When he woke up with a hangover, not only was he dizzy and weak, but his throat was also very dry.

He Chuzhou briefly rubbed his temples. He quietly got out of bed, tucked in the person who was still asleep, and went to the bathroom in his slippers.

He washed his face with cold water to clear his mind. While squeezing the toothpaste, he glanced into the mirror and his eyes paused when they fell upon the wound on the side of his lower lip.

He subconsciously raised his hand to touch it, and the pain made him gasp.

It was still fresh.

Where had this injury come from?

Was it a mosquito bite? 

There shouldn’t be mosquitos in this weather, and even if there were, how fierce would it have to be to bite him like this?

Did he fall and hurt himself?

But he didn’t feel pain anywhere else, ah.

He didn’t hit anything but his mouth? Wasn’t that weird?

Could it be that he dreamed of eating something tasty and bit himself?

How bizarre.

But compared to the first two, this possibility was the most likely.

He brushed his teeth while avoiding the wound, wondering if he should find some medicine to apply to it.

When he returned to the room, he found that Pei Xi was awake but hadn’t gotten out of bed. He was still sitting there hugging the quilt, gazing at him in a daze with sleepy eyes.

“What are you thinking about so early in the morning?”

He walked over and scratched Pei Xi’s chin, as if teasing a kitten.

Pei Xi: “Chuzhou, where is this? Why aren’t we at home?”

Oh. He’d forgotten that Pei-calico hadn’t been here.

“This is home too.”

He patiently explained: “It’s my parents’ house. We came here for dinner last night, and it was too late afterward, so we didn’t go back.”

Pei Xi gave an “Oh,” then squinted his eyes and yawned. He soon discovered the wound on He Chuzhou’s lip and pointed a finger at it: “What happened here?”

He Chuzhou: “I don’t know. I saw it this morning and it still hurts. I guess I dreamed about gnawing meat and bones last night.”

Pei Xi observed it thoughtfully for a moment and came to a conclusion: “No, it looks more like I bit you when we were kissing.”

A man couldn’t withstand such direct and explicit teasing from his sweetheart so early in the morning, especially those old virgins who hadn’t had sex in over twenty years.

As soon as Pei Xi finished speaking, He Chuzhou’s blood boiled at the scene that appeared in his head, and all of the blood in his body rushed to……

Presumptuous. He needed to stop.

He mentally recited a Buddhist mantra three times to calm his mind, then turned to help Pei Xi find some clothes.

Being bitten while kissing…..

Hmm, he would like that.

Pei Xi had come here on a whim the day before, so there weren’t any clothes prepared for him. He Chuzhou could only find a set of his own in a smaller size and let him wear it temporarily.

After picking out the clothes, he looked back and found that the person who was sitting up just now had laid back down again, and had wrapped himself tightly in the quilt with only half his face showing.

He Chuzhou was amused by his slightly childish behavior. He walked over and set the clothes on the bedside table, then bent down and touched his cheek: “Sleeping again?”

Pei Xi didn’t open his eyes, just breathing out a nasal hum.

He hadn’t gotten enough sleep in the first place, and hadn’t slept well in the unfamiliar environment. Now that he knew he was at home, he felt at ease and the sleepiness came back.

“Okay.” He Chuzhou rubbed his head. “There’s nothing to do this morning anyway, so just sleep.”

Pei Xi’s breaths quickly lengthened.

He Chuzhou glanced at the time. It was still early. He planned to change his clothes and go out for a run, but before he could turn around and take two steps, he suddenly realized something—

Pei-calico was sleeping now. When he woke up later, would he be in his right mind?

It turned out that his guess was entirely correct.

An hour later, Pei Xi awoke from his nap and sat up in bed with a bewildered look on his face. It took him several minutes to figure out what his situation was.

Okay. He pinched the bridge of his nose. It would be good to deal with some things today and not put them off until tomorrow.

He Chuzhou had tried his best to find him clothes in a smaller size, though they were still too big on him and the shoulder line fell to his arms.

However, autumn and winter clothes didn’t need to be too fitted. The loose, thin sweater was very suitable for this lazy season, and also suited him.

After cleaning up and coming out of the bathroom, he could faintly hear the sound of He Chuzhou and He Aiyue arguing downstairs.

He couldn’t help but prick up his ears. But before he could figure out what the brother and sister were arguing about so early in the morning, his phone rang. Pei Yansong had sent him a message:

[He Chuzhou has promised to help your brother. Did you talk to him about it last night?]

[I won’t argue with you about what happened yesterday. You should think clearly about where you went wrong and why you were so impulsive. We will speak again after your brother’s problem is solved.]

There were only a few short lines, but the words gave off a disdainful tone.

Pei Xi deleted the messages after reading them, then turned off his phone and put it away with no emotional fluctuations from beginning to end.

He and Pei Yansong had absolutely nothing to talk about.

As for He Chuzhou’s solemn promise to him last night that Pei Yansong wouldn’t bother him again for a while, he had ultimately underestimated the extent to which Pei Yansong would break his promises.

This was true for his partners, his ex-wife, and the son his ex-wife gave birth to for him.

He was unworthy of anyone’s expectations of him.

He Chuzhou went upstairs to call him down to eat. When he came in and saw that he looked clear-headed, he wore an unsurprised expression and said to himself: “En, that’s fine too. At least I don’t have to figure out how to correct any changes of address.”

Pei Xi heard him clearly, but didn’t respond. He asked instead: “Did you fight with He Aiyue again?”

He Chuzhou was helpless: “It’s not fair. I was just being reasonable. She’s the one who started a one-sided argument with me.”

Pei Xi: “What was the argument about?”

He Chuzhou spoke convincingly: “She said she’s as fat as a rubber ball and needs to skip meals to lose weight.”

Pei Xi: “And then?”

He Chuzhou: “Then I said she’s not fat, at least not like a rubber ball. She’s a rugby ball at best, and it won’t be too late to lose weight when she’s actually as fat as a rubber ball.”

Pei Xi: “……”

Pei Xi said seriously: “Aiyue is not fat.”

He Chuzhou: “Yeah, I said that too, ah, but she wanted to fight me after hearing that.”

Pei Xi: “You said she looks like a rugby ball.”

He Chuzhou said: “She said herself that she’s a rubber ball. Isn’t a rugby ball slimmer than a rubber ball?”

Pei Xi: “She can say that, but you can’t say that about her.”

“Is that so?”

He Chuzhou didn’t understand at all, but he was obedient: “Fine, I won’t say that next time. At least, I won’t say she looks like a ball, a scallion, or a cowpea. Is that okay?”

Pei Xi: “……”

Pei Xi: “Never mind, stop talking.”

The two of them went downstairs one after the other. In the dining room, Mrs. Chu and Mr. He Jiangchuan were already sitting at the table. He Aiyue was sulking, and scoffed at He Chuzhou when she saw him coming.

“Good morning, Xinxin.”

He Jiangchuan was reading the newspaper, and looked up to give Pei Xi a wave and a smile: “It’s your first time visiting us, and I didn’t even get to greet you properly yesterday.”

Pei Xi shook his head and said it didn’t matter.

“Come on, sit down and have breakfast.”

Chu Yuelan patted the seat beside her and beckoned to Pei Xi: “Chuzhou said you like to eat light, sweet foods in the morning, so I prepared these. I hope you like them.”

“Oh, and the soy milk is still hot in the kitchen. Auntie will go fetch it.”

Chu Yuelan moved so fast that he didn’t even have time to finish saying “I’ll get it myself” before she stood up and disappeared through the kitchen door.

“It’s okay, my mom is happy.”

He Chuzhou pulled out the chair next to Pei Xi and started to sit down, but He Aiyue rushed over and pushed him away to claim the seat. She complained in a low voice: “Pei-ge, your boyfriend is so annoying, ah. He’s a grown man who bullies little girls and calls them fat. I’m telling you, be careful about men like these. Their moral character is generally not very good — ah!”

He Aiyue immediately covered her head and added to her evidence: “Look, look, he hits people and has violent tendencies. He might become a domestic abuser in the future.”

He Chuzhou was angered into laughter: “Second-child He, with your eloquence, it’s unfair to call you a high school student. You should apply for a position at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We’ll send you out to negotiate in the morning, and the border artillery will be fired in the afternoon.”

He Aiyue gnashed her teeth, then turned her head and hugged Pei Xi’s arm: “Pei-ge, he gave me a back-handed compliment, wuwuwu.”

Pei Xi didn’t have a younger sister, and had never been hugged by one as she put on a show of being spoiled. He really wasn’t accustomed to it, and could only look at He Chuzhou as he tried to awkwardly urge them toward peace: “Aiyue is still young, don’t fight with her.”

He Aiyue stuck her tongue out at him proudly.

He Chuzhou accepted his fate and gave a thumbs up: “You have a strong backer, so I won’t fight with you.”

He Jiangchuan raised his eyes over the newspaper to take a peek, then pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose with a kind smile.

“Here, here.”

Chu Yuelan soon came out with two cups of steaming soy milk: “They’re freshly made, and I added sugar. Taste it and see if it’s sweet enough. If not, I’ll add more.”

As he watched Chu Yuelan place one of the cups in front of He Chuzhou, he suddenly recalled what He Chuzhou had said to him in the bedroom.

He’d brought up changes of address because he was afraid he would call Mrs. Chu “Mom” in his confusion, right?

This was indeed something Pei-calico would do.

If he really called her that, he would probably have to explain himself.

As he mused in distraction, he lifted his hand to take the other cup of soy milk from Mrs. Chu and said casually: “Thanks, Mom.”

Thanks, Mom.

Thanks.

Mom.

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……!”

In a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop, he heard himself suck in a deep breath. His entire body was numb.

When he saw Mrs. Chu’s expression turn from stunned, to astonished, to overjoyed, and then to blushing, his back stiffened. He didn’t dare turn his head to see the expressions of the others.

Following this, Mrs. Chu’s enthusiasm for him reached an unprecedented level.

She pampered him throughout the whole process. The corners of her mouth were perpetually raised, and her eyes were as bright as 200 watt searchlights, which rendered a person completely unable to resist. 

Even the reserved and taciturn Father He joined in.

Sometimes Mrs. Chu asked Pei Xi how the steamed buns tasted, and sometimes she asked if his soy milk was cold and needed to be reheated. The look in her eyes was eager anticipation.

Pei Xi could only turn his head away, but had forgotten the small searchlights beside him.

He Aiyue’s big, limpid eyes were full of excitement, and she regarded him with more closeness than she did her biological brother.

Pei Xi: “……”

He sweated profusely as he ate breakfast. Fortunately, He Chuzhou was very sympathetic to his situation, and ran off with him once he finished eating quickly.

“Leaving already?”

“Xinxin has work today, doesn’t he?”

“Oh, okay, drive safely on the road.”

“Xinxin, come play again next time, ah!”

“Bye-bye, Pei-ge! Bye-bye to Boss He too, I guess.”

He Chuzhou didn’t even turn his head back: “Let’s go, let’s go. See you next time, bye-bye, bye-bye!”

Pei Xi breathed a sigh of relief once he was in the car.

When he turned to face He Chuzhou, he saw him wearing a look like he was hesitant to say something, and went silent.

After staring at each other for an extended moment, they both realized that they couldn’t get over this without talking about it.

He Chuzhou considered his words carefully, trying not to hurt Pei Xi’s fragile self-esteem: “Did you remember what happened after you lost your memory? Or…..”

“No,” Pei Xi cut in swiftly. “I don’t remember.”

He Chuzhou had originally intended to ask if he and He Aiyue had led him astray. Seeing as Pei Xi had denied it so forcefully, he could only ask: “Then what happened?”

Pei Xi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His brain was a tangled ball of wool in his head, and he finally managed to utter: “I think Auntie is very nice, and I’ve always wanted to recognize her as my godmother.”

He Chuzhou: “……”

He Chuzhou: “………”

Pei Xi thought his nonsense had been seen through, and his heart constricted: “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

He Chuzhou resisted the urge to pinch himself to see if he was awake, and steadily drove the car into traffic: “Are you still going to the company today? Do you want me to take you home so you can change clothes first?”

It seemed he hadn’t been seen through.

Pei Xi was a little relieved: “Okay.”

The car drove steadily for a while until it stopped in front of a sidewalk at a red light.

He Chuzhou tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips in an irregular rhythm, and suddenly said without context: “I’m afraid not.”

Pei Xi didn’t get it: “What?”

“Our family doesn’t have a custom of recognizing godsons. I’m afraid it won’t work for you to recognize my mom as your godmother.”

Pei Xi nodded in acquiescence.

That was just an excuse he’d made up. He had never wanted a godmother.

He Chuzhou hummed calmly and looked ahead, his heart full of bitterness.

It was over.

He Chuzhou treated him as a wife, but he actually wanted to be his younger brother.

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 52 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 54

Chapter 2 – Useless Shixiong

“Shixiong, I’m not saying anything bad about you, but how can you sleep so late?” Fang Yang had a broom in hand, helping Feng Ye sweep the floor as he scolded him.

The youth was at the age where he was still growing, while Feng Ye was already a physically mature young man and stood a head taller than Fang Yang.

Even so, Fang Yang lectured Feng Ye in a tone that brimmed with seniority: “Shixiong, it’s said that the ancients would rise up and practice their swordsmanship upon hearing the rooster’s crow. Much less getting up to practice at the rooster’s crow, I’ve never even seen you practice with a sword.”

“Our talent is already mediocre. If we don’t work harder, we’re doomed to have no chance of becoming immortals. I have three spiritual roots, and I know that I must get up before dawn to practice my swordsmanship. Shixiong, you have five spiritual roots, ah! You’re barely stronger than an ordinary person without spiritual roots. If you continue to waste your time like this, do you plan to be a junior disciple for the rest of your life?”

Fang Yang looked up at Feng Ye with a stern face as he spoke plaintively.

However, Fang Ye remained unmoved. He swept fallen leaves aside as he said unhurriedly: “Being a junior disciple is also pretty good.”

What a convenient identity, inconspicuous yet omnipresent. Feng Ye didn’t voice his true feelings. After all, his true purpose for coming here must not be made known to outsiders.

Thus, in Fang Yang’s eyes, he was just a useless shixiong who had no ambition, and whose ultimate goal was to live an idle life and wait for death.

Fang Yang threw the broom away in a huff and glared at him. The expression on his face perfectly encapsulated the phrase, “I pity his misfortune, but condemn his lack of effort.”

Feng Ye laughed inwardly. Although he had gotten to know this shidi by chance, Fang Yang was indeed a person worth befriending. He was genuine, and treated people sincerely.

And he was soft-hearted.

Feng Ye turned away, leaving Fang Yang with a view of his lonely, desolate back. The youth’s attitude softened, and he resigned himself to picking up the broom and helping Feng Ye finish his work.

If Feng Ye failed to sweep the martial arts training square before the sect’s administrator came for inspections, he would be fined his monthly spirit stones at the least or expelled from the sect at the worst.

After all, five spiritual roots were so common that his qualifications couldn’t be more mundane. Those higher-ranked sects would never accept him.

That was to say, their Lingxiao Sword Sect wasn’t ranked very high, right at the tail end of the top ten sects, so they had reluctantly accepted a disciple with Feng Ye’s aptitude.

But he was only accepted as a junior disciple, or in other words, free labor.

As for the saying that no matter what someone’s qualifications were, as long as one passed the annual assessment, one could enter the inner gates and learn the true immortal arts…..that was just a carrot to keep the donkey moving forward.

Qualifications were crucial on the path to cultivating immortality. For those with extraordinary talent, such as those with a single spiritual root, their cultivation progressed rapidly. The more complex the spiritual root, and slower the cultivation speed.

The difference between five spiritual roots and one spiritual root was probably the difference between a person with disabled legs and a youth riding a fast horse. One crawled like a snail while the other galloped.

People with poor talent would never be able to catch up to people with extraordinary talent. How could they possibly pass the assessment?

But there were still countless people who signed up each year. There were always those who refused to believe in fate and tried to rely on themselves to create a miracle.

Fang Yang, for example, who had three spiritual roots. That was just okay, but the boy was optimistic. He was of a mind that those with ambition were able to compete, and that as long as he worked hard enough, he could certainly catch up with a genius.

Feng Ye didn’t object to Fang Yang’s beliefs, but he also didn’t want to get up at the rooster’s crow like him. After all, Fang Yang was practicing the sect’s basic sword techniques, and such things were too elementary for Feng Ye to bother with.

And if he practiced without restraint, it would really be…..Feng Ye pictured a scene of the earth shaking and mountains trembling and became even more determined to avoid swordplay, using this as a legitimate excuse to sleep in.

Although Fang Yang still helped Feng Ye sweep the floor, he was not yet mollified. He said nothing more to Feng Ye, and just silently went to sweep the other side.

There was a saying that silence promoted work efficiency, and the two of them really did make much faster progress. Seeing that the work was about to be completed, the two people who’d started sweeping from both sides bumped into each other again.

Fang Yang still said nothing. Feng Ye was thinking that he should placate his shidi, and pondered over the wording.

Suddenly, a strong wind swept overhead, lifting Feng Ye’s bangs and the fallen leaves under his broom. He raised his head and looked toward the sky.

Fang Yang also noticed this gust of wind and looked up alongside him.

A slender figure wearing wide robes and sleeves passed over their heads, riding the wind atop his sword. His face was grave and stern, but there was a hint of immaturity to his features. He looked to be the same age as Fang Yang, both of them still growing up.

But the identities of the two couldn’t be more different. This was Cao Zirui, the second disciple of the current leader of Lingxiao Sword Sect.

Lingxiao Sword Sect had always divided its disciples into two batches. Those with good qualifications, such as dual spiritual roots, could directly enter the inner sect, while those of average aptitude, with three, four, or even five spiritual roots, all studied in the outer sect as junior disciples for one year.

They had to work odd jobs during the study period, and then only those who passed the annual assessment could enter the inner gates.

After all, compared to the rare single and double spiritual roots, there were too many people with three spiritual roots or more.

Lingxiao Sword Sect’s approach had certain advantages. It could screen out a group of people who were qualified but lacked resilience and comprehension.

Although spiritual roots greatly affected the speed of cultivation, resilience and comprehension were equally important. Fang Yang’s spiritual roots were average, but he possessed excellent resilience.

He had been at Lingxiao Sword Sect for nearly a year, and practiced swordplay every morning, rain or shine, but what he practiced were simple and boring sword techniques. Among the disciples of this generation, no second person would do this.

After he finished the miscellaneous work assigned by the sect each day, he would practice his swordplay then as well, racing against time just to get one step closer to the immortal path he had always dreamed of.

But even trying so hard, he couldn’t compare to those who were born to stand tall.

Cao Zirui was born with a single spiritual root. He had joined the sect in the same batch of disciples as Fang Yang the previous year. Then, because of his unique talent, he was accepted as the second disciple of the sect leader.

Those with double spiritual roots were already rare, with only dozens of them in the sect. Cao Zirui was the only one with a single spiritual root.

Fang Yang was still practicing basic sword techniques in the outer sect, while Cao Zirui had received personal instruction from the sect leader and gained a glimpse into the true secrets of the sword.

However, after a year, the gap between them did not narrow on account of Fang Yang’s efforts, but instead grew wider and wider.

A year ago, Fang Yang was just an ordinary person with no cultivation. Now, he was at the seventh level of Qi Refining. And as for Cao Zirui……although his specific level of cultivation was unknown, judging by the fact that he could fly on a sword, he should at least be at the Foundation Establishment stage.

After all, while Fang Yang was working hard, the genius was working hard too.

Cao Zirui was flying very fast. After the gale of wind, he turned into a small black dot on the horizon. He had likely just returned from outside and was heading toward the inner gates at the mountaintop.

The sect’s junior disciples all resided at the base of the mountain, and the steep mountain provided a barrier that separated the inside and outside of the mountain gates.

Feng Ye gazed after him for a moment before looking away. He glanced down at the fallen leaves he had just swept up, which had been blown into disarray, and had the belated urge to pick up a leaf and use it to knock down the person who had just flown overhead.

But it was only a thought. After all…..he was just a junior disciple whose job was to sweep the floor.

It was impossible for a junior disciple to defeat the sect leader’s Fountain Establishment stage direct disciple, and with just a fallen leaf.

Absolutely impossible.

Feng Ye considered himself an ordinary and diligent junior disciple, at least on the surface, so he resigned himself to sweeping the fallen leaves all over again.

When he finished sweeping once more, he leaned on the broom, and as he looked upon his work with satisfaction, he finally noticed that something wasn’t right with Fang Yang.

Fang Yang was like a statue, staring in one direction. That was the direction Cao Zirui had just flown off to, which led to the main hall at the peak of the mountain.

Feng Ye walked over to him and observed the young man’s expression. He saw envy and…..bewilderment.

Fang Yang wasn’t actually unaware of the world around him. He’d noticed Feng Ye’s arrival. Although his useless shixiong acted like a waste in every aspect, and often even asked his shidi for help, Feng Ye still had the advantage of being older.

As a junior disciple who had been with the sect for three years and seemed prepared to continue on this way forever, his age was probably the only advantage he had over Fang Yang at this time.

After all, Fang Yang was a youth who had never experienced the world, and whose character had not completely settled. This inevitably put him at a loss, so he looked at Feng Ye and voiced the anxiety that was perpetually hidden in his heart: “Feng-shixiong, tell me…..will there really be a day when I can catch up with him…..where I can be like him, traveling across the heavens and earth and riding the wind?”

Feng Ye fell into a brief silence. He heard the uneasiness in Fang Yang’s words.

When it came to whether or not he could catch up with Cao Zirui, considering Fang Yang’s qualifications, it was very likely that he could not.

But Feng Ye also knew that this answer would hurt him deeply. Although reality was cruel, he still hoped the boy could hold onto a glimmer of hope and try his best to catch up.

He didn’t reply directly, but gave this answer: “Legend has it that there are tens of thousands of jiaolongs in the sea. But in the end, a jiaolong is not a dragon. Dragons can fly freely through the sky, but jiao can only sink and float in the deep sea. What’s more, some divine birds feed on jiao, but when facing a real dragon, they must fold back their feathers.”

“The gap between a dragon and a jiao is like the distance between heaven and earth. One flies freely through the sky and sea, and one can only look up at the sky from the water. However…..” Feng Ye suddenly folded his arms. He raised his eyebrows, and his face, which was so ordinary that one would forget it the second they saw it, abruptly revealed some compelling heroic spirit: “There was once a jiao that transformed into a yinglong. It grew wings, and was able to fly through the heavens and earth. But among the tens of thousands of jiao in the sea, it was the only one that was able to become a yinglong.”

“The gap between you and Cao Zirui is far narrower than the gap between a jiao and a dragon…..” Feng Ye cut himself off.

Because the lost look on Fang Yang’s face had completely vanished, and he seemed to be thinking.

He’d gotten the key point across. It seems Fang Yang’s comprehension is pretty good, Feng Ye thought.

Fang Yang pondered for a long while, and when he raised his head again, he had become a cheerful, confident youth once more. He clenched his fists and said with resolve: “Even if there’s only a one in ten million chance, I won’t give up! From now on, I’ll practice with the sword even more diligently!”

Feng Ye maintained a smile and nodded to express his affirmation.

But in the next second, he had regrets.

Because Fang Yang said one more thing: “Shixiong, you must practice with me too. Even if your goal isn’t to become a one in ten million yinglong, you also need to practice hard to flee faster than other jiao, so as not to be eaten by a divine bird!”

Feng Ye: “……”

The corners of his mouth twitched. Before he could reply, Fang Yang made a unilateral decision: “Shixiong, you can’t get up so late every day. Even if you don’t get up at the sound of the rooster’s crow, you should at least get up and practice swordplay.”

Fang Yang’s attitude was firm: “Shixiong, do you want me to wake you up when the rooster crows once or when it crows twice?”

However, Fang Yang’s attitude was equally firm: “Wake me up when the rooster is dead.”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here.

Chapter 1 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 3

Pei Xi knew he shouldn’t have called He Chuzhou. That he shouldn’t have asked him to pick him up. That he shouldn’t make him show up at this time.

