T/N: Thank you so much to InkRaven87 for the donation! Here’s a double update!

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A Rubik’s Cube could anger Huo Fenglie. It was just unknown who his anger was directed at.

Everyone present thought it was the Liu family.

The two younger brothers couldn’t help but tremble, and even Liu Zhenqing’s face sank as he was once again faced with something he didn’t want to think about too deeply.

Did Er-gou really hate him so much?

Rong Shiming was a little displeased. Although he thought Huo Fenglie’s anger was inevitable, why wreck the place? How could they continue to play like this? But when his eyes glanced over in dissatisfaction, he froze for a moment.

Huo Fenglie was looking at him……he was actually looking at him, and his cold, dark eyes seemed to be seeing a dead person.

Rong Shiming’s legs softened at once, and he directly leaned against the table.

The First Princess recovered and promptly stood up, saying angrily: “General Huo, how can you attack me at will within my palace? What if you had hurt me?”

“My hand slipped for a moment. Please forgive me, Your Highness.” Huo Fenglie was perfunctory and indifferent, but his eyes were as sharp as arrows, causing people to not dare to look directly at him.

“You!”

The First Princess was furious, and was about to speak when she saw Bai Su walk directly in front of the crowd and slowly pick up the jade Rubik’s Cube on the ground.

“Your Highness, General Huo saw something familiar and was just agitated for a moment.” Bai Su went right ahead and started to solve the Rubik’s Cube.

Everyone was shocked. After all, it stood to reason that…..Bai Su probably didn’t want to see this thing either.

However, under the dexterous twists of Bai Su’s hands, the Rubik’s Cube was quickly solved with a crisp clicking sound.

The people around didn’t dare to breathe and others didn’t dare to play. But it seemed that no one dared to say anything when this family member of one of the victims amused himself.

“Aiya, I accidentally solved it. It seems that it isn’t suitable to continue the competition. How about voiding the bet to avoid hurting the harmony?” Bai Su smiled gently, as if he wanted to pass over the matter in one go.

And now Rong Shiming understood that he had become the victim of his ingenuity. Regardless of whether Huo Fenglie would be affected by this game and refuse to help Liu Zhenqing, he had already offended Huo Fenglie by taking the initiative to instigate this matter.

How could Rong Shiming be willing to give up halfway? His expression was sullen and unresigned. “I made a bet with Young Master Liu and we haven’t finished the competition yet. It is better for Young Master Bai to watch quietly.”

Bai Yu did not put the Rubik’s Cube back, but raised his eyebrows and said: “Then think of other games to compete in. I’m afraid that if you continue to play this one, someone might first cause the one who prepared this thing to have no chance to compete again.”

His always gentle tone turned gloomy during the last sentence and seemed to imply something, which sent chills down Rong Shiming’s spine. He didn’t dare look over, but still glared, unconvinced.

And the First Princess was also angry, but didn’t want to offend Huo Fenglie. After all, if this matter was brought to the Emperor, he would definitely favor Huo Fenglie. Thus, she said directly: “Cousin, think of something else.”

The princess’s words invalidated this competition. Rong Shiming was so furious that he immediately smashed the mechanism box in his hand. The people around him understood the current situation and helped persuade him to find another way to conduct the competition.

“Then please think about it slowly, Young Master Rong. Young Master Liu, come to our spot to take a rest and recover before competing again later?” Bai Su smiled and made an inviting gesture.

This move shocked everyone again. The appearance of the Rubik’s Cube reminded a victim’s family member about the reason he hated the Liu family, but he still took the initiative to get close to him? This…..everyone looked into the distance and saw that Huo Fenglie had walked back into the gauze tent at some point, returned to his seat, and sat down.

When Bai Su invited him, he must have known that Huo Fenglie would not turn against him.

Could it be that Rong Shiming had really dropped a rock on his own foot, and in the end, this anger was directed at Rong Shiming and the First Princess?

The First Princess and Rong Shiming exchanged glances, and the looks on their faces were not very good. If this was the case, they would really have to pay a double penalty.

Although Liu Zhenqing looked at Bai Su with some surprise, he readily followed this good advice and walked away, leaving everyone behind with looks of amazement on their faces. The two younger Liu family brothers didn’t dare to follow, and could only go back to their seats and wait anxiously for the next competition.

Liu Zhenqing followed Bai Su silently, and then heard him say: “Don’t worry, we’re aware that Rong Shiming deliberately set you up, and we know the culprit well. If Zhanyuan hadn’t taken action just now, it would have been very troublesome. Don’t worry, his anger isn’t directed at you.”

Liu Zhenqing gave a dry laugh. Really?

“The two of you have high moral character and clear grievances. I admire you,” Liu Zhenqing praised sincerely.

“We’re just going by the facts,” Bai Su said with a smile.

Liu Zhenqing said: “It’s very difficult for people not to express their anger when things like this happen. Besides, you just helped me out of trouble. Now Young Master Bai invited me to signal to Rong Shiming that you hold no grudge against our Liu family because of this, and made him consider if he can still use the same tactics against me. It also shows everyone that the Huo family and Bai family both have their own grievances and debtors, and will not take their anger out on innocent people. I am grateful for such help.”

Bai Su’s smile became more sincere. Although he had helped the other party without expecting anything in return, that he understood and felt grateful still made him feel good.

This person had truly changed a lot. He Lan and the others were right. Liu Zhenqing was much more interesting now. In fact, the last time the three of them got together, Bai Su was away from the city, otherwise he would have gotten to know Liu Zhenqing again.

“Tell me honestly, if I hadn’t interrupted just now, what would Young Master Liu have chosen?” Bai Su asked curiously.

Liu Zhenqing said with embarrassment: “I would naturally have solved the Rubik’s Cube. No matter what, I couldn’t be humiliated like that.”

Bai Su said helplessly: “Is it because of the amnesia that you don’t worry about anything? Then your two little brothers would die of anxiety.”

Liu Zhenqing wore a helpless look. “There was no other way. What else could be done?”

Bai Su thought for a moment, then also shook his head in embarrassment.

In fact, Liu Zhenqing had already thought of a way just now. It was certainly not possible to be humiliated, so after he decided to solve the Rubik’s Cube, he would just hurry home and report it to the Old Master. The old man should have a pretty good idea of how to deal with this situation, and the most effective way to remedy it was to control public opinion.

He would ask the Old Master to go to the palace to cry and complain about being targeted for his blood identity. It would be best to first try crying, then try screaming, and then try threatening to kill himself. Then he would use public opinion to say that the princess’s palace had openly used the Rubik’s Cube to insult them, denying the Liu family a way to survive, and make the matter as big as possible. In addition, when he left the capital, it would be portrayed that he was mentally oppressed because of solving the Rubik’s Cube, and departed with guilt and introspection. In this way, by putting the matter on the table, it would simply portray the Liu family as pitiful victims.

After all, it was His Majesty who allowed this lineage of the Liu family to stay and gave them rewards, which showed his approval of them. The First Princess’s palace would definitely be warned this time. And once news of the Emperor’s support spread, other officials in the Imperial court would not have too many taboos against how the younger generations played. At most, they would still have the same attitude as before in the future.

Therefore, Liu Zhenqing didn’t think this was a difficult matter to solve. Back then, Prime Minister Liu was the best at manipulating public opinion and discerning human nature. Otherwise, his reputation as the “treacherous prime minister” would not have spread so far and wide.

He just hadn’t expected that there would be such an unforeseen event. But this was fine too. Nothing happened, and it was naturally better that Huo Fenglie interrupted.

When he came before Huo Fenglie again, Liu Zhenqing felt a little strange. Before being invited to sit down by Bai Su, he first thanked him, and Huo Fenglie gave a casual response. Although he couldn’t tell Huo Fenglie’s mood at the moment, he felt that the atmosphere was a bit low.

After sitting down, he saw that Bai Su had brought along the Rubik’s Cube from just now and placed it on the table. It seemed that he really didn’t care, and was just playing with it like an ordinary toy. Huo Fenglie glanced at it with a slight frown, but didn’t say anything.

“Young Master Liu, what do you think of the new competition later?” Bai Su asked while playing casually.

“Different situations call for different solutions. Anyway, apart from the martial arts competitions, we can compete in everything else,” Liu Zhenqing said.

“Rong Shiming doesn’t know martial arts, he’s just uncouth,” Bai Su said with a smile. “If it really has something to do with brute strength…..”

As he spoke, Bai Su raised his eyebrows and looked at Huo Fenglie across from him, and Liu Zhenqing also looked over shamelessly.

Huo Fenglie said in a deep voice: “If they go too far, I will take action.” Rong Shiming had already stepped on his minefield, so this was not really for the sake of Liu Zhenqing.

Bai Su raised an eyebrow at Liu Zhenqing and smiled. It truly warmed one’s heart. But in the next moment, Bai Su held the Rubik’s Cube and said to Liu Zhenqing: “Can you play?”

This made Liu Zhenqing feel awkward in a flash. “I’m okay.”

Seeing that he was uncomfortable, Bai Su smiled and said: “As you just said, we don’t take our anger out on innocent people. Who would care about a small toy? Common people are a little too cautious. When faced with this sort of thing, they still speak of it with pale faces, on guard for any possible dangers. I just feel like Rong Shiming was insulting us. Our displeasure is just the starting point, because someone is using this thing to deliberately poke at our nerves.”

Really? Liu Zhenqing didn’t believe it, and said in his heart: The person opposite doesn’t look as magnanimous as you. His expression is very bad every time he sees a Rubik’s Cube.

Petty Er-gou!

Bai Su seemed to have remembered something, and murmured: “In fact, I loved playing this game when I was a child. The more complex a thing was, the more I liked to play it, and I always tried to compete with my brother. He was good at this too, and always said…..”

Bai Su spoke to this point and suddenly paused. The Rubik’s Cube lay silently in the palm of his hand.

His face sank uncontrollably. Sure enough, it seemed to have brought back bad memories.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but think of Bai Yu, a scholar with great status and talent. He still remembered that the two of them met because of the Rubik’s Cube. That year, Bai Yu was ranked among the top three in the Imperial Examinations. There was a custom of a peach blossom banquet in the Imperial Academy, and Liu Zhenqing was invited by the teachers. The young man was drunk, his cheeks were flushed, and he used the wine to strengthen his courage. Then he took Liu Zhenqing’s favored Rubik’s Cube and said shyly: “Prime Minister Liu, this student would like to compete with you.”

That year, it was not long after the new fourteen-year-old emperor had come to power with their assistance, and although he was the prime minister, Liu Zhenqing had not yet begun to use thunderous means to achieve his goals. Huo Feihan had also just received a battle report and was preparing to attack the western front.

Surrounded by enemies in the Imperial court, Liu Zhenqing’s nerves were tense every day, out of fear that if he made a single mistake, all would be lost. It was a rare moment of leisure, watching green young men grow up, and he felt that there was hope for the future. Thus, he indulged himself for just one night.

Under the peach blossom forest, drinking a bit of wine, he accepted various challenges from the students regardless of his superiority. Liu Zhenqing, who was famous all over the country, would naturally not lose face when confronted by a challenge from anyone, and would keep them all in check.

Bai Yu competed with Liu Zhenqing using the Rubik’s Cube. Although he knew he would lose, he didn’t foresee that his loss would be so tragic. Before he had one side completed, Liu Zhenqing had already won the battle. Moreover, he still held the wine cup in one hand while twisting with the other hand, cool and carefree. He said in the end: “Not bad, keep up the good work.”

Bai Yu was not dissatisfied, but was instead full of admiration and worship. “This student will definitely work hard to win once.”

After that, Bai Yu followed him to the Imperial court and became the most powerful civil servant in his hands. If he were still alive, he would have been in his late thirties and started a family and a career, and would be able to take over his duties.

Reminiscing and regretting, Liu Zhenqing sighed in his heart. When he looked at Bai Su’s expression, he couldn’t help but stretch out his right hand to take the re-disordered Rubik’s Cube. With one hand, his slender white fingers seemed to continuously draw a silver line as they slid. The silver thread moved the rows upon rows of small squares like magic, making them obey and quickly unify.

Others played to find patterns and solve them, but watching Liu Zhenqing play was like a performance art, very pleasing to the eye.

Even with one hand, he was no slower than Bai Su with two hands, and he didn’t even pause in thought.

Having performed well in the Thousand Locks before, Bai Su was not surprised that Liu Zhenqing could play this. He watched and watched, his attention drawn in, and finally exclaimed: “You are quite skilled. As expected, you would have won if you hadn’t stopped just now.”

Seeing that Bai Su was in a better mood, Liu Zhenqing smiled. He was about to speak, when his right wrist was suddenly grabbed with great force. 

Because the movement was so big and the force so heavy, the Rubik’s Cube flew right out of Liu Zhenqing’s hand. 

And this time, the Rubik’s Cube was not so lucky. It was smashed out of the gauze tent on the spot and shattered to pieces, disrupting the crowd outside.

Everyone: He’s still angry?! I seem to see General Huo and Liu Zhenqing confronting each other, ah!

Liu Zhenqing met Huo Fenglie’s falcon-like eyes inside the gauze tent, and with ill timing, thought of the aftermath of what he had just recalled.

When he was drunk, he burned the midnight oil and slept in the peach blossom forest that night with his head pillowed in his arms.

In the end, he woke up in Er-gou’s courtyard. He had probably taken care of this drunkard all night and was robbed of his bed. Er-gou, who was fifteen years old, probably didn’t sleep all night. When he woke up in the morning and saw the kid, his eyes were all black and blue, but he still spoke with a pair of sincere eyes and suddenly told Liu Zhenqing that he planned to go to the battlefield with his brother.

In assisting the new emperor to ascend the throne, the young Huo Fenglie had also suffered from hardships and made a lot of contributions. Even more, he had established a deep friendship with the new emperor, so the situation was now stable. Liu Zhenqing and Huo Feihan both felt that it was time for the child to live the life he deserved. It didn’t matter if he worked as a reading companion or returned to the Imperial Academy. They would let him choose and grow freely under the protection of their wings.

It was unknown why Huo Fenglie suddenly had this idea. Although some members of the Huo family went to the battlefield at a young age, at that time, there were only the two brothers in the Huo family. The other relatives in the Huo family absolutely disagreed. To put it bluntly, what if something happened to the two brothers at the same time?

But although Huo Fenglie was young and not good with words, he never compromised on his decision.

Compared with the comfortable life of a young master in his fourteen or fifteen years in the capital, Huo Fenglie seemed so anxious for success that he was spoiling his prospects. Although everything that followed proved that his decision was the correct one, at that time, no one wanted to see him so eager to grow up. Even Liu Zhenqing beseeched Huo Feihan overtly and in secret, but as the elder brother, Huo Feihan felt that there was no problem.

So Huo Fenglie, who had just turned fifteen, donned the uniform of a soldier and set foot on the western battlefield.

On the day the army was sent off, Liu Zhenqing saw Er-gou among the troops and felt a little sorry for this stubborn child, but Er-gou’s gaze was extremely firm. At that moment, he was really like the rising sun, warm, but containing formidable power.

Completely different from the current cold gaze that seemed to come from the abyss.

Ignoring the nearly crushing force on his wrist, Liu Zhenqing stared at Huo Fenglie in astonishment. For a moment, it seemed as if he was enveloped by the clinging darkness there, and the heavy feeling was so overwhelming that he almost couldn’t breathe.

“General Huo, what are you…..”

No way, was he really so petty that he couldn’t stand a member of the Liu family playing with a Rubik’s Cube? Couldn’t he learn from Bai Su’s example?

Wait, this didn’t seem to be an angry look, but a shocked one. He hadn’t revealed his secrets, had he?

What had he done? He had just wanted to make Bai Su happy, so he used Bai Yu’s favorite one-handed twisting method. There were probably a plethora of people who knew it. Moreover, he clearly remembered that Er-gou was stupid in every way at playing with the Rubik’s Cube, and could not learn no matter how much he taught him. He shouldn’t be able to observe carefully and pick out flaws even Liu Zhenqing hadn’t thought of. If he could spot this, it would be absurd, ah!

“You……” Huo Fenglie’s expression was a bit difficult to describe. His pupils quivered slightly, and he even unconsciously grabbed the other person’s hand and pulled him forward.

“Zhanyuan?” Bai Su looked at the two of them doubtfully. According to his understanding of Huo Fenglie, he would never get angry because of Liu Zhenqing playing with the Rubik’s Cube. And Huo Fenglie’s emotions were indeed out of control at the moment, only in the wake of his words, he seemed to consciously restrain himself.

Just as Bai Su was about to speak, he heard Rong Shiming shout from outside.

The new competition was ready!

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Chapter Twenty-Two << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Four

Slam.

The car door closed.

The driver in the front row turned around and asked, “Where are you two going?”

Qiao Dong answered matter-of-factly, “Bo Manor.”

“No, let’s go around to the Imperial Capital Hospital first. I’ll get off there.” Pei Yi indicated for the driver to drive, then looked sideways at his assistant beside him and said, “You can take the luggage and other things home to rest later.”

They had done a good job keeping the secret, and even Lin Zhong, Lao Fu, and the others didn’t know.

Qiao Dong was stunned for a couple of seconds, clearly unable to react.

Pei Yi reminded him, “Have you forgotten? Today is the Old Madam’s birthday celebration.”

Qiao Dong returned to his senses at once and slapped his forehead. “Ah, right! Brother Yi, look at my brain, no wonder you came back in such a hurry today.”

