After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows-Chapter 110: You Are My Benefactor

Speaking of it, when she finally held great power and could command the world, she too, to some extent, nurtured a simple yet practical dream like the emperors and generals of old.

Awake, holding the power of the world; asleep, resting on the lap of a beauty.

The former she achieved through her own efforts, but as for the latter... it was better left unsaid.

It’s not that there weren’t any beauties—in fact, there were many.

But she seemed naturally endowed with the ability to easily see through whether the people in front of her were sincere, and sitting in her position, the amount of genuine affection one could receive was really not much.

And she was unwilling to settle.

Over time, she grew weary, and the thought of resting on the lap of a beauty faded.

Compared to those entangled and messy emotions, work made her happier.

Expanding territories, governing wisely, each brought her a sense of accomplishment.

But to say she never had her heart moved in her past life wouldn’t be exactly true.

It’s just the emperor’s thoughts are not for outsiders to know.

She never even mentioned it to her closest ones.

But at this moment, Jiang Lingxi raised her hand to press down on her suddenly rapidly beating heart.

Even if it was just a silhouette.

After a few breaths, she released her hand and walked towards the blossoming crabapple tree.

Hezhu unconsciously wanted to follow, but before he could step forward, he was pulled by the sleeve by Xia Zhi and forcibly dragged in the opposite direction.

He could only be dragged back to the outside of South Garden, "Brother Xia?"

"Sir and Madam are talking, let’s not disturb them. If they have orders, Sir will call us."

Hezhu glanced back, through the gaps in the flowers and trees, he could vaguely see Jiang Lingxi had already walked up to the boss.

Though a little far away, imagining himself in the scene indeed seemed inappropriate.

"Then I’ll sort through the work to report later."

Xia Zhi: "Good idea, want some tea?"

"Coffee, please."

Xia Zhi gave him a look that said ’still not appreciating the good stuff’, then turned around to prepare it.

Hezhu scratched his head; he knew the tea here was good, but he just couldn’t appreciate it, couldn’t tell the difference, so he’d rather stick to the coffee he was used to than waste something so precious.

Jiang Lingxi walked up to Shen Yunqing, and seeing the cushioned low stool beneath her feet, knew it was prepared for her.

Sitting down, her gaze naturally fell on the person before her, and she frowned slightly.

It was nothing; this person was not just dressed in white, evoking a sense of nostalgia in her, but also wore a white mask, revealing only a pair of clear eyes, slightly furrowed brows, with an inherent sharpness.

The whole person seemed a bit careless, yet a bit weak.

Looks like he really is ill!

"Have some tea."

Jiang Lingxi lowered her eyes, seeing long fingers clasped around a beautiful transparent glass, with the amber tea slightly rippling, handed over to her.

Black tea, gentle and stomach-warming, suitable for pre-meal consumption; it was quite considerate.

After a sip, she couldn’t help but relax her brows, the taste was the best she’d had since waking up.

This made her inclined to offer some concern to the person before bringing up her purpose for coming, "Before I came, I heard from your assistant that you weren’t feeling well and were recuperating, is it serious?"

Seeing him even wearing a mask, she couldn’t help but think so.

Shen Yunqing slightly lifted his eyes, which were originally slightly lowered.

He had been deliberately avoiding looking at the face across from him, but the concern he just heard gave him a bit of impulse.

Looking over, he replied, "It’s a flu, not serious, but I don’t want to infect."

Jiang Lingxi nodded understandingly as she wiped out the remaining tea in her small cup in one go, setting it down just as she met Shen Yunqing’s eyes.

In that moment when their eyes met, even the air in South Garden seemed to pause briefly.

Until Jiang Lingxi nonchalantly withdrew her gaze, nodded, and commented, "The tea is nice. If I’d known you were still feeling unwell, I wouldn’t have come today. Mainly, I couldn’t meet you during my last visit, so don’t blame me for being persistent!"

Naturally, this was just polite talk, regardless of whether the other party caught it.

Shen Yunqing’s fingers under the table curled unconsciously, and when he spoke again, his tone remained calm, a slight, almost imperceptible tension, "I was probably on a business trip out of town last time. You said on the phone there was something you wanted to discuss, what is it about?"

But Jiang Lingxi detected it, although she didn’t know why he was a bit nervous, it did not affect what she was going to say next, "Actually, I’ve had a question always bothering me, Mr. Shen, why did you help me back then, and use it as a condition to marry me?"

This question she asked not only for herself but also on behalf of the original owner.

Only, the original owner never got an answer before departing.

No worries, she’s here to help now.

"Because..."

Jiang Lingxi poured herself another cup of black tea, adopting a posture of listening attentively.

Shen Yunqing’s voice, a bit hoarse, sounded even deeper and more ethereal through the mask, "More than half a year ago, I was guided by a sage who said Miss Jiang would be a benefactor in my life."

"Bang!"

The base of the glass hit the table with a soft sound as the person setting it down used a bit too much force.

Jiang Lingxi’s eyes widened slightly as if to say, ’Do you think I believe you?’

In the end, the other party wasn’t to be outdone, responding with equally sincere eyes.

If the previous glance could barely be described as a gaze lasting a lifetime, this time it was indeed a real confrontation.

Shen Yunqing: I am telling the truth.

Jiang Lingxi: I don’t believe you!

But as time went on, Jiang Lingxi: "..."

This sense of rivalry felt oddly familiar!

Until a breeze passed by, and the crabapple tree above them swayed with the wind for a moment, petals fell bit by bit, and seeing a petal about to fall into the teacup at her hand, Jiang Lingxi hurriedly reached out to catch it, just as she heard the other person suppress a cough, the stiff atmosphere slightly eased.

Jiang Lingxi held the crabapple petal in her palm, "You should at least fabricate a convincing reason!"

Shen Yunqing pressed his knuckles to his slightly itchy throat, "I’m afraid I have reasons I cannot disclose."

Jiang Lingxi: "..."

This makes it really difficult for her!

After all, at first, it was the original host’s family that was on the receiving end, and the original host agreed to obtain the marriage certificate with the man in front of her in exchange for paying off the family’s debts, with the other side resorting to no coercion or inducement.

To put it simply, it was a mutually willing deal.

She truly couldn’t force Shen Yunqing to reveal the real reason.

But without understanding the purpose of his actions, she couldn’t help but dwell on this unsolved matter.

That there’s something in this world she couldn’t solve!

But after thinking and rethinking, she was still at a loss.

Couldn’t possibly resort to torture, could she?

Shen Yunqing’s gaze fell on Jiang Lingxi’s discontented furrowed brows, and he closed his eyes slightly, after a moment, speaking again, weakly yet resolutely, "I know that taking advantage of someone like this is somewhat unscrupulous. If, if Miss Jiang finds someone she truly loves in this life, I am willing to dissolve the marriage contract with Miss Jiang, and we both go our separate ways, is that acceptable?"

Jiang Lingxi: "..."

She was speechless and tempted to directly tear off Shen Yunqing’s mask and ask this face: What exactly are you after!