But he couldn’t help it.

A chill wind mixed with frost and snow had pierced his bones, filling them with cracks. He had lost all feeling, and was so fragile that he could barely support the weight of his body.

There had never been a moment like now where he so strongly wanted someone to be with him, to take his side without asking questions and stand firmly by him.

Pei Yansong had already gone out.

He sat alone in the study for a long time, until he heard a noise downstairs and his phone lit up with a message:

[I’m here, come down quickly.]

As if waking up from a dream, he picked up his phone and raced down the stairs. He Chuzhou was standing at the entrance, and his tense face relaxed when he saw that Pei Xi was safe and sound.

Jiang Ting held Pei Zhen’s shoulders and stood awkwardly by the sofa, looking at the person at the door with hope. Unaware of the truth, she thought He Chuzhou had been called over to help with Pei Zhen’s admission qualifications.

Pei Yansong was closer to the door, but judging from his expression, the small talk hadn’t been very successful.

Pei Yansong’s gaze fell on Pei Xi when he passed by. As he watched Pei Xi approach He Chuzhou and heard the man speak to him in a low voice full of concern, his expression became even uglier than before.

But he was a man who had fought on the field of fame and wealth for decades. He quickly controlled his emotions and straightened his expression, then said calmly: “President He is here to see Pei Xi? The time is just right, would you like to stay for dinner?”

He Chuzhou frowned as he held Pei Xi’s cold hand. When he heard Pei Yansong’s voice, a trace of annoyance rose in his mind, and his last trace of calm sufferance disappeared.

“I’m in a hurry, so I’ll have to decline.”

The corners of his mouth rose as he looked at Pei Yansong, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes: “You and your family can enjoy your meal. We won’t intrude.”

Jiang Ting then realized that He Chuzhou wasn’t here to offer his help. She had no say in the matter and dared not speak, so she could only look at her husband anxiously in hopes that he could keep him here.

Pei Yansong heard the sarcasm in He Chuzhou’s words. Seeing that the two were about to leave, his face darkened again – not at He Chuzhou, but at Pei Xi: “Pei Xi, didn’t you say that you and President He aren’t familiar with each other?”

He Chuzhou paused, turning his head to look at Pei Xi.

The latter asked coldly: “We’re not unfamiliar. Did you really think I would promise you his help? Is Pei Zhen worthy?”

Pei Yansong hadn’t expected him to speak so bluntly, to the point of it being unpleasant to the ear.

His authority as a father had been challenged, and he flew into a rage: “Pei Xi, watch your attitude!”

“Regardless of whether or not you’ve paid attention, this has always been my attitude.”

Perhaps it was Pei Yansong’s words that made him clear-headed, or perhaps it was He Chuzhou’s arrival, which made him feel like he wasn’t fighting alone. Maybe it was both.

Today, he neither wanted to or needed to humble himself to please the person in front of him.

“As I said before, your responsibilities are not mine. I dislike Pei Zhen. I dislike him so much that I don’t even want to see him, much less be responsible for him for the rest of my life like you want me to.”

“Since Pei Group is not solely mine, we can now clarify which parts should be given to Pei Zhen. I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with him, and I don’t have the patience to let him waste my time.”

Jiang Ting had never seen Pei Xi like this before. It was as if the chains that had bound him for so long had been cut, and all the sharp thorns on his body were bristling up at them.

The moment she snapped out of her daze, she panicked and tried to pull Pei Zhen away.

But Pei Zhen seemed to have taken root there, staring in Pei Xi’s direction and refusing to leave.

Jiang Ting could only hastily cover his ears, fearing that Pei Xi’s words would cause his illness to relapse.

Pei Xi disregarded Pei Zhen. Facing Pei Yansong’s furious gaze, he said word by word: “Don’t talk about cultivating me as if it was something great, and don’t be so quick to take credit. We know very well that I was just an investment to be exploited.”

“From childhood to adulthood, you never taught me anything other than obedience. I am what I am today because of all the hardships I endured. It has nothing to do with you.”

“The fact that I’m better than Pei Zhen doesn’t mean he’s justified in dragging me down, and in the end, you’re just my unqualified biological father. You no longer have the right to tell me what I should and shouldn’t do.”

“If nothing unexpected happens, I won’t be coming here again. There’s no need to maintain my room anymore, and you can throw away my things immediately.”

“And as for Pei Group, since I hold this position, I will take responsibility and fulfill my obligations to you. As for anything else, it has nothing to do with me.”

An evening drizzle had started. Pei Xi ignored Pei Yansong’s angry shouting as he left the villa. As he set foot on the wet steps outside the door, he was momentarily dazed.

The same kind of rainy day. The same departure with no return date. It was all so familiar.

The difference was that this time, he wasn’t the one being abandoned, nor was he alone.

Jiang Ting’s scream was particularly piercing in the rainy night, accompanied by the sound of quick, disordered footsteps. Looking across the canopy of the umbrella, he saw Pei Zhen not far away.

There was no desire to smash a porcelain vase at him, nor was there any cursing or gnashing of teeth. Pei Zhen looked at him gloomily and stubbornly in the rain, his eyes dark. He looked like a mute who desperately wanted to speak.

There was no fluctuation in Pei Xi’s indifferent eyes, and he said nothing.

Jiang Ting chased after Pei Zhen and tried to pull him back, but he shook her hand off at the first touch and even walked a few steps forward through the rain.

Until he was stopped by a few fingers against his shoulder.

He Chuzhou lowered his cold eyes. His lips rose lazily as he said “Don’t get any closer to him,” and gave him a light push. Then he placed an arm around Pei Xi’s shoulders and turned away.

Pei Zhen stared blankly, and his breathing grew rapid as he watched the two figures gradually move away and vanish completely into the rainy night.

*

*

“Do you know what he told me?”

The lights were on inside the car, the heater dispelling the damp and cold they had brought into the vehicle with them.

Pei Xi sat in the passenger seat, watching the wipers diligently scrape the rain off the windshield.

“He said that because Pei Zhen isn’t bright enough, he needs someone to take care of him at all times. That’s why he was so strict with me. He wanted me to shoulder all the responsibility so that Pei Zhen could be shielded from the wind and rain.”

“No wonder he scolded me each time I wasn’t perfect as a child, but Pei Zhen was praised for accomplishing the bare minimum.”

“I endured a suffocating life, but Pei Zhen didn’t. Because Pei Zhen was fragile and could only be protected, I deserved to suffer that pain in order to pave the way for him and protect him.”

It was so ridiculous.

The corners of his mouth curled uncontrollably as he spoke: “Before, I actually thought he was tough on me and handed over Pei Group to me because in his eyes, Pei Zhen and I were different in the end.”

Facts had proven that they were different.

He just hadn’t expected to be this different.

It turned out that in Pei Yansong’s eyes, he was not just the symbol of a failed marriage, but also a commodity to be used for his family’s happiness, a stepping stone so that Pei Zhen could enjoy everything without any effort.

“Maybe I’ve misunderstood myself.”

“Pei Zhen blames me for the suffering Jiang Ting inflicted on him. I’m just like him, pointing the finger at him and selectively ignoring who caused this awful situation in the first place.”

“Maybe Pei Zhen isn’t the only one I hate in that home.”

Was he hurt?

Actually, not to a great extent. He felt more disappointed and sad, like he couldn’t face himself now that he wasn’t humble or hopeful in the face of adversity.

After Pei Yansong had worn out his last shred of affection, he seemed to have escaped his shackles and found a sense of relief.

It was just that for some reason, it seemed as if part of his body had been hollowed out. Like there had been an unexpected snowfall, covering everything in white and leaving him at a loss for what to do or where to go.

The rain didn’t get heavier, but everything outside the car instantly got more blurry.

Pei Xi’s mind was trapped in heavy snow. When he realized something belatedly and closed his eyes in embarrassment to avoid it, the lights inside the car were suddenly turned off.

The compartment was plunged into darkness, perfectly concealing everything he wanted to hide at this moment.

“It’s okay. You hate them, so just don’t go back.”

In the dim light, He Chuzhou continued to speak in that casual tone, as if none of this was a big deal: “I don’t need a meal from them. It’s not like I can’t afford it.”

He took a pillow from the backseat and stuffed it into Pei Xi’s hands, offering him silent comfort.

“Mom actually told me to come back for dinner tonight. How about you come with me?”

*

*

He Aiyue had been waiting at the door since she heard the news.

Hearing a noise outside, she opened the door at once and looked at Pei Xi with shining eyes. She rushed over and hugged him: “Pei-ge, Pei-ge, I haven’t seen you in so long!”

“What do you mean so long? We just had dinner a few days ago.” He Chuzhou ruthlessly pulled her away from Pei Xi. “Have you told Mom?”

He Aiyue made an “everything is OK” gesture: “I’ve handled it, don’t worry, Pei-ge. Mrs. Chu only told our uncles and the others that my brother brought a friend back for dinner tonight, she didn’t tell them you’re in a relationship. There’s no need to worry!”

Pei Xi hadn’t thought of all this when he agreed to come with He Chuzhou, but He Chuzhou had thought of it all for him.

Before entering the door, He Chuzhou secretly squeezed Pei Xi’s hand one last time and whispered reassurance to him: “Don’t be afraid, it’s not a family gathering. My uncles and their friends just caught a big fish in the pond today and came to celebrate with my dad.”

Although Pei Xi didn’t understand what there was to celebrate about catching a fish, he still nodded agreeably.

Sure enough, the topic of discussion in the living room revolved around a fish. He Chuzhou greeted them, made brief introductions, and then walked past them with his arm around Pei Xi’s shoulders.

Father He and his brother looked very similar, so it was a little difficult to tell them apart at first sight, but Pei Xi still recognized him right away.

The reason was simple. Among these few people, only one person put his hands behind him when Pei Xi walked by and secretly greeted him again. It took him aback, and he couldn’t stop the slight curve of his lips.

Mrs. Chu soon came out of the kitchen.

She naturally didn’t cook the food herself, and was just arranging the dishes inside. When she heard Pei Xi had arrived, she came out with a face full of joy to welcome him.

“Xinxin is here. Tsk, why are your hands so cold? It’s cold outside, isn’t it? Auntie will bring a hot towel to warm you up in a minute.”

“You must be hungry after working so hard. Dinner will be ready soon. I heard from Chuzhou that you like sweet and sour fish, so Auntie specifically had someone prepare it for you using the grass carp your uncle caught fresh. You can try some in a while.”

With Chu Yuelan holding both of his hands, Pei Xi lowered his eyes and blinked, feeling his hypothermic body start to warm up at last.

On the other side of the partition in the small living room, there was He Aiyue, who had come out with snacks. There was also a young female student squatting in front of the coffee table and struggling to do her homework, and Yun Ji to the side, who was tutoring her so hard that veins were bulging out on his forehead.

“I teach you to grow apples, and you insist on asking me why I don’t grow pears. I teach you how to pick apples, and you insist on asking me why I don’t just eat them from the tree! The main feature is rebellion, right?!”

“Okay, okay, I know you don’t know how to do it either. Speak a little more quietly, or we’ll go deaf.”

“Can’t do it? I’m an Ivy League student, but I can’t do a primary school question like you? Put the chips down, how can you eat without finishing your homework!”

“What question requires me not to be eating potato chips……”

The young girl raised her head as she complained, and when she saw Pei Xi, her mouth opened in a surprised O.

“What, did you see a ghost?” Yun Ji looked up when she did, and revealed the same expression as her: “ O! ”

He Chuzhou put a hand on Pei Xi’s shoulder and introduced him: “This is my cousin He Xiaohui and my cousin Yun Ji, who is also my assistant. You should have met before.”

Pei Xi was stunned: “Your assistant is your cousin?”

He Chuzhou: “Ah, it’s a good idea to keep the wealth in the family. It just so happened that he had the right major and is capable.”

Pei Xi: “……”

……He had actually once regarded this cousin who had good professional skills as his imaginary enemy.

“Pei-ge, Pei-ge, come sit down, ah.”

He Aiyue patted the empty seat beside her happily and said: “The top eight seats are reserved for entertaining distinguished guests.”

He Xiaohui stared at Pei Xi, then turned to Yun Ji and said: “Finally, there’s someone in this family who suits my tastes.”

After speaking, she was smacked on the head.

He Aiyue: “Don’t talk nonsense, do your homework seriously. Children should behave like children, not talk like adults.”

Pei Xi was taken to sit on the sofa by He Chuzhou.

Lights were on all around, and there was a lot of chatter everywhere.

This place seemed very similar to the place he’d just left, and yet very different.

He Xiaohui covered her head, feeling wronged, but Yun Ji was too busy to care about her. He quickly squeezed next to He Aiyue and whispered in shock: “This is the friend you said your brother was bringing back for dinner?”

He Aiyue: “Ah.”

Yun Ji: “The ordinary friend?”

He Aiyue: “Ah.”

“What the fuck,” Yun Ji muttered softly. “Amazing, ah, committing high crimes and misdemeanors. Your brother is so brave…..”

He Aiyue: “Why do you say that? Why are you so surprised? You’re my brother’s assistant, shouldn’t you know Pei-ge? Did you not know they’re friends?”

“Right, they’re indeed friends, haha, but…..”

Yun Ji was unable to speak the rest of his words, because he saw another shocking scene—

His cousin was actually using a hot towel to wipe Pei Xi’s hands in front of Mrs. Chu?

Was he really not afraid of being discovered?

Auntie was usually so smart, why wasn’t she noticing it right in front of her face today?

No way, He Aiyue wasn’t exactly a person of great knowledge, but she didn’t notice anything wrong when it was dancing right in front of her?

“What is this?”

As a well-qualified sister, He Aiyue of course had to pretend to be blind: “It’s just good friends holding hands. Are you from the Qing Dynasty? Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

Yun Ji: “……”

OK, FINE.

During dinner, Yun Ji deliberately took the seat directly to the right of He Chuzhou and said in a low voice: “Cousin, you asked me to keep this a secret for you, but you brought him right here. Aren’t you afraid of being exposed?”

He Chuzhou picked up a piece of pork ribs for Pei Xi and said: “As long as you keep your mouth shut, no one will notice.”

Yun Ji looked at Pei Xi’s bowl, which was practically overflowing with food, then looked under the table where his cousin was holding Pei Xi’s hand as if he feared someone would snatch him away. The corners of his mouth twitched.

Why did it feel like he was the only one at the table who had eyes?

He Chuzhou: “You still have work to do, so leave after you eat.”

Yun Ji rolled his eyes and took out his phone: “Don’t worry, let me add your boyfriend on WeChat.”

He Chuzhou: “ ? ”

“It’ll come in handy sooner or later.”

Yun Ji grinned and opened the QR code, passed it over He Chuzhou to Pei Xi, who added it, and then wiped his mouth and stood up: “I have work to do, so I’ll leave first. Uncles, Auntie, cousins, eat and drink well. Bye-bye.”

Chu Yuelan told him to drive carefully on the road, then served Pei Xi a bowl of soup: “Come, Xinxin, when the weather is cold, just drink some soup to warm yourself up.”

As she spoke, she moved all of the dishes that were a little far from Pei Xi closer to him.

While He Aiyue was telling jokes to Pei Xi to entertain him, He Chuzhou went to the balcony alone.

Pei Yansong’s voice on the other end of the line was still full of anger, cold and harsh.

He Chuzhou paid no attention to it. He gazed at the night-shrouded garden and asked frankly: “Mr. Pei wants me to help with his younger son’s schooling?”

“It’s not impossible. As long as you don’t bother Pei Xi during this period, I can consider it.”

“A calm attitude is required.”

“No, I’m talking about you, not Pei Xi.”

. . . . . .

Having deceived Pei Yansong, he smiled sarcastically and put away his phone, ready to go back. Unexpectedly, when he turned around, he saw Pei Xi standing not far behind him.

He paused, then smiled and pretended nothing had happened: “Why did you come? Are you full?”

Pei Xi gave a hum. It seemed like he hadn’t had time to hear anything.

He Chuzhou inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He looked in the direction of the dining room and guessed: “I suppose we’ll have to stick around for a while before we leave. Why don’t you just go back to my room and rest?”

A few minutes later, He Chuzhou returned to the dining table alone.

He Aiyue asked: “Where’s my Pei-ge?”

He Chuzhou: “He’s tired, he went to rest.”

He Xiaohui let out a sigh before He Aiyue could say anything: “I still haven’t taken a photo with that handsome guy yet.”

“You’re only this old and you’re already talking about handsome guys all the time. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Chu Yuelan pinched He Xiaohui chubby face and glanced at He Chuzhou: “Xinxin seems to be in a low mood tonight. Have you upset him again?”

He Chuzhou: “No, it’s just because of some trivial matters at home.”

Chu Yuelan understood: “He had an argument with his family?”

He Chuzhou: “Pretty much.”

Chu Yuelan: “No wonder. Then hurry up and eat. Eat and then go back with Xinxin, don’t leave him alone.”

Just then, his second uncle came over with a glass of wine and peered over cheerfully. He Chuzhou quickly finished the cup in front of him: “Got it.”

He Chuzhou’s uncles were all very nice people, but they had one common shortcoming: they were heavy drinkers, and always liked to drag the younger ones along to keep them company.

He Chuzhou had suffered greatly due to this since childhood. But since he had a good brain, his alcohol tolerance didn’t increase, but his Tai Chi skills were practiced to perfection – he was able to go through ten rounds while keeping the same glass of wine.

But today was an exception.

He filled a cup and unhesitatingly toasted everybody, making the elders stand in amazement. The group of old men felt too embarrassed to take turns getting the kid drunk, so they quickly gave in and let him off.

He Chuzhou pressed his forehead for a moment, then stood up and prepared to go upstairs.

He Aiyue knew from his appearance that he was half drunk, and after receiving a look from Mrs. Chu, she put down her chopsticks and ran after him to help.

Of course, she didn’t forget to complain: “No way, no way, Pei-ge won’t have to take care of a drunkard like you when he’s come to our house for the first time, right? I should just throw you on the ground and leave you there all night.”

After she finished speaking, she was swatted on the head.

He Chuzhou derided her: “Is that something to say to your brother? Besides, who says I’m drunk?”

“The dead duck still refuses to admit it……”

Seeing that her brother was about to take action again, He Aiyue quickly knocked on the door and pushed He Chuzhou inside, saying: “Pei-ge, my brother is drunk. If he acts crazy, don’t bother with him, just toss him into the bathroom and lock the door.”

He Chuzhou hissed: “Who’s drunk and crazy?”

He Aiyue was quick to hide behind Pei Xi, making a face at He Chuzhou as she whispered to him: “Actually, he drank so much just to come and keep you company. You can’t just lock him in the bathroom like this, throw him a blanket or something.”

“And let me share a secret with you. Boss He is drunk and won’t remember anything, so you can bully him as much as you want tonight and take revenge for your grievances. Anyway, he’ll forget everything by tomorrow morning.”

Having said this, she stuck out her tongue at He Chuzhou and ran away fast.

Pei Xi closed the door and turned toward He Chuzhou.

The latter wore a helpless look: “That stinky girl was talking nonsense. Ignore her.”

He looked normal, and his eyes were clear. Pei Xi didn’t think he seemed drunk, so he just hummed and said nothing.

While he was looking at He Chuzhou, He Chuzhou was also looking back at him. Seeing that he had changed into his pajamas, he knew that he had taken a shower, and his face wasn’t as pale as it was before.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked Pei Xi.

Pei Xi nodded. He explained after a couple of seconds: “Don’t worry about me, I’m not…..actually as sad as you think.”

He Chuzhou agreed verbally, but didn’t believe it at all in his heart.

Pei Xi’s trembling voice when he called him was still fresh in his memory. He’d thought Pei Zhen had gone crazy again and attacked him.

When he hurried over to see, he found that no violence had been committed, but the situation seemed worse than if there had been violence.

Pei Xi had come down the stairs with a pale face and dull, lifeless eyes. His entire person seemed as if it would crumble under the slightest force.

If this wasn’t sad enough, then what qualified as sad?

He didn’t speak this thought out loud.

He wouldn’t dig deeper into something that Pei Xi was unwilling to let others see.

Everyone had secrets they wanted to hide. Just like Pei Xi hid his tears so that he wouldn’t see them, He Chuzhou pretended to know nothing.

“Go and take a shower first.” Pei Xi changed the subject. “It’s late.”

He Chuzhou took his clothes into the bathroom. There was lingering heat inside from Pei Xi’s shower, mixed with the faint scent of shower gel. It made his head feel hot.

He had indeed drunk a little too much tonight, and as the aftereffects kicked in, his movements became slower and slower. It took him a long time just to take off his clothes and adjust the water temperature.

He found it increasingly difficult to stand, so he simply stepped into the bathtub, sat down, and turned on the faucet.

Of course, it could be because of his absent-mindedness. He was still thinking about how to make Pei Xi happy.

Pei Xi finished drinking the cup of warm milk Mrs. Chu had brought him, and waited until the other cup had gone cold, but the person in the bathroom still hadn’t come out.

He hesitated briefly, then walked over and knocked on the door: “He Chuzhou?”

There was no response from inside.

He frowned, then simply grasped the door handle and pushed the door open.

The person he was so worried about was lying on his back in the bathtub, eyes closed and eyelashes drooping. He appeared to be asleep.

“……”

Pei Xi was momentarily speechless. He squatted down beside him and checked the water temperature. Thankfully, it wasn’t very cold.

Just as he was considering how to wake him, Pei Xi looked up and saw that this person who hadn’t woken up to his knocks on the door had his eyes open and was staring at him intently.

He Chuzhou didn’t seem to be very clear-headed. His movements were a bit awkward as he propped himself up, and water splashed from his arm onto Pei Xi’s face.

He stared at that droplet of water for a long moment, then reached out and wiped it away, saying with a frown: “Didn’t you say you weren’t sad? Why are you crying?”

Pei Xi: “……”

He now believed what He Aiyue had said. He Chuzhou really was drunk, so drunk that he was caught unawares.

“I’m not crying.”

He started to earnestly explain, but He Chuzhou didn’t give him time.

“It’s okay, Xinxin,” He Chuzhou said to him. “It’s very normal to be sad and cry. It’s not shameful. Nobody will laugh at you.”

“It’s okay to cry for a while, but not for too long. You can be sad for yourself, but if it’s for those few pieces of trash, hmph, they’re not worth it.”

He wouldn’t use the name Xinxin if he was sober.

Pei Xi knew he had misspoken due to his inebriation, so he didn’t correct him. He just listened quietly as he said what he should be saying to Pei-calico.

“I just lied to him and said I would help Pei Zhen with the admissions issue. He believed it, and won’t bother you at least for the time being.”

“He wants you to raise Pei Zhen, ah. You agree to it, then throw Pei Zhen to me. I’ll definitely help take good care of him. If he doesn’t spout smoke out of all seven orifices later on, I’ll have been remiss.”

“He only has two sons, you and Pei Zhen. Pei Zhen isn’t good enough. Pei Group can only be yours. Don’t think about giving it back to him out of spite, that’s something only a fool would do.”

“And don’t be afraid of him. What else can he do now that he’s given everything away? Besides, you still have me. Gege will back you up with the entirety of He Group, and definitely won’t let him benefit from you.”

He Chuzhou leaned his elbows on the edge of the bathtub and held Pei Xi’s face in wet hands. He leaned closer and pressed his forehead against Pei Xi’s, and their breaths intertwined.

“There isn’t just Pei Yansong. He doesn’t love you, but I love you. I’ll give you everything he is unwilling to give you.”

“A home, family, friendship, care, companionship, favoritism…..whatever you need, whatever I have, I’ll give it to you.”

“Don’t cry, Baby. I promise, I’ll be with you forever and ever.”

Pei Xi tried to say that he wasn’t crying, but when he opened his mouth and tasted the salt seeping into the corners, he realized he was in tears.

He could admit that he was particularly emotional this evening, but he knew very well that these tears weren’t because of Pei Yansong, and certainly weren’t because of Pei Zhen, nor were they because of a family that was destined not to belong to him. 

Sure enough, he couldn’t get used to this.