Today wasn’t actually Old Mrs. Bo’s birthday. It was just that she had been bedridden during that time last year, and now that she was fully recovered—

Not only did Bo Yueming want to give her a big showing, the old lady herself also wanted to have a good time.

Some time ago, Pei Yi’s work in Haishi experienced unexpected complications. The entire filming plan was postponed for more than half a month, and even his return date was delayed.

When she heard that Pei Yi might not be able to make it to the birthday banquet, Old Mrs. Bo only said that Pei Yi should focus on his own work.

He was family.

There would be plenty of time to spend together in the future, so there was no rush to meet in a day or two, but Pei Yi still rushed back.

The taxi stopped on the side of the road in front of the Imperial Capital Hospital.

Qiao Dong looked at the sky, which was still bright, and asked worriedly, “Brother Yi, you really don’t need me to accompany you inside?”

“No need, this is all the Bo family’s territory. What can happen to me?”

Pei Yi shook his head with a chuckle, then patted his assistant on the shoulder. “You’ve worked hard these past two months. Go back and rest first. I’ll give you a week’s leave with pay.”

Qiao Dong’s eyes brightened when he heard Pei Yi’s reward. “Thank you, Brother Yi!”

He was a little tired after a two-month business trip, but he had learned a lot of useful things at Pei Yi’s side.

It was approaching six o’clock, but the sky was still light.

Pei Yi remembered the specifications and standards of the Bo family’s birthday banquets. After getting out of the car, he first sent a text to Lin Zhong, so as not to let the unfamiliar attendants stop him later since he didn’t have an invitation.

Once he received a reply saying that the other party would come to meet him, Pei Yi slowly approached the main entrance of the hotel.

After bypassing the giant fountain that blocked his view, hsi sharp eyes quickly noticed the scene occurring at the entrance of the hall—

An old man with a cane was insisting on going in. Two attendants blocked his progress with embarrassed expressions, but didn’t dare to make physical contact with him.

Pei Yi stared at the figure’s back, and a guess suddenly came to mind. He silently moved closer, and sure enough, he heard a familiar commanding tone.

“Do you know who I am? Why won’t you let me in!”

Indeed, it was Cheng Yangshan.

After not seeing him for a year, the other person’s clothing had become shabby and ordinary. His back was no longer straight, and seeing that the flesh on his cheeks had also disappeared, one could guess how good his life currently was.

“I say, old man, please don’t make things difficult for us!”

Having learned of the situation, the manager hurried out with a hint of impatience in his tone. “Mr. Bo and the Old Madam have given orders to not allow random people to come and go at will.”

“Random people?”

Cheng Yangshan was deeply stimulated by this description, and was so furious that he threw the cane in his hand.

It was a pity that he didn’t have much strength, and couldn’t hit anyone.

Cheng Yangshan shouted relentlessly, “Bo Peizhi and I have been married for over sixty years! She’s holding a birthday party today, so why can’t I go in?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he tried to force his way in.

Cheng Yangshan tried his utmost to break through the attendants blocking him, but his foot unexpectedly slipped and he fell to the ground, letting out a cry of pain on the spot.

“…….”

The hotel manager and the attendants were both shocked.

Before they could think to help him, Cheng Yangshan howled and pretended to be injured. This scoundrel looked completely different from his previous lofty attitude!

Pei Yi burst out laughing at the sight. He stepped forward and sneered, “Husband and wife? What kind of husband and wife are you?”

Lying on the ground, Cheng Yangshan looked up and his expression immediately changed to embarrassment.

A cold smile broke out on Pei Yi’s face. “Hasn’t the court already ruled that you and Grandma are divorced? What, have you lost your memory in your old age? Is that what this is?”

Cheng Yangshan’s limbs shook with anger. “P-Pei Yi! I knew you weren’t anything good!”

He played the fool before, but then turned around and became a “normal person?” This person clearly coveted the Bo family’s property, so used any means necessary to stay!

Had he known this, he wouldn’t have approached the Pei family for marriage in the first place

Not to be outdone, Pei Yi said, “I could say the same for you!”

“When you married into the Bo family, weren’t you quite dignified when you wore the title of ‘Mr. Bo’ and lived a soft life?”

“But why didn’t I see you caring about Grandma at that time? Now that you’re divorced, why are you pretending to be husband and wife? Are you thinking of the glory and wealth of the Bo family again?”

“…….”

Cheng Yangshan was speechless, his voice catching in his throat again and again. He shakily climbed up from the ground, and before he could say one sharp word, another voice rang out.

“Little Sir.”

Lin Zhong had received the news from Pei Yi, and rushed over quickly. His eyes only stayed on Cheng Yangshan’s face for a second.

The hotel manager seemed to have seen a savior and quickly begged for help with his eyes. “Assistant Lin, this old man……”

In the end, given his age, how could they dare to drive this person away casually, ah? If something went wrong, how could their hotel afford it?

Pei Yi spoke on Lin Zhong’s behalf, “Call the police. There are so many surveillance cameras in the lobby. Who is the one causing trouble? The police will naturally have a basis for judging the situation, so don’t let such a person disrupt the Old Madam’s birthday party.”

The manager received Pei Yi’s instructions and quickly nodded and followed suit.

How could Cheng Yangshan be willing to leave?

He tried to step forward to stop the manager, but Pei Yi blocked his way.

Pei Yi looked into the turbid eyes of the person before him and spoke with deliberate harshness, “Old man, there is something I haven’t said clearly. Don’t think that no one can punish you in your old age!”

Cheng Yangshan’s pupils suddenly shook.

He thought of Bo Guancheng’s dirty tricks in the past, and felt that Pei Yi would use the same methods to deal with him!

If that were the case, would he still have a way to survive?

Cheng Yangshan had always been a suspicious person. Frightened by his own imaginings, he took a step back and lost his balance again, falling to the ground.

Only this time, he heard the crack of his own bones, and a dull pain instantly spread throughout his body.

Pei Yi and Lin Zhong exchanged glances, then directly left Cheng Yangshan on his own and departed. 

Such a shameless old man who had done all sorts of evil was not worth their time!

. . . . . . . .

The elevator door closed.

Lin Zhong pressed the button for the eighth floor.

Pei Yi took advantage of the lack of other people around to ask, “What’s happened with Cheng Yangshan? He still dared to come?”

Lin Zhong replied with a guess, “I suppose he has no money, so he thought to come back today to find an opportunity.”

Pei Yi frowned. “No money?”

Under Bo Yueming’s orders, Lin Zhong had people monitoring Cheng Yangshan’s every move and reporting on a regular basis.

“The court ruled that after the Old Madam and Cheng Yangshan divorced, the other party would still retain some assets.”

Although when compared to the Bo family’s large business, Chen Yangshan’s assets were no different from “cleaning up and leaving the house,” compared to that of a small family, it was still enough to provide stability for a few years.

It was just that Old Mrs. Bo was a person of means and a decisive temperament.

She deliberately planned to make the foreign trade company run by Cheng family profitable, and under her instigation and deception, Cheng Yangshan invested most of his money into shares.

Then, Old Mrs. Bo used her own power to prey on the small fish. In less than two months, Cheng Yangshan and all the relatives of the Cheng family who had relied on the Bo family for their livelihoods were completely destitute!

Cheng Yangshan had lost his wealth and status. Who in the Cheng family would be willing to take care of such an old man?

His relatives avoided seeing him and thought he was troublesome, and a few even cursed him.

Cheng Yangshan was likely desperate, and wanted to rely on their decades of being husband and wife.

Pei Yi shook his head, his eyes full of disdain.

Some people only understood regret after they had lost everything. But what was the use of regretting now? If Cheng Yangshan had turned himself around a year ago, given Old Mrs. Bo’s character, she might still have been lenient.

Doing all of these things and then repenting? Forget it!

Pei Yi put away these thoughts and asked instead, “Where are Er-ge and Grandma? Are they in the banquet hall? You didn’t tell them I was coming, right?”

Lin Zhong shook his head. “No, I kept it a secret.”

“The manager downstairs called and said that the old man was making trouble, and it was Mr. Bo who told me to go down and handle it. He had an impromptu meeting, and the Old Madam is still in the lounge at the moment.”

The banquet would officially start at half past six, and there were still about ten minutes of free time.

Pei Yi knew that Bo Yueming had a video conference arranged for today, so he smiled and nodded. “All right, I’ll just go into the banquet hall and wait for them. This should be a sudden enough surprise.”

Lin Zhong was more familiar with the banquet hall, and gave him an idea upon hearing this, “Little Sir, why don’t you go in directly from the side door of the banquet hall? There happens to be a rest area in the corner over there where you can sit and wait.”

Guests were constantly coming in and out of the main entrance of the banquet hall, and the news might be leaked.

Since it was a “surprise,” it must not be known until the last second.

Pei Yi smiled and nodded. “Okay, ah, I was just on a plane, so I’m a little tired and hungry. I’ll take my time first.”

. . . . . . .

Under Lin Zhong’s cover, Pei Yi successfully entered the out-of-the-way seating area of the banquet hall from the side door. There were rows of soft sofas with gauze curtains for additional privacy.

The birthday banquet had not yet started, and the second branch and others were busy entertaining guests in the foyer and the banquet hall.

Pei Yi quickly sat down in the far corner, and with the gauze curtains blocking him, his sudden appearance didn’t cause anyone any unnecessary attention or trouble.

He casually picked up a piece of apple pie from the table in the rest area. After tasting it, he realized that it was the texture he enjoyed. He lowered his eyes and looked at it—

As expected, it was from the dessert shop Bo Yueming usually got his sweets from.

Star-rated hotels like this usually had chefs who specialized in desserts, but these desserts came from a store that wasn’t a big brand?

Other than Bo Yueming, who else would go out of their way to put such thought into it? Even though he wasn’t sure about Pei Yi’s return date, he still made extra arrangements for such a small detail.

Pei Yi couldn’t help but dig out another spoonful of apple filling to taste. He couldn’t tell whether his mouth and his heart was sweeter.

Suddenly, whispers came from the rest area nearby.

“Tell me, who would have thought that after all this going around and around, Second Young Master Bo would finally become the boss and take over the company?”

“Everything in the world is unpredictable, ah. The main branch was so good in the beginning, but forced him to get married once he went blind? Speaking of which, how is Young Master Pei doing?”

Pei Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly when he heard his name.

“Who knows? I heard that Young Master Pei’s mental illness has healed. What kind of game studio has he set up now? There was also a commotion at the beginning of the year.”

“It must be said, ah, who could be luckier than Pei Yi? Even though they were forced into marriage, they got to where they are today by accident and are in a husband and wife relationship, so they might be able to enjoy it in the future.”

“What husband and wife relationship? Young Master Pei hasn’t been around for a while. He might have left the Bo family long ago!”

“That’s right, these two people haven’t received the certificate and aren’t married. I saw that Mr. Bo didn’t even have a ring on his hand some time ago. It’s a marriage in name only, so it doesn’t count.”

“……..”

A steady stream of low-pitched discussions came through the gauze.

Pei Yi lowered his eyes to look at his empty ring finger and suddenly felt an indescribable feeling of dissatisfaction and melancholy.

He and Bo Yueming had officially started dating because they had similar mindsets and liked each other, and had been together for a year.

However, in the eyes of outsiders, the two still appeared to be in a “forced marriage.” Not only did they not have a formal relationship in the outside world, but they were also speculated to be “using each other.”

While Pei Yi was thinking to himself, the topic next door took another turn.

“If this marriage doesn’t count, isn’t there still a chance?”

“Which family doesn’t pay attention to a well-matched couple when it comes to marriage? I don’t think these two can last long. Maybe Bo Yueming is single now. Those of you with children can give it a try.”

“You missed the opportunity for a marriage with him, but now you must seize it.”

There was an element of joking in his statement, but it was also mixed with sincere encouragement and an eagerness to make a move.”

Who wouldn’t want to climb a big tree like Bo Yueming and enjoy the shade?

There were so many shameful things done by wealthy families, but no matter how vile they were, the one who could sit in the right seat in the end was the biggest winner!

Pei Yi listened with a hint of displeasure on his face as the topic next door went further and further, and directly threw down the small spoon in his hand.

Bang!

The guests behind the gauze curtain were startled, and fell silent for a moment.

In the blink of an eye, Pei Yi opened the curtain and walked over. He bent down lightly to pick up the spoon.

“Sorry, my hand slipped and I accidentally dropped it.”

“…….”

The guests in the sitting area next door were embarrassed when they saw Pei Yi suddenly appear in front of them.

They exchanged glances, feeling a little guilty.

Why was this person sitting next to them? Could his hand slip and throw the spoon all this way?

Pei Yi took in their expressions one by one, smiling but not smiling. “What were you talking about just now? Let me hear it too.”

His tone was moderate, but he controlled the direction of the topic.

Mr. Zhao from Kaishi Electric Co. glanced at his wife, who quickly said, “We’re just casually chatting. Young Master Pei, don’t take it seriously.”

Someone responded, “Yes, ah, we didn’t expect Young Master Pei to be here today.”

Pei Yi didn’t buy it. “What? Hearing this, was I not supposed to come to the Old Madam’s birthday party today, or am I not worthy?”

The atmosphere froze once more.

None of the guests present had expected that Pei Yi would become so sharp-tongued after getting rid of his “foolish stuttering.”

The guest who was “targeted” by Pei Yi was a little unhappy, and put on a brave face to whitewash himself. “That’s not what I meant, Young Master Pei can’t take a joke.”

The second half of the sentence was full of accusation.

Pei Yi recognized this voice as the one who had just encouraged the other guests to let their children seize the opportunity.

“Joke?” Pei Yi’s face suddenly darkened, and he asked in a low voice, “Who are you? What qualifications do you have to joke with me?”

“Since you’ve been invited to the birthday banquet, don’t hide in here and speak unclear words!”

The person Pei Yi accused was He Feng, the eldest young master of Yuyang Real Estate. This person had relied on his family’s income since he was young and was accustomed to talking nonsense.

He was currently almost thirty seven-or-eight years old, and still didn’t have a handle on his words.

“…….”

Pei Yi didn’t have much standing among these wealthy families.

Since he wasn’t deliberately picking a fight, he could just say it was a “joke” and then they could let it pass and ignore each other.

He Feng didn’t expect Pei Yi to take it so seriously and point fingers at him!

“Young Master Pei, what did I say that was unclear? In the entire Imperial Capital, who doesn’t know that you and Mr. Bo only have a business marriage?”

He Feng paused, then added vaguely, “Aren’t you also greedy for power? How can you make assumptions?”

To put it nicely, it was a marriage, but to put it badly, it was just a tool for profit!

Now that Bo Yueming had regained his sight and taken over Bo Group, Pei Yi was actually putting on airs. Who did he think he was!

How could a relationship maintained by a contract count?

Pei Yi initially originally didn’t want to make a big deal of this matter on the day of Old Mrs. Bo’s birthday party, but not only did He Feng not feel guilty about saying the wrong thing, he actually made it worse.

The coldness in his eyes became more obvious as he walked forward step by step. “Yes, ah, it’s a business marriage. Then why were you reluctant to send your family members to the Bo family for marriage?”

When Bo Yueming lost power and became blind, these people hid faster than ever!

Now that they saw him taking over as the director of Bo Group, they were starting to have crooked thoughts? And they used the words “it’s a joke” to cover it up?

“You listen to me well—”

“I, Pei Yi, don’t covet the Bo family’s power or wealth. Even if I leave the Bo family and lose the shell of ‘marriage,’ I can still afford to live.”

“Also, when Bo Yueming was ignored and mocked by you at banquets, I was the one who accompanied him!”

“When he was ‘driven’ to Wencheng by design, the person who accompanied him was also me!”

From beginning to end, this relationship was paved with the confidence he gave himself, as well as the courage Bo Yueming gave him.

“You want to pry into my corner?” Pei Yi looked around coldly and said in a loud voice, “Unless I don’t want him, no one else will have a chance!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a hearty voice of approval rang out, “Well said.”

The curtain used to divide the rest area from the banquet hall was pulled up, and Pei Yi, He Feng, and the others turned their heads to look—

At some unknown point, Mrs. Bo had come to stand outside the curtain, accompanied by Bo Yueming and others.

In addition, many guests in the banquet hall were paying attention.

Pei Yi met Bo Yueming’s eyes mid-air and quickly looked away.

When he saw Old Mrs. Bo, the fighting spirit in his heart instantly turned into apologies. “Grandma, I’m sorry, I, I shouldn’t have…..”

Said this at your birthday party.

Before he could finish his apology, Bo Peizhi, who had seen through everything, affirmed, “Good boy, you’re right.”

Her eyes swept over He Feng and the others in the rest area one by one, and she criticized them directly, “They are the ones who are outrageous! They have lived to this age and still haven’t figured it out?”

“How can there be parents who want to let their sons and daughters snatch a man who’s already in a relationship? Their faces are thicker than a city wall!”

The guests present talked in succession, most of them agreeing with Old Mrs. Bo’s remarks.

Surrounded by these gazes, He Feng averted his eyes and no longer possessed the energy he had before. The other four people were even more red-faced and ashamed, and felt nearly sick to death—

It was all that loud-mouthed He Feng’s fault! If someone exposes you, you should admit defeat! But he still had to fight!

If this matter today were to spread, not only would they lose face, but their children would also have their reputations damaged and become the laughingstocks of others!

