Chapter 77

Listen, readx;

Women all need to be coaxed.

Leaving his brothers drinking outside, Liu Jun hurried into the room to comfort Xueqi. She was sitting in front of the dressing table in the bedroom, silently shedding tears. "Qiqi, I really have nothing with that Li Shiniang. I saved her, but I never had any other entanglements. I don’t know why she keeps clinging to me and even came to my door. But please believe me, I never had anything with her in the past, and I won’t have anything with her in the future."

As he spoke, Liu Jun picked up the pearl necklace and walked behind her, helping her put it on. "Qiqi, you look so beautiful with this necklace."

Lu Xueqi said, "If you put it on Miss Li, it would look even better. You should go put it on her."

"Qiqi, I can swear to heaven. If I had even the slightest inappropriate relationship with that Li Shiniang, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death..."

Such oaths were indeed the most effective. Perhaps people like Liu Jun from later times could take them lightly and swear casually, but for people of this era, especially for a girl like Lu Xueqi, such a harsh oath clearly proved her lover's innocence.

She stretched out her hand and pressed it to Liu Jun's lips, "Don’t say anymore, I believe you."

"I know you wouldn’t go after that woman; she’s the one who came after you." As she spoke, her voice was already tinged with tears. "I’m just worried. A man like you will surely be admired by many women. Today you refused one Li Shiniang, but what if next time it’s a Du Shiniang? I’m so worried, afraid that you might be charmed by other women and taken away by them."

"Don’t talk, kiss me!" Liu Jun leaned down and said gently.

After a long kiss, Liu Jun released Xueqi, who was already gasping for breath. Then he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.

After the tension was relieved, she lay in her lover's arms, still savoring the sweetness of the kiss.

"Ahh, no."

"Wife, I’ve been holding back for over a month. Today you have to satisfy me."

"Be gentle, don’t rush."

"Hurry up, I’m dying here."

"Ahh!~~~~"

One by one, their clothes were shed and thrown aside, and the two young people faced each other naked. The red candles, incense, and pink mosquito net in the bedroom all exuded an intimate atmosphere.

Youth was indeed wonderful. A light touch was like kindling a raging fire, and the intense actions, heavy breathing, and the reunion after a short separation were even more passionate than a new marriage. The two clung to each other like glue, unwilling to let go.

Finally, when Liu Jun, drenched in sweat, lay panting heavily, the two looked at each other and smiled contentedly. The unpleasantness and misunderstandings caused by Li Zhen’s appearance were completely gone.

"Jiye, do you think my father will agree to our marriage tomorrow?"

"Of course he will." Liu Jun smiled. "If he doesn’t agree, just tell him you’re already carrying my child. Your father will agree immediately."

"Rascal, I’ll fight you!" Lu Xueqi rolled over.

"Alright, then let’s have another round. Demon, take a hit from me first!"

"Ahh, no, spare me, I can’t take it anymore."

"Hmph, isn’t it a bit too late to beg for mercy now? Demon, take another hit from me!"

After a night of折腾 (torture), a night of intense battle, fortunately, young people have abundant energy. When Liu Jun got up in the morning, he was still energetic, and Xueqi looked even more radiant.

"I’ll have Uncle Liu take you back first, then I’ll send Gongji to your house, and I’ll come over a bit later." Liu Jun kissed her on the cheek and arranged.

Though they were already living together openly, they still had to consider the feelings of the Lu family.

Lu Xueqi nodded.

Lu Xueqi spent the whole day carefully dressing herself. Though she had eloped with her man for over a month, today, when she returned home, she still maintained the hairstyle of an unmarried girl and chose a simple outfit. She wore all the jewelry that Liu Jun had given her.

After a long time of preparation, she was finally ready. Then Bao’er’s father came with a carriage. Bao’er, Yaoyao, Bao’er’s mother, and Bao’er’s sister-in-law all got into the carriage, while Bao’er’s older brother drove another carriage loaded with many gifts prepared by Liu Jun.

After seeing them off at the door, Liu Jun went to find Li Chunjiang.

"Gongji, my happiness depends on you."

"Don’t worry, leave it to me." Li Chunjiang was very enthusiastic.

"You’re really capable. If not, I’ll find an experienced matchmaker." Liu Jun scratched his head, a bit worried.

Li Chunjiang gave Liu Jun a disdainful look. In training and warfare, Liu Jun was naturally talented. When he took the Lu family girl and eloped, he was so decisive, but now he lacked confidence.

"Don’t worry. What other choice does the Lu family have besides agreeing? Besides, your conditions are not bad. Though the Lu family’s girl’s grandfather was a scholar and an official, her father didn’t even pass the examination for a scholar, and he only bought a supervisor’s degree. Now he’s just doing business."

