“…….”

Pei Yi saw Bo Yueming’s expression and felt a little cautious. 

Playing stupid for the first time and not being very skilled in this business, could he have accidentally frightened the other party with excessive force?

The servants didn’t expect to see such an excellent scene. They couldn’t help but whisper, and even sneaked out a few laughs.

Bo Guancheng, having been pushed to the ground, witness Pei Yi’s double-standard attitude and his accumulated dissatisfaction promptly erupted—

He had originally wanted to provoke Pei Yi to go crazy and resist, and take the opportunity to humiliate Bo Yueming, but the other party pushed him to the ground without warning and even loudly shunned him for being ugly?

If this matter was to be spread, where could he show his face in the Imperial Capital circle? Lifting a rock and smashing his own foot, what could be more anguishing than this?

Bo Guangcheng’s complexion changed again and again, with far more brilliant tones than a color palette.

Footsteps sounded one after another.

The Bo family and Pei Ruzhang, who were staying in the living room, approached together. Seeing that his eldest grandson had fallen to the ground, Old Mr. Bo immediately dismissed the servants watching. “What are you looking at? All of you, leave!”

“Guancheng, ah, are you all right? Stand up and have a look, are you hurt?”

As he spoke, he glanced at the ‘culprit’ with implied dissatisfaction.

The group of them had heard Pei Yi’s earth-shattering disgust from a long distance away.

He dared to put his most beloved eldest grandson on the spot in the Bo family’s territory? If not for the marriage cooperation between Bo and Pei, he would have someone throw Pei Yi, a fool who couldn’t tell good from bad, out the door!

How could Pei Yi fail to notice Old Mr. Pei’s look? He pretended to play dumb and deliberately hid behind Bo Yueming.

Bo Yueming noticed the slight movements of the people around him, and understood the general idea from the old man’s few words. A gleam of light flashed from the bottom of his seemingly ashen eyes.

He fumbled to put down the cup and stood to slightly shield Pei Yi. “Young Master Pei and Dage joked around on a whim. What could be the matter?”

“You have an eye—”

Old Mr. Bo’s dissatisfaction was on the verge of coming to light, but due to the presence of outsiders, he stopped in time.

Bo Yueming heard the implication and laughed inaudibly. “Grandpa is right to worry, it is better to ask the doctor to take a good look at Dage. In the case of a broken leg or other important parts, there will be one more person to recuperate at home.”

When these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the Bo family changed subtly.

Ever since Bo Yueming was injured in a car accident, Old Mr. Bo had forcibly withheld the business projects in his hands on the grounds of “recuperating from illness” and handed them over to the main branch family where Bo Guangcheng originated.

“Grandpa, don’t worry, I’m fine.” Bo Guancheng got up from the ground in advance.

He was gnashing his teeth in anger at Pei Yi, but he didn’t want anything to affect this carefully planned marriage, so he tried his best to maintain his usual genteel mask. 

“Director Pei, I think Pei Yi really likes Yueming. Just now, he was holding on and refusing to let go.”

One sentence brought the topic back to proper business.

Pei Ruzhang pretended to be surprised. “Really?”

Old Mr. Bo set up the sheet music of an elder and followed the trend. “Yueming, the marriage between the two families has been discussed. Starting from today. Little Young Master Pei will move in here.”

“You two adapt to it through contact, and when your eyes are fully recovered, pick a good day to get the certificate and marry.”

Everyone coordinated to say what was on their minds, these cunning old foxes.

Hearing Old Mr. Bo’s “forced” request, Pei Yi silently looked at Bo Yueming in front of him—

He thought that Bo Yueming would have a few more words of objection, but unexpectedly, he promptly agreed. “Since Grandpa and the elders have discussed it, let it be so.”

Hearing this, each scheming person smiled in unison.

“You two young people chat alone. Director Pei, come to the tea room for some tea?”

“Of course, I would love to.”

The group of people came and went, and the huge back garden became quiet again.

Pei Yi stared at the distant figures and silently complained in his heart—

It really is a business marriage that couldn’t be more perfunctory.

Once the cooperation agreement was signed, these two people had no use whatsoever.

Suddenly, Bo Yueming turned around and leaned closer. Pei Yi subconsciously tried to distance himself, but his waist bumped up against the small table behind him.

—Bang.

The bumped table made a bit of noise, and Pei Yi had taken half a step back when he could go no father. In front of him, Bo Yueming suddenly stopped, and his lowered eyes seemed to flicker. 

The two were so close that Pei Yi, who was half surrounded, seemed to be able to smell Bo Yueming’s scent. The faint aroma of ebony wood gave him an indescribable cold feeling, and that mixed-race face did not lose its brilliance due to the eye disease. Upon closer inspection, it was so handsome that one could forget how to breathe.

Pei Yi met Bo Yueming’s out-of-focus dark blue eyes, held his breath, and reached out a hand to shake it in front of his face.

Bo Yueming seemed to sense something and said, “Pei Yi.”

Caught, Pei Yi quickly withdrew his hand and gave an inaudible hum.

“Whether you understand or not—”

Bo Yueming paused for a moment, and there was stern resistance within his calmness. “The things you did and said just now are not allowed to appear in front of me again in the future.”

“……”

Pei Yi was taken aback for a moment, and then raised his eyebrows in understanding.

Sure enough, the villain of the original book could not just be bought off with a kiss or a confession.

The silence on both sides lasted only a moment, when a middle-aged man in his forties walked out of the standalone villa and quickly came before Bo Yueming. “Second Young Master.”

Bo Yueming could distinguish human voices. The other party was one of the housekeepers of the Bo family, and had been by his side to help with small matters since his childhood.

Bo Yueming took two steps back to distance himself from Pei Yi. “Uncle Kai, I left my cane just now, you accompany me to the study.”

Uncle Kai looked at Pei Yi uncertainly. “Then this Little Young Master Pei……”

Bo Yueming took a quick step. “Let’s go.”

There were surveillance cameras all around the manor, and servants passed by from time to time, so it was not easy to have an accident. 

Uncle Kai was still afraid that Bo Yueming, who had eye problems, would accidentally fall, so he hurriedly followed.

Standing there, Pei Yi waited until the two of them entered the house and then sat down on his own. He didn’t feel that he was being treated coldly at all. On the contrary, he fully understood Bo Yueming’s indifference—

A fool and a blind man.

This marriage was obviously a kind of humiliation. It would be strange if the other party was in a good mood at the moment.

. . . . . .

In the separate small villa.

Uncle Kai dismissed the servants and paced quickly toward the study’s French window. “Second Young Master, have you really decided to accept this marriage?”

Boo Yueming tapped on the windowsill. He was clearly facing the light, but his vision was still covered by a layer of fog. “The matter is certain. No matter how much I object, it’s just a waste of time.”

For wealthy and powerful families, marriage had always been one of the important means of mastering business resources and contacts.

If it was said that the Pei family wanted to rid themselves of the burden of Pei Yi in exchange for benefits, then besides humiliating Bo Yueming, the main line of the Bo family wanted to take the opportunity to cut off his path of retreat.

Rely on marriage to obtain support from in-laws? Come to seize family rights again in the future? Don’t even think about it.

Uncle Kai understood the main line’s calculations, and was distressed and angry. “Second Young Master, what should we do next?”

“There is no hurry at this moment. Let them think they have succeeded, and they will relax their guard against me.” Bo Yueming reached up and touched his eyes. “Uncle Kai, is everything arranged at the hospital?”

First and foremost was his eyes.

Uncle Kai lowered his voice. “It has been arranged. Only, it is said that your possibility of recovery is very low. Doctor Lin’s re-examination is scheduled for half a month later.”

“All right.”

Uncle Kai remembered Pei Yi left behind in the garden, and opened his mouth to ask his intentions. “What about the arrangements for Little Young Master Pei?”

Bo Yueming suddenly remembered something and requested, “Uncle Kai, you follow him back to the Pei residence later. Just say you’re helping with the luggage.”

Uncle Kai was taken aback. “Helping with luggage?”

Bo Yueming was vigilant. “Take this opportunity to investigate the real situation in the Pei residence. In the case that he is a spy that Bo Guancheng arranged for me, we must be on our guard.”

Although Bo Yueming couldn’t see presently, Pei Yi’s words and deeds in the garden just now gave him a nuanced feeling. 

Uncle Kai grasped this intuitively. “I understand.”

. . . . . .

The garden was shaded by greenery, and with the grass stirring in the wind, it wasn’t stuffy.

Pei Yi ignored Bo Yueming and drank the remaining half cup of coffee, taking a small untouched biscuit from the table to satisfy his hunger. As a knowledgeable book transmigrator, the reason why he didn’t resist this marriage was very simple —

The original owner was a fool, his ID card was kept by the elders of the Pei family, and he didn’t have the ability to make money independently. In this society where it was difficult to move without documents and money, it was almost impossible for Pei Yi to “escape” when he first arrived.

He wanted to stay away from all of these disputes, but not at present.

According to a brief description in the original book, the original owner seldom went out after entering the Bo residence. Although Bo Yueming ignored him, he never treated him harshly.

Pei Yi needed this sort of “being ignored” free life. He had to secretly use the cover of the Bo family to accumulate his own capital before finding the right time to leave.

Just as he was pondering, the figure of the housekeeper, Uncle Kai, reappeared in his vision.

In order not to reveal his secrets in front of outsiders, Pei Yi quickly adopted a very nervous expression and hid the half-eaten biscuit firmly behind him. “M-mine.”

Uncle Kai met his vigilant and well-behaved little eyes, and his tone softened a bit. “Don’t be afraid, Little Young Master. Eat as much as you want. I will follow you back to the Pei residence later, and we will come back after packing your luggage.”

Although he knew that Pei Yi was mentally unwhole, Uncle Kai still told him the reason they had thought up.

“…….”

Follow me back to the Pei residence?

Coincidentally, he was trying to deal with some old affairs on behalf of the original owner, and needed an outsider as a witness.

Pei Yi squeezed the biscuit tightly with his fingertips, and then nodded obediently. “Okay.”

. . . . . .

When the group returned to the Pei residence, it was just in time for dinner.

Old Father Pei, who was over eighty years old, was sitting at the head of the table. Deng Xiuya, who was beside him, saw her husband come home and got up to greet him. “Ruzhang, you’re finally back. How did the talks go?”

As she spoke, she noticed Uncle Kai’s unfamiliar face. “Who is this?”

“This is Gao Kai, one of the housekeepers of the Bo family.”

Pei Ruzhang took the initiative to introduce him, and by the way, gave Old Father Pei a veiled look. “Father, the affairs of the two families have been settled, and the senior housekeeper purposely followed Xiao Yi to pack his luggage.”

The marriage was settled?

Old Father Pei squinted his eyes and produced the etiquette of the family head. “Senior housekeeper, please sit down for a light meal?”

“Many thanks, Old Father Pei, for your kindness. However, Second Young Master Bo is busy back home, so I won’t delay any longer.” Uncle Kai was neither overbearing nor humble, and didn’t go around in circles with the Pei family either. “Where is the little young master’s bedroom? I can help him pack his luggage.”

“Senior housekeeper will personally pack for Xiao Yi?”

Old Father Pei set down his chopsticks unhurriedly and avoided staring at Uncle Kai.

At the same time, Pei Ruzhang glanced toward the corner of the second floor for a moment, then quickly winked at his wife.

Pei Yi, who was standing at the end, had a clear view of his family’s tricks, and couldn’t help but find it amusing—

For the sake of their own reputation, the Pei couple claimed to raise the original owner as their own son, and from time to time, would dress him up and bring him to parties to add credibility.

Now, if Uncle Kai saw the small, simple bedroom of the original owner, wouldn’t everything be revealed? It could be estimated that they were looking for a reason to decline.

Sure enough, Deng Xiuya opened her mouth and made up a reason, “Senior housekeeper, you don’t know, ah, our Xiao Yi’s mind is not very sound, and he always says there is a baby in his room. Even if we enter the room, he will go crazy and lose his temper.”

Uncle Kai’s probing eyes fell on Pei Yi’s face, and he also heard Deng Xiuya suggest—

“Xiao Yi is only willing to let Aunt Cheng, the nanny who looks after him, into the room. How about you sit down in the living room? I will ask Aunt Cheng to accompany him to pack.”

“Yes, ah, let me do it.”

The nanny had the ability to see what needed to be done, and quickly walked to Pei Yi’s side. “Little Young Master, let’s go upstairs to pack your things first, so as not to keep guests waiting.”

Pei Yi suppressed the coldness in his heart and nodded slowly.

The good show was still to come. There was no rush.

Master and servant went up to the second floor, and walked towards the small room at the end around the corner.

After confirming that the people downstairs would not notice any abnormalities, the false affection on the nanny’s face vanished immediately. “What does a fool like you have to pack? Day after day, you find troublesome things for me to do.”

She changed back to the impatient look she wore before going out, cursing softly, “It would be better if you had just drowned in the swimming pool back then!”

As soon as these words fell, the aura around Pei Yi became sharp, and he kicked the door open.

—Bang!

The sudden fit shocked the nanny in place, and she even bit her tongue with clattering teeth. “Hiss, ouch!”

Pei Yi gave the nanny a cold look, then walked straight into the bedroom and looked at the small bed.

At this moment, the blanket on the bed was empty. The jade pendant he had taken off before going out had long since disappeared.

---

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Chapter One <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Three

T/N: I decided it was time to pick up another modern-day novel, so here it is! 

Also, I’ll put a blanket warning here for all chapters: Disabilities, physical or mental, are not treated with due respect by the villains of this novel. They display everything from neglect to abuse toward the affected people, with a casual disregard for their feelings. That said, they all eventually get what is coming to them.

---

In a small bedroom with simple decorations, Pei Yi stared at himself in the mirror without saying a word.

Soon, there was an impatient cry from the door. “Little Young Master, what are you dawdling for? Mr. Pei is ready and waiting for you at the door! If you delay proper business, no one can save you!”

The silent Pei Yi finally moved.

He stretched out his thin, slender hand, and in a fit of anger, removed the jade pendant from around his neck, turned around, and threw it on the bed before walking toward the door.

Just as he approached, the unlocked door was roughly pushed open from outside, nearly hitting Pei Yi.

The middle-aged nanny standing at the door was obviously aware of the danger, but there was no apology on her face. “Oh, you’re finally willing to come out?”

“I say, you’re lucky to marry into the Bo family! A fool still knows how to be stubborn about this matter? So strange, ah…..”

Pei Yi stared at the nanny’s aloof face and narrowed his chilly eyes imperceptibly.

The nanny got carried away with her nattering, but the moment she looked up, she froze in place. Pei Yi couldn’t be bothered to give her another look, and walked quickly around.

The nanny stared at the departing Pei Yi, took an uncertain breath of air, and muttered —

Has this fool changed his nature?

Why was that look just now different than in the past? It was so scary!

However, when she saw the thin, long-sleeved clothing on Pei Yi’s body, the surprise in her heart turned to ridicule again. “What change in nature? It’s a hot day and he dresses like this. What a fool!”

With that said, she snuck into the bedroom.

. . . . . .

As soon as Pei Yi left the villa, a black car stopped at the door.

The rear window was rolled down, revealing a well-dressed middle-aged man. The other party looked at the tardy Pei Yi with dissatisfaction on his face. “What are you doing staring so stupidly? Hurry up and get in the car!”

Pei Yi sneered inwardly, but opened the rear door and slowly got inside.

