The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 83: Absolutely Stunning Scenery

Zhao Qing bowed gracefully, her chest sinking slightly.

That's huge!

Li Jinglong exclaimed, "The two peaks stand majestically opposite each other, and the scenery is absolutely beautiful and spectacular."

Everyone immediately realized what was happening, and the entire cabin erupted in laughter.

Zhao Qing blushed slightly, but unlike ordinary women from Jiangnan who would lower their heads in embarrassment, she boldly met Li Jinglong's gaze with her beautiful eyes.

"You're supposed to be a princess, how did you end up like this?" Li Jinglong asked with a smile.

Zhao Qing lowered her eyes: "I grew up in Dadu and dislike the northern frontier. My younger brother was sent north by His Majesty, but I didn't want to return to the grasslands, so I stayed."

"Is the imperial court abandoning you?" Li Jinglong asked.

Zhao Qing nodded slightly: "Before my brother left, he left all the money to me. I thought I should have my own business, so I used that money to open a silk shop."

"Starting a business in a place you don't know anyone about is a sure way to lose money," Li Jinglong said, shrugging.

Zhao Qing's face fell: "Not only did we lose money, we also lost five hundred taels of silver, and the creditors are chasing after me to collect the debt."

"The imperial court has completely forgotten about her, this princess. She has no relatives and is being chased by creditors, forced to hide here and there." Li Shou continued, "I met her in a dilapidated alley in the south of the city and brought her here."

Zhao Qing bowed deeply to Li Jinglong, her sleeve slipping down to reveal her fair wrist: "If Sixth Brother can help me, I am willing to be your slave."

Li Jinglong smiled slightly.

Is this a setup? Everything seems so coincidental?

"Of course I'll help her." He waved his hand. "As the head of the beggars, how can I watch such a beautiful girl become a beggar?"

After I finished speaking, I felt like something was off.

"Thank you, Sixth Brother." Zhao Qing was overjoyed.

One hour later.

Li Jinglong was completely drunk and was helped by Zhao Qing to walk towards the rear cabin of the painted boat.

Zhao Qing pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, and helped him into a room.

As soon as the door closed, the sounds of string and wind instruments and laughter outside immediately subsided, leaving only the flickering red candlelight that filled the room with warm light.

She laid him on the soft couch and was about to get up.

Unexpectedly, Li Jinglong's hand naturally hooked around her waist, and she let out a soft cry as she fell into his arms.

A delicate fragrance wafts through the air.

Li Jinglong, his eyes glazed with intoxication, gazed at the stunningly beautiful face before him. In the candlelight, those heterochromatic eyes were so close, captivating and mesmerizing.

Zhao Qing placed her hands on his chest, her beautiful hair falling down, the ends brushing against his cheeks, making him feel ticklish.

"Would you like me to serve you tonight, young master?" she asked softly. "Then I'll go take a bath."

After saying that, he was about to get up.

Li Jinglong didn't let go; his hand remained on her waist as he said seriously, "I'm still a child; I need to go home."

Zhao Qing chuckled, looking at him with captivating charm: "Young Duke, dare you bring me back to your residence?"

Li Jinglong was startled, and sobered up halfway.

Does this woman know who I am?

He tried to sit up, but Zhao Qing pressed his shoulders down with both hands and forcefully pushed him back down.

She braced herself on either side of him, looking down at him: "Don't worry, they don't know the identity of the Young Duke. I only found out when I saw you. You may have forgotten, but I've seen you before."

"At the banquet His Majesty hosted for Marquis Chongli?" Li Jinglong simply lay down.

"Yes." Zhao Qing raised an eyebrow slightly. "The young Duke's demeanor is quite impressive."

Li Jinglong sighed, "Oh, my damn charm."

"How did the Young Duke become a beggar?" Zhao Qing stopped laughing and asked seriously.

Li Jinglong smiled meaningfully: "Does the young lady have to speak in this posture?"

Zhao Qing stared at him intently, then slowly lowered her head.

Warm, moist lips came closer.

After a while, Li Jinglong sat up, wiped his mouth, and asked, "Are all grassland girls this proactive?"

Zhao Qing sat down beside him and glared at him: "I've never been to the grasslands. I grew up in Dadu."

"Was it Li Shou who arranged for you to come to my side?" Li Jinglong asked with a smile.

