately ran ahead. And Ni Shang chased after him closely to the outside of the city. Xu Yin looked at the sky and became anxious. In fact, he did not intend to kill anyone. But the woman just rushed to him in hot pursuit. Xu Yin did not feel good to carry the woman on the back all the way. Accidentally, he fell down, and the fainted woman woke up by the fall. Xu Yin was afraid of being recognized and then plunged into the lane to return by the way he came back to the Qi Wu Palace. Xu Yin thought, “Anyway, I did not kill anyone, but just want to dissatisfy Di Qing.” Because of the knockout powder, the woman fell to the ground again.

“The East Bridge at ten miles outside the eastern suburbs.”

Di Li spoke out the residence. Ni Shang carried the Princess and headed to the Princess’ residence. The domestic servant who got up early did not expect that it was the lord and did not dare to look at them steadily. Ni Shang supported Di Li and entered the courtyard. It was really the Princess’residence where the domestic servants were selected so strictly that they dare not look straight at their Master’s awkwardness.

“Xiaoli, what’s wrong?”

Madam Hou Qing held Di Li with great anxiety. Without Di Li, Hou Qing thought she would have died already. Thanks to Lin Xiaosa to hide her in the Princess’ residence, Hou Qing could escape a tribulation. Ni Shang beside stared at Madam Hou Qing, excited to meet a relative from the Teal Hill in the Princess’ residence. “How fortunate that the Spirit Master’s mother is still alive!” But no matter how excited Ni Shang was, she had to choke down, because people from the palace were on the way and she should come back to the palace as soon as possible. If one day Ni Shang would return to the Teal Hill, she would pick up Madam Hou Qing to the hometown. Even there was only a person living in Teal Hill, she would rebuild the hometown. As expected, the Palace Guards hurried there. Lin Xiaosa left in such a hurry that he was covered with dust. When seeing his wife, Lin Xiaosa gave a big hug and did not relieve himself until he confirmed there was nothing wrong with her. Ni Shang withdrew from the crowd quietly and thought she’d better not show up so much in the crowded place. After all, she had many acquaintances there.

“Wait, young lady!”

Ni Shang’s heart felt constricted, but she calmed herself again when she turned around. She thought, “Even if I am recognized by Lin Xiaosa, he will not make things difficult for me, because I am the savior of Di Li.”

“Young lady, if you get into trouble and turn to me in the future, I will never decline it.” Ni Shang took the waist token, but unexpectedly, her finger was scratched out. Ni Shang hastened to cover the fragrance, but her little action betrayed herself and someone detected something unusual. When Ni Shang walked away, Madam Hou Qing followed her quietly.

“Ni Shang, is that you?”

“Aunt, it is me... It is me.”

Madam Hou Qing could not hold back her tears any longer. Seeing Ni Shang reminded her of her poor eldest daughter.

“Xiaoshang... You’er is dead...”

“Aunt, Ni Shang has already knew that. Anyone who is struck by the poison of Mount Zhuo Guang will die without doubt.”

“Xiaoyou has lost her father since childhood and should have lived happily. Who knows that she is dead in the hands of the wicked woman?”

“Aunt, this is all done by Chidi and Di Qing. The gang of bandits is still at large. The vengeance will be answered one day.”

Ni Shang said goodbye to Madam Hou Qing, changed herself into a wisp of smoke and flew in the direction of Qi’s palace.