The car started quickly.

The middle-aged man adopted a serious expression and warned Pei Yi, “When we get to the Bo residence later, you will follow me obediently. This marriage is not a bad thing for you or our family!”

“If you dare to go crazy and lose face for our Pei family, your grandfather and I will definitely not spare you!”

Pei Yi pretended not to hear, and turned his head to look out the window.

Seeing his indifferent appearance, the middle-aged man became angry and tongue-tied. “Your head is full of stupid things, you won’t understand even if you’re told.”

“…….”

There was a hint of absurdity in Pei Yi’s eyes, which disappeared in an instant.

Don’t understand?

He, who had transmigrated into this world after reading a book, understood better than anyone —

This was a dog-blood danmei novel named “Misplaced Kindness of a Rich Family.” It told the story of the protagonist, the young master of the Pei family, who relied on his personal strength to win the favor and pursuit of many rich and powerful families after his lot in life was exchanged mistakenly. In the end, he met his sweetheart and they galloped into the sunset together.

Of course, Young Master Pei, the protagonist in the book, was not referring to Pei Yi.

Although he shared the surname Pei, and he was also a young master of the Pei family, the original owner could be described as a “first-class cannon fodder” in the book. His father died young and his mother was absent.

When he was ten years old, the original owner was pushed into the swimming pool and drowned half to death. When he woke up again, he had become a mentally handicapped child. He was usually either isolated and mute or foolish and crazy. Over the years, he had long been reduced to a first-class laughingstock in the Imperial capital circle, and even the nanny who took care of him dared to trample him underfoot in secret.

The middle-aged man sitting next to him was the original owner’s uncle, Pei Ruzhang, the director of Pei Group.

In order to win the reputation of “treating his nephew kindly,” Pei Ruzhang always dressed the original owner up beautifully and elaborately at every banquet, taking him through the motions, but secretly treated the original owner like a dog—

He was locked in a small, prison-like bedroom all day long, given three meals per day. If he did something wrong, he would be overwhelmingly beaten and scolded.

Presently, it seemed that the original owner was twenty-two years old. Under the instigation and arrangement of the Bo family, he was treated as a pawn for commercial interests and was married to the second youngest of the Bo family, who was blinded in a car accident.

What was this dear uncle?

He was just a vicious wolf in human skin, eager to gnaw the original owner until there were no bones left!

Two days ago, when the original owner heard news of the marriage, he was stimulated somehow and ran behind Pei Villa to jump into the river.

It was likely this jump that allowed the transmigrated Pei Yi to occupy his body.

Pei Yi gazed at the passing scenery outside the car window and took this opportunity to quickly go through the contents of the book. There wasn’t much focus on the original owner in “Misplaced Kindness of a Rich Family,” but there was enough to piece together his tragic end —

After the business marriage between the Pei and Bo families, the second young master of the Bo family did not like the original owner, and mostly ignored him.

Later on, there was turmoil within the Bo family and the useless original owner was kicked out of the house. When the second young master of the Bo family reported the matter and found him, he had died tragically in the river with wounds all over his body, his corpse already swollen from the soaking.

He didn’t trick or provoke anyone, yet became a short-lived cannon fodder in this battle of the rich and powerful.

Pei Yi thought about this ending, and silently gave the plot an upturned middle finger in his heart.

There are no words.

The one with the biggest grievance is actually myself.

. . . . . .

The car soon drove into the Bo family manor.

Pei Ruzhang and Pei Yi, led by servants, entered the living room of the Bo residence.

Old Mr. Bo, the head of the family, nodded his head in greeting. “Mr. Pei, long time no see. My second grandson has eye problems now, so it is really inconvenient for him to go out and meet you. Thank you for making the trip.”

“Good sir, we are nearly family, so there is no need to speak politely.” Pei Ruzhang took the initiative to rope in the relationship between the two families. “This is my little nephew, Pei Yi.”

He changed his loathing for Pei Yi in the car to a pretense of harmony. “Although he is a bit foolish in the head, he has always been a well-behaved and sensible person.”

The implication to the Bo family was – he had already “obediently” agreed to this marriage.

“Look at the whole Imperial Capital circle, who doesn’t know that Director Pei is kind and soft-hearted? Hasn’t he been raising his nephew by his side like his own son? The young master must listen to you the most.”

“Ai, the good sir flatters me.” Pei Ruzhang listened comfortably, and casually directed Pei Yi, “Xiao Yi, come and say hello.”

“…….”

Say hello?

Give you face like in the past?

Pei Yi looked around at the people of the Bo family, his eyes drifting playfully. Okay, ah, then I’ll say hello in a different way.

With this thought, he grabbed the tea that the butler had just brought, and smashed it down hard.

— Crash!

The cup accurately hit Pei Ruzhang’s ankle. The splashed hot tea made him tremble, and the fake smile on his face abruptly froze.

This was not the end! Pei Yi smashed the cup, and did not forget to retreat in public to distance himself from Pei Ruzhang.

Intangible disdain was the deadliest.

Everyone in the Bo family exchanged glances, and they all noticed something strange—

He only asked him to say hello, yet was rejected and defied by his foolish nephew? Perhaps Pei Ruzhang’s treatment of Pei Yi was not very good behind closed doors?

“…….”

Call him crazy, and he’ll be crazy. Call him calm and he’ll be calm.

Pei Ruzhang held back his anger. He didn’t expect that his nephew, who was always easy to deal with, would actually refuse to give him face in public.

However, he had always called himself a “good uncle” on the outside, and Pei Yi was also a well-known fool, so he couldn’t be beaten or scolded for these two consecutive blows.

Old Man Bo witnessed this mess, and there was faint displeasure in his tone. “Director Pei, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Pei Ruzhang gritted his teeth and swallowed, forcing a smile. “Apologies, I’ve performed poorly.”

As soon as these words were said, an ordinary-looking and slightly younger man stood up. “It seems that Little Young Master Pei doesn’t like this boring setting. Grandpa, Director Pei, why don’t I take him to see Yueming first?”

The Bo Yueming mentioned by this man was Pei Yi’s marriage partner.

“That’s fine, just now the servants said that Yueming is sitting in the garden. Guancheng, you take Little Young Master Pei there.”

Pei Ruzhang quickly took the opportunity to divert the embarrassment. “Then I will trouble the young master to take my nephew there.”

This meeting, under the pretext of “marriage,” was actually to sign the next cooperation agreement between the two parties. The fewer irrelevant people, the better, let alone someone like Pei Yi, who would cause trouble.

Bo Guancheng received consent, and walked steadily to Pei Yi’s side. “Little Young Master, shall I take you outside to get some fresh air? There are much more fun things and delicious food in the garden.”

When Pei Yi heard this deliberate child-coaxing tone of voice, goosebumps rose all over.

However, he had come here today just to meet that Second Young Master Bo, and he didn’t intend to waste time putting on airs in front of these people, so he went with the flow and left.

The Bo Family Manor covered a large area. Aside from the main house, everyone else had their own villas and courtyards.

Pei Yi took advantage of his title as a “fool” to look left and right all the way, and used the opportunity to take careful note of the buildings in the manor.

Not long after, Bo Guancheng led him into an independent villa. As soon as he stepped through the gate, Pei Yi noticed the young man in the center of the garden.

The other party was of mixed race, fair and handsome. He was wearing a thin white shirt, and suit trousers wrapped around legs so long and straight that one could imagine his proud height even when he was sitting.

Seeming to hear footsteps, he turned his head slightly in Pei Yi’s direction.

Those dark blue eyes were a little gray, like mysterious sapphires wrapped in a fine veil. While unable to see, they also revealed an alienation that deterred strangers from approaching.

Pei Yi raised his eyebrows slightly. Without having to think about it, he identified the other party as Bo Yueming, the second young master of the Bo family.

Tsk.

This was worthy of being the villain gong who competed against the protagonist gong in the original book. Even when he was sitting quietly, he could still bewitch people without fail!

If the original owner, Pei Yi, was an insignificant cannon fodder in the original book, then the second young master of the Bo family was a crucial villain—

Leaving aside the complicated and bloody rich family background, Bo Yueming joined the family business after graduating from a top-ranked university, and in less than three years, he made his investment projects grow to a scale of nearly ten billion.

Wealth, looks, and power, all skill points were full!

Of course, every ‘villain’ would have an opportunity to blacken—

Two months ago, Bo Yueming, who was in the limelight, encountered a sudden car accident and was blind in both eyes after waking up.

According to the description in the book, under the calculations of the other brothers of the Bo family, he quickly lost his position as a highly praised young businessman and successor to the company. As soon as he fell into the mud, he suffered countless eyerolls and mocking words, and his temper and heart distorted bit by bit.

It was a pity that those rich and powerful families not only didn’t know that Bo Yueming’s eye affliction would heal, but he would still become the leader of the Bo family, taking revenge on those who had mocked him.

Bo Guancheng took two steps forward, breaking the silence. “Yueming, I knew you were hiding here. Grandpa asked me to bring Little Young Master Pei over to find you, so that you can have a look at each other.”

He glanced at Pei Yi, the corners of his mouth curling up. “The elders of the two families mean for the young master to come live here tonight. As for obtaining the certificate and the wedding, those can wait for another day.”

Bo Yueming took a calm sip of coffee, then glanced in the direction of the two of them. “Dage^[1] is joking. What do you think of me, a blind person? I can’t even take care of myself now, so I’ve made it hard on the family elders and given them trouble.”

“It is my mouth that said the wrong thing.”

Bo Guancheng apologized indifferently, and then spoke words of comfort, “Yueming, it’s only been less than three months. The doctor says there is still hope for your eyes, you can’t be discouraged.”

Bo Yueming lowered his eyelids slightly, casting a dark look into the cup. “I heard that the young master of the Pei family is mentally handicapped. If he doesn’t want to marry me, will the two families still force us to marry?”

The surrounding servants began to cast their eyes covertly.

Facing these two cousins who had begun to “fight in the ring,” Pei Yi understood better than anyone else—

On the surface, Bo Guancheng looked gentle and polite, but his actual words were filled with malicious intentions. On the other hand, Bo Yueming seemed to be in a weak position due to his eye disease, but could still sit there and respond correctly as before.

Who was higher and who was lower, didn’t the difference between them come out all at once?

“Yueming, you have always been bright. Marriage has nothing to do with whether you like it or not. If two families get along well, both will benefit and everyone will be happy.” Bo Guancheng twirled his watch triumphantly, hiding the needle in his words of silk. “Besides, how do you know Little Young Master Pei doesn’t like you?”

While speaking, Bo Guancheng thought of something and turned around to approach Pei Yi. He asked, “Little Young Master, the person in front of you is your marriage partner. You will move into the Bo residence to live with him in the future, how do you feel? Do you like him?”

He once made secret inquiries and found that Little Young Master Pei went crazy after learning about the marriage, crying not to be made to leave the Pei residence, and shouting that he didn’t want Second Young Master Bo.

Right now, whether they wanted to or not, the marriage of the two families was a certainty.

Bo Guangcheng wanted this fool, Pei Yi, to be stimulated a little more and have a frenzied fight in public, so that the servants of the entire Bo family and whole whole Beijing circle would know—

That the current second young master of the Bo family was a waste that even fools despised!

Bo Guancheng deliberately guided, “Don’t be afraid. Little Young Master Pei, take a closer look, do you like my cousin?”

“…….”

Bo Yueming sensed his sinister intentions, and there was faint ruthlessness in the depths of his seemingly ashen pupils.

Pei Yi naturally understood what kind of medicine was being sold in this gourd. He looked toward the fully provoked Bo Yueming, who was just his type, and inwardly confirmed a thought in his heart—

Before coming to the Bo family, Pei Yi had planned to go along with this marriage and stay in the Bo family. Now that he had reached this point, he felt that it was not good for him to continue to be a ‘reticent mute,” and it was time for him to ‘explode.”

How should a little fool express his likes and dislikes?

If you don’t like it, push it away, and if you like it, hold it in your hand.

Having made up his mind, Pei Yi had a sudden fit and gave it his all to push Bo Guancheng away, and also presented a loud and clear belittling that could be heard ten meters away, “Go away! You’re too ugly, I don’t like you!”

“…….”

The eyes of the surrounding servants widened.

But it wasn’t over yet. Pei Yi, who had pushed someone away, ran to Bo Yueming’s side—

And pressed a kiss to the corner of the man’s mouth!

After kissing, he still didn’t forget to reveal a shy and infatuated smiling expression, as if he had received some kind of enormous treasure.

“I like. Husband, let’s get married ~”

“……”

The hand holding Bo Yueming’s coffee shook, and there was a trace of astonishment at the surprise kiss in his cold, unseeing eyes. “What did you call me?”

---

[1] “Dage,” 大哥 can mean “elder brother,” and is also used as a term of address for a close friend of the same age or older. In this case, the two people involved are cousins. ⮐

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Table of Contents >> Chapter Two

Author: Nie Si 惗肆

Synopsis:

When he awoke, Pei Yi had transmigrated into the wealthy young master of the same name in a book.

The original owner was ten years old when he fell into the pool and nearly drowned. When he woke up again, he was a mentally impaired child and became the laughingstock of the entire Imperial Capital circle. 

The profit-oriented elders regarded him as a bargaining chip for business transactions, and followed the instigation and arrangements of the Bo family to make him marry the Second Young Master Bo, who was blinded in a car accident.

A fool and a blind man, this was obviously a humiliation.

It was a pity that others didn’t know that Second Young Master Bo was the most important villain in the book.

Not only would his eye disease be cured, but he would become the only person with authority in the Bo family.

As for the foolish original owner, after being kicked out of the Bo residence by the protagonist of the original book, he still couldn’t escape the fate of falling into the river and dying tragically.

. . .

Knowing the plot of the book he transmigrated into, Pei Yi met “his” nominal marriage partner, Bo Yueming, not long after—

With a golden figure and long legs, a god-given handsome face and a strong waist, the point was that the other party was still blind! He could do what he wanted without fear of being watched!

Very good, this marriage must be finalized!

While playing the role of a fool, Pei Yi used the cover of the Bo family to make a lot of money in private.

Taking advantage of “being cannon-fodder” in the original plot, Pei Yi earned enough savings and planned to leave the Bo family, but in the end, his way out was precisely blocked by Bo Yueming.

“Where are you going?”

Those eyes were no longer lifeless and gloomy, but full of unrelenting possessiveness.

“……Aren’t your eyes still blind?”

“I was pretending.”

“? ? ?”

. . .

The second young master of the Bo family had a secret that no one knew. In order to seize power and get revenge, after the car accident, he resorted to tricks and pretended to be ill in order to relax the vigilance of the enemies in his family.

For this reason, he would rather endure the words of others about this ridiculous marriage, but what he didn’t expect was that the foolish young master of the Pei family was also pretending—

When this person shouted, “I want to drink milk,” he turned around and poured the fine wine from his wine cabinet into his mouth.

When this person shouted, “Wear bear pajamas,” he would swing in front of him in his nightgown with long, bare legs showing.

When this person shouted, “Husband, protect me,” he turned his head and planned to beat the relative who had bullied him into the ground.

Bo Yueming never exposed the cute behavior of his partner, but just got along with him better and better one day after another, until a certain day—

Pei Yi said sweetly, “Goodnight, husband,” but in the next second, he swaggered out with his luggage and planned to run away.