Pei Yi watched Old Mrs. Bo speak on his behalf. Tapping the corner of his mouth slightly, he glanced at his lover in his peripheral vision and then quickly moved his gaze away.

Bo Yueming could see his kitten’s suppressed anger, and when he saw the other’s eyes deliberately looking away from him, he walked up to protect him securely without saying a word.

Bo Yueming’s gaze was gentle and lingering. Apart from his lover, there was nothing else in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me in advance you were coming back?”

Only in front of Bo Yueming would Pei Yi show his childish side. He gave a meaningful hum and said, “Why can’t I sneak back to protect what’s mine?”

Bo Yueming couldn’t restrain his smile. “No one can pry me away from you.”

They didn’t deliberately amplify their voices, but they didn’t deliberately lower them either. Two or three simple sentences were enough for everyone present to see clearly—

Where was this a business marriage between two people? Using each other for their own benefits?

Looking at Bo Yueming’s eyes fixed on Pei Yi’s face, a never before seen smile at the corners of his mouth, didn’t this explain the true relationship between the two?

It was very good!

Old Mrs. Bo was happy to see this, but in the blink of an eye, the dissatisfaction of a top boss overflowed again. “Who put these people on the guest list? They still haven’t been sent away!”

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Chapter Ninety-Seven <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Nine

Regarding Huo Fenglie’s speculation, Bai Su disagreed.

“Shrewd fellows like Rong Shiming like to play with these things the most, and there are rumors that he is skilled at it. Didn’t Lao Qin and the others propose asking him to try unlocking your brocade box?”

However, subsequent investigation revealed that although Rong Shiming was good at it, he was far less capable than the mechanism-breaking master they had found before, so they gave up on the idea.

“Although we don’t know much about Liu Xiaozhu, did you hear what his two cousins just said? And he’s also lost his memory, so the possibility of winning is too low……it’s so pitiful that he’ll be forced to lose face before leaving. It’s fortunate that he’s actually leaving, and the humiliation will only be temporary.” Bai Su said encouragingly: “Otherwise, how about you go forward later and waive the excessive punishment?”

Huo Fenglie didn’t answer.

Bai Su saw Huo Fenglie’s reaction and said with surprise: “You really think he will win?”

Huo Fenglie paused, then said: “Looking at his expression, he doesn’t seem to think he will lose.”

Not only did he think this way, but his eyes were narrowed and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised. He was trying to feign weakness regardless of the embarrassment in order to measure the competition and gain advantages for himself.

Bai Su was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said: “Why don’t we make a bet? If he really beats Rong Shiming, then…..let him try to unlock the brocade box for you?”

Huo Fenglie was taken aback, and there was finally a difference in his reaction when he looked at Bai Su.

Bai Su teased: “It’ll be a miracle if he wins. Perhaps this kind of miraculous person will be able to give you a miracle, and also let us see what secrets that mysterious master hid in the brocade box back then.”

Huo Fenglie did not respond to the bet. The crowd had already discussed the competition method.

A few relatively impartial people would go and select two groups of small toys, nine in each group. The two people would randomly select a group, and there would be little difference in difficulty. It would depend on their luck whether they encountered familiar ones. The two of them would then select the tenth toy for each other, which would be considered the final level. The harder it was, the better.

They would start solving at the same time, with a time limit of one stick of incense to see who could complete their ten first. Of course, if someone couldn’t solve it midway, they would be considered the loser.

Two long tables were arranged in the square, and ten trays covered in red cloth were placed on the tables in sequence. The two people were not allowed to observe in advance. They must complete one before they were able to see the next.

Before the game even started, Rong Shiming was making wild remarks. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t finish the first nine. I’ll give you a chance. As long as you can finish the last one, you’ll win.”

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows. This young man was quite confident. “Then, thank you very much.”

The mechanism box he chose for Rong Shiming was at least the most difficult among the small toys he saw. He looked at the red cloth at the farthest end of his row, which was also something square and upright. He guessed that what Rong Shiming had chosen for him was also a mechanism box.

With everyone watching, the competition officially began. As soon as the order was given, Rong Shiming quickly lifted the red cloth and saw that it looked familiar. He felt proud for a moment, thinking that the heavens were on his side. This kind of iron frame lock could be solved in three breaths.

Rong Shiming had already begun to imagine that Liu Zhenqing would fail to defeat him later, so he pinned his hopes on the last piece of red cloth. After it was opened, he would see what kind of wonderful expression the other would wear when he saw what it was.

As he thought, the thing in his hand loosened and split into two parts, and was solved smoothly.

Not a moment after, he heard gasps of surprise all around him.

Rong Shiming sneered, and was about to give Liu Zhenqing a contemptuous look when he saw a pair of fair and slender hands put down an irregular iron ring.

Rong Shiming’s pupils shrank. He quickly raised his head and saw Liu Zhenqing smiling at him, already preparing to uncover the next piece of red cloth.

There was only a slight difference in speed between the two of them. Rong Shiming took a glance and found that the contraption was no simpler than the one in his hand. It turned out that the astonished exclamations just now were also for Liu Zhenqing.

Rong Shiming cursed inwardly, but didn’t feel panicked at all. He just thought Liu Zenqing got lucky.

But a second exclamation sounded at the same time he solved the second level. Rong Shiming’s heart shook. He looked over and saw parts scattered on the table.

It was about the same time once more. Liu Zhenqing had just finished it.

Rong Shiming immediately started the third one. This time he went all out, no longer doing it casually, with the fastest speed and the most focused attention.

But this time, the exclamation sounded just before he solved it.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth, before, after, or at the same time, the progress rate was tight.

Rong Shiming was confused. Since he had started playing this game, he had never been chased so pressingly, nor was he overtaken by anyone. This was a fatal blow to his self-confidence, and he couldn’t help but panic in his technique.

He seemed to be able to hear the discussions around him.

“Isn’t Young Master Rong the best at Thousand Locks?”

“But Young Master Liu seems to be even more capable, ah.”

“Is it that he’s lucky?”

“How can it be that someone who doesn’t play much can still play so well? He must have some skills.”

“That’s true. I don’t know how to solve several of them. This Young Master Liu is truly capable. I’m at a loss, it’s incredible.”

“You can say that again. This was supposed to be a show of power, but it turned into a slap to the face. It’s really funny.”

Rong Shiming’s pupils shrank uncontrollably. Thinking of Liu Zhenqing’s strange attitude before, he panicked. Could it be that his investigation got it wrong, or that Liu Zhenqing had been hiding his strength? In fact, he was the one pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.

Rong Shiming was suddenly angry at being tricked. He grew impatient, and his hands became even more disorganized. Now his mind was filled with thoughts about when the other party would finish next. Especially when he was reaching the completion stage, his thoughts became more and more uncontrollable, and he would think, is the next exclamation about to come?

At the seventh and eighth levels, Rong Shiming’s obviously disordered mind slowed down his speed. Although he solved them, it took many attempts.

Rong Shiming’s heart beat wildly. He felt that he should be far away from the other party, but suddenly found that the other person was at the same place as him.

He took a sneak peek, and it seemed that Liu Zhenqing was also looking at him.

Was he watching his progress because he couldn’t finish it and was worried about being left behind? So he had just gotten lucky before? Now the fact that he was no good at it would finally be revealed?

Had he just frightened himself before?

Rong Shiming suddenly gained a little more confidence and regrouped. Even though he was still closely followed, he still felt that he could get rid of the opponent on the ninth level.

The ninth one was also a mechanism type, and was a bit difficult. When Rong Shiming was halfway through earnestly solving it, a sudden exclamation caught him off guard.

He turned his head in disbelief and saw with wide eyes that Liu Zhenqing had already completed it. 

This time, he had actually surpassed his speed.

“Im…..impossible. You must have…..” After a closer look, Rong Shiming couldn’t say a word. The people who chose the toys were fair, and they were all around the same level of difficulty.

There were constant exclamations all around. Many people looked closely, but had to admit that Liu Zhenqing had won.

Liu Zhenqing raised the mechanical toy in his hand and said with a smile: “I lucked out and happened to get this one. Young Master Rong, I won’t wait for you.”

As he spoke, he went to uncover the last piece of red cloth.

And Rong Shiming watched him with eyes wide open, forgetting to unlock the remaining mechanism in his hands. It wasn’t until Liu Zhenqing touched the last red cloth, underneath which was the “death penalty” he had personally selected for him, that a twisted smile appeared on Rong Shiming’s face.

Let him see if Liu Zhenqing dared to win!

The First Princess was also among those who wore expectant expressions.

Everyone else was anxiously awaiting the last level of the competition, watching curiously to see what puzzle Rong Shiming had prepared for Liu Zhenqing.

The two brothers of the Liu family had already excitedly gathered around Liu Zhenqing on the left and right as protectors of the law. They had never expected that Liu Zhenqing could be so capable, capable enough to suppress others. And he looked very relaxed when he went up. Their dignity was saved!

Bai Su was also amazed as he sat in his seat. “I didn’t expect your guess to be right. He actually won. Young Master Liu usually hides his skills, but he’s so capable. Ai, Zanyuan, you…..”

When he turned around, he found that Huo Fenglie was no longer watching the game, but was lost in thought.

“Why aren’t you interested anymore all of a sudden? Isn’t it amazing?” Bai Su said doubtfully.

“They’re about the same level. Average,” Huo Fenglie said lightly.

Bai Su didn’t think so, because from Huo Fenglie’s perspective, he could only see the result, not the process. But Bai Su’s perspective was just right to see the look on Liu Zhenqing’s face.

If Bai Su’s conjecture wasn’t wrong…..Liu Zhenqing was like a fox. He was watching Rong Shiming’s progress from beginning to end and adjusting his speed of completion. His eyes rarely fell on the small toys in his hand. Other than a glance when he first took it, he would then look at Rong Shiming and control his hand speed while solving it.

Although Bai Su felt that at this point, it was completely possible for him to slaughter the other and there was no need to keep a low profile and give the opponent face, Liu Zhenqing maintained his slight advantage until the end. For each level, he used the shortest path to solve the puzzle. Although his hand speed wasn’t flashy, there was never an “attempt” or “repeat” situation. This was simply outrageous, freakish strength.

So in terms of strength, Liu Zhenqing should be far stronger than Rong Shiming, of the sort that could not be touched from beginning to end.

This kind of prowess was completely worth letting him try Huo Fenglie’s brocade box.

Just as Bai Su was about to explain the real situation to Huo Fenglie, the originally lively scene of the competition became eerily quiet. One could almost hear a pin drop.

It was as if the scene had been frozen, making the two look up in surprise. Following everyone’s gazes, they found that they were all watching Liu Zhenqing lift the red cloth to reveal the final puzzle.

And that was…..a very distinct jade Rubik’s Cube.

Bai Su’s face sank, and in an instant, he felt the person next to him release powerful murderous intent.

Most of the people present were frightened and flustered, not daring to speak as they cautiously looked at the three Liu cousins.

At this time, the second and third cousins were pale, even more so than when they were humiliated just now. They were even provoked to the point of losing their composure and roaring at Rong Shiming, “Rong Shiming, what do you mean by this?”

“Young Master Rong, this is a competition. What is your purpose in doing this?”

Liu Zhenqing’s feelings were not as profound, but after the last incident in the restaurant, he also knew that this taboo was likely in connection with him. Now he finally knew what Rong Shiming had here waiting for him. He had underestimated him before.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Rong Shiming, who raised his eyes and smiled. He no longer appeared as if he had suffered from a blow, and instead, he proudly completed his ninth level. “This is also one of the Thousand Locks. Why can’t it be used? Could it be that you can’t, or that you won’t, ah? Logically speaking, you should be the best at it.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the third cousin almost jumped up, but the second cousin quickly stopped him and said with difficulty: “This is clearly forbidden. Young Master Rong has gone to great lengths to embarrass us.”

“Forbidden? There is no specific law that it can’t be played with, but some people just don’t dare to play,” Rong Shiming said with a smile.

Don’t dare to play. Of course they didn’t dare!

Everyone knew that the Rubik’s Cube was brought into this world by the treacherous minister, Liu Zhenqing, and that it was also the thing he played with most often. It was said that when you saw him playing with the Rubik’s Cube that hung from his waist in court, he was about to cause trouble again, and a bloody incident would happen soon. It was simply more accurate than the King of Hell’s Book of Life and Death. So once he went to court and was seen playing with his Rubik’s Cube, everyone couldn’t help but be on tenterhooks.

Although the Rubik’s Cube itself had no meaning, for the Zhou Dynasty, which was shrouded in the shadow of the traitor, everyone still voluntarily shunned it.

Fans of it mostly played at home, so it was somewhat shocking to see one in the open like this.

What was even more frightening was that when the Rubik’s Cube and members of the Liu family appeared at the same time, who could not think of the treacherous minister?

It could be said that anyone in the Zhou Dynasty could play the Rubik’s Cube, just not the Liu family.

With a click, Rong Shiming’s ninth level was completed, and he continued on to his tenth level with a smile on his face. Even if Liu Zhenqing had chosen the most difficult one for him, he was still at a standstill, unable to withstand his opponent in the end.

“Why, if you don’t hurry up, you’re going to lose,” Rong Shiming said with a sly smile.

Touching the Rubik’s Cube incurred fear in the Imperial merchant Liu family.

But if he didn’t touch it, he would lose the competition, and the three young men would lose all their dignity.

The second and third cousins were unwilling to give up, and asked those around them to speak a word of fairness. 

This was the correct “recognition of social rules,” so nobody dared to stand up and defend the three Liu family members. If they said anything, it would seem to be indirectly helping the traitor escape guilt.

In the end, the two of them were stupid enough to ask the First Princess to make the decision.

The First Princess only said lightly: “It’s a normal competition, what do you want me to do?”

The two people were desperate. Suppressing their resentment, they could only look at Liu Zhenqing.

“Admit defeat!”

The Liu family desperately wanted others to forget their relationship with the traitorous minister, and didn’t dare touch it. If word reached the ears of the court that Young Master Liu was adept at the Rubik’s Cube, just like the traitor back then…..just thinking about it made their heads feel unsteady on their necks.

They would rather be humiliated.

Liu Zhenqing looked at them with some surprise. Just as he was about to speak, he heard that villain Rong Shiming say: “Are you giving up? First Young Master Liu, I advise you to give it a try. Perhaps you can succeed. Hahaha!” Rong Shiming smiled proudly and raised his eyebrows at Liu Zhenqing, tilting his head in the direction of Huo Fenglie. The meaning was obvious.

No one will help you this time!

Hadn’t Huo Fenglie helped Liu Zhenqing repeatedly?

Then let Huo Fenglie reminisce. The Liu family was related by blood to the treacherous minister. He had recognized an enemy as a friend. The Huo family’s blood debt should never be forgotten!

Perhaps Huo Fenglie had now begun to regret helping Liu Zhenqing before.

Liu Zhenqing rather admired Rong Shiming’s conspiracy. One move put him in a dilemma, and also instantly made his most likely backer unclear about who was friend or foe. Now that things had come to this, he didn’t expect the guy who had dug up his grave to lend a helping hand. Just as long as he didn’t spoil the happy event of him leaving tomorrow.

As for admitting defeat…..Liu Zhenqing refused. It was only that this time it was a little bit troublesome, and he had to think of a foolproof solution.

Liu Zhenqing’s silence seemed to everyone to be a sign of his inner suffering and struggle. He probably didn’t want to be humiliated, but didn’t dare touch the Rubik’s Cube. This was really the end of the road.

The First Princess said impatiently: “Young Master Liu, either give up or continue, don’t waste everyone’s time.”

Rong Shiming smiled and said: “Cousin, I am willing to give him some time to accept his fate.” This sort of deathbed struggle was what he liked to watch the most! He still hadn’t seen Liu Zhenqing’s expression of pain and despair yet.

There was a lot of discussion going around, most of it urging Liu Zhenqing to accept his fate.

Suddenly, Liu Zhenqing’s eyes gleamed and he started to reach for the Rubik’s Cube. But in the next second, there was a flash of cold white light and a bang.

The table on which the Rubik’s Cube was placed split in half before Liu Zhenqing, and the items on it instantly rolled to the ground. The loud bang frightened the people around, and they backed away.

Looking closer, it could be seen that the white light was a teacup lid. It had split the table in half, and finally hit the foot of the First Princess, who was sitting in front of the table. She froze in fright, and the guards instinctively moved forward.

And the only person present capable of doing this was……

Everyone turned their heads and looked over in horror, only to see that at some point, Huo Fenglie had walked over from his seat to stand there, his gaze like a sharp sword unsheathed as he looked at everything with a lack of anger that was nonetheless frightening.

Sure enough, the treacherous minister was General Huo’s weak point.

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Chapter Twenty-One << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Three

T/N: Thank you to SleepySheep for the Kofi donation! Here’s a double update.

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Suddenly, Bai Su couldn’t help but muffle his laughter. This was the reaction that a person should have.

“Was that an adult coaxing a child, or was he just talking nonsense after being burnt out by fever? Zhanyuan, I didn’t expect you to have such a side. Is such a ridiculous thing worthy of your consideration? I didn’t believe such things when I was a child, and I don’t know what sort of lunatic would make up such strange ideas. If people could resurrect from the dead in this world, then my brother and your brother would have……many, many people would have come back, but why aren’t there any? If this was true, then why has the Board of Astronomy and Mathematics still not researched a way to make the Emperor immortal?”

