Although Qin Zhao was somewhat dissatisfied with the fact that her young husband ignored her just because he had a friend, he did not stop Jing Li from interacting with Yue Qingzi.
Jing Li has never had many close friends in the capital city, so it is a good thing for him to get to know Yue Qingzi.
As for the prefect, he was worried and confused, and he still couldn't completely put his mind at ease after receiving Qin Zhao's reply.
But after all, he had said with his own mouth that he hoped Yue Qingzi and Jing Li would spend more time together, so he couldn't just swallow his words now.
As time went by, the affection between the two young men grew stronger and stronger, and the magistrate and his wife finally dispelled their doubts.
However, the concerns of the magistrate and his wife are not unfounded.
Yue Qingzi was an unmarried girl after all, and even if he was very low-key, Qin Zhao still received a lot of attention. If a girl ran to Qin Zhao's house all day, it would be easy for people to misunderstand her.
After Qin Zhao thought about it, he tactfully raised the matter with Jing Li.
Yue Qingzi now lives in the prefect's house, so it is not convenient for Jing Li to visit him. But Jing Li is currently writing the third volume of Dream Talk, and hopes that Yue Qingzi can give him some advice, so Yue Qingzi often goes to Jing Li's house.
Upon closer inspection, it was actually Yue Qingzi who obeyed Jing Li's wishes.
Jing Li now fully understands the difficulties Shuang'er faces in this era. He and A Zi hit it off right away and naturally he doesn't want his good friend's innocence to be slandered for no reason.
After careful consideration, Jing Li took the initiative to propose to Yue Qingzi that they meet outside next time.
"Aren't you worried that someone might see your manuscript if you write it outside?" Yue Qingzi raised an objection, "Is it inconvenient?"
The boy was simple and frank, but he was also very understanding of human nature. He could tell at a glance that Jing Li was eccentric.
Jing Li had no choice but to express his worries.
"I thought it was nothing." Yue Qingzi listened but didn't care much. "At most I can avoid suspicion in the future and come back when Mr. Qin goes to teach in Gu's house."
"But..." Jing Li hesitated.
This is actually not safe.
Rumors are scary, and Yue Qingzi can't avoid them just by trying to avoid suspicion.
Moreover, this incident affects more than just Yue Qingzi.
Qin Zhao has always been in the spotlight. If it were really rumored that Shuang'er frequently came in and out of his home, it would have an impact on Qin Zhao's reputation.
You know, the imperial examination paid great attention to the character of the candidates.
Jing Li couldn't let these two people who were so important to him take risks because of him.
He and Yue Qingzi now spoke freely about everything they knew, and expressed all their thoughts openly.
The latter fell into deep thought.
"In fact, this matter ultimately comes down to the fact that other people don't trust the relationship between you and Mr. Qin." After a moment, Yue Qingzi came to the conclusion.
Jing Li: “Ah?”
He didn't understand why Yue Qingzi suddenly thought of this.
Yue Qingzi patiently explained: "Think about it, Qin Zhao has no power, so why do the people in the city care so much about Qin Zhao's private affairs? It's because they haven't given up."
"In fact, you know very well that most people in the capital don't believe Qin Zhao's statement that he doesn't want to take a concubine. They just think that Qin Zhao doesn't like the other party and use this as an excuse. Because of this, there will always be people who have a glimmer of luck in their hearts and think that they will definitely find a chance to persuade Qin Zhao."
"Isn't that what my uncle and aunt think?"
“…” Jing Li opened his mouth, not knowing how to respond.
He didn't know whether to say that A Zi was insightful or straightforward. How dare he judge the prefect like this? If others heard such words, he would definitely be in trouble.
Jing Li didn't reply, so Yue Qingzi continued, "So, as long as we can make those who are eyeing Qin Zhao give up, no one will pay attention to his life anymore, and we can continue to interact with each other."
"... And, isn't this what you want?"
Jing Li remembered how jealous he had been for a while when he first met Yue Qingzi, and his ears felt a little hot: "Yes, yes, so what? This is simply impossible to do."
Qin Zhao had rejected matchmakers who came to propose marriage more than once, but he still couldn't stop those who had feelings for him.
Even Qin Zhao couldn't solve this problem. What else could he, a poor husband in the eyes of others, do
Yue Qingzi smiled complacently and said, "I have an idea."
Jing Li did not miss out on his work because of his friendship with Yue Qingzi. On the contrary, because he had a loyal reader who could give him feedback immediately, his efficiency in writing storybooks increased day by day. The manuscript of the third volume of "Dream Talk" was submitted in early May, and the content was thicker than the second volume.
While waiting for printing and distribution to major bookstores, the Jiangling tabloid suddenly released a bombshell news.
—The identity of the author of "Dream Talk Notes" Zhao Li has been confirmed. He is the husband of Xiao Sanyuan Qin Zhao, Jing Li.
The eye-catching headline occupied the front page of the current issue of Gangneung tabloid. Below the headline was an interview between a tabloid reporter and Jing Li. In the interview, Jing Li admitted that he was Zhao Li and generously shared some stories about writing the storybook.
For example, many of the plots in the storybook are indeed derived from real life. (After this sentence, there is a line of notes from the interview author. According to him, reality is sweeter than what is presented in the storybook, which made the author envious and jealous during the interview. I will not go into details here.)
For another example, my husband didn't know about my storytelling writing at first. After he found out, he dragged him to several bookstores because he couldn't buy the finished book.
An entire page is filled with blinding displays of affection.
Readers who have been eagerly waiting for the third volume of "Dream Talk" have not yet calmed down from the shock of seeing the title, but have been dazzled by the overwhelming amount of dog food. After reading it over and over again, they finally came to their senses.