Bo Yueming: Stop pretending, wife is trying to run away? 🙂

Tags: Humor, Wealthy Families, Cute Pets, Family Drama, Blind Character, Cunning Protagonist

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Chapter 1	Chapter 41	Chapter 81
Chapter 2	Chapter 42	Chapter 82
Chapter 3	Chapter 43	Chapter 83
Chapter 4	Chapter 44	Chapter 84
Chapter 5	Chapter 45	Chapter 85
Chapter 6	Chapter 46	Chapter 86
Chapter 7	Chapter 47	Chapter 87
Chapter 8	Chapter 48	Chapter 88
Chapter 9	Chapter 49	Chapter 89
Chapter 10	Chapter 50	Chapter 90
Chapter 11	Chapter 51	Chapter 91
Chapter 12	Chapter 52	Chapter 92
Chapter 13	Chapter 53	Chapter 93
Chapter 14	Chapter 54	Chapter 94
Chapter 15	Chapter 55	Chapter 95
Chapter 16	Chapter 56	Chapter 96
Chapter 17	Chapter 57	Chapter 97
Chapter 18	Chapter 58	Chapter 98
Chapter 19	Chapter 59	Chapter 99
Chapter 20	Chapter 60	Chapter 100
Chapter 21	Chapter 61	Chapter 101
Chapter 22	Chapter 62	Chapter 103
Chapter 23	Chapter 63	Chapter 104
Chapter 24	Chapter 64	Chapter 105
Chapter 25	Chapter 65	Chapter 106
Chapter 26	Chapter 66	Extra 1: Alternate World
Chapter 27	Chapter 67	Extra 2: Alternate World
Chapter 28	Chapter 68	Extra 3: Alternate World
Chapter 29	Chapter 69	Extra 4: Alternate World
Chapter 30	Chapter 70	Extra 5: Alternate World
Chapter 31	Chapter 71	Extra 6: Alternate World
Chapter 32	Chapter 72	Extra 7: Alternate World
Chapter 33	Chapter 73	Extra 8: Alternate World
Chapter 34	Chapter 74	Extra 9: Alternate World
Chapter 35	Chapter 75	Extra 10: Alternate World
Chapter 36	Chapter 76	Extra 11: Alternate World
Chapter 37	Chapter 77	Extra 12: Alternate World
Chapter 38	Chapter 78	Extra 13: Alternate World
Chapter 39	Chapter 79	Extra 14: Alternate World
Chapter 40	Chapter 80	Extra 15: Alternate World

Baihe City was not very large. It was not a highly-trafficked stronghold, but because Baihe Mountain Village was here, it was still very lively and prosperous. Merchants all over the country came here to do business  – the value of the shops was even higher than the land they were built on, and the degree of cultural blending in the splendid decorations was comparable to the capital city of Wangcheng.

It was almost time for dinner. The business in the restaurants was just right, and the teahouse storyteller was also preparing for a night show. The streets were bustling with people, and there was a large group of scholars sitting on a flower terrace and laughing with a group of singers, composing new songs and poems and guessing which one would be popular all over the city, becoming the new trend. The wine was hot and amber-bright.

Recently in Baihe City, similar scenes occurred every day, but this day was a little different when someone shouted: “Second Young Master Liu is here!”

“Ya!” The group of beautiful singers were the first to cheer. They tossed down their wine cups and stepped barefoot over the brocade veil on the ground, holding the railing with hands adorned with painted nails as they drunkenly leaned over to peer out. Other people also squeezed to the ralling, even a few big, burly men – they likely didn’t intend to appreciate the beauty of Dayan’s number one handsome man, and only wanted to join in on the fun. In any case, everyone was full and had nothing better to do.

Under the eyes of the crowd, Liu Xian’an entered the wine shop. The owner of the shop was quite business-minded. From the moment Second Young Master Liu stepped into the store, he knew that his chance to make a fortune had come! Thus, he immediately ordered the little workers to half-close the door, blocking all the curious eyes from outside. Concentrating on serving one person, he took out eighteen jugs of fine wine in one go.

The rich aroma rushed straight to the brain, and Liu Xian’an was already half drunk before drinking it. He tasted and selected carefully, and finally selected two kinds. One jug was as fierce as the scorching sun in the northwest, charging violently into the throat, while the other jug was slightly softer and sweeter. The boss quickly sealed them: “There is no need for Second Young Master Liu to take them away personally. I will send someone to Baihe Mountain Village straightaway.”

A-Ning asked in wonder: “Two small jugs of wine can be delivered to the door?”

The boss smiled and said: “I was going to deliver rice wine for medicinal use, so I happen to be going there.”

A-Ning no longer persisted, and after paying the money, he left with Liu Xian’an: “Young Master, shall we go home now?”

“No.”

“Ah?”

“Let’s stroll around more.”

Second Young Master Liu waved his jade fan, walking from east to west and north to south of the city with great interest.

A-Ning was stunned. He had already arrived in Baihe City and didn’t have to work hard to practice medicine anymore, so why was he so diligent? Shouldn’t he immediately turn back into the lazy young master who was too weary to walk to the front hall to eat?

But in fact, Liu Xian’an really didn’t feel tired. He wanted to see what Baihe City had become during these years his mind had been wandering, so that he could take His Royal Highness Xiao Wang around in the future as a host.

The sky was growing darker, and lights lit up one by one. The entire city became warmer and full of life. If you squinted your eyes, it looked like a river full of light and splintered gold.

Liu Xian’an slowly made a list in his mind, where to eat, where to appreciate scenery, and even outlined the circumstances of the two traveling together.

At the same time, the owner of the wine shop also ordered five carts full of wine to be pulled, squeaking all the way to Baihe Mountain Village – four of the carts were old rice wine, and the other held eighteen jugs of expensive fine wine. Although Second Young Master Liu only picked two jugs, one might as well buy two and get sixteen free.

People crowded around and asked: “These are the wines that Second Young Master Liu likes?”

The young man had received the boss’s orders, and replied eloquently: “Yes, ah, these eighteen jugs of wine were all tasted by Second Young Master Liu, and he paid for them on the spot.”

This was not a lie. He did taste them, and he did buy them. As for the ratio of tasting to buying, it could be appropriately ignored.

Everyone rushed to the wine shop to snap up the same kinds.

The new popular poems and songs in the city had not been decided, but the new popular wines in the city seemed to be a certainty.

The wine carts entered the gate of Baihe Mountain Village just in time for Master Liu to return from abroad. He looked at the last cart with its gaudy jars and asked with a frown: “Are these medicinal wines as well?”

The young man replied with a smile on his face: “No, Master Liu. This cart is all the wine that Second Young Master Liu of your noble home just ordered.”

Liu Fushu first asked his wife: “Xian’an is back?” Immediately afterward, he flew into a rage again. “He went out and made no other progress, and obtained an alcoholism problem! Where is he?”

Liu-furen: “……Still out.”

A flurry of adjectives immediately appeared in Master Liu’s mind, for example, idle layabout, cockfighting dog-raiser,^[1] hedonistic son of rich parents, unworthy descendant! As for Liu Xian’an, it was a coincidence that he came home drunk at this time – It couldn’t be helped, although he drank the wine more than half an hour ago, it went to his head slowly.

“Unfilial son!”

A-Ning’s eyes were sharp. Seeing that the Master was looking for a stick again, he hastily dragged his weak-legged and dizzy young master and ran away.

Liu Fushu: “You come back!”

Liu Xian’an quickly slipped into his waterside pavilion.

The entire village was full of chickens flying and dogs jumping,^[2] and the servants were all snickering.

But Liang Shu seemed to be in another world.

From Chixia City to Wanli City where the Wanli Escort Bureau was located, he followed the official road all the way. The group encountered two batches of refugees in succession. Although there were not many, according to their words, the impact of this year’s floods was truly not small. Even if the Imperial court allocated food to each person, resources were always tight, and everyone had to find their own ways to live.

“Is there any way to survive?” Cheng Suyue said, “Those who have relatives can seek refuge with them, and those who have no relatives can move to another place to make a living, but more than three to five cities have been impacted by the floods and thousands of miles of fertile fields are devastated. How far can people go with only their legs?”

Gao Lin sighed to himself. Everyone knew that the Imperial court had to take action in the end to divert the river completely. It was a big project, ah. If it was done in a prosperous age, the people would still have to shed a layer of skin. What’s more, Dayan had only just breathed a sigh of relief – but not complete relief. Eighty percent of the national treasury floor was not paved with silver.

“Your Highness!” The team marched outside Wanli City, and two guards from Xiao Wang Palace returned on horseback. They had been sent to the Wanli Escort Bureau previously in order to keep an eye on He Rao. They had thought it was an ordinary task, but in the end were forcibly shown an emotional drama that included both moral principles and conspiracy. The sight was so frightening that these young fellows didn’t even dare to get married in the future.

Liang Shu asked: “What is going on?”

“Answering Your Highness, on the first day we arrived in the city, it happened that He Rao had a tryst with the hall master of Hansong Hall.” The guard said, “They were discussing how to swallow the Wanli Escort Bureau step by step.”

Hansong Hall was considered a prestigious sect in the jianghu. The master of the hall was called Han Sanyan, and he was truly ugly. Hair would not grow in the places it should grow, and the places it should not grow were lush. The whole person looked like a round purple eggplant with only the head peeled off. Gao Lin had a toothache: “That He-furen is really not picky.”

It was honestly too easy to bring down an escort agency. Han Sanyan first prepared a batch of jewels that were said to be priceless and handed them over to the Wanli Escort Bureau for escort. According to regulations, if the goods were damaged, the customer must be compensated according to the price. Chang Wanli couldn’t afford so much money at this time, so Han Sanyan became entangled with a group of people who came to the door every day to shout, throwing the entire escort agency into disorder.

“Where is He Rao?”

“She has been blowing pillow wind,^[3] asking Chang Wanli to mortgage the escort agency to Hansong Hall,” the guard said. “Chang Wanli’s internal strength is not low, and we dared not get too close, so we didn’t hear very much.”

The guards who could follow Liang Shu were all first-class masters. If even they couldn’t get close, that was enough to prove that Chang Wanli’s martial arts could be ranked first among the central plains martial artists. This time, he was transporting a serious delivery, and he must have brought a lot of escorts along. Cheng Suyue was curious to know how he could still fall into the trap and lose his delivery in this way: “Were you there at that time? Who robbed him?”

“I’ve been following Chang Wanli, but the one who robbed him was a man in a mask. That man’s moves were very strange and wicked, and extremely fast. The mask fell off for a moment in the middle. His face was pale, and his eyes tilted up like a fox demon in a painting. He was about……sixteen or seventeen years old.”

Cheng Suyue marveled. Was it possible to have this level of skill at the age of sixteen or seventeen?

“What about after the robbery?”

“We lost the masked man, but the valuables were not taken away by him. Instead, Han Sanyan hid them in a dangerous cave.”

“Who hired the masked man?”

“He Rao. At the beginning, when she proposed the strategy of robbing the escorts, Han Sanyan said that it was not easy to rob Wanli. He Rao then said that she had an old friend who was extremely skilled, to the point that he could defeat Chang Wanli. This person happened to owe her a favor, and although the favor was not great enough to have him kill someone, it was enough for robbery.”

“Over and over, we can’t escape this escort lady.” Cheng Suyue asked, “Your Highness, what shall we do next?”

“There is no need to investigate secretly. Just take her to prison.” Liang Shu tightened the reins. “Where are those valuables hidden?”

“Not far from here, it is called Lingyun Peak.”

There were many mountains here, and Lingyun Peak was the highest of the high and the most perilous of them all. After considerable thought, Han Sanyan chose this place to hide the valuables. According to the guards, those people used dozens of wheelbarrows and went up and down dozens of times before everything could be transported to a cave on the cliff – unless Chang Wanli opened a psychic eye, even if he mobilized all the people in the jianghu, he might not be able to find the lost items.

Many disciples of Hansong Hall were guarding inside and outside the cave, and were presently yawning. There was truly no entertainment to be found on the mountain, and not even a sound to be heard. The birds fluttered their wings and flew away, and the emptiness was terrifyingly silent. They had nothing else to do except sleep.

“Ai, do you think a fox fairy or a succubus will come suddenly in the middle of the night and take turns having fun with us brothers?”

The others roared with laughter. They all joked, you’re not a scholar, why are you starting to learn from those pedantic bookworms with their red sleeves and perfume? As they spoke, the topic rushed wildly toward the path of obscenity, vividly depicting matters that went on between the legs. It was as if a few peerless demons would descend from the sky in the next moment, leaving princes and generals behind to love only them, who had no money, no power, and mediocre looks, and insist on marrying them. From then on, nephrite jade would be warm in their arms, and the great beauties would have babies and cook for them.

“Even if they are not so beautiful, ah,” some people tutted, “apricot eyes, cherry lips, smooth skin, and a good figure are just fine.”

Everyone laughed again, laughing and laughing, and suddenly there was thunder outside.

“See, the fox fairy is here, why don’t you hurry up and greet her?”

As this was said, a black shadow appeared at the entrance of the cave. The group’s smiles froze on their faces and they drew their swords out of their sheathes, standing up from the ground.

Liang Shu stepped out of the shadows slowly, his expression as cold as frost. Cheng Suyue followed behind him, gripping a sword in both hands: “I’ll give you two choices. One, you immediately pack up your things and scurry down the mountain. Two, you die.”

“Presumptuous!” Everyone gathered together vigilantly, staring at the unexpected guests who had suddenly appeared before them like ghosts. “Who are you!”

“I’ll count to three,” said Cheng Suyue. “One. Two. Three.”

Nobody moved.

Cheng Suyue took a step back: “It’s hard to persuade death-seeking ghosts. I have already said it patiently.”

“Grab them!” Someone among the Hansong Hall disciples ordered loudly.

Everyone raised their swords and rushed forward. Although they had been startled, they were not very frightened. With many against two, they wouldn’t lose…..would they?

They stared blankly at the blood splattered before them.

Liang Shu’s sword was half-unsheathed.

Cheng Suyue looked at the people lying all over the ground, and said to the other half who could still stand: “Want me to count again?”

“…..Spare us, s-s-s-spare our lives.” They were terrified. With one move, or half a move, dozens of people were killed silently and invisibly. He was really a demon, or maybe a ghost. In any case, he was definitely not an ordinary person, nor was he a compassionate immortal.

“Go down the mountain,” Cheng Suyue said. “Carry these things and follow me to the Wanli Escort Bureau to meet your Hall Master Han.”

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[1] ‘Cockfighting and raising dogs’ is an idiom that describes the pointless leisure activities of privileged children. ⮐

[2] “Chickens flying and dogs jumping” (鸡飞狗跳) refers to everything being in chaos/disarray. ⮐

[3] To “blow pillow wind” (吹枕头风), is to whisper ideas to one’s lover in bed. ⮐

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

With how big the carriage was, even if another bed was moved inside, it would probably fit. Liu Xian’an had never seen such a large carriage before, so he boarded it to take a look around. Old was old, but the old interior faintly revealed a sincere decoration technique of “trying to appear new.” It could be seen that Shi-daren had indeed done his best with the limited resources.

A-Ning walked over with the luggage in his arms: “What is Young Master smiling at?”

