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Translator – Xiao He Lian
Chapter 80
Zhan Zhen has been thinking about it every day and Xian Sheng also feels that this is a way to stall for time, that is, let him pretend to be pregnant for a while.
Although it is a little bit embarrassing.
“What about the symptoms of drowsiness and heavy appetite?” Zhan Zhen teased him: “Could it be that our Sheng’er is already pregnant? Let, husband take a look.”
The hand came towards his abdomen and was knocked off by Xian Sheng. He glanced at him: “be serious.”
He got up to leave and was hugged by Zhan Zhen tightly. The man rubbed his cheek affectionately, staring at him without blinking and there was a gentle light in it.
Xian Sheng showed him that he was uncomfortable. He asked softly, “what’s the matter?”
“I have wronged Sheng’er”
Zhan Zhen said in a low voice and gently kissed the corner of his mouth.
That kiss is like a dragonfly touching the water1Dragonfly touches water [qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ] like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water — touch on sth. without going into it deeply ;   a dragonfly skims the water surface ;   scratch the surface ;   touch superficially, less roguelike, more affectionate and compassionate.
Xian Sheng was stunned for a moment.
In the next second, his emotions suddenly surged to his eyes. He lowered his head, his nose was sore and his tears fell like beads that suddenly broke.
He hurriedly raised his hand to wipe it but Zhan Zhen held his hand. The man kissed him on the cheek and it condensed like a thin fog in his eyes, “Good Sheng’er, don’t cry. I feel so distressed.”
Xian Sheng pursed his lips and his voice was thin . He choked: “It’s not a grievance… compared with destroying the country, it’s a mercy to have a chance to live.”
“Since ancient times, the strong eat the weak2弱肉强食 [ruò ròu qiáng shí] The weak will stand as an easy prey to the strong;   jungle justice;   The big fish eat up the small ones;   the law of the jungle and the winner is the king3It is a Chinese saying that circulated in ancient China. The old point is that in the struggle for political power, those who win are legal and are called emperors and kings; those who fail are illegal and are called thieves and bandits. It means that the winner has power in hand, and no one dares to criticize it, but the loser has the meaning that it is hard to argue. ” The candlelight fell in his eyes, where there was a full teardrop, which was shaking and about to fall off. He seriously told Zhan Zhen “I know, this is a barter. …but you, you cannot feel it”
The tears rolled down and Xian Sheng finally calmed down. He began to tremble again: “…I’m wronged…. you…You can’t feel that.”
Zhan Zhen pressed him in his arms.
He never thought about this when he was going to marry Xian Sheng. When Xian Sheng was exposed, his dignity was provoked for the first time and at that time, he really wanted to kill him with a ruthless heart.
But the more they got along, the more he liked him, and he liked him so much that he wanted to lock him up. But he can not bear to let him suffer and thought, if he could just let him go, it is also good.
He always thought he had given enough to Xian Sheng,  was good enough, always felt he had spoiled him enough but the more he spoils him, the more you want to spoil him some more. Xian Shen’s no fight, no grab4kind to others, don’t yell nor argue character hurt him so much.
He had never met such an exquisite and transparent person.
He stroked Xian Sheng’s back and the person in his arms sobbed and gradually calmed down.
He picked him up, put him on the bed and gently wiped the corner of his eyes.
Xian Sheng said softly: “Don’t, don’t be so affectionate.”
“You don’t like it?”
“Not used to it.” Xian Sheng said, “You are like a heartless playboy who suddenly changed his nature. It gives me goosebumps.”
Just finished crying and started joking again. Zhan Zhen said sulkily: “Why do you… bullying.”
He looked at his pear blossom bathed in the rain5梨花带雨 [lí huā dài yǔ] pear blossom bathed in the rain — a weeping beauty face and just now he only cared about his distress, he didn’t think about it in this regard and now after a turn of thought, only to find his soft and sticky look particularly delicious.
Especially when Xian Sheng just lay there obediently, with his arms bent and his palms were vacantly spread out on the side of the pillow. He suddenly deceived himself and kissed him.
His slender fingers were caught by him, the five fingers were forced to spread open and their fingers interlocked.
*
Before the Qingming Festival, the rain almost never stopped. Cuixiu came to the small pavilion with an umbrella and called the woman in the cloak: “princess, it’s dark. Go to sleep.”
“ It’s Qingming again” Qingrong murmured, “Commander Mu was demoted, it was me who harmed him.”
“He’s a confidant of the Marqui, and it makes sense for him to avenge the Marquis. Among them… It’s like our crown prince has been filled with ecstasy soup this time.”
“Xian Sheng…”Qing Rong said: “I have often dreamed of her these past few days. Why is she so domineering, robbing my crown prince and torturing me in my dream.”
“Princess… don’t think about it. It’s getting late. The young couple may get tired of each other after a while.”
Qing Rong’s lips trembled: “What should I do?…Xian Shang was there, he killed my father and brother, but I couldn’t do anything.”
Cuixiu didn’t know what to say and suddenly thought of something: “That’s right, I I went out of the palace to visit my relatives two days ago and I met my cousin in Xiu Zhuang6embroidery shop, who said that His Highness had ordered some clothes there, which seemed to be men’s clothes.”
