Chapter 311: The Mysterious Woman

It was noon.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, hawkers shouting their wares, and children chasing one another—a scene of great liveliness.

The atmosphere of impending war from the previous days seemed to have been dispelled.

While other countries were in the midst of war, Great Liang was peaceful and stable, which made the common people look at the Queen's governing abilities with newfound respect.

"Even without a new King, with the Queen here, our Great Liang won't fall into chaos..."

"Indeed, letting the Queen rule on behalf of the King, I think that's quite good."

"Perhaps it would be even better..."

Inside Lin'an City, some commoners were discussing this in private, and the trend seemed to be intensifying.

Luo Zijun walked down the street, hearing these discussions, and thought to himself: I wonder if people truly think this way, or if the Queen deliberately sent people to stir up public opinion.

If things continue like this, it won't be long before one hears remarks like "It would be better if the Queen became the King of Great Liang" or "As long as one can govern, what does it matter if she is a woman?"

Once everyone believes this, everything will be ready.

Luo Zijun could not help but admire the Queen's methods.

Currently, the Great Yan army was still locked in a stalemate with the armies of the Seven Kingdoms; both sides had fought several battles with varying results, and seeing this, other countries had all begun to maintain neutrality, not daring to act rashly.

Great Liang was the same.

However, under the Queen's planning, Great Liang was playing a double game with Great Yan, expressing loyalty while not sending a single soldier or grain to help, all the while secretly clearing paths to facilitate the transport of supplies for the Wu and Chu states, and even gifting them horses.

At the same time, they concentrated their troops near Luoyang, ostensibly to prevent an attack from the Seven Kingdoms, but in reality, they were preparing to deliver a fatal blow to Great Yan once both sides had exhausted themselves.

And at this moment, the entire Great Liang Kingdom appeared calm and tranquil.

"At this time, the armies of the Seven Kingdoms have clearly suffered heavy losses as well. After a while longer in this standoff, both sides' strength will be more than halved. When that happens, Great Liang can suddenly strike, crush the Great Yan army, and then, in one go, seize Yujing before the armies of the Seven Kingdoms can. By then, the Great Liang army will have high morale and be the strongest force; the Queen can personally designate the new Emperor in Yujing, and no one else will have the strength to oppose it. Afterward, she can proceed slowly... If the Queen is bold enough, she could even..."

"Of course, this carries risks..."

Early in the morning, the Queen had sent Ziyi to the Bai Mansion to inform Luo Zijun of the recent war situation and her plans.

This had coincidentally helped Luo Zijun temporarily escape his predicament.

Because the atmosphere at that time was truly terrifying: his sister-in-law had crawled out from under his bed with her clothes in disarray, his mother-in-law had fainted from anger on the spot, and his father-in-law, the uncles of the Bai Family, and all the aunts had rushed over upon hearing the news...

The entire courtyard was packed with people from the Bai Family.

At that moment, Luo Zijun had already been prepared to jump the wall and flee to the ends of the earth...

Fortunately, Ziyi had arrived.

Therefore, Luo Zijun had told her everything he knew, holding nothing back, and shared all his thoughts.

Afterward, he personally escorted Ziyi out of the mansion.

After escaping the Bai Mansion and watching Ziyi leave in her carriage, Luo Zijun did not dare to return; he wandered the streets in a daze, and when he looked up, he saw Bao'an Hall.

Originally, he had planned to come and tell his Senior Sister after confessing to Bai Daxiaojie today...

Now, everything was a mess.

Even if he and his sister-in-law grew a hundred mouths each, they would never be able to explain it clearly.

If he were to tell the Bai Family now that he wanted to divorce Bai Daxiaojie, it would be as obvious as Sima Zhao's heart—everyone would know his intent.

"You good-for-nothing Matrilocal Son-in-law! Eating from the bowl while eyeing what's in the pot!"

"Don't even think about your background! If not for our Bai Family, what virtue or ability would you have to even come into contact with the Queen? Now that you're favored, you've become daring enough to disregard our Bai Family?"

"You ate the older sister, and now you want to spit it out to eat the younger sister—despicable!"

"Shameless!"

Yes, that was likely how the members of the Bai Family would curse him.

Even his older sister and brother-in-law would likely call him ungrateful.

"Sigh..."

He let out a sigh, composed himself slightly, and entered Bao'an Hall.

Inside the shop, his Senior Sister was filling a prescription for a young woman, while Qingwen was helping wrap the medicine on the side.

The young woman stared at his Senior Sister's tall, full chest with envy, unable to look away. After receiving the medicine, she couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "Su Guniang, what do you usually eat? How is your chest so large and firm? Is there some good prescription you could fill for me?"

Su Qingling looked at her, expressionless, and did not answer.

Just as the young woman was about to plead further, a voice suddenly came from behind her: "It's natural; taking medicine won't help."

The young woman was startled and turned to look, only to see a handsome young man. She immediately blushed, grabbed her medicine, and fled in a hurry.

"Giggle, giggle, giggle..."

Qingwen, who was pounding medicine, immediately laughed until she was doubled over.

Su Qingling, however, kept her head down, clicking the abacus to calculate accounts, not even glancing at the person. Her slender, white fingers danced up and down on the abacus, looking as if she were performing a graceful dance.

Luo Zijun was in a bad mood and didn't joke with her; he walked to the table inside, poured a cup of tea, took a sip, and then lay down on his master's rocking chair, closing his eyes to think while he rocked.

Qingwen spoke in a crisp voice: "Young Master hasn't been here for several days; did you go to Daguanyuan to have fun?" This girl was asking for a beating the moment she opened her mouth.

Luo Zijun kept his eyes closed and said: "Do I look like I've been having fun? This Young Master has been at home studying for the exams!"

"Pfft!"

Qingwen's tone was mocking: "Lin Guniang did come by."

Luo Zijun didn't change his expression: "So what if she came? I went to Daguanyuan for official business, not to have fun."

Qingwen said: "Official business that involved spending the night alone with your own sister-in-law?"

Luo Zijun knew this matter couldn't be hidden.

He opened his eyes and looked at the cold, aloof figure behind the counter: "I went to cultivate and break through a realm; I needed a martial artist to guard me."

Su Qingling continued to look down, clicking the abacus, ignoring him.

Qingwen asked, confused: "What cultivation and breaking through? Isn't Young Master a scholar?"

"Slap!"

Luo Zijun suddenly snapped his fingers, and a crimson flame ignited with a "whoosh" on his thumb, then he glanced at the dumbfounded Young Maid and said, "Who says a scholar cannot cultivate? This Young Master hides his true depth; I have plenty of skills."

"Senior Sister, I have leveled up again!"

After bluffing Qing Duidui, Luo Zijun boasted toward the counter: "Martial Artist Seventh Realm!"

Su Qingling, however, had no reaction, still keeping her head down and fiddling with the abacus on her own.

Luo Zijun felt bored, lay down for a while longer, then got up and finished his tea, saying, "I'm off. There are some things that need to be resolved recently; once they are resolved, I will come to see you again. By then, I will have a surprise for you."

Only then did Su Qingling look up at him: "What surprise?"

Luo Zijun stopped at the doorway, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Since it is a surprise, naturally I cannot tell you now."

Having said that, he did not linger and left the shop.

Su Qingling watched his back as he walked onto the street, a look of contemplation appearing in her eyes; after a moment of silence, she continued to lower her head and calculate the accounts.

The afternoon sunlight was somewhat lazy.

The pedestrians on the street began to thin out, and the hawkers' cries also became much fewer.

Luo Zijun walked aimlessly, thinking in his heart about the matters between himself and Bai Daxiaojie, as well as his sister-in-law.

At this moment, he was unable to defend himself, and further explanation would be useless.

But he must not retreat from his marriage with the eldest young lady; it must be resolved as soon as possible.

At the very least, he had to know whether he had now completely shaken off the White Snake's task; otherwise, he would have no peace of mind.

"I'll go back tonight and talk to Bai Daxiaojie again."

He decided on this.

His relationship with his sister-in-law was originally innocent; it was impossible to terminate or delay his life's major event because of this misunderstanding.

This life's major event was, naturally, the destiny that the White Snake task had forced upon him.

He had to completely free himself from it.

Thinking this way, he arrived at Chujian Bookstore. Just as he entered the shop, he suddenly saw a familiar figure holding books, head lowered, walking out of the shop.

The moment he brushed past her, he turned his head to look, only to see a hazy face covered by a veil.

This was a woman wearing a black cloak and a black veil, with a tall figure.

Luo Zijun felt she was very familiar, but for a moment, he could not recall who she was.

"Young lady, please stay!"

He immediately turned around and called out to the other party.

But the woman did not stop, keeping her head down, holding the books, and walking quickly onto the street.

Just as Luo Zijun was about to chase after her, Bi'er came out and said, "Son-in-law, that young lady is a mute; she cannot speak."

"A mute?"

Luo Zijun was taken aback and turned to ask: "Do you know her?"

Bi'er shook her head: "No, it seems like it was her first time here today. Xiao Lan and I spoke to her; she could hear us, but she couldn't speak, only using her fingers."

Luo Zijun was stunned, and when he turned to look at the street again, that figure had already disappeared.

Bi'er scoffed: "Son-in-law, did you see that she had a good figure and, moved by lust, intentionally try to strike up a conversation with her?"

Luo Zijun ignored her, thought for a moment, and asked: "Bi'er, what books did she buy?"

Bi'er said: "The Butterfly Lovers, Qiannu Youhun, and Dream of Shen Yuan; tsk tsk, they are all books written by you, Son-in-law."

Luo Zijun frowned slightly, feeling that the matter did not seem simple.

(End of this chapter)