Zhao Qing paused slightly, then nodded frankly: "Yes. And he already knows your identity, Young Duke."

Li Jinglong wasn't surprised: "I have a lot of acquaintances in Yingtian City who recognize my face; it'll be exposed sooner or later. What does he want from you?"

"Of course, it's to seduce the young Duke," Zhao Qing said bluntly, "so that it will make things easier for the Li family."

Li Jinglong smiled slightly: "You sold him off so quickly?"

Zhao Qing leaned closer to him: "To me, the Young Duke is the one I can rely on. There's a saying in the Central Plains: 'Those who understand the times are the heroes.'"

Li Jinglong frowned, looking at the stunningly beautiful face beside him.

This woman never tells the truth.

If I hadn't been so knowledgeable in my past life, I'm afraid the original owner of this young man would have been completely bewitched by her.

"Very good." Li Jinglong stood up. "I'll take you back to the manor."

Zhao Qing was overjoyed: "From now on, I will be the servant of the Young Duke."

Horse-drawn carriages travel through the streets.

Li Jinglong closed his eyes to rest, while Zhao Qing sat quietly to the side.

"Do you know Zhang Liangbi?" Li Jinglong suddenly asked.

Zhao Qing frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "I've seen him once from afar. Back then, my grandfather summoned Kökö Temür and Li..."

Generals Siqi and Zhang Liangbi entered Dadu, intending to mediate the conflict between them. I, a servant, glimpsed it from afar through the window.

"The Emperor even summoned them?" Li Jinglong laughed. "A room full of people who none of them were willing to submit to each other—didn't they start fighting on the spot?"

Zhao Qing smiled bitterly and shook her head: "My grandfather was already powerless to control the generals at that time; it was just a last-ditch effort."

"Later, Li Siqi became the leader of the alliance and led Zhang Liangbi and his group of Guanzhong warlords to fight against Kökö Temür for several years," Li Jinglong said.

Zhao Qing sighed softly: "If it weren't for that, the Ming army wouldn't have won such a great victory in the Northern Expedition so quickly."

Li Jinglong shook his head: "Even if you don't fight amongst yourselves, the Ming army will still win in the end. The Yuan dynasty is doomed, its fate is sealed, and it cannot be saved by one or two powerful figures."

"At least, they won't win so quickly. The Yuan Dynasty still has Kökö Temür, whose abilities are comparable to your General Xu Da," Zhao Qing argued.

"In the end, the expansion still failed." Li Jinglong shrugged.

"He and Xu Da were evenly matched." Zhao Qing snorted. "Your emperor has sent people to persuade Kökö Tölö to surrender many times, sending letters, gifts, and promising high-ranking positions and generous salaries, but he has refused them all."

Li Jinglong nodded: "You're right, Kuo Kuo is indeed a remarkable man in the eyes of His Majesty."

As they were talking, the carriage slowly came to a stop; they had arrived at the Duke of Cao's residence.

Li Jinglong led Zhao Qing into the mansion.

Li Zengzhi was leaning against a pillar, looking bored, when he saw the girl behind his elder brother and asked with a gossipy expression, "Brother, who is this girl?"

"Her name is Zhao Qing, my new maid," Li Jinglong introduced.

Zhao Qing bowed to Li Zengzhi and said, "This servant greets the Second Young Master."

Li Zengzhi sized her up for a moment, then looked at Li Jinglong, her expression subtle: "Sister Zhao's demeanor doesn't seem like that of a maid. Brother, did you forcibly abduct a woman?"

Li Jinglong nearly choked: "Get the hell out of here!"

Zhao Qing quickly waved her hand, "Second Young Master, you misunderstand. I was desperate and in debt, being chased by people. I am so grateful to the Eldest Young Master for coming to my rescue."

"Is it because of my older brother that he's driven to desperation?" Li Zengzhi asked.

Zhao Qing chuckled, amused: "Second Young Master is joking. With your demeanor, how could the Eldest Young Master do such shady things?"

"Then you don't understand my older brother," Li Zengzhi sighed heavily. "Alas, a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung."

Snapped!

Li Jinglong slapped him on the back of the head: "Stop undermining me."

Li Zengzhi scratched the back of his head: "Alright, I won't bother you anymore, I'm leaving."

Li Jinglong called out, "Where are you going?"

Li Zengzhi didn't even turn his head: "I'm going to find Sister Yuan."

Li Jinglong:

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