Huo Fenglie paused. Then the teacup in his hand shattered with a crack, and tea spilled out.

Bai Su was startled, and quickly helped to change out the tea cup. He sent Huo Fenglie a strange look, wondering if it was his misunderstanding or if his words had exposed some sort of far-fetched idea and struck a blow to Huo Fenglie.

Suddenly, dark red flashed in Huo Fenglie’s eyes. Bai Su saw this and was given a big shock. He immediately said: “Zhanyuan, you…..”

“I’m fine.” Huo Fenglie shook off the liquid on his hand. His face returned to the indifference he had worn for several years. A trace of self-mockery curled up the corners of his originally tight mouth, and his whole aura dimmed.

Bai Su was about to persuade Huo Fenglie to go back and rest, but at this moment, the buzz around them suddenly became louder.

Bai Su raised his head at the oddity and let out a sigh. 

Huo Fenglie ignored it, but the next moment, a clear, distinct voice seemed to come from far away, with a rising intonation and its own unique smile. 

“General Huo, Young Master Bai.”

Huo Fenglie looked up from where he was sitting, and for an instant, the sun was so dazzling that he couldn’t see the face of the person in front of him clearly. He could only see the tall, straight body, his figure unconsciously canted to the right and his head tilted slightly.

It was an all too familiar posture, stunning Huo Fenglie.

He was like a young boy sitting obediently on a stool waiting for someone, until that person called, “Er-gou, let’s go.”

The boy looked up and saw a person standing in this posture with the light behind him, tilting his head and looking at him with a smile. “What? Have you waited long? Are you sleepy?”

The expression on Huo Fenglie’s face did not change, remaining cold. He just looked at the visitor blankly. Bai Su greeted the visitor in turn with a smile. 

“Young Master Liu.”

Liu Zhenqing bowed to the two of them and said: “I just want to thank the two of you for helping me survive. Thank you very much.”

“Young Master Liu, you’re welcome. Please sit down…..” Bai Su said.

Huo Fenglie’s lack of response made Liu Zhenqing, who had taken the initiative to come over, feel guilty. Examining his face, he didn’t look too good either. Was he still angry with him, or had he misunderstood him like everyone else and was uneasy about his harassment?

Liu Zhenqing maintained a stiff smile and continued to bow, saying: “General Huo, I also came to apologize. In order to protect myself, I talked nonsense in front of everyone and besmirched your reputation. It was truly an offense.”

Huo Fenglie’s pupils quivered. “En.”

What did ‘en’ mean? That he didn’t care about it and didn’t hold a grudge? Er-gou never talked much in the past, but why did he feel that he talked even less now?

Liu Zhenqing’s brow twitched, and he continued: “If General Huo blames me, I will accept any punishment you wish. And if you don’t blame me, I would like to leave the capital tomorrow. I have troubled General Huo.”

Huo Fenglie didn’t answer immediately, which worried Liu Zhenqing. He continued: “General Huo, I am just a nobody. I offended the Eighth Princess today, and I fear that if I leave any later, I will die.”

Bai Su sent a piercing look at Huo Fenglie, who seemed to be in a daze. He thought it must be due to his old injury, so he answered on his behalf, “You can rest assured of this. Since it was the Emperor’s order for her to be taken away by force, she will be placed into confinement when she goes back. In the short term, she will not be able to reach beyond the palace. And in the end, this matter had been an unreasonable disaster for you. Zhanyuan will solve it.”

The Eighth Princess was only the beginning. Liu Zhenqing could only say: “In fact, I was going to leave the capital yesterday with General Huo’s assistance. I really didn’t lie about this, but now…..” Liu Zhenqing glanced at Huo Fenglie and said shamelessly: “Didn’t I offend General Huo? I fear that General Huo won’t help me in his anger, hehehe…..”

Huo Fenglie finally answered: “Rest assured, tomorrow…..will be arranged according to your previous words.”

Liu Zhenqing immediately breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, General Huo. Then I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll take my leave.” Having said this, he left without hesitation.

Bai Su was a little surprised. He had seen Liu Xiaozhu’s entangled attitude toward Huo Fenglie before, and it was unusual for him not to stay longer at this moment. After all, he had just invited him to sit down. He didn’t even grasp this kind of opportunity……it seemed that it was as He Lan and Qin Yu had said. Liu Xiaozhu had even forgotten his love for Huo Fenglie after losing his memory.

But there was one thing that Bai Su found strange.

“Why did he choose this troublesome time to leave? Is he in a hurry?”

“I don’t know.” Liu Zhenqing’s behavior was indeed strange, but Huo Fenglie didn’t intend to look into it too deeply.

“If the Emperor begins to investigate the Imperial Examination fraud, it will be even more difficult to get out of the city, and it will truly depend on you.” As Bai Su spoke, he glanced at the First Princess and Rong Shiming, then said slowly, “The premise is that you don’t cause any trouble today. After all, you can’t antagonize the First Princess too much, otherwise you will be accused of having merits so great that they threaten the throne.”

The outing banquet was full of young people, so there were naturally various games, competitions, and contests for peers to show off amongst themselves.

Thinking way back, there were two people who dominated the top of the list at such gatherings – Liu Zhenqing in the literary category, and Huo Feihan in the martial category. The two of them monopolized all the fame, praise, and admiration.

As for Li Xingruo? That girl alone had the best medical skills, and no one could compare with her. She was not good at anything that talented girls should traditionally be good at, and she never cared about the looks and comments of others. She was just herself. Therefore, this sort of gathering was of benefit to her, in that she could gather people to study their pulses. She could be considered a special existence.

And because they often traveled as a group of three, they became known as the “Three Heroes of the Capital” at that time: Wu Huo, Cai Liu, and Yi Li.^[1] They had also become the most colorful trio of two men and one woman in the capital.

Nowadays, the games played were basically the same. Every time there was an event, there were people eager to come forward and show off. Even the two cousins had gone up a few times. Their qualifications were mediocre and they gave no outstanding performances, but they had no self-awareness and insisted on getting involved.

The only ones who didn’t participate at all were Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie.

No one on Huo Fenglie’s side dared to challenge him, and who would invite Liu Zhenqing? For good or ill, Liu Zhenqing didn’t care about his face, and adopted the three principles of ‘no’: “I don’t understand, I don’t know how, I’m not good at it.”

Although he received a lot of contempt, at least he was safe.

However, this calm was soon broken. The noisy crowd soon attracted the attention of everyone present. Even the First Princess, who was playing alone with the girls, came to take charge of the overall situation. “What is this?”

“Cousin, we’re competing to solve the Thousand Locks. Someone lost and refuses to admit it.” After speaking, Rong Shiming glanced at Third Young Master Liu, who was shaking with anger.

Thousand Locks was a competitive game that had emerged more than ten years ago. The game consisted of several people randomly selecting small toys and contraptions to unlock, either taking turns or going at the same time. If someone couldn’t solve it within a certain amount of time, that person was out. This tested both ability and luck.

After all, there were duplications in the small toy market. People who liked to play might have been exposed to them and already know the solutions, so at this time, the competition was to see who was faster. 

However, small toys were updated quickly, so in order to make the party more interesting, the organizer of this kind of game would usually find new products for everyone to play.

“The items were chosen at random. I’m not making things difficult for you, you agreed to the bet yourself. Third Young Master Liu, please.” Rong Shiming finished speaking and looked at the third cousin proudly.

Some fellows around him echoed Rong Shiming and shouted, “Get down and bark like a dog!”

“Do it quickly, bark!”

The third cousin said furiously: “You…..you all banded together to deceive me. You pretended to be incompetent and tricked me into the game!”

“It’s true that we’re not good at it, but we’re better than you,” Rong Shiming said with a smile. “Hurry up, Third Young Master Liu. If you don’t bark, everyone will laugh at you for daring to bet but not paying up.”

“Brother…..” The second cousin was truly anxious now, and sent the third cousin a look.

The third cousin’s expression was ugly. He could only plead for mercy, hoping to get a different punishment. This was really too insulting.

Rong Shiming raised his eyebrows and said: “It is impossible to change it, unless we play again and Second Young Master Liu competes with me. If he wins, the punishment will be canceled. If he loses, he can also get down and bark like a dog!”

There was a burst of laughter as soon as these words came out, and a burst of shame and anger on the faces of the two Liu cousins, but the third cousin was unwilling to accept the punishment. The second cousin hesitated, but finally decided to accept it.

He didn’t do it so much out of brotherhood, but because he was better at this than the third cousin. He had also taken over a caravan that bought and sold small toys, and when he was observing the competition between the two just now, he felt that Rong Shiming couldn’t beat him.

But after a while, the second cousin’s face turned even uglier than the third cousin’s, because he had also lost. Although he got lucky this time and they were all small toys that he had played with, he actually lost to Rong Shiming in terms of speed. He finally understood that when dealing with the third cousin, Rong Shiming hadn’t used the entirety of his abilities. He hid it, just waiting to trick them.

The jeering around them grew louder and louder. The two of them were really going to be forced to get down and bark like dogs. Even the First Princess was not going to stop this farce.

When Rong Shiming saw that the two of them weren’t moving, he said: “How about you find someone to help you bet again?”

This sentence gave them hope. They quickly looked at the people around them for help, but who would dare to step forward and touch their misfortune? And even though there were people who didn’t get along with Rong Shiming, they wouldn’t be stupid enough to get into trouble in the game that Rong Shiming was best at. Only these newcomers who hadn’t attended many parties would step into the trap.

Seeing that no one was willing to step forward to help, the two of them were so anxious that the veins on their foreheads practically popped out.

At this time, Rong Shiming narrowed his eyes, feeling that the time was almost up. He was about to add another sentence when a voice suddenly sounded from outside the crowd.

“I’ll play.”

As soon as these words came out, the crowd moved aside. Liu Zhenqing, who had been hiding at the tables, unwilling to participate in the games, actually stepped out.

Rong Shiming’s eyes lit up, and he watched eagerly as Liu Zhenqing walked over.

The two cousins’ faces were full of disappointment. They had previously come in a carriage with Liu Zhenqing, where they had seen him play with the Nine Links without solving any of them. Naturally, they didn’t believe in Liu Zhenqing. Little did they know that this was Liu Zhenqing’s habit when waking up in the morning, just playing with something in his hands without solving it at all.

“How can you do this, ah! Don’t humiliate us!”

“You weren’t good at this before you lost your memory, and now you won’t remember the simplest ones!”

In this competition of skill, it would be better to kneel down and beg Rong Shiming for forgiveness, and maybe he would let them off. After all, they knew they must have been targeted because of Liu Zhenqing.

The two of them hinted at him with meaningful looks.

“I don’t know much about this, but I can’t watch my two brothers be humiliated, ah. And…..even if I didn’t volunteer, Young Master Rong would have called me up, right?”

Liu Zhenqing regarded Rong Shiming with a half smile. He had been paying attention to this game from the beginning because it happened to be something he was interested in. It made his hands itchy. But from the start of the gambling, Liu Zhenqing was aware of Rong Shiming’s intentions.

Without him going up to play on his own, Rong Shiming couldn’t put his plan into action and could only fish out his target through the two Liu family members.

Rong Shiming said with a malicious smile: “Brothers naturally share weal and woe. Could it be that you would watch your two younger brothers be punished while you stood aside? How improper, ba.”

“Of course it’s improper, aren’t I here now? Isn’t it the same bet?” If he returned home like this, he would probably not be able to leave the capital if his two uncles and aunts made a fuss. And even if one plan failed, there was no guarantee that there wouldn’t be another one, so it was better to pick what he was good at.

Liu Zhenqing’s expression revealed no timidity at all. Rong Shiming’s eyes narrowed. After all, he had suffered so much because of this person that it was nearly a conditioned reflex. But whether in his own investigation or what the two Liu family members had just revealed, he shouldn’t be good at this. Was he already prepared to be humiliated together and gain a good reputation for brotherhood?

Everyone thought the same. It made sense. It was better for three people to be humiliated together than for one person to live an ignoble existence, and their reputations would be relatively better.

The two brothers had nothing to say. It couldn’t get any worse.

Rong Shiming hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help saying: “After so many opportunities have been given, it naturally can’t be so simple. This time, the stakes must be raised.”

“Oh? What are the stakes?” Liu Zhenqing had expected this. He couldn’t just imitate a dog barking. The damage from the blow would be too low.

“If you lose, in addition to your two younger brothers being punished, you will also get down and bark like a dog, but also…..” Rong Shiming suddenly raised his leg and stepped on the chair beside him, saying fiercely, “Crawl through here!”

Thunder struck, and everyone gasped simultaneously. This was even more humiliating than barking like a dog.

The First Princess spoke in a timely manner, “Shiming, that…..”

“Cousin, it depends on whether or not Young Master Liu dares to go through with it. If he dares not, I won’t gamble, and his two younger brothers will carry out their punishment,” Rong Shiming sneered.

Everyone couldn’t help but look at Liu Zhenqing, feeling that this request was a bit too much. Knowing that he would lose, Liu Zhenqing wouldn’t suffer such humiliation for his two cousins.

They saw Liu Zhenqing raise his eyebrows as if he couldn’t decide. It seemed that he was very hesitant, and would probably refuse. The crowd was disappointed. After all, they all had the mentality of watching scandals and seeking novelty.

But the next second, Liu Zhenqing nodded and said, “Sure.”

Everyone stared at Liu Zhenqing in astonishment. They weren’t hallucinating. He had actually agreed.

In fact, Liu Zhenqing had hesitated just now because he thought, isn’t this a bit childish? He was a little suspicious of Rong Shiming’s true intentions. Was it really as simple as demeaning someone? It would be a shame not to injure or maim him after all this effort, ah.

Rong Shiming was also a little surprised. He had prepared other tricks to force him to agree, but didn’t expect that it would be so simple. Was there something fishy going on? Rong Shiming couldn’t help feeling shaken.

“Really?”

“Of course. But Young Master Rong raised the stakes. I can’t just assist people, isn’t this bullying me? If Young Master Rong loses, how about doing as you said? Do you dare?”

Rong Shiming scoffed. He felt that Liu Zhenqing was bluffing. How could he lose?

“This is a matter of course.”

Liu Zhenqing immediately turned to look at the First Princess up above and said, “Your Highness bears witness for us.”

The First Princess was taken aback, and thought that this member of the Liu family was truly annoying. He actually thought he could win. Wasn’t he just adding this because he didn’t want her to stand up for Rong Shiming and prevent him from being punished?

“All right,” the First Princess said coldly. She remembered that nuisance being extremely good at this. Someone had once challenged him at a party. He took advantage of the situation to ostentatiously show off his skills, and blindfolded himself to compete with the other. Then he directly defeated them, causing their innermost being to crumble, and they never dared to play this kind of game again.

Now, members of his clan were going to be humiliated because of this game. How amusing. It was simply retribution.

And…..did the First Young Master of the Liu family think that Rong Shiming was just trying to humiliate him? The fun was yet to come!

. . . . . . .

“This is really…..” Bai Su watched the development of this situation and said, “Sure enough, Rong Shiming really doesn’t intend to let Liu Xiaozhu go. Zhanyuan, in this situation, if Liu Xiaozhu loses, it seems…..it won’t be convenient for you to help.”

After talking at length, he noticed that no one was paying attention and turned around to look. Huo Fenglie was watching the crowd with a heavy gaze, uncertainty on his face.

Then he said: “Perhaps…..he won’t lose.”

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[1] Wu (martial) Huo, Cai (talent) Liu, and Yi (medical) Li. ⮐

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Chapter Twenty << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Two

A-Ning also hung up the little clothes he bought, and went to the depths of the forest with Chang Xiaoqiu to join the army.

The white mist was still steaming, and stuck wetly to the skin, giving people the illusion that venom was seeping into their bones. The southwest was warm at this time, and spring was blooming. Even the garrison camp was full of birdsong and flowers, but it was cold and silent here, and the depths of the forest were even darker. An adjutant clicked his tongue: “Even the Ghost Boys infected with Gu can only live on the edges of the woodlands. If we go deeper, will there really be people living here?”

“In the depths of the driest desert in the northwest, there is a scattered camel-raising tribe. They can tell which swath of sand contains water with just their eyes.” Liang Shu said: “Perhaps there are similar mysterious tribes in the southwest, hiding abilities that outsiders cannot fathom.”

“Then they are very capable.” Chang Xiaoqiu went on tiptoe to look into the depths. “Not only can they live in the miasma-filled forest freely, but they were able to defeat Mu Zhe and his congregation.”

“It doesn’t matter how capable they are. As long as they don’t disturb the lives of the garrison and our people, it is not for us to disturb them.” Gao Lin glanced at the sun. “Alright, it’s almost time. You fellows follow me down the mountain to celebrate Old Zhou-furen’s birthday!”

“Lieutenant General Gao, the old lady’s surname is Zhang.”

“Close enough, close enough.”

No matter what the surname was, in short, there would be a festive event in the near future. Liang Shu sent Chang Xiaoqiu and A-Ning to have dinner with Gao Lin, and everyone left in a noisy group. Liu Xian’an stood there and waited for a long moment, but without waiting for him to speak, he took the initiative to ask: “Aren’t we going?”

“No, I’ll take you to eat alone.” Liang Shu took his hand. “The running water here is hot and sour, not to your tastes. Who was it who ate the salted fish last time and vomited?”

“……But it will be lively.”