When there was no one there to comfort him, he was strong enough to swallow any hardship. But once someone comforted him, he was more fragile and aggrieved than lotus root fibers.

Hsi emotions were like magma erupting from a volcano, earth-shattering and scorching.

So as He Chuzhou was wracking his brains for a way to make him stop crying, Pei Xi opened his arms and hugged him tightly. He gave him a forceful, awkward kiss, going deeper despite his fumbling. They exchanged breaths among the wetness and the faint smell of alcohol.

He Chuzhou was utterly stunned. He stared blankly at Pei Xi, not even noticing the bleeding wound at the corner of his mouth, and even forgot how to turn his eyes away.

“Chuzhou, I’m not sad. I’m really not sad.”

Pei Xi withdrew slightly. His breathing shook, but he was reluctant to part from him. Nearly every word he spoke caused friction between their lips that made He Chuzhou breathe heavier.

“Nothing in that house belongs to me anymore. It’s not that I’ve lost anything, but that it’s worthless to me. I just couldn’t accept the reality of being completely exposed for a while.”

“Maybe in the past, I would have been sad and had a breakdown, but not now. I have someone I really like and things I want more, so what I lost is no longer important to me.”

He used to think that the amnesiac Pei Xi wasn’t the real Pei Xi, but now he recognized him as his truest self, the one he was most unwilling to face.

Lonely, pessimistic, inferior, lacking love, longing for everything he could never obtain, worried about personal gains and losses, and cautious.

That was Pei-calico, and also the perfect Pei Xi in everyone’s eyes.

But now, that Pei Xi had been completely cured by the man in front of him.

It was he who had given him everything he wanted, and fulfilled everything he had never enjoyed before.

It was he who showed him inexhaustible patience and taught him to accept his imperfect self, who told him repeatedly that he was excellent and that there was no need to humble himself to get what he wanted.

“Chuzhou, I’ve always wanted to be loved, but after years of trials and tribulations, it’s become difficult for me to fall in love.”

“So that’s why I’m slow to notice some things and keep doubting myself in the process of verifying them, unwilling to give in and confirm my feelings.”

“But now that I’ve confirmed them, no matter whether you said these things to coax or comfort me, I’m taking them seriously.”

“He Chuzhou, you said it yourself – you will love me and stay with me forever.”

“I’ll remember your promise. Don’t go back on your word.”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 51 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 53

When Qin Yu woke up in the Jinyiwei offices, he found He Lan standing beside the bed with a grim expression.

Qin Yu said nothing. He sat up quickly and tried to get out of bed, but He Lan grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back down.

“What are you doing!” Qin Yu shouted angrily.

“I could ask you the same thing! You just went with your adopted father and attacked Zhanyuan in secret. Do you still consider Zhanyuan a brother? Have you forgotten that he saved your life back then? Qin Zichuan, I really misjudged you,” He Lan said in a fury.

Qin Yu was somewhat astonished, and only then realized that He Lan had misunderstood.

After all, he had indeed pretended to trap Huo Fenglie, but then what happened later…..thinking of this, Qin Yu instantly looked at He Lan with a cool expression. 

He Lan was driven into a rage by this look. He grasped Qin Yu’s chin and said: “I fucking fell in love with you! I’m a fool!”

Qin Yu’s expression went blank, and his originally cold aura suddenly went still. “You…..were only moved by your lower body. Don’t pretend to be a romantic sap.”

He Lan was almost driven crazy. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yu directly gave his opinion: “Between the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang, which is the one trying to hurt Zhanyuan? I don’t think you understand anything at all. Or is it that your cousin is on guard against you?” Qin Yu’s expression went cold again, and he said, “Get out of here, you know-nothing person. Don’t get in the way!”

Ignoring his injuries, Qin Yu jumped up to leave, but was stopped by He Lan: “What do you mean by that!”

Qin Yu said frankly: “My adoptive father is on the Empress Dowager’s side, and has wanted to protect Zhanyuan from beginning to end. It was your cousin and his men who actually tried to kill Zhanyuan under the emperor’s orders!”

He Lan’s expression froze. He didn’t doubt Qin Yu, but instead asked: “W….why? The emperor and Zhanyuan are good brothers who are loyal to each other, ah! And Zhanyuan is the least likely person to threaten the throne…..”

“The mind of an emperor is difficult to predict. Who knows why?”

. . . . . . .

Looking at his familiar surroundings, Liu Zhenqing felt a chill in his heart.

This was Yuan Jue’s study, where Liu Zhenqing had often taken him to discuss and handle government affairs.

Liu Zhenqing closed his eyes. Then he took a deep breath and walked straight to the desk, upon which sat a book. This book recorded records, anecdotes, and interesting stories about the Yuan clan’s legendary emperors and empresses.

After reading the title, Liu Zhenqing was no longer surprised. Yuan Jue’s actions proved that he knew Liu Zhenqing was back.

Without stopping, Liu Zhenqing walked quickly to the back bookshelf.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t know what was happening outside, and he couldn’t just sit and wait for death.

He recalled that there was also a secret passage here.

Liu Zhenqing quickly found the mechanism. With a click, the secret door opened before Liu Zhenqing, but what met his eyes was a narrow closet. This was completely different from before, as if it had been modified by someone so that nobody could use it to escape.

Zhenqing felt no dismay, but instead stared in shock at the thing hanging in the closet.

It was a hollow three-tiered Rubik’s Cube made of a rare cold-hued gradient jade, with a blue and white tassel hanging from the bottom.

That was the Huo family’s jade, a token of love given to him by Huo Fenglie and something he’d lost after his death. How could it be here?!

Liu Zhenqing took it down immediately. The warm jade in his hand warmed his heart. Just like Huo Fenglie, the outside was hard jade, but the inside was warm.

Before he could feel the joy of regaining something lost, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.

“Did the sight of the jade cause you to lose your judgment? There is a mechanism behind the secret compartment – the original secret passage.”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression was unsurprised. He unhurriedly tied the jade Rubik’s cube to his waist.

“I couldn’t escape anyway.” Liu Zhenqing turned around and looked at Yuan Jue, who had appeared behind him.

Yuan Jue watched him turn, the jade cube swinging slowly. He still stood tall and graceful, with an incomparable presence.

Yuan Jue fixed his eyes on him, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Finally, he asked: “Do you have anything to say to me?”

Liu Zhenqing regarded him coolly.

In the face of such an expression, Yuan Jue’s heart churned.

“You don’t? You can say that you’ve worked hard and made great contributions, that you’ve been wronged, that the whole world owes you.”

Liu Zhenqing’s gaze was distant. In fact, in the seven days after his death, his soul had drifted in the sky. He saw with his own eyes how Great Zhou, which he had protected with all his heart and soul, carved his name on the sinner’s column of the Twining Dragon Jade Pillar, saw how the common people and the court denounced his crimes. He had originally expected to be deeply sad. But no waves stirred his emotions at that time. He only felt endless fatigue and wanted to reincarnate quickly, to forget his memories of this place and get away from it all.

He wasn’t a person of fortitude, and just wanted to escape when he encountered pain.

Now, as Yuan Jue tried to taunt him into speaking, he really didn’t know what to say.

There was only one question on his mind: “Where is Huo Fenglie? I knew something must have happened when he didn’t show up, so what did you do?”

Yuan Jue likely hadn’t expected Liu Zhenqing to forgo asking him anything else, and instead ask about Huo Fenglie. His expression twisted briefly.

“I sent the Jinyiwei to assassinate him. Even if he didn’t die, he won’t be completely unharmed. You won’t see him again,” Yuan Jue said bluntly.

A look of anger finally appeared on Liu Zhenqing’s face: “Why deal with Huo Fenglie? He’s your great general who guards the country. Without him…..”

“You taught me not to put all my eggs in one basket. Huo Fenglie has been my great general all these years, and I’ve only been able to rely on him. But in fact, I’ve trained many military officers. When he went south this time, I just wanted to see if the military strength of my Great Zhou would be useless without him in the military camp. Even though he is a god of war, without him, the enemy will be a little bolder at most, the border a little more unstable, but my kingdom will not be destroyed.”

“Settling for the next best thing? That isn’t something a wise emperor would do. You can be on guard, but haven’t you relied on him for so many years because you know his loyalty is absolute?” Liu Zhenqing questioned. “He’s been busy with this matter of rebellion!”

Yuan Jue said coldly: “No emperor can tolerate a general with too many merits. You should understand this after going south. Those people only have Huo Fenglie in their eyes, not me. I was able to accept this before because Huo Fenglie didn’t want to live, and it was safe. But now he does want to live, and he cannot be controlled. That is dangerous. Not to mention, he’s going to kill me, isn’t he?”

Liu Zhenqing was shocked. “What nonsense are you saying? How could he…..”

“He can, especially since you’ve returned to him. If he knew how you died, would he let me off?”

Liu Zhenqing’s pupils shrank, and he felt an invisible pain in his heart.

Wearing an indifferent expression, Yuan Jue slowly raised one arm toward Liu Zhenqing. There seemed to be a flash of silver light in his sleeve.

Liu Zhenqing almost instinctively wanted to dodge, but he froze instead, going pale in an instant. With a bitter smile, he slowly raised his eyes to stare at Yuan Jue.

Yuan Jue’s expression went slightly stiff. Feeling the heaviness of the object on his arm, he gradually lowered it.

There was a hidden spring-loaded arrow in his sleeve. Liu Zhenqing had created it and given it to Yuan Jue for self-defense. There were only two people in the world who knew of its existence, a weapon kept in reserve for a critical moment.

And that year, the arrow that hit Liu Zhenqing in the chest was Yuan Jue’s, mixed in with a volley of other arrows. Because of the sleeve arrow’s difference in destructive power, the pain was naturally different. Liu Zhenqing, who had experimented with the device, understood everything the instant that arrow hit his chest, even if he didn’t see the person who shot it.

Having learned from history, Liu Zhenqing had indeed foreseen that he would one day outlive his usefulness. But he never expected that Yuan Jue would want to kill him so early on.

He had given his all, and he’d thought that Yuan Jue would understand his sincerity, that even if he grew more guarded as his heart hardened, it wouldn’t come until many years later. At that time, he would either die early or retire to the countryside, and Yuan Jue might not necessarily be merciless. This was the child he had taught, after all, and he thought Yuan Jue would be benevolent toward him.

But in the end, he was wrong.

He didn’t know when things had begun to go astray, and in the moment, he only felt disheartened.

So disheartened that he never spoke of it.

“I never told Huo Fenglie, and I never intend to in this life,” Liu Zhenqing said lightly.

When Yuan Jue heard this, a trace of anger flashed through his expression. “You don’t intend to tell him. Is your heart too soft, or do you not want to stir up chaos for the sake of this world and my father? Up to now, you haven’t scolded me at all. I killed you, I betrayed my teacher and brought dishonor to him. I was treacherous and faithless, ah. Don’t tell me that you don’t hate me for the way I treated you, that you don’t blame me for everything I did afterward!”

Yuan Jue laughed as he said this, but his laughter sounded extremely unnatural.

Liu Zhenqing frowned slightly. He couldn’t understand Yuan Jue’s reaction, and asked uncertainly: “Do you…..regret it?”

“No, why should I regret it? You were indeed the most powerful person in the dynasty and had complete control over me, the Son of Heaven. You had overstepped your authority and were doomed to fall to your death!” Yuan Jue said coldly: “You were the chief target of public criticism in the eyes of all, and were unable to wash yourself clean. If I didn’t punish you, how could I rule the nation or explain it to the people!”

“What about now? Do you still think I deserve to die?” Liu Zhenqing asked cooly. 

Yuan Jue didn’t answer, just staring at Liu Zhenqing.

“You’re still paranoid, so you plan to kill Huo Fenglie first, and then…..kill me again?” Liu Zhenqing said softly, “You shouldn’t do such a thing. Fenglie is a member of the Huo family. He won’t turn his sword against you – it goes against his beliefs. And I’m no longer Liu Zhenqing. I can’t do anything to hurt you. If you’re smart, you’ll pretend to see nothing and know nothing.”

Yuan Jue laughed: “You went to him without even knowing what you meant to him. Huo Fenglie has never been a qualified member of the Huo family. In his heart, the iron rules of the Huo family have always come second. He is entirely for you. With one word from you, let alone kill me, he would destroy my Great Zhou Dynasty.”

Liu Zhenqing was stunned. He hadn’t expected Yuan Jue to understand Huo Fenglie’s feelings for him like this. Didn’t Er-gou usually keep his emotions under lock and key? Those who knew only had a rough idea, and even Liu Zhenqing wouldn’t dare to make such an assertion.

When he saw Liu Zhenqing’s frown, Yuan Jue smiled: “Do you know where your ashes are?”

Liu Zhenqing thought of the tattoo. Yuan Jue probably knew about it, which was why Huo Fenglie’s feelings for him had formed such an impression in his mind.

But in the next moment, Yuan Jue’s words stunned Liu Zhenqing.

“That was the first time he explicitly confronted me. He cremated you, and buried your ashes beneath the willow tree in the General’s Manor courtyard. Whenever he was in the capital, he would stand by that tree practically day and night and wouldn’t let anyone get close to it. Not even me.”

Liu Zhenqing was dumbfounded. This wasn’t about the tattoo?

Right, it was impossible to use all of the ashes for the tattoo mixture. So the remaining ashes were all under that tree – the tree whose branches he had broken?

Liu Zhenqing immediately recalled the night Huo Fenglie brought him back to the General’s Manor. When he came outside, he had found Huo Fenglie holding a jar of wine under that tree.

The Huo family had said that he never slept inside, but instead slept beneath that tree every time he was at the General’s Manor.

His ashes were under the tree, and that tree had also been planted by Huo Fenglie…..

Liu Zhenqing’s hand unconsciously reached for the jade Rubik’s cube, and his heart began to ache. This tormented him more than all of the emotions he had experienced in this confrontation with Yuan Jue combined.

His expression naturally caught Yuan Jue’s attention, and his eyes glinted sharply.

“You care so much? Weren’t you a romantic and a chaser of beautiful women? Even the Empress Dowager was devoted to you. Why are you really with him now that you’ve returned?” Yuan Jue said sarcastically: “You clearly wanted to leave the capital as soon as you came back, and even succeeded in leaving. You could have chosen not to return. You wanted to leave in both lives, but came back for him. Is he so important?”

Liu Zhenqing regained his senses and said: “He’s important. The most important.”

Yuan Jue’s expression immediately turned ferocious: “You thought he was the most important back then too, didn’t you! You thought he was more important than me! It was obviously you who raised me. When you tried to leave, you were going to go with him and leave me alone. You didn’t care about me anymore, did you!”

Liu Zhenqing stood in shock: “What nonsense are you on about?”

“I’m not talking nonsense. When you died, you only looked to the west. Who was there in the west? Only him!” Yuan Jue said furiously. “I betrayed you, I killed you, but you didn’t even spare me a look of resentment.”

Liu Zhenqing was puzzled. Had he looked to the west at that time? He wasn’t aware of this, but there were indeed many people he couldn’t let go of before he died. He was particularly worried about Huo Fenglie on the western battlefront, because he had recently sent a scolding letter in reply to him, and felt rather guilty and regretful afterward. He found it understandable that a young person would be afraid of the battlefield and death, and that he shouldn’t have been so harsh.

So back then, he had been looking…..to the west, where Huo Fenglie was?

Just as he was thinking, he heard the sudden sound of tiles breaking on the roof. In an instant, countless murderous auras attacked from all directions, as if different forces had collided with one another.

Liu Zhenqing only saw a figure flash before his eyes, and then he was being embraced by someone.

The familiar presence instantly relieved him.

There was the sound of blades clashing, and an angry Liu Qiao soon held Yuan Jue hostage at swordpoint. He Cong and several guards also landed not far from Yuan Jue, but didn’t dare get closer. They could only fix their eyes on the kidnapped emperor.

The perimeter of the study was surrounded by archers.

Liu Zhenqing paid absolutely no attention to either situation, and simply gazed up at Huo Fenglie.

He found Huo Fenglie looking at him in a daze. The sadness pain in his eyes had dyed them red, just like when his internal strength had gone haywire.

“Are you alright?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Huo Fenglie’s eyes seemed to be filled with grievances. His face was abnormally pale, which was obviously the aftereffect of poisoning. His body must still be affected even after detoxification, but it wasn’t a dire problem overall. 

“Qing-ge…..” Huo Fenglie was speechless, unable to say anything else. He just hugged Liu Zhenqing and kissed his forehead, heartbroken beyond words.

But in the next moment, he raised the Chunjun Sword, and under the gazes of everyone, the loyal general leveled his sword at the ruler he served.

Everyone present sucked in a breath of cold air.

This was proof of a rift between subject and ruler.

“You deceived me. Are you worthy of him?” Every word Huo Fenglie spoke was like a sharp hidden arrow, full of killing intent.

Yuan Jue had deceived Huo Fenglie into thinking that someone else had killed Liu Zhenqing, so Huo Fenglie had always loyally assisted him. Even though Yuan Jue never vindicated Liu Zhenqing, he’d just thought the emperor was unsure and didn’t want to take the risk of confronting public opinion. He had seen Yuan Jue staring at the calligraphy paintings Liu Zhenqing had left behind more than once, and was completely fooled by the genuine emotion he expressed.

“Huo Fenglie, he is the emperor! Think this through!” He Cong shouted: “By holding the emperor hostage, do you want to bear the stigma of plotting to usurp the throne and causing the world to fall into chaos?”

Liu Zhenqing was also stunned. He looked at Huo Fenglie and felt a pang of heartache. Yuan Jue’s words were true.

Huo Fenglie would turn his back on his family’s beliefs for him, and wasn’t afraid to kill the emperor.

Yuan Jue only gave a cold scoff.

“You! Go to hell!” Liu Qiao was incredibly furious. He hadn’t known the truth. If he had known, he would have invaded the palace nine years earlier and avenged Liu Zhenqing.

The blade in his hand nearly sliced Yuan Jue’s neck, but Yuan Jue didn’t move, and only gazed at Liu Zhenqing indifferently.

But it wasn’t so easy for Liu Qiao to take action, especially with the sound of bows being drawn around them. He instinctively stopped, because once he moved, the safety of Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing couldn’t be guaranteed.

Yuan Jue didn’t seem phased by Huo Fenglie’s aggression, and simply looked toward He Cong.

He Cong immediately said: “There is a master……guarding him……”

He Cong naturally recognized Liu Qiao. With such a master guarding Huo Fenglie, it would be impossible for them to easily succeed.

Yuan Jue looked back at Liu Zhenqing and sighed with a smile: “You really care about him. Your own personal guard didn’t learn his lesson and stay to protect you, but protected him instead. Did you think I wouldn’t kill you?”

The murderous intent on Huo Fenglie’s face instantly intensified. The Chunhun sword turned, and a cold glint of light flashed partially across Yuan Jue’s face.

Liu Zhenqing said: “No, I just sensed that something was wrong. In the worst case scenario, even with Liu Qiao protecting me, we might not have been able to escape unscathed. But if he protected Fenglie, there would be a chance of success.”

“A chance of success? Did you think you could kill the emperor and get out alive?”

Just as Yuan Jue spoke, a young eunuch rushed in to report: “Your Majesty, the Huo family army…..three thousand soldiers have surrounded the palace! They’re at a stand-off with the palace guards…..”

Yuan Jue’s expression changed several times. He looked toward Huo Fenglie: “I really underestimated you, Zhanyuan. As expected, you would do anything for him.”

After saying this, he looked at Liu Zhenqing and said: “The situation is like this, and it was so easy to achieve. How could I have trusted you?”

“You created this situation yourself. He and I have never had any rebellious intentions, and still don’t have any now. We’re just trying to protect ourselves,” Liu Zhenqing said calmly.

“Hahaha, no rebellious intentions?” Yuan Jue abruptly pointed at Liu Qiao and said, “What about him? He’s still alive, so the one he took away should still be alive.”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback, and looked at Yuan Jue with some disbelief.

Yuan Jue said coldly: “How many things did you do behind my back? Do you think something like that wasn’t a betrayal of me?”

Qiao Jin, a remnant of the rebels, possessed the bloodline to inherit the throne, which was essentially a betrayal of Yuan Jue.

Liu Zhenqing came to a sudden realization that this might not be about that incident specifically. In the past, Liu Zhenqing had indeed done many things privately. He’d felt that there was no reason to tell Yuan Jue, or really didn’t want to tell him, but Yuan Jue found out through his own means. As long as he felt it was disadvantageous to him, no matter what Liu Zhenqing’s original intention was, Emperor Yuan Jue felt it was a betrayal.

As these incidents accumulated, the trust between master and disciple was worn away.

In suspicion and trepidation, Yuan Jue decided to kill him.

“Selfishness does not imply rebellion. I thought you would trust me.” Liu Zhenqing sighed. “So many people were chasing Liu Qiao. How could that child have survived? He would have died of illness long ago.”

“I wanted to trust you, but I dared not,” Yuan Jue said sarcastically.

Under Yuan Jue’s paranoid gaze, Liu Zhenqing said self-deprecatingly: “Today, Huo-dage, Yao Hua, and Jian Shuang are all gone. I’m not myself anymore, and I just want to be with Fenglie. Can you not just accommodate that?”

Although they could find a way to safely escape this situation, Liu Zhenqing didn’t know what to do next and was thinking about countermeasures. Suddenly, he felt the arms around him tighten.

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback, and sent Huo Fenglie a questioning look, thinking he had come up with an idea. But Huo Fenglie only looked at him with concern, as if he was a fragile object he was afraid to break by accident.

“What’s wrong?”

“The Empress Dowager is gone?” Huo Fenglie asked carefully.

Liu Zhenqing nodded: “She drank poisoned wine not long ago. She wanted to leave with Jian Shuang on her own terms.”

Huo Fenglie was momentarily stunned. His eyes scanned carefully over Liu Zhenqing’s face: “Don’t…..don’t be sad.”

Liu Zhenqing was a bit sad. After all, an old friend had just died. But it had been Yao Hua’s own choice, so he respected it. But this shouldn’t be enough to put Huo Fenglie in such a state, as if he thought Liu Zhenqing would fall apart in the next second.

He was somewhat astonished and confused, when suddenly, he heard Yuan Jue laugh.

The two looked over to meet Yuan Jue’s mocking gaze.

“What are you laughing at!” Liu Qiao shouted angrily.

Yuan Jue stopped laughing, and said: “I’m laughing at the fact that whether it is human will or that of heaven, nothing can stop you two. But even when you’re together, you can’t communicate with each other. It’s ridiculous.”

“What?” Liu Zhenqing stared blankly.

With a somewhat delighted look on his face, Yuan Jue pointed at Huo Fenglie and said: “He was so cautious because he thought Yao Hua was your original lover, and that although you loved each other, you couldn’t be together. Even though he has you now, he still thinks he was your last resort. That if you had a choice, you wouldn’t choose him. It’s laughable, isn’t it?”

Liu Zhenqing was baffled. According to Yuan Jue’s words, did Huo Fenglie think that his relationship with Yao Hua was more than just rumors, and that they were practically engaged?

He turned toward the dumbfounded Huo Fenglie and said directly: “What does this mean? Did you misunderstand something? I never liked her like that, ah. From beginning to end, regardless of status, I’ve only liked you.”

Huo Fenglie was startled by Liu Zhenqing’s sudden confession, and said after a moment: “You…..didn’t like her? But back then…..”

Huo Fenglie abruptly looked toward Yuan Jue, who only raised his eyebrows and smiled at him.

“You wrote to me and said they were in love, that out of appreciation for Qing-ge, you planned to send her out of the palace so they could be together!”

“I lied to you,” Yuan Jue said bluntly.

Huo Fenglie’s face instantly paled. Liu Zhenqing really hadn’t expected this. Yuan Jue was crazy. Why would he do such a thing!

“When was the letter written?” Liu Zhenqing asked in shock.

Huo Fenglie said uncomfortably: “After I wrote to you to confess my feelings, and you rebuked and rejected me, I received a letter from him and…..thought it was true.”

“Wait a second!” Liu Zhenqing shouted. He grabbed Huo Fenglie by the arm and gave him a wide-eyed look. “What confession? When did you ever write me such a letter?”