Liu Xian’an wasn’t smiling at anything. He just felt from this carriage that His Royal Highness Xiao Wang cherished their friendship. Then he thought of the poets’ descriptions of friendship. For example, “How many times can you laugh heartily in your life, when you first meet to drink wine, you must get drunk.”^[1]

Another example was, “When we meet, we drink happily in the same mood, and the horse is tied to the willow tree under the restaurant.”^[2] They were all beautiful and chivalrous scenes, so the regret of saying goodbye was diluted by poetry. Sitting in the soft carriage, he planned to carefully calculate and investigate where in Baihe City he could find good wine for a drunken reunion.

It would take a while to pack the carriage and horses, and Liu Xian’an was bored waiting, so he took A-Ning to visit Xiao Taohua. She had recovered very well and was sitting in the courtyard, basking in the sun and helping her mother tidy up some silk threads. When she saw Liu Xian’an come through the door, she was so happy that she dropped the basket and stood up: “Miracle Doctor Liu.”

The silk threads that Taohua’s mother had finally finished dying were in a mess again. She laughed and scolded the girl, then rushed to the kitchen to prepare tea and roast chicken, saying that it had just come out of the pot. The guards from Xiao Wang Palace also followed from afar. Seeing Taohua only leaning toward Liu Xian’an, smiling so hard that her round eyes turned into crescent moons, they couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. It was fortunate that Second Young Master Liu did not usually like to go out. Otherwise, if he got up diligently and rode a horse from east to west, it was likely that everyone from a four-year-old milk baby to a forty-year-old aunt would be unable to escape. There was no way out for other people.

But in fact, Taohua was not thinking about marrying a beautiful man, but was chatting about practicing medicine.

“You want to be a doctor in the future, that’s great, ah.” A-Ning said with a smile, “Baihe Medical Center has a branch in Chang’an City, and there will be a selection in three months. They are all children about the same age as you. If you sign up, you will have a chance to be selected, but studying medicine is very difficult.”

“I’m not afraid of hard work,” Taohua said. “I just want to cure diseases and save lives like Miracle Doctor Liu and Brother A-Ning.”

Liu Xian’an felt that he was actually not a doctor, let alone a Miracle Doctor, but he didn’t correct her, since he was lazy and couldn’t be bothered to explain. As for titles, they were vain, empty things. Humanity-Saving Miracle Doctor or Bloodthirsty Demon, it didn’t matter what people called him.

He didn’t know anything about the selection process of the Baihe Medical Center, and was even unaware until after A-Ning spoke just now that a process existed. This level of knowledge would certainly be of no assistance to Taohua, so it was all up to A-Ning. Thus, Second Young Master Liu began to wander off again. He took out a big, boundless piece of paper in the dreamland and planned to draw a castle of the same size and boundlessness so that he could give it to his Royal Highness Xiao Wang in the future.

Exhausting all of his unrestrained imagination, he made the first careful stroke. Following his movements, a continuous flow of golden bricks and clear jade tiles fell from the sky, fitting together like a seamless garment. The high dome blocked the passage of birds, a deep fragrance diffused across the land, and dragons dove and circled around the pillars. This gorgeous palace was built far away on the top of a mountain, and there was even a very big hot spring inside, like the boundless sea. If His Royal Highness Xiao Wang wanted to, he could even bathe with Kun and swim with Peng.^[3]

Liu Xian’an was quite satisfied with this prototype. He put his hands behind his back, but before he could take two steps, there was a bang in his ear!

“Miracle Doctor Liu!”

A-Ning quickly stood up and opened his arms to shield his young master. “Who are you!”

The Xiao Wang Palace guards also rushed over quickly.

“Miracle Doctor Liu!” The person who came was a woman in her twenties or thirties, holding a baby in her arms. She knelt down and cried, “Begging the miracle doctor to raise his hand high and give my brother and husband a way to survive!”

Liu Xian’an had just stepped back into the real world from the palace when he suddenly heard this sentence, and didn’t quite understand. He felt that his hand didn’t seem to be on the head of the other party’s family for him to “lift it high”, so he asked A-Ning to help him up first. 

Taohua moved a bench over for the woman. Seeing that Liu Xian’an seemed confused and ignorant, she explained in a low voice: “Her husband and brother were also treated on Dakan Mountain because of Gu poison. They are called Song Ma and Zhou Yuqian. But later, for some reason, they were sent down the mountain before they were cured by the soldiers and sent to prison. In the past two days, I heard that they were sent to a quarry for hard labor.”

Song Ma and Zhou Yuqian. A-Ning had an impression of these two names, and said to Liu Xian’an: “Young Master, that group is the group of smirking ruffians who followed us to the hot springs a while ago. I also wondered why those people disappeared and asked Brother Qiu, but he said he didn’t know.”

Liu Xian’an looked at the guards of Xiao Wang Palace.

A guard whispered: “It was the prince’s order.”

The woman continued to cry. She didn’t expect the government to release the men from the quarry, but she begged for the Gu worms to at least be taken out of them, otherwise they may not survive past three months.

The guard stepped forward and asked: “Does the young master want us to send him back to the government office first?”

Liu Xian’an stood up.

Seeing that he appeared to be leaving, the woman suddenly became anxious. Perhaps because of her despair, or perhaps because of anger, she shouted: “In the eyes of princes and miracle doctors, are the lives of the common people really as cheap as ants?”

Liu Xian’an didn’t look back. He only stepped past the threshold and said to A-Ning: “Take two disciples from Dakan Mountain and go to the quarry to fetch the Gu worms from those people.”

A-Ning made a sound of agreement and ran back to the government office to find people.

The guards of Xiao Wang Palace exchanged glances, unsure of Liu Xian’an’s mood at this time. But they figured that the doctor was always kind-hearted and could not bear to see bloody slaughter, so they took the initiative to excuse their prince: “On the battlefield, the life of a military doctor is equivalent to the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and everyone respects them very much. Second Young Master Liu is to Chixia City what a military doctor is to the Northwest Military Camp. Those people dared to mock and offend you. If they were in the army, they would have been dealt with by military law and would not have the chance to work in a quarry.”

“The sight of that woman was really pitiful.” Liu Xian’an walked slowly. “Since she begged me, I will help her. But now that I have saved her brother and husband, whether her future will be better or worse because of it is anyone’s guess. I think it will probably be the latter.”

A guard asked: “How so?”

“She has old scars on her face, hands, and neck.” Liu Xian’an said, “The colors are different shades, so she should have been beaten many times.”

The guard shook his head: “What is the point in saving such a man? The right thing to do would be to set off cannons in celebration.”

“Everyone’s wishes are different.” Liu Xian’an gazed at the white clouds in the sky. “She thinks this is best, so it is her version of the best. Some silver should be sent to the orphan and widow.”

The guard took out a piece of silver and tossed it over to Taohua’s mother and beckoned for her to hand it to the woman.

Liu Xian’an hurriedly said: “I meant that I’ll have A-Ning deliver it later.”

“Second Young Master Liu, there is no need for politeness.” The guard said, “The prince has ordered that whatever the young master needs on the journey, the prince’s Xiao Wang Palace will settle the bill.”

Liu Xian’an: “……That’s also fine.”

In the afternoon, Shi Hanhai personally sent them out of the city.

Due to the large size of the carriage, they could not take the mountain road and could only travel on the official road, which included some detours. Second Young Master Liu didn’t care about such things. In the end, he could lie down at home or lie down in the carriage. Although the latter was indeed more laborious and prone to causing backaches, there was fortunately no father with a stick scolding people now and then. Comparing the two, a backache was better than a beating.

Wrapped in a blanket, he turned over comfortably and continued to sleep.

He slept for the whole journey, all the way back to Baihe City.

Everything in the village was as before. Liu Fushu had taken First Young Master Liu to practice medicine elsewhere, and no other cousins were at home either. Only Liu-furen and Liu Nanyuan greeted him beamingly and dragged him over to have a look. Good, he wasn’t thin and his body seemed to be stronger.

Liu-furen glanced around: “Where are the people who escorted you back? Why didn’t you ask them to take a rest?”

A-Ning had offered at least three times, but they still said that they needed to rush to join up with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang without a moment’s delay, so they unloaded the luggage and left in a hurry.

“It doesn’t matter.” Liu Xian’an stretched his waist and walked to his small waterside pavilion. “When the prince finishes dealing with the trouble at hand, he will come to Baihe Mountain Village again. It won’t be too late to invite them to drink and rest at that time.”

“Wait a second!” Liu Nanyuan grabbed him. “Didn’t you say that the prince doesn’t want to marry me? Why would he still come here?”

“Not to marry you.” Liu Xian’an pulled his sleeve back from his younger sister’s hand and patted her on the head with a secretive expression on his face.

Liu Nanyuan looked at his calmly retreating back, then turned her head and said to her mother: “Has my ge been bewitched?”

Liu-furen: “……A-Ning!”

The servant who was about to rub the soles of his feet with oil had no choice but to stand up straight: “Ai!”

He stood on the spot and followed Liu Xian’an’s instructions, telling of all the things that had happened during the trip. It was actually fine, they just went down to Chixia City with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. There happened to be a Gu disaster there, so the young master dispatched more than a hundred disciples from the medical hall in Chang’an City to treat the illness, and it vanished.

Liu-furen complained: “Who asked you about the Gu, I’m asking why the prince suddenly called off the marriage with A-Yuan. How did Xian’an persuade him?”

“It didn’t take much persuasion,” A-Ning said. “The young master said that there must be many beautiful girls in Wangcheng, and that our Third Young Lady has a lively personality. The prince doesn’t like too much noise. He refused the marriage of the Fei country’s princess because he thought the other party was too noisy.”

“Okay, that’s good.” Liu-furen was relieved, and let the boy go. 

A-Ning ran all the way back to the waterside pavilion and saw that his young master was lying in bed again, so he shook him awake: “I said it just like we discussed.”

Liu Xian’an yawned: “Very good.”

The boy sat on the ground beside him: “But there is one thing I don’t understand, Young Master. Why didn’t you say that you also cured many people, and even discovered the poison? The Master, the Madam, and the First Young Master would be very happy if they knew the truth.”

“Because it’s troublesome.” Liu Xian’an narrowed his eyes and said, “It would require explaining a lot of things that they might not be able to understand, so it would be very tiring to answer all their questions.”

A-Ning propped up his cheeks and sighed: “Fine, ba, but I still feel it’s a pity.”

Liu Xian’an did not feel that it was a pity. He got up from his slump: “Let’s go.”

“Go?” A-Ning was puzzled. “We just came back, where are we going?”

Liu Xian’an picked up a jade fan on the table, opened it with a snap, and said in high spirits: “We’re going to get some good wine.”

---

[1] This is part of a poem by Cen Shen of the Tang dynasty. ⮐

[2] This is taken from “Four Poems for the Youth” by Wang Wei of the Tang dynasty. ⮐

[3] Peng (鹏) is a legendary bird. ⮐

---

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

Ever since he became Zhao Yelan, he had no habit of celebrating birthdays. The only person who knew his birthday was Zhao Xuan, but the other party was busy pursuing a great cause, so how could he have time to celebrate the birthdays of his staff members? It was thoughtful enough to send some small things once in a while.

In addition, he didn’t think about celebrating his birthday at all. Birthdays were to be spent with family, and he was alone, so he just wanted to keep himself busy on this day.

But this year was different from previous years. He wanted to tell Yan Mingting what day it was today. He didn’t need rare and expensive gifts or a grand occasion. He just wanted to have a meal with his family as he had done when he was young, and hear a few words of blessing with his own ears.

Unexpectedly, Yan Mingting had already noted this in advance. He thought about the bowl of noodles just now. No wonder he was asked to eat some at such a late hour, and everyone’s eyes were full of anticipation…..

Just as he was lost in thought, a ball of snow hit him again.

He reacted and glanced at Li Yucheng, who was giggling and showing off his mightiness. Zhao Yelan took the snowball from Yan Mingting’s hand and threw it at Li Yucheng.

“Hey, hey, you can’t hit me, you can’t hit me!” Li Yucheng quickly moved away and dug up a large handful of snow, turning to look at the others. “What are you all doing in a daze, why don’t you hurry up and attack together?”

The status of the other people was lower, after all, so they dared not keep throwing. Unexpectedly, Zhao Yelan missed and hit Yin Pinglu. She smiled and hid beside Zuo Ran, who also smiled and threw a snowball at Zhao Yelan.

Seeing that it was about to hit Zhao Yelan in the face, a fist suddenly stretched out from the side and scattered the snowball to land in front of him in fluttering pieces.

“Take note of how I do it.” After Yan Mingting spoke, he picked up a snowball and looked around with a smile on his face. Everyone was frightened into running away, looking for opportunities to fight back as they fled.

Yan Mingting and Zhao Yelan gave pointers, and then everyone else gave pointers.

Housekeeper Qin was passing by with Xiao Gao. Seeing the people in the courtyard jumping up and down and making a mess with snowflakes flying everywhere, he couldn’t see the movements of these people at all, and only felt that his old eyes were blurry.

Xiao Gao was excited to see this, and flew in to join them. He Cuizhang’s team added another strong general, and everyone besieged Yan Mingting together, which gave Zhao Yelan the opportunity to throw snowballs from the side. It turned into a scuffle. Nobody could see each other at all, and just targeted people at random.

“Ah! Zhao Yelan, you smashed Yan Mingting hahaha!” Li Yucheng laughed until he was rolling on the ground.

Zhao Yelan was taken aback and stopped to take a closer look. The person standing in front of him was indeed Yan Minting. He stepped forward and wiped the snow off Yan Mingting’s face, then burst out laughing. The others also laughed out loud one after another.

At last, the group of people were tired from their playing and didn’t want to move anymore, so they lay down in the snow without a care.

Zhao Yelan was panting as he looked up at the sky. His eyes were completely relaxed, and his mind and body were both very happy.

At this time, Yan Mingting held his hand and brought it to his mouth, breathing onto it and holding it in both hands. He asked, “Is it cold?”

“It’s not cold.” Zhao Yelan said, “You made me play in the snow, and now you ask me if it’s cold?”

“Snow is for playing. It’s good to move your body around, you can’t stay still.” After Yan Mingting spoke, he pulled him up and patted the snow from his body. “But you must not catch a cold. Go change your clothes first.”

“Did you all often have snowball fights?” Zhao Yelan was led by him back to the bedroom.

“Not often. It rarely snows at the border. There is only a strong wind that can crack your face open.” Yan Mingting unbuttoned his cloak and poured a basin of hot water for him to soak his hands. They were already completely red from the snow, and he couldn’t help but feel a little worried. “You probably won’t catch a cold, right?”

“It’s fine.” Zhao Yelan comforted him, “Even if I catch a cold this time, I’m willing.”

“You’re not allowed to talk nonsense, how inauspicious.”

Zhao Yelan smiled and gazed down at his hands soaking in the hot water, fiddling with the water again and again: “How do you know what today is?”

“Don’t be angry.”

“Did you investigate?”

Yan Mingting nodded guiltily. “Yes, after you said those things, I went to investigate the matter of Zhao Mengting myself, but I only looked for the birth date.”

“It’s all right, if you want to investigate other things, you can.” Zhao Yelan gave a light smile. When he heard the noise outside, he asked, “You told them too?”

“En, I asked them over to discuss your birthday, and they even prepared gifts for you.” Yan Mingting said furtively, “What do you think? Are you looking forward to it?”

“I can probably guess what they’ll give me.” Zhao Yelan paused, and suddenly smiled. “But there are still some expectations.”

Yan Mingting patted him on the shoulder with a grin: “Yes, ah, Zhao-daren, you are much more honest than before.”