“Liveliness is not only about eating. The village will also set up a stage for singing, and then I will take you down the mountain.” Liang Shu crouched down. “Come up, there are many trees and vines here. I will carry you on my back.”

Second Young Master Liu, who was tired from walking, still had to pretend to make excuses: But Da-ge said I must be more active.

Liang Shu said: “Then thump on my back a couple of times.”

Liu Xian’an symbolically twisted his wrist twice, completing the day’s activity. Master Liu wasn’t there to see it, and First Young Master Liu would have cried — however, there was no ruler to beat him with for the time being. It was currently the critical moment for treating Ku You’s eye disease, and he couldn’t spare half an inch of attention.

In the garrison camp, Ku You discerned movement outside and asked: “There seems to be someone beating drums?”

Liu Xianche said: “There is an old lady at the foot of the mountain celebrating her birthday. She should have sent some celebration cakes up the mountain. But for Commander Ku to hear something so far away, his hearing must be very good.”

“I trained with His Highness. Now that my sight is blocked, I must listen more carefully.”

Ku You helped with the bandage around his eyes: “How long before I can see?”

“It depends on the effects of the acupuncture. If you are lucky, it will take ten days. If it doesn’t work, you must wait for the next operation,” Liu Xianche said. “Commander Ku was poisoned in his early years, so the treatment is more complicated than with general gold blindness, and requires more patience.”

“Okay.” He had a disease, so even if he had no patience, he must have patience. Ku You stood up while leaning on a stick, and said with a smile: “Just listen to those brats making noise. I’ll go to the front and ask for two cakes for us to eat.”

Liu Xianche made a sound of acknowledgement and watched the other party leave the small courtyard. He found that Ku You’s ability to perceive the outside world was already very strong. He barely used the wooden stick to explore the way, and walked in great strides. If not for the gauze covering his eyes, ordinary people would not be able to tell that he was suffering from a serious eye disease.

The celebration cakes were exquisitely made, with even seven or eight kinds of fillings. Life in the military camp was finally a little more sweet. Liu Xian’an also shared a celebration cake, and while he was eating, he returned to his residence. At this time, the Jiangnan chef invited by Liang Shu had already cooked a table full of dishes, and was standing in the courtyard with a big smile on his face, ready to receive a reward.

Liang Shu tossed him an ingot of silver, and the portly uncle departed with a smile on his face. What could he say but that His Royal Highness Xiao Wang had the ability to lead the army out to fight against the cult, but didn’t forget to tie his sweetheart to him……binding him with a famous chef and specially asking for the flavors of Baihe City. As far as the flavors of Baihe City were concerned, places fifty li away could be considered foreign lands, because his lazy family had never traveled so far away.

“Does it taste the same?” Before he had eaten two mouthfuls of the meal, Liang Shu leaned over to inquire. His expression was exactly the same as the portly uncle asking for a reward just then.

Liu Xian’an replied: “Just the same.”

It was the same, wasn’t that somewhat of a reward? In any case, this meal was so good that no one else could see it, lest their eyes hurt. If the half-eaten celebration cake raised their spirits to the sky, they might also reflect on why their stomachs were already full of sugar, but it was not half as sweet as this young couple.

The two of them ate finely spoonful by spoonful, but the open banquet in the village at the foot of the mountain was a different scene. Even Gao Lin, who always liked to join in the fun, was a little dizzy from the noise. The children in the eyes of the women were like horns being sounded one after another, and when they raised their voices to shout, his soul split open.

After Cheng Suyue, A-Ning, and Chang Xiaoqiu went to see the old birthday star, they went out and saw a young girl standing in front of Gao Lin. So they immediately stood in tacit understanding and pretended to chat, but in fact, each of their ears were trying to become as big as a copper basin—

Gao Lin was young and promising, and was born with a dignified appearance. Apart from his bad mouth, there were no other major problems, so no matter whether it was in the northwest or the southwest, he was considered a target for marriage and love, and this time was no exception. The young girl chatted with him for a while, and her brother and grandmother also appeared and surrounded him without anyone noticing, the whole family striving together, inquiring here and there and turning the topic to major life events. Later, seeing that Gao Lin wanted to run away, they brought up the topic of His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. The conversation was very strategic, and they refused to let him go. If he tried to go away by force, the old lady would cry on the spot and feel pain in her heart.

Cheng Suyue: “Pfft.”

Gao Lin answered halfheartedly to the point that his mouth was parched. He felt that he had talked his share for half a month, and the other party still wanted to drag him to their house for tea. At the critical moment, Liang Shu and Liu Xian’an appeared just in time, and His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was quite capable of bluffing with an expressionless face. He frowned and asked: “What was going on with those three people?”

Cheng Suyue said with a smile: “They were trying to matchmake with my brother. They talked for a quarter of an hour, but were scared away by the prince.”

Gao Lin drove away his sister, who had watched the excitement and didn’t think it was a big deal. He complained to Liang Shu: “Your Highness, it’s terrible, they really insisted that if I drink the wine of the village, I must be a son-in-law of the village, or it is inappropriate and irresponsible. Chattering back and forth, even human traffickers are not so capable.”

Liu Xian’an sympathetically handed him a throat lozenge. 

His voice was hoarse, and it seemed that he had indeed talked a lot.

There was indeed a custom of snatching marriages in the southwest. Gao Lin feared that if he wasn’t paying attention, he would become someone’s groom, so he didn’t eat anymore and went back to accompany Ku You to eat a big pot of rice.

When faced with the girl herself, he wished he had eight legs to flee on, but now that she was gone, he shouted and bragged about himself with great emotion, you didn’t see it, brother, I’m valuable on the market, tsk tsk tsk.

Ku You was very annoyed: “Scram!”

After scolding, he got up and walked away quickly.

Gao Lin reached out his hand, but didn’t have time to catch a wisp of him. He thought to himself, it doesn’t matter if you’re blind, seeing as you can run as fast as if you’re being chased by a dog.

The entire Valley of Ten Faces celebrated this spring with birthday banquets. The threat of the Ghost Boys had been eliminated, but in the wider southwestern continent, the cult was still as difficult to get rid of as a stubborn disease. So after a short period of relaxation, everyone threw themselves into a new round of activity.

A-Ning brought a plate of fruit cake and asked: “What is the young master writing?”

“It’s nothing, I’m just drawing a stroke or two.” Liu Xian’an put down the brush. “I was thinking about the huge stone wall at the entrance at the Valley of Ten Faces. It records that the village’s ancestors could step down from the clouds and were able to freely enter the poisonous miasma without being affected. Could it have something to do with the mysterious tribe in the forest?”

“It’s possible. Didn’t the prince say there was no need to disturb them?”

“There is no need to disturb them, I was only thinking to myself.” 

Liu Xian’an washed his hands and took a snack, breaking it open to share with A-Ning. He said: “You can share some with others later, especially Cheng-guniang. The chef has prepared too much.”

The portly uncle hadn’t rested since he entered the camp, admiring His Royal Highness Xiao Wang and cherishing his generous wages. He used practically all his strength to procure food and snacks every day. Liu Xian’an couldn’t stop eating, and while lying in bed at night, he asked: “Have I gained weight recently?”

Liang Shu touched what shouldn’t be touched before marriage. It felt good, and he answered with satisfaction: “It’s just fat enough. I’ll give him a reward.”

Liu Xian’an: “…….”

Forget it, he was on his own.

Thus, seven dishes and eight bowls of snacks were sent out. On this day, A-Ning ran around with a food box. He went first to Gao Lin’s residence, but no one was there, and then he went to Cheng Suyue’s courtyard and stuck his head through the door: “Cheng-guniang, are you busy? Let me bring you a bowl of red bean paste.”

“Come and sit down.” Cheng Suyue put the basket in her hand on the table. “I was looking for clothes. Good grief, I can’t find them.”

The clothes belonged to Gao Lin. There was a hole in the sleeve, and it would be a pity to throw it away, so he gave it to Cheng Suyue to help mend it. A-Ning was quite shocked when he heard this. Of course he was not shocked that the clothes had been lost, but he was shocked that Cheng-guniang could do such delicate work as mending clothes! He didn’t show his shock, but only guessed: “Could they have been taken away by wild animals to build a nest?”

“That is the only possibility.” A thief would never sneak into the military camp just to steal some rags. Cheng Suyue said: “Forget it, they weren’t valuable. Don’t look for them, are you delivering snacks?”

“There is a bowl left. I’m going to ask the First Young Master and Commander Ku if they want it.” A-Ning said: “They should have finished applying medicine by now.”

Ku You’s residence was on the north side of the camp.

There were two soldiers patrolling outside the courtyard, basking in the sun. They were a little drowsy at first, but were woken up by a cough. After seeing the person, they hurriedly stood up straight: “Lieutenant General Gao!”

The person in the room put down his teacup with a thump and opened the window to run, fearing that he would be dragged back to be told love stories in detail. Gao Lin said: “His Highness asks that you and I go as soon as possible.”

Ku You breathed a sigh of relief. He put down his one leg and raised a hand to straighten his clothes, asking, “Why is the prince looking for us now?”

“They might have found something in the woods.” Gao Lin handed him his cane. “Let’s go.”

Found something in the woods? Ku You was stunned upon hearing this: “What the Baifu Sect buried?”

“I haven’t seen it yet either,” Gao Lin said. “I was waiting to see it together with you.”

The two left the camp and walked deep into the dense forest. The first part of the road was made of packed dirt because all the soldiers and villagers came in and out often, but further in, it became more and more inaccessible. There was no road, and what one stepped on was a thick layer of fallen leaves.

Rustle.

Rustle.

Rustle.

Gao Lin walked very fast. Ku You pricked up his ears and followed behind him based on his sounds. After following for a while, he stopped, stretched his stick forward, and shouted: “Hey, come here and give me a hand, I’ve got a foot stuck in the mud.”

After a moment, the stick swayed slightly, as if someone was holding the other end.

And at almost the same time, Ku You suddenly yanked the wooden stick in front of him and raised the soft sword from his sleeve with his other hand, pointing it straight toward the other’s face.

The other party flew away and sneered: “You’re quite clever, Commander Ku.”

“You sound similar, but your gait is not the same.” Ku You clenched the hilt of the sword. “You are very bold to dare to break into the garrison in disguise.”

“If I were not bold enough, it would be difficult to lure Commander Ku here.” The other party ordered in a low voice, “Do it!”

Ku You caught the faint sound of wind coming from above his head, and slashed with his hand. The blade of the sword clanged, as if it was wrapped in an extremely soft fabric, and the sound of silver bells suddenly rang in his ears, interfering with his judgment. After a brief moment, a cold sword was placed at his throat.

“Don’t worry, our leader simply wants to talk with you.”

. . . . . . . 

A-Ning took some snacks and went to Liu Xianche first, but a medicine boy said that the First Young Master had gone down the mountain with Lieutenant General Gao after applying medicine for Commander Ku in the morning, and he hadn’t come back yet.

So he ran to the north camp again, but the guards also said that Commander Ku and Lieutenant General Gao had gone out not long ago.

A-Ning was puzzled when he heard this: “What about my family’s First Young Master?”

“We didn’t see him. Only Lieutenant General Gao came,” the guard said. “He seemed to be in a hurry. The matter must have been urgent. There was a big hole in his sleeve, and he had no time to change clothes. The two just said a few words and left quickly.”

When A-Ning heard that the clothes with a hole in the sleeve had appeared again, he vaguely felt that something wasn’t right, and asked quickly: “Where is the prince?”

“In the study.”

A-Ning stuffed the snacks into the guard’s hand, turned around, and ran to the study.

That the commander of the southwest garrison could be kidnapped like this sounded so ridiculous that it was unimaginable. Liang Shu immediately ordered all entrances and exits to be blocked, and Gao Lin also hurried back. He hadn’t heard about Ku You yet, but had discovered another anomaly — that day at the birthday banquet, the grandparents and grandchild who insisted on saying he should marry were not villagers of the Valley of Ten Faces. He mentioned it by chance today, but everyone said they had never seen them before. They had just appeared as if they were ghosts.

“But what was the point of them pestering me with all that nonsense?”

“There was no other meaning. As long as they could become familiar with your voice and tone so that they could imitate it easily, that was enough.” Liu Xian’an said: “Their real purpose was Commander Ku.”

Gao Lin cursed.

The enemy’s timing was extremely accurate, which showed that they had prepared very thoroughly in advance. Even if they sent troops to search the mountain now, it was likely that there wouldn’t be any results. Cheng Suyue saw that Liang Shu’s expression was extremely ugly, and said: “Ku You has a special status. If the Baifu Sect kidnapped him, there is a great possibility that they will negotiate terms with the prince. At least…..his life will not be in danger for now.”

Just as she was speaking, someone sent in a letter from outside. It was not from the Baifu Sect, but from Liu Hengchang.

“Is there any new information?” Liu Xian’an asked.

Liang Shu opened and scanned it. The letter happened to mention the new guests Mu Zhe had invited from Nanyang.

“The Nanyang people can summon thunderstorms, control birds of prey, one person can transform into an army of thousands, and they can summon the undead,” Gao Lin said. “They dare to boast of this, but their resources are not as extensive as his.”

Liu Xian’an surmised: “They might also be good at ventriloquism. As long as the listener has his eyes closed, one of them could transform into an army of ten thousand.” And if you were an ordinary person, you wouldn’t be able to imitate a voice realistically enough after just one conversation.

Gao Lin thought to himself, it’s incredible, this imitation skill seems to have been tailor-made for Ku You.

Liu Xianche asked: “What else did A-Chang write in the letter?”

“He wrote that Wumeng Yunyou won’t be able to recover in the short term.” Liu Xian’an read the letter and said, “However, it was not his idea, but Feng Xiaojin’s. Feng Xiaojin took the lead in saying that he did not want the Wumeng brother and sister to get involved in the dispute between the Baifu Sect and the prince. For this reason, he also provided A-Chang with many opportunities to administer drugs.”

“This person……doesn’t sound very loyal to Mu Zhe.” Cheng Suyue slowly touched her healed neck. “He really didn’t seem to care about anything. But if he actually wants to protect the brother and sister, why not take them far away from that nasty, gloomy cult?”

“It’s not necessarily that he doesn’t want to leave. It’s also possible that he can’t. Cults always have a few dirty tricks when it comes to controlling people,” Liu Xianche said. “After this dressing change, there is half a chance that Commander Ku’s eyes will be cured.”

“But that’s only if the Baifu Sect treat him with courtesy in the early stage.” Liang Shu ordered, “Go and bring Chi Teng out of prison!”

The soldier who took the order heard the anger in the prince’s voice. He greased the soles of his feet and ran like the wind, not daring to delay for a moment.

Gao Lin thought that if the other party tied him up, that would be fine, but Ku You was a closed gourd, a glib talker, had a stubborn temper, and could not see clearly. If such a combination fell into the hands of the cult, how could he not suffer?

Damn it.

They must save him quickly.

---

Chapter Ninety-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred

Liu Zhenqing swore that he really didn’t fall in Huo Fenglie’s direction on purpose. This was a trick of fate, ah! But no one around believed this. Thinking it was naked seduction, they looked at him with disdain from all directions.

Just as he was about to pounce on this person, a cold black object suddenly stood in front of him. Liu Zhenqing instinctively grabbed it to stabilize his body. It felt chilly to the touch, but very familiar. When he lowered his head and looked closely, he saw that it turned out to be a sword.

It was Huo Fenglie’s Chunjun sword. Seeing Liu Zhenqing about to pounce on him, he had used the scabbard to catch him at the last moment. He lifted it up, forcing Liu Zhenqing to stand on his own, and then withdrew the sword and left without looking back.

Liu Zhenqing froze on the spot, feeling that the sword looked familiar.

When he returned to his spot, he was faced with the mournful and furious looks of his two cousins. Liu Zhenqing couldn’t be bothered to talk nonsense with them, and his mind had already shifted to Huo Fenglie…..in the direction he was going stood the man in scholarly white who had just spoken up for him. He was about the same age and appearance as Liu Zhenqing was now, with good looks, a pleasant temperament, and a bookish air.

Logically speaking, most children of this age would not have known Liu Zhenqing, and even if they had known him before, they wouldn’t recognize him as he was now. After all, there were only a few children who knew him well. But the person in front of him looked familiar, although he couldn’t recall him for the moment.

“Hey, do you know who the young man in white sitting with General Huo is?”

The two cousins looked at Liu Zhenqing with immediate disdain, and the Third Cousin was furious: “Can’t you just calm down, ah! Is this the time for jealousy?”

“He just dared to speak up for me, much more reliable than my two cousins. Can’t I be curious?” Liu Zhenqing said with a raised eyebrow.

The two of them choked up at once. The Second Cousin said: “That’s one of General Huo’s good brothers. I’m telling you, you can mess with others, but don’t get too close to this person!”

“Why not?” Liu Zhenqing was puzzled.

The Second Cousin said coldly: “His name is Bai Su, courtesy name Yuzhou.”

Surname Bai…..could it be…..

In a few words, he found out that Bai Su was not only the son of the Grand Tutor, but was the number one scholar the previous year. However, he had not become an official.

Liu Zhenqing’s expression remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat. “Does Young Master Bai have an older brother?”

“You know?” The Third Cousin said in surprise.

Sure enough. He wondered if that person was well. Judging from the reactions of these two people, could it be that he was implicated and convicted because of him?