In his previous life, he’d had no idea Er-gou liked him and never received such a letter. He had never rebuked or rejected him…..

Rebuked?

Could it be…..

Yuan Jue had dictated that letter while Liu Zhenqing was busy, saying that Huo Fenglie wanted to negotiate with the enemy, that the war was difficult and he didn’t want to continue fighting.

Liu Zhenqing was so furious that he wrote back right away and scolded Huo Fenglie severely.

He didn’t quite remember what he wrote, but he recalled that he had harshly asked him how he could have such thoughts, and whether he thought he was worthy of Liu Zhenqing or his elder brother. He warned him to put an end to such thoughts and guard the west well, or else he need not return.

So after he was reborn, Er-gou’s various odd behaviors were…..

The scenes that had bothered Liu Zhenqing during their time together in the south reappeared in his mind, and in an instant, he felt as if all the blood in his body was flowing backward.

What had he done to Er-gou?

What had Er-gou been thinking in those days he was alone?

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 142 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 144

Liu Zhenqing frowned and listened carefully. In fact, he was also very curious. They had assisted Yuan Jue together in the past and got along harmoniously. Liu Zhenqing had even admired Jian Shuang a lot.

He really never suspected that Jian Shuang would plot against him in the end.

Jian Shuang looked at Yao Hua with eyes that were beautiful and clear, so pure that she seemed like a fairy who was not of this world.

“Because he treated Jiejie badly.” Jian Shuang coughed, then said: “He made Jiejie sad, so I hate him.”

Yao Hua didn’t seem to understand what she was saying, and asked: “What…..are you talking about? You’re clearly aware that the feelings between us were always one-sided…..”

Jian Shuang smiled faintly: “I knew that, so I didn’t hate him at first. He didn’t respond to your feelings and broke off the engagement with Li Xingruo without marrying you, which led to you marrying into the East Palace, but I just lamented that fate plays tricks on people. I was afraid you would be sad, and wanted to be with you, so I also managed to marry into the East Palace. When I saw that the crown prince treated you well and that you gradually became happy, I was relieved.”

Yao Hua naturally knew that Jian Shuang had married into the East Palace in order to follow her. She had always thought Jian Shuang had no friends other than her, and didn’t socialize with others, which was why she continued to cling to her. Back when they were in the East Palace, the crown prince treated them extremely well and they lived a very happy life.

Yao Hua sent her a look of confusion, and Jian Shuang’s expression gradually darkened as she said: “But the crown prince was a short-lived ghost and caused us so much trouble!”

Shocked, Yao Hua said: “Shuan’er, how can you say that about His Highness!”

Jian Shuang sneered: “Did he not? If he hadn’t died young, would Great Zhou have been in turmoil, would the Three Kings have caused such chaos, and would we have been drawn into the Imperial power struggle? Living in fear every day, having to take risks with Liu Zhenqing and the others – why did we have to live like that and shoulder such responsibilities? Jiejie cried every night back then and had nightmares, and it hurt my heart to see it. So from that time on, I couldn’t help but think that, if Liu Zhenqing had married you early on, couldn’t you have avoided such things?”

“Absolutely not, how could you vent your anger on Liu Zhenqing!”

“Does Jiejie still remember what she did in order to help get King Zhao’s death certificate for Liu Zhenqing?”

Yao Hua’s expression instantly changed: “You…..”

On the other side, Liu Zhenqing had a blank expression on his face. King Zhao was the one who had died with him in the Dragon Court, and was also the last of the Three Kings to be killed.

Liu Zhenqing had tried every possible means to deal with the most dangerous king, and the last thing missing was a death certificate. This was an extremely critical matter, and if it took too long, the other party would kill him.

In the end, Jian Shuang delivered it soon after, allowing him to successfully deal with King Zhao. Jian Shuang’s wisdom was something he admired back then. She casually gave him an explanation, and Liu Zhenqing didn’t ask further questions. He trusted her very much. But listening to Jian Shuang’s words now, there seemed to be another hidden story.

Jian Shuang said: “Back then, King Zhao was vicious and cruel, with a twisted mentality. He had always wanted you, right? You were ready to trade yourself in order to help Liu Zhenqing achieve his goal!”

Liu Zhenqing went completely still when he heard this and stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. He’d had no idea. Was that how those things happened?!

But in the next second, Yao Hua said anxiously: “I had no choice. I wasn’t going to do it for him, but for all of us! But I never had to do anything – wasn’t it you who solved the problem?”

Yao Hua had indeed made up her mind when faced with that situation. She was the Empress Dowager, after all. If she really went through with it, she was ready to die as penance, but when she went to plot against King Zhao, it was already over.

She’d thought that the endlessly clever Liu Zhenqing had solved the problem once again, and rejoiced. But now, she heard Jian Shuang’s words and saw the resolute look on her face.

Yao Hua’s heart constricted. She instantly reached out and grasped Jian Shuang’s shoulders, asking: “What actually happened?”

Jian Shuang smiled indifferently and said: “Whatever Jiejie wanted to do, I helped her do it. How could I allow King Zhao’s dirty hands to touch Jiejie?”

Yao Hua’s eyes immediately reddened. She stared at Jian Shuang in disbelief.

And Liu Zhenqing lost his balance, staggering back a step.

Jian Shuang snuggled into Yao Hua’s arms like a spoiled child: “Jiejie, don’t wear such an expression. I’m not trying to take credit. In fact, I’ve never cared about these things. I just wanted Jiejie to be well.”

“Shuang’er…..you……” Yao Hua was at a loss for words.

“We were clearly childless, yet willing to take risks for other peoples’ children. It was fine for us to take risks since we had no choice but to embark on that ship, but after we succeeded, we were still trapped in the harem and lived as widows. Why!” Jian Shuang said rapidly: “Jiejie asked me why I wanted to deal with Liu Zhenqing. Actually, I wasn’t happy with him back then, but I didn’t want to kill him – not until he told us that once Yuan Jue took power, he planned to leave.”

Yao Hua was stunned: “It was all because of that drunken nonsense?”

Liu Zhenqing seemed to recall something, and his expression changed again. After King Zhao was taken prisoner, Liu Zhenqing felt that there was nothing left to do. During a drinking and chatting session in the harem, Liu Zhenqing had talked about how Li Xingruo had scolded him for wanting to leave. Yao Hua was probably drunk at the time and couldn’t control herself. She pulled his sleeve and cried, asking if he could take her with him.

And Jian Shuang just watched quietly from the side.

Yao Hua’s eyes were full of love for Liu Zhenqing back then. They had accompanied each other in times of crisis and stayed together day and night. Her suppressed affections were reawakened, overwhelming the difference in their statuses.

Liu Zhenqing was stunned for a moment, then just smiled and shook his head in refusal.

He rejected Yao Hua not only because she was the Empress Dowager, but because she was also the Crown Prince’s widow. He also didn’t return her affections, and couldn’t be responsible for taking her away.

More importantly, although Liu Zhenqing intended to retire after his victory, being able to leave peacefully was not guaranteed. How many eyes were on him back then? When he gave up power, would he really be able to escape? Not necessarily. He should continue to hold onto power in order to ensure that other ministers and powerful enemies couldn’t harm him, but he was too tired. He just wanted to get away from everything. So while he was willing to take the risk, he couldn’t drag others down with him.

He had even told the two people he trusted most to leave in advance, so how could he bring someone else with him?

Therefore, he rejected Yao Hua, and she fell asleep drunk. Liu Zhenqing only remembered that when he was leaving with the wine jug, Jian Shuang had looked at him and said: “You will regret this.”

He’d just thought Jian Shuang was sighing with emotion, or feeling sorry for Yao Hua. He didn’t expect that…..

“I hate him. You were with him for so long, putting him first in everything and considering his feelings, but when the time came, he intended to go away and leave you alone. What right did he have to do that?” Jian Shuang sneered.

Yao Hua trembled uncontrollably: “Just because of this? That was my drunken talk. I was the Empress Dowager, and I was already married. How could I have gone with him? I just…..”

“Jiejie, don’t lie to me. I know that as long as he agreed, even if you died or risked the wrath of the world, you were willing to follow him. And I would have done my best to help you. I just wanted you to be happy, but he failed you.”

“Shuang’er, you can’t force others to like you,” Yao Hua said.

Jiang Shuang said: “I don’t care about others, only you. Whatever you want, I will give it to you. He didn’t take you with him, so I wanted his life.”

Therefore, she went to meet the imprisoned King Zhao by virtue of their previous relationship. With just a little prodding, King Zhao went crazy and desperately wanted to kill Liu Zhenqing. Since Liu Zhenqing refused to take Jian Shuang’s jiejie with him, he must leave his life behind!

Yao Hua looked down at Jian Shuang in her arms. Her body shook uncontrollably, yet she felt incomparably sad and desolate.

But Liu Zhenqing felt neither resentment or hatred when he heard this, because he knew that even without Jian Shuang, he never would have been able to leave the palace. He only felt extreme helplessness and regret.

After a long silence, Yao Hua asked in a trembling voice: “Then…..why did you help King Jing rebel? Was it also because of me?”

At this moment, Yao Hua seemed not to be counting Jian Shuang’s sins, but her own, as if she had become the culprit in all of this.

Jian Shuang said: “It was because of Yuan Jue. I had hinted to him before that after he took power, he should secretly let us leave the palace since I knew Jiejie didn’t want to stay here, but he pretended not to understand. The royal family is just selfish. We have clearly sacrificed so much for them, but they refused to grant even such a small request, on account of the so-called royal dignity and face.”

“It doesn’t matter that he didn’t agree. Liu Zhenqing is dead, so I know that for Jiejie, it makes no difference whether she stays or leaves. But he never, ever should have become guarded against us, disrespected us, or taken away our power. He wanted to throw us away after we served our use, and made Jiejie lost and sad. We are clearly the ones who raised him, but he is a white-eyed wolf. Since Yuan Jue wouldn’t let me control him, I just changed the person in command. As long as I could take control, I would be able to make them into filial sons.” Jian Shuang tilted her head and asked Yao Hua, “At least this way, Jiejie could find happiness for herself from her children, right?”

Yao Hua had long accepted the fact that she couldn’t see through Jian Shuang’s thoughts. Seeing her like this, she said: “But you seem to have replaced him with someone even more heartless.”

“At least he’s stupid, and easier to control than Yuan Jue. Jiejie, I don’t blame you, but if you hadn’t contradicted me just now…..” Jian Shuang couldn’t help but look at Yao Hua with some grievance as she said: “You want my life for the sake of Liu Zhenqing. Why bother with all of this? Just tell me, and I’m willing to die at your hands. Aren’t you tired of putting on an act with me like this? If I had known, I would have felt sorry for you.”

Yao Hua said mournfully: “You are my most treasured meimei. I’ve never wanted your life, I just wanted to give them justice. But what you were doing made me sad and afraid. You have no sense of ethics, right or wrong, or peace and prosperity in the world.”

Jian Shuang responded: “My heart is small, and can only accommodate Jiejie. As long as Jiejie is well, nothing else matters.”

Jian Shuang was so beautiful and smart, but she wasn’t good at dealing with people. Her mother died young, and her father wanted to use her as goods to trade, but she was weak, sickly, and had nowhere to go.

She was hated by her sisters at home and coveted by the men outside, and encountered all kinds of conflicts and torments no matter where she was.

Those in darkness would yearn for light. Yao Hua gave her that light and became the sun of Jian Shuang’s world. The sun should be high above, enjoying the best of everything in the world, so Jian Shuang was never willing to compromise on Yao Hua in the slightest. Even if she was in the quagmire, she would hold Yao Hua aloft and keep her away from even a speck of dust.

She had thought she was trying to do right by her. But with her jiejie opposing her while wearing such an expression on her face, Jian Shuang was miserable.

“Jiejie, do you hate me?” Jian Shuang asked. “Please don’t hate me, okay?”

Yao Hua closed her eyes. She choked on a sob, but couldn’t utter a word. She didn’t hate Jian Shuang. She hated herself, and felt that she hadn’t taught her meimei well enough.

Jian Shuang regarded Yao Hua with pursed lips, appearing a little anxious. She tried to defend herself by saying: “Jiejie, I didn’t actually kill the person you liked, so can you hate me a little less?”

Yao Hua was stunned. She knew she was talking about Liu Zhenqing, but…..what did she mean she didn’t kill him? Did she mean that even though she made arrangements, it was still an accident?

Just as she was about to speak, the doors were pushed open and Yuan Jue and his eunuch attendant walked inside. The eunuch was holding a jug of wine, and its purpose was evident.

Yuan Jue’s expression was still mild. His appearance was gentle, but his eyes were ice cold.

“Have the Empress Dowager and the Taifei finished speaking?” Yuan Jue asked placidly.

Yao Hua looked at the poisoned wine and opened her mouth, but didn’t plead for Jian Shuang.

Jian Shuang also looked at the wine jug and suddenly laughed: “You don’t even plan to interrogate me? That’s right. In the royal tent before, you acted until the end without holding me hostage. It seemed like you were stalling for time, but in fact, you just wanted to figure out who else would be unfaithful to you. You’re still so suspicious that you tested them even in such a situation.”

“Since this emperor risked himself for the sake of the show, I must maximize my benefits. As the emperor, I am naturally unable to easily extend my trust. After all, since the death of my father, those closest to me have constantly betrayed me, from Great Zhou, to Xiheng, and back to Great Zhou. The word I am the most familiar with is ‘betrayal.’”

Liu Zhenqing wasn’t surprised to hear this. He knew that after falling from a favored child of heaven to a hostage, then escaping from the brink of death and slowly taking his place on the throne, Yuan Jue’s character before and after couldn’t be mentioned in the same breath.

“You did me the favor of raising me, after all, so I won’t make things difficult for you. I have interrogated King Jing thoroughly, and he has already passed. This emperor has come to see the Taifei off.”

Jian Shuang was indifferent. She took the wine jug from the eunuch,set it beside her, and poured herself a cup of wine. She swirled the wine in the cup and abruptly said with a smile: “This was all a deception, right? You already suspected King Jing and I, already knew there was an edict. You used me and your didi to eradicate all the remaining filth in Great Zhou, root out the remaining rebels, safeguard your royal power, and lure out that edict that you cared about the most. Truly impressive. You are worthy of being the emperor taught by Liu Zhenqing.”

From the moment she failed, Jian Shuang had been reviewing everything in her mind, and gradually realized that she was just a piece on Yuan Jue’s chessboard.

Yuan Jue had known much more about everything than he let on, and although he seemed to be in the weaker position, he had Yao Hua’s secret assistance and Huo Fenglie’s open support. It seemed as if he was relying on others everywhere, or letting things develop naturally, but in the end, he was the only one to achieve the desired result without any effort.

This conclusion bewildered Yao Hua, but Liu Zhenqing to the side had already guessed it.

Yuan Jue smiled and didn’t refute Jian Shuang’s conjecture. Instead, he slowly rubbed his jade thumb ring and asked: “The Taifei is incorrect. I was taught by the two of you.”

Jian Shuang smiled as well: “Then this is truly a case of the disciple surpassing the master.”

Yuan Jue shook his head and said: “I am certainly inferior to the two of you, but I am stronger in one single aspect.”

His words aroused Jian Shuang’s curiosity: “What is it?”

Yuan Jue smiled and said: “Weaknesses, ah. Your weakness is the Empress Dowager, and his weakness was that he was too soft-hearted.”

“So the emperor has no weaknesses?” Jian Shuang asked.

Yuan Jue’s smile faded. He looked through the window beside him: “Now, I have none.”

Jian Shuang smiled and said: “Yes, you are ruthless, just as an emperor should be.”

Yao Hua was astonished, and her expression grew thoughtful as she looked at Yuan Jue.

After Jian Shuang finished speaking, she said nothing more and raised the wine glass. Her beauty still shone even as she drank.

When she finished drinking, she leaned comfortably into Yao Hua’s arms: “Thank you for sending me off for the last time, Jiejie. I like you so much. Although you may hate me, I’ll wait for you at the bridge of forgetfulness. We’ll reincarnate together, and in the next life…..Jiejie, remember, I’ll be waiting so many years, and by then your temper should have cooled.”

Yao Hua retracted her gaze, took the wine cup from Jian Shuang’s hand, and poured again.

Yuan Jue’s eyes flashed. Liu Zhenqing took an uncontrollable step forward, but stopped in the end.

Jian Shuang was shocked, staring at Yao Hua in disbelief.

Yao Hua drank the cup of poisoned wine in silence.

“Jiejie?” Jian Shuang said in a trembling voice.

Yao Hua smiled bitterly and said: “Ever since you entered the East Palace, we have never been apart. How can I become accustomed to you being gone? No need to wait, let’s go together. Shuang’er, don’t be so willful in the next life.”

From the moment Yao Hua dealt with Jian Shuang, she’d had this in mind. And now that she knew everything she’d done was for her, even though it was wrong, she couldn’t let her leave alone. There was really nothing left for her to miss in this world.

“Jiejie…..you’re so good.” There was already blood at the corners of Jian Shuang’s mouth. Yuan Jue was quite merciful and hadn’t given her a very torturous poison, so they wouldn’t suffer too much.

Yuan Jue was about to leave once he saw that both of them had drunk the poisoned wine, but he heard Yao Hua say: “Yuan Jue, don’t forget what you promised me. I want his name to disappear from the list of sinners.”

Yuan Jue paused, but didn’t look back.

Yao Hua said: “This poisoned wine is very familiar. I’ve remembered something.”

Now, Yuan Jue turned to look at her.

Yao Hua smiled bitterly: “There was a banquet that year, and King Qi insisted on toasting you. You were forced to accept, but Liu Zhenqing overstepped his authority to drink in your stead. He snatched it away forcefully, like a treacherous minister who controlled the imperial power, disregarding the rules to steal the emperor’s wine. Do you remember?”

Yuan Jue’s eyes shifted slightly.

“The wine was poisoned. He pretended to be drunk and left. I saw him vomiting blood on the way back.”

Yuan Jue’s pupils quivered.

“But he carried with him the detoxification pills from Medical Valley. Although he didn’t die after taking them, he never fully recovered.”

Yuan Jue said nothing, but his expression turned more unsightly.

“I wonder how many times he blocked poison like that for you? His body was in such bad condition at the end.” Yao Hua said unhurriedly, “So for the sake of that poison, you should give him the credit he deserves.”

Yuan Jue left with a gloomy face.

Liu Zhenqing was also taken away by secret guards. It seemed he had only been placed here temporarily until Yuan Jue finished his work.

There were guards left outside the palace to make sure the two inside were dead, but a master was still able to sneak in.

Zheng Wei descended and looked at the two snuggled together. Jian Shuang’s eyes were closed, but Yao Hua’s opened when she heard a sound. Zheng Wei stepped forward and offered her an antidote pill, but she rejected it

Zheng Wei was surprised, but he didn’t insist.

Yao Hua was already having difficulty breathing, but she still said: “Zheng Wei, go. The emperor will not let you off. Take your adopted son with you. Thank you for your companionship over the years. Without it, I would not be here today.”

“Your Highness, there is no need to thank me. I owed him a favor that must be repaid,” Zheng Wei said.

Yao Hua smiled: “You never told me what favor he did for you. Can you tell me now?”

Zheng Wei was taken aback for a moment. Then he said: “Back then, my sister loved King Zhao, and for him, she was willing to become a dead soldier and enter the palace. King Zhao promised her that as long as the plan succeeded, he would marry her. But when she escaped and went to be with her beloved, King Zhao killed her and threw her in the moat.

Zheng Wei thought of his sister, who had depended on him for everything. Before she left, she’d said that she would be married soon and take him with her to live with the person she loved.

But as he was waiting, King Zhao had someone hunt him down and kill him. He was fortunate enough to escape, but he was unable to locate his sister’s body until Liu Zhenqing and the others solved the case.

“Everyone said that my sister’s body was thrown to wild beasts in order for the late emperor to vent his anger, and that in the end, no traces of her body remained. They all thought I should hate the royal family and Prime Minister Liu and his people. But nobody knew that when the body was delivered, it had already been replaced by Prime Minister Liu. At that time, I secretly followed them when they transported the coffin, and saw that Prime Minister Liu had chosen a place with plum blossoms to bury my sister. He probably sympathized with my sister and acted out of mercy, but I was grateful and remembered his kindness.”

Zheng Wei had entered the palace for revenge, but he was alone and weak. When he saw that Liu Zhenqing planned to deal with the Three Kings, he naturally decided to repay his kindness and seek revenge simultaneously.

But in the end, Liu Zhenqing died too. As he watched the entire country slander Liu Zhenqing, he felt a bit unwilling. After all, he had been silently watching Liu Zhenqing stabilize the country step by step.

So in the days that followed, he only wanted to slowly find an opportunity to clear Liu Zhenqing’s name. Later, he found that something was wrong with the Taifei, so he deliberately concocted a plan to get her to bring him to her side. It wasn’t until later that he discovered the Empress Dowager shared his ideals, which brought them to this point.

They didn’t have to be loyal to Yuan Jue and help him deal with his enemies, but this country had been maintained by a loyal minister and general with great effort. Neither of them could bear to see it destroyed again, so they made the only choice they could.

Just like when Liu Zhenqing didn’t choose any of the Three Kings, nor King Jing, but only Yuan Jue.

It wasn’t that he preferred to assist Yuan Jue, but because if any one of the Three Kings came into power, it would bring disaster to the country.

Yao Hua simply smiled throughout Zheng Wei’s narration, then said: “That’s just like him, ah.”

She maintained her smile as she closed her eyes. Holding Jian Shuang in one arm, she placed her other hand on the jade pendant she wore.

Zheng Wei sighed, then suddenly recalled his purpose for returning. He wasn’t here to see the Empress Dowager off. He had discovered that those who were sent to delay Huo Fenglie had been infiltrated by real assassins, and those peoples’ skills were definitely that of…..the Jinyiwei.

And the only one who could mobilize the Jinyiwei was the emperor.

Therefore…..

The emperor intended to kill Huo Fenglie.

Although Zheng Wei couldn’t understand why the emperor would want to kill the general who posed no threat to him and only served to protect the country, who was as close as a brother to him, he also took into consideration his debt of gratitude to Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo. Thus, he naturally must protect Huo Fenglie. And as the person Huo Fenglie cared about most was in the hands of the emperor, he had to go take a look.

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 141 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 143

Considering that Pei Xi had fainted due to low blood sugar before, even though he had eaten breakfast before going out, He Chuzhou bought him a cup of milk tea before they went back.

It was the same kind as last time – lemon coconut boba balls, full sugar, room temperature.

When they got home, he refused to let Pei Xi do anything. He put the litter box in place, poured the litter, then placed the cat food, cat bed, cat toys, and cat climbing frame…..

The kitten was braver than they expected. She didn’t hide upon arriving at a new environment, but sniffed around, drank a few sips of water, ate a few bites of food, and then very consciously crawled into the cat bed and prepared to sleep.

She was extremely well-behaved, and seemed to know that this was her new home.

He Chuzhou tidied everything up well before letting He Xingxing out. Fearing that such a big dog would scare the little cat, he stayed beside them throughout their first meeting, ready to deal with an emergency at any time.

Everything went more smoothly than expected.

The kitten wasn’t afraid of the dog. When He Xingxing put his doggy nose in front of her, she mewed and touched it gently with her pink nose, then turned her belly over to play.

He Xingxing had always liked cats, and was very happy to see his father bring one back. He put his entire doggy head into the cat bed and played with the kitten, laying on the ground with his tail wagging like a propeller behind his butt.

“Who said families with two children aren’t harmonious? Look how harmonious it is.”

He Chuzhou touched He Xingxing’s head proudly, then stretched out a finger to play with the kitten.

When Pei Xi came over and crouched down to watch, He Chuzhou turned and said with a smile: “Want to give Xiao Bai a name?”

Pei Xi was puzzled: “Xiao Bai?”

He Chuzhou pointed at the kitten: “Her.”

Pei Xi was silent for a moment: “Haven’t you already named her?”

“When did I…..”