After Zhao Yelan changed his clothes, the two went back to the front hall. The group of people were cooking around the charcoal brazier. The food was ready, and the servants began to serve it.

Everyone sat down together, and one or two couldn’t help it anymore and wanted to present the gifts.

“I started the fire to boil water for your bowl of noodles in the morning,” Li Yucheng said gallantly.

“You?” Zhao Yelan hadn’t expected this, and couldn’t help revealing a surprised expression.

“And me, I put in the seasonings!” He Cuizhang said.

Zuo Ran: “I did the noodles, and chopped the green onions.”

Xiao Gao also interjected: “I did the dishes.”

Zhao Yelan’s face was calm and unruffled, but his heart was like a calm sea without waves until it was lightly stirred up by them, causing layers of ripples to spread out.

He looked at Yan Mingting, pretending to be calm: “What about you?”

“I was in charge of calling them to work and supervising them, ah,” Yan Mingting said confidently.

“Look at how lazy he is, why don’t you kick him out and be with me, ba,” Li Yucheng joked.

“Eat your meal.” Yan Mingting pressed his head into the bowl.

Zhao Yelan couldn’t help but laugh. He knew that Yan Mingting wasn’t lazy. Lazy people wouldn’t just go to the kitchen and make stuffed steamed buns, even though they hadn’t been successful yet. Yan Mingting gave up such a good performance opportunity to others, likely to let him know that he still had a group of friends.

Friends. He had never had them before.

He didn’t even dare to say that he was Zhao Xuan’s friend. The relationship between two people who helped each other and took advantage of each other could not be considered sincere.

Kan Chuan and Gu Niaoniao were people he was able to let down his guard around, but because of their identities, they couldn’t communicate in public.

Contrary to expectations, after entering the General’s Mansion, he first met a group of simple-minded but passionate lieutenants. Then he was inexplicably regarded as a friend by Li Yucheng, and also became acquainted with two girls with very different personalities. Everyone had different identities, but they could sit at the same table now and celebrate his birthday together. This scene was something he had never imagined.

“Thank you, the noodles this morning were delicious,” Zhao Yelan said sincerely.

Li Yucheng patted the table: “I just said that I boiled the water well! This young master had never even entered his own kitchen!”

“Obviously I put in the seasoning well!” He Cuizhang said, “The seasoning is the soul!”

“If it weren’t for me and Pinglu, could the noodles be so soft but firm?” Zuo Ran said, unconvinced.

Xiao Gao: “I’m……I’m good at washing dishes!”

Zhao Yelan lowered his head and smiled. He turned his head and found that Yan Mingting was watching him with a smile. He quietly stretched out his hand, and the two held hands under the table.

“I say, why don’t you eat first,” Housekeeper Qin said. “It is cold out, and the dishes will cool down quickly.”

“Uncle Qin, don’t be so busy, sit down and eat with Xiao Gao,” Yan Mingting said.

“Ah? I can too?”

“You can.” Zhao Yelan nodded.

“Aiyo, then I won’t be polite.” Housekeeper Qin sat down with a smile on his face.

There was a large table of good dishes, all of them Zhao Yelan’s favorite foods. Today, no one said that he was extravagant or wasteful, and they kept adding vegetables to his bowl as if they were afraid he would not be full.

Li Yucheng finished eating quickly, and then began to present gifts in a serious manner. He took out a sachet and ten ingots of gold, blinding everyone’s eyes.

“I made this sachet according to the recipe my sister used before, and there are more than a dozen kinds of spices in it. As for the gold, I know you promised before that as long as I persuaded my uncle to help with the disaster, I would be free of debt. But both my father and I feel that we should return it to you. A real man is willing to gamble and admit defeat, and it should be taken as a lesson. In any case, I really have quit gambling since then. This is not enough to pay you back. I will pay back the rest when I earn some money in the future. Moreover, our joint shop with the Jiangnan merchants has already opened, and the business has been really good recently. I’ll be able to pay it off soon!” Li Yucheng said.

He Cuizhang took out a short, sharp blade. According to Zhao Yelan’s preferences, three gemstones that had been rewarded by the Emperor were specially inlaid into it. He said: “Although mine is not as satisfactory as the crossbow made by Zhong Yuehong, it can still be used somewhat. Alas, it is mainly because I can’t do anything else.”

Zuo Ran and Yin Pinglu were not as wealthy as the rest, so they could only do some manual work. They had sewn two small dolls with needle and thread. At first glance, they looked like Zhao Yelan and Yan Mingting. Yan Mingting liked them very much, and hugged them fondly after taking them.

“Thank you all.” Zhao Yelan accepted these things, and although he guessed what they would give, there were still some surprises. For example, he didn’t expect that Li Yucheng would give gold, or that He Cuizhang would specially set gems into the knife…..

Wait, was it possible that his love for money was so deeply rooted in people’s hearts?

After lunch, Zhao Yelan went to catch up on sleep again, and when he awoke, he didn’t see Yan Mingting. The others had also dispersed.

“Where did they go?” Zhao Yelan asked Housekeeper Qin.

“They seem to have gone out, ba.” 

Zhao Yelan put on a big cloak and took Xiao Gao with him to go out, but as soon as he reached the door, he saw Jinxuan’s proprietress coming along with a string of maids, all holding brand new clothes in their hands.

“What is this?” Zhao Yelan regarded them blankly. “Wasn’t the clothing for this month already delivered?”

“Yes, but these are congratulatory gifts for you from the General.” The proprietress covered her mouth with a smile. “There are a total of twelve pieces, each a different color. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter are all available.”

Zhao Yelan was astonished, and asked the maids in the mansion to come and pick up these things.

“Then we will take our leave first. By the way, Zhao-daren, I wish you a happy birthday and open avenues of wealth.” The proprietress smiled. “Please take care of our business in the future.”

Zhao Yelan nodded. He didn’t expect the proprietress to know his date of birth, but with Yan Mingting buying so much clothing in one go, it was understandable to give a reason.

“Did you see him?” Zhao Yelan asked casually.

“He asked for you to find him yourself.” Smiling mysteriously, the proprietress led the people away.

Zhao Yelan glanced at Xiao Gao, who shook his head: “I don’t know, ah, the General didn’t tell me anything, he said I was a big colander.”

The snow had stopped, and although there were fewer pedestrians on the street, some people were still out and about. Zhao Yelan walked across the snow, which made creaking noises step by step, but he couldn’t find Yan Mingting’s footprints.

After being out for so long, the footprints had been covered up by others.

He wandered around mindlessly, and when he passed the gambling house, the guards at the door called him in to play a few games. After a moment of thought, he went in.

Even in the twelfth lunar month of winter, the gambling house was still booming. Many people had seen him there before, and they all called for him to play together.

Zhao Yelan located a table and randomly guessed amounts, winning every time. 

He intentionally made unreasonable bets and still won.

“Congratulations, Zhao-daren, you have won our biggest bet, which is —” The dealer paused, and suddenly raised his hands up, “Blessings from everyone!”

There was an orderly shout in the gambling house: “Happy birthday, Zhao-daren! Every bet is guaranteed to win!”

It was ear-splitting.

The combined voices of so many big men almost caused Zhao Yelan to go deaf. He pressed his ears, and a small smile escaped from the corners of his mouth: “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome!” Everyone laughed.

“Where is he?” Zhao Yelan asked the dealer.

The dealer: “He’s not here.”

Zhao Yelan immediately became interested and searched for other places. When he came to Huichun Tower, he stopped in his tracks but did not go inside.

All the envoys and vassals resided there now, and they didn’t accept outsiders in it, so he shouldn’t be hiding inside.

At this moment, a waiter came out and handed over a dozen packaged meals to him: “Zhao-daren, remember to patronize our business more in the future, ah. We wish you a happy birthday, delicious food, and good health!”

Xiao Gao continued to follow him with the things in his hands, and asked: “My lord, where are we going, ah?”

“I don’t know.” Zhao Yelan’s tone was buoyant. When he passed Hongxiu House, he didn’t expect that the other party had arrangements there. 

Plum blossoms suddenly fell profusely on top of his head. He looked up and saw Gu Niaoniao with Qingyan and a group of girls, leaning against the window and smiling happily.

“Zhao-daren, happy birthday, ah. The General says for you to stop looking for girls in the future, otherwise my small establishment will be shut down,” Gu Niaoniao said. The girls all giggled, and people passing by all around laughed.

Zhao Yelan gave them a helpless and amused look, and continued on his way. He met Ruan Xian’s family, who were buying Jiangnan tea. After seeing him, Ruan Xian handed all the tea to him abruptly: “All right, you, don’t tell me about such an important day. I wish you a happy birthday and a prosperous official career.”

Zhao Yelan smiled, and just as he passed them, he turned a corner and saw Li Niang holding the child.

“This is the peace talisman I asked for last time when I went to Lingyun Temple. I specially asked for one for you, my lord. I wish you a happy birthday and a long life.”

“Thank you.” Zhao Yelan took it and looked down at the smiling child.

“Kan Chuan asked me to give this to you, and said you should like it.” Li Niang handed him another calligraphy painting, which was the posthumous work of a master of calligraphy in the previous dynasty. It was very precious.

Zhao Yelan looked at the calligraphy painting, then at Li Niang and the child, and said: “If you have time, let’s have a meal together, ba. Aboveboard.”

“Really?” Li Niang’s eyes were filled with a smile. “Okay, I’ll tell him when I get back.”

After Zhao Yelan walked along the street for a certain distance, he had received countless words of congratulations and various gifts. Xiao Gao couldn’t handle it anymore, so he had to call Yu Dali and others to carry the things.

Suddenly, he thought of the training grounds and strode over there.

Even though it was a snowy day, the soldiers were still training. When they saw him coming, they shouted in unison: “Zhao-daren, happy birthday!”

Zhao Yelan searched around inside carefully, but not only did he fail to find anyone, he started to answer the soldiers’ questions.

“My lord, is your birthday today happy?”

“Happy.”

“My lord, how old are you this year?”

“Twenty-five.”

“My lord, do you think it’s cold today?”

“It’s not bad.”

“My lord, are you looking for the General, ah?” 

“Nonsense.” Zhao Yelan turned more than half a circle and looked everyone over carefully, but Yan Mingting was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that he wasn’t here.

The sky had already darkened, and in the blink of an eye, the streets were lit up with candlelight.

Xiao Gao was worried about his physical strength and suggested: “My lord, are you tired? Why don’t we take a rest.”

“Not tired.”

How could Zhao Yelan be tired? So many familiar and unfamiliar people wished him a happy birthday. Although he didn’t show it on the surface, this was like a tsunami that shook the world.

It was only that he wanted to share this joy and gratitude with Yan Mingting in person.

So, where could he be?

Having traversed most of the city, when he glimpsed a vendor selling tanghulu, Zhao Yelan couldn’t help but stop and buy a few bunches. He didn’t even know when he had developed the habit.

“Zhao-daren, come back to buy tanghulu again, ah.” The vendor already knew him, and smiled. “I heard that today is your birthday, so I won’t charge you. I wish you a happy birthday. May you have today’s glory forever.”

The words were very familiar. He immediately raised his head and asked: “Where is he?”

The vendor smiled and said: “You are amazing, but if you are so clever, you should be able to guess where the General will be waiting for you, right?”

Zhao Yelan stood by the river, staring at the water in a daze. Bits and pieces of the relationship between the two of them unconsciously appeared in his mind. Suddenly, he smiled and said to Xiao Gao: “Come, let’s go home.

“Aren’t you looking for the General?”

“Not looking, let’s go home.”

Go home. What a simple sentence. However, he had no home before. It was only that after getting acquainted with Yan Mingting, the other party always seemed to be saying “let’s go home” to him.

A birthday must be celebrated at home.

The General’s Mansion was brightly lit, and as soon as they saw him returning, the servants rushed to get the food.

“Where is Yan Mingting?” Zhao Yelan asked Housekeeper Qin again.

“Ah? He didn’t come back, ah, isn’t he with you?” Housekeeper Qin asked blankly.

Zhao Yelan frowned slightly, thinking of something. He stood in the courtyard without moving, and after a while, Yan Mingting appeared at the gate.

“What are you doing standing there, be careful of catching a cold.” Yan Mingting headed straight towards him.

Zhao Yelan frowned and raised his head to look at him: “I know where you went.”

“Where did I go?” Yan Mingting smiled and waited for his answer.

“You never left at all, you were always right behind me, right?”

Yan Mingting raised his eyebrows, but finally couldn’t hold back, and smiled: “Right.”

“Then what if I didn’t go home, and went to other places, such as the city gate?” Zhao Yelan asked.

“Then I would appear at the city gate. Wherever you stopped, I would appear there. I don’t need you to look for me. I’ll just follow you, always.”

Zhao Yelan reached out his arms to hug him, and after a long silence, he said in a low voice: “Thank you, Fangli.”

“As long as you like it.” Yan Mingting hugged him back. “Actually, I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what gift to get at all.”

“It’s enough. This is enough.” Zhao Yelan’s voice was slightly hoarse.

He had received blessings and gifts from friends and other people. These were already generous gifts that he could have never even imagined.

“No, there is another gift,” Yan Mingting said. He let go of his hand and lifted a fire paper into the air.

“Okay, okay, get ready!” He Cuizhang shouted. Li Yucheng cautiously approached the fire wire, and finally He Cuizhang stepped forward to light it.

With a “bang,” huge fireworks exploded in the sky, and the dark night was dotted with fiery trees and silver flowers, attracting everyone’s attention. They all looked up to admire the sudden beautiful scenery. The children cheered, the adults talked and laughed, and everyone seemed to know who the fireworks were for.

Even the people in the palace heard the commotion. Zhao Xuan walked to the door of the hall and looked around: “Who is setting off fireworks?”

“Answering Your Majesty, it is General Yan,” Eunuch Gao said.

“What day is it today?” Zhao Xuan had just finished asking when he realized. He sighed heavily. “I was actually so busy that I forgot, today is his birthday, ah……”

Zhao Yelan raised his head with his lips slightly parted, unable to speak. The bright, colorful fireworks were clearly reflected in his eyes, vivid and charming. When he turned his head, his eyes sparkled: “You prepared this too?”

“En, do you like it?” Yan Mingting asked with a smile.

Zhao Yelan nodded: “I like it.”

He thought he didn’t like grand and complicated ceremonies, but at the end of this day, no matter if it was ordinary and warm or grand and magnificent, he experienced it all and joy came again and again. He would definitely remember this birthday for a long, long time.

Zhao Yelan’s eyes reddened inexplicably, and he suddenly felt a trace of regret. He used to think that meeting now was the best moment for the two of them, but now he felt that it would be great if they had met earlier, and it would be best if they met in a previous life.

The fireworks in the night sky vanished, and just when everyone thought it was over, new ones rose into the sky again. Cheers echoed one after another outside, and even the servants in the mansion quickly put down their work and ran to the front hall to watch.

Zhao Yelan leaned his head on the other’s shoulder, the smile at the corners of his mouth never disappearing. Then, in an impassioned voice, he heard Yan Mingting say in his ear: “In fact, there is one more gift. I will give you the rest of my life, and I hope you will take responsibility. I wonder if you dare to accept it?”

Zhao Yelan immediately stood up straight and turned around, putting his arms around his neck and leaning in to kiss him: “How could I not dare?”