It is not uncommon for embroidery shops in the city to make custom-made clothes for princes and nobles.
“The strange thing is that the next day he said he didn’t want it, and he was very secretive and didn’t say who it was made for.”
“It wasn’t for himself?”
“His Royal Highness’s clothes were arranged by the queen. How could he personally go to such a place? Originally, my cousin thought that the men’s clothes were for the crown princess but I was surprised.”
Qingrong suddenly stood up, her face full of surprise: “Since it’s a secret, how did your cousin know?”
Cuixiu paused: “Cousin is now… orphaned and widowed7Refers to the children and women left behind by a man after his death, she is having an affair with the owner and the owner leaked it. She just felt it was strange and told me casually.
Qing Rong’s eyes suddenly lit up: “I know… I know! It’s like this, no wonder they had a lot of trouble some time ago… Why didn’t I expect it? He is so good-looking. For Zhan Zhen, some things, it doesn’t matter at all.
*
On Qing Ming day, break the ground8In the countryside, when you go to the grave during the Qingming Festival, if you see the soil on the tomb is dilapidated and dilapidated, the filial younger generation will want to add some new soil to the tomb shall not be done but the emperor’s mausoleum had to be cleaned ahead of time. Xian Sheng greeted his brother in advance and followed the royal family to the imperial mausoleum.
This place has green mountains, crystal-clear waters and excellent Feng Shui9风水 [fēng shui] the location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family;geomantic omen). In Zhan Zhen’s words, it should be an outing.
Xian Sheng opened the window and took a breath of the fresh air on a rainy day. He half-squint his eyes and fell asleep.
Zhan Zhen let him relax but he was very busy. The military affairs were brought to the imperial mausoleum. In the words of the queen, it was specially for the ancestors to see.
Xian Sheng was lying by the window, lazily listening to the chirping of birds, feeling calm and peaceful until someone broke the tranquility.
“Is His Highness the Crown Prince here? The Empress Dowager asks you to come over.”
Xian Sheng narrowed his eyes subconsciously and looked sideways at Zhan Zhen, who had already raised his head from the table: “What’s the matter?”
“This servant doesn’t know.”
Zhan Zhen looked at Xian Sheng and said thoughtfully, “I’ll go over later.”
When the maid left, Xian Sheng said, “Is Qingrong looking for you?”
“It is possible.” Zhan Zhen cleaned up the table, came over and hugged him and said, “You go over with me.”
“I’m not going, so as not to disturb the good mood of Your Highness.”
“What kind of good mood can I have when I see her?” Zhan Zhen kissed him and said: “I think that she wants me to accompany her to see the Marquis. The tomb is not far from here.  It’s the same in previous years. Marquis’s family sacrificed their lives for the country and I feel bad about giving them the cold shoulder.”
Xian Sheng understood very well: “She is also a pitiful person.”
“Pitiful is pitiful…but not likable.”
“Even if you don’t like it, there are other people who like it. “Xian Sheng urged, “go quickly.”
“Come with me”
“Silly. “Xian Sheng said sullenly: “I’m from Liang, my brother killed her father, you take me with you to pay respect, does it look respectful to the deceased?”
Zhan Zhen was silent for a while and said, “It makes a lot of sense.” Xian Sheng pushed his head: “Don’t be clingy, go quickly.”
Zhan Zhen turned his head three times, walked to the entrance and asked him: “Why aren’t you jealous?”
“Jealous” Xian Sheng fanned him: “Do you feel it, is it very sour?”
Zhan Zhen raised his nose and pretended:  “There’s only a little bit of it.”
“It’s still brewing. It should be fermented when you come back and it will be first-grade vinegar.”
Zhan Zhen coaxed him and said “Then, husband is leaving.”
“Go safely”
Seeing his voice disappear, Xian Sheng put away his expression. He looked magnanimous. He was actually not very comfortable. But Marquis Qi’s family died on the battlefield, a martyr, leaving an orphan girl alone. It would be unreasonable for him to bully Zhan Zhen not to go.
Zhan Zhen guessed right. When he arrived at the place, Qingrong had prepared a bamboo basket in advance and was waiting for him. The Empress Dowager smiled and said: “Go with her, it’s not too far away anyway. She is mourning for her family all by herself.”
“Your grandson10孙儿 [sūn ér]名 grandchild (said affectionately); grandson will obey your command. ” Zhan Zhen said: “But today will be the last time I will come. Your grandson is no longer lonely and widowed11aka single, now that I have a wife, I’m afraid of damaging the princess’s reputation.”
Everyone knows that Qingrong likes Zhan Zhen and when he said this, the Empress Dowager looked at Qingrong with some worry, but the latter smiled slightly, “If Your Highness thinks it’s not right, you can accept me as a concubine so that you can avoid gossip.”
Zhan Zhen looked at her and she stared back without avoiding his gaze.  Zhan Zhen said: “You are a dignified princess of the royal family but in a hurry to be a concubine. Do you want to humiliate your father’s reputation?”