He Chuzhou came to a realization and laughed at himself: “That doesn’t count, I just called her that randomly. Xiao Bai is too casual, you should give her a serious name.”

A serious name…..

Pei Xi looked at the playing kitten, then at He Xingxing, who was happily acting as a cat toy. His heart moved somewhat, and he said softly: “I’ll name her Pei Yueliang.”^[1]

“Pei…..Yueliang?”

He Chuzhou repeated it, feeling it was a bit strange. It was casual, yet not casual. He couldn’t put the feeling into words.

“What’s so special about that name?” he asked Pei Xi.

Pei Xi calmly responded: “What’s so special about the name He Xingxing?”

“Nothing, ah. My surname is He, and there were lots of stars on the night I brought him back—”

After speaking, He Chuzhou came to a sudden realization.

Weren’t the stars and the moon a perfect pair?

Although he knew Pei Xi didn’t mean anything by it and had probably just said it for the sake of symmetry, that didn’t stop him from applauding the name.

One surnamed He, and the other surnamed Pei. One Xingxing and one Yueliang. And it was the one he secretly liked who came up with the name. There couldn’t be a better sign than this.

“Okay.” Secretly elated, he scratched the kitten’s belly: “From now on, I’ll call you Xiao Yueliang.”

Yueliang meowed and turned upside down. As she hugged his finger and chewed on it, her little pink mouth and four pink paws were on perfect display.

He Chuzhou, a man who had only raised a silly dog, had never witnessed such a scene before. With a shout of “Cute!” he took out his phone and snapped a flurry of photos.

Pei Xi watched silently for a while, then suddenly said: “I noticed today that our WeChat pictures were changed. Was that done yesterday?”

“Yeah, when we got back yesterday—”

He Chuzhou’s voice cut off abruptly, and he stopped taking pictures. In just a couple of seconds, his expression changed several times.

Pei Xi could pretty much guess what he was thinking. He pressed down the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise and said in a mild tone: “Where did we come back from?”

He Chuzhou was silent. He was probably regretting the fact that the avatars had slipped his mind, while his brain was racing to think of a method to get away with it. 

Pei Xi gave him no time before throwing out the last clap of thunder: “Looking at the photos, did we go to an aquarium?”

“Huh? No way.”

He Chuzhou was already cursing himself a hundred times in his heart, but he showed no sign of it as he calmly put down his phone: “I’ve never been interested in those kiddy places. Do you want to go?”

He knew that with Pei Xi’s character, he would definitely deny it. Then he could go on to say that since he didn’t want to go, how could they have—

“I do,” said Pei Xi.

He Chuzhou: “……”

He Chuzhou: “……”

Pei Xi saw that a certain person’s CPU had practically burned out, and a smile flashed through his eyes. In the end, he had mercy and let him off: “Just kidding. I don’t want to go.”

He Chuzhou visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He cleared his throat and brought out the words he had prepared: “See, you’re not interested, so why would we go out of our way to take pictures there?”

Pei Xi nodded, and was about to play along when his phone suddenly rang. He looked down, and his smile vanished.

He Chuzhou waited until Pei Xi returned from taking the call on the balcony. Seeing that his expression was still a little off, he guessed: “Your dad?”

Pei Xi gave a hum. Beneath his dark eyelashes, the look in his eyes was unclear: “He’s returned to China and says he has something to discuss with me. He asked me to go over for dinner tonight.”

*

*

Pei Yansong and his family lived in a mountainside villa up the river, and it took crossing half of Wancheng to get there.

As he was leaving, He Chuzhou offered to bring him home, but he declined. He might not come back tonight, and He Chuzhou would have to send him there and then drive home by himself, which was a waste of time.

Besides, his family situation made it inconvenient for him to invite He Chuzhou as a guest, and Pei Yansong wouldn’t welcome him either. He didn’t want He Chuzhou to have to face those looks because of him.

Nearly an hour later, the vehicle turned off the ring road and went up the mountain on an asphalt road. He arrived at his destination before sunset.

A servant had been waiting at the door to greet him. When he saw Pei Xi coming, he opened the gate so the driver could park the car inside, and then escorted him all the way to the main house.

He hadn’t been back here for a very long time.

In the past, even when he was occasionally called back, he wouldn’t stay long. After all, this place hadn’t been his home since the day he was sent away in high school.

He went in through the main entrance, and when he stepped into the entrance hall, he looked up and made eye contact with the sole person standing in the middle of the parlor.

The youth was wearing light-hued home clothes. He had a thin figure, and was holding a cup of steaming water in his hand. The face behind the steam was a bit blurry, but it could still be seen that his complexion was pale and he wore a stiff expression.

They hadn’t seen each other in several years. Pei Zhen had hardly changed, except that he was a little taller than Pei Xi remembered.

The way he looked at him was still loathsome.

It was unclear what Pei Zhen’s current situation was. Did he get permission, or had he decided to run downstairs and ended up meeting him by chance? Or was there a possibility that his illness, which was said to be under control, had relapsed?

Pei Xi stood there motionless, waiting for the other party to react first.

He didn’t move, and Pei Zhen didn’t either. He just stood in the parlor and stared at him, as if in a trance. There was no telling what he would do.

The stalemate was broken when Jiang Ting came in from the back garden.

She first gave Pei Xi a polite greeting, then discovered that Pei Zhen was in the parlor too and suddenly became a little nervous: “Xiao Zhen, why did you come down? Didn’t I tell you to read in your room and not walk around?”

Disregarding formality in front of Pei Xi, she quickly stepped forward to hold Pei Zhen. She half-coaxed, half-dragged him up to the second floor and closed the door to his room, separating the two people who shouldn’t have met.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one who was distrustful of Pei Zhen’s so-called “stable condition.”

He removed his coat and hung it casually over his arm, taking a couple of steps into the parlor. There was once again the sound of a door opening upstairs.

It wasn’t Jiang Ting this time, but Pei Yansong, who had come out of his study.

“You’re here?” He stood at the railing upstairs and looked down at Pei Xi. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Pei Xi: “I just got here.”

Pei Yansong: “Was the traffic bad?”

Pei Xi: “Somewhat.”

Pei Yansong gave a hum: “Come on up.”

Pei Xi went up to the second floor, where the door to the study was left ajar for him. He pushed it open and walked in, sitting down opposite Pei Yansong.

There was only a laptop on the desk, and it wasn’t tall enough to block one’s view.

Across the table, Pei Xi could clearly see the gray hair at Pei Yansong’s temples and the long-accumulated fatigue on his features.

It seemed the trip abroad that had just ended hadn’t been so smooth.

“How has work been during this time?”

When the father and son pair spoke, Pei Yansong habitually used work as an opening topic.

Pei Xi: “Everything is going well.”

Pei Yansong: “I heard you failed to acquire the land by the river from Mr. Zhang?”

Pei Xi: “Mr. Zhang is currently abroad. I’ll have to wait until he returns before we can speak.”

Pei Yansong nodded, saying: “I didn’t make it back for my birthday some time ago, so today is a good time to make up for it. Our family hasn’t been together for a long time.”

Pei Xi nodded. He didn’t think Pei Yansong had asked him to come over just to tell him this.

As expected, Pei Yansong asked directly in the next sentence: “You’ve been close with President He of He Group recently?”

Pei Xi didn’t answer. He just asked: “Why?”

Pei Yansong sighed: “You should know your brother has been applying to schools recently, but the results have not been smooth. First, he was rejected by the University of St. Paul because his interview score wasn’t up to standard, and then several other schools rejected him for various reasons.”

This surprised Pei Xi.

He knew that Pei Zhen had been applying to schools, and was also aware that Pei Yansong was using resources and connections from all over to help him.

He’d thought qualifying for admission would be a piece of cake, but the reality was different from his expectations, full of twists and turns.

However, he wasn’t sure of Pei Yansong’s intentions.

After all, during their last phone call, Pei Yansong had firmly told him to keep his distance from He Chuzhou, his words full of contempt for the man. “You want He Chuzhou to help?”

“Yes.” Pei Yansong didn’t shy away from saying this. “He studied abroad in his early years and should have accumulated many connections. In addition, He Group already covers a lot of foreign-funded education industries. If he comes forward to help, matters will be much simpler.”

Sure enough.

Pei Xi suddenly felt extremely fortunate that he hadn’t let He Chuzhou send him over.

Pei Yansong’s attitude toward He Chuzhou irritated him. While belittling and looking down on him, he simultaneously wanted to ask him for help.

“You’re overthinking it. I don’t know him that well.”

He calmly denied: “I haven’t had any contact with him since you told me to keep my distance from him last time.”

“Is that so?” Pei Yansong narrowed his eyes, somewhat doubtful.

Pei Xi: “Yes. If you want to ask him for help, you can ask him in person. But if you don’t show full sincerity, your hope may be even slimmer.”

Pei Yansong frowned: “What?”

Pei Xi: “As you said, nobody in the business world is a saint who doesn’t seek rewards. He has no obligation to waste time and favors on an insignificant person.”

The study fell into complete silence after he said this.

Pei Yansong didn’t speak immediately, but instead regarded him with a scrutinizing look. His enigmatic eyes had subtly changed compared to before, and contained a hint of coldness.

Pei Xi let him look, his behavior neither servile nor overbearing.

After a while, Pei Yansong spoke solemnly: “Are you unwilling to help your brother? Do you hate him?”

Pei Xi: “I can’t help him.”

Pei Yansong: “Did I teach you too well and praise you too highly, making you forget your responsibilities?”

Pei Xi met his gaze and, for the first time, stated his position on the topic directly: “It is your responsibility to take care of him. It has never been mine.”

“Why isn’t it yours?”

Pei Yansong raised his voice with his usual authoritative oppression: “I gave you the best education, trained you to be a talent, and handed over everything I worked so hard for to you, letting you sit back and enjoy the results. What do you think it was all for?”

“Pei Xi, I put you in a high position and gave you the greatest power. I made you the pillar of this family, and now you’re telling me you have no responsibility. How can you say such a thing?”

Pei Xi was instantly struck dumb. As if coming to a sudden realization, he felt a chill spread quickly from the soles of his feet to the rest of his body.

He stared fixedly at Pei Yansong and struggled to squeeze out in a low, hoarse voice: “What do you mean by that?”

Pei Yansong likely realized that he was asking for help from others and couldn’t communicate with his son in this state.

So he raised a hand and rubbed his nose, taking a brief moment to calm himself. He then spoke again: “You are also very clear on your brother’s situation. His illness may never be cured. He will need someone to take care of him for the rest of his life.”

“Your Auntie Jiang and I will both grow old and pass away one day, and then you two brothers will be each other’s closest relatives in the world. Isn’t it natural for family to take care of each other?”

“Xiao Zhen is young, and doesn’t measure up to you in everything. Even if he wasn’t ill, he never would have been able to manage the company. He can’t inherit anything, and can’t take care of himself like you can.”

“So I did my best to cultivate you, to make you outstanding and formidable. Not only out of trust, but also because you are the hope of this family. You can do well in this position, but your brother can’t. He can only rely on you.”

Pei Yansong never realized what a bad father he was.

He couldn’t reflect on himself, and had no way of empathizing with Pei Xi, whose frozen body felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. His mind was only filled with nauseating, self-righteous principles.

“Since you’ve taken over my position, you must naturally assume my responsibilities and take on the duty of caring for your brother. You and Xiao Zhen are siblings, and there should be no hatred between you, no matter what has happened.”

“I gave you the company, but that doesn’t mean it is all yours. Xiao Zhen needs you, and his shares will slowly be taken away from you in the days ahead.”

*

*

“Ge, why are you alone, ah?”

He Aiyue took advantage of the lively atmosphere in the living room to sneak over to the balcony: “Where’s Pei-ge? Why didn’t you bring him back for dinner?”

“Your Pei-ge will be home tonight.”

He Chuzhou responded to her absent-mindedly. He rested his arms on the balcony, turning his phone over and over in his hands and wondering if he should call and ask about the situation.

He worried that Pei Xi would be bullied when he went back.

But what status did he have?

Pei Xi had gone to reunite with his family, and He Chuzhou was an outsider. No matter how he looked at it, it was inappropriate for him to interfere in the other’s trip home.

What if Pei Xi thought he was sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong again…..

“Ai.” He sighed heavily.

He Aiyue was amused: “What is this? It’s been such a short time since you last saw him, yet you already miss him this much?”

He Chuzhou smiled wryly: “Two hours isn’t long enough?”

“Wow, it’s been two hours! That’s a really long time, ah.” He Aiyue aggrandized the issue: “I could finish a whole set of test papers, my god!”

He Chuzhou boxed her head and told her to go away and stop bothering him.

He Aiyue waved his hand away and refused to leave: “If you’re so reluctant to let him leave, why didn’t you just go with him?”

He Chuzhou gave a self-deprecating snort: “I wanted to, but I have no name or status.”

No name or status?”

He Aiyue’s eyes widened: “So the two of you are still hiding your relationship from Pei-ge’s parents?”

He Chuzhou’s lips curled, and he was about to speak when his cell phone suddenly vibrated.

He Aiyue saw him glance at the ID. His expression immediately changed from listless to joyful, but in the next second, his smile disappeared and his face darkened.

After he hung up the phone, He Aiyue hurriedly asked: “What’s wrong, what’s wrong? What happened?”

He Chuzhou: “I’m going out for a while, and I might not be back tonight. Tell Mom later.”

He Aiyue: “Ah? Where are you going?”

He Chuzhou had already put on his jacket and was walking out in a hurry: “I’m going to pick up your Pei-ge.”

---

[1] Yueliang (月亮) means “Moonlight.” ⮐

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 50 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 52

“……”

He Chuzhou let out a hiss and hastened over to stand in front of Pei Xi. He lowered the brim of Pei Xi’s hat and led him away from the encirclement in a half hug amidst quite a lot of dissatisfaction. 

“Why are they like locusts besieging a city? Terrifying, terrifying.” In the gap between his casual musings, he didn’t forget to comfort Pei Xi: “Those uncles are just gathering in the jellyfish exhibit. It’s okay, let’s go to some other venues first.”

Pei Xi recalled the dark lenses of those cameras aimed at him, still in somewhat of a panic: “Will my ugly photos be seen on social platforms tonight?”

“Absolutely not!”

He Chuzhou said with resolute decisiveness: “I’ll have someone contact the platform company in a moment. As long as your photos are reviewed, they’ll be blocked and not allowed to pass.”

Pei Xi: “…..There’s no need to…..”

He Chuzhou: “But then again, how could you have ugly photos? You could get your picture taken with a landline phone and it would look amazing.”

Pei Xi: “……”

Was it his imagination?

Why did he feel that Mr. He’s love brain was getting more and more serious?

Most of the remaining themed exhibits were about the same, and after leaving the jellyfish exhibit, they didn’t visit any more of them. Estimating that it was nearly time, they found a nearby restaurant for lunch, then went to a performance hall when they were done eating.

The shows in every aquarium were similar, nothing more than jumping through hoops, tossing a ball, and flipping and applauding, which ultimately ended with a visitor interaction.

The adults weren’t interested, but most of the children watched with gusto.

Pei Xi also watched with gusto.

He was watching a marine animal performance for the first time, everything during the performance was very fresh to him.

After the show, the keepers routinely asked if anyone wanted to interact with a baby beluga. Pei Xi was eager to try, but hesitated because he didn’t want to go on stage alone under the eyes of the audience.

As he dithered, the back of his hand was enveloped in warmth.

He Chuzhou took his left hand into his palm and raised his right hand: “Hello, we would like to try.”

Being watched on stage by the envious eyes of children who were unable to try due to their overprotective parents, they stood in front of a guardrail that barely reached their waists, waiting for the keeper’s next instructions.

The keeper wore a microphone, and his voice spread throughout the venue: “Which one of you will be first?”

Pei Xi looked at He Chuzhou, who very consciously took off his camera and gave it to him: “I’ll go first. What do you want me to do?”

The keeper asked Pei Xi to move away first, and then told He Chuzhou to stand still. He fed a few small fish to the beluga whale spinning in the water next to them and made a few professional gestures. At the same time, he told Pei Xi with a smile that they were ready to take pictures.

Very soon, the tail fin of the whale swung and its body reared out of the water. After reaching a certain height, it stretched its mouth forward like a kiss—

A muah landed precisely on He Chuzhou’s neck, causing him to grimace and take a couple steps back.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The keeper: “It missed, it missed, the spectator is too tall. This basically never happens, which caused Xiao Bai to misread the height……pff!”

The keeper couldn’t hold back his laughter, and there was a burst of guffawing in the venue.

Pei Xi looked at the photo, which could be considered a success in a sense. Then he looked up at a certain person who was rubbing his chin with a helpless expression, and also couldn’t help but chuckle.

When they left the performance hall, Pei Xi was still staring at his palms and savoring the feel of the white whale.

Wet, soft, slippery, and tender, like a big piece of jelly, it was so addictive that he couldn’t stop.

There were terrestrial animal displays on both sides of the exit, such as peacocks and foxes. The two walked very slowly, and didn’t completely leave the aquarium until all of the photo paper was used up.

Pei Xi had a lot of fun today. When He Chuzhou asked if he’d enjoyed it, his eyes were bright and he nodded his head harder than usual.

He Chuzhou laughed and asked him: “Are you hungry?”

Pei Xi nodded once more.

He Chuzhou: “Do you want to eat outside or at home?”

Pei Xi: “Outside.”

He didn’t want He Chuzhou to accompany him for a day of wandering and then toil over dinner when they got home.

He thought He Chuzhou would take him to a high-end or private restaurant outside the downtown area like every time before, but was unexpectedly neither.

They came to a famous pedestrian snack street in Wancheng, with bright lights and overflowing fragrances. Looking at it from the entrance, it was bustling and lively.

“Eating Chinese and Western food is getting old. Today, Gege will take you to try something new.”

It was indeed new. Not to mention tasting the foods on the snack street, Pei Xi had never laid eyes on many of them.

In order for him to taste as much delicious food as possible, He Chuzhou bought the minimum amount of each item. He would give Pei Xi a taste and take care of the rest himself.

The two of them ate all the way from the street to the end of the alley. When they were so full that they couldn’t eat any more, they walked hand-in-hand to the nearest subway entrance.

During the trek, He Chuzhou didn’t forget to make a purchase from an old man selling balloons. He paid the money, then turned around and carefully tied the balloon to Pei Xi’s wrist.

Pei Xi tilted his head: “ ? ”

He Chuzhou looked at him and the balloon and nodded approvingly: “When I saw other parents taking their children out to play, they always came back with a balloon like this.”

Pei Xi blinked and said “Oh,” then looked up at the balloon and gave it a tug. It looked like a Pikachu, which was very cute.

Winter was coming soon, and the subway stations had luxuriously turned on their heating. They were isolated from the cold wind once inside, and the temperature was a lot more comfortable.

Evening rush hour had already ended, and there was very little passenger traffic on Line 7 going home, so there were more seats than passengers. Apart from them, the only other people in the carriage were a pair of young girls sitting opposite them.

He Chuzhou happily looked through their photos from today with Pei Xi, the two men pressing their heads together as they discussed which ones looked the best.

“This has to be the one.”

He Chuzhou pointed at a photo taken outside the jellyfish exhibit: “And this one, and this one, and this one…..”

Pei Xi moved his hand aside speechlessly: “You went through almost an entire roll of paper there.”

“As long as they look good.”

He Chuzhou admired the dozen or so identical photos: “Look at the light, the jellyfish, the eyelashes that could strike a match, look at the eyes, the nose, the small mouth and chin, tsk! Perfection.”

Pei Xi didn’t even bother to correct him that jellyfish didn’t have eyelashes, mouths, or chins.

Soon after, He Chuzhou turned to the photo of Pei Xi being frightened by the big white whale and couldn’t hold back his laughter. He picked that one out specifically and said with heartfelt feeling: “This one is the cutest, the absolute cutest.”

Pei Xi: “……”

Pei Xi silently chose from the pile of photos the one where He Chuzhou’s expression had suddenly changed when he was poked by the white whale, placing it in the other’s hand to cover up his own: “This one is the cutest.”

He Chuzhou confirmed with him: “Really?”

Pei Xi’s lips rose: “Really.”

“Okay.” He Chuzhou took a picture of it with his phone and set it as his WeChat avatar.

Pei Xi’s smile froze. There was a long silence.

In the end, it seemed there was nothing he could use against him. Sighing in resignation, Pei Xi grabbed the ugly photo of himself, took a photo, and uploaded it in one go.

The baffling couple headshots appeared.

He Chuzhou hadn’t expected him to follow suit, and couldn’t help but stare blankly. He lowered his head and clicked on the dialogue box between the two of them. The nonsensical headshots were very symmetrical.

The corners of his mouth stretched wider and wider. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the click of a shutter opposite him.

The two subconsciously looked up. One of the girls sitting across from them hastily put away her cell phone with a look of flustered panic on her face. She had forgotten to put it on mute.

“Sorry, sorry, I was just taking a random photo, it won’t be posted on social forums. If it bothers you, I’ll delete it right away…..”

She apologized repeatedly, unaware that neither of the two parties cared.

The one who looked cold and taciturn ignored her, while the other smiled and waved at her, saying it didn’t matter.

When the next stop arrived, the two girls exited the car as if fleeing.

In her hurry, the one who took the photo didn’t forget to give the two of them a quick “Zhu 99”^[1] before pulling her friend away quickly.

Pei Xi was confused: “Who is Zhu 99? Her online name? Or is it yours?”

He Chuzhou touched his chin: “If my guess is correct, she should have been wishing us a long life together?”

In the glass opposite, he glimpsed Pei Xi’s half-comprehending expression. His eyes curved and he lifted his camera, pointing it toward the glass. With his head tilted slightly, he used the last piece of photo paper to capture the reflection of the two of them sitting side by side.

“Where do you want to go next time?”

He pressed the last photo into Pei Xi’s hand: “How about the amusement park?”

Pei Xi: “Next time?”

“Ah, next time.”

He Chuzhou said: “You were busy studying when you were a child, and busy working when you grew up. There must be many places you haven’t been to.”

“But it’s not a big problem. From now on, I’ll take you wherever you want to go. No matter where Pei Zhen has been, I’ll take you there.”

Pei Xi’s mind went momentarily blank.

When he returned to his senses, he frowned and earnestly tried to explain: “I didn’t want to go to the aquarium because I envied Pei Zhen, I just, just…..”

He couldn’t formulate the words for a moment, and his cheeks suddenly felt hot.

He Chuzhou soothed his face with the backs of his fingers and said in a relaxed tone: “Don’t worry, I understand.”

“I know you don’t envy Pei Zhen. You just feel regretful.”

“Regretful that your life didn’t have a normal trajectory, that there was no one around when you needed companionship the most, and that at the most playful age, you could only stay at home.”

“But it doesn’t matter now.”

He waved the thick stack of photos in his hand in front of Pei Xi, feeling quite proud: “Now that you have me, I’ll make up for everything you haven’t been to, haven’t seen before, and want to try but haven’t yet.”

“Rest assured, just leave it to Xiao He. He’ll be responsible for getting your life back on track. From now on, he’ll accompany you wherever you want to go.”

“En…..but there’s an urgent matter right now that needs your cooperation.”

Pei Xi ignored his disordered breathing and gave him a blank stare: “What matter?”

He Chuzhou: “When we get back, remember to hide these photos. Hide them in a place you would never think of touching.”

Pei Xi: “Why?”

He Chuzhou: “You can treat today as our little secret. Hide them so no one else will find out.”

Pei Xi didn’t understand: “Is this some kind of fun?”

He Chuzhou gave him a thumbs up: “Clever.”

Pei Xi nodded obediently.

He Chuzhou was satisfied. But then something else quickly occurred to him. To ensure nothing went wrong, he specially told Pei Xi: “You must absolutely remember not to write it down.”

Pei Xi was even more confused: “Isn’t it okay to write it in a place where only I can see it?”

He Chuzhou said simply: “No.”

Pei Xi: “But it won’t be discovered.”

He Chuzhou: “It will.”

Pei Xi: “Will someone come to our house?”

“They won’t necessarily come to our house…..”