---

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Chapter Seventy-Nine <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty-One

Liu Xian’an didn’t travel much, because he was lazy and it was unnecessary. He had read hundreds of thousands of volumes of thick local chronicles, from north to south, east to west, and was familiar with all the scenery and customs. He could wander freely upon closing his eyes, so he didn’t need to travel by boat or carriage to visit.

From Baihe City to Yueya City, even if he rode a lightning-fast horse, it would take nearly two months. Moreover, Second Young Master Liu might not be able to handle “lightning-fast” speed, and topple over in panic. This person hadn’t left yet, but his nasal cavity seemed to have been filled with wind mixed with gravel, so hot that it hurt his throat. 

So why did he just blurt out that he was going to visit the northwest?

Probably from too much wine, ba. Liu Xian’an’s current state was between slightly inebriated and drunk. It was true that he was not very sober, and upon thinking upon the problem, he felt even more dizzy. So he stood up unsteadily and was about to make a slow march to the bedroom – completely forgetting that he was standing on the roof.

He didn’t panic when he stepped on air, just falling calmly straight down, and did not rejoice when he was picked up by Liang Shu. With wandering eyes looking towards the deepest parts of the stars and clouds, he sighed. The blue sky, was it righteous or evil?

Liang Shu could not understand how this man had survived until now,  falling to the ground or jumping off houses all day long despite having no lack of arms or legs. At this time, Liu Xian’an was still immersed in the majesty of nature. He put his hands behind his back as if standing on top of the world, closing his eyes to listen to the wind and opening his eyes to see……His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.

Liang Shu asked: “Why do you even get drunk slower than others?”

Liu Xian’an denied: “Not drunk.”

Then he slipped limply to the ground. Liang Shu didn’t pull him up this time, wanting to see what he would do. As a result, Second Young Master Liu lay on the ground for a while. Maybe because he felt cold or uncomfortable, he got up again and looked around in a daze, then slowly started to walk unsteadily. When he was tired from walking, he sat down on the ground with a plop and began to discuss the dao with Liang Shu.

From the state of emptiness and nothing in the universe before the creation of all things, to the various contradictions and oppositions after the creation of all things. Is existence really existence, and is nothing really nothing? Now I have something to say, but do my words have meaning?

Liang Shu tapped his head: “Call someone who can speak the human language.”

Liu Xian’an muttered, a blind man cannot tell the color of his eyebrows.

Meaning, you don’t know how to appreciate it anyway, so we have nothing to talk about.

Liang Shu said: “Then I’m leaving.”

Second Young Master Liu went to grab his sleeve. At normal times, he could always find a friend from the Three Thousand Worlds instead of Liang Shu. But now that he was somewhat drunk, the worlds were drunk with him, and had turned into a colorful halo. He honestly couldn’t grab hold of it or get in, so he had to forcefully hold onto someone – His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. He even clenched his fingers until the joints were bluish-white.

“Don’t go.”

Liang Shu was pulled by him to sit on the ground.

Liu Xian’an gave a long sigh, adopting the posture of someone preparing to give a long speech.

Liang Shu ordered: “Speak a few words that are understandable.”

Liu Xian’an nodded. Of course.

Then he said: “Daoists may not necessarily be conferred a title. There was permanence before the beginning of the world, and everyone only drew many boundaries to fight for the word “meaning.” Outside the universe, the sage exists but does not care; within the universe, the sage talks but does not discuss. The sage does not care about arguments, but the world likes to boast pridefully. Why does the prince think this is?”

Liang Shu seemed to have returned to the days when he was a child and listened to those old white-bearded men. He didn’t understand at the time how someone could speak so unlike a human, opening their mouths as if reciting a hypnotic mantra, and never thought that he would relive the nightmare now.

Liu Xian’an revealed the answer: “It is entirely because they have not seen the vastness of the dao!”

Liang Shu pressed his shoulder: “The dao asked me to take you back to your room to rest.”

After speaking, he relied on his own strength to carry the man back to the room without any explanation. A-Ning hurriedly took his young master into his hands, but Liu Xian’an still gripped half an inch of Liang Shu’s sleeve, pulling that piece of fabric loose. His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was careless and extravagant when he went out, unusually luxurious, but at this time, it seemed as if a wild cat had scratched his entire body. The fabric on his shoulders was askew, and the gold thread stitched into the cuffs was even messier.

A-Ning was embarrassed and shocked, wondering why the young master was making such a scene. He desperately wanted to break Liu Xian’an’s hand away, but with a rip, His Highness Xiao Wang’s sleeve was broken in half.

Liu Xian’an took the piece of fabric into his arms, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.

A-Ning was about to cry: “Your Highness, this……my family’s young master rarely gets drunk, so tonight he was exceedingly impolite.”

Liang Shu was also sweating from the torment. The private goods hoarded by the ninety-year-old man had more stamina than all the spirits in the northwest combined. It could be seen that an uncle was always an uncle, and should not be underestimated by younger people.

Liu Xian’an was so affected by this jug of wine that he talked nonsense for most of the night. The next morning, he had a severe headache and lay on the bed for a long time. He only recalled the phrase “go to the northwest to play.” As for what happened after and when His Royal Highness Xiao Wang left, he had no memory at all, his brain as clean as if it had been washed by water.

A-Ning stood beside the bed with a downcast face: “The young master was drunk last night, tore the prince’s clothes, put the rags into his arms, and insisted on sleeping together.”

“Wait.” Liu Xian’an turned over and sat up. “Who did I want to sleep with, the rags or the prince?”

“Of course it was the rags!” A-Ning’s eyes widened like a cat’s, and he said in shock, “Young  Master wants to sleep with the prince?”

“I don’t.” Liu Xian’an breathed a sigh of relief and lay back down again. “Dizzy.”

“If the Master of the Village finds out about this, he will use a stick to teach the young master a lesson.” A-Ning placed a wet cloth on his forehead. “The prince and Cheng-guniang are going to the Wanli Escort Bureau tomorrow. The young master should rest for a while, we also must go down the mountain today. Firstly, to bid them farewell, and secondly, the young master must apologize to the prince and pay for the clothes. Although the prince likely won’t ask for it, the proper etiquette must not be overlooked.”

Liu Xian’an ignored his nagging and took the rags out from under the pillow, looking at them for a long time. He didn’t know where this divine power had come from. His head was still humming and aching, so he didn’t try to think about it any more and just wrapped up in the blanket and fell asleep again. A-Ning sighed at his young master’s heartless appearance. Fortunately His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was easy-going, otherwise he didn’t know how last night would have ended.

Outside the window, the disciples of Baihe Medical Hall were still busy. The constant noise was heard by Second Young Master Liu, and he did not sleep soundly. If he was not at ease, it was easy to dream and encounter that pool below the waterfall. But somehow, this section of the avenue had become particularly long at the moment. Halfway through, there was still heavy fog in the surrounding area, and he stood there in the middle, becoming more and more at a loss as to which direction to go.

The more he slept, the dizzier he became.

In the afternoon, A-Ning made his family’s young master stand by the bed, forced him into a newer and better-looking robe, and combed his hair neatly. Although he didn’t bring any new clothes when he came out this time, Second Young Master Liu was fortunate to be very good-looking. As long as he was not wearing tattered and disheveled clothing, he was still pleasing enough to the eye. This was suitable enough for an apology.

The carriage moved forward briskly on the mountain road. Liu Xian’an drank the Yindan tea in the water bag and finally regained his senses, but when he woke up, he couldn’t remember what had happened the night before. He only remembered that he seemed to have discussed the dao and the way of humanity with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang for a while. Wasn’t that pretty decent? Thus, he didn’t think there was anything wrong.

A-Ning: “Oh, you prefer not to speak.”

The situation in Chixia City was quite different from when everyone first arrived. The gloomy silence had long been swept away. There was stall after stall on the sides of the street, the restaurants were frying and cooking in a lively manner, and a few little tots were playing in the streets. They discussed buying a sugar figurine for Taohua, who had already come down the mountain and was recuperating at home.

Liu Xian’an leaned on the carriage window and looked out. From the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a team galloping past in the distance on the other end of the street in the direction out of the city.

A-Ning saw: “Young Master, it seems to be the prince and the others! Uncle, can I trouble you to hurry up? Be careful not to hit the common people.”

The coachman agreed and swung his whip to urge the horses to go faster, but no matter how fast they went, it could not match the speed of those other horses. When they arrived at the city gates, even the billowing dust had dispersed.

“Second Young Master Liu?” Shi Hanhai was also standing there, and upon seeing Liu Xian’an, he hurried to meet him. 

Liu Xian’an jumped off the carriage and gazed at the official road outside the city gates: “This……”

Shi Hanhai explained: “His Highness received an urgent letter this morning. It seems there was some trouble at an escort agency, so he rushed over to investigate. Cheng-guniang asked that I tell the young master that you will meet again someday. Oh, by the way, the prince also left a team behind to escort Second Young Master Liu back to Baihe Mountain Village. He can leave at any time.”

Liu Xian’an was extremely depressed upon hearing these words. Even though he had known Liang Shu would leave soon, there was still a big difference between leaving tomorrow and leaving now. Not to mention that he was drunk last night and had no idea if in those drunken words there was a treasured word or two of farewell…..he was eighty percent sure there was not.

He turned around and boarded the carriage, saying to A-Ning: “Let’s go home today too, ba.”

Shi Hanhai wanted to persuade him to stay, but he felt that Second Young Master Liu seemed to be in a bad mood, so he wisely didn’t speak up. He only rushed back to the government office and ordered the servants to prepare the best and largest carriage. How big was it? It was said that it used to be a cart used by carpenters to pull wardrobes.

Even so, Shi-daren felt very guilty and apologized again and again, saying that it should have been bigger, but time and commodities were limited. In addition, the carpenter was still living on Dakan Mountain, so he could only clean the ready-made one well and lay down the softest mat.

A-Ning quickly said: “It doesn’t need to be so big!” This is too big!

Shi Hanhai insisted: “No, it has to be this big, this is the prince’s request. When he came here, Second Young Master Liu rode a horse all the way and had to lie down when he arrived. In addition, there are melons and fruit snacks as well as some wine, which I have already prepared. They will be delivered soon.”

Liu Xian’an, who had locked himself in a room all this time, heard these words and silently stuck his head out the window. 

Yes, look how big it is.

---

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

When Gao Lin went to the Baihe branch in Chang’an City, he didn’t know that it was poison that caused this disturbance, so he still followed the order of “controlling the plague” and directed the medical clinic to lend nearly a hundred disciples – more than the number of patients left on Dakan Mountain. All these disciples went up the mountain overnight and Second Young Master Liu immediately turned back into a lazy rice weevil, lying flat in bed and refusing to move his precious fingers any more.

He was really too tired the past few days, and now that the heavy burden on his shoulders had been lifted, the accumulated exhaustion surged up. It was as if his limbs were pressed down by a steel plate, so heavy that he couldn’t move. He rested when it was dark, and did not wake up until the next evening. His dreams were also chaotic and vague. He couldn’t pick out a complete plot, and only remembered the empty pool beneath the waterfall.

It seemed that His Royal Highness Xiao Wang did not come today.

In the dream, he thought, oh, it seems that he went to the escort bureau.

The first guest in the Three Thousand Worlds did not say hello when he arrived, and did not say goodbye when he left. Second Young Master Liu sighed slightly. Although he was used to being alone, he still felt that his incident was quite regrettable.

A gust of wind blew, and thousands of petals fluttered down from the heights. Liu Xian’an didn’t remember that there were flowering trees here. He raised his head in surprise, and was blinded by a golden light.

Liang Shu lit the oil lamp on the table, and the bedroom immediately became brighter. Liu Xian’an in the dream was also dazed and helpless in this bright light, until there was an itch at the tip of his nose: “Achoo!”

The Three Thousand Worlds became butterflies again, flapping their wings and flying in all directions. Liu Xian’an sat up wrapped in the blanket, looked at the person before him with some surprise, and first thought dazedly, didn’t the prince go to the escort bureau? But he soon realized that dreams and reality were not completely connected. In this world, the two had time to say goodbye.

Thus, his mood suddenly improved.

Liang Shu was puzzled: “What are you smiling about?”

Liu Xian’an replied solemnly, “I’m not, ah.” As he spoke, he was still wearing the pajamas he wore to sleep. They were thin and draped over his shoulders, covered in a layer of gold by the candlelight. He originally transcended worldly affairs, but when he smiled, it added a bit of warmth and liveliness.

Liang Shu stayed in the northwest all year round, where even the flowers and plants grew thicker and stronger than in other places, and everything took survival as its first priority. So he rarely noticed all the kinds of people and things that existed in the world purely for beauty, but at this moment, he felt that beauty was not without value.

Liu Xian’an said: “I didn’t smile.”

“Get up, I’ve got some good wine, it’s next door.” Liang Shu bent his fingers and tapped his head. “Ask this friend to join us.”

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in the dream was actually not here today, but Liu Xian’an thought, I don’t have to say it. As long as I don’t say it, then His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in reality won’t know, and everyone can still pretend that the three people are having a drink.

He casually wrapped himself in a big gray robe and went to the banquet without even combing his hair neatly. Liang Shu didn’t find it impolite either, and could almost understand the other party’s world. In the book《Xiaoyao You》there was a record of an immortal whose skin was like ice and snow, slender and graceful as a maiden. They ate no food, but absorbed the wind and drank the dew, rode the white clouds and flew with dragons, and finally swam beyond the four seas. And such an immortal should not care if his own hair was neat or not.

This time it was Liu Xian’an’s turn to ask: “What is the prince smiling at?”

Liang Shu poured the wine: “When I was a child in Yueya City, I lived and ate with the disciples of Baihe Mountain Village for a period of time. There were frequent battles, and other than the soldiers, the doctors were the busiest. But no matter how busy they were, their clothing was always neat and clean, and even if it was covered in patches, there was not a single piece of extra thread in sight.”

“That is my dad’s requirement.” Liu Xian’an explained, “He often says that as a doctor, one should be clean. Clean in appearance, clean in hygiene, and clean in heart. If one is sloppy or unkempt and doesn’t even tidy oneself up, it will be difficult to gain the trust of patients at first sight.”

Liang Shu nodded: “Master Liu is correct.”

“But I am not a doctor, and I am not diagnosing the prince tonight.” Liu Xian’an picked up the wine cup. “Naturally, there is no reason not to be comfortable.

Liang Shu smiled and asked: “Are you comfortable now?”

“Comfortable.” Liu Xian’an leaned back again. Although the wine was a bit stronger, it had an endless aftertaste. There was a breeze blowing flowers outside the window, the air was fresh, and the surrounding fields were silent. It was the best summer night in his memory.

And His Royal Highness Xiao Wang, his new friend, was sitting opposite him. He was different from other friends in the Three Thousand Worlds. He did not value the dao of doing nothing. On the contrary, he seemed to have been going against the way of heaven and changing the course of events with his own power. Second Young Master Liu pondered over whether he should build a palace for him alone or open up a new world for him. One without bamboo forests, clear springs, and plain white tiled houses, but something resplendent and magnificent, just like the other party’s clothes tonight, intricately detailed and gorgeously extravagant.

Liang Shu asked: “What are you looking at?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “The prince’s clothes.”

He planned to take a second look and try to dream them up next time.