The Second Cousin admonished: “Hmph, it’s good that you know. “He did have an older brother, eight years older, named Bai Yu. But he’s been dead for nearly eight years.”

Liu Zhenqing’s pupils trembled. Eight years. Could it be that after his death…..

“He was the former right hand man of Liu Zhenqing, the traitorous prime minister. When Liu Zhenqing died, he was still working for him in the south. His Majesty started to collect criminal evidence and attack his cronies, and he originally wanted to make up for his mistakes with merit, but he was brutally tortured by Liu Zhenqing’s soldiers and burned alive on the river boat returning to the capital, leaving only his charred corpse to be buried.”

Liu Zhenqing’s heart trembled, and the color in his face gradually receded.

“So he is a victim, ah, and will definitely take his anger out on our family. Don’t bring trouble onto yourself.”

Liu Zhenqing’s chest felt a little tight. What his two cousins said was incorrect. If he was really angry with them, would he have helped him just now?

Viewing Bai Su from a distance, he was a gentle scholar with a pure, kind heart. Just like Er-gou, he hated him but would not blame the Liu family of the same clan.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t think of anything to say. Although he didn’t know how Bai Yu died, it was reasonable to say that it was because of him.

He didn’t expect that the person at his side would not have a good ending, and also didn’t know how the other one was doing nowadays.

This new information made Liu Zhenqing a little melancholy. Sure enough, he shouldn’t ask about the past. Since he had already died once, he should forget them all and stay far away. Apparently he still had to…..Liu Zhenqing’s gaze finally moved to Huo Fenglie.

. . . . . . .

“Cousin…..” Rong Shiming anxiously stepped forward to seek out the First Princess. Because of the previous incident in the gambling house, he knew that as long as Huo Fenglie was around, it would be difficult to punish Liu Zhenqing.

The First Princess waved her hand to signal him to be patient. Unless he had forgotten how his brother died, she didn’t actually believe that Huo Fenglie would do his utmost for the Liu family. This was just his way of returning a favor. 

If he had forgotten, then she would just remind him! It would be much easier to take action then.

. . . . . . .

With a bang, the Chunjun sword was placed on the table. Bai Su smiled at the sound. He was indeed a little angry. Seeing how he was showing some protectiveness just now, he had thought he was still indifferent, and that nothing could cause turmoil in his heart. After so many years, it was rare to meet someone who could make Huo Fenglie a bit more temperamental.

“If you’re angry, just ignore him,” Bai Su teased, pouring tea for Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie shook his head with a slight frown and said, “I’m not.”

Bai Su saw Huo Fenglie’s expression gradually smooth out and said in surprise: “You were only unhappy for a moment. If others had rumors like this spread about them, they would be angry.”

But Huo Fenglie really didn’t care anymore. There were so few things in the world that could cause his mood to change. After all, his body wouldn’t allow it, and he had seen such things before, so it wasn’t surprising.

Huo Fenglie’s expression was difficult to decipher for a moment. In the past, that man and his sister-in-law had played tricks on his elder brother together. Compared to that, today’s trick for self-protection was really nothing.

“I heard that he even ate your fish?” Bai Su poked fun at the interesting fact he had heard.

Huo Fenglie’s eyebrows twitched. He grabbed the teacup, and the liquid inside it shook.

Seeing that Huo Fenglie seemed to have something on his mind, Bai Su said: “You never attend such parties, so why stay? Is it because of Liu Xiaozhu?” It should be known that his good brother would rather sit in a daze under the tree at the manor than join in the fun. “Because you want to protect the last bloodline of the Liu family?”

Huo Fenglie lowered his head in thought and didn’t answer.

“It’s okay, just do what you want.”

“That’s not it,” Huo Fenglie said suddenly.

Bai Su was taken aback. “What?”

He didn’t want to protect the Liu family bloodline? Truly, he was not such a sentimental person. “Then why? His kindness to the twins?”

Huo Fenglie didn’t answer. It was clearly more than that.

Bai Su slowly sipped his tea. “I’ve felt it was strange from the beginning. Why did the Emperor apprehend the Eighth Princess for no reason? Isn’t this giving the First Princess no face? And even if someone was sent to apprehend the Eighth Princess, you wouldn’t be asked to come in person. Could it be that you knew he was going to run into trouble? You came here specially to help?”

Bai Su was very intelligent, and caught onto many clues at once.

Huo Fenglie hid nothing, saying directly: “The Emperor has just issued a mandate for the Jinyiwei and Dongchang to secretly investigate the Imperial Examinations. It is suspected that Qiming Academy and others are helping the candidates to cheat.”

Bai Su’s eyes instantly widened, and he couldn’t help but glance from Rong Shiming to the First Princess. 

“He Lan, Qin Yu, and I were both there at the time. The Emperor’s prejudgment of fraud is unprecedented, but…..” Huo Fenglie’s eyes darkened as he looked down at the teacup in his hand, watching the liquid inside fluctuate due to his unnatural leakage of internal energy. “But we had heard about it long before.”

Bai Su looked at Huo Fenglie in surprise.

“It was Liu Xiaozhu. He had just heard about the academy model created by Rong Shiming and made the same conjecture as His Majesty. The Emperor only started to become suspicious after a long investigation.”

Bai Su was surprised: “I couldn’t tell that he was so clever. I understand, you think he’s a talent, so you don’t want anything to happen to him.”

Huo Fenglie didn’t answer.

The Emperor was very intelligent, which was why he could control the affairs of the court at such a young age. There were many things that most people didn’t realize, but that the Emperor thought of first. He was extremely sensitive to potential crises, which stemmed from the teachings of a single man. There were few people in the world who were better than the Emperor in this regard.

…..Very few.

Huo Fenglie’s drooping eyelashes cast a shadow, and his increasingly abnormal eyes were faintly reflected in the shaking tea. Others wouldn’t notice, but Bai Su could see it clearly.

Bai Su was shocked. Huo Fenglie’s eyes were very strange at this time, just like when he went to the desert with the Huo army a few years ago and tried to draw the eyes of a lost person they met by chance when he went to draw the solitary desert vapor.

It was a hopeless endeavor. When the man saw that group of people, he knew that it was most likely a mirage, but couldn’t help but rush forward to find out. Even though he stumbled on the way and felt helpless, he didn’t dare stop, just because of the glimmer of hope hidden in the illusion.

But how was it possible? How could that kind of look appear on Huo Fenglie’s face? When Bai Su blinked and looked over, it seemed as if he had been mistaken again.

“Zhanyuan?” Bai Su sensed something strange.

“Do you believe that there is another world?” Huo Fenglie suddenly spoke in a deep voice.

Bai Su was astonished, and wondered how he could ask such a strange question. “The world after death?”

“There was once a man who was seriously injured. He had a fever and went into a coma. In order to comfort a crying child, he told the child a secret, saying that he would not die and that he was from another world. He came here after dying in that world, so if he died here, he would be resurrected.”

Huo Fenglie spoke in a tone so moderate that there were no fluctuations in his voice. However, his deep, dark eyes suddenly rose, and a dangerously sharp gaze shot into the distance through the gauze tent in front of the seat, firmly locked on one person.

---

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Chapter Nineteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-One

Wearing black and gray civil and military robes, that figure was extremely tall, handsome and unrestrained. His imposing manner was extraordinary, splitting open the bustling venue of the spring outing banquet like cold iron.

When Liu Zhenqing looked over, he happened to meet those bottomless eyes that were like black pools of water. Compared to the last time he saw him, his aura was a bit colder. Although very little of his emotions leaked out, Liu Zhenqing knew that he was unhappy.

It was different from last time. This time, even the thick-skinned Liu Zhenqing knew that it was too much. He didn’t know when Huo Fenglie had started to listen. Looking at the servants guarding the entrance in a daze, it should have been a long time. He had probably never been so speechless in his life.

Huo Fenglie walked toward the center of the venue where Liu Zhenqing was kneeling, followed by a group of Imperial guards.

The people around were so nervous that they didn’t dare to breathe. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but everyone felt that when Huo Fenglie entered the venue, the temperature of the entire place dropped a few degrees. The excitement of discovering new gossip was completely annihilated, and everyone was as quiet as quails.

Liu Zhenqing felt uneasy as he knelt there, and when Huo Fenglie stood still beside him, he was truly frightened by his next sentence: “Who did you say I like?”

But the Eighth Princess was the first to speak.

“You…..why did you bring the palace guards?” The Eighth Princess’s tone sounded a little guilty.

“May the princesses have peace and good health. By His Majesty’s orders, the Eighth Princess is invited to return to the palace.” Huo Fenglie’s tone was cold and firm, with a business-like attitude.

“General Huo, the Eighth Princess was invited by me. What are you doing?” The First Princess stood up with an unhappy look.

Huo Fenglie said: “The Eighth Princess has not received permission to leave the palace.”

“Zhanyuan-gege! The Eighth Princess couldn’t help but say coquettishly.

“Your Highness, please!”

She had actually sneaked out! Liu Zhenqing was secretly pleased. Fortunately, he would be safe once the Eighth Princess left. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the Eighth Princess say shyly: “It’s okay for me to leave. Zhanyuan-gege, tell me, is what he just said true? Do you treat me as…..?”

Liu Zhenqing sucked in a breath and immediately looked at Huo Fenglie.

“No!” Huo Fenglie decisively denied.

The originally blushing princess paled, and she was so angry that she asked directly: “Zhanyuan-gege! You really don’t like me?!”

“I’ve never liked you,” Huo Fenglie said with grim, merciless eyes.

This time, not only the Eighth Princess, but everyone including Liu Zhenqing took a sharp breath, as if they were standing on a minefield.

Liu Zhenqing in particular couldn’t help but widen his eyes. This kid’s emotional intelligence level was anyone’s guess, ah. Even the straight man Huo Feihan knew how to be polite when rejecting a girl.

Although Liu Zhenqing felt a little refreshed, the Eighth Princess had wanted to torture him before, and this damage value would definitely be transferred to…..

Sure enough, in the next second, he heard a biting howl, “How dare you lie to me!”

Liu Zhenqing knew he couldn’t salvage this, so he could only bite the bullet and say: “I was just guessing.”

“You guessed wrong,” Huo Fenglie’s voice sounded again.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie in astonishment. There was no need to try so hard to cause trouble.

And Huo Fenglie was also looking at him, a dangerous look in his eyes that clearly signaled his attitude.

He didn’t say on the spot that Liu Zhenqing was making things up, so the matter of spreading rumors to cause trouble was settled.

“Daring to play tricks on me, you’re seeking death! Someone come and pull out his tongue for me.” The Eighth Princess was so angry that she had lost her composure and was trembling all over. Naturally, there were loyal servants around her who immediately drew their swords and rushed forward.

Liu Zhenqing: …….

My life is over!

Liu Zhenqing tried to run, but his legs were numb from kneeling for so long.

At this moment, Huo Fenglie suddenly took a step forward and stood in front of Liu Zhenqing casually but firmly.

Liu Zhenqing was stunned, and those rushing over also stopped.

Who dared to take a step forward with the intimidating man standing in front of the other?

The Eighth Princess’s eyes practically popped out of her head. “Zhanyuan-gege, what do you mean? He mocked me like this and you want to protect him. What is your relationship with him!”

Huo Fenglie said straightforwardly: “He has not violated any laws, so lynching is not allowed.”

“He lied…..”

Liu Zhenqing quickly seized the opportunity. “It was a guess, not a lie!”

The Eighth Princess almost vomited blood, but also realized that dealing with him was clearly improper and unfavorable. If Huo Fenglie wasn’t here, nobody would have dared stop her, but he was here and protecting the villain.

Before the Eighth Princess could act up, he said, “The Eighth Princess will be sent back to the palace,” and this farce came to an end.

The guards immediately surrounded the Eighth Princess.

Facing the Imperial guards sent by the Emperor, the Eighth Princess was unable to resist, and the First Princess was even less likely to openly disobey the Emperor’s orders. She just said awkwardly: “Child, next time you come out, you must tell your Imperial brother, ah. Go back quickly, so as not to worry His Majesty.”

The Eighth Princess was so furious that she almost burst into tears.

The First Princess naturally knew what the Eighth Princess was thinking, and directly hinted: “Don’t worry, leave this to me.”

Even if a member of the royal family could not kill an Imperial merchant, it was still very easy to find a reason to injure or maim them.

This was said softly, but Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing in the middle could hear it.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. It seemed this matter was not over yet.

In the end, the Eighth Princess had no choice but to compromise. After sending Liu Zhenqing a vicious glare, she looked at Huo Fenglie with tears in her eyes.

“Zhanyuan-gege, please help me plead for leniency later, otherwise the Emperor will punish me.”

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, the Emperor will not punish you excessively. And…..I have no intention of entering the palace. This servant intends to stay and attend the spring outing banquet.” After Huo Fenglie finished speaking, he took out an invitation.

The First Princess and Eighth Princess were both shocked. Naturally, invitations were sent to all the young dignitaries. This was only polite, but for those who had official duties, especially Huo Fenglie, it was assumed that they would not participate.

And everyone had assumed that Huo Fenglie was here to escort the Eighth Princess back to the palace.

“General, you……” The First Princess didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“Zhanyuan-gege, you…..aren’t you here to pick me up?” the Eighth Princess said in disbelief.

“This servant was only ordered to send Imperial guards to find Your Highness,” Huo Fenglie said expressionlessly.

The Eighth Princess was aggrieved and astonished. She clearly knew that Huo Fenglie would not come to such a gathering, as she had tried and failed several times to invite him. But this time……suddenly, the Eighth Princess looked wide-eyed at Liu Zhenqing. “Zhanyuan-gege, are you doing it for……”

Liu Zhenqing, who was still lamenting his terrible fate, heard Er-gou’s response and was bewildered for a moment. He had just thought that he was looking for an excuse to escape the Eighth Princess’s entanglement. It wasn’t possible that he would stay because he was worried about Liu Zhenqing’s situation.

Eh…..it also didn’t seem impossible. Although he had just offended Huo Fenglie, on the surface, he had still been kind to the Huo family. Every drop of kindness to the Huo family should be repaid with spring water, so he would certainly not turn a blind eye to his crisis.

After thinking about it like this, Liu Zhenqing suddenly felt confident. Seeing the Eighth Princess glaring over, Liu Zhenqing was emboldened by his backing and put on an innocent expression, the fragrance of tea simply overflowing. This expression was more infuriating than any provocation, and the Eighth Princess was about to explode.

But with a look from Huo Fenglie, the guards ceased delaying and formed a wall, pushing the Eighth Princess to leave. If the First Princess hadn’t sent her old mother to persuade her, the Eighth Princess likely would have caused a stir.

When the others left, the First Princess continued to look at Huo Fenglie in disbelief.

“Your Highness doesn’t welcome me?” Huo Fenglie got straight to the point.

The First Princess scoffed coldly and said: “General Huo gives me face by being here. Be welcome.”

Huo Fenglie did not go to the seat arranged by the First Princess. “I am here with a friend. Your Highness need not make special arrangements.”

Having said this, he turned around and was about to walk in the direction of the young man in white, when his way was blocked seemingly on accident by Liu Zhenqing, who was kneeling on the ground.

Huo Fenglie stopped and glanced at the First Princess.

The First Princess wore an ugly expression. “Young Master Liu, why are you still kneeling?”

Hearing this, Huo Fenglie continued to walk forward, and Liu Zhenqing also stood up.

But he was a little weak, after all. He had been kneeling on the bluestone floor for a long while and could not stand firmly at all, and accidentally tilted in the direction Huo Fenglie was walking by.

Everyone was shocked to witness this scene. A weak willow falling in the wind, so shameless!

Liu Zhenqing sucked in a deep breath. What kind of dog-blood coincidence was this, ah!

---

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Chapter Eighteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty

When Bo Yueming returned to the bedroom after answering the phone, Pei Yi was sending the revised details of the script to the work group.

He picked up a water glass and tried to take a drink, only to realize that he had reached the bottom of the glass.

While his thoughts were frozen, Bo Yueming went ahead and took it. “Wait, I’ll pour it for you.”

Pei Yi gave up the empty glass without hesitation and said with a smile, “Er-ge, Qiao Dong has been talking to me these days and says he’s about to lose his job.”

Since Bo Yueming came to Haishi, he had practically taken over Qiao Dong’s daily tasks as an assistant.

From the scheduled morning wakeup call to three meals a day, from travel arrangements to the current water refill, every detail was taken care of. He was simply an all-around lover.

Bo Yueming handed the warm water back and said, “Isn’t me taking care of you a good thing?”

“Yes, ah.”

Pei Yi drank half a glass of water and joked, “You, the chairman of Bo Group, are too capable. I’m afraid I can’t afford your daily salary.”

“For you, it’s free.”

Bo Yueming took the remaining half glass of water from his hand and drank some unhesitatingly.

Pei Yi mentally calculated the time the other party had stayed in Haishi, and asked uncertainly, “Er-ge, is it really not busy at the group? Don’t delay your business for me.”

“It’s busy.”

Bo Yueming said honestly, “Kitten, I actually just received a call from Bo Jiao. The foreign partners will arrive in the capital the day after tomorrow for a personal inspection. I have to go back.”

“…….”

Pei Yi was stunned. He didn’t expect that his words would come true.

However, facing the outcome he had already prepared for, he quickly recovered his senses and said, “Okay, have you booked the flight ticket?”

Bo Group currently relied on Bo Yueming for support. It was already good that the other party could extend his stay with him from the original four or five days to half a month.

