[Chiyomiras Corner]

PG-13? But Xiaoqi says they were innocent!

Chapter 42: Love, You've Come ah

Yesterday passed very innocently, really!

Xiaoqi bestowed Song Liangzhuo two red dumpling marks. Well, in reality they couldn't be called dumplings as she only lightly slapped him. She was just throwing a tantrum mostly .

Xiaoqi did nothing more than squeeze Song Liangzhuo's face, and then laughed at Song Liangzhuo's misformed face until she forgot all proprieties. And Song Liangzhuo also did nothing more than punish her by nibbling on her neck until it was a little numb and aching, and until the sound of Pandi's voice made them hastily put their undergarments back on and fix their clothes. Then, putting on an act, they replied to her.

Xiaoqi originally wanted to open the door and walk out but she was pulled back by Song Liangzhuo. It was actually Song Liangzhuo's calm, normal voice that sent Pandi away. The entire afternoon, Song Liangzhuo just randomly drew things with Xiaoqi inside the room. Before heading out he had Xiaoqi change into a high-collar gown. It was only when Xiaoqi was looking in the mirror while preparing for bed that she noticed the suspicious red marks near her collar.

The night's sleep was also very innocent, really!

Song Liangzhuo didn't understand why Xiaoqi, who was perfectly fine during the day, became ticklish the moment she got into the bed. When he kissed, she giggled; when he touched, she dodged. He was vexed and just wanted to take her just like that, yet she squeezed her legs together deathly tight. He finally coaxed her to obediently hug him, but just when he wanted to enter she started tearfully crying, insisting on discussing the question of how big the ant was.

When Song Liangzhuo was tormented to the point his entire body was covered with sweat and he finally laid down, Xiaoqi sniffled and even asked him with concern why he was sweating so much, was his body weak? And Song Liangzhuo became even more covered with sweat.

In the end, Xiaoqi concluded that the ant was a little smaller than last time, but she still liked kissing and didn't like being bitten by the ant. She asked Song Liangzhuo if they could just play kissing in the future. Song Liangzhuo heavily slapped his forehead, then flipped over and pressed down on Xiaoqi, using this strength to cover Xiaoqi until she fell asleep.

Before Xiaoqi fell asleep she thought Song Liangzhuo's facial color was really not good, but when she got up she felt that Song Liangzhuo's facial color was actually really good. At this moment, as she pulled Song Liangzhuo to see the new Official enter the city, she felt like his facial color actually didn't count as that good.

But who was Xiaoqi? She's the big-hearted, caring expert in making others happy, the Qian family's Xiaoqi ah!

Xiaoqi had the carriage stop and jumped down herself to buy five numbingly spicy barbecue sticks, then happily climbed up again. Handing Pandi and Meng Yunfei two, she left herself one and squeezed the last two into Song Liangzhuo's hand.

Pandi was pregnant so she wasn't eating spicy things. She wanted to give the stick in her hand to Meng Yunfei but it was snatched away by Xiaoqi's swift hands and also stuffed into Song Liangzhuo's hand.

Pandi's brow lifted and she laughed.

"Xiaoqi really treats Brother-in-Law well."

Meng Yunfei took a bite of the barbecue and said: "Look at Brother-in-Law, that expression, is Xiaoqi bullying your own family's husband?"

Did he have such an expression? Hearing that, Song Liangzhuo's brows slightly creased.

Pandi covered her mouth as she laughed: "That's also true, haha. Looks like being tied together for an entire afternoon yesterday was still not enough, Brother-in-Law already has a complaint just coming out to for a stroll."

This time, not needing Song Liangzhuo to say anything, Xiaoqi had already scrunched up her brows unhappily.

"Second Sister is talking nonsense, Official Song's meaning isn't like that at all."

Pandi pretended to be astonished: "Then whatsit mean ah?"

Xiaoqi blinked and looked towards Song Liangzhuo with wrinkled brows. That expression was asking, Official Song, what d'ya mean ah?

Song Liangzhuo lifted a single eyebrow, I don't mean anything.

It's unknown if Xiaoqi received Song Liangzhuo's message or what, but she nodded and said: "Official Song doesn't mean anything."

The moment this was said, Pandi and Meng Yunfei erupted into laughter.

Xiaoqi looked at the two that were laughing so much that they forgot propriety and fumed, leaning into Song Liangzhuo's chest. Song Liangzhuo wrapped his arm around her waist and said in a low voice: "Xiaoqi should eat, they're just teasing."

But they don't look like it! Xiaoqi pouted, then firmly took a bite of the barbecue, firmly chewed then swallowed. After that, she stuck her tongue out flauntingly at Meng Yunfei before firmly saying: "Humph, I'm not giving it to you, I didn't buy it for you."

After Xiaoqi finished speaking she reached out to take the stick of meat in Meng Yunfei's hands but Meng Yunfei's teeth just gave a smooth pull along the wooden stick, then with a 'slurp' of an inhale, that stick of meat was completely bare naked. Meng Yunfei handed the bare and smooth stick over. Xiaoqi disdainfully withdrew her hand and wrinkled her nose, saying to Song Liangzhuo: "Second Brother-in-Law is so hateful."

Song Liangzhuo smiled as he nodded.

Xiaoqi saw Song Liangzhuo's mouth hook into a smile and also happily took another big bite. Seeing that Song Liangzhuo didn't move, she blinked her eyes: "Official Song, you should try it, it's really tasty."

Song Liangzhuo shot a glance at Meng Yunfei who was purposefully staring at him with his eyes wide, then looked at the piping red glistening with oil meat in his hand. Knitting his brows slightly, he still took a bite.

Xiaoqi's expression was full of expectation as she stared at Song Liangzhuo and asked: "Is it tasty?"

Song Liangzhuo's taste was mild in the first place and also lived extremely healthily in Song fu; there were never a lot of spicy things, or it would be more accurate to say, he has never came in contact with them before. This one bite down caused his mouth to be insanely painfully scorched like a burning sore had erupted inside his mouth.

Meng Yunfei saw Song Liangzhuo's cheeks instantly turn red and clapped, chuckling: "Xiaoqi, looks like your family's husband can't eat spicy stuff. Look at that face, it completely changed color!"

Xiaoqi glared at Meng Yunfei then directly sat on Song Liangzhuo's leg and blocked the opposite side's line of site, humphing: "You're not allowed to laugh at Official Song."

"Oh, she protects him quite tightly." Pandi laughed.

Song Liangzhuo's mouth burned like crazy, but only his face turned slightly red. Meng Yunfei originally wanted to poke his head over to see if he was secretly sticking out his tongue but Song Liangzhuo had already pulled down the arms Xiaoqi was using to cover him and lifted a brow towards Meng Yunfei, not without provocation.

Xiaoqi gently rubbed Song Liangzhuo's cheeks and pouted: "You didn't say that you didn't eat spicy things, so I thought you liked them."

Song Liangzhuo took Xiaoqi into his arms and sat to the side: "The flavor was really good."

"It's just too spicy." Meng Yunfei laughed as he tacked on.

Xiaoqi pouted as she shot Meng Yunfei a glare, the little hand holding Song Liangzhuo's large palm squeezed apologetically.

When Song Liangzhuo took office two years ago, he rode a horse and only knew that the common people had lined the streets in welcome. He never thought it would be such a momentous amount.

Over half the seats next to the window on the second floor of the restaurant had already been booked out. There were still several wealthy looking girls shouting out prices for the last few seats.

Pandi had booked a seat ahead of time, and the little waiter led the four directly to the table nearest to the best angled window.

The moment Song Liangzhuo got to the second floor, those ladies who were shouting prices against each other immediately quieted down. In the effort Song Liangzhuo took to just walk with the waiter to the table with his eyes lowered, those quiet voices had already became sweet and coquettish-sounding protests.

Those girls seemed to have reached a consensus and harmoniously crammed into the same table and sat down. Although it was a bit crowded, each one of the sat with extremely graceful bearing. If one did not pay attention to the frantic kicking feet beneath the table that itched to send the others flying, that is. One of them even cast a glance in Song Liangzhuo's direction from time to time, her eyes glistening as if tears were about to flow out.

Xiaoqi pouted as she looked at those women. Whenever one looked over she would swoosh a fierce glare blade over. But sadly, Xiaoqi's destructive power was seriously pitifully small. The moment her mouth pouted and her wide eyes glared, contrasted with her tiny little chin and immature appearance, it caused the Pandi and Meng Yunfei sitting on the opposite side to be torn between laughing and crying.

How could she possibly intimidate others like this? She was pretty much a spoiled child throwing a tantrum to them. But the mouth's skill at pouting was still passable, it was so upturned that a jar could be hung on it.

The girl on the other side simply did not receive Xiaoqi's expression filled with menace at all. She even provocatively lowered her head to take a look at her own large and bountifully filled meat buns, then she gracefully brushed her hair back and cast a glance at Xiaoqi's little meat buns.

Xiaoqi was infuriated to the point her nose was about to snort fire and her eyes glared acutely wide.

A hand reached over and blocked Xiaoqi's glower. Xiaoqi pouted and turned her face away. Song Liangzhuo's lips hooked as he bent over to her ear and softly said: "It's Xiaoqi that's the Official's wife."

This posture, to those women, was clearly a display of doting on the wife. Each one of them regretted even more that they didn't grab hold of the chance back then and let this silly little girl that only knows how to squat around* snatch the opportunity. Several ladies sorted out their feelings and prepared to welcome the new official, but the girl that secretly sent amorous glances at Song Liangzhuo bit her lips. Even though Song Liangzhuo didn't even lift his head from start to finish, she didn't recollect her gaze at all.

Connotation of squatting to take a crap. Modern connotations include when photographers squat in bushes to wait for a celebrity to come out.

Xiaoqi's eyes blinked, then she gave that girl a sweet smile before turning around and cutely saying: "Husband, Xiaoqi wants cakies, feed me!"

"Pfff~~"

Meng Yunfei sprayed out his entire mouthful of tea but Song Liangzhuo's eyes and hands were swift and blocked it with a paper fan. Pandi was also shocked into choking and covered her mouth while heavily coughing. Worried, Meng Yunfei hurriedly took her into his arms and gently patted her back.

People from several tables all looked over. Song Liangzhuo's face was also a little red. His little Xiaoqi ah, why does the information she receive always end up different from what he wanted to convey?

Xiaoqi aimed a look at that woman and saw that her gaze no longer had the earlier enchanting charm. Pleased with herself, she tilted her head and moved to Song Liangzhuo's leg to lean on his body.

Everyone in the room stared at this table that seriously caused people to feel irritated (with jealousy). Meng Yunfei waved and had the waiter add another layer of screen. The moment they were blocked from sight, the sound of enthusiastic discussion could be heard from the streets. The opposite teahouse window also started to be filled with human heads.

Xiaoqi moved to completely sit in Song Liangzhuo's lap and poked her head outside to look. Pandi and Meng Yunfei didn't really think much of it. After all, Xiaoqi had always liked drilling into the Fat Old Man and Mrs. Mei's arms like this, even into the older sisters embraces, too.

Song Liangzhuo's thoughts were completely concentrated on the claw with which Xiaoqi was grabbing the window with. He hugged her slim waist, extremely afraid that she would in a moment of excitement jump out the window. Due to this, he also forgot to consider about this ambiguous position.

The drums and gongs cleared the way as the new Official, who was dressed in crimson, rode a horse and slowly approached step by step.

"Eh? Looks like he's not as tall as Official Song!" Xiaoqi pouted.

Once he got close, the girls on the second floor of the opposite teahouse started scattering flowers towards the street. But it was very strange. Not long after the new official walked past, the crowd started slowly dispersing. Xiaoqi blinked and started leaning forward again, but was pulled back with a tug by Song Liangzhuo.

Xiaoqi patted Song Liangzhuo's hand and poked her head out again, not even bothering to turn back.

After he got even closer, Xiaoqi seemed to vaguely see a clear glimpse of the top scorers face.

Xiaoqi blinked, her nose wrinkled, then with an 'ah' she throw herself into Song Liangzhuo's embrace. Qian Pandi on the other side didn't understand. Putting down her tea she also poked her head out to take a look. Shaking her head, she said: "Each generation is worse than before! With this one appointment, how many young girl's hearts will break in Tongxu ah?"

"It should be each appointment is worse than before." Meng Yunfei put a palm gently on Pandi's belly and smiled: "Each generation is stronger than the last."

"Close enough is good enough." Pandi lightly replied.

Song Liangzhuo extended his head to take a look and his brows lightly knitted: "Having an ugly appearance doesn't necessarily mean there'd be a capability problem. Perhaps he's a good official that will benefit the county."

Meng Yunfei didn't believe so: "That might not necessarily be true. Look at his age. I'm afraid he's probably taken the test for many years. It might be that this time it was simply a blind cat that caught a dead mouse, a complete accident."

Xiaoqi poked her head out from Song Liangzhuo's chest and nodded: "His eyes are too bright, definitely signs of greed. I don't like."

Meng Yunfei snapped his fingers: "Third Younger Sister's eyesight is the best."

Xiaoqi lifted her chin: "From the eyes you can see a person's heart. All emotions can be seen from the eyes."

Song Liangzhuo gently laughed: "Which story did you hear that from?"

Xiaoqi pouted: "Official Song, your words here are lacking. Recalling that year"

Recalling that year what ah? Xiaoqi didn't have anything prepared herself and her letting hand sway very grandly in the air, she then very grandly retrieved it again. Still nodding, she said: "Xiaoqi's the smartest. That quote was something Xiaoqi said herself."

Song Liangzhuo picked up Xiaoqi and had her sit properly at the side before saying warmly: "What Xiaoqi said also isn't wrong. Under usual circumstances, only the top scorer would be directly appointed a government official position, and even then he would only be a seventh rank. For a second ranker to be appointed an official position has never happened before."

Meng Yunfei nodded: "Don't know if it'll be fortune or calamity."

"The accounts book for flood management have already been sent up several times, and His Majesty has already allocated some funds, so he probably has the intention to manage the flood. This way even more attention will be paid to Tongxu, so if the new official is questionable, he probably still wouldn't be able to take any rash actions."

"Younger Brother-in-Law, these words are flawed. Now that the higher ups have allocated funds for flood management, this would be the best opportunity for those interested to smuggle away some funds."

Xiaoqi hurriedly nodded and clapped her hand in agreement: "Since ancient times, corrupt officials have always been outrageously bold. Whenever the higher ups send down a hundred taels, they all pocket at least half. It seriously causes people to wring their hands in frustration."

Meng Yunfei looked at Xiaoqi's childish face paired with her hand wringing motion and laughed to the point his mouth couldn't even close properly. At the side, Pandi smiled as she leaned on Meng Yunfei's shoulder: "Xiaoqi knows so much, no subject of discussion can do without you."

Xiaoqi smiled as she gave a serious nod, then turned her head and looked at Song Liangzhuo with a proud expression, her eyes sparkling as she waited for his praise. Song LIangzhuo seized Xiaoqi's arm and squeezed, lowering his gaze to hide the smile in his eyes.

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Credits: Translated by Chiyomira, Edited by Ocelot