The two drank half a jug of wine. Liu Xian’an was not drunk. His drinking capacity was better than what Liang Shu had estimated, and he could at most be called a little inebriated. He was even more lazy and didn’t want to sit, so Liang Shu took him to the roof, where he could lie down and drink while watching the stars.

In Baihe Mountain Village, nobody would do this. Firstly, nobody would just casually go to his room, and secondly, they would usually just tell Second Young Master Liu to stop lying about and get up to move around.

After lying down for a while, Liu Xian’an asked: “Will it be dangerous for the prince to go to the Wanli Escort Bureau?”

Liang Shu: “It won’t.”

Liu Xian’an said: “Oh.”

No danger, no injuries. No injuries, no need for a doctor.

Liu Xian’an first felt that it should be a little dangerous to be involved in the old case of the previous court where several families were slaughtered, but soon he inwardly condemned himself. Just because he didn’t want to be separated from his new friend, he secretly hoped that the other party would be in danger. What kind of despicable villain’s idea was this?

Noticing that he hadn’t spoken in a long time, Liang Shu asked: “Are you chatting with that friend of yours?”

“……En.” Liu Xian’an came back to his senses.

Liang Shu asked again: “Is he still bathing now?”

“More or less.” Liu Xian’an sat up. “He did kill many people, but I thought he didn’t care, and the world also thought he didn’t care.”

“Then stop trying to persuade him,” Liang Shu said. “At least in that world, he should be able to wash the blood off his body. He doesn’t need to care about the eyes of the world, and doesn’t need the world to understand.”

Liu Xian’an said: “That is also good.”

“It seems that you don’t know him very well,” Liang Shu said. “Why did you become friends?”

Liu Xian’an thought for a moment: “I don’t know either. He didn’t say hello when he came, he just appeared suddenly and I couldn’t drive him away.”

Shaking his head with a smile, Liang Shu tapped the other’s forehead with the backs of his fingers: “Did you hear that? You are not welcome.”

“That’s not it.” Liu Xian’an dodged, not wanting His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in the dream to hear this sentence, otherwise, what would happen if he didn’t come again? 

Liang Shu wanted to chase the person away: “Leave quickly.”

Liu Xian’an had no choice but to cover his ears.

The two were drinking and having fun on the roof. From a distance, Lieutenant General Gao and Cheng-guniang were stunned. Of course, Lieutenant General Gao had it the worst. He had followed along secretly, wanting to see who could be worthy of the prince showing off and spreading his tail like a peacock. He even questioned his sister repeatedly, is she really a girl? Is there someone among the patients who looks like an immortal and shook the prince’s soul at a glance?

Cheng Suyue was very troubled. Among the remaining people on the mountain, the youngest woman was forty-three.

“That is also possible,” Gao Lin analyzed. “You see, the princess of Fei is young and good-looking, right? But the prince just didn’t want her, maybe he likes an older lady who still has charm.”

Cheng Suyue: “……”

You really make people speechless.

Gao Lin was puzzled at this moment: “Didn’t he say there were three people drinking?”

Cheng Suyue said: “That’s right, there are three.”

Gao Lin: “Ah?”

He rubbed his eyes and observed carefully for a long time: “Where are there three? Isn’t it just the prince and Second Young Master Liu?”

Cheng Suyue looked shocked: “There is another person, can you really not see them?”

I really can’t see them! Gao Lin was even more shocked than her!

Cheng Suyue held her brother’s shoulders with both hands: “Don’t scare me, there is another girl in red with hibiscus in her hair, sitting between the prince and Second Young Master Liu. She is quite beautiful, you……really can’t see her?”

Gao Lin gasped: “Where did this girl come from in the deep mountains and old forests, no, where did you see the girl?”

At this moment, Liang Shu and Liu Xian’an just happened to raise their wine cups and bump them into something mid-air, as if there really was a third person there with a third hand and a third glass of wine. Gao Lin’s soul almost flew away. Was this his problem, or when he left Chixia City, did something unclean entangle the other three people?

Cheng Suyue held back her laughter and patted him on the shoulder with a serious expression: “Ge, keep watching, I’m going back to sleep.”

“Why are you going to sleep?” Gao Lin grabbed her. “Tell me again carefully everything that happened in the city these days…..don’t go! Come back!”

Cheng Suyue stepped on the blades of grass, light as a bird, and disappeared into the mountains in an instant.

Gao Lin couldn’t hold his sister back, so he had to turn his head and continue to watch his prince talk to the air. He had difficulty breathing and doubted life.

Liu Xian’an said: “There seems to be movement in the front.”

“It’s A-Yue,” Liang Shu said. “Don’t worry about her.”

Liu Xian’an originally thought that he should have a drink with Cheng-guniang and Lieutenant General Gao since they were going to be separated soon, but the wine jar was already empty. Even when it was turned upside down, there was not a single drop left.

Liang Shu asked: “Are you drunk?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “I’m okay.”

“You can drink well,” said Liang Shu. “If you come to the northwest, I’ll treat you to a stronger drink.”

After speaking, he frowned: “Forget it.”

The interval between the invitation and the refusal was so short that Liu Xian’an didn’t even have time to picture the vast desert in his mind. He asked unhappily, “Why?”

Liang Shu replied: “If people from Baihe Mountain Village come to the northwest, it must be because of chaos on the border, not a good thing.”

Liu Xian’an felt that this sentence was really unreasonable: “Then why do I have to be with Baihe Mountain Village? Couldn’t I come to play alone as a guest?”

Liang Shu moved closer: “What did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

Liu Xian’an raised his voice a bit: “I said, I can visit the northwest as a guest.”

Liang Shu looked at him and smiled: “Okay, when?”

Liu Xian’an: “…….”

He didn’t think this through.

---

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

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

When the King of Nanjiang proposed to marry the Princess to Yan Mingting in front of the main wife, everyone was a little shocked. They looked over one after another and saw these two people eating tanghulu together, not at all appearing like people of high status.

But after Zhao Yelan responded, the tanghulu in his mouth creaked as he chewed. He obviously had no expression on his face, but others felt that he was suddenly a bit hostile. However, he sat idly and said nonchalantly: “When did the Princess fall in love with Yan Mingting?”

“I heard you all proclaim that he is the most capable fighter. Only such a man can be worthy of me.” The Princess of Nanjiang stood up and looked over with pride and confidence.

“Ah, I see. Then I will break his hands and legs, and he will be paralyzed in bed for the rest of his life. Will you still like him then?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Everyone was horrified upon hearing this, and subconsciously glanced at Yan Mingting. But they saw that the other party didn’t care at all, and was even propping up his head. He looked at Zhao Yelan leisurely and didn’t forget to explain in a low voice to Li Jinyu beside him: “You don’t know, but in our family, he is the first in status, the rabbit is second, and I am third.”

“You!” The Princess wore an ugly expression. “How can you do this? Do you dare to make decisions for him without authorization?”

“Since you want to marry him, haven’t you looked into who I am?” Zhao Yelan smiled slightly.

“You are…..” The Princess of Nanjiang thought, and then hesitated. “You are Zhao Yelan?”

“That’s right. Since you know my name, you should also know how I am, right?” Zhao Yelan restrained his expression and looked around coldly. “It happens that I, Zhao Yelan, will make a definite statement here today. If anyone wants to marry their daughters or sons into the General’s Mansion, I will certainly kill them with my own hands. I have no relatives or friends, so if you really want to shed all pretense of cordiality, you will not have good results. If you don’t believe me, you can give it a try.”

Everyone’s expressions shifted. They did not expect him to dare go crazy on such an occasion.

“Don’t worry. If they dare, I will not marry anyone, and I will beat whoever comes.” Yan Mingting poured him a cup of tea.

Tsk, tsk, the General is completely under his control, ah!

Zhao Yelan turned his head and looked firmly at the person on the golden throne. He must get a positive answer from Zhao Xuan today.

And he also knew that Zhao Xuan would definitely reject this marriage. He just wanted to use him as an excuse, so he pretended to ask his opinion.

Yan Mingting had a lot of soldiers in his hands. Zhao Xuan feared him, so he ordained a marriage in order to restrain him. How could he allow the Princess of Nanjiang to marry him?

Zhao Yelan could also just take advantage of the situation to threaten the other people present, and get a promise from Zhao Xuan by the way before the situation changed unfavorably.

The last time he heard that Fu Qian’s family was discussing whether to send him into the General’s Mansion as the second wife, he knew that there was more than one person in Beijing who would set their eyes on Yan Mingting.

The rumors about Yan Mingting’s hideous appearance had long been dispelled, and as for his fate as an evil star, they could see that Zhao Yelan had been married to him for half a year. Not only was he unscathed, but his body was getting better and better, and gradually no one mentioned the matter of this evil star anymore.

Moreover, Yan Mingting’s character was apparent to all. Coupled with his status as a high-ranking and powerful person, he was simply the most ideal choice.

As time passed, it was hard to guarantee that no one would be tempted, especially those with sons and daughters who wanted to send their people into the Yan family.

“The Princess doesn’t know, but the marriage of these two people is related to state affairs. Now General Yan and Zhao-qing are deeply in love, and no one else can intervene. So even if it is me, I cannot arrange a marriage for them casually, otherwise, wouldn’t I be condemned by history?”

Zhao Xuan spoke half sincerely and half jokingly, knowing in his heart that what he said was the truth.

Seeing Zhao Yelan’s appearance of being willing to fight to the death, it could be seen that he was not bluffing. If anyone wanted to send a person to the General’s Mansion in the future, he feared that this man was capable of any crazy thing.

The princess had lost face, and said furiously: “If you have the ability, let us compare and see who is better.”

Zhao Yelan was about to speak when Yan Mingting suddenly pressed his hand and stood up. He said: “Then let me fight the princess, ba.”

“I’m talking about him,” the princess said, pointing at Zhao Yelan.

“What is the difference between him and me? We are one. Since the princess wants to loosen her muscles and bones, I will accompany you.” Yan Mingting rubbed his wrist and walked up, telling He Cuizhang without looking back, “Go get my Imperial Sword.”

There was an uproar in the hall. No one had expected that he would use the Chisa Sword, but the opponent was the Princess of Nanjiang after all, so they couldn’t’ help but speak out to stop it.

After being reminded by the King of Nanjiang, the princess knew what the Imperial Sword was. It could let someone take action without consultation or approval. Her face turned pale: “Are you a great general for naught, treating a weak woman like this? You are shameless!”

“Princess, you are being polite. How can a princess be considered a weak woman? A weak woman would not provoke a dignified fourth-rank official, let alone civil servants who are powerless.”

In a few sentences, Yan Mingting pointed out the contradiction in the dispute. The civil servants also gradually realized that the princess was so unreasonable that she wanted to casually compete with them. Wasn’t this clearly bullying?

Immediately, the crowd became angry and criticized the princess.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the King of Nanjiang quickly grabbed his daughter and smiled, trying to smooth things over: “My daughter has been stubborn and mischievous since she was a child. I hope the General and the Emperor will forgive her, and I will definitely teach her a good lesson later. Since the General is unwilling to agree to this marriage, let’s let this matter go.”

“All right. Then please don’t mind General Yan’s recklessness, King of Nanjiang. He is straightforward by nature and has no malicious intentions,” Zhao Xuan said.

The two exchanged a few courteous words with one another and then put the matter to rest.

Zhao Xuan announced the start of the banquet, and the maids filed out to serve delicacies.

Yan Mingting returned to his seat. Zhao Yelan handed over the last skewer of tanghulu, and he smiled as he leaned over to take a bite.

Musicians and dancers performed in the hall, and chatter and laughter gradually became louder as everyone mingled.

It was already xushi^[1] when the banquet ended. Yan Mingting had already explained the follow-up matters to He Cuizhang and others, so he followed Zhao Yelan back to the mansion first.

When passing Huichun Tower, and seeing that the inside and outside was heavily guarded by soldiers, Zhao Yelan asked in a low voice: “The envoys and vassal kings are staying here?”

“En, Huichen Tower cannot accept outside guests these days,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan suddenly noticed Zuo Ran’s figure in maid’s clothes, carrying food and following the Nanjiang Princess upstairs.

After returning home, he asked: “Did you arrange for Zuo Ran to gather information?”

“I really can’t hide anything from you.” Yan Mingting smiled. “There is no news about Yao Muze’s master so far, so we will have to wait. It happened that the people from Nanjiang came, so I arranged for Zuo Ran to act as a maid in the restaurant to see if she can find something out.”

“She won’t reveal herself, will she?”

“Don’t worry, ba. She said that she has been serving people since childhood, and there will be no problem being a maid.”

Zhao Yelan nodded.

After taking a bath, the two of them lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. Yan Mingting was still thinking about what had happened tonight, and couldn’t help but embrace him: “Today you really……looked gorgeous.”

Zhao Yelan sneered: “You’re rather impressive, being loved by others so easily.”

“How did I offend you, she obviously just took a fancy to my identity. Even if it was He Cuizhang who was the general today, she would certainly say she wanted to marry him,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan asked: “Then did you really intend to compete with her?”

“It depended on the situation, ba. If she was sensible, she would know that enough was enough. If she really wanted to be provocative, then I wouldn’t have minded exchanging a few moves with her.”

Zhao Yelan pondered for a moment when his body suddenly felt ticklish. The other’s hand reached into his clothes, and wherever it went, it aroused a shivering tingle.

“Do you even know how to write the word restraint?” He spoke solemnly, but couldn’t stop trembling, so he reached out with a smile on his face to push him away.

“I have restrained myself for two days.”

In order to not affect today’s banquet, Zhao Yelan had not allowed him to do anything for two whole days. After making it to tonight, the words Zhao Yelan said for him in the hall would come to mind at all times. How could he not be moved?

The heavens knew how shocked and touched he was. At that time, he wished he could drag that person into a corner to bully him, and now he had endured so long that his whole body was on fire, wanting to touch that cool skin.

The throbbing in his heart turned into action, like magma breaking through the snow. Not only was the fire not put out, but it instead slowly melted the snow into a puddle of water.

The cold wind was howling outside, but Zhao Yelan didn’t feel the cold. It was as if he was being scorched by a stove, his whole body sweating and sticky. He wanted to take a bath, but just as he moved to get up, he was caught and dragged back.

“Where are you running to?” Yan Mingting showed a rare wicked smile. Only at this time would he show Zhao Yelan a completely different Yan Mingting away from the eyes of outsiders. He would say in the daytime that he didn’t want him to suffer even a little bit, but at night he would torture him in all sorts of different ways, and would not stop until he saw his eyes redden with tears. Occasionally, he would deliberately torment him. Seeing that he was about to find release, he would refuse to allow it. Zhao Yelan had to hoarsely cry, “I want it, hurry up,” as he suffered, feeling the joy of being overwhelmed.

The wind outside was unceasing, and the rustling sound accompanied their panting breaths as they spent this cold night together.

When Zhao Yelan woke up the next day, Yan Mingting was no longer in the room. He looked at the sky outside, and it seemed that it was almost noon.

Since the substantial development with Yan Mingting, he had become a lot more self-reliant, and clothed himself so that Xiao Gao would not see the marks on his body again.

After opening the door, he was stunned by the scene outside.

It had begun to snow at some point, and there was already a layer over everything. The white, snow-capped scenery was vast and beautiful.

He walked down the steps and had just set foot on the snow when he heard Yan Mingting’s footsteps.

“You’re up? Come and eat something to pad your stomach.” Yan Mingting stretched out his hand.