Bo Yueming added, “The other party’s flight will arrive in the morning the day after tomorrow, so I’ll take a flight back tomorrow night.”

He had originally planned to tell Pei Yi and then book the flight ticket.

“Book it for one or two in the afternoon so that you can still get dinner after returning to the capital.” Pei Yi advanced the time for Bo Yueming, something unclear and inexplicably sweet in his eyes. “Don’t compress your time for me. You need to take a break.”

Although the later flight would give them a few more hours together, it would be difficult for Bo Yueming to get enough sleep.

There was a smile in Bo Yueming’s eyes. “You really want me to leave tomorrow afternoon?”

Pei Yi suppressed his reluctance and tried to be brave. “Of course, it’s not like I won’t go back.”

Although the movie game’s launch time had been delayed a bit, if the filming could be completed by August, he could still return to the capital then.

Bo Yueming heard Pei Yi’s promise and said in a low voice, “Okay, let me call Lin Zhong to book a flight.”

“En, I’m going to take a shower first.” Pei Yi’s eyes flickered, and he added, “Open a bottle of wine?”

After his lover returned to the capital, he would have to curb his addiction to wine again.

Bo Yueming doted on him as always. “Okay.”

. . . . . . .

Forty minutes later, Pei Yi came out of the bathroom slowly.

Bo Yueming was sitting on the viewing sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Hearing footsteps, he immediately turned to look over.

Their eyes met mid-air, and smiles burst forth.

Bo Yueming asked, “Why did you take so long today?”

Pei Yi’s cheeks were a little red, and he seemed to be hot. “…..I took a bath.”

Bo Yueming patted the empty seat next to him and said, “Come here, the wine has aired out. I’ll pour it for you.”

Pei Yi quickly approached and sat down next to his lover.

The rotating decanter on the table turned slowly, and the diamond-shaped glass surface created an extremely beautiful halo under the lights.

The slightly cool red wine entered his stomach and the higher alcohol intensity surged up, making his whole body feel comfortable.

Pei Yi gazed at the cityscape in the distance. “This is the first time I’ve sat down and relaxed to look at the scenery. It’s really different from home.”

Bo Manor had some of the most luxurious buildings in the Imperial Capital, but there were only single-family villas within it, and it was impossible to see the lights and shadows of the busy city below.

Bo Yueming put an arm around his shoulder and said, “If you like such a high-rise, we can move out when we return to the capital.”

Both the Bo family and Bo Yueming had sufficient housing assets.

Pei Yi chuckled. “I can live wherever I like?”

Bo Yueming focused on him. “Of course. What do you think?”

“The place I want to live must be —” Pei Yi teased him, “A place where the front door sliding window shows a river or the sea, the back door sliding window shows a stream and rice fields, and there must also be fruit trees!”

“In other words, somewhere different scenery can be seen throughout the year. Can you find such a place?”

Bo Yueming thought for a couple of seconds and said, “As long as you want it, I can find it.”

Pei Yi drank the wine at the bottom of the glass in one gulp and revealed some of the truth. “Acutally, when I was a kid, I saw illustrations in a book like this and thought it would be a great home to have one day.”

When he was a child, Pei Yi had no idea about love, but he looked forward to having a family—

He would have a few free-range kittens and puppies, his family all around him, and enough to eat every day without going hungry.

Bo Yueming heard these words that were obviously different from “Pei Yi’s” identity as a young master, his arms tightened around him. “Pei Yi.”

Pei Yi was still staring at the night scenery in the distance, and replied casually, “En?”

Bo Yueming wanted to ask something, but remembering what he had promised, he could only suppress his impulse—

If his lover was not willing to confess his “secrets,” he would never be the one to ask.

Pei Yi didn’t notice his lover’s gaze for a moment, and slowly moved his eyes to his lover’s face.

“Er-ge, has the ticket been booked?”

“En,” Bo Yueming responded.

When Pei Yi heard this, he simply took the wine glass from the other’s hand and hid his shyness under his initiative. “Then we have to hurry up.”

Bo Yueming asked knowingly, “What?”

As if to embolden himself, Pei Yi drank the wine he had grabbed in one gulp. “Er-ge, I just told a small lie. I wasn’t taking a bath in the bathroom. Actually…..”

Before he could finish his words, Bo Yueming moved first.

“Wu!”

His fingertips sank into softness, stimulating a whimper, and his breathing even became hot.

Bo Yueming’s eyes unknowingly darkened. They were like the surface of the sea at night, hiding unknown turbulence and currents. “You don’t have to go to the set tomorrow?”

Pei Yi bit his lip lightly and leaned forward with some dissatisfaction. “I can rest tomorrow.”

In the past half month, in order for Bo Yueming to take care of his daily work, the two of them behaved intimately in private, but the frequency was very small and restrained.

Pei Yi knew that his lover was about to return to the capital the next day, and even though heat filled his neck and cheeks, he still took the initiative to touch him.

“Er-ge.”

“En?”

Bo Yueming’s voice was very deep.

Pei Yi pointedly teased, “The coat no longer smells like you. Give me some more.”

“……”

Bo Yueming narrowed his eyes and fiercely kissed the lips of the person in his arms.

The wine glass in Pei Yi’s hand fell to the floor and was completely covered by the bathrobe that went with it.

The night was saturated with intensity.

It wasn’t until a ray of light broke through the sky outside the window that the two of them embraced each other and slowly fell asleep.

. . . . . . . .

When Pei Yi woke up again, there was no one beside him in bed. The setting sun outside the window was burning brightly.

He suddenly sat up in bed, then collapsed back limply due to the excessive soreness in his back.

“Wu.”

Pei Yi frowned and frantically flipped through the phone screen with his fingertips.

The moment he saw the time clearly, a familiar figure appeared outside the room.

Bo Yueming approached. “You’re awake?”

Pei Yi stared blankly at his lover who was still at the hotel, his thoughts slowly turning. “Er-ge, you haven’t left yet?”

Didn’t he book a flight for one or two in the afternoon?

It was almost six in the evening.

Pei Yi’s voice was particularly hoarse due to the previous night’s indulgence.

Bo Yueming handed over the warm water that had been changed out several times at the bedside and said truthfully, “I asked Lin Zhong to book a flight at 10:50 tonight. There’s still enough time. I’ll have dinner with you before leaving.”

Pei Yi suddenly realized, “You didn’t change the time, ah?”

Bo Yueming straightened his messy hair. “I didn’t change it. I couldn’t bear to leave you, so I’ll leave as late as possible.”

Pei Yi’s heart was filled to the brim with love, and he whispered coquettishly, “I thought I overslept just now, and that you just left without waiting for me.”

Bo Yueming seemed to have remembered something, and teased, “There was a kitten mumbling in his sleep and asking me to wake him up before leaving. How could I leave without a word?”

Pei Yi gave a hum.

His eyes unconsciously wandered around the room, and he glanced at the floor-to-ceiling window as if he had a guilty conscience.

Bo Yueming saw this clearly. “Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with everything that needs to be dealt with.”

“……”

Pei Yi didn’t understand. “What are you talking about? What am I not getting?”

“Are you hungry? I asked the hotel to make a meal for two.” Bo Yueming smiled and changed his words. “I saw that you were sleeping deeply at noon, and you wouldn’t wake up no matter how loudly I called you.”

Pei Yi kept in mind Bo Yueming’s flight time that night and didn’t waste a single minute they could spend together. “I’m hungry. Er-ge, let’s eat.”

“Okay.”

. . . . . . .

Because he feared it wouldn’t be safe driving back and forth late at night, Bo Yueming didn’t let Pei Yi follow him to the airport. The two said a simple goodbye outside the hotel lobby.

Pei Yi watched the car’s tail lights disappear into the night and took a subtle deep breath.

Qiao Dong asked in a low voice, “Brother Yi, are you very reluctant to let Mr. Bo leave?”

Pei Yi refused to admit it. “No, we’re both grown men. Why should we be reluctant to part?”

Qiao Dong didn’t believe it. “Then why are your eyes red? Did you get dirt in them?”

“…….”

Pei Yi was disgraced by his own family’s assistant. He patted him on the head. “You employees should stay out of your boss’s affairs.”

Qiao Dong shrank his head in feigned fear, his eyes full of smiles. “Okay!”

Pei Yi suppressed his emotions and got back to the point. “Let’s go upstairs, we have to keep up with the rest of the filming.”

“En, all right.”

. . . . . . . 

The movie game involved three parts: arranging, shooting, and editing.

Pei Yi had completed his part of the work, leaving the rest to Director Kong Li and others to worry about.

And he only needed to cooperate with the crew to discuss and modify the shooting details.

Director Kong Li had a dedicated filming team, and the cooperation between them was very tacit. In addition, Weiyi had exclusively selected young actors who were sincere in their filming work—

The entire filming process went extremely smoothly, and only lasted forty days before being completed.

As the head of YWY Studios, Pei Yi took the initiative to handle the closing banquet at the hotel, allowing the actors and staff to have a good time.

When the banquet was coming to an end, Pei Yi found an excuse to invite Director Kong Li aside.

“Director Kong, I would like to toast you with this drink and thank you for your support and deduction to this project.”

“The first version of the script was leaked unexpectedly. If it hadn’t been for all your help, this project would have had eight or nine chances out of ten to fail. It’s all thanks to you.”

Pei Yi’s words were sincere, and Kong Li felt comfortable hearing them. “Mr. Yi is too humble. I admire your hard work and ability.”

The two toasted each other and drank half a glass of wine. Kong Li replied, “I hope we can continue to work together if there is an opportunity in the future.”

Pei Yi continued, “Director Kong, to be honest, I do have a game project that I would like to work with you on.”

He paused, then said lightly but firmly, “It would be an individual partnership between YWY Studios and your team.”

Kong Li heard something in his words and said, “Mr. Yi wants to cooperate with us without Weiyi?”

Pei Yi raised his glass and didn’t deny it. “Director Kong, you have more experience than me. I can’t stand up in front of you.”

“After an episode some time ago, I realized that YWY Studios is small, and Weiyi is a giant in the gaming industry. We have the desire, but we don’t have the strength.”

“Is it that Mr. Yi has the desire but not the strength, or that he has the strength but not the desire?”

Kong Li gently swirled the wine glass. She knew people clearly and had already come to understand Pei Yi’s abilities and ambitions during this period of time together.

It was not so much that YWY was unable to cooperate with a large company like Weiyi for a second time, but that Pei Yi had seen through the nature of Weiyi and didn’t want YWY to cooperate too deeply with it.

Pei Yi glimpsed something out of the corner of his eye and shrugged. “Director Kong, you’re a wise person.”

Kong Li liked to work alongside and talk to outspoken people like Pei Yi. “Talking about cooperation is easy. As long as your game script is creative enough, my team and I will schedule it in.”

“Naturally.” 

Pei Yi didn’t miss the hint in her words. “I will wait for Director Kong to accept.”

Kong Li laughed in spite of herself and could only raise her glass.

The two briefly negotiated a while longer, and it wasn’t until Pei Yi watched Kong Li return to the banquet hall that he turned and looked around the corner.

“Brother Gu, aren’t you tired of hiding, ah? Come out.”

“……”

Gu Jianshen walked around the corner and asked helplessly, “When did you notice me?”

He had originally just come out to use the restroom, but when he returned, he heard them talking about working together without Weiyi.

As Weiyi’s copyright department manager and Pei Yi’s personal friend, Gu Jianshen couldn’t move forward or retreat for a moment and could only stop at the corner.

Pei Yi looked him in the face and didn’t lie. “I discovered you earlier. It was difficult for you, being ‘forced’ to eavesdrop.”

Gu Jianshen couldn’t do anything about his straightforwardness. “You, you knew I was there and dared to extend an olive branch to Director Kong in private? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll report this matter to Weiyi’s senior management?”

“Why would I be afraid? Even if Director Kong and I work together, it’s a new project, and won’t harm Weiyi’s interests. I have a clear conscience. Besides…..”

Pei Yi lightly sized up Gu Jianshen’s expression, as if concocting something.

Gu Jianshen noticed his unusual meaning and asked, “Besides what?”

Pei Yi came closer and raised the remaining half glass of white wine. “Brother Gu, would you like to come to our YWY? I guarantee that the salary package will be better than Weiyi’s, and your rights and flexibility will also be higher.”

“I’ll leave all the studio’s external copyright matters to you.”

“…….”

Gu Jianshen was stunned for several seconds, unable to laugh or cry. “Are you serious?”

Pei Yi raised his eyebrows. “What? Do you feel that YWY isn’t better than Weiyi?”

Gu Jianshen shook his head. “No, of course I won’t look down on your company.”

With Pei Yi’s practical abilities and Bo Yueming’s dominating support at the charity dinner, who would dare to underestimate YWY Studios?

What’s more, since the mobile version of The Last Fog was launched two months ago, it had already reached the top of the list of major software stores. Ratings were as high as 94 percent, making it a well-deserved dark horse in the gaming industry!

“It’s just that I’ve reached where I am today because of Mr. Qu’s promotion.” Gu Jianshen looked at Pei Yi seriously as he told him the truth.

“Whether in work or daily life, you have to pay attention to friendship and face.”

He couldn’t just leave so casually and unkindly.

Pei Yi gave a slight nod, respecting the other party’s considerations.

However, from the perspective of a friend, he still analyzed the pros and cons and gave some advice, “Brother Gu, you should know Weiyi’s current situation better than I do.”

“There are factions among senior management. No matter how secure Qu Yi’s current position is, he is only the temporary executive director. Once he falls like Guo Guanghong did, what will the outcome be for you?”

What else could the outcome be?

He would become a victim of the struggle and be forced to resign.

Gu Jianshen remained silent, knowing that what Pei Yi spoke of was a real issue.

Pei Yi stopped where he should. “Brother Gu, I’m not forcing you to answer now. I’m just extending a sincere invitation to you, which will remain open long into the future.”

Gu Jianshen recognized the affirmation in the other’s tone and asked with a smile, “You’re so convinced that I’ll come to YWY Studios one day?”

“How should I say this?”

Pei Yi swirled his glass and said, “When I asked Pear Garden…..that is, Mr. Li, to cooperate with me, he rejected me.”

“We communicated with our art director Lou Yang online since she was overseas, and she also hesitated to consider it.”

“Also, when we first sent an invitation to our technical director Xiang Nansheng, he was a partner at the original Youming Studios.”

“But facts speak louder than words. They made their choices.”

Both The Last Fog and YWY Studios had been established by Pei Yi.

This was Gu Jianshen’s first time hearing about such behind-the-scenes events, and a hint of surprise flashed through his eyes.

Pei Yi caught Gu Jianshen’s gaze and further confessed his innermost thoughts, “I think that the prerequisite for working together is mutual appreciation and trust. Some people work together for profit, but others work together because of affection.”

Gu Jianshen nodded unconsciously, then heard Pei Yi say very firmly—

“Those of us at YWY will always retain this affection, and of course, I won’t let anyone lack in benefits.”

Gu Jianshen’s thoughts moved slightly, and he gave a heartfelt sigh. “Pei Yi.”

“En?”

“You have the charisma to make people want to work with you.”

Hearing this compliment, Pei Yi raised his wine glass in thanks and drank it all in one gulp. “Then it all depends on your future choice.”

. . . . . . . .

The closing banquet lasted until eleven o’clock.

Pei Yi had been restraining his drinking. When he returned to the hotel suite, other than some dizziness, he had still managed to retain his senses.

Pei Yi drank some water in one gulp and took the initiative to mention, “Qiao Dong, please book the flight tickets back to the capital for tomorrow. It would be best to land before six o’clock in the evening.”

When Qiao Dong heard Pei Yi’s plan, he asked uncertainly, “Brother Yi, we’re leaving tomorrow?”

According to the original plan, they would hand over the finishing work to Weiyi and not return until the day after next at the earliest.

Pei Yi rubbed his throbbing temples and said, “Yeah, I’m sure.”

As an assistant, Qiao Dong naturally went to work according to Pei Yi’s instructions.

He used his phone to search for suitable air tickets, and couldn’t help but ask probingly, “Brother Yi, you haven’t told Mr. Bo about returning early, have you?”

Pei Yi thought of his lover whom he hadn’t seen in over a month, and an unconcealable smile flashed across his face. “He doesn’t know. You keep it a secret for me, I want to give him a surprise.”

---

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Chapter Ninety-Six <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Eight

It was clear that the Eighth Princess wanted to torture Liu Zhenqing.

“I am unjustly accused, ah, Your Highness!” At once, Liu Zhenqing wailed melodiously, his voice of unjustness crying out like falling snow in summer. Those who didn’t know would think that someone was weeping blood and crying out against injustice in front of the magistrate’s office, which gave people goosebumps.

The Eighth Princess was offended by this sound, and shouted angrily, “What injustice?”

“Your Highness, you have really misunderstood. What this lowly one said was for you!”

Liu Zhenqing’s statement immediately confused everyone. The Eighth Princess was also confused. “What did you say? For me?”

Liu Zhenqing nodded with conviction. “Your Highness, after this lowly one lost his memory, he was quite confused about the fact that he liked General Huo. After hearing a lot of stories about General Huo’s heroic deeds and admiring him, this lowly one felt it strange. How could such a perfect man as General Huo not be married yet?”

These words immediately drew everyone’s attention, and even the Eighth Princess couldn’t help but ask herself, why is that?