It was difficult for He Chuzhou to explain that this “person” was Pei Xi himself. After wracking his brains, he came up with an answer that would be hard to verify as true or false: “It’s mainly because I have a friend who can tell fortunes.”

*

*

“Good job, Xingxing! Drink your water well, look how it’s sprinkled on the ground. Are you a husky?”

“We’re going to pick up your sister today. If you behave like this, believe it or not, she’ll think you’re a stupid dog and won’t play with you.”

The sound of a dog being trained could be heard in the bedroom.

Pei Xi stood next to the cabinet by the floor-to-ceiling windows, holding the photos that had originally been placed at the bottom of that cabinet as he turned them over one by one.

From the casual photo taken when they were going out, to the first and second photo in the whale and dolphin exhibit, to the ninth and tenth photos in the shark exhibit……

To the one on the subway that used the last piece of photo paper.

Sunlight entered the room at an oblique angle, and he happened to be standing in the middle of it, his long eyelashes lowered as he looked absently at the two people leaning against each other in the photo.

It turned out there was no need for him to explain anything. He Chuzhou understood it all.

He Chuzhou understood everything.

The sounds of footsteps and shouts came from far away. Pei Xi snapped back to the present and hastily stuffed the photos back into place and closed the drawer.

“Pei Xi, are you ready?”

He Chuzhou pushed the door open and saw him standing by the windows in his pajamas. He raised an eyebrow, and was about to say something, when his gaze happened to meet the other’s slightly reddened ones.

“What’s wrong? Did you not sleep well last night? If not, you can sleep longer and I’ll pick up the cat by myself.”

“No need.” Pei Xi retracted his gaze first and turned toward the closet. Other than a subtle hoarseness, his cold voice was the same as usual: “I’ll change clothes and be ready soon.”

*

*

The veterinary hospital opened very early. When they got there, there were already several newly-arrived furry patients receiving treatment.

Their kitten was housed in a separate cat villa. Its fur was pure white after being cleaned, and its blue eyes seemed particularly friendly when it looked at people.

The veterinarian: “Her wounds have been treated, internal and external worming has been done, today’s medicine has been applied, and everything went fine with the physical examination. Remember to bring it in for a second round of vaccinations in two weeks, and make up for its malnutrition at home during this time.”

He Chuzhou teased the kitten through the door and asked the veterinarian: “Is she a mixed-breed cat? Or does she have some kind of bloodline?”

The veterinarian: “She’s a standard long-haired cat, but of better quality, with a round face and special eye color. She should be very beautiful when she grows up.”

Like an old father whose daughter was praised for being smart and cute, He Chuzhou’s joy was beyond words.

He gave the cat toy to Pei Xi and went to the cashier to pay for a cat bed, cat litter, dry food, canned food, etc. Then he moved everything to the trunk before finally going back for the cat.

When the door opened, he asked Pei Xi if he wanted to carry her.

Pei Xi reached out to touch her. She was smaller than she looked, so fragile that it seemed possible to hurt her with the slightest force.

He hesitated and curled his fingertips, ultimately retracting his hand: “You should do it.”

“Okay, I will.”

He Chuzhou bent down and carefully took the kitten out in his palms: “Why does she have such fluffy fur when she’s so thin?”

“Never mind, it doesn’t matter.” He stroked the kitten’s head and said, even though she couldn’t understand: “I’ve prepared all sorts of delicious food and drinks and fun things for you, and I’ll serve them to you at home.”

“Your mother didn’t want you, but I do. You have a home now, and you don’t have to live in the open anymore. Let your two cat brothers be envious. I’ll take care of you from now on.”

Pei Xi’s gaze flickered from the kitten to He Chuzhou’s face. Suddenly, he asked in a soft voice: “Did you finish yesterday’s work?”

“I finished it.”

He Chuzhou took advantage of his lack of memory to unrepentantly spout bullshit. 

Pei Xi: “Will you be busy later?”

“I’m not sure. Such is the life of the employed.”

He Chuzhou put the kitten into the travel carrier and easily picked it up: “Come on, let’s go home!”

After leaving the animal hospital, he set the carrier in the back seat of the car and clapped his hands, not closing the door right away. He wanted to ask Pei Xi whether he wanted to sit in the passenger seat or with the kitten.

As he turned around, something constricted around his waist.

He had received a hug without any warning.

His first reaction was confusion.

And when he realized that it was the sober Pei Xi who was hugging him, his breathing suddenly cut off and he froze in place.

“W-what’s wrong?”

His Adam’s apple rolled. He tried to keep his voice calm, but couldn’t keep his heart from beating faster.

Pei Xi was hugging him.

Pei Xi took the initiative to hug him?

Pei Xi actually took the initiative to hug him when he wasn’t confused?

Why…..?

Was he dreaming?

Nobody dreamed in broad daylight, right?

“I’m a little dizzy, so I’ll lean on you for a moment,” Pei Xi answered in a low voice. He closed his eyes as He Chuzhou hugged him back. The other was slightly disappointed, but still flattered, and let Pei Xi rest his head on his shoulder.

The throbbing emotions were so strong that they made his head dizzy, and he couldn’t help but hug him.

He Chuzhou, you’re so good.

There’s no way I wouldn’t end up liking you.

---

[1] “99” in Chinese sounds like “Jiǔjiǔ” (久久), which means “a long time.” The character 祝, or Zhù, means “to wish.” This is used to wish someone a long and happy relationship. ⮐

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 49 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 51

The royal tent had become a bit crowded with the arrival of the ministers. But with everyone gathered together, none of them dared say a word as they sensed the tense atmosphere between the Empress Dowager and the Taifei.

Nobody noticed Yuan Jue’s eyes scanning over everyone present before ultimately landing on Liu Zhenqing, who was looking directly at Yao Hua.

“Empress Dowager, are you trying to exonerate Liu Zhenqing by saying this? This minister once heard that before you married into the royal family…..” The minister who came forward spoke in a strange tone, but when Jian Shuang’s cold eyes swept over him, he clammed up in fear.

Yao Hua chuckled faintly: “Since I’ve dared to speak, I’m not afraid of being questioned by you all. Everyone present, except for those with evil intentions, represent three generations of veterans. Do you still remember why you first feared and resented Liu Zhenqing?”

Some of the old ministers exchanged glances when this question was issued. When had they begun to feel that Liu Zhenqing had wicked intentions and could become a domineering minister? After all, he and Huo Feihan had worked hard to save the emperor before. Why had everyone begun to fear that he would wrest away control of the government?

At this moment, everyone recalled the first conflict between Liu Zhenqing and the ministers in court.

Back then, Yuan Jue had just returned and succeeded the throne. He had to observe filial piety and worship Heaven, but had contracted a slight fever. He couldn’t afford to be sick at that juncture.

It was obviously just a cold, but even though there were so many renowned doctors in the capital, they were unable to cure it. Such a strange situation naturally caused rumors to spread.

The government remained in Liu Zhenqing’s hands, and the Three Kings began to think quickly. In order to deal with him, they manipulated public opinion in the court, saying that Liu Zhenqing was deliberately drawing out the young emperor’s illness in order to monopolize power.

Such rumors naturally aroused everyone’s suspicion, and everyone insisted on seeing the young emperor with their own eyes. But Liu Zhenqing deliberately kept him away from everyone, and the court became increasingly dissatisfied.

At the same time, rumors were circulating among the common people that the young emperor was dying, and that he had contracted the illness due to praying all night for their troubled nation. At that time, various locations were experiencing famine, and the common people were anxious. The news spread like wildfire, and everyone was deeply moved.

Just when the situation was becoming increasingly difficult, Yuan Jue suddenly recovered. It was as if his illness had been cured overnight, and the various disasters slowed down accordingly. The situation was excellent, and folk rumors said that the return of the true dragon had changed the luck of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Although things ended well, everyone had been fearful of Liu Zhenqing at that time and felt that he had complete control over the life or death of the young emperor, which was alarming.

Yao Hua looked around and sneered: “In fact, the emperor had been cured by the medical fairy Li Xingruo and was hiding in the palace, waiting for the right opportunity.”

In an instant, many ministers raised their heads to stare at Yao Hua with disbelief in their eyes.

Yao Hua was the Empress Dowager. Since she was saying this now in front of the Taifei, the emperor, and the rest of them, it was naturally impossible for her to be making it up.

Then, the truth was that…..

“The people of the Great Zhou Dynasty were worried about the emperor, who had been held hostage outside. In order to stabilize the peoples’ hearts for the emperor, quickly stabilize the throne, and prevent the Three Kings from acting rashly, the quickest way was to rely on destiny. And this so-called destiny was Liu Zhenqing’s doing. When the disaster situations changed along with the emperor’s recovery, this was attributed to the emperor’s destiny, so that everyone in the country would believe in him. Liu Zhenqing stood up to all of your suspicions and pressure for this purpose, but this became the beginning of your fear of him.”

If such a perception hadn’t begun here, everything Liu Zhenqing did later on wouldn’t have come under suspicion from the outset.

There were some veterans present who still remembered that scene, and their expressions went slack. They seemed to behold the slightly green Liu Zhenqing from back then, his face livid as he gritted his teeth under the attacks of the ministers.

Yao Hua closed her eyes and, one by one, began to list the crimes that had put Liu Zhenqing’s name on the sinner’s column, questioning the relevant officials present on each of them. Seeing that they didn’t dare to make a sound, Yao Hua spoke with increasing straightforwardness.

In fact, those matters were ones Liu Zhenqing had encountered when he went south, and were also the truths that Bai Su had sorted out over the past few days. All of the ministers present had more or less heard of them, but none had dared to face them head-on. They only sent people to suppress Bai Su either overtly or covertly, unaware that the Empress Dowager was actually supporting Bai Su’s investigation behind the scenes.

“Hahaha.” Jian Shuang suddenly laughed. Everyone was taken aback by the sound, and didn’t dare to speak up. It turns out that Jiejie has always wanted to clear his name, and has long been dissatisfied with me because of it? Jiejie has been putting on an act in front of me and hiding it from me? So…..Zheng Wei betrayed me and followed you?”

Liu Zhenqing, who had been listening in a daze, abruptly returned to his senses. Many things may not have been written into Bai Su’s book, but Qin Yu knew about them. So it was Qin Yu who informed Zheng Wei, and Zheng Wei was working for Yao Hua, so Yao Hua was the one who had secretly sent someone to inform Huo Fenglie and help him avoid danger.

Zheng Wei should have been working for the Taifei on the surface, but secretly taking orders from Yao Hua. Since that was the situation, Qin Yu still chose to follow his adoptive father once he found out the truth, because his adoptive father had indeed not betrayed the emperor.

Liu Zhenqing gradually understood, and looked at Yao Hua incredulously.

Yao Hua regarded Jian Shuang with an indifferent expression. She had been waiting for this day for a long, long time: “Shuang’er, do you understand what I just said?”

The sound of ‘Shuang’er’ put a startled expression on Jain Shuang’s face. “Jiejie, what do you want me to understand? Isn’t it that I guided public opinion and added fuel to the fire to turn Liu Zhenqing into a treacherous official? But Jiejie, you’re really too simple. Do you think I was the only one behind this? Could I really slander the Imperial Preceptor and Prime Minister on my own? 

Jian Shuang sneered at the emperor on the couch, and said instead of continuing: “Although everyone slandered him for their own benefit, even if those things Liu Zhenqing did are explained clearly and people regard him as a loyal minister a hundred years later, will they feel the same way now? Since he took office, his punishments were severe and the people feared him, which was not something I was able to guide.”

Yao Hua looked at Jian Shuang calmly: “I won’t demand that the common people praise him. I just want everyone to know the truth. If even one person can clearly understand how hard he worked, it is enough that other peoples’ evaluations are not blinded by false appearances. This is what he deserves.”

Jian Shuang shook her head and swept a slender finger aover the crowd, saying: “Jiejie really treats them as mediocre people. Even if they were stupid, they could still see the results of one or two of Liu Zhenqing’s designs when he was in power, but why did they go with the flow and blame Liu Zhenqing together? 

Those who fell under her finger couldn’t help but lower their heads in apparent guilt.

“Taking control of the golden seal of the regent on behalf of the late emperor, assisting the young emperor prior to him taking power – with absolute power over his life and death, even a change of regime would not have been a difficult task. The officials feared that he would become too powerful to control, and wished to replace his influence with a cabinet. This mighty action was able to be forcibly suppressed by Liu Zhenqing. Who wouldn’t cower before such absolute power? Who wouldn’t be afraid?”

“I will even admit now that when I assisted Liu Zhenqing, I was aware of his intentions and knew that he was deliberately pretending to be a domineering minister. As a loyal official, one must put the emperor first, and too many worries will only lead to chaos. Only if he was a treacherous official and domineering minister, and had cleared all obstacles, could he retire successfully. But in the eyes of others, this was regarded as persecuting good and loyal men, covering the sky with one hand and manipulating the young emperor as a puppet. If such a person had a change of heart, he would bring eternal damnation to everyone. And who could guarantee that he wouldn’t change? Thus, guarding against a treacherous official could make people feel at ease.”

Yao Hua said coldly: “Back then, the Three Kings were in chaos and the court officials lacked stability. Only by making those people think that the emperor was weak and that their greatest enemy was him was he able to act as a check and balance so that the enemy wouldn’t kill the emperor. Instead, they would sincerely pray for the emperor to live a hundred years. The emperor encountered nearly no assassination attempts in those years, but Liu Zhenqing was injured and poisoned numerous times. That last year, if Li Xingruo hadn’t kept him alive, he would have long been dead. Don’t you understand that? How could such a person have a change of heart?”

Jian Shuang’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Jiejie underestimates him. Ambitious people will fight for their life even if they only have one day to live.”

“He wanted to leave.” Yao Hua’s voice suddenly became a bit unsteady, and her eyes even reddened. “Didn’t he tell us that he was leaving? Once the emperor took power, he was going to go. He had even chosen a place to recuperate and retire.”

Yao Hua was a little unsteady on her feet. Unable to calm her emotions, she looked at everyone: “Didn’t you see everything when you searched his home? He had no allies, no property. He gave everything to Great Zhou. At that time, all of his accomplices had been sent away, because by then, the situation had been decided and he intended to leave.”

Liu Zhenqing’s heart trembled, and his breathing grew a little rapid.

Jian Shuang seemed to become agitated when she heard this. She scoffed: “Is that so? Then just consider him unlucky.”

It seemed Jiang Shuang no longer had the patience to waste her time on a dead person. She approached Yao Hua and pressed her down to sit, saying: “Jiejie, if you really want to clear his name, wait until King Jing ascends the throne. Don’t worry, I will make all of Jiejie’s wishes a reality.”

Jian Shuang thought that Yao Hua was opposing her only because of Liu Zhenqing, which wasn’t a big deal.

There was no time to waste now. It was unknown how long Huo Fenglie could be delayed, and everyone must first recognize King Jing’s qualifications.

She directly got back to the point: “Everyone, the edict is here. What else is there to say? The envoys are here now and the country cannot be without a ruler for a day. If the envoys were to discover this situation, it would not go well for our Great Zhou. Everyone, think carefully.”

When Jian Shuang coldly pressured them to make a choice, some ministers finally wavered.

Some of them wouldn’t agree and wanted the emperor to be treated, some stood forward and directly pointed out that King Jing had rebelled, and some insisted on waiting for Huo Fenglie to arrive.

Jian Shuang watched with some satisfaction as two thirds of them came under her command, and scoffed coldly.

“Your Highness King Jing, kneel and accept the edict.”

King Jing had always been well-behaved, but upon hearing this, he excitedly knelt before Jian Shuang with his hands raised high.

“Empress Dowager, please say something, ah!” Some older officials began to plead with the Empress Dowager for justice. They didn’t understand how she could be so calm, only caring about Liu Zhenqing from beginning to end with no thought for anything else.

Yao Hua looked toward Jian Shuang, who said: “Jiejie, don’t stop me. You know that everything I’m doing is for your own good.”

Yao Hua smiled bitterly and said: “You don’t know what good is. I’ll ask you one more time – do you really want to do this?”

Jian Shuang was extremely intelligent, and couldn’t help but frown when she heard this. But now that things had come to this point, she had no way out. “King Jing will succeed the throne, and Jiejie will still be the Empress Dowager. Please don’t make things difficult for me, I’m also just obeying the edict.”

Yao Hua smiled: “How dare I make things difficult for you? When he was at the height of his power, you were able to take advantage of Bai Yu and Liu Qiao’s absence to get rid of the other guards around him, create chaos in the court, and trick King Zhao into perishing with him together. How could I dare?”

Jian Shuang was stunned. She finally realized that the reason Yao Hua was willing to oppose her to such an extent was not just because of Liu Zhenqing’s reputation.

And Liu Zhenqing also looked over in surprise. He had thought it was happenstance, never suspecting that it had been arranged by Jian Shuang. After all, he was exhausted back then and couldn’t afford to divert attention to being suspicious of everyone around him. He still had power at that time and just wanted to prepare for his retirement.

Yao Hua had found out about it when she slowly investigated later on. She hadn’t expected Liu Zhenqing’s death to be connected to Jian Shuang, and was horrified that her most trusted sister had done such a thing. With her weak abilities, she could only concentrate on making arrangements and testing Jian Shuang’s strength bit by bit until an even more terrifying fact surfaced: Jian Shuang was planning a rebellion.

How could the dynasty protected by the crown prince, Liu Zhenqing, and Huo Feihan be destroyed? Yao Hua was the current Empress Dowager, and could not allow such a thing to happen.

Her actions were discovered by Zheng Wei, and the two joined forces to secretly collect evidence and make plans based on Jian Shuang’s movements. And while defending against the rebellion, they also collected evidence to clear Liu Zhenqing’s name.

Liu Zhenqing also understood that Yao Hua had been secretly planning to not only expose Jian Shuang and the forces in her hands, but also to…..clear his name, which was why she had never told Yuan Jue.

Just as Liu Zhenqing was feeling melancholy, he heard Jian Shuang laugh: “You think I killed him?”

Yao Hua was taken aback, and Liu Zhenqing’s expression shifted slightly.

Jian Shuang could only shake her head. “Forget it,” she said. “We’ll speak of this later.”

Having said this, Jian Shuang stopped talking nonsense and turned to read out the Imperial edict.

And at this moment, a hand reached out from behind and placed the cold blade of a dagger against Jian Shuang’s neck.

Due to the flock of ministers and Yuan Jue’s poisoning, the old man had retreated to the edge.

No matter how fast he was, there was no way the old man could get past Yuan Jue where he was lying behind Jian Shuang, and he could only move closer to him.

“This dagger of mine is poisoned.” Yuan Jue’s words caused the old man to stop in his tracks, eyes wide.

Then, dozens of secret guards rushed in.

When the Huo Family troops outside saw the situation, they rushed in too, and in an instant, the entire situation was reversed.

And at this time, all of the ministers present were dumbfounded. Even King Jing was so frightened when he saw Yuan Jue jump up to hold Jian Shuang hostage that he fell back onto his ass.

Yuan Jue didn’t even spare him a look, and just calmly issued orders. The old man seized the opportunity to save Jian Shuang, but he was besieged by the secret guards and beaten out of the royal tent. With King Jing restrained and Jian Shuang also under the watch of secret guards, someone came to report that the old man had died outside, and that the various assassins arranged by Jian Shuang hiding in the dark had also been killed by Yuan Jue’s men one after another. Now, Jian Shuang no longer had any underlings.

Jian Shuang’s expression didn’t change much from beginning to end, perhaps because she had anticipated that such a risky endeavor would be a mixed bag of success and failure.

She even tossed aside the so-called edict, because according to Yuan Jue’s character, there was no point in arguing over such a superficial thing. If she lost, she lost. She could accept that.

Yuan Jue’s cold gaze swept over the ministers present, and he ordered the eunuch attendant to deal with them well. He knew better than anyone what treatment each person should receive. It was only then that everyone realized the Imperial Physician was also Yuan Jue’s man. Everything had been a setup from the beginning.

Some officials burst into tears on the spot, accusing Jian Shuang of blackmailing them and saying they had no choice but to obey her. After all, Jian Shuang was the best at controlling people’s weaknesses, and most of the people following her had actually been coerced.

But Yuan Jue had no interest in listening to them at all. With a wave of his hand, he commanded everyone to leave.

The royal tent became empty, and Yuan Jue directly ordered the camp to be moved back to the palace overnight.

As for Jian Shuang, Yuan Jue still arranged for a carriage to take her back.

Jian Shuang had nothing to say about this. She turned and asked: “Jiejie, will you come see me later?”

Yao Hua stared at her, then nodded.

Jian Shuang smiled slightly and said: “That’s great.”

Once Jian Shuang left, Yuan Jue looked at Yao Hua: “Many thanks, Empress Dowager.”

Yao Hua’s face seemed to be missing half of her original emotion: “Your Majesty, you heard everything I said just now, right?”

Yuan Jue’s smile remained unchanged: “You risked waiting until this moment to speak in front of everyone. You didn’t count on me to be the only one to hear it.”

“I know you might not do anything even after hearing all this. I don’t know what kind of friendship you had with Liu Zhenqing, but I did what I should have done. I supported the book compiled by Bai Su and arranged for people to spread it around. You won’t be able to stop it. I want to let the world know who Liu Zhenqing really was. I want to erase his name from that pillar.”

The purpose of saying everything in front of all the ministers was to make the matter known in a way that couldn’t be covered up.

Yuan Jue smiled faintly and said: “I will follow the Empress Dowager’s teachings. Rest at ease. I will do it.”

Yao Hua was stunned by Yuan Jue’s reaction, and thought that perhaps Yuan Jue still cared about the master-disciple relationship. Her last layer of defense seemed to have been removed, and she felt empty inside.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she noticed Liu Zhenqing in the corner.

Yao Hua stared for a moment. Just as she was about to speak, Yuan Jue took a step forward and blocked her line of sight.

“He…..”

“Zhanyuan has yet to return. I fear he has encountered trouble. It isn’t safe here, and he is the most important person to Zhanyuan. I’ll take him back to the palace first.”

When Liu Zhenqing heard this, he looked up at Yuan Jue’s back.

But he just said: “Your Highness, Yunci and Yunqian are still at your camp. Please ensure their safety.”

Yao Hua froze, then left with a nod.

Even at this moment, Yuan Jue didn’t look at Liu Zhenqing. He just handed him over to a secret guard and said: “Escort Young Master Liu back to the palace.”

This secret guard was Yuan Jue’s most trusted captain, and was somewhat taken aback to hear this. He responded automatically, but upon looking up, he found a strange expression on his master’s face.

Was it elation or fury? The secret guard couldn’t tell, but once Yuan Jue left, he said to Liu Zhenqing: “Please.”

Liu Zhenqing silently followed.

Just after leaving the tent, he looked around and saw that Mo Qi and Mo Yu were gone. He was unfamiliar with the other Huo Family soldiers, and was unable to convey a message to them. He could only resign himself and continue to walk.

He accidentally stumbled, but was supported by a young man.

“Young Master Liu, be careful.”

Looking up, Liu Zhenqing found that he was the young official who had asked, “Did Liu Zhenqing know about this Imperial edict?” He seemed to be the next prime minister.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but smile bitterly. It turned out that Yuan Jue had suspected he knew about the edict, so he arranged for this person to ask questions. No wonder he had spoken up so abruptly.

This person was very unassuming. He stabilized Liu Zhenqing and bowed, saying farewell.

Liu Zhenqing sat in a carriage, closely watched by secret guards. All he could do was close his eyes and rest.

More than half the people camping left one after another, and the envoys were inexplicably woken up and transferred in the middle of the night. Amongst the chaos, nobody noticed that there were fewer people on the Kingdom of Xiheng’s side.

And when Yao Hua returned to her tent, she found that the two little troublemakers were nowhere to be seen. They had left a note, saying that they were going to look for Huo Fenglie. Yao Hua didn’t panic, because she knew that Jian Shuang had arranged for Zheng Wei to spring the trap. Since the performance was already finished, he would naturally return safely. Thus, Yao Hua arranged for people to find Huo Fenglie and notify him.

