Chapter 186 - Heavily Injured

Qi Zheng carefully observed Shen Ziqiao’s expression. His heart felt heavy. He felt as if half of his sky had collapsed. Seeing that she cried, he felt worse than the sky collapsing.

“Jiao Jiao…” He softly called out.

Shen Ziqiao wasn’t angry anymore by the time she heard his explanation. After all, he was outside the city and he had Old Lord Lu by his side. If he told her the truth, she would indeed leave the city no matter what. She might even ruin their plan as a result.

“Ah, I think the wound behind my back got split open.” Qi Zheng shockingly stated.

“Let me take a look!” Shen Ziqiao was startled and she hurriedly turned to look at his wound. What did he mean by split open? There was no blood at all! She glared at him. “You lied to me!”

Qi Zheng took this opportunity to bring her into his arms. “If I don’t do this, will you talk to me?”

Shen Ziqiao pinched his arm hard. “Bastard, bastard!”

“It hurts so much, it hurts.” Qi Zheng hurriedly begged for mercy but didn’t let her go. Instead, he hugged her even tighter. “Don’t be angry, okay?”

“Don’t do this in the future!” Shen Ziqiao poked his chest and exclaimed moodily.

Qi Zheng said in a proper tone, “I won’t dare to again in the future.”

Shen Ziqiao cuddled against him fearfully and asked in a small voice, “How exactly is the wound behind your back?”

“It’s really just a minor injury but if someone asks about it, say that it’s a serious wound. Make it sound really serious.” Qi Zheng said in her ears in a small voice.

This...what was he planning? Shen Ziqiao lifted her brows to look at him. “You’re going to pretend to be sick?”

Qi Zheng smiled. “It’s more convenient to do things like this.”

Shen Ziqiao knew what he was up to. She recalled what happened in Minyue and hurriedly got out of Qi Zheng’s arms. “Qi Zheng, something happened in Minyue.”

“What?” Qi Zheng’s gaze darkened.

Shen Ziqiao told Qi Zheng about what she heard from Shen Zikai. “...The situation in Minyue is really urgent right now but my grandfather was scared of dragging us down that he didn’t say anything. I’m worried so I want to personally go to Minyue.”

“No!” Qi Zheng rejected without even thinking. “Since Ma Junfeng is in Minyue, then the Sun Family must’ve arranged people there too. You can’t go.”

Dazhou’s national exchequer depended on the tax liability from Minyue. All this time, Prime Minister Sun wanted to insert his people in Minyue but the crown prince’s people were all there. Prime Minister Sun couldn’t even find anyone. Who knew that he immediately extended his hand towards Minyue since the crown prince was caught off guard with what happened with the emperor.

Shen Ziqiao said, “How can you guys be distracted right now? Don’t worry. I can protect myself. I have to go to Minyue.”

“Jiao Jiao!” Qi Zheng said seriously.

“I have to go! If you’re worried, you can have guards trailing me. Won’t that work? Plus...I won’t say I’m going to Minyue but that I’m returning to my maiden home or to help you find medicine. Didn’t you say you’ll pretend to be sick?” Shen Ziqiao hurriedly said. She knew that going to Minyue would be difficult. Qi Zheng would not agree for sure.

Qi Zheng wore a dark face and refused.

Shen Ziqiao acted cute and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Don’t worry. I’m not a cannon fodder anymore.”

“What fodder?” Qi Zheng asked confusedly.

“This isn’t the main point!” Shen Ziqiao pursed her lips. “I’m going to Minyue tomorrow.”

Qi Zheng looked helplessly at her. He was really worried about letting her leave his side. “I’ll have Uncle Qun come with me, okay?”

“Uncle Qun will go with me.” Shen Ziqiao didn’t fallback at all.

He had never been able to change her mind nor would he ever reject her. Qi Zheng sighed. “I’ll be going to the village tomorrow to recuperate. You’ll come with me.”

That means that he agreed!

Shen Ziqiao happily kissed his face. “Love you, love you, love you!”

Qi Zheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He hugged her and exclaimed, “I’ll have Uncle Qun follow you. If you need anything, have him do it. Don’t stand up for yourself. Don’t do anything dangerous either. Also…”

There was only one reason why she wanted to go to Minyue. That was to teach Ma Junfeng a lesson!

Shen Ziqiao smiled and listened to Qi Zheng. She lifted her head and kissed him. It was unclear how long they’ll be able to see each other after parting away. But she won’t disappoint him.

She had never thought about doing something so seriously. She would never fail.

How could Qi Zheng possibly miss up on the opportunity when there was a beautiful woman in front of him? He immediately pressed the back of her head and deepened the kiss. He skillfully removed her belt.

“The wound behind your back…” Shen Ziqiao felt warm inside. She warned her about his wound and how it wasn’t suitable for intense exercise.

Qi Zheng hoarsely laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

The second day, Shen Ziqiao felt sore everywhere. She believed that Qi Zheng had only suffered a minor injury now. Maybe to him, it was like a mosquito had stung him. Otherwise, where did he get all this energy? She had begged for mercy several times before he finally let her go.

“You’re awake?” Qi Zheng supported himself up and smiled at her.

Shen Ziqiao stared at her coquettishly. Seeing that he had changed his outfit but didn’t leave yet, she recalled that he was supposed to be at home pretending to be sick.

“Get up quickly. I have to tell Old Madam and father that you suffered a serious injury.” Shen Ziqiao rushed.

Qi Zheng remembered that they needed to attend to an official matter today so he stopped teasing her.

After freshening up, Shen Ziqiao went to Old Madam Qi’s place wearing an exhausted expression. To outsiders, it seemed like she was overly worried.

Duke An and Xiao Gu were already there talking to Old Madam Qi. Seeing that Shen Ziqiao came here alone, they were all shocked.

“Where’s Zheng’er? Didn’t he come back yesterday?” Old Madam Qi hurriedly asked. When Qi Zheng came back yesterday, he didn’t let anyone know. In the middle of the night however, news of him coming back had spread.

Shen Ziqiao got on her knees and weeped softly. “...He left the city and then came back injured. It was unclear how the bandits found out about husband’s whereabouts. They clearly went for him. He almost died. Grandmother, father, I don’t know what to do.”

Old Madam Qi and Duke An were startled. They hurriedly stood up. “How is Zheng’er now? Go, let’s quickly go check on him.”

Xiao Gu was delighted inside her heart. Her fingers were shaking in joy.

Glancing at Shen Ziqiao’s hurt expression and look of despair, Qi Zheng probably couldn’t be saved. It was best that he died. That way, he wouldn’t be an irksome presence anymore.

As Old Madam Qi urged her, Shen Ziqiao followed her to Qianlin Courtyard.

Xiao Gu pulled Qi Yun’s hands and hurried over too.

Qi Zheng laid in bed with a pale face, the white gauze on his chest was covered in blood. Old Madam Qi almost fainted seeing the sight.

“Zheng’er, Zheng’er…” Old Madam Qi panicked.