Qingrong smiled and squeezed the bamboo basket. Empress Dowager hurriedly said: “Okay, it’s getting late. Go quickly.”
Zhan Zhen turned around and walked in front, Qingrong followed quietly. Her eyes fell on his slender and tall figure, and suddenly said, “If you can’t have a son to carry on your family line, what will you do?”
“How do you know he can’t carry on the family lineage?”
“His body is weak. At first glance, he looks infertile. Otherwise you have only been married for a few months, why can’t the queen wait to pull him to worship the gods?”
“The Marquis Qi has been a strict disciplinarian all his life, the rules are strict, you are an unmarried girl, talking about childbirth. If you let him know…”
“Don’t always use your father to pressure me!” Qingrong’s face was ugly: “Zhan Zhen, you know that I like you: but you stabbed me in the heart with every word, what about your gentlemanly manners?”
Zhan Zhen ignored her and they continued to move forward . Qing Rong took a breath and wiped her face.
At this moment, a sound suddenly came from the forest. Qingrong’s complexion changed greatly, Zhan Zhen ducked sideways and several black-clothed assassins flanked from several directions. Zhan Zhen pulled Qingrong and kicked a person away with one foot. Seeing that he was about to finish off the person, suddenly someone came straight behind him. Zhan Zhen looked sideways but Qingrong jumped to block the knife.
The next second, suddenly he grabbed her hair, Qingrong’s eyes opened wide and he pulled her aside. The knife slowed down a step but it didn’t stop and blood spilled from his abdomen. His heart burst into flames and with an awe-inspiring aura like a tiger, he immediately slashed the assassin’s head with his saber, he swept the saber to kill him again. The blade pierced the throat, blood spilled out and several assassins died before they could even blink without a word.
Only one covered his throat, convulsed all over and grunted in his throat with difficulty but he still died.
His face was as cold as ice and he turned to look at Qingrong whose long hair was disheveled, the hairpin was crooked and the eyes were red.
“Are you crazy or what?” Zhan Zhen said coldly: “I don’t need your help.”
Qingrong trembled. “You”
The blade was sheathed and Zhan Zhen said: “You’re overreacting.”
He continued to move forward, Qingrong’s scalp was hurting and his face was extremely ugly. She raised the bamboo basket and chased after him: “How can you pull my hair?!”
“Or what? Do you want me to hold you and spin your body to protect you?”
“You…still you shouldn’t have pulled my hair either! I have to go see my father, you…”
Zhan Zhen suddenly stopped his steps. Qingrong fell silent and after a while, Zhan Zhen turned to look at her and said, “You still know you are going to see your father.”
“What do you mean”
Seeing his dark and deep eyes, cold and stern eyebrows, Qingrong’s heart turned cold.
“You heard me clearly. This is the last time I will accompany you to pay respect to your father. Everything you have now, including that I’m here to tell you these words are all for the sake of your father. He exchanged blood for your honor and dignity that you’re enjoying today. What you have to do is to keep it, not abuse it.
He said: “If you think of him as a father, don’t do anything that makes him ashamed.”
Qingrong’s face changed a few times, her lips trembling. After a few breaths, she wiped her face hard and took the lead in walking in front.
After that, Zhan Zhen sent her back to the imperial mausoleum. Without entering, he went back to find Xian Sheng.
Xian Sheng had already moved away from the window. There was a steady breathing sound, and he could not help but go over and pull back the bed curtain.
He wiped a little blood from his waist, pursed his mouth and put it on the tip of Xian Sheng’s nose. Xian Sheng frowned unconsciously and turned his face away and then he was pushed awake by him.
“ …” He frowned, his voice hoarse: “You’re back?”
“Hmm.” Zhan Zhen said dully: “I’m hurt.”
The author has something to say
Lue lue: wronged.
Sheng Sheng: … kiss?
Translator – So I really want to publish extra chapters. But looks like I’m going to be busy starting next week. So I’ll try to stockpile chapters as much as possible and update regularly instead.
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1Dragonfly touches water [qīng tíng diǎn shuǐ] like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water — touch on sth. without going into it deeply ;   a dragonfly skims the water surface ;   scratch the surface ;   touch superficially2弱肉强食 [ruò ròu qiáng shí] The weak will stand as an easy prey to the strong;   jungle justice;   The big fish eat up the small ones;   the law of the jungle3It is a Chinese saying that circulated in ancient China. The old point is that in the struggle for political power, those who win are legal and are called emperors and kings; those who fail are illegal and are called thieves and bandits. It means that the winner has power in hand, and no one dares to criticize it, but the loser has the meaning that it is hard to argue4kind to others5梨花带雨 [lí huā dài yǔ] pear blossom bathed in the rain — a weeping beauty6embroidery shop7Refers to the children and women left behind by a man after his death8In the countryside, when you go to the grave during the Qingming Festival, if you see the soil on the tomb is dilapidated and dilapidated, the filial younger generation will want to add some new soil to the tomb9风水 [fēng shui] the location of a house or tomb, supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family;geomantic omen)10孙儿 [sūn ér]名 grandchild (said affectionately); grandson11aka single