She didn’t care much about other matters, and simply thought in silence.

And at this time, Zheng Wei had already helped the injured Qin Yu into hiding.

“Zhanyuan…..”

“Don’t worry, he was rescued by a top martial arts master, and the Huo Family Army has also sent reinforcements. Those people have retreated as well. It’s just strange…..”

“What is it? Yifu?”

“There is something I don’t understand. Zichuan, can you go on alone? I must hurry back to the palace.”

“I’m fine, Yifu. Go!”

Seeing that Qin Yu would be able to manage, Zheng Wei left. Not long after his departure, Qin Yu was picked up by He Lan, who had come after hearing the news.

When He Lan saw him in black clothes and holding a bow, his expression was extremely ugly. Just as he was about to question him, Qin Yu saw that it was him and passed out in relief.

He Lan could only take this person away with a gloomy face.

On the other side, the young official who had just assisted Liu Zhenqing was the last to leave. As he was gazing at the moon, he saw two people descend. One of them was somewhat disheveled, and radiated hostility from head to foot.

The minister said calmly and frankly: “He has been taken away by His Majesty under the protection of secret guards.”

The two figures vanished in an instant.

The young minister sighed. Serving the emperor was like serving a tiger. As subjects, they served the ruler, the country, and the people, and even if they sometimes went against the ruler, they should remain firm in their inner choices.

Some of what the Taifei had said was incorrect.

There were certainly people in the world who recognized Prime Minister Liu’s painstaking efforts, as well as those who took him as an example as they quietly did their work. It was just that most of them didn’t reveal these things to others.

. . . . . .

Inside the palace, Liu Zhenqing was placed in the main hall, while Jian Shuang was imprisoned in the hall next door. Light coughing could be heard, and Liu Zhenqing was able to see her through a window. But Yuan Jue did not appear.

Soon after, Yao Hua arrived and placed a cloak on Jian Shuang.

“Jie…..”

“Why did you treat Liu Zhenqing like that? I want to know the reason.”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 140 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 142

T/N: Thank you so much for the Kofi donation, Cocole! Here’s two chapters for you!

---

On the first hunting day, Liu Zhenqing almost always followed the twins while Liu Qiao guarded them from the shadows. It was warm and peaceful, as if yesterday’s rebellion hadn’t happened at all.

Huo Fenglie led some Huo Family troops to patrol the surrounding area and ensure nothing would go wrong. Even though the hunting location was in the wild, whether it was a steep mountain cliff or a well-developed river channel, he would eliminate external risks as much as possible.

Liu Zhenqing watched the sunset, then called the two children back and took them to the camp for a barbecue. Liu Qiao had secretly caught fish for Liu Zhenqing, then hid back in the darkness.

The aroma of roasting meat was fragrant, and attracted unwanted guests.

“Wow, it smells so good, ah.”  Li Jinshu strolled over.

Liu Zhenqing was actually a little impatient to get rid of Li Jinshu. Because of Huo Fenglie, he no longer had any psychological pain regarding the past, but he still wasn’t thrilled to see him.

Naturally, the two children weren’t thrilled to see him either.

“Prince Li must be hungry. There should be an Imperial chef over there in the square preparing roasted meat for the guests. Prince Li should go get some right away.”

But Li Jinshu was thick-skinned, and directly said that he wanted to eat here.

“That won’t be possible,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

“Oh? Young Master Liu is so stingy,” Li Jinshu said.

“It’s not that I’m stingy, but that my general is the jealous sort. He said that from now on, the food made by my hands can only be given to him and his family. If he knew I was roasting meat for the prince to eat, he would definitely be angry with me,” Liu Zhenqing bullshitted.

When the two children heard this, the corners of their mouths twitched. When had their second uncle said that, ah? But they still had to present a united front, so they kept nodding their heads to certify that their second uncle had said this.

The smile on Li Jinshu’s face showed no signs of fading, and instead grew brighter.

“Young Master Liu is such an interesting person. It’s really like we’re old friends at first sight, likely because I have a natural affinity with your Liu family. If you are interested in visiting our Kingdom of Xiheng in the future, I will certainly provide you with warm hospitality.”

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “Then I’ll really have let Prince Li down. As the future general’s wife, I certainly can’t leave Great Zhou casually.”

Li Jinshu regarded Liu Zhenqing with a half-smile and said: “Don’t worry, there will be a chance.”

Liu Zhenqing felt that there was deeper meaning in Li Jinshu’s words. He was probably overly ambitious, and had dreams of one day annexing Great Zhou or defeating Huo Fenglie.

Liu Zhenqing was perfunctory with him, and Li Jinshu didn’t linger.

After a while, Huo Fenglie took the time to return and listen to the dragon and phoenix twins chatter about what had just happened.

Huo Fenglie looked at Liu Zhenqing with a furrowed brow. He felt that Li Jinshu was paying too much attention to Liu Zhenqing. But Li Jinshu was entirely unaware that he was the real thing, so there was no possibility of him recognizing him. Could it really be that Liu Zhenqing’s character and behavior had aroused Li Jinshu’s interest?

“I’ll send another team to protect you,” Huo Fenglie said.

Liu Zhenqing wanted to refuse, but upon seeing Huo Fenglie’s earnest expression, he couldn’t refuse his good intentions.

Huo Fenglie picked up the grilled fish and began to remove the bones. It was clear that all of his rest time had been spent catching fish for Liu Zhenqing, but Liu Zhenqing didn’t object, and held up a speared piece of fish for Huo Fenglie to eat.

The two of them fed each other like this, and the two children couldn’t bear the sight of it.

As a result, they heard their second uncle tentatively ask Liu Zhenqing if Li Jinshu had eaten his roast meat just now. Liu Zhenqing was all smiles, and simply gave him more food.

It was actually true? How appalling.

When Huo Fenglie was about to leave, he happened to cross paths with two palace ladies who had come to deliver a message. At a glance, Huo Fenglie recognized one of them as belonging to the Empress Dowager. He immediately stopped walking and looked back.

Liu Zhenqing wasn’t very surprised at Yao Hua’s invitation for him and the children to come over. It felt like the Empress Dowager was just taking care of the military leader’s family. But seeing Huo Fenglie’s hesitant expression in the distance, he was inexplicably amused.

Why was Er-gou still jealous of Yao Hua? It was obvious that he and Yao Hua had never even had an affair, not to mention that he had regarded Crown Prince Jingyang as an older brother and Yao Hua as a sister-in-law. He didn’t know why Er-gou was so uneasy.

Liu Zhenqing waved at Huo Fenglie, indicating for him to go about his business. Then he took the dragon and phoenix twins to tidy up before heading to Yao Hua’s camp.

Yao Hua still wore the same amiable face as she asked about the twins and took care of Liu Zhenqing, but as she kept them chatting and laughing at her camp, Jian Shuang was nowhere to be seen.

The straightforward Huo Yunci inquired about her directly.

The smile on Yao Hua’s face was a bit unnatural: “She’s feeling unwell and is resting in her tent.”

“If the Taifei is feeling unwell, shouldn’t she stay in the palace? Why did she travel so roughly to get here?” Huo Yunci said doubtfully.

Yao Hua smiled and said: “I also tried to dissuade her, but she…..didn’t listen. There may be a reason why she came. By the way, there are also fireworks at night, and the best view is here with me. Don’t go back for now, stay and watch the fireworks first.”

Liu Zhenqing’s eyes darkened slightly when he heard this. This was a disguised attempt to keep them here, for protection or for…..

They had never been able to discover who was standing behind King Jing. Liu Zhenqing selfishly hoped it wasn’t Yao Hua. They were friends, after all, but Yao Hua wasn’t completely ignorant at the moment.

He silently took a sip of tea. In fact, no matter how the situation turned out, there would basically be no personal safety issues for them as members of the Huo family. After all, whoever became emperor would have to rely on Huo Fenglie to guard the country, whether they liked it or not.

Unless Huo Fenglie threatened the emperor’s safety. But everyone knew that the Huo family was absolutely loyal to the emperor, and with Huo Fenglie’s temperament, no one would believe that he would seek power to rival the emperor, nor wrest away control of the throne, ah. Thus, when it came to being implicated or imperiled, their safety was basically guaranteed.

But by the looks of the current situation, it wasn’t going to be a peaceful night.

Liu Zhenqing decided to wait and see.

The Empress Dowager’s tent was very large, with a border around the area outside. The twins grew tired of staying inside and went out to play. Liu Zhenqing went to follow them, but was stopped by Yao Hua.

“I heard that yesterday, you informed General Hua in time for him to save the emperor. Thank you so much.”

“It’s what this one should have done,” said Liu Zhenqing.

“The emperor will grant you a marriage soon. You can be considered a golden match. Don’t worry about the rumors in the outside world, just live your own life,” Yao Hua said.

“Many thanks, Your Highness,” Liu Zhenqing said respectfully. When he looked up again, he found Yao Hua staring at him in silence, seemingly in a trance. “Your Highness?”

Yao Hua regained her senses and said helplessly: “The two of you really look alike.”

“Do you know who I’m talking about?” Yao Hua asked.

Liu Zhenqing nodded.

Yao Hua smiled: “You don’t dare mention his name either.”

Liu Zhenqing hid his awkwardness and kept smiling.

“Do you…..think he was a bad person?”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback. He considered the question, then said: “There are no absolute good or evil people. For example, General Huo is a good person in the hearts of the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but a bad person in the hearts of Xiheng’s people.”

Yao Hua was surprised by his use of this analogy. She said with a smile: “You’re especially similar to him in this way, like you’re always able to stand on the outside to observe and evaluate.”

Liu Zhenqing didn’t comment. It didn’t seem right to say more.

Yao Hua suddenly said: “But in my heart, he was a good person. He truly didn’t act on his own behalf, but rather on behalf of the nation’s people. It’s a pity that not only do good people not live long, they also…..”

Yao Hua paused mid-sentence. “But I believe that right and wrong will come to light one day.”

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but frown upon hearing this, and a strange thought flashed through his mind. At this moment, a eunuch suddenly arrived at the camp and reported that the emperor had summoned him.

Liu Zhenqing was puzzled, but Yao Hua’s expression changed. She asked: “What does the emperor want with Young Master Liu?”

The eunuch’s reaction was normal as he said: “He has invited Young Master Liu to play chess and discuss his future marriage.”

“He wants to discuss it with me?”

If the emperor wanted to discuss it, shouldn’t he go to Huo Fenglie? How could Liu Zhenqing have the status to discuss it with the emperor, or to even play chess with him? He shouldn’t be considered a talent.

The eunuch smiled and said: “Yes, ah. Young Master Liu should hurry, the emperor is waiting.”

Although Yao Hua wanted to stop him, she couldn’t find a suitable excuse. She ultimately said: “This one is also interested. How about we go together?”

In the end, Yao Hua and Liu Zhenqing indeed went together while the twins stayed in the Empress Dowager’s camp. Liu Zhenqing naturally left their Huo family army there to guard them.

But when Liu Zhenqing arrived at the royal tent, he found that the main force of the Huo Family Army was guarding the royal family. Among the surrounding guards were Huo Fenglie’s right-hand men, Mo Qi and Mo Yu.

They were here to protect the emperor with the greatest strength and to guard against outside assassins. After all, an attempted assassination had just occurred. This action was reasonable, but Liu Zhenqing felt a sense of uneasiness the moment he was about to step into the camp.

This kind of intuition that grasped his heart allowed Liu Zhenqing to instinctually predict a crisis.

He was uneasy, truly, uneasy, as if he knew something was about to happen – not to him, but to Er-gou.

Everything was peaceful when they entered the tent. Only the emperor and a serving eunuch were inside, and a chess board had been set up. Yuan Jue was unsurprised to see Yao Hua coming with him. After all, he had sent someone to Yao Hua to request this person.

“Why is the Empress Dowager here as well?”

“I heard that the two of you were going to discuss the marriage. This is a big, happy event, so this one also came to join in the fun,” Yao Hua said with a smile.

Yuan Jue smiled and invited Liu Zhenqing to sit down and play chess.

Liu Zhenqing cupped his hands and said: “This one is truly unskilled at the game, and fears ruining Your Majesty’s refined tastes.”

“No matter. It’s mainly for casual chitchat. This emperor is in a poor mood and wishes to pass the time.”

If he was in a bad mood, it was naturally due to the rebels, so why did he want to pass time with him?

Liu Zhenqing had to think deeply about Yuan Jue’s behavior. After all, ever since this person was eighteen years old, he would be scheming every time Liu Zhenqing looked away.

It was naturally impossible for Liu Zhenqing to expose his flaws, so he would just play. It wasn’t difficult for him to pretend to be an ignorant new chess player.

According to Yuan Jue’s capabilities, he could defeat Liu Zhenqing within a stick of incense time. But Yuan Jue seemed to be slowly playing around him, never blocking him on the board.

As he said, his attention was not on the chessboard, but on the discussion of marriage.

“Zhanyuan and I are like brothers. I used to think he would never marry, and never expected that you would come into the picture. Young Master Liu must have some extraordinary qualities.”

Yao Hua smiled and said: “Your Majesty is curious about why Zhanyuan likes Young Master Liu?”

Just as Liu Zhenqing was about to speak, he heard Yuan Jue say: “No, I’m more curious about why Young Master Liu chose Zhanyuan. After all, my Imperial edict cannot be withdrawn once it is issued.”

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback, and  looked up to see Yuan Jue regarding him seriously. Inwardly suspicious, Liu Zhenqing still said: “Your Majesty, this one has been obsessed with General Huo from the beginning. Everyone in the capital is aware of this.”

“Didn’t you lose your memory?” Yuan Jue said with a smile. “When you lost your memory, you didn’t remember him or know you liked him.”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression changed slightly. “When something happened at home later, I went to the general for help and my heart was moved again.”

Yao Hua laughed and said: “This was probably fate. Things that are destined to happen will eventually come to pass. But has Young Master Liu not recovered his memory yet?”

“I’ve recovered a little, but not much,” Liu Zhenqing said vaguely. “Sister-in-law says I’ll recover slowly.”

He was naturally referring to Li Xingruo.

Yao Hua was quite pleased to see that they had a good relationship, but Yuan Jue’s eyes were unmoved. Black stones fell to completely encircle the white ones, and the game was decided.

“Your Majesty wins,” Liu Zhenqing said with a smile.

In fact, Yuan Jue had never beaten Liu Zhenqing in chess before. When he was a child, he would get angry and sulk, saying that Liu Zhenqing wouldn’t let him win even though he was the emperor. But when he got older, he gradually became silent. He would only ask Liu Zhenqing to help him review the game, saying that he would win against him the next time.

The last time he played chess with him was during the initial chaos of the Three Kings Rebellion.

They didn’t finish that round, and put it aside for the time being, but then the chance to finish it was lost.

“Of course I won.” Yuan Jue dropped the piece in his hand and smiled, his words wildly arrogant. Liu Zhenqing’s heart trembled slightly.

At this moment, someone came to report that the Taifei was there to see the Empress Dowager.

Yao Hua stiffened. Yuan Jue turned his head slightly to glance at her and murmured, unsmiling: “It turns out to be the Taifei.”

“It seems the Taifei is in good health.”

“This emperor can finally rest assured.”

With that said, the Taifei was asked to come in.

Following Jian Shuang was a eunuch with his head lowered. The atmosphere in the tent seemed to condense, as if everyone was quietly waiting for something.

Jian Shuang sent Yao Hua a slightly startled glance: “Jiejie is here too.”

Yao Hua looked up at her with a blank expression. Jian Shuang avoided her eyes.

Naturally, Jian Shuang paid no heed to Liu Zhenqing’s presence.

“Your Majesty, I have something to say.”

Yuan Jue smiled. He went to stand up, but suddenly, his body became unsteady and he collapsed to the ground. At this sudden change of events, the eunuch attendant opened his mouth to shout. As a result, before he could make a sound, a bloody gash appeared in his throat and he breathed his last.

The one responsible was the eunuch following Jian Shuang.

Yao Hua stood at once, and was held hostage by the eunuch. But with a look from Jian Shuang, the eunuch released her, then walked over to the emperor and picked him up with one hand, throwing him onto the couch.

He then turned to kill the eunuch attendant and Liu Zhenqing, who had originally been with the emperor.

Jiang Shuang said: “Don’t touch them. One will serve the future emperor and one will control General Huo, so they mustn’t be touched. Be silent, step aside, and don’t move!”

Liu Zhenqing recognized the eunuch the moment he saw him. It was the old man who’d ambushed them during the first case, the former number one assassin.

The instant Liu Zhenqing came to this conclusion, he was abruptly dragged toward the edge of the tent by the eunuch attendant, as if to protect him.

“You…..poisoned me?” Yuan Jue wore a look of disbelief.

Jian Shuang turned toward Yao Hua: “Did Jiejie touch the chess pieces?”

Yao Hua just looked at Jian Shuang silently and said nothing.

“It’s good that you didn’t touch them. Jiejie, sit down and don’t talk. Otherwise, I don’t know what my men will do to the emperor,” Jian Shuang said.

These words stunned Yao Hua and Liu Zhenqing.

Yao Hua hadn’t touched the chess pieces, but Liu Zhenqing had.

Yao Hua looked at her without responding. As she was being held down by the eunuch attendant, pretending to be immobile like Yuan Jue, she seemed to understand something.

Liu Zhenqing also understood. He glanced at Yuan Jue on the couch, a cold sweat breaking out on his back.

So Yuan Jue was luring the snake out of its hole? Why on earth would he take such a risk? And why have Liu Zhenqing come here?

Just as he was thinking, he saw Jian Shuang take a seat on the couch. Yuan Jue seemed to try to shout something, but he was gradually unable to make a sound. It was even difficult for him to raise his head.

In the end, he could only utter one word: “Why?”

Jian Shuang said: “Your Majesty, don’t look at me like that. I’m obeying the Imperial edict of the late emperor.”

Liu Zhenqing stared blankly. A posthumous edict? What edict? Where had it come from?

When he looked at Yao Hua, she didn’t seem surprised.

Jian Shuang directly told the old man to pretend to be a eunuch and ask the Imperial Physician to come.

At this time, the hesitant voices of several ministers sounded outside. 

Jian Shuang told the old man to let them in.

So far, everyone was either a member of the royal family or a minister, so the guards outside didn’t notice anything wrong at all.

The ministers who entered were almost all veterans, many of whom were influential. Some possessed real power, while others only possessed prestige. When they came in, they all looked around covertly, as if trying to clearly understand the situation.

When they saw the emperor lying down, the Empress Dowager sitting to the side, and the Taifei sitting next to the emperor, they all came to a conclusion and breathed sighs of relief.

Liu Zhenqing silently observed. They all looked uneasy, and he knew in his heart that these were all members of the enemy force in the capital.

One came forward and said disingenuously: “What is wrong with His Majesty? This minister wants to help.”

“The emperor suddenly collapsed and cannot speak or move. A physician has been summoned.”

Just as they were speaking, the head of the Imperial Hospital walked inside quickly, a layer of cold sweat on his forehead. He didn’t appear as calm as those ministers, so he must have been threatened by the Taifei.

However…..

Liu Zhenqing waited to see what would happen. The Imperial Physican took the emperor’s pulse and said in a trembling voice: “This sudden illness is a blockage in the brain, and cannot be cured for the time being. Recovery may take several years, Your Highness…..”

The Imperial Physician knelt down as he spoke, as if helpless.

But his diagnosis immediately aroused discussion amongst everyone. After all, the country couldn’t exist without its ruler for one day.

But Liu Zhenqing’s heart became clear.

Yuan Jue knew there would be poison, so how could he not have dealt with the Imperial Physician? This was all a game from the beginning, waiting for Jian Shuang to enter the scene along with her forces.

Yuan Jue’s intent was very simple. He wanted to know the identities of those behind the scenes and catch them all. Or perhaps he also had other goals.

Very soon, Jian Shuang summoned all of the cabinet ministers to discuss the situation, and also sent someone to get King Jing.

Unexpectedly, King Jing arrived faster than the others. He had clearly been hiding in a tent since early morning, having long absconded from the clan manor.

The moment King Jing entered and saw the fallen Yuan Jue, he almost couldn’t hold back his laughter, but was frightened into silence by a look from Jian Shuang.

When the other uninformed ministers came in, they were all dumbfounded.

“Everyone, there has been an unexpected development. I have arranged for you to discuss it secretly.” After Jian Shuang spoke, she asked the Imperial Physician to explain the situation.

But who among those ministers didn’t possess extensive experience? When they saw that King Jing was here and that the emperor was gravely ill, what couldn’t they understand?

The only military official who could attend such a meeting was Huo Fenglie, but he wasn’t present.There was only Liu Zhenqing in sight.

Some ministers could only say: “Although such a major event must be kept secret from the outside world, the general who guards the country must be present!”

Many others echoed this statement.

“I sent people to find him quite a while ago. If you don’t believe me…..” Jian Shuang told the old man to order the Huo Family soldiers outside to go find General Huo, clearly not at all worried about Huo Fenglie’s arrival.

Mo Qi and Mo Yu outside had originally been suspicious of the strange comings and goings from the royal tent. And people had also escorted King Jing inside, which confused them. But as guards, they were not allowed to act without authorization. So when they were ordered to send people to find the general, all of their doubts were immediately suppressed and they were able to breathe sighs of relief.

But such a move took Liu Zhenqing by surprise. Jian Shuang’s fearlessness proved that Huo Fenglie must have fallen into a trap.

And Huo Fenglie was indeed delayed. When he led a team to patrol the borders, they were ambushed in the night.

But such an ambush would be dealt with by Huo Fenglie eventually. It was only a matter of time.

Up in the trees, Zheng Wei said to Qin Yu: “Go.”

Qin Yu hesitated: “You really intend to delay Zhanyuan?”

“It’s for his own good. The show over there cannot be interrupted. It will be over soon,” Zheng Wei replied.

Qin Yu thought this over and, as expected, vanished into the night and began shooting arrows from a distance to obstruct the team. Because of his natural understanding of Huo Fenglie’s martial arts skills, he knew how to interfere most effectively, but it was only a matter of time.

But as Zheng Wei observed, he realized that something was wrong. There seemed to be a crisis lurking in the grass in the distance.

In an instant, dozens of sharp arrows flew from that direction, the arrowheads glowing with phosphorescent poison.

Zheng Wei’s expression changed. Just as he was about to take action, he glimpsed a figure flying with haste toward Huo Fenglie.

On the other side, Jian Shuang had begun to appeal to logic and emotion, asking her ministers to begin persuading the others. It was clear that the emperor was in trouble, so King Jing should be asked to take over the throne on a temporary basis.

When the argument reached its peak, some sunk their teeth in and refused to let go.

Jian Shuang said: “Actually, it is orthodox for King Jing to inherit the throne.”

Everyone naturally began to make a racket when she said this.

Then Jian Shuang took out the Imperial edict.

Everyone, including Liu Zhenqing, were shocked. There really was a posthumous edict?

It was from the late emperor.

Liu Zhenqing’s expression changed as he came to a realization.

Yao Hua was unsurprised by the edict in Jian Shuang’s hands. So back then, the late emperor actually took precautions to guard against them not saving Yuan Jue and instead usurping power, and in the event that his paranoia was founded, he left an edict to pass the throne to King Jing in order to resist that person and Huo Feihan!

Liu Zhenqing was so angry that his head hurt. Wasn’t this just adding to the chaos?

Sure enough, all of the ministers present were stunned.

“Did the Empress Dowager know about this edict? Then why was His Majesty the one who succeeded the throne? His succession was also through an Imperial edict.”

“When the late emperor was on his deathbed, I happened to be there in place of my jiejie, who was feeling unwell. The late emperor was worried for the future generations, so he specifically left this last edict to pass the throne to King Jing. But later, under Liu Zhenqing’s instigation, he established a different person as emperor. Because of this change, I was unable to bring forward the posthumous edict. After all, the Three Kings were rebelling at that time and Liu Zhenqing and Huo Feihan were in power. I was alone and powerless, so I dared not make any trouble. If it hadn’t been for today’s incident, I wouldn’t have taken out the edict. I only want the ministers to understand that King Jing also has the right to inherit.”