Mr. Zhaoli’s true identity... just came to light like that
True or false
This interview was widely circulated in the capital, and Dream Talk and its author Zhao Li became the focus of attention. Mr. Chang, the owner of Jing'an Bookstore, seized the business opportunity and launched the third volume of Dream Talk. This time, on the last page of the storybook, everyone really found the author's real name and address.
It just happened to coincide with the news in the Jiangling tabloid.
The evidence is conclusive.
Thanks to the publicity created by this interview, the sales of the third volume of "Dream Talk Notes" increased several times.
"I didn't expect you to have such a method?" Even Qin Zhao couldn't help but exclaim in admiration after watching the entire incident.
This interview is more than just revealing Zhao Li's identity.
The author used a very pleasing method, ostensibly telling the mystery of Zhao Li's identity, but actually writing all the details of the life between Qin Zhao and Jing Li. Using the fame of Xiao Sanyuan to attract attention not only builds momentum for the third volume of "Dream Talk Notes", but also clarifies the loving harmony between Qin Zhao and Jing Li, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
"It wasn't my idea." Jing Li pointed to the author's name in the interview in the Jiangling tabloid and pretended to be mysterious, "Guess who this is?"
"Mr. Qingshan." Qin Zhao smiled faintly, "Qingshan, Yue Qing, it must be Master Yue, right?"
Jing Li: “You guessed it right.”
This Qingshan Jun was a little-known writer in Jiangling tabloids. Before Jing Li met Yue Qingzi, he had read an article published by Qingshan Jun in Jiangling tabloids, saying that he had mastered the true identity of Mr. Zhao Li. But after that, there was no news about Qingshan Jun, and Jing Li did not take it to heart.
Until Yue Qingzi and Jing Li confessed.
When Yue Qingzi first came to the provincial capital, after reading the first and second volumes of Dream Talk, he became particularly interested in Mr. Zhaoli's true identity.
When he published the article in Jiangling tabloid, he had used the prefect's relationship to make Zhaoli misunderstand him as Qin Zhao. The reason for publishing the article was to find a legitimate reason for himself to get close to Qin Zhao.
The author of the Gangneung tabloid came here to interview Mr. Zhaoli. This was his original plan.
Unexpectedly, before he could implement his plan, he was arrested by his uncle and confined to his home. Fortunately, he met Jing Li by chance, so everything was not in vain.
"So he suggested that you use the Jiangling tabloid to announce your identity and tell outsiders that I love you so much that I would never fall in love with anyone else?" Qin Zhao read the interview several times before folding it up carefully and placing it on the desk.
"Yes, Ah Zi is very smart, right?" Jing Li said, "Thanks to him, the new book is selling very well this time."
In the past six months, the book "Dream Talk Notes" has definitely been the most talked-about storybook among the people in the city after dinner. Zhao Li's reputation is no longer what it used to be. It is much more popular than the "Spring Boudoir Secrets" that Qin Zhao bought.
In Jing Li's familiar words, this was an extremely successful hype.
"Have you ever asked me about using my name to attract attention?" Qin Zhao tapped Jing Li lightly on the forehead.
Jing Li didn't dodge, but covered his forehead in pain: "I wanted to give you a surprise."
Qin Zhao raised his eyebrows: "Still talking back?"
Jing Li was not afraid of him at all now, and said confidently: "You have been unable to resolve those bad peach blossoms, so what's wrong with me intervening? I am calling it restoring the status of a husband."
“That’s not how the word is used.”
"Whatever."
Qin Zhao finally couldn't hold it anymore, and smiled as he hugged the man around the waist and said, "You're getting harder and harder to deal with. Did you learn bad things from Master Yue?"
"I didn't..." The palm that fell on his waist through his clothes was burning hot. Jing Li saw the weakness and instantly became timid. "I checked it repeatedly many times before letting A Zi submit it. I didn't say anything that was unfavorable to you."
"I know." Qin Zhao said, "I'm not angry."
"Then why are you bullying me, let—"
Qin Zhao bit his earlobe, his breath burning hot: "Do I need a reason to bully you?"
In the end, Jing Li never figured out what he had said that had provoked Mr. Qin and led to his severe "lesson". However, since the weather had warmed up, Qin Zhao's health had been getting better day by day, and he always took the opportunity to slowly make up for some of the things he owed when he was sick.
So whether there is a reason or not is really not important to him.
The air in the room was slightly hot and stuffy in the afternoon, so Qin Zhao fetched some water and helped Jing Li clean himself. The latter lay on the small couch in the inner room of the study, his eyelids drooping lazily.
This small couch was originally for Qin Zhao to take a short rest while reading. It was much narrower than the bed in the bedroom, and it was not convenient at all to do anything on it.
But Qin Zhao seemed to like this feeling of having to get close due to the cramped space. Jing Li's protests were futile and he could only accept his fate.
Qin Zhao cleaned up the two of them and then stood up and left the couch.
Jing Li endured the numbness and sleepiness that had not yet dissipated from his body. He raised his tired eyelids and actually saw Qin Zhao sitting at the desk, reading a book seriously.
To say that he is sanctimonious is to flatter him.
Jing Li angrily pulled the thin quilt over his head and soon fell asleep to the sound of cicadas in the afternoon.
In the blink of an eye, it was the golden autumn of August. Qin Zhao and Jing Li simply celebrated the little fish's first birthday and decided on a name for him. His surname was Qin and his given name was Nuo.
Since Qin Zhao hesitated for too long on the name, the name was finally decided by Jing Li.
When asked the reason, Jing Li said that a promise is worth a thousand gold, meaning that a koi can be sold for a thousand gold. If this kid doesn't obey in the future, he will sell him for money.
After hearing Qin Zhao's complicated expression, Xiao Yuzai probably didn't understand what he meant, and was still smiling foolishly and happily.