“Later, I thought, how many outstanding people in the Great Zhou Dynasty could be worthy of him?”

The Eighth Princess’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

“After thinking about it carefully, I felt that General Huo must be the only one suitable for Your Highness, ah! This lowly one asked around for a while, and heard many romantic rumors about the general and Your Highness. They’ve known each other since childhood, ah, they’ve exchanged gifts, ah, they’re a matched hero and beauty. Doesn’t this mean that they are connected by the red string of fate? How could it be anyone else?”

Hearing this, the Eighth Princess immediately raised her head with pride.

“My original intention was to say that if everyone in the world wants to choose the best partner, it must be General Huo, but General Huo must also choose the best. That must be Your Highness, so I was speaking for the princess. If the princess wishes to marry, she should not marry anyone else but General Huo. This is a match made in heaven between a talent and a beauty. If the two didn’t match each other perfectly, then how could there be a golden couple in this world who can spread their wings together, ah!”

This passage immediately coaxed the Eighth Princess to the point of trembling. She loved to hear people say that she and General Huo were a couple.

The others were also successfully deceived. Even the young man in white looked at Liu Zhenqing in astonishment.

Rong Shiming took in this scene and immediately became anxious: “Liu Xiaozhu, you are just deceiving the princess. Do you think this flattery will save you? Your Highness, please don’t be fooled by this wretch’s sweet words!”

Without giving the Eighth Princess time to react, Liu Zhenqing said: “Everyone knows that I dined with General Huo afterward on that day.”

The Eighth Princess grew angry at once. It was because she heard about this incident that she wanted to quickly eliminate this love rival. After all, she had never heard of Huo Fenglie getting close to any of his admirers.

Others could no longer wrap their minds around this. After all, Liu Zhenqing mentioning this matter had reversed his good situation, which was simply an incomprehensible move, and they feared that this might make the princess’s punishment more severe.

Liu Zhenqing continued with a smile: “And I finally discovered why the general hasn’t married yet.”

This sudden clap of thunder shocked everyone present, and they immediately pricked up their ears.

The Eighth Princess quickly asked: “You know?!”

Liu Zhenqing said: “Although nothing was said about it at the dinner table, the conversation caused this lowly one to have a guess. I think that General Huo should like the princess.”

“What!” The Eighth Princess stood and asked excitedly.

The others listening to this gossip were already holding their breath. Dare they say that these words were too fantastical? The young man in white was also stunned. Was this man talking about his good brother?

But at this time, Liu Zhenqing seemed to be a veteran gossiper, and said in a very certain tone: “I believe this is the case. Princess, please listen to my analysis.”

“Speak, speak quickly!”

“General Huo is now twenty-six years old. If he had a person he likes, he would have married long ago, unless the person he likes is not someone whom he can marry easily!”

The Eighth Princess couldn’t wait for him to say that she could very easily take General Huo home! “This…..who in this world is he unable to marry?”

“Of course, he is a person who is extremely noble at heart. General Huo is reticent and reserved, but he also has the important duty of defending the country. The border was not stable before, and General Huo feared that rushing to the battlefield from time to time would delay Your Highness. What’s more, Your Highness is still young, so how dare he promise a lifetime! Your Highness, think about it, you are the only princess of this generation in the whole Great Zhou Dynasty, ah! Other than you, who could make him think twice, cherishing and hesitating?”

The Eighth Princess was dazed. It was…..like this? That was why he treated her coldly? But didn’t something seem to be wrong?

The others were even more confused. They seemed to have heard that only the princess was interested in the general, not that the general was interested in her……could it be that they couldn’t see beyond the surface?

“And if Your Highness thinks about it again, there are still the elders in the Huo family. Can they allow him to remain single like this? Why has there never been any news about them finding the general a wife? Is it that they know the general has someone he wishes to marry? If it was an ordinary woman, even if the general wanted to marry her later, why would the elders not find concubines for the general early on to let them spread leaves and branches as soon as possible? As far as I know, there is no one, male or female, in the general’s harem.”

Everyone: How the hell do you know?!

The young master in white: He actually knows!!

“Isn’t this because they also know that the general will marry the princess? As your consort, no one else can taint the general before he marries you, so even the elders do not dare to find someone else for the general! This is irrefutable proof!”

After Liu Zhenqing finished speaking, he let out a long sigh and appeared slightly sad. “Other than the general wanting to marry the princess, this lowly one really can’t think of any reason why the general has remained single until the advanced age of twenty-six without ever getting engaged. Thus, after that meal, I told the general that I was willing to give up. I originally planned to leave the capital yesterday, but ended up staying due to the First Princess’s invitation.”

There were exclamation marks over everyone’s heads. Could this be the truth?! Some couldn’t help but look to the young man in white for answers. Even the First Princess and Rong Shiming had to admit that this young man’s analysis made sense! Looking at the Eighth Princess again, her eyes were moist.

“No wonder it was no use for talented and beautiful women to express their interest in General Huo!”

“Right, ah, there are ministers who wanted to propose marriages to him, but he never responded.”

“I’ve never heard of the general liking anyone.”

“With a sister-in-law who is a medical fairy taking care of the house, there will be no problem of hidden diseases.”

“This seems to be the most likely possibility.”

“Right, ah, he’s already twenty-six!”

Everyone was chattering about it. The Eighth Princess was stunned for a while, and said with a stuffy nose: “But the outside world has been stabilized now, and he can’t delay his life-long events because of this. Why……”

Liu Zhenqing shook his head regretfully and said: “Your Highness, you have forgotten that General Huo has just returned from hunting down foreign spies, and then there was the assassination at the spring plowing festival. He was too busy. When I looked at the general’s face that day…..I guessed that it would not be long until the general proposed marriage.”

Everyone: You can read faces! This boast is a bit exaggerated.

But the Eighth Princess just ate it up, and blushed after being told this by Liu Zhenqing.

“Is everything you’ve said true?” The Eighth Princess was no longer as arrogant and domineering as before, but was only a young girl in love.

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “If he can even disregard Your Highness, who else can he look upon? Me? Impossible, ba. Therefore, General Huo must secretly like…..”

“Like who?”

Suddenly, a cold voice filled the air like invisible frost falling on everyone’s shoulders, stealing their breath for a moment.

Liu Zhenqing’s back stiffened, and the mood he had just brewed immediately dropped to the freezing point. He turned his head stiffly and looked at the person walking slowly from the entrance, his throat going dry.

Didn’t they say that he wouldn’t come?

---

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Chapter Seventeen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Nineteen

While His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was not doing his job properly as he accompanied his sweetheart to see villagers at the foot of the mountain, Gao Lin on the mountain opened Chi Teng’s mouth.

“Mu Zhe…..Mu Zhe is extremely cunning. He doesn’t trust anyone, including me.”

He confessed while only having a breath of life left.

Witchcraft was prevalent in the Southwest, and the Imperial court had always had an attitude of suppression toward it. The only difference was that their suppression was sometimes loose and sometimes tight, but even in the most relaxed moments, Gu masters still couldn’t walk openly in the streets. Mu Zhe was born in such a shady witchcraft village.

“That year, the Imperial court sent a massive military force to suppress it. The whole village was surrounded, and there were heavy casualties, but Mu Zhe escaped. He walked through the old forests of Cuili City, took a merchant ship in Beining City, and headed all the way to Nanyang, where he contacted Baifu cultists who were also in exile.”

He was good at making Gu, and good at using his words to manipulate people’s hearts. The speed of his congregation’s development was much faster than those of other disciples, and due to this, he was favored by the leader at the time and soon ascended to a high position.

“Mu Zhe hates the Imperial court deeply.”

But this kind of hatred was not shown like that of ordinary people, screaming and shouting about avenging their families and clansmen. Instead, it silently lingered inside the bones. He was like a venomous snake, slowly gnawing at Dayan’s foundation day after day in the border cities far away from the Emperor, or like a spot of mildew, infecting the originally blue sky inch by inch.

If Chi Ting’s confession was not exaggerated, the number of Baifu Sect disciples in the Southwest, and even in the whole of Dayan, was far more than the Imperial court had estimated. However, Chi Ting was also not clear about the specific extent. Over the years, his main tasks were to make money and train an “elite army”……he really worked hard, and considered the results to be excellent, believing that he could go North with the leader to capture the Empire at any time. Yet he was wiped out overnight by Liang Shu, which truly showed that there was indeed a lack of excellence.

The Baifu Sect’s forces were nothing compared to the Dayan army led by Liang Shu. Therefore, all cults throughout the ages were the same. They were not very strong, and their main repulsive method was to take control of innocent people through deceptive means.

Gao Lin asked: “Does Mu Zhe have a wife and children?”

Chi Teng shook his head: “No. Although he adopted the Wumeng brother and sister, he doesn’t treat them as his children. They are just two convenient tools.”

“That portrait, isn’t that his wife?”

“No.”

The woman in the portrait was named Ying Yuyan, and that was her appearance from thirty years ago. At that time, Mu Zhe was only eighteen years old, and had just returned from Nanyang to Dayan. Under the orders of the leader at that time, he went to the Qinling City area to develop the congregation there, but accidentally drew the notice of the Imperial court and was hunted down by officers and soldiers. Mu Zhu fled into a brothel in a panic, and was rescued by a prostitute. He hid for half a month in that Chunxiang Pavilion.

During this half month, perhaps something happened between them, but perhaps not. However, Mu Zhe fell in love with Ying Yuyan because of this. However, the atmosphere in the city was tense at that time, so he did not dare to stay longer. Ying Yuyan was also being sought after at that time, and the Madam said that she would not sell her even for a mountain of gold. Mu Zhe didn’t have enough money to redeem her, so he had to temporarily leave Qinling City, planning to return when he was able.

“But when he went back after a year, that prostitute was no longer in Qinling City. It was said that she redeemed herself.”

“Mu Zhe didn’t find her?”

“No, he searched for her, but didn’t find her up until thirteen years ago, when he brought back a fifteen-year-old boy with nearly the same appearance as the person in the painting. We all guessed that it must be Ying Yuyan’s son.”

“Feng Xiaojin?”

“It was him.”

Feng Xiaojin was very ill at the time, and all the doctors said that they should prepare for a funeral, but Mu Zhe insisted on using Gu to pull him back from the gates of Hell and saved his life, also keeping his fifteen or sixteen-year-old face. Over the years, his facial features never changed.

Chi Teng continued: “Mu Zhe also hired the best martial artists for him and gave him a unique and honorable status in the Baifu Sect, but Feng Xiaojin didn’t seem interested in any of it. Over the years, he became closer to the Wumeng brother and sister, and watched those two children grow up.”

Gao Lin asked again: “Is there any connection between the Baifu Sect and the case of the extermination of the Tan Manor family in Wangcheng?”

Chi Teng was unclear: “What Tan Manor? I don’t understand.”

“Never mind, let’s talk about the Ghost Boys.” Gao Lin held a long whip in his hand, knocking it against his palm again and again. “How many were raised in total?”

Chi Teng said: “Two thousand.”

Two thousand innocent children were frozen at the age that should have been the most worry-free. Thinking of such a thing, Ku You at the side wished that he could cut this group of people to pieces.

Chi Teng likely understood how appalling this atrocity was, so he hurriedly said: “I had nothing to do with these things, and I don’t know any Gu skills. It was all done by Mu Zhe.”

“Why were you in such a hurry to release the Ghost Boys?” Gao Lin continued to inquire. “You should have known that those children would not be the garrison’s opponents, and you actually picked a time when the prince was present.” If it was purely to nauseate Dayan, then the price was too high.

Panting heavily, Chi Teng replied: “Because…..Mu Zhe wanted to lure the garrison into the forest.”

. . . . . . .

On a mountain path full of stars and moon dew, Liang Shu held the reins with one hand and the Sleeping Immortal in his arms with the other, walking languidly toward the encampment with the sort of slowness that could trample ants. The next day, he would deal with many military affairs, but today was a rare day off for him, so he naturally wanted to extend this period of time.

“Wu…..” Shaken awake by him, Liu Xian’an twisted in dissatisfaction and almost knocked himself off the horse.

Liang Shu hugged him tightly: “Just rely on me behind you.”

“I won’t fall,” Liu Xian’an replied dazedly. “I can sleep without the prince.”

“But what will you do if you fall?”

“If I fall, then I fall.”

“…….”

The Sleeping Immortal always said “this is fine, that is fine” when facing various things. Even falling off a horse was fine, but only when faced with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang’s self-promotion did he often feel apprehensive, and find it not exactly fine — although he actually wanted to, thinking about the wetness enveloping his body in the dreams and the time when his arm was so sore in bed, he felt that it was fine to not do it for the time being. It was really too tiring, and it was quite comfortable like it was now. Plus, his elder brother was still there.

“What does it have to do with your elder brother? He doesn’t stay in the same room as us.”

“Don’t speak of it.”

Liang Shu wanted to speak. Not only to speak, but also to tease him, which caused the Sleeping Immortal to sigh again and again. Finally, he kicked the horse’s belly and ran back to camp.

“Your Highness.” An adjutant was waiting by the side of the road. “Lieutenant General Gao has finished interrogating Chi Teng.”

“How did it go?”

“It was a bountiful harvest.”

Since it was so bountiful, Liu Xian’an also read along. Flipping through the thick confession in his hand, he said: “Although Chi Teng knows nothing about the extermination of the Tan family, I still feel that our previous speculation is correct, and it happens to correspond with these past events.”

After Mu Zhe left Qinling City, Ying Yuyan met Tan Xiaozhong. The two had a child, and Ying Yuyan redeemed herself, but for some reason was unable to go to Wangcheng and join her lover. With a child in tow, she couldn’t live, so she had to marry that temperamental tofu man.

After Ying Yuyan died of illness, the eight-year-old Feng Xiaojin first killed the tofu man and then wandered outside for two years. Considered the adoptive son of the Dacang Mountain bandit leader, he stayed in the Southeast for four or five years, and after robbing the disaster relief money and food escorted by Tan Xiaozhong, the case of the Tan family’s extermination occurred.

“Feng Xiaojin had always refused to admit that he killed everyone in the Tan family.” Liu Xian’an mused, “Could it be that Mu Zhe did it? According to the degree of his obsession over Ying Yuyan, he must have hated Tan-daren to the bone.”

Liang Shu nodded: “It is possible. I have been investigating this old case all these years, and can recite Tan Xiaozhong’s records backwards and forwards. Twenty-nine years ago, the children of the Tan family did go to Qinling City to study.”

Liu Xian’an continued to read the confession, and said in surprise: “There is another tribe living in the deep forest?”

Gao Lin said: “In any case, that is what Chi Ting confessed. He also said that Mu Zhe released the Ghost Boys at this time in order to lure our army into the forest.”

Due to the heavy miasma, this dense forest had always been a warehouse for Mu Zhe to store valuable treasures. Although the garrison was close at hand, he was certain that this was definitely the safest place—and he was right. For more than ten years, the forest had been dead calm.

But three years ago, the treasures had been emptied overnight! On the west side of the dense forest was the meandering Dayan army, the east entrance was safe and sound, and there was boundless miasma on both the north and south sides. Logically speaking, this sort of thing never should have happened. How could gold and silver evaporate like dew? Mu Zhe was infuriated by this, and personally led people into the dense forest to search, finally finding traces of tribal life in the woodlands on the south side.

“They even fought each other for a short time. The opponent’s martial arts were extremely high. Not only did Mu Zhe fail to recover the lost property, but his arm was broken.”

Liu Xian’an said: “That is why Mu Zhe chose to release the Ghost Boys when the prince was here.” It was impossible for the garrison to ignore this sort of strange child Gu, and no one knew how many more were still hiding in the woods. If they wanted to completely eliminate them, the army would have to drive forward inch by inch, and the tribe would have nowhere to hide.

“Whether it is our loss or the other party’s loss, it is a good deal for Mu Zhe,” Gao Lin said. “In the end, those children were just an insignificant move for him.”

However, this move seemed to be for nothing at present.

At dusk, under the escort of the garrison, Chi Teng stood deep in the forest and blew the special jade whistle.

The sound of the whistle spread long and continuously, like a slight wind blowing through the forest, causing everything to rustle.

Liu Xian’an stood at the edge of camp, attentively listening to this mellow music.

Liu Xianche asked: “Is this how they train the Ghost Boys?”

“En,” Liu Xian’an said.

There was a faint shout as military orders were given in the distance!

Countless Ghost Boys jumped out from all directions, rushing in the direction of the whistle like a black stream.

Chi Teng paled and he shook like chaff, blowing intermittently and out of tune.

Gao Lin closed his eyes slightly, gritted his teeth, and commanded: “Kill!”

Swish, swish. Fiery arrows cut through the sky.

Screams mixed with the smell of burnt flesh, and the empty forest crackled and burned.

The rolling fireball was a scene that could only be beheld in hell.

Finally, a heavy rain enveloped the entire mountain.

After the rain stopped, the villagers at the foot of the mountain spontaneously sewed many small, colorful pieces of clothing and hung them on tree branches. When the wind blew, it looked like a group of light and lively little children were dancing there.

Chang Xiaoqiu gazed at the charred woodland and asked: “This place will be full of flowers in the future, right?”

A-Ning nodded with absolute certainty: “It definitely will.”

Chang Xiaoqiu was leaning against a tree with his sword in his arms and his eyebrows lowered. He looked like Liang Shu.

“En, that’s good.”

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Chapter Ninety-Seven << Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Nine