When it was mentioned that Liu Zhenqing had instigated him, it seemed as if Yuan Jue had taken the throne through fraud under Liu Zhenqing’s control and manipulation. The expressions of the other ministers instantly changed.

The official who had just been promoted to succeed the prime minister suddenly asked: “Then Liu Zhenqing knew about this edict back then?” 

This abrupt question took Liu Zhenqing by surprise. Was this person involved in this matter?

Just as Jian Shuang was about to reply, Yao Hua said: “Even I only learned about the secret edict in the Taifei’s hands by accident. Prime Minister Liu was unaware of it, so there was no reason for him to persuade the late emperor to change the successor to the throne for his own benefit.”

Jian Shuang’s expression changed as she stared at Yao Hua. She said in a somewhat gloomy tone: “Jiejie…..”

Yao Hua closed her eyes, saying: “How many other things have you framed Liu Zhenqing for in the past? Heh, you clearly worked together a lot back then, and you knew his intentions best, but you’re saying he wanted to control the government. I don’t believe it. Why not make it clear today? Right, the officials following you are probably the main ones who framed Liu Zhenqing back then. Tell me, how much more dirty water do you intend to pour on him?”

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 139 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 141

“Your Highness, this plan of yours…..could it be that that idiot King Jing will betray us? Will the emperor of Great Zhou make things difficult for us?”

One of Li Jinshu’s men questioned him anxiously. He had already broken into a cold sweat because of Li Jinshu’s plan just now. The idea was originally to escort Li Jinshu safely into and out of Great Zhou, and there was only one ten thousandth of a chance that the plan would actually be used. After all, the situation between the two countries was such that as long as the emperor of Great Zhou wasn’t a madman, he would never take action against Li Jinshu.

Li Jinshu was writing at a table, and said with a smile: “What evidence could they get from King Jing’s mouth? Don’t worry, trash like that is clearly being used by someone else. There are others who plan to deal with him, so we have no need to act. Your focus should be on our plans for tomorrow.”

“The hunting day is still being held?”

“Of course. In order to highlight Great Zhou’s strength, no matter how big the matter was, they’ll secretly cover it up.” Li Jinshu looked at his calligraphy and smiled, feeling very satisfied.

His subordinate looked as well, but didn’t understand. Everyone wrote poems, songs, and famous quotes, but his master wrote strange dialogue. It looked like ordinary small talk, but also mentioned his intention to attend Huo Fenglie’s wedding banquet. Wasn’t it ridiculous? It was more likely that his master would attend Huo Fenglie’s funeral.

And he was wearing an expression like….. the stirrings of a spring heart. What…..

Before his subordinate had much time to be confused, Li Jinshu’s eyes shifted minutely: “Have you arranged the manpower for tomorrow?”

When the subordinate heard this, he wanted to pretend to be dead. They had agreed to attend the Longevity Festival, but ended up getting involved in the royal family’s struggle for the throne. They had just gotten themselves out of the fire with difficulty when other dangerous ideas popped up. “Your Highness, isn’t it too risky? Is this really necessary? If we do this, we’ll truly anger Great Zhou.”

Li Jinshu didn’t speak. He just lifted the man’s chin with his hand and gradually moved it toward his throat.

The subordinate immediately tensed and said: “This subordinate will go at once to make sure nothing goes wrong!”

Li Jinshu then retracted his hand with a smile: “Very good. Go on.”

After saying this, he looked at the written conversation on the table and slowly narrowed his eyes.

. . . . . .

When King Jing awoke in the clan manor, he saw a familiar dark figure. Just as he was about to speak, the figure streaked toward him like lightning and grabbed his throat.

King Jing was furious and alarmed. The veins on his face protruded as he suffocated, and the anger in his eyes was gradually replaced by terror.

“Heh, look at you now, Your Highness. This is what happens when you disobey Master. You think you have full-fledged wings? You think that means you can rebel against Master? If rebelling was so simple, would Master have had to plan for so long? If you were obedient, you would have safely ascended the throne,” the old man said leisurely.

The old man had just come over from Jian Shuang. She had fallen ill at once due to her emotional fluctuations. Looking at her face, the old man had lamented that she was both beautiful and capable, but she didn’t possess longevity. Her body may not be able to hold on for long.

He was once an assassin. His only grandson was found and rescued by Jian Shuang when she was living among the people, and he had worked for her from then on.

Jian Shuang had been planning for many years to help King Jing ascend the throne. She didn’t want to go through twists and turns, but as long as she didn’t ask rashly and left the majority of the foundation behind, there would always be opportunities. The old man admired Jian Shuang for this. Even though there was no telling when her life would end, she still had the patience of an apex hunter. But mud couldn’t shore up a wall, and the clever Jian Shuang’s efforts were in vain.

If this person really couldn’t help any further, the old man knew that the order he had received tonight was not to warn King Jing, but to kill and silence him.

The old man released King Jing and said: “Do you want to live?”

King Jing clasped his neck. There was anger in his eyes, but he knew what sort of position he was in: “En.”

“If the emperor comes to interrogate you later, remember, do not say anything. There is still a glimmer of hope.”

King Jing knew that the Taifei feared he would expose her, but he had already tried to have her killed. Was she really still willing to help him?

No, if that wasn’t her intention, why would she send an old man to warn him instead of killing him?

King Jing felt a little relieved at this thought. After all, he had been raised by the Empress Dowager and the Taifei, so perhaps she still had a mother-son bond with him.

“What is she going to do? Even if I don’t say anything, Yuan Jue won’t let me go!” King Jing spoke anxiously. “He’s going to kill me!”

“That will also take some time. Don’t worry, we won’t be too much longer. Just remain patient!” The old man warned: “If you accidentally reveal something, no one can save you. Remember, this is your last chance!”

King Jing stared at him in silence. Seeing that the old man was about to leave, he said quickly: “Right, there’s a problem with Zheng Wei. If his men hadn’t turned against us in battle, I would have killed Yuan Jue!”

The old man scoffed coldly: “You don’t need to tell me that!”

In the blink of an eye, the old man vanished. 

Soon after, Zheng Wei sensed someone watching him and slowly walked deeper into the palace.

Yuan Jue had sought him out before due to the Dongchang’s previous actions. Zheng Wei had brushed the matter aside, saying that King Jing had attempted to bribe his adopted son, which allowed him to discover some discrepancies. Because it was King Jing, he didn’t dare report him rashly, and could only wait for the investigation to make things clear. During this period, people were arranged to go undercover and look for evidence, but things unexpectedly went wrong.

He also mentioned that the Jinyiwei had been monitoring King Jing as well, and made it seem like they were greedy for credit and deliberately competing with them.

In fact, such a matter could be easily overturned once King Jing was interrogated, but Zheng Wei didn’t care about this. He had at least been effective in protecting the emperor. Even if Yuan Jue had doubts about him, he wouldn’t question him aggressively.

As expected, Yuan Jue didn’t embarrass Zheng Wei for the time being, and only asked him one question – who did he consider to be his master?

Zheng Wei replied that of course it was the emperor. There were no flaws in his behavior.

Yuan Jue only scoffed and told him to step back.

Zheng Wei knew that the young emperor was difficult to deal with. He was just pondering what problems there might be with the plan when suddenly, there was a cold sensation against his throat. Zheng Wei went still.

“Senior has something to say,” Zheng Wei said.

“You betrayed Master.”

Zheng Wei smiled bitterly and said: “Senior, whatever His Highness wanted to do, he gave the order and I carried it out. Even if I had selfish motives, it was only to perform meritorious services in front of the new emperor in advance.”

“Heh, and changing sides just before the battle?”

“There was nothing to be done. At that time, my adoptive son had already discovered that Huo Fenglie had brought people there. I couldn’t allow my men to be exposed. Didn’t this mean that the Taifei’s wings had been broken? I could only change sides at the last moment. I know that the Taifei will definitely find a way to regroup.”

“Hahaha. Zheng Wei, do you think I’ll believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t you? Do you think that with my relationship to the royal family, I would choose to be loyal to the emperor and betray the Taifei? She has been kind to me. It doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not. What’s important is whether the Taifei believes in my judgment or if she still needs me.”

If she didn’t need him, Zheng Wei would have been killed long ago.

The old man felt that Zheng Wei’s betrayal was strange. Zheng Wei only had one sibling, who was the spy in the beauty espionage case.

The two siblings were originally dependent upon one another. Later, the elder sister was taken advantage of by King Zhao, one of the most vicious of the Three Kings, and entered the palace as a dead soldier. In the end, she successfully faked her death to escape and was then silenced by King Zhao. When the truth was finally discovered, the late emperor was so angry that he took the corpse Liu Zhenqing and the others had retrieved and fed it to wild animals in order to vent his rage. In the end, there weren’t even bones left.

Zheng Wei naturally entered the palace for revenge, but the late emperor and Zhao Wang died one after the other, and there was no chance for him to take action. However, he ran into trouble several times and was rescued by the Taifei, and with her support, he was able to secure his position as director of the Dongchang.

Even if he had ambitions, the old man felt that Zheng Wei wouldn’t betray the Taifei. But in the end, he still went against the Taifie’s wishes. Thus, after this matter was solved, they could not allow Zheng Wei to live.

The old man lowered his blade. He was unhappy, but there was nothing he could do. Almost all the people in the hands of the Taifei had been wasted, so they could only take the risk at this point.

“Master says that you will try to delay Huo Fenglie in the wild during the hunt tomorrow. If you succeed, Master will regard you as loyal and will disregard your mistake this time. But if you fail to hold him back, you will be killed!”

“What does Master intend to do?”

“You are no longer qualified to know.” The old man fell silent after saying this. When Zheng Wei turned around, the assassin had vanished.

Zheng Wei’s figure disappeared in a flash, reappearing at the Empress Dowager’s palace quite a while later.

Yao Hua had just finished tending to Jian Shuang. Upon hearing the report, she toyed with the jade pendant around her neck and said slowly: “It’s finally time to make amends for the mistakes I made back then.”

. . . . . 

On the other side, in Qinzheng Hall, He Cong arrived with a report.

“Your Majesty, someone went to the clan manor and then left. Our people lost them.”

Yuan Jue slowly set down the book in his hand, his calm eyes glinting with a strange light. He seemed to be immersed in his own thoughts, and didn’t respond to He Lan.

He Cong spoke again: “Is Your Majesty going to interrogate King Jing?”

Yuan Jue returned to the present. He rubbed his jade thumb ring and said: “No need, there’s nothing we can ask anyway. This is their final step.”

He Cong didn’t understand what Yuan Jue was talking about, and could only say: “Tomorrow is the hunting day.”

Yuan Jue slowly raised his eyes. Hesitation flashed through them, but with a glance at the book on the table, they became firm again. “Do one thing for me.”

He Cong immediately snapped to attention, but the moment he learned what he would be doing, his pupils constricted.

“Do you understand?”

He Cong couldn’t stop trembling all over, and he broke out in a cold sweat. But he understood that if he hesitated for one moment, he may not be able to walk out of this palace with his life. As expected of the ruthless emperor’s family.

“This servant understands.”

“Go.” Yuan Jue waved his hand and said no more.

After He Cong departed, he was the only one left in the hall. Yuan Jue’s gaze fell once more on the book lying on the table. His slender fingers slowly moved up the paper and paused on a line of words.

The words on the yellowed paper read: The emperor and empress were people who were reborn after death. They were different souls, messengers from another world, and came here specifically to protect the country. If you encounter someone in the future who is reborn, they are not a trickster who has come to cause trouble. You should make good use of them and treat them well.

At the same time, Liu Qiao was sitting on the roof, gazing at the restless palace. He jumped back into the room and said to Liu Zhenqing, who was lying in front of a candlestick, deep in thought: “Master, there are people jumping around.”

“The person behind the scenes must be anxious,” Liu Zhenqing said unhurriedly. “Liu Qiao, look at my eyelids. Are they twitching?”^[1]

Liu Qiao looked carefully and asked: “Does it mean great fortune?”

Liu Zhenqing said with a sigh: “No, great disaster. The situation is precarious, ah.”

The next day, the wild hunt began.

Liu Zhenqing welcomed Huo Yunci and Huo Yunqian to Huo Fenglie’s camp.

Huo Yunci had changed into bright red martial robes and held her own small, curved red bow. Although Huo Yunqian looked dashing and heroic, he was uninterested in these matters and kept his medical books close, but still joined in the fun.

“Uncle Liu, many people from our Imperial Academy are here today. I have to be the best among them!” Huo Yunci said.

“Jiejie, you’re good at riding and shooting. Those people have never been your opponents,” Huo Yunqian said with a smile.

“If it weren’t for Second Uncle not being able to play with us, I would’ve really wanted to compete with him.” Huo Yunci raised the bow in her hand, full of fighting spirit.

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “It’s better not to compare yourself, lest you receive a blow.”

Huo Yunci was immediately dissatisfied and began to make a fuss. There was a lot of happy laughter and chatter until Huo Fenglie returned. He glanced at the twins and briefly instructed them to follow Liu Zhenqing, then continued to work.

Liu Zhenqing saw him leaving and couldn’t help but follow him out.

“Have you brought everything you need?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Huo Fenglie patted his chest pocket, which contained the detoxification and life-sustaining pills Liu Zhenqing had insisted that he bring. Although there was indeed an aura of crisis, he didn’t understand why Liu Zhenqing was being particularly cautious this time.

“Don’t worry, even if something happens, this is all just an arrow at the end of its flight. They would be crazy to take action against me,” Huo Fenglie reassured him.

Naturally, they would only take action against the emperor.

But Liu Zhenqing was still worried, and could only say: “Be careful anyway. Regardless of anything else, your life belongs to me.”

Hearing these words, Huo Fenglie couldn’t help feeling shy. While there was no one around, he quickly hugged his Qing-ge, and when he tried to let go, Liu Zhenqing put his arms around his neck and kissed him.

The two of them exchanged brief words for a moment before reluctantly parting.

When Liu Zhenqing turned around, he saw two little carrot heads peeking through the gap in the tent curtain, grinning at him.

Liu Zhenqing was thick-skinned and naturally wasn’t shy, so he said directly: “What are you looking at?”

“We’re looking at you being shameless, in broad daylight…..”

“In public…..”

The two children poked fun at him.

Liu Zhenqing raised an eyebrow and said: “Then you should get used to it as soon as possible. When I marry into your family, there will be many such scenes.”

The two children instantly blushed and began to make a fuss again.

But this lighthearted laughter and chatter soon came to an end.

Hunting day began. At the venue, the two children met the Xiheng envoys.

Their father had died in battle against the Kingdom of Xiheng., and for Huo Yunci, her greatest enemy may also come from Xiheng when she grew up. It was naturally difficult for children to conceal their emotions, so she naturally regarded them with murderous intent. Even Huo Yunqian had a gloomy face.

Li Jinshu, who had been focusing on Liu Zhenqing, also noticed these two interesting children and asked Yuan Jue about them directly.

This inquiry put unhappy expressions on the faces of the surrounding ministers.

Yuan Jue had always regarded the twins as his nephews. Seeing this, he smiled and said: “The two of you, introduce yourselves.”

The two children displayed no timidity. Huo Yunci immediately straightened up and said: “Huo Yunci, daughter of Huo Feihan!”

Huo Yunqian followed close behind: “Huo Yunqian, son of Huo Feihan.”

The moment their identities came out, the expressions of the Xiheng envoys naturally changed. Although Huo Feihan had ultimately died in battle, the losses he caused their Kingdom of Xiheng in those years had been heavy. As soon as they heard the surname Huo, they were utterly unsettled and couldn’t help but take a few more looks at them, as if beholding a future enemy. But as they looked, the two seemed to be a combination of a female general and a weak young master. Since this was the case, there was no cause for concern.

The envoys were good with words and seemed to be praising them on the surface, but Li Jinshu said directly: “What, the next generation of your Huo family is a female general? It’s fortunate that our two countries are friendly and no longer at war, or our young generals would be too embarrassed to be rough with a woman.”

When he said this, a few of the envoys couldn’t help but laugh.

Li Jinshu continued meanspiritedly: “Since your Second Uncle will marry Young Master Liu in the future, does he not plan to have any heirs? Can it really be that…..there is no successor? What a pity, what a pity. Such regret.”

Huo Yunci’s face instantly went red, and Huo Yunqian trembled all over. This was their sore spot. What they wanted to do with their lives went against their family honor. It was originally a very difficult decision to make, and now that their father’s enemy had said such a thing, how could they not be upset?

And most people in Great Zhou didn’t agree with the direction of their development. After all, they had high hopes for the inheritance of the Huo family, so no one, not even the sharp-tongued ministers, spoke up to help them.

Yuan Jue didn’t say anything. He only looked toward Liu Zhenqing’s table as if watching how the twins would react, but his focus was solely on one person.

At this time, the Empress Dowager suddenly said with a smile: “We have quite a few female officers in Great Zhou, and among the Huo family ancestors, there was even a female war goddess.”

Yao Hua had still come to participate in the hunting day, while Jian Shuang remained back at camp to rest and didn’t put in an appearance.

“I’ve heard of her, but it seems that her brother was more capable. So even if there was a female general, she wasn’t the cream of the crop.” Li Jinshu smiled, fully at ease.

Huo Fenglie wasn’t present, and even the Huo Family Army guarding the perimeter could only sulk upon hearing this. They glared at the Xiheng envoys, unable to stand up for their young master and lady.

At this moment, Liu Zhenqing pulled the two children in and whispered something to them.

Their expressions changed, and Huo Yunci instantly jumped out: “Since our countries have good relations, there is naturally no need for more war gods in our Huo family. However, this daughter has been fond of practicing martial arts since childhood. I saw some envoys today who are similar in age to me, so I wonder if I can ask them for advice!”

There were indeed two young boys of similar age among the envoys. Although they weren’t from the Kingdom of Xiheng, they were also martial arts students and had come with their envoys to meet the great warriors of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Hearing that the little girl had taken the initiative to provoke them, they were dismissive.

“I don’t hit women.”

“Little Sister, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Huo Yunci didn’t get angry, but instead looked at Yuan Jue and directly requested an Imperial edict.

Yuan Jue naturally acquiesced, letting them all have fun as a warm-up.

The two teenagers exchanged glances, seemingly reluctant to step forward and fight a woman. But when someone came to their doorstep and asked to be humiliated, how could they not agree? Their countries had suffered greatly because of Huo Fenglie, so they would take it out on his niece.

After some discussion, the envoys sent the youths out.

However, there was some disagreement over who would go first. Huo Yunci had already retrieved her red-tasseled spear and said to them directly: “No need to fuss. Come at me together!”

As soon as these words came out, many people present burst into laughter. They felt that this Huo family daughter was a crazy girl who was eager for quick success and was naive about the world.

The two teenagers were rather speechless. Although they stood forward, they each waited for the other to go first.

But before they could reach a consensus, Huo Yunci moved with the wind and kicked over the boy closest to her, then slammed the red-tasseled spear into the other one before he could react.

The youths were stunned by this sudden turn of events and hurried to retaliate.

And the lively onlookers around them gradually fell silent.

The two youths were the sons of famous military officers, but at this moment…..the one who was hit by Huo Yunci could hardly parry, and it turned even uglier when the one who was kicked over got up and joined the fight. They worked together to a limited degree – after all, they were two men fighting one woman – but they were never able to gain the upper hand, and instead were forced back by increments.

Huo Yunci was not merciful at all, her moves fierce and swift. If not for her being young and immature, each one would have been a killing move. Aside from being a little unaccustomed to it at first, her fighting became easier and smoother, and her energy was high.

It ended with one boy having a dislocated hand and the other with a crooked mouth.

Everyone present was shocked, and stared at the red-clad girl in disbelief.

In the next instant, the girl flew toward the Kingdom of Xiheng’s seats and aimed her red-tasseled spear directly at Li Jinshu.

Other than Li Jinshu, who remained motionless and drank calmly, the other envoys were frightened by Huo Yunci’s killing intent.

The bloody nature of the Huo family began to emerge from Huo Yunci.

She raised her eyebrows at Li Jinshu and said: “Prince Li, I hear that you plan to attend my Second Uncle’s wedding banquet. Remember to take your young warriors along. Yunci really wants to ask for advice. Don’t worry, even if I lose, I won’t cry and complain that they bullied a woman.”

The expressions of the Xiheng envoys turned ugly at her words. Although their country’s young warriors were stronger than the two youths who had just performed, they weren’t very powerful. Otherwise, they would have been brought here to show off and shock everyone.

They hadn’t expected that even a little girl from the Huo family could be so capable. Although this was nothing compared to their adult warriors, such true talent could not be underestimated.

Li Jinshu never felt embarrassed when he was slapped in the face. Instead, he said very happily: “I take back what I just said. Miss Huo is indeed worthy of her father’s reputation. Those of our nation cannot compare to her.”

Li Jinshu said to Yuan Jue: “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Your Great Zhou will soon have another powerful general.”

At this time, everyone from Great Zhou regained their senses and began to applaud and congratulate.

Yuan Jue’s lips curved as he said: “There are naturally no mediocre people in the Huo family.”

As he spoke, he watched the two wailing teenagers below being helped back. Yuan Jue was about to wave his hand to summon an Imperial Physician, since the envoys of those two countries seemed to be full of anger and the desire to find fault.

But at this moment, Huo Yunqian walked onto the field and approached the two teenagers.

“What are you going to do!” someone demanded.

But without saying a word, Huo Yunqian politely cupped his hands. Then he took the dislocated arm of one of the youths, pulled until it clicked, and expertly pushed it back into place. The wailing boy paused halfway through his howl, then said in astonishment: “It…..doesn’t hurt anymore? I can move my hand, it’s fine.”

When he turned and looked over, he found that Huo Yunqian had already used a needle to prick the other youth’s mouth, which straightened out after a moment.

Rumors said that Huo Feihan’s wife had come from Medical Valley and was the inheritor of a miracle doctor’ skills. It seemed they hadn’t been exaggerating.

Huo Yunqian lived up to his name, and was polite and humble: “This is the first time Jiejie has competed against two people at once, and her blows were probably out of proportion because she isn’t used to it. Please don’t blame her.”

The two youths shook their heads like the crack of a whip. Given some sugar, they were docile and well-behaved.

The envoys who had been about to make a fuss could say nothing upon seeing this.

Huo Yunci had already come to her brother’s side. One of them often fought while the other dealt with the aftermath, so Huo Yunqian was used to dealing out treatment.

The two of them saluted Yuan Jue, who laughed loudly and rewarded them on the spot. Nobody had expected that at the beginning of the hunting day, the first ones to win a prize would be the Huo siblings.

But this opening indeed boosted morale, causing the Huo Family soldiers guarding the perimeter to raise their heads high and puff out their chests.

When the twins returned to their seats, they hugged Liu Zhenqing’s arms to the left and right, their faces shining brightly with the desire for praise.

Liu Zhenqing smiled: “Very good.”

The two children were even happier. After all, when everyone else didn’t believe in them and laughed at them, only Liu Zhenqing had helped them find a way to prove themselves.

Although they didn’t know why Liu Zhenqing believed they could do it, they had really done it.

Liu Zhenqing naturally believed in them. According to Huo Fenglie, Huo Yunci had made great progress in martial arts after accepting Liu Qiao as her master, and these two youths together would be no match for her.

He hadn’t expected their casual conversation to come in useful today, and could only consider those two boys unlucky.

Indeed, Liu Zhenqing had sworn that no one was allowed to bully these two treasures.

The harmonious scene here naturally fell into the eyes of others.

Yao Hua had watched the excitement and was somewhat dazed. She couldn’t help but think to herself, what if that person was here? He would have also defended his family this way, and such an ostentatious method also seemed to be his style.

Li Jinshu’s smile became even brighter, and he seemed to be growing increasingly interested.

Yuan Jue, on the other hand, withdrew his gaze and became more composed.

---

[1] This refers to the saying: “a twitch means great fortune if it happens in one’s left eyelid, and an imminent disaster if it happens in the right eyelid.” ⮐

---

Consider donating via Kofi here!

Chapter 138 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 140