Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Qin Zhenzhen responded candidly, âEven if you hadnât said that, I would still choose to be with you.â
âBecause Iâve already fallen in love with you. Once in love and sensing your sincerity, I believe in experiencing and cherishing love.â âBut if, in the future, youâ¦
Su Bin cut her off. âThere are no âifs.â I wonât grow tired of it!â âWife, youâre never allowed to entertain such thoughts!â
He expressed a touch of anger and dominance as he spoke.
Qin Zhenzhen recognized her mistake and took the initiative to embrace Su Bin.
âHusband, I was mistaken. I accept any punishmentâ¦â
She vowed never to utter such sentiments again.
If, by some chance, an âifâ arose, she wouldnât regret her decision. Sheâd choose to let go.
Su Bin cupped her face. âHow?â
Qin Zhenzhen grinned. âPunish me however you see fit. Do you think you can devour me?â
Unable to resist the tease, Su Bin lifted her. âIâm really hungry!â
Qin Zhenzhen realized she might be leading him on and hurriedly clarified, âWhat nonsense are you talking about? Youâre becoming more and moreâ¦
shameless!â
It was daylight, and such behavior was out of the question.
Fortunately, Yuan Bao had already drifted into slumber.
The Third Prince and Lin Yue arrived in Shanglin two months later, seeking refuge. Clearly fatigued from being relentlessly pursued, they hadnât forgotten to bring a gift for Yuan Bao.
Su Bin briefed them on the situation with the Public House and the Empress Dowager, details they were already familiar with.
The Third Princeâs expression grew grim. âThe Public House is indeed power-hungry!â
The Public House seemed impatient, deeming the moment opportune. Their actions threatened to spark internal conflicts, resulting in numerous casualties in the capital.
Initially, a united front could have taken down the Public House. However, the new emperorâs foolishness and relentless pursuit of the Third Prince, combined with the Empress Dowagerâs biased stance, complicated matters.
Though he harbored no desire for the throne, they were determined to eliminate him. Faced with such hostility, the Third Prince couldnât remain passive. Furthermore, the Public Houseâs aspirations transcended mere subservience; they sought to ascend to the throne. This he couldnât allow.
With a resolve to fight back, the Third Prince needed resources, particularly funds. Money was vital for recruiting soldiers, acquiring horses, and conducting covert training. It was also crucial for securing support from the martial arts community.
Su Bin, well aware of the financial requirements, emphasized, âWhen the time comes, we can only bring up the accounts. You both will receive the majority share, with only a small portion allocated to the Public House and the Empress
Dowager.â
The Third Prince expressed deep gratitude for Su Binâs generous assistance.
âThank you, Governor Su!â
Acknowledging that he faced the most challenging circumstances among the three factions and had the slimmest chance of seizing the coveted position, the Third Prince lacked the resources to reciprocate Su Binâs favor in the same manner as the Public House and the Empress Dowager.
Despite these limitations, Su Bin willingly extended his help.
Promising to repay Su Bin generously once he secured the throne, the Third Prince recognized the significant sacrifice Su Bin had made by relocating to Shanglin to support him.
Had Su Bin chosen to align with the Public House instead, his astuteness would have led him to a more prominent position, not settling for a lesser role in Shanglin.
The Third Prince perceived Su Binâs foresight in planning his move to Shanglin. He anticipated that upon his arrival, Su Bin would dispatch skilled individuals to subdue the bandits, concurrently establishing favorable connections with martial arts leaders and heroes.
Surprisingly, Su Bin did not personally make an appearance but instead discreetly entrusted the Third Prince with the task of negotiating with them..