Li Chunjiang was quite optimistic about Liu Jun’s conditions. "Your Liu family, even if it’s a branch of the Lock River Liu family, your father is a genuine scholar, and you are a martial student. Moreover, you now have an official position, a ninth-rank patrol inspector, an official. A twenty-year-old official, a rare talent."

"It’s a temporary position." Liu Jun corrected.

"Don’t be modest, you can do it." After saying that, Li Chunjiang called Zhang Shan and the other bodyguards, had them load the prepared gifts onto the horses, then mounted his horse and waved goodbye.

The large house was left with only Liu Jun.

Though even if the Liu family opposed, they couldn’t stop Xueqi from being with him, he didn’t want to see such a scene. He hoped Xueqi could get her family’s blessing. He knew how important it was to her.

Liu Jun suddenly realized that he had unknowingly filled his heart with Xueqi.

With no one at home, Liu Jun changed his clothes, led his horse, and headed to West Bay. It had been over a month since he last returned home.

The gifts for his family were prepared by Li Chunjiang and the others yesterday: several jars of good wine, two pounds of good tea, some sugar and fruits, a few bolts of new patterned silk, a small box of gold and silver, several antiques and paintings, and some jewelry.

The twenty-mile journey took only half an hour on horseback.

His young nephew was reading under a tree in front of the house. Looking up, he saw Liu Jun riding back and immediately shouted, "Uncle Liu is back, Uncle Liu is back." Like a messenger of good news, he quickly informed the whole family.

When Liu Jun arrived at the house, the whole family, including the servants, was waiting.

Liu’s father stood at the front of the family, looking at his son who had just dismounted, almost not recognizing him.

Today, Liu Jun had specially worn his official uniform.

Though the patrol inspector was a minor position, it was different from ordinary clerks or postmasters. He had a green official robe corresponding to the ninth rank, and according to his rank, his green robe had a patch on the front and back, with a seahorse on it.

Black hat, round-collar robe, belt, and official boots.

Wearing this outfit, Liu Jun looked very spirited. Even without the grand procession, the Liu family was stunned.

"Brother Jun, why are you dressed like this?" his older brother Liu Zhao couldn’t help but ask.

Liu Jun handed the reins to a servant, dusted off his new official robe, and said, "Father, Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law, this is the uniform of a ninth-rank military official."

Liu Zhao rolled his eyes, "I know it’s a ninth-rank military uniform, but why are you wearing it?"

"Ha ha." Liu Jun smiled and said calmly, "Recently, our Nine-Headed Bird team has performed outstandingly in several anti-bandit operations. Governor Zhao, Magistrate Lu, and Mr. Mei promoted me, so I’m wearing this uniform now."

"You’re an official now?" Liu’s father finally came to his senses and asked in surprise.

Liu Jun nodded.

His brother’s eyes were almost popping out, and he kept asking, "Second brother, what position do you hold now?"

"Patrol Inspector of Huatou Pass in Macheng County, Huangzhou Prefecture!" Although Zhao Cheng had agreed to Magistrate Lu’s appointment, there was still a procedure to go through. Only after the official appointment document arrived would he be officially the patrol inspector. For now, he was still the acting inspector.

"Patrol Inspector?" Liu Zhao’s enthusiasm waned. The position of patrol inspector was too minor.

But the father didn’t mind. A patrol inspector was still an official, a ninth-rank official with a clear rank.

Liu’s father had always hoped that someone from the Liu family would succeed in the imperial examinations and become an official. He never expected that his second son, after two years of studying martial arts and joining the local militia, would return as a ninth-rank military official after less than two months.

"Good, good, good, our West Bay Liu family finally has an official!"

"Father, a patrol inspector is just a minor position, in charge of only twenty archers and a few clerks, guarding a poor and remote area, with no future at all." Liu Zhao, though not very capable, had a keen eye.

His sister-in-law Mei Shi reached out and pinched his waist hard, "Why are you saying such things?"

"Who told you to speak recklessly? Your own brother becomes an official, and you don’t say anything good. If the patrol inspector is so bad, why don’t you try being one?"

Liu Jun then said calmly, "There aren’t many archers under me, but I have over two hundred retainers, and I plan to recruit another hundred new soldiers this time."

His brother’s mouth opened wide, almost big enough to fit a fist.

"Over two hundred retainers? And you want to recruit another hundred?" Though he was a bookworm, he knew the power of retainers. For a small patrol inspector to have two or three hundred retainers was too...

"Second brother, how many bandits did you eliminate before?"

"Not many, just about a hundred or so with my men." Liu Jun’s light remark left Liu Zhao speechless. Looking at his brother, he felt like he was seeing a ghost.

...

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