Chapter 18 A Newborn Calf Is Not Afraid of Tigers

The water rippled gently, a touch of clarity. Viewing the flowers and the moon was especially distinct. There was a charming and alluring moment, and after drinking, a hazy dreaminess filled the mind;

With a hint of charm, and eyes conveying affection, traces of tears were born from lovesickness in several places.

She was charming yet not vulgar. The unique charm of a woman from the south of the Yangtze River was as sweet as honey and as soft as water.

Li Qing embraced the women on both sides, with their tender bodies in his arms, enjoying their tenderness...

At the fourth watch, Li Qing gently got up, covered the two women with a thin brocade quilt, and left quietly.

Outside the Zui Xian Tower, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars were shining brightly.

Li Qing took a breath of the cool air, and his mind returned to reality from the land of tenderness.

It was only a two - li walk. In less than a quarter of an hour, he arrived home. Since there wasn't much time left before entering the palace, he simply sat in meditation to cultivate his true qi.

His master, Zhang Lata, practiced both martial arts and Taoism. He ate ordinary food and experienced the various aspects of the mortal world. There were no abstinence requirements for cultivation.

There was no such thing as losing one's cultivation by getting close to women. It was also acceptable to get married and have children. Everything emphasized following one's heart.

After two sticks of incense, Li Qing slowly opened his eyes, and his state was better than ever.

He changed into his flying - fish robe, opened the door, and left the courtyard.

...

In the Qianqing Palace.

Empress Ma's complexion was significantly better today. After Li Qing applied the nine needles, she was even more energetic.

"I never expected that I could recover one day." Empress Ma sat up and smiled softly. "This feeling of being completely relaxed is really comfortable. You're really amazing."

Li Qing said with a smile, "Your Majesty, you're overpraising me. It's because of your great blessings."

"You..." Empress Ma shook her head and smiled. Then she sniffed and asked suspiciously, "Where did you go last night?"

"To a brothel!" Li Qing replied truthfully.

He didn't want to lie to this kind - hearted empress, and there was no need to. Going to a brothel didn't violate the law, so there was nothing that couldn't be said.

Empress Ma frowned and scolded, "At such a young age, you're already fond of the red - light district. Be careful of wearing out your body. Go to such places less in the future."

"Uh... Your Majesty's words are right." Li Qing replied with an embarrassed smile.

Empress Ma glared at him and said unhappily, "I originally wanted to match you and the Sixth Princess, but with this behavior of yours..."

"Your humble servant has little fortune and doesn't dare to aspire so high."

Li Qing quickly replied, looking terrified.

What was so good about marrying a princess? Could she be as eloquent as Lianxiang?

Could she be as understanding and delightful as Hongxiu, who could understand his thoughts just with a gentle pat on the buttocks?

Not to mention these, just the rule that a prince - consort had to salute the princess when they met was unacceptable.

The title of prince - consort might be desirable to others, but he didn't envy it at all. He even felt sorry for those who held this title.

"Forget it." Empress Ma sighed. "Since you're not willing, I won't force you. But still, go less in the future."

"Alright." Li Qing nodded with a smile. "Your humble servant will remember."

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang came over after the morning court. Li Qing quickly stood up to pay his respects and took the opportunity to take his leave.

As soon as he left the Qianqing Palace, the Eighth Prince from last night blocked his way.

"Hey, you didn't let the cat out of the bag about what happened yesterday, did you?"

When he needed something from me, he called me Mr. Li, but now it's just "hey".不愧是老朱的崽儿... Li Qing cupped his hands and said, "No, I didn't."

"That's good."

The Eighth Prince felt relieved and asked curiously, "Is that Wanling good - looking?"

"She is."

"How good - looking?" The Eighth Prince became interested.

Li Qing was helpless. Why did this little kid want to know so much?

He counter - asked, "Your Highness, why did you spend so much money last night?"

"For show!" The Eighth Prince said matter - of - factly. "Didn't you see the shocked expressions on those people's faces when I took out the money?"

Li Qing: "..." And then?

"To see what that woman really looked like!"

"And then?"

The Eighth Prince scratched his head and wondered, "What else could there be?"

Li Qing smiled. It seemed that the royal family's sex education came relatively late. Unlike in his time, when he was exposed to teachers like Ms. Hatano at the age of thirteen.

"Nothing. Your humble servant still has official duties to attend to. Excuse me."

"Go, go. Just remember not to tell anyone." The Eighth Prince waved his hand, looking relieved.

When Li Qing walked out of the palace, the sun was still red.

At this time, the ministers who had attended the morning court had already finished work, showing how early the ancients got up.

As Li Qing walked, he thought about the conversation between the madam and the servant last night. As soon as he arrived at the Zhenfu Division Yamen, he called Liu Qiang.

"Take a few brothers and check on that fat man who sold me the house yesterday."

Liu Qiang asked, "My lord, is there something wrong with the house?"

"It's not about the house." Li Qing shook his head. "It's not a big deal either. Check his family relationships without alerting him."

Since it involved the royal clan, Li Qing was afraid of scaring him and didn't explain why.

"By the way, is there any vassal king enfeoffed in Bashu at present?"

"No." Liu Qiang shook his head.

Hearing this, Li Qing was more certain of his speculation. "Go and check. Tell me as soon as you have results."

"Yes, sir."

Liu Qiang cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Li Qing watched the training of the newly recruited Jinyiwei for a while, and then went to the back hall.

In the inner hall, Mao Xiang was sitting with his legs crossed, eating an iced watermelon with great enjoyment. When he saw Li Qing come in, he smiled and said, "Better late than never. Sit down and have some watermelon."

"Thank you, sir."

Li Qing grinned and wasn't polite. He sat down, picked up a piece of watermelon, and started munching on it, not treating himself as an outsider at all. "Sir, if a member of the royal family breaks the law, does our Jinyiwei also have the power to arrest them?"

"Of course!" Mao Xiang said impatiently. "Didn't Liu Qiang tell you?"

Li Qing said with a mouthful of watermelon, "I just wanted to make sure." As he spoke, he put down the watermelon rind and picked up another piece.

"You're really shameless. If you have nothing else to do, get out of here." Mao Xiang waved his hand impatiently. "Scram, scram, scram..."

Li Qing finished eating the watermelon with a few bites, wiped his mouth, and became serious. "Sir, if a prince - consort among the royal family breaks the law, we can arrest him too, right?"

"Didn't I just tell you... Hmm?" Mao Xiang suddenly stood up, put his hands on the desk, and leaned forward, almost lying on the table. "What did you find?"

Li Qing couldn't stand a grown man getting so close to him and leaned back. He nodded and said, "It's not certain yet, but..."

"If it's not certain, then go and investigate!" Mao Xiang interrupted. Then, he stared at Li Qing meaningfully. "Report to me only when you have conclusive evidence. Before that, keep it strictly confidential."

Li Qing was stunned for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Remember, before you have iron - clad evidence, don't let out even the slightest bit of news." Mao Xiang turned his back. "You can leave now."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

As Mao Xiang listened to the footsteps fading away behind him, his shrewd eyes narrowed tightly. "A newborn calf is not afraid of tigers. He wants to take on a prince - consort right from the start. If he has conclusive evidence, it's fine. But if it's a false alarm, the entire Jinyiwei will be implicated.

If it were the relatives of a concubine, it wouldn't be a big deal. But a prince - consort is different. With the princess's blood relation, it's not easy to move him.

Dealing with a prince - consort is a thankless task. What is this guy thinking?"

Mao Xiang muttered to himself, "Let him stir things up. If it goes well, the Jinyiwei will get credit. If it goes wrong, it's his bad luck."

The corners of his mouth turned up. He turned back to sit down and was about to continue eating watermelon when he was surprised to find that there was not a single piece left.

"This damned..."

"This damned..." Li Qing threw away the watermelon rind and cursed. "Clearly, if it's done well, he'll take half the credit, and if it fails, I'll bear all the blame."

Li Qing bought a catty of peach - blossom pastries on the street. He ate them as he walked home.

Training new recruits didn't require the personal instruction of a thousand - household like him. Staying in the yamen had nothing to do, so it was better to go home and lie down. Anyway, he still got paid.

With his status as the chief doctor of Empress Ma, no one dared to say anything if he slacked off. If he got tired and his hand shook, causing something wrong to the empress while giving acupuncture, who would take the responsibility?

When he got home, the catty of peach - blossom pastries had been eaten up. Li Qing lay back on the bed and took out the scriptures written by his master to read.

He fell asleep while reading and woke up at the Shen hour in the afternoon.

Li Qing got up, took a bath, changed into a jet - black long robe, and was about to take a stroll around the capital. But as soon as he went out, he met a Jinyiwei under his command.

"Your subordinate, Li Yu, pays his respects to the thousand - household大人."

"Yeah." Li Qing nodded. "What's the matter?"

Li Yu quickly said, "Sir, Captain Liu... Ah, no, Deputy Thousand - household Liu and several brothers were beaten up."

"Ah?" Li Qing was greatly surprised. "There are still people who dare to beat our Jinyiwei?"

"The other party is our former superior, also a deputy thousand - household." Li Yu explained. "Deputy Thousand - household Liu was his subordinate before. It was just because he didn't salute him."

Li Qing thought to himself, "Sure enough, only Jinyiwei can beat Jinyiwei."

"Damn it, he even dares to beat my men..." He bolted the door and walked out. If he couldn't protect his subordinates, he might as well not be a thousand - household.

Li Yu quickly followed and added details.

"Have you reported it to Commander Mao?"

"Yes, Commander Mao asked you to handle it personally."

"Ask me to handle it?" Li Qing smiled. "Fine, then I'll handle it."