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Edited on January 25, 2022.

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As soon as the sun rose, the army quickly sent a report back to Luo Yang. Since the third prince was successfully captured and sent back, he will certainly lose his position and become a disgrace to the imperial family.

The Cong Zhou Bandits are now in utter chaos because they lost the support of the third prince's military army.

Because of this, everyone can assume that Xiao Zhi Zhi's war strategy was effective. In just one month, he wiped out almost all of the bandits and rebels.

There were still some bandits remaining, but they were not worth mentioning, because sooner or later they will be plucked out and destroyed.

———

On Chu Zhu Yu's side, she was still trying to persuade Xiao Zhi Zhi to dispatch some of his troops so that they could rescue the Zhi Residence's young master.

Because of her continuous effort, the entire family of Officer Zhi saw Chu Zhu Yu as their savior.

But at this moment their savior was bargaining with the general.

"I want to go out! Please?" The woman stubbornly pleaded.

"You can't." The man didn't budge.

"Why?"

"Your wound has not recovered yet."

"Nonsense, just this morning the doctor said I'm all healed up."

"It's too dangerous to go outside right now."

"...I've heared from the maids that you successfully quelled the rebellion, the current situation is much more stable than before."

The general sighed and finally put down the book in his hand, "I'm worried."

"What makes you so worried? I'm not a child." Chu Zhu Yu sighed.

"I can't allow anything unexpected to happen to you, especially when I'm not around."

Xiao Zhi Zhi caressed Chu Zhu Yu's cheek. It became a habit for him to stroke the corner of her lips.

After she got injured, he would always gently stroke the corner of her lips when they're alone just to remind himself of the fact that because of his carelessness, she was kidnapped and injured.

Chu Zhu Yu pursed her lips.

She understands that Xiao Zhi Zhi cares about her well-being and that he was only afraid to see her get hurt, but Chu Zhu Yu couldn't endure it anymore.

Ever since she was kidnapped, there would always be a person following her around. Freedom... feels so far away now, unlike the time when she was only a simple maid.

Moreover, since she visited Cong Zhou, she wanted to go sightseeing and walk around the famous tea shops before they go home.

"If you keep on being so controlling, I'm going to leave you out of frustration!"

Chu Zhu Yu only spoke without thinking, she didn't mean any of it.

Xiao Zhi Zhi's face paled.

"What did you just say?"

"What?" She looked up and saw his pale face.

"Do you want to leave me? Zhu Yu."

He slowly stood up, towering over her. Suddenly the atmosphere got heavier, and there seemed to be an invisible pressure weighing them down.

"I..." She opened her mouth, but she couldn't form any words.

His face was as pale as paper, but his eyes were sharper than a sword. He looked at her in the eyes, the atmosphere around them slowly becoming dangerous.

"Tell me, is it true or not?"

His fingers caressed the corner of her lips, where the wound was before, and gently moved his thumb left to right.

Somehow her lips began to feel hot, the atmosphere becoming more ambiguous.

"Jue Qing, listen, I..."

"Don't say a word."

He covered her mouth. He doesn't want to hear any of her words, because he might not be able to bear it.

"You will not leave me."

Xiao Zhi Zhi's stepped closer to Chu Zhu Yu, he bowed his head, and embraced her.

What is this heavy feeling in my chest?

He felt frightened, the pain was almost like he was stabbed in the chest, he almost couldn't endure it.

His hands gently enclosed her body, and his body started trembling, even his voice trembled a bit when speaking.

She never thought that with just those words, he would break down like this.

"You promised me that you won't ever leave me. Was that a lie?" He inhaled her scent, his face on her neck. "Zhu Yu, why do you want to leave me? Am I not doing well enough?"

No! It's not like that!

She shouted inside her heart.

"It's so strange, once you said you'll leave, my chest started hurting." It hurt so much, it's like he can't breathe.

Chu Zhu Yu instantly regretted saying those words.

Xiao Zhi Zhi lifted his head to see Chu Zhu Yu's face, and slowly kissed her. Chu Zhu Yu blushed.

"ng... ng.." She wants to speak, but her lips were blocked, causing her to say nothing.

He kissed her lips, her nose, her eyes, her neck. It was as if he could only verify that she exists if he does this kind of action.

How can she make him understand that she was only joking with him earlier! She didn't mean anything by it!

Her body was hugged tight, her lips was covered again, and the only part that she could move was her hands.

She lifted her arms and hugged Xiao Zhi Zhi's back, patting it softly.

His body shook, and he slowly stopped kissing her. He lifted his face and looked her in the eyes.

"Zhu Yu, you won't leave me, right?" He asked.

She nodded her head, as she agreed, he realized that they were still hugging, and that she couldn't move.

Xiao Zhi Zhi hesitated for a moment, then he removed his arms from Chu Zhu Yu.

"Jue Qing, I'm sorry, I was only kidding just now, it's not the truth!" she asked for forgiveness, "I never thought that you would take my words seriously."

She never knew that her words would affect him this much. She regretted what she said even more.

"You were only joking?"

He slowly lifted the corners of his lips and smiled, his face noticeably relaxed.

"Yeah."

She stepped closer and hugged him again. Even if she dies, she will never let him go. She tightly shut her eyes, "If this happens again, you can punch me hard!"

But contrary to her words, he gives her a very warm embrace, "Zhu Yu, in the future, please don't say things like that."

He never knew that his courage was this tiny until he experienced today.

———

It seems Jue Qing won't allow me to go and shop around.

Chu Zhu Yu sighed, today is just the same as any other day.

Xiao Zhi Zhi got so busy these days. Everyday he takes action to eliminate the remaining bandits inside of the city.

Meanwhile, Chu Zhu Yu and the wives of Officer Zhi gathered together to drink tea and chat around.

It's good that the Third Madam (Third Wife) is someone who is knowledgable of the different tea types.

"Lady Chu, your technique of brewing tea is so good."

Some of the madams, who only drink the tea brewed by Chu Zhu Yu, praised her non-stop.

"I only know how to brew tea."

Every time she gets praised like this, Chu Zhu Yu would feel a little embarrassed.

"Many people can brew tea, but only a few people know how to brew good tea. I drank this tea so many times in my time here in Cong Zhou City, but there is none who can brew tea like Lady Chu!" Madam Zhi said while giggling.

"That's right!" The other Madams also followed suit.

"If it wasn't Lady Chu who brewed our tea, we would never know that these tea leaves of Lao Ye can become so delicious!"

"Later on, we should let our maids learn how to brew good tea, or else the good tea would taste awful."

"Lady Chu, if you have the time, can you teach our maids your way of brewing tea?"

"Yes, it's fine with me." Chu Zhu Yu answered, this was a good chance for her to kill time.

Among the Madams, only the Third Madam seems to understand the different tea types, but she seems pre-occupied, she's not speaking at all.

"Third Madam? Did the tea taste bland?" the Fourth Madam asked.

The Third Madam shook her head, "This tea tastes very delicious, it has a wonderful fragrance, so heavy and refreshing. But..."

"But what?"

"But recently, I heard that a Tea Master came to visit Cong Zhou, his tea leaves were so special that the people who would taste his tea would praise him non-stop. I honestly don't know who is better between Lady Chu and the Tea Master."

From what the Third Madam said, it seems that she is longing to drink the tea that is brewed by the tea master.

"Of course, Lady Chu is better."

"This is not something that needs to be compared to."

Without waiting for Chu Zu Yu to speak, some of the madams opened their mouth.

"I was in the wrong." The Third Madam quickly apologized.

But Chu Zhu Yu got so curious after hearing what the Third Madam said. She waited until all the madams left, and called the Third Madam,

"Third Madam, please stay!"

"Lady Chu?"

"Does the Tea Master really know how to brew very special tea?" Chu Zhu Yu pulled the Third Madam closer and whispered.

Once she opened this topic again, the Third Madam seemed to understand,

"Yes, they say it's really good, the tea leaves have a special feel to them, and his technique is also unique. I heard that the Tea Master just arrived here, and that his Tea House business is not bad."

Chu Zhu Yu got excited, "So do you know the name of those tea leaves?"

"I don't know." Third Madam shook her head, and immediately asked her, "Is Lady Chu interest in it?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"How about we ask Lao Ye (Officer Zhi) to invite the tea master come here?"

"It's fine, we don't need to do that."

She wanted to visit the tea house herself, and at the same time, she wanted to take a stroll inside of the Cong Zhou Tea House, so that she could find the differences between her tea house with the tea houses in Cong Zhou.

Maybe she could even learn and gain some experience here, and when she comes back to Luo Yang, she could apply the techniques to her own Tea House.

Once she thought about it, Chu Zhu Yu felt more excited and got up from her seat.

Xiao Zhi Zhi forbade her from going out from the residence without an escort, but if she secretly goes out, and then return before him, it won't be a problem.

As long as Xiao Zhi Zhi doesn't know...

It's not a problem!

(E/R: Girl you couldn't even stay still for a few days after your fight!) 😂