Chapter 1364: Alliance

Qin San Lang was afraid she would laugh too hard, and hurriedly said, "Stop laughing, have some water to calm down."

Right after he spoke, Gu Jinli began to cough.

Qin San Lang quickly patted her back to help her breathe, "Stop thinking about it, the more you think, the more you’ll laugh. Breathe in and out slowly."

Once Gu Jinli stopped coughing, he brought the wooden bowl filled with warm water to her lips, "Have a few sips."

After drinking some warm water, Gu Jinli felt comfortable and asked him, "Aren’t you angry?"

They’re calling you Qin Ruofan.

Qin San Lang laughed, "Not angry."

As long as he could be her husband, what did a nickname matter?

Besides, he was not truly a wimp; only incapable men would mind such a nickname.

He turned to Daqing and said, "Good job, go keep an eye on Mrs. Cen, she’s up to something. See what she has in mind?"

"Yes," Daqing accepted the order and quickly disappeared into the night.

Daqing and You Ping’s teams had been hiding in the shadows. At dawn, when Mrs. Cen first encountered Ding Ge, they saw Ding Ge take advantage of the mule cart to slip his hand into Mrs. Cen’s clothes.

Mrs. Cen didn’t scream or evade him but allowed Ding Ge’s actions.

Just this alone wouldn’t make them suspect Mrs. Cen’s infidelity; what aroused suspicion was when Mrs. Cen’s daughter needed to relieve herself that night. Mrs. Cen bypassed a shortcut and deliberately detoured past the area where Ding Ge had camped.

Before long, Ding Ge left the camp and followed Mrs. Cen.

Mrs. Cen was clever, and with her daughter around, she did not let Ding Ge succeed.

However, upon hearing Daqing’s report, they could see Mrs. Cen’s true nature. She was someone who could put on an act and was still disloyal after being married, seeking another suitable match.

"Is Lu Chong genuinely naive or pretending to be? Has he heard anything?" Gu Jinli looked at Lu Chong with skepticism. Given Mrs. Cen’s past, he knew about her affair with a young master and Ding Ge’s proclivities. If Lu Chong didn’t want to be cuckolded, he should keep a closer watch on Mrs. Cen.

Yet Lu Chong acted like he knew nothing, still treating Ding Ge as a brother with no suspicion at all.

Qin San Lang said, "No one who becomes a Company Commander is a fool. Lu Chong cannot afford to offend Ding Ge, fearing for his own life, hence he turns a blind eye."

"Bastard!" Gu Jinli cursed furiously, letting others take advantage of his wife. This kind of cowardly man might as well send his wife to be a prostitute.

Then she said, "So he won’t join us against Ding Ge."

Qin San Lang nodded, "He just wants to take advantage of the situation, sticking to whoever wins, perhaps dreaming of benefiting like the fisherman when the crane and clam fight."

When Ding Ge is strong, Lu Chong will serve him. But if Ding Ge becomes powerless, Lu Chong will kill him without hesitation.

He continued, "Ding Ge and Lu Chong are both threats, one a wolf and the other a mouse. Be cautious of them."

Gu Jinli nodded, "Don’t worry, I’m safe. It’s the Xie Family who might be in danger now. They’re too showy, exposing all their weaknesses, estimating the first incident will happen to that couple."

She asked, "What’s your plan with Company Commander Xie? Ally with him or let him run into trouble for us?"

Qin San Lang: "Ally with him. Xie Cheng is good, capable of leading troops and not ill-hearted. He’s still young; allying now would mean twenty years of support later."

Niu Dabao is good too, though he’s nearly forty, Niu Dajin and his brothers are growing mature, smart, and capable. Establishing a good relationship now would mean support in the future.

But the wives are troublesome; Mrs. Kuang is aggressive, selfishly opportunistic, loves taking advantage; Mrs. Ji... Qin San Lang didn’t want to comment on her, she’s too troublesome. Compared to his Xiao Yu, she’s smart, wise, and loves him, an ideal little wife.

Thinking about Xiao Yu, Qin San Lang felt warm, kissed her earlobe, and whispered, "Marrying Xiao Yu is my fortune."

"Again with this, I’m discussing serious matters with you." Gu Jinli elbowed him lightly, reminding him, "If you want to ally with Company Commander Xie, go have a drink with him. He’s very sensitive about Mrs. Ji; after today’s big blunder by Mrs. Ji, Company Commander Xie must be very upset. Go console him."

This is a good "opportunity to intervene," just drink with him, and the camaraderie will soar.

Qin San Lang nodded, "Alright, I’ll go find him. You should get some rest soon. The day after tomorrow we’ll reach Luchang County, we won’t camp then, but stay at a post station instead, so you can have a good bath."

She had gotten used to bathing even in winter, but hadn’t bathed for days, making it hard to sleep peacefully at night.

"Great!" Gu Jinli was joyous; she truly wanted a bath and reminded him, "I think Mrs. Ji’s temper is not normal; either she’s sick or poisoned, warn Company Commander Xie to be vigilant, see if Mrs. Ji is ill or poisoned?"

Qin San Lang became serious, "Alright, I’ll tell him."

He also felt Mrs. Ji was abnormal, a typical person, especially a mother, wouldn’t act like Mrs. Ji, getting angry without reason.

Plausibly she’s truly sick or poisoned.

If it’s poisoning, treatment is possible; if it’s a mental illness, Xie Cheng would truly become Poor Xie, having to care for a mentally ill wife all his life.

Gu Jinli nodded and urged him, "Hurry up and go, remember to take a cart, or you’ll freeze to death outside; leave early, return early."

But Qin San Lang didn’t manage to return to sleep that night, instead accompanied Xie Cheng for a night of drinking, returning to the camp around the beginning of dawn.

Before leaving, Company Commander Xie thanked Qin San Lang, "San Lang, thank you for enduring with me, glad to have you drink with me."

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have lasted.

He was heartbroken over Ji Zhenniang, but she wanted to ditch him, even giving him maids; he was utterly wounded!

"Family once said she was too pampered to be the heir’s wife. I coveted her beauty and loved her delicacy, begged the family for the marriage... now it’s self-inflicted pain." Company Commander Xie laughed bitterly, eyes full of exhaustion, tormented by Mrs. Ji.

Qin San Lang listened, looked at Company Commander Xie, and said, "The solution is simple: either stick it out, divorce, or bear a legitimate eldest son then separate and live apart, everyone goes their way."

Company Commander Xie was stunned, looking at Qin San Lang incredulously, "Are you advising divorce?"

Did he misunderstand Qin San Lang? Was he truly ruthless towards his legitimate wife?

Qin San Lang didn’t answer directly but said, "Seeing your expression, you still want to stick with Mrs. Ji. As the saying goes, teach your wife at the bedside. If you want to continue, teach her how to behave, stay away from bad influences, prevent Mrs. Ji from being misled and opposing you."

The maid beside Mrs. Ji is suspicious, believing Xie Cheng isn’t dumb enough and noticed long ago but hasn’t openly discussed with Ms. Xie.

He continued, "My wife says, between husband and wife, talk directly, don’t hide or play guessing games; hiding and guessing is poison, over time, it penetrates to the bone, ending in tragedy."