Zhao Yelan took it and followed him to the front hall, where he found that He Cuizhang, Li Yucheng, Zuo Ran, Yin Pinglu, and several lieutenants had all arrived.

Upon seeing him, the group immediately greeted him with smiles.

“I have something to discuss with them, and it’s snowing outside, so I thought they could come and have lunch together,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan nodded.

“You got up late, so there is only a bowl of noodles left. You eat some first, and lunch will be ready soon.” Yan Mingting handed him the bowl of noodles on the table.

He happened to be a little hungry, so he took two bites with his chopsticks and suddenly noticed that the others were staring at him. When he raised his head, everyone turned their eyes away and glanced around.

Zhao Yelan subconsciously thought that the traces on his body were not covered, so while he lowered his head to eat the noodles, he covertly glanced at his exposed skin. But even his neck was tightly covered by the collar of his cloak, so there was nothing unusual to be seen.

“How is it? How does it taste?” Yan Mingting turned his head to ask.

The others also looked over curiously.

“En, it’s delicious.” As soon as Zhao Yelan spoke, he saw that these people were a little excited, and asked in confusion, “What are you looking at?”

“We’re looking at you,” Li Yucheng said with a playful smile. “We haven’t seen you for a few days, and you are really more and more charming.”

“Speak like a human.” Zhao Yelan’s expression turned serious, and he looked at Zuo Ran and Yin Pinglu, who were not very good at lying. “You tell me.”

Zuo Ran rubbed her hands and immediately strayed from the topic: “Pinglu, I recited a poem yesterday, do you want to hear it?”

“All right, let’s recite poetry over there.” Yin Pinglu took her to a corner.

Zhao Yelan then looked at He Cuizhang, and he immediately ran to the courtyard: “My lord, I heard that you like watching sword dances, so I’ll perform one for you.”

As soon as he kicked up some snow, Yan Mingting pulled him back: “Don’t sword dance for him.”

“Okay, okay, I won’t dance, I’ll let the General dance,” He Cuizhang said reluctantly.

The others all laughed, teasing He Cuizhang for his ignorance, and they all began quarreling and roughhousing. In the end, they had a snowball fight without knowing who started it.

Zhao Yelan took a sip of soup as they threw snowballs back and forth, walking to the front of the hall to watch. Yan Mingting stood beside him and looked at him with a smile: “Have you finished eating the noodles?”

“En.”

“Don’t you usually eat only half a bowl? Why do you have such a good appetite today?”

“Who is to blame for that?” Zhao Yelan cast a glance at him. Not to mention getting up late, today was still……

Zhao Yelan paused suddenly, realizing that he hadn’t mentioned the matter to Yan Mingting. He hesitated to speak, and when he  turned his head, he found that the other party was gazing at him the whole time.

“Fangli.”

“En?” Yan Mingting’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

“Actually, today……” Zhao Yelan moved two steps to the side to get closer to him, hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice, “It’s my birthday. Zhao Mengting’s birthday.”

After speaking, he raised his head to look at the other party, but saw no expression of surprise or bewilderment on his face. There was only a slow, spreading smile, like a red plum blossom on a snowy night, clear and delightful.

“I know, ah,” Yan Mingting said.

“You know?” Zhao Yelan was taken aback. “How do you know?”

At this time, the group of snowball fighters suddenly turned around. All together, they threw the snowballs in their hands. They hit him and rolled down his robe to the ground.

“Zhao-daren, happy birthday! Hurrah!” Everyone shouted in unison.

“You……” Seeing them laughing non-stop, Zhao Yelan looked at the chuckling Yan Mingting and said in disbelief, “You all know?”

“Naturally. How could I not know your birthday? But I’m very happy that you finally took the initiative to mention it to me.” Yan Mingting bent down and formed a ball of snow. He handed it to him and patted his shoulder, whispering to him, “They dared to hit the birthday star. Fight back, I will help you.”

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[1] Xushi is 7pm-9pm. ⮐

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Chapter Seventy-Eight <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty

After a while, A-Ning came out of the room and everyone present hurriedly surrounded him and asked him how Taohua was doing. 

“The prince’s method was very useful. Taohua’s pulse condition has stabilized a lot now,” A-Ning said. “If all goes well, she may be able to wake up tonight.”

“Thank goodness, thank goodness.” Auntie Hua wiped away tears of joy. “I just knew that little girl would be lucky.”

The rest of the people were also very happy. The boulder that had been pressing on their hearts for the past two days was finally lifted, and they immediately said that when they all went down the mountain this time, they must set up banquets in the city for a few days. When there was a lot of noise, Auntie Hua began to wave people away, telling them to go outside to discuss it, so as not to disturb the patient here.

Everyone dispersed, leaving only Sang Yannian standing there stupidly.

“Doctor Sang, just in time,” A-Ning said. “My young master invites you in.”

“Me?” Panicking, Sang Yannian pretended to be calm and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

“Taohua’s condition is much more stable now, can Doctor Sang take care of her for a while? My young master and I have to go see other people and Cheng-guniang and Taohua’s mother also stayed up all night. They are really tired and need to rest for a while.”

“Of course, of course I can.” Sang Yannian hurriedly nodded, then said hesitantly: “Is Taohua really waking up soon? But her pulse yesterday was extremely dangerous, and she even stopped breathing several times.”

“En, she’s about to wake up.” A-Ning was very certain. “My family’s young master said so, he can’t be wrong.”

Sang Yannian didn’t ask any more questions, and only followed him to the door. He saw Taohua’s mother talking to Cheng Suyue, and her expression looked much more relaxed than before. Liu Xian’an moved away from his seat beside the bed and said to Sang Yannian: “She doesn’t need any special care at the moment. Just keep an eye out for any further convulsions. Also, don’t let her catch cold, otherwise, I fear that all previous efforts will be wasted. These are the things to pay attention to, so I will leave it to Doctor Sang.”

“All right, Miracle Doctor Liu, go get busy,” Sang Yannian said. “I will take good care of her.”

After Liu Xian’an and A-Ning left, Cheng Suyue also supported Taohua’s mother and the two went to the next room together to rest.

The surroundings became quiet again. The windows were in disorder, with a few thick towels hung to keep out the wind. However, this also kept the light out, and only a few thin rays of sunlight penetrated through the gaps, swathing the dust that danced in the air.

Taohua was stuck in bed, looking pitifully thin and fragile. Like a butterfly in early spring, she only needed a gust of wind to irreversibly blow her life to its end.

Sang Yannian took her hand out of the bed and felt her pulse tremblingly. It was indeed more soothed and stable than yesterday, and beat more vigorously. A-Ning had not lied. Taohua was gradually improving, and it was very likely that she would awaken soon.

After she woke up, she would tell the truth, that she was poisoned and nearly died due to drinking his own medicine, and then……

A chill ran down Sang Yannian’s spine. No, he couldn’t let this happen.

There was no one else in the room besides himself.

And Liu Xian’an said just now that if Taohua was blown by the wind and filled with cold, it was very likely that her condition would be aggravated.

He looked out the window with a pale face. It happened that it was windy outside. The treetops shook, blades of grass rustled, and the clouds in the sky were also dark.

It was about to rain.

Sang Yannian stared at the unconscious Taohua, his chest heaving slightly. After a long time, he inwardly gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind. He stood abruptly and hastened to the window, lifting the cloth towel hanging on it. The wind immediately rushed in. 

“Cough.” Taohua coughed a few times after it blew on her, and then called softly, “Mother.”

The milky voice was kitten-like, and grabbed the hearts of adults like a beast’s claws. Sang Yannian’s face paled further, and he thought to himself, what am I doing? He had already harmed her once, then concealed it once, and now he really wanted to harm her a third time?

The cloth towel was put down again. Perhaps Sang Yannian himself hadn’t figured out yet why he put it down, but his hand loosened uncontrollably. He knew that he couldn’t do such a thing. It seemed that harming someone passively due to ignorance and cowardice was already the limit of his evil in this life, and he really couldn’t take a larger step into the abyss.

Taohua’s breathing gradually calmed down again.

Sang Yannian’s eyes burned. He couldn’t bear her telling the truth after waking up, but really didn’t have the courage to kill. He didn’t know whether it was cowardice or the remnants of a doctor’s conscience, but it didn’t seem to matter anymore. Between murder and imprisonment, there was actually a third choice, and that was to go far away, leave here forever, and go to the ends of the world with anonymity. Anway, he was alone, so why should he worry about staying in Chixia City?

After making up his mind, Sang Yannian ran out, but stopped when he reached the door and turned back to the table to write down the dosage of the medicine Taohua took that day. He specially circled the words “black beetle,” then folded it and stuffed it into her hand before leaving the room.

After he walked away, Cheng Suyue jumped off the roof beam and Taohua’s mother also rushed over from next door, asking hurriedly: “I saw Doctor Sang leave, is it really him?”

“You go and watch Taohua, I’ll find Second Young Master Liu.” Cheng Suyue held the prescription. “Maybe this time, she can really be saved.”

. . . . 

Sang Yannian rode his horse toward Chixia City, dust billowing all the way. The wind blew his throat dry, and his face seemed to be slashed by sand and grit, but he didn’t dare to stop for fear that someone would chase after him – after the note in Taohua’s hand was found, surely they would come after him. Thinking of this, he flicked his horse whip again and fled at a faster speed.

He rushed through the city gates, ignoring the startled eyes of the people on both sides, and scrambled back home to pack his luggage. He had just rolled up all his valuables, but when he went out, he saw that an official from the government office was already guarding the door.

Sang Yannian’s knees gave way and he sat on the ground dejectedly.

Everything is over.

This was the only thought he had left.

. . . . 

It took Liu Xian’an three days to finally save Taohua. Her parents held his hand and cried, thanking him so much that they almost knelt down to kowtow to the miracle doctor. Liang Shu entered the courtyard with a package of snacks, and came upon this touching scene. Second Young Master Liu seemed to be less than clear-headed, standing on the spot with his eyes out of focus. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the patient’s relatives held his hands and said words of thanks such as “Taohua is alive” and “Number one in the world.”

Liu Xian’an: “En, en, en. It’s true, it’s true, indeed.”

It could be said that his perfunctory methods had been brought to their extreme.

Liang Shu sent the couple away and waved his hand in front of him: “Wake up.”

Second Young Master Liu didn’t want to wake up.

Liang Shu said: “There are sugar cakes.”

He didn’t want to eat sweets either. Liu Xian’an was so sleepy that he could ignore his rumbling stomach, and just wanted to go back to sleep quickly. So His Royal Highness Xiao Wang once again experienced his ability to “step on his left foot with his right foot and fall while walking.” He grabbed the other’s collar and pulled him back before the Sleeping Immortal could fall on the ground.

Liu Xian’an shrank his neck and was about to squat on the ground like a loach and close his eyes tightly.

Others might be surprised when witnessing this scene and wonder why the noble son of Baihe Mountain Village was so persistent in wanting to sleep in the wild, but Liang Shu accepted this well. After all, in the Three Thousand Worlds, this person should lie down wherever he walked.

Liu Xian’an couldn’t remember how he got back to the room or how he got to bed. In any case, it was completely dark when he woke up, and only a thin candle was lit in the room. A-Ning was using this light to check the book list he had written just now.

“Young Master, you’re awake?” He stood and poured a cup of warm tea, bringing it to the bed. “There are sugar cakes, steamed buns, and the meal left by Auntie Hua in the kitchen. She purposely stewed a pot of old hen soup and gave it to us and Taohua, no one else.”

“You go and drink it, ba.” Liu Xian’an stretched his waist, but still hadn’t recovered from his exhaustion. “I’ll just eat snacks.”

“Okay.” A-Ning spoke again, “I have already made a list of medical books, and the money for buying the books will also be handed over to Shi-daren. But will Sang Yannian really study hard in prison? He was so incompetent even when he was innocent, and I’m afraid he will disappoint the young master’s good intentions again.”

“He won’t sit in prison for a lifetime. He’ll come out in the future.” Liu Xian’an lifted the blanket and got out of bed. “It’s up to me to send them or not, and up to him to read them or not. Didn’t he leave the prescription including the black beetle in the end? When all is said and done, he is not a heinous sinner.”

On that day, after everyone discovered that the medicine box had been tampered with, the first suspect was Sang Yannian. After all, Taohua’s family was kind to others, and the possibility of her being intentionally poisoned was unlikely, so the only possibility was that the poison was taken by mistake. Naturally, people would not casually take medicine, but what if it was taken from a doctor?

Combined with the fact that Taohua had actually been sick at the time, this inference was reasonable. Liang Shu said: “Perhaps he tried to cure the summer heat, but because of his poor medical skills, he made a bowl of poison. You might as well release the news that Taohua is about to wake up, so that the mastermind behind the scenes will take the next step for fear of his crime being exposed.”

Liu Xian’an nodded: “All right.”

Sure enough, Sang Yannian was drawn out.

A-Ning asked: “After this incident, will he continue to practice medicine in the future?”

“I don’t know.” Liu Xian’an took a bite of sugar cake. “If you are really curious, wait a few years until he is released from prison, and then send someone to the city to inquire.”

“I don’t have so much free time.” A-Ning remembered another thing. “Oh, by the way, the prince said he is leaving.”

Liu Xian’an: “Cough cough cough.”

A-Ning quickly patted his back, slow down, slow down.

“Going?” Liu Xian’an coughed until his eyes were red. “When?”

“In two days, ba,” A-Ning said. “Cheng-guniang said that Lieutenant General Gao would escort the food into the city today. He also brought many disciples from the Baihe branch in Chang’an City. After the young master explains matters on the mountain, we can go home.”

Liu Xian’an: “Oh.”

He took another absent bite of sugar cake, feeling that he had lost his appetite.

Not tasty, not sweet.

In Chixia City, Gao Lin entered the manor in a hurry, and upon opening the door, he saw his prince standing in the room with his arms spread open lazily and leisurely, surrounded by a group of servants as he tried on new clothes.

Lieutenant General Gao: “……”

Cheng Suyue stood next to him with her sword in her arms, and turned her head to explain: “My lord is going to have a drink tomorrow.”

What sort of friend was worthy of wearing such a grand outfit? Gao Lin asked: “Male or female?”

Cheng Suyue said: “I asked, and the prince said he doesn’t know.”

Gao Lin: “How can he not know if they are male or female, this is too perfunctory, ba!”

Cheng Suyue: “Then you go ask.”

While the two were talking, Shi Hanhai also entered the door with a wine jar in his arms.

His face was mournful, and he was about to cry at the sight: “Your Highness, don’t set this as a precedent, ah.”

Gao Lin was taken aback: “What is going on?”

Cheng Suyue explained in a low voice: “The prince used his power to suppress people and forced Shi-daren to blackmail a ninety-year-old alcoholic in this city. I saw it and my heart trembled. You didn’t see, the old man was really old. His beard was nearly mopping the floor, and the prince wanted to grab other people’s wine. I was afraid that he would completely faint due to anger and agitation.”

Gao Lin silently gave a thumbs up. It was wicked, but indeed something their prince could do.

The wine was strong, and one could smell a throat-piercing spicy scent through the seal. Liang Shu didn’t know how high that friend’s drinking capacity was, but thought that Liu Xian’an might be able to down three drinks.

However, they couldn’t find any better wine at this time, so they could only make do with it first. When they met again in Baihe City or Wangcheng in the future, it wouldn’t be too late to make up for it with another jar of fragrant fine wine.

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Chapter Eighteen << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty