Half a month after Yan Mingting left, there was nothing unusual about the General’s Mansion, but Zhao Yelan was a little busier. He left early and returned late every day, and was often called into the palace to discuss matters about Nanjiang. At the same time, he did not give up searching for Zhao Xu’s trail.

Judging from the current situation, Zhao Xu may have fled to Nanjiang, united with the new king in order to seize power, and then triggered a war with the Xuan Dynasty in an attempt to usurp the throne.

But Zhao Yelan also suspected that Zhao Xu may not have escaped yet and must still be hiding in some corner. He should have been in touch with Nanjiang long ago, but Zhao Xu probably still had eyes and ears in the capital. 

He informed Zhao Xuan of these concerns, and Zhao Xuan replaced the Imperial Guard with a group of loyal people, then searched the officials’ mansions. He cast a wide net, but no one was found.

Zhao Xuan even believed that the person had already fled to Nanjiang, and waited for Yan Mingting to execute these wolf-minded people on the spot.

“The army has been traveling day and night, and has reached the border of Nanjiang.” Zhao Xuan handed him the memorial.

There were only a few concise words on it, reporting the itinerary and the battle plans, but Zhao Yelan looked at it for a long time, as if he wanted to read every stroke forever.

Zhao Xuan snatched the letter from his hand: “If you continue to read, it will be dark.”

Zhao Yelan gave an embarrassed smile.

“Did he not write to you?” Zhao Xuan asked curiously.

“He wrote.”

Naturally, he wrote, but it was different from the solemn tone of this letter. The letters to him were full of Yan Mingting’s distinct personal style.

If he saw any strange flowers or birds on the road, he must describe them in detail, and then include a feather or a flower petal in the letter.

Even though he traveled hard, he would complain for a full page, asking for comfort between the lines. Unlike the short sentence in this letter: “Already at the border.”

Yan Mingting probably wrote letters any time he was free, so Zhao Yelan received one or two letters almost every day. It was as if this person had never traveled far away, and kept nagging in his ear.

He also wrote back, and when he received feathers and flower petals, he sent some freshly dried tea leaves from home.

Yan Mingting mentioned missing him in the letters, so he drew a small portrait of himself. Smiling viciously as he picked up the brush, he drew it half-clothed.

Yan Mingting opened it and almost got a nosebleed, then sent him back some erotic poetry.

When Zhao Yelan received the letter, he couldn’t help but blush slightly, thinking that he was becoming more and more shameless. If this letter were to be stolen, he would be too ashamed to live in this world.

“What are you thinking about? Why are you blushing?” Zhao Xuan asked.

Zhao Yelan returned to his senses: “Your Majesty misunderstands, I just…..feel a little hot. It’s so hot today.”

“It’s raining.” Zhao Xuan pointed to the curtain of rain outside.

“……..”

There was a lot of rain in spring, and when it didn’t stop, Zhao Xuan asked him to stay for a meal. The two people ate and conversed about the current situation, which really reminded them of scenes in their past.

Zhao Xuan noticed that he had been gazing outside at the rain and wet flowers, and asked: “Are you still afraid of the rain?”

Zhao Yelan was taken aback for a moment, and looked away. Many images suddenly appeared in his mind, and finally dispersed like a passing cloud. He shook his head and smiled: “I haven’t thought of my parents when it rains for a long time.”

“Then what are you thinking about?”

Zhao Yelan looked to the side, at the rain-soaked flowers outside the door, thinking of this time last year. He had looked at the withered flowers and plants in the mansion the same way, his heart like ashes, as if the entire world was full of clouds and rain, unable to see a glimmer of light for the future.

“I was wondering when the sun would come out,” Zhao Yelan said with a smile.

“It’s already youshi. Even if the rain stops, the sun won’t come out.”

Zhao Yelan nodded, thinking that his sun had already risen.

After the army entered Nanjiang, there were fewer letters. Firstly because the journey took them far away, and secondly because Yan Mingting became busy.

Yan Mingting did not directly attack Nanjiang, but first went to meet with several other princes in secret. After finding allies, they decided to rescue the former king of Nanjiang together. They were willing to help Nanjiang clean up their internal affairs in the name of assisting them, on the condition that they restore the original friendly relations and make regular pilgrimages.

The common people of Nanjiang were divided into two factions, those who advocated for war and those who advocated for peace. Not long after the civil strife broke out, Yan Mingting entered with the army of the Xuan Dynasty, and the situation became even more severe.

The newly-appointed king and the Eighth Princess of Nanjiang directly led troops to confront Yan Mingting head-on, threatening to drive foreigners and traitors out of Nanjiang. War was imminent.

The terrain in Nanjiang was remote and rugged, which was not conducive to immediate combat. In addition, the Gu poison in Najiang was very powerful, and the Eighth Princess and others dared to usurp the throne and start a war in advance because they had already made sufficient preparations for combat. This battle would not be an easy task.

Before leaving, in order to reassure Zhao Yelan, Yan Mingting said that the battle in Nanjiang would be easy. But he knew that no war was easy.

Zhao Yelan had not received a letter for five days. The last one said that he had reached a cooperation with several Nanjiang princes. Although these people were not very clever, at least they were well-educated and could understand the local environment, so they could give some guidance to the army.

Zhao Yelan estimated the time. They should be in a state of war now, and it was finally no longer peaceful. It was difficult to sleep or eat.

When everything was quiet at night, Xiao Gao heard movement outside and ran out quickly. He found Zhao Yelan running, and hurried to catch up: “My Lord, why haven’t you rested yet, ah?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I just got up to exercise,” Zhao Yelan panted.

He laid in the room for a long time, and when he closed his eyes, he saw Yan Mingting’s figure in battle. He was constantly anxious, and because he couldn’t see it with his own eyes, he was even more anxious. Touching the cold mattress next to the pillow, he felt no drowsiness, so he simply got up and stretched his muscles and bones to make himself stronger.

If this happened again, he must follow in person.

“My Lord, you can’t run like this.” Seeing that he had no strength left to walk but was still struggling to move forward, Xiao Gao persuaded him, “The body also has limits, so be careful of hurting yourself in the end. When the General comes back, he will blame me for not looking after you well.”

When Zhao Yelan heard this, he stopped by the pillar next to him and gasped for breath, asking with a smile: “What will you tell him when he comes back?”

“I’ll tell him that we all missed him and give him all the tanghulu I bought recently,” Xiao Gao said generously.

Zhao Yelan laughed, laughing and laughing, and suddenly coughed again.

“No good, the wind is very cold at night. Please go back to the room quickly, my lord, so as not to catch a cold.” Xiao Gao began to worry about his health again. When the General was here, he didn’t have to worry about these things. The General took good care of his lord, and he hadn’t caught a cold for a long time.

If his lord got sick again while the General was away, he would be blamed!

Xiao Gao took him back to the room in a fluster, then ran to the kitchen to cook medicine. He brought it back to the room and said cautiously: “It’s been raining recently. Just in case, my lord, why not drink some medicine first?”

In fact, Zhao Yelan had just sneezed twice suddenly. He felt that there was nothing wrong with it, but when he looked at the medicine bowl, he still decided to finish it in one gulp. If he really did get sick, it would be bad for Yan Mingting to come back and see him that way.

Three days later, the Imperial court received a letter from the front lines. The current battle was fierce, but they had the upper hand.

Zhao Xuan sent someone to the Imperial Academy to inform Zhao Yelan. After receiving the news, Zhao Yelan heaved a sigh of relief and ate much faster.

Ruan Xian and the others sat around eating and discussing events on the battlefield with him. Although these civil servants usually thought the soldiers were uncouth, at this time, they had to admire them.

Zhao Yelan briefly spoke with them about the current situation, and then hurried to the Ministry of War to make sure the food and fodder were sufficient and inquire if the delivery teams were doing well.

After confirming these things, he returned to the General’s Mansion to ask if there were any letters today, and Housekeeper Qin hastily handed him the letter received that morning.

Quickly opening it, he read the letter word for word with a smile on his face.

“What did the General say in the letter?” Seeing his long-lost smile, Housekeeper Qin surmised that it was good news, and couldn’t help but ask.

“He’s coming back,” Zhao Yelan said.

The report to the Imperial court used conservative words, but his own letter stated that the Eighth Princess’s party was at the end of its strength, and they would be able to return to the Imperial court within a month.

“He’s coming back!” Zhao Yelan repeated again.

“I heard, I heard, this old servant heard.” Housekeep Qin turned around with a smile and told the others the good news.

Zhao Yelan still had to go to the Imperial Academy. He packed the letter and didn’t even sit in a sedan chair, rushing over quickly all the way. As he walked, he suddenly laughed and jogged forward.

At the corner, he accidentally bumped into someone.

“Aiyo, where are you going in such a hurry?” The other party asked.

Upon hearing a familiar voice, Zhao Yelan raised his head to look at Gu Niaoniao and said with a smile: “Yan Mingting is coming back.”

“That’s great, it’s a good thing, ah,” Gu Niaoniao said.

Zhao Yelan nodded and asked her: “Where are you going?”

“Don’t mention it. There’s a difficult guest in the building, and I have to help him find something,” Gu Niaoniao said.

“Do you need my help?”

“No need, I can handle it.” The corners of Gu Niaoniao’s mouth twitched, and she asked again, “When the army returns triumphantly, won’t the emperor come out to greet them in person?”

“He should, to show respect and to reward them.”

“That’s right. Well, I won’t talk anymore, I must go to work.”

Just as Zhao Yelan walked away from her, he heard her call out to him again.

“Zhao Yelan, take care of your health during this time.”

“En.” Seeing that she hesitated to speak, Zhao Yelan asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Also…..a new batch of tea and spices has arrived. Have Xiao Gao come over to pick them up some other day.” Gu Niaoniao smiled. “You know I only give the best things to my friends.”

Zhao Yelan smiled: “Okay, I’ll send someone to pick it up when Yan Mingting returns. I’ve been busy recently.”

“All right.”

Ten days later, the Imperial court received good news from the front lines that the Second Prince and the Eighth Princess had been captured by Yan Mingting and beheaded personally. The old King of Nanjiang was rescued by Yan Mingting and sat on the throne again, signing an agreement to be everlasting friends with the Xuan Dynasty and pay tribute on pilgrimages.

Zhao Yelan wrote the edict together with several scholars, and when it was handed over to the palace, Zhao Xuan jokingly asked him what reward he would seek for Yan Mingting this time.

Zhao Yelan said: “This time, I just ask Your Majesty not to give him another marriage.”

Zhao Xuan frowned slightly and said in embarrassment: “It won’t happen this time.”

Zhao Yelan smiled: “Speaking of which, we must both thank Your Majesty for the marriage contract.”

Smiling helplessly, Zhao Xuan gave him an intent look: “Mengting.”

Zhao Yelan was taken aback. He hadn’t mentioned this name for a long time, so he was startled.

“You’ve never really liked me, have you?”

Zhao Yelan was silent for a moment, and finally raised his head to look into his eyes: “No.”

Zhao Xuan placed his hands behind his back, clenching his fingers hard and then letting go helplessly. Ever since Zhao Yelan stopped hiding his feelings for Yan Mingting, he could more or less see what it looked like when Zhao Yelan really liked someone.

He pretended for a long time, taking it seriously, but when he saw that the other party was sincere, he discovered how ridiculous it was to pretend.

The two were quiet for a long time. Then, Zhao Xuan suddenly smiled: “I’m being selfish, but you’re right not to like me. Because for me, it is absolutely impossible to give up the country just because of marrying a man.”

The corners of Zhao Yelan’s mouth curled up: “En.”

“Only Yan Mingting doesn’t care. He’s clever and you are even moreso, so it’s good for him to marry you.”

“En.” The smile in Zhao Yelan’s eyes deepened. “Your Majesty knows everything.”

As the two talked, they both felt unprecedentedly relaxed. Zhao Xuan had been sitting on the throne for a long time, and was no longer as tense as he was in the early days. Instead, he wanted to return to the most simple state and have one or two close friends, or a close confidant.

“All right, if you have nothing to do, you can go back first. I must go to Concubine Xian for dinner,” Zhao Xuan said.

Zhao Yelan returned to the General’s Mansion and opened the letter he had received today. Yan Mingting wrote that he had found no trace of Zhao Xu at the southern border. There was no choice but to send some people to stay and help the King of Nanjiang deal with follow-up matters while continuing to search the southern border.

And he himself would hurry back.

Lying in bed, Zhao Yelan read the letter several times before folding it and placing it under Yan Mingting’s pillow.

It had been forty-six days since Yan Mingting left, and there were thirty-nine letters stored under the pillow.

Soon, these letters would be replaced by a person.

As he thought of this, a smile appeared in Zhao Yelan’s eyes and he fell asleep on Yan Mingting’s side.

For a normal journey, it would take more than twenty days to get from Nanjiang to Beijing, but if Yan Mingting was on the road day and night, it would be at least half as fast.

Thus, from the eighth day after receiving the letter, Zhao Yelan began to guard the city gate.

He bumped into Li Yucheng several times and was laughed at: “Yo, the husband-watching stone is going to the city gate again!”

Zhao Yelan kicked him in the ass: “Go handle your own business.”

Li Yucheng covered his rump and laughed: “I say, can you pay attention to your appearance in public?”

Zhao Yelan was taken aback, and subconsciously thought he was talking about his reputation. Then he remembered that he only fell asleep in the middle of the night these days, so he must look very haggard.

“Go find Yin Pinglu,” Zhao Yelan ordered.

Afterwards, Li Yucheng stood in the rouge shop, watching Yin Pinglu choose the powder and cream for Zhao Yelan….he had to give a thumbs up.

“In terms of beauty, there is only you, Zhao Yelan.”

Zhao Yelan started to go to bed early and get up early. Every day when he returned from the Imperial Academy, he would go back to the mansion, put on his best clothing, and go to the gate of the city to wait.

After a few such days, everyone in the city knew about it and went to the city gate to see the excitement when they had nothing to do, which turned into a spectacle.

On this day, Zhao Yelan came to the city gate again, and when he heard Li Yucheng calling him, he saw that the fellow had placed a chair beside him.

“Come, I’ve prepared a special seat for you. How tiring it is to stand all day long,” Li Yucheng said.

Zhao Yelan gave him a blank look, then sat down on it grandly.

Li Yucheng handed him a bunch of grapes.

Under the city tower, there were still people shouting: “Zhao-daren, do you want to buy some melon seeds?”

“Zhao-daren, I have sweet candied fruit for sale!”

“Zhao-daren, tanghulu! I’m selling tanghulu, General Yan’s favorite!”

Zhao Yelan: “…….”

The setting sun began to fall toward the west, dyeing half of the sky red, and the common people also set aside their desire to watch the entertainment, going about their own affairs. The streets were full of people coming and going.

At this time, there was the sound of a horse neighing in the distance.

It was Yan Mingting’s sweat-blood horse.

Zhao Yelan suddenly stood up from the chair and looked far away, only to see the figure of a fast horse in the distance, and hurriedly ran down the city wall.

“Aiyo, slow down.” Li Yucheng watched in horror from behind, afraid that he would fall down the city wall. Fortunately, Xiao Gao immediately followed, which made him feel more at ease.

Zhao Yelan hurried outside the gate. Hearing the sound of horseshoes getting closer and closer, he couldn’t help but be overjoyed. His heart was about to leap out, and he tidied his hair and clothes while pretending to be calm.

“How do I look now?” Zhao Yelan asked Li Yucheng.

“Very good.” Li Yucheng nodded vigorously.

Zhao Yelan looked forward again until he saw the sweat-blood horse appear in the center of his vision little by little, but his smile gradually froze.

He frowned slightly and looked at Li Yucheng and Xiao Gao with suspicion, but the two obviously hadn’t expected this to happen, and were even more surprised than him.

Zhao Yelan walked slowly to the horse’s side and looked up at its back. There was nobody on it. Looking at the road ahead, there was no sign of Yan Mingting.

He turned his head to look at the sweat-blood horse and his tone became cold: “Where is your master? Why are you back?”

The horse raised its head and neighed, then leaned its head over and rubbed against him.

“I’m asking you something! Why did you come back by yourself?! Where is your master? Where did you take him?!” Zhao Yelan pushed its head away, his eyes red as he roared hoarsely.

---

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Chapter Eighty-Three <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty-Five

The audience was completely silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

Pei Yi immediately added fuel to the fire. He tightly grasped the corner of Bo Yueming’s clothing and turned to the Pei couple with an expression of resistance. “I won’t go back, don’t hit me!”

“Xiao Yi, you…..”

Pei Ruzhang’s explanation was suddenly interrupted, and he felt unspeakably aggrieved!

Over the years, he had used Pei Yi to hold up the scene, and didn’t expect to be torn down by the other party again and again.

A slight smile flashed through Bo Yueming’s eyes, and he let Pei Yi play.

This person could always seize the right time to counterattack or assist. What foolishness? Where was he stupid? If this was not deliberately hiding cleverness, he was naturally black-bellied.

In just a few seconds, the corners of Pei Yi’s eyes reddened in fear, and his voice trembled softly. He didn’t go crazy and lose his composure like he usually did, but inexplicably made people feel a little pitying and distressed.

The guests looked at each other in blank dismay, and the suspicion in their hearts surged up again—

Look at the way Little Young Master Pei was hiding in fear, look at the embarrassment on the faces of the Pei couple. It could be reckoned that the rumor about them secretly instigating the nanny to abuse their nephew was true!

Since Second Young Master Bo dared to ask the question to their faces, he must know the inside story and was unable to bear it!

“……”

Noticing the changing atmosphere, Old Mr. Bo, who was the host of the banquet, felt his dissatisfaction rise to a higher degree.

He glanced at his second son, Bo Lihong, who was silent beside him, and vaguely exhorted, “Look at the good son you have taught!”

He didn’t care what kind of life Pei Yi lived at the Pei residence. He only knew that it was his birthday banquet and Pei Ruzhang and his wife were guests. How could guests be blamed? This was clearly slapping him in the face!

“Dad.”

Bo Lihong frowned, but didn’t make a sound.

When Bo Yueming appeared back then, he and his current wife had many conflicts over the matter. His romantic love history had become a topic of conversation behind the scenes of the Imperial Capital circle for a long time!

Bo Lihong didn’t like this son who bore no resemblance to him. Besides, the other party was raised by the Old Lady, and the father-son relationship between them was as weak as one between strangers.

In less than half a minute, the atmosphere had reached the freezing point.

Finally, a voice broke the deadlock. “Second Young Master, everyone, don’t misunderstand. It was the nanny’s audacity, and when her misfortune was exposed that day, she only thought of shirking responsibility.”

Pei Huan stepped forward to meet everyone’s gazes, admitting the nanny’s mistakes on behalf of his parents. “Xiao Yi is usually well-behaved, and doesn’t like to speak up when he is wronged. Of course, we family members are also to blame for our negligence to observe this, and the nanny took advantage of the loophole.”

Pei Ruzhang moved the stiffening corners of his mouth and quickly followed his son’s words, “Yes, it is my negligence as an elder that caused Xiao Yi to be wronged and afraid.”

Deng Xiuya followed with an apologetic smile.

“Don’t mention the past, which family doesn’t have a few thoughtless nannies? It was dealt with well.” Old Mr. Bo took it lightly and opened his mouth to turn the matter over. “Everyone, eat and drink well.”

For Old Mr. Bo’s sake, the guests didn’t ask further questions, but they all understood in their hearts—

Pooh!

Pei Ruzhang and Deng Xiuya had the nerve to pretend to be good people all these years?

What kind of good care was this? It was clear that they couldn’t even tolerate their own foolish nephew!

Having been shamed in full view, how could Pei Ruzhang bear to remain in the center of the banquet? He glared at his wife, who had caused trouble again, and walked to the side the second he found an excuse.

Embarrassed, Deng Xiuya pulled her son along and left hastily.

Scattered sounds of conversation started up again.

Old Mr. Bo looked at Bo Yueming and Pei Yi, who had caused an incident upon arrival, and his old face closed up. “Yueming, since you can’t see with your eyes, go to the side and don’t bring Pei Yi to bump into the guests here!”

At the same time, Bo Guancheng walked over gracefully. “Grandpa, I checked with the head attendant of the hotel, and all the guests are here. Why don’t you go up and say a few words?”

Old Mr. Bo had always favored Bo Guancheng, the eldest grandson, and his unhappiness subsided by a lot. He nodded slightly and walked forward with the help of an attendant.

Bo Guancheng didn’t follow him, but instead approached Bo Yueming. “Yueming, ah, I see you’re getting along with Little Young Master Pei? How long did it take for you to protect him?”

Bo Guancheng had just stood at the back to watch the whole show. If you asked him, there was no benefit at all for Bo Yueming to give no face to Pei Ruzhang and his wife in front of the Old Man.

His eyes had long been blinded, and sure enough, his heart had been blinded as well.

Bo Guancheng snickered inwardly, and with a gentle appearance, summoned a waiter to serve them two glasses of wine. “Come, today is not only grandpa’s birthday, but also a good day for you, me, and Dage. I, the eldest, would like to offer you a toast.”

In fact, this birthday party hid another purpose—

Old Mr. Bo wanted to take this opportunity to announce the established fact that Bo and Pei were married. What’s more, he wanted to publicly cut off all possibility of Bo Yueming managing the Bo Group and prevent him from inheriting in the future.

Bo Yueming was aware of Bo Guancheng’s family’s calculations, and didn’t appreciate them. “Dage, you’re being polite, but the doctor’s orders clearly state that I cannot drink alcohol for the time being.”

Bo Guancheng let out an annoyed tsk. “I didn’t think carefully, your eyes are important.”

Pei Yi looked at the pretentious Bo Guancheng and tugged at Bo Yuecheng’s wrist, fed up with this. “Let’s go, he looks too ugly. I don’t like him.”

In short, it sounded like a coquettish whisper along with obvious disgust.

“You!”

Bo Guancheng had put on a smile, but unexpectedly, Pei Yi could still provoke him with these words.

Bo Yueming heard the other party’s anger that he couldn’t restrain in time, and smiled lightly, holding Pei Yi’s wrist instead. “Excuse me, Dage, take care of yourself.”

“……”

Bo Guancheng used the excuse of drinking to hide the twitching corners of his mouth as the two walked away gracefully.

Wait and see!

I’d like to see how long they can be arrogant, one blind and one stupid!

. . . . . .

Pei Yi took Bo Yueming to sit in the corner rest area, and after a while, heard Old Mr. Bo’s announcement from the banquet table—

The two families of Bo and Pei had formed an in-law marriage, and there would be cooperation on new projects in the future.

In addition, due to physical inconvenience, Bo Yueming had resigned from his position and projects in Bo Group and transferred them for Bo Guancheng to take charge.

The guests present had already learned a lot before coming, but at the moment the news was made public, discussions still sounded from all directions.

“I think the marriage is fake, but the cooperation is real, and the humiliation is also real.”

“Yes, ah, Pei Yi is a fool who is unfavored by the Pei family, and men can’t bear children, so this marriage is of no benefit to Second Young Master Bo.”

“Once he loses the backing of Old Lady Bo, with Second Young Master Bo’s background, what benefits can he get from the Bo family?”

“In this case, even if Bo Yueming’s eyes were good, what would be the use? Is it possible for him to divorce Pei Yi and re-accumulate contacts? Tell me, which family in the Imperial Capital is willing to marry their treasure to a second-married man?”

“Yes, ah, it’s a pity.”

A steady stream of pitying, contemptuous, or indifferent gazes were cast over. Pei Yi saw it all and couldn’t help but think to himself—

What was a pity?

It was only that the time had not yet come.

As long as Bo Yueming recovered his eyesight, those who had evil intentions and added insult to injury would pay a corresponding price.

But these people naturally couldn’t predict the direction of the future, and the wealthier they were, the more they would step on the low and praise the high.

Pei Yi looked sideways at Bo Yueming, who appeared very calm. The eyes hidden under the lenses were cast down slightly, making it impossible to parse out his true state of mind.

They were clearly the parties involved in the “marriage” event, but no one came to greet them. The guests ignored Bo Yueming, who had lost his power, and flocked to the second branch couple and Bo Guancheng instead.

Even Bo Wang and Bo Lihong, the second branch father and son who had never done anything practical, were surrounded by many chatting people.

Bo Yueming noticed Pei Yi’s gaze on his face and said softly, “Pei Yi, will you feel bored staying by my side?”

Pei Yi clearly saw the snobbery and hypocrisy in the banquet hall, and shook his head slightly. “You and them, not the same kind. You’re good.”

Rather than stay near those who were duplicitous and pretended to be ingratiating, it was better to stay here where it was deserted and peaceful.

“Not the same kind?”

Bo Yueming did not expect Pei Yi to give such an answer, but on this occasion, he actually received an indescribable comfort and encouragement.

Not long after, an unexpected greeting sounded, “Yueming, long time no see.”

Pei Yi raised his head upon hearing the sound, and was promptly met with a tall, white-clothed man wearing gold-rimmed mirror frames. A certain affirmation popped into his mind—

Yan Cen.

The main character gong in the original novel was finally here!

Bo Yueming, who was still sitting firmly on the sofa, got up in a rare moment to greet him. “Why did you come?”

“As soon as I got off the plane, I heard from my family that your old man was holding a banquet. I happened to be driving by, so I came in to have a look.” Yan Cen casually picked up two glasses of champagne from the wine table and handed one to his friend. “Drink?”

“All right.”

The glasses clinked lightly.

Facing a friend’s invitation, Bo Yueming put up no resistance.

Pei Yi sat on the sofa, covertly observing the sudden arrival of the “male lead gong”—

Compared to Bo Yueming, who was proud and implicitly cold, in the original book, Yan Cen belonged to the gentle but black-bellied type, and his every gesture was bold and elegant.

In the description in the original book, Yan Cen was the eldest Yan son and had been Bo Yueming’s close friend since childhood. After graduating, the two jointly founded an advertisement company abroad, one in the open and one behind the scenes, and developed the company to one of the largest scales!

Later, due to falling in love with the protagonist shou Pei Huan at the same time, an estrangement developed, and they parted ways in the end.

Yan Cen met Pei Yi’s scrutinizing gaze. “Is this the Little Young Master of the Pei family?”

“…….”

Pei Yi quickly lowered his head and responded with a somewhat guilty muffled sound.

He had been at Bo Yueming’s side for quite a while and was used to staring directly at people, so he was careless and didn’t pay attention to etiquette at this moment. It would be bad if Yan Cen noticed the clues.

Fortunately, Yan Cen didn’t have any doubts, and quickly withdrew his gaze. “By the way, I just met Uncle Kai outside. Your car was accidentally scratched by another car, and he and the driver are dealing with it.”

Bo Yueming nodded slightly. “No wonder it’s been so long and he hasn’t come in.”

Yan Gen glanced unflinchingly around at the guests present. “Yueming, there are some clues in the matter you asked me to investigate. Can we look for a place to talk?”

Hearing this, fierceness flashed across Bo Yueming’s face. “Okay.”

He thought of Pei Yi, who was still sitting on the sofa, and his tone suddenly relaxed. “Pei Yi, you sit and rest first. I’ll be back later.”

Pei Yi had a sense of propriety, and only watched the two leave the banquet hall.

Time passed minute by minute.

Banquet halls were lively in their own way, but Pei Yi only felt that such two-faced social interaction was boring, so he got up and walked toward the bathroom—

Unexpectedly, this scene happened to fall into the eyes of an observant person.

---

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Chapter Eleven <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirteen

Liu Xian’an awoke amidst creaking and swaying. His body moved slightly, as if he was still laying on the warm clouds in his dreams. His brain, which had been in severe pain before, was now only left with drowsiness after the pain dissipated.

“Young Master, you’re awake.” A-Ning had looked at him more than a dozen times, and when he saw his family’s young master sitting up, he hurried in to help him. “You slept for almost the whole day again.”

It was only then that Liu Xian’an noticed that he was currently lying in a large carriage. A-Ning explained: “It was arranged by the prince. He ordered everyone to leave and go to Baihe City without delay, but he didn’t allow anyone to wake the young master from his sleep.”

The degree of unreasonableness in this order was comparable to “going down when you had just come up,” but no matter how unreasonable it was, since His Royal Highness Xiao Wang had already opened his mouth, the rest had no choice but to follow suit. The disciples of the village quickly and skillfully set up a stretcher and held their breath while moving it into the bedroom with small steps. Some grabbed the arms, some grabbed the legs to hold the young master, and just as they were about to whisper one, two, three, Liu Xian’an turned over.

Thus, everyone froze in place and didn’t dare to move. It was comparable to being hit with a paralyzing spell.

A-Ning continued: “The prince was standing by the side, watching. It was a very scary scene. The room was dark and gloomy, and the breaths of the senior brothers almost couldn’t be heard. When they tried to lift the young master again after a while, several of their hands were trembling.”

After going back and forth like this five or six times, Second Young Master Liu was at last safely placed into the carriage in a state of deep sleep. In A-Ning’s words: “Although the Second Master did not personally participate in carrying the young master, he also broke out into a sweat afterwards and was so weak that he couldn’t even eat.”

“Oh, that’s right,” A-Ning continued, “The prince sent someone to find this carriage, and Cheng-guniang laid down the mat herself. When it was laid, many senior brothers were watching.”

Of course, they weren’t looking at the mat, nor at the beautiful Cheng-guniang. The disciples of Baihe Mountain Village weren’t so rude. Everyone was mainly watching the incident itself. They didn’t know why the Second Young Master just went out with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang, and the relationship between them became so close. Not only was the carriage absurdly big, but enough blankets for five or six beds were laid out.

The Third Young Lady’s outings were not even so meticulous.

As A-Ning was talking, someone knocked twice on the carriage window. Liu Xian’an lifted the curtain, and Cheng Suyue said with a smile: “Second Young Master Liu, do you want to ride a horse for a while? Right now the weather is fine, the scenery is beautiful, and there are lotus fields on both sides. Um…..as said in a poem, they furl open and closed innocently.”^[1]

Don’t regard it as just one sentence, Cheng-guniang worked hard to memorize it for a long time. Liu Xian’an tidied his clothes and bent down to disembark from the carriage. He didn’t take the red bay pony with him when he left home this time, so Cheng Suyue found a relatively short and well-behaved horse from the cavalry of Xiao Wang Palace – but it only looked well-behaved. Because it had just been pulled out of the main force, it immediately moved its four hooves and trotted briskly to join its elder brother Xuan Jiao, and by the way, took Second Young Master Liu on its back to join His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.

Liang Shu asked: “Are you awake?”

“Yes.” Liu Xian’an took the reins of the horse. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Liang Shu saw that although he was still a little lazy and tired from sleeping for so long, he was no longer in the dull, trance-like state from before. He asked: “Are there any anti-fatigue sweets?”

“Yes.” Liu Xian’an sent a disciple to bring a jar. 

Liang Shu ordered: “You eat it.”

Liu Xian’an made a sound of agreement. It turned out that the prince didn’t want it for himself. He took out a candy and pressed it under his tongue, and the silver ice flake rushed straight to his forehead, making his whole body jolt. Then he was even more sober.

“Speak.”

“Hm?”

“Say something, this lord wants to hear it.” Liang Shu looked ahead. “Just nothing to do with those white-bearded old men.”

Liu Xian’an was careful not to touch the huge world in his mind, and searched through all kinds of things about this world in his memories. However, he found that apart from sleeping and eating every day, the rest was all really lackluster, so he had to add fuel……add brocade and flowers, ba. He added embellishments as he described the two jars of wine at the house and simply praised them up to the sky. If the shop owner heard it, he would probably be moved to tears.

Liang Shu didn’t find it tedious, so he let him continue talking and talking, and if he paused too long in the middle, he would urge him to continue. Liu Xian’an’s mouth went dry as he spoke without rest, and in the end he couldn’t help but give his opinion. He was tired and didn’t want to speak anymore.

Second Master Liu Fuzhi happened to be passing by on a horse. Hearing these words, his heart tightened. How could he be so rude to His Royal Highness Xiao Wang?

He cautiously glanced at Liang Shu, only to find that this cruel and violent prince was not angry, but smiling: “All right, let’s talk later.”

And Second Young Master Liu was still muttering ignorantly: “I don’t want to talk for a while.”

Liu Fuzhi thought anxiously, alas, his elder brother was used to this.

So he personally scolded his nephew: “Speak well to His Royal Highness!”

Liu Xian’an: “……”

He preferred not to speak.

But Liang Shu forced him to talk. After speaking about the wine, he talked about Baihe City, from the easternmost street to the westernmost street. In the end, even the story of the pig butcher in the city marrying a new wife was repeatedly described three times. It made Cheng Suyue feel as if she had personally attended the butcher’s wedding banquet.

She asked her brother: “Is this a new method created by the prince to bully people?”

Gao Lin analyzed: “It’s possible. Look at Young Master Liu’s haggard expression, this is a crime.”

Liu Xian’an gulped down water. He felt that he had already said all the words in his life. If it wasn’t for the throat medicine prepared by his second uncle himself, he feared that sparks would be coming out of his throat. A-Ning had been following behind the team. This day, he found a time when His Royal Highness was not around, and immediately trotted over to encourage him: “Young Master, if you persist, you will be home soon.”

Liu Xian’an was taken aback. Go home?

He turned his head and looked to the side of the mountain road. Sure enough, in a ring of clouds, a quiet city surrounded by mountains and rivers loomed. He said in surprise: “How did we come back so fast?”

“It isn’t fast, we came back in ten days, the same as when we left.” A-Ning didn’t understand. Every day, he watched the young master being forced to talk with His Royal Highness Xiao Wang with a helpless look, as if years were passing and he would rather be dead than alive. How could it be so fast, just a flick of a finger? 

Liu Xian’an really felt like years had passed, but that was merely in regard to his throat. His thoughts tended to be still, and he didn’t think the time was unbearable. For once in his life, he could stop thinking hard about the dao. He also had no time to think about it, because under the insistent request of His Royal Highness Xiao Wang, his daily life was almost completely occupied by “Ah, what street are we going to talk about today?”

Liang Shu came again on horseback. A-Ning fled, quickly running to the last place in the team.

Liu Xian’an quickly swallowed a throat lozenge, and then cough cough coughed for a while, vividly displaying his weakness.

He had never wanted to go home so badly.

But even in returning home, he seemed to be unable to escape the fate of telling stories, because Liu Fuzhi had already written to his elder brother about His Royal Highness Xiao Wang’s visit to the city, so the local officials and the people of Baihe Mountain Village greeted them at the city gates when the time came. It stood to reason that Liang Shu should stay at an inn, but Master Liu Zhuang faced this military prince who he “didn’t know if he would marry his daughter in the end, but it was best not to,” and still had to show due courtesy. He politely said: “Baihe Mountain Village has prepared a guest room for the prince.”

Liang Shu nodded: “Very good.”

In this way, accommodations after entering the city were decided.

As soon as Liu Xian’an entered the gates of Baihe Mountain Village, he was quickly dragged away by the Third Young Lady’s maid. Liu Nanyuan was waiting anxiously at her residence, and upon meeting him, she rushed forward and asked a few token questions about her brother’s kidnapping. Seeing that his arms and legs were in good shape and that he was indeed as safe as what her second uncle said in his letter, she went straight to the most important point before them: “The prince didn’t really come to marry me, did he?”

“He really didn’t.” Liu Xian’an explained, “The reason why the prince is staying in Baihe Mountain Village this time is to tour around with me. But now I don’t really want to walk around with him anymore. Listen to how my voice sounds, my throat really hurts.”

“No, no, no, you have to accompany him. What if he wants me to accompany him if you won’t?” Liu Nanyuan rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find a large bag of Yindan tea. “Ge, please.”

Liu Xian’an was forced to accept this gift, and carried it back to his waterside pavilion, planning to lie down for a while. Seeing that the servants were bustling in and out, one carrying bedding and another carrying chairs, he was inevitably surprised: “A-Ning?”

“Young Master, Young Master.” A-Ning was also moving a cabinet, and said while sweating: “The prince won’t stay in the guest house, and specifically said that he wants to come to our waterside pavilion, but the guest room here is too dirty and needs to be cleaned up. The young master should go elsewhere to rest for a while. By the way, the Master of the Village just sent someone to look for you.”

Liu Xian’an had no choice but to stroll to the study, forced to keep walking.

It was a long distance between the waterside pavilion and the study. At this time, all of the disciples in the family had heard about the matter of “His Royal Highness Xiao Wang has been appointed to live with the Second Young Master.” They were all extremely shocked, more so than seeing a headless corpse stand up. After all, there may be Gu insects in the corpse, but the sudden friendship between His Royal Highness Xiao Wang and the Second Young Master really could not be explained. So everyone looked at him with curious eyes, and some courageous girls even stepped forward to ask him: “Second Young Master, how long will His Royal Highness Xiao Wang stay in the village?”

“Maybe three to five days, ba,” Liu Xian’an answered hoarsely, secretly hoping that it would be three to five days at the longest. Otherwise, even if he ate throat-soothing herbs for his meals, he really couldn’t handle it.

Liu-furen was also waiting in the study. When she saw her son come through the door, she expressed concern over the kidnapping first and checked him over four or five times before saying: “Go, your father has something to ask you.”

If he had something to ask, it was naturally related to His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. Liu Xian’an’s throat was so sore that he didn’t want to say a word. He omitted everything from Baihe City to Chixia City, and then from the small village at the foot of the mountain to Baihe City, and only answered briefly: “We just get along okay.”

Liu Fushu asked: “What does His Royal Highness Xiao Wang usually talk to you about?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “Baihe City and wine.”

Liu Fushu was puzzled: “Only these?” Baihe City was nothing more than an ordinary city, and the wine could not compare to the fine wine of the palace. Could this lead to the friendship of living in the same courtyard?

Sighing, Liu Xian’an knew that his father didn’t believe him, so in order to avoid further interrogation, he could only use His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in his mind to make up for the shortfall: “Occasionally we will talk about the heavenly dao.” There was also bathing, but this was not convenient to describe.

Liu Fushu pointed to the chair opposite: “What about the heavenly dao? Your throat is uncomfortable, so write it down.”

Liu Xian’an’s face wrinkled into a bitter gourd.

He didn’t want to write.

So he said: “But His Royal Highness Xiao Wang may be waiting for me.”

---

[1] This is a fragment from the poem “Gift of the Lotus” by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Shangyin. ⮐

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Chapter Twenty-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter Thirty

In the blink of an eye, it was Friday.

Pei Yi intentionally hid his inadequacy by keeping quiet, and only changed into a formal banquet outfit with the help of the tailor.

There was no deliberate splendid ornamentation. The white suit was lined with black, and only a cravat at the neckline revealed a fluttering bright color. His hair was straighter for this occasion, and fell down softly.

He looked well-behaved and likable.

As early as the first day he learned about this banquet, Pei Yi’s heart was full of anticipation—

In the plot of the original book, apart from his “cannon fodder” self and Bo Yueming as the “villain” at this banquet, the protagonist gong and shou and supporting roles in the book also appeared one by one. This was an important juncture for the original start of their entanglements.

Where there were many people, there would be liveliness. How could Pei Yi miss this opportunity?

What’s more, both he and Bo Yueming were roll-called by Old Mr. Bo to attend.

After tidying up, Pei Yi didn’t procrastinate, opening the door and going downstairs.

Having gotten dressed, Bo Yueming stood beside the sofa in the living room, also wearing a simple three piece suit—

The suitable custom tailoring highlighted his body proportions, with wide shoulders, a narrow waist and long legs. Along with his curated hairstyle and mixed-race appearance, he was simply more outstanding than the first-class male models on international runways. No praise could be too much.

Bo Yueming heard movement. “Pei Yi?”

“En.”

Pei Yi’s eyes lit up faintly, and only after approaching did he realize—

While it looked pure black from a distance, the fabric of Bo Yueming’s coat jacket shimmered finely, low-key but not lacking in gorgeousness, and there was also a sense of subtle mysteriousness and understated personality.

Everything was great, only the tie was a little crooked.

Bo Yueming couldn’t see it, and it might not be easy to sort out if he wasn’t warned.

Pei Yi stared at the slightly crooked tie for two or three seconds, then the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder directly began and he quickly grasped the tie, moving it to the center position.

Warm fingertips seemed to rub against Bo Yueming’s Adam’s apple, creating a light and superficial tickle, like the faint scratch of a knife’s edge or the brief touch of a kiss.

His body’s instincts were greater than his reasoning.

Bo Yueming swiftly grabbed the troublesome hand in front of him, revealing a sharp and vigilant expression. “What are you doing?”

Pei Yi was pulled forward by the sudden force, and half of his body nearly fell into Bo Yueming’s arms. 

He raised his head in confusion, and when he saw that slightly red Adam’s apple, he realized in surprise—

For most men, the Adam’s apple was a sensitive and dangerous spot. How could outsiders be allowed to touch it at will, ah?

“C-crooked.”

Pei Yi quickly withdrew his hand, his gaze and thoughts still on Bo Yueming’s throat.

Although, wasn’t this too sensitive? It became red all of a sudden like this! Did this mean that he was innocent? Or did it mean that in some respect…..

Bo Yueming realized his gaffe, and his tone quickly returned to normal. “Tell me if the tie is crooked. You don’t need to do it for me.”

Pei Yi’s incoherent thoughts were interrupted, and he gave a vague answer.

Uncle Kai’s footsteps sounded at once, ending this little episode without further ado as he hurried into the house with a staff member.

“Second Young Master, this thing has finally been delivered. Why don’t you try it on before going to the banquet?”

Hearing this, Pei Yi’s attention was drawn to the box in Uncle Kai’s hands. The other party approached and carefully took out the contents of the box—

They were special guide glasses for people with eye diseases.

“After a month-and-a-half wait, they were finally sent from abroad.”

Ever since he was blinded in the car accident, Uncle Kai had contacted foreign companies to buy this thing.

The cost of this sort of glasses was very high, and they had to be customized according to the needs of each customer. With exclusive positioning and sensing functions, and using a bone conduction voice mode, it allowed people to sense the surrounding environment without the use of their eyesight.

“…….”

Bo Yueming remained silent, and a trace of frustration flashed in the depths of his eyes.

In just two months, his mentality had changed several times with the treatment of his eyes, but now he had to rely on such a device to face up to the plight of reality.

“Second Young Master? Do you want to try them?”

“En.”

Bo Yueming was not inherently self-pitying. He swiftly suppressed his gloom, and with the help of the staff member, he put on and adjusted this special pair of glasses.

After a while, the adjustments were over.

Uncle Kai looked at Bo Yueming, who was finally able to move freely without being tripped up. Relieved and excited, he couldn’t help but seek approval from the people nearby. “Little Sir, look at the Second Young Master, isn’t this great?”

Pei Yi stared at Bo Yueming before them, saying simply and sincerely, “Good-looking.”

“……”

“……”

Bo Yueming and Uncle Kai were simultaneously taken aback, clearly not expecting him to answer like this.

Uncle Kai smiled in reaction and reconfirmed, “Little Sir, the Second Young Master looks good in glasses like these?”

Pei Yi nodded lightly.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen this type of guide glasses before. Due to limited data and research, these sorts of glasses would always look bulky and unsophisticated on the faces of ordinary people, but Bo Yueming was different—

The frame of the glasses had undergone a fashion upgrade. The black and gold glasses alighted on his mixed-race face and fit impeccably. Just like the most perfect artificial robot in a sci-fi movie, his appearance became more noble and formidable.

Good-looking?

This insignificant comment dispelled the gloom in his heart, and the corners of Bo Yueming’s mouth hooked indistinctly. “All right, let’s go to the hotel.”

. . . . . .

Old Mr. Bo’s birthday banquet was held at the largest five-star hotel in the Imperial Capital. When Pei Yi and the others arrived, there were already a lot of luxury cars lined up in front.

Uncle Kai, who was sitting in the front seat, turned his head. “Second Young Master, for this banquet, the Old Sir took great pains to invite many rich and powerful people to attend.”

As a strong woman, Old Mrs. Bo had been the head of the family for fifty or sixty years. Now that she was sick in the hospital and couldn’t get up, Old Mr. Bo had finally obtained the right to take charge of the family and the Bo Group. How could he not take pains?

Bo Yueming’s mind was like a mirror. “There are more people here today. This will completely cut off my way forward.”

The car stopped in front of the hotel.

“Uncle Kai, go with the driver to the parking lot. Pei Yi and I will go in first.”

“All right.”

The attendant who came to greet them took the initiative to open the car door. After clearly recognizing Bo Yueming’s face: “Second Young Master, the banquet is arranged in Jujin Hall on the 18th floor. I will lead you there.”

Bo Yueming refused the attendant’s supporting arm and asked Pei Yi word by word in a low voice, “Follow me closely later and don’t run off. Don’t mess around, understand?”

Pei Yi gave a very face-saving hum in response. 

After all, he just wanted to watch the excitement, and didn’t intend to cause trouble and go crazy for no reason.

. . . . . .

The two followed the attendant and stepped into the banquet hall, attracting many eyes in an instant. The guests stood together in groups of three or four, conversing in low voices—

“Look, I just said Second Young Master Bo would come, didn’t I? Old Mr. Bo’s birthday banquet is tonight, could he be the only one missing?”

“Who’s that guy next to him? He looks a little familiar.”

“Who else? It’s that little fool of the Pei family, ah! I dare to bet that the news about the marriage between Bo and Pei is probably true. Perhaps they want to use today’s occasion to announce it.”

“Can these two people get married? Isn’t this clearly bullying?”

Bo Yueming and Pei Yi paid no mind to the baptism of gazes around them, walking slowly to the main guest area of the banquet hall.

When Old Mr. Bo saw the two people who had come late, there was a sudden deep dislike in his heart, but due to the presence of the Pei family, he could only don a straight face and place the blame on Bo Yueming.

“Yueming, where has all your etiquette gone? You came so late, and let your elders and in-laws wait for you!”

“……”

Elders and in-laws?

Bo Yueming frowned slightly.

Pei Yi was also choked up by these words, and glanced darkly at the people around him.

Pei Ruzhang was used to putting on airs in front of people, and smiled softly. “Old Mr. Bo, it is nothing serious. After all, the Second Young Master’s eyes are not convenient, and our family’s Xiao Yi is not ‘sensible.’ They’re here, aren’t they? It’s not too late.”

Old Father Pei, who always wanted to save face, felt ashamed of that messy thing that happened at the Pei residence some time ago. Afraid of being criticized at the banquet, he did not attend in the name of being unwell.

In addition to the Pei couple who attended on behalf of their elders, a young man followed after them.

Pei Yi’s pupils slightly contracted, and he recognized the other party without much thought—

This person was the nominal cousin of the original owner, Pei Huan, who was also the male protagonist shou in the original novel, “Misplaced Kindness of a Wealthy Family.”

Since he could become the “male protagonist shou,” Pei Huan’s appearance and aura naturally must not be much worse. According to the description in the book:

“His eyes were like the sky full of stars, particularly beautiful, and the teardrop mole under his eye was like a stray lone star, its radiance undiminished. As his name suggested,^[1] he only needed to stop somewhere to radiate his own brilliance.”

“……”

Pei Yi glanced at Pei Huan, who had been transformed from a character on paper, and resisted the impulse to say on the spot: This is it?

His looks were okay, but nothing earth-shattering.

It could only be said that the author saw him through a mother’s eyes, wishing to pile up all the gorgeous rhetoric in the world onto this hero.

“Xiao Yi, how have you been doing at the Bo residence lately?”

Pei Ruzhang brought Pei Yi’s thoughts back with one sentence, his face still feigning kindness and concern. “You haven’t been away from home for so long since you were a child. The old man, me, and your aunt are very concerned about you.”

Deng Xiuya, who was by her husband’s side, breathed a sigh of relief. The incident with the nanny before had incriminated her, and caused her to be slapped by Pei Ruzhang for the first time after so many years of marriage.

Later, Pei Ruzhang personally apologized and brought her back from her natal home and temporarily turned the page on this matter.

But now when she saw Pei Yi’s troublesome little cheap self, Deng Xiuya felt that she hadn’t vented her anger completely!

She looked around at the people present and set up a stage for herself. “Yes, ah, Xiao Yi is not living at home, so my heart feels empty.”

“Old Mr. Bo, we feel terrible that Xiao Yi lost his parents as a child. As an aunt, I have always treated him as my own child.”

Deng Xiuya sighed, making her stance known with emotion, “For food and clothing, what Xiao Huan has, Xiao Yi must have, and what Xiao Huan doesn’t have, Xiao Yi must also have. I feared that he would be looked down on and snubbed by the servants in private!”

There was no affection in these words, it was all technique, and the volume was enough to attract the attention of the large group of guests around.

Sensing gazes from all directions, Deng Xiuya intended just this effect—

So what if the gossip about the nanny treating Pei Yi harshly had spread? Apart from Pei Yi, none of the guests had seen it with their own eyes.

They would not ask further questions in front of Old Mr. Bo.

After all, the relationships between rich and powerful families were all about sensibility.

If this matter was overturned, it was overturned, and they could still keep the title of “good uncle and aunt.”

“……”

How long had it been since the last face slap, and now they ordered another one?

Pei Yi stared at the faces of Pei Ruzhang and Deng Xiuya with disgust in his heart. He wanted to completely tear their hypocritical faces apart by “going crazy,” but then he thought of Bo Yueming entrusting him with a task before the banquet—

“Don’t mess around.”

Yes, ah, I won’t mess around.

The “marriage” that was certain to be announced later was already enough of a joke for everyone. If he “went crazy and made trouble again,” he only feared it would embarrass Bo Yueming.

Over the course of a few seconds, Pei Yi let his imagination roam, trying to come up with a better way to deal with the Pei couple.

“Pei Yi.”

There was a sudden slight coolness on the back of his hand, and Pei Yi lowered his eyes to see—

Bo Yueming blindly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back smoothly, while he took half a step forward. “No shortage of food and clothing? Feared he would be looked down on by the servants?”

Bo Yueming’s voice was very steady, but gave people a sense of pressure that came before an oncoming storm, and his superior height of 1.9 meters made it easy for him to shield Pei Yi with his body.

Pei Yi glanced at the lingering coolness on his wrist and suddenly felt less irritable, so he simply hid behind him without speaking.

Perhaps it was unexpected that Bo Yueming would suddenly speak up, because Pei Ruzhang and Deng Xiuya exchanged glances, feeling that something was wrong. “Second Young Master, what do you mean?”

“I heard that—”

Bo Yueming interrupted directly, tearing off their hypocritical masks in front of everyone. “The Pei family nanny personally admitted it, the two of you instigated her to beat and stimulate Pei Yi all year round, and as a result, his mental state has been unstable. How can this be explained?”

“……”

The calm and forceful questioning voice was like a loud slap, and in an instant, the Pei husband and wife were completely humiliated!

---

[1] Pei Huan’s given name, Huan (焕) means brilliant/lustrous. ⮐

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Chapter Ten <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Twelve

T/N: A big thanks goes out to Ba 🤯 boom. Thanks for the Kofi donation, and here’s a double update for you!

—

Good cats?

Catch stinky rats?

Who are you cursing indirectly!

The pain from the scratch on his chest became stronger and stronger. Bo Wang met Pei Yi’s earnest, innocent eyes, and a mouthful of fury got stuck awkwardly halfway.

“Pei Yi, who are you calling a, a stinky rat!”

“…….”

Very good, you said it yourself.

Pei Yi saw the choked back aggrievement in Bo Wang’s eyes and smiled decently. “That’s right, Inspector is good at catching stinky rats.”

How could Bo Yueming, who was standing to the side, fail to hear the strange implication in this?

Even though he couldn’t see Bo Wang’s face now, he could imagine how embarrassed it must look.

From his public dislike of Bo Guancheng to the current implication toward Bo Wang, every time Pei Yi was inadvertently stupid, he could always embarrass the opponent just right.

Bo Yueming tilted his head in Pei Yi’s direction, and the inquiries in the bottom of his heart swayed again—

Was all of this really a coincidence? 

Or was Pei Yi pretending to be a pig to prey on a tiger?^[1] Was he naturally black-bellied?

Bo Yueming’s thoughts drifted away for a moment, and then he heard Bo Wang’s breathing get heavier and heavier. He was clearly furious.

“Bo Wang, you should be aware of Pei Yi’s situation. His words have no other meaning, don’t think too much about it.”

Bo Yueming pretended not to understand what happened just now with Pei Yi’s connotations. “The cat is raised loose in the courtyard and is actually really good at catching rats.”

“……”

Hearing Bo Yueming’s serious explanation, Pei Yi almost broke character. After all, when the last half of that sentence was repeated, it was hard not to believe he had done it on purpose.

It was said once, and said a second time!

Bo Wang had never suffered such humiliation since he was a child. “Are you finished?!”

Whether these words were intentional or unintentional, these remarks were initiated by Pei Yi. Bo Wang was so angry that he raised his fist and wanted to hit someone!

“Pei Yi, have I given you too much face?”

Pei Yi’s eyes shifted suddenly. Just as he was about to resist and counterattack, someone jumped ahead of him in the next second.

— Pa!

Bo Yueming seemed to have the ability to predict the future, and accurately grasped Bo Wang’s wrist, pulling it down forcefully. “You dare to make a move in my house?”

Bo Wang was startled, and his expression immediately became painful. The force on his captured wrist was great, as if it would break his bones and tendons together.

“Bo Yueming!”

Bo Wang clamored to break free, but the moment he raised his eyes, his upper and lower teeth clattered unexpectedly—

Bo Yueming’s out-of-focus eyes, which were originally covered by a layer of fog, now contained a frightening cold light, and just one glance could chill a person from head to toe.

The powerful aura emanating from his whole body was even worse than before he lost his sight.

Bo Wang was inexplicably afraid of such a Bo Yueming, and his Adam’s apple rolled for a moment. No matter how provocative he was in the past, the other party would ignore him, so why did he dare to fight him outright now?

Bo Wang stretched out his other hand and waved it in front of the other party’s face to confirm his vision status and continued to warn him, “Bo’er, I advise, advise you not to mess around!”

“Grandma is sick and in the hospital now, and no one in this family cares about you!”

Before the sound trailed off, Bo Yueming’s strength on his wrist increased a bit, and his eyes darkened like bottomless pits.

“Yes, ah, my eyes won’t heal further, and no one at home will look in my direction. Do you think I’m still afraid of your useless threats?”

As the saying went, barefooted people did not fear those who wear shoes.^[2]

Bo Wang’s face paled again from the pain, and he suddenly regretted provoking Bo Yueming—

This person was blind – had even his mentality been distorted?

Where could he see the slightest bit of a noble young master’s demeanor now, he was just a hostile madman!

“Bo Wang, this is not a place where you can run wild. The past was for grandma’s sake, but there was never any brotherly relationship between the two of us. Remember this well.”

Bo Yueming delivered this cold warning and shook off his dirty hand.

“……”

Bo Wang grasped his already swollen right wrist, trembling with fury. He didn’t dare to provoke Bo Yueming anymore, so he could only glance at Pei Yi, who was hiding behind him. “You just wait!”

He threw down these harsh words and left in a hurry.

Pei Yi gazed at Bo Wang’s fleeing back. No matter how he looked at it, he found it a bit ridiculous.

He had originally come to see a joke, but had become the joke instead! Lifting a rock and smashing your own foot, why bother?

Bo Yueming ended the trouble that had come to the door and turned slightly to the side. “Pei Yi.”

Pei Yi slowly retracted his gaze and looked over—

The coldness enveloping Bo Yueming had long since vanished, but his brow was slightly furrowed. “Are you scared?”

Pei Yi shook his head and forgot to make a sound.

It wasn’t that he was afraid, but that it was a little beyond his expectations.

After all, according to the plot of the original book, no matter how unwilling Bo Yueming was in the early stages, he still focused on enduring it, which led to his blackening later on.

The quiet atmosphere lasted for a few seconds.

Bo Yueming thought Pei Yi was really frightened by him, so he explained slowly, “What you said just now made Bo Wang unhappy. If I didn’t stand up and say harsh words to scare him, he would definitely come and be hard on you when I’m not around.”

In the eyes of outsiders, the two of them were already bound together in a “married” relationship, and they shared the same face.

For Bo Yueming, as long as Pei Yi didn’t do anything to harm his interests, he would come forward to protect him both in public and in private.

“…….”

Pi Yi was taken aback, not having expected that Bo Yueming was thinking about him.

Bo Yueming still didn’t receive a response from Pei Yi, so he sighed helplessly. “It’s fine if you don’t understand. You must avoid him if you see him in the future, got it?”

Pei Yi pursed his lips and responded very quickly this time, “En.”

He thought of the scratch on Bo Wang’s chest and felt a little worried in his heart.

The other party was a beloved member of the Bo family. If Old Mr. Bo and the second branch couple knew about this just now, wouldn’t he cause Bo Yueming a lot of trouble?

Pei Yi mixed sincerity with clumsiness, “What to do if he tells others?”

Bo Yueming heard this question and his expression relaxed. “Bo Wang cares about face the most. He’ll find a way to retaliate, but he won’t make a big splash.”

Running to provoke someone and getting hurt and shamed? According to his thin-skinned character, he itched to let this matter rot in his stomach and for no one to find out.

“Anyway, if you see him in the future, hide far away. Understand?”

Pei Yi made a sound of acknowledgement again.

Bo Wang had already gone away, so there was no need for the two of them to linger at the side door.

“Let’s go back to the house.”

After Bo Yueming spoke, he realized that he lacked his guide cane and stopped mid-stride, reluctantly looking for the signpost to the side.

Seeing this, Pei Yi took the initiative to hold his hand. “Where are you going?”

“…….”

Bo Yueming’s expression changed slightly, and he neither broke free nor took a step.

Pei Yi thought that Bo Yueming didn’t trust him, so he held him even tighter. “Don’t be afraid, follow me.”

Uncle Kai couldn’t help if he was not at home, and it was unrealistic for him to go back to the second floor by himself. Pei Yi’s palm was on his wrist, silky and warm, and every inch of skin touching him was delicate and soft.

Bo Yueming didn’t like to rely on outsiders, but right now, he didn’t put up any resistance. “Let’s go back to the second floor.”

“Okay.”

The two of them went upstairs step by step. As soon as they reached the outer door of the bedroom, a burst of footsteps followed.

After finishing his work, Uncle Kai hurried upstairs and immediately saw Bo Yueming and Pei Yi, as well as their tightly clasped hands.

“Second Young Master, Little Sir, you……”

Bo Yueming could hear Uncle Kai’s hesitation to speak, and tapped Pei Yi with his fingers surreptitiously. “It’s okay.”

“Oh.”

Pei Yi let go without hesitation and ran back to his own room.

Uncle Kai was already there, so Bo Yueming probably didn’t need him anymore. Instead, he was worried about Inspector and didn’t know if it would have a stress reaction just now, so he speedily went back to the room to look for it.

“…….”

The weight on his hand disappeared in an instant, and Bo Yueming unconsciously closed his warm palm.

After Pei Yi entered the small bedroom, Uncle Kai approached to probe, “Second Young Master, why were you and Little Sir…..”

Holding hands?

Bo Yueming briefly recounted what had happened just now and changed the subject. “How is the contact with the medical team going?”

Uncle Kai suppressed the delicate issue of holding hands and responded in a low voice, “Don’t worry, it is business as usual. After the banquet is over the day after tomorrow, we can find a reason to leave.”

“Good.”

. . . . . .

As soon as Pei Yi entered the room, Inspector, who was hiding under the bed, showed his head. “Meow-wu~”

It nimbly slipped out from under the bed, and coquettishly rubbed its head against its owner’s trouser leg at once. The wildness and murderous intent from scratching people just now were entirely absent.

Pei Yi checked it from head to toe and was relieved after confirming that there was no trauma.

When the decision was made to adopt Inspector, Uncle Kai took him to the vet for a comprehensive examination. This pair of variegated eyes was natural, but whether it was vision, hearing, or other aspects, it was not a sick cat as Bo Wang had said.

Pei Yi hugged Inspector and sat at the desk, rubbing its little head. “Well done today, but in the future, if you encounter bad people when you go out, you should avoid them. You must follow me around, understand?”

Inspector opened its big round eyes. “Meow~”

Pei Yi opened up a can of food for it as a reward, and logged into the game exchange website now that he was free.

Not long ago, he had uploaded two initial game codes and a brief concept of creation, and they had already gained attention and a lot of likes. For a newcomer and a new account, it was already very good to have this wave of short-term data.

Pei Yi clicked on the personal page of his new account and found that there were seven or eight private messages waiting to be checked. Scrolling to the bottom, the initial inquiry message was very concise.

— Hello, I would like to inquire about the initial selling price of the two games. Buyout or subsequent shares are acceptable. I sincerely hope to have further communication and look forward to your reply.

The ID was Pear Garden,^[3] and there was a small pear icon behind it, which was extra cute.

The message was sent fifty minutes ago. In other words, less than ten minutes after the two games were uploaded, this Party A with the ID ‘Pear Garden’ had already taken a fancy to it?

Pei Yi pursed his lips and praised others as well as himself, “They’re quite discerning.”

As soon as he spoke, there was a knock on the door. “Little Sir?”

Recognizing Uncle Kai’s voice, Pei Yi got up and opened the door.

Uncle Kai brought a plate of freshly cut fruit, but did not step in casually. “Little Sir, I heard what the Second Young Master said just now. Don’t be afraid, eat some fruit and take it easy.”

Pei Yi took it. “En.”

Uncle Kai smiled and took the initiative to explain his reasoning for knocking on the door at this time, “Little Sir, a tailor will come to take your measurements later and choose new clothes for you. You cooperate, okay?”

Pei Yi took a bite of apple and paused for half a second before chewing. “New, new clothes?”

“The day after tomorrow is the Old Sir’s birthday. The Bo family is going to hold a lively banquet, and Old Mr. Pei and the others will come over then.”

Uncle Kai slowly explained their intentions, with a little helplessness. “For this banquet, the Old Sir asked for the Second Young Master to attend along with you.”

---

[1] To “pretend to be a pig to prey on a tiger” is to pretend to be weak and fragile when you are actually powerful and able to cause damage. ⮐

[2] “Barefooted people do not fear those who wear shoes” means that those who have nothing to lose have no fear. ⮐

[3] Liyuan (梨园), or “Pear Garden” was the name of the first known royal acting and musical academy in China. ⮐

---

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Chapter Nine <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Eleven

After confirming his initial goal of making money through games, Pei Yi immediately began to write out the detailed plans and initial operation models of two small games.

Because he had preparatory experience in the real world, it went well.

In the blink of an eye, they were adequately prepared.

Pei Yi opened the largest game sales and exchange platform in China – Youtu.

This website had the oldest qualifications in the Chinese game circle. Behind every seemingly ordinary account may be a master of game production or even the first party of a game company.

Youtu’s copyright measures were very strict. Backstage support would accurately determine the time of each piece of information submitted by users in order to avoid possible copyright disputes, but one should always be on guard against others who might harm them.

After all, if a game was really stolen and copyright disputes arose, it would be inconvenient for Pei Yi to come forward and resolve it due to his current situation. So he only put out the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of the game at hand, and patiently waited for a customer with discerning eyes to come to the door.

After completing the upload and backup of various data and materials, Pei Yi got up and stretched. “Inspector?”

“Meow-wu~”

Inspector crawled out of the cat nest and stretched its body. It slowly approached its owner, and when it saw the right moment, it charged over and jumped up.

Pei Yi quickly caught it. “Be careful not to fall.”

Don’t look at Inspector’s round little head, its jumping ability and bravery were surprisingly strong. It was still pulling at his trouser legs when he first picked it up, but in just a few days, it dared to jump around.

Inspector grabbed Pei Yi’s hand, and its voice still had a trace of milky coquettishness. “Meow-wu~”

The sun was hiding in the clouds today, and it was not hot, but very comfortable.

Pei Yi glanced at the garden downstairs and rubbed Inspector’s little head. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the courtyard to play for a while. Don’t stay in the room with me all day.”

With that said, he opened the locked door.

Inspector quickly jumped out of Pei Yi’s arms in excitement, not afraid at all, running a few steps before turning around to urge, “Meow~ meow-wu~”

Truly a detective.

It liked to rush ahead to find the way.

Pei Yi suddenly felt that its name was very appropriate. He smiled and glanced toward Bo Yueming’s bedroom from the corner of his eye, then slowly followed  Inspector to the first floor.

. . . . . .

Although the area of the Bo family manor was large, Pei Yi didn’t go anywhere else casually. He sat on the small foreign stool in the garden, watching Inspector roll around in the grass and bushes.

The wind was gentle and the sunshine was warm, and the trees cast shade. It was very comfortable.

Pei Yi was just letting his mind wander when suddenly, a light sneer sounded out.

“Hehe, isn’t this the famous fool? You’re really ‘married’ to our Bo family, ah?”

“…….”

This visitor was no good.

This idea popped into Pei Yi’s mind, and he quickly cast his gaze over with a hint of scrutiny—

The person who came was wearing an exaggerated and dazzling garment. He looked young but not outstanding, and his long, narrow eyes sized him up viciously. “Pei Yi, what kind of look is that, ah? Don’t you remember me?”

Pei Yi remembered the original owner’s identity, and slightly restrained the vigilance in his eyes.

Thinking he was afraid, the other party kicked open the fence door arrogantly and swaggered into the villa’s private garden. “I accompanied my mother to a foreign country some time ago and didn’t catch up with the excitement at home.”

While he was speaking, Pei Yi already realized the identity of this visitor—

Bo Yueming’s half-brother, and the real ‘little young master’ of the Bo family, Bo Wang.

Back then, Bo Lihong casually abandoned his foreign lover, turned his head and returned to China, and developed a love affair with the daughter of the Chen group. After a year of dating, the two married smoothly at the urging of their elders and then gave birth to a pair of twin siblings.

According to the description in the original book, Bo Wang, as the little young master of the Bo family, very much took after his father, Bo Lihong, who always got what he wanted. He had been pampered lawlessly since he was a child and usually couldn’t wait to engrave the word “arrogant” onto his forehead.

Toward his nominal brother Bo Yueming, he didn’t have a shred of respect for him, and liked to fight against him in all things.

After Bo Yueming’s eye accident, he was the only one in the family who wrote the word “happy” on his face. Hearing that the other party had married a fool, he hurried to witness the joke as soon as he returned.

“Long time, no see, old classmate. I didn’t expect we would become family now. Let me think, what shall I call you?”

Bo Wang walked up to Pei Yi, his words full of ridicule. “Is it Sister-in-law? Or should I call you ‘fool’ like in school?”

Hearing these words, Pei Yi suddenly remembered one more thing—

The wealthy families in the Imperial city were in a circle, not to mention the young masters and young daughters who were around the same age. Before the age of ten, the original owner and Bo Wang in front of him were classmates.

Once, in a school competition, the original owner outperformed Bo Wang. 

Bo Wang, who was used to having the world revolve around him, took it amiss, and from time to time would lead his peers to verbally ‘suppress’ the original owner.

Later, when the original owner briefly returned to school after the drowning accident, Bo Wang took the lead in calling him a ‘fool’ more and more. 

At a very young age, he engaged in schoolyard bullying.

The continuous verbal stimulation worsened the original owner’s condition, and there was no hope of improvement, so he could only learn a little through a tutor.

“……”

Pei Yi thought of this and drew back in disgust.

Not to mention that Bo Yueming and Uncle Kai had a ‘don’t stir up trouble’ rule, as far as he himself was concerned, he didn’t want to get into trouble with this sort of unreasonable young master at all.

This step back fell into Bo Wang’s eyes, and immediately provoked a deep dissatisfaction. “What are you moving back for? I’m talking to you!”

“Tsk, it’s been over ten years, why haven’t you made any progress?”

Bo Wang stepped forward and placed an arm around Pei Yi’s shoulder, squeezing hard as if in demonstration. “Are you so stupid that you can’t speak, or won’t you?”

Pei Yi hated strangers taking liberties the most, not to mention a person like Bo Wang, who had bullied the original owner himself.

He didn’t talk nonsense with the other party, and while no one was around, he grabbed the filthy hand on his shoulder, turned around, and used the same strength to clamp down—

“Hiss, ah!”

Bo Wang’s cry of pain sounded automatically, and in the next second, was interrupted by Bo Yueming’s deep voice. “Bo Wang, what are you doing here?”

Pei Yi was startled when he heard this question from behind.

He quickly released his restraint on Bo Wang and donned a harmless expression, turning to look—

Who knew when Bo Yueming received the news, but he quietly appeared at the side door of the villa’s courtyard. At the same time, Inspector, who hadn’t been seen up until now, also came out from under his feet.

“Meow-wu~”

Bo Yueming lowered his head, then turned his gaze outward again.

He was originally staying in the study on the first floor and speaking with his assistant on the phone, when he suddenly heard Inspector cry out sharply and bite at his trouser leg while pulling it.

Realizing that something was wrong, Bo Yueming even forgot his guide cane and followed Inspector’s cries all the way outside. When he got to the door, he gradually heard Bo Wang’s incongruous remarks.

There was a grayness in his vision, and Bo Yueming couldn’t be sure of the current situation. He squinted his eyes, trying to find Pei Yi’s location. “Pei Yi? What happened with you? Come over.”

Bo Yueming was well aware of Bo Wang’s bad temper. Pei Yi may not have a chance of winning against this person.

Pei Yi slipped away, dashed to Bo Yueming’s side, and whispered aggrievedly, “He’s not good. Yes, yes, he bullied me!”

“…….”

Bo Wang staggered two steps unsteadily, his twisted wrist still in pain, and didn’t expect Pei Yi’s clever little good boy remark.

Fuck!

A fool couldn’t speak reasonably, this wave of face-changing was faster than flipping the page of a book!

Bo Wang tugged at the neckline of his extravagant clothes and immediately grew angry, walking up to Pei Yi in a few steps. “What did you say?”

Inspector seemed to have sensed the visitor’s malice. Fluffing up its fur, it issued a warning, “Meow-wu!”

Pei Yi was afraid it would become stressed, so he quickly picked it up to comfort it. When he got up, his arm inadvertently brushed against Bo Yueming.

Bo Yueming’s eyes shifted slightly, and he reached out to search for a second or two before rubbing Inspector’s head, not certain who he was trying to comfort. “I’m here, don’t be afraid.”

“Heh.”

Seeing the scene in front of him, Bo Wang made a noise of disdain. “Bo’er, don’t act like I bullied them.”

They were clearly half-brothers, but he was so stingy that he didn’t even say “brother.” On the contrary, he called out an impudent “Bo’er,” and thoroughly put the relationship difference on the table.

Bo Yueming withdrew his hand, and his tone was neutral. “You’ve been abroad for over a month, why did you come to me when you returned?”

“I didn’t do anything, I just said a few words and your marriage partner went crazy on me.”

Bo Wang rubbed his aching wrist, his anger undiminished. “Bo’er, don’t blame me for not warning you, this lunatic hasn’t been sick for only a year or two. You’d better keep him locked up, lest he go out and act crazy and lose face for you!”

Pei Yi lowered his eyes, hiding the coldness in the depths of his pupils. In the end, who was the mad dog biting people in private?

“Bo Wang, you don’t need to concern yourself with the people and things in my house.”  Bo Yueming instinctively took half a step forward, his words somewhat protective.

Bo Wang wasn’t afraid of his warning at all. “You’re protecting him?”

He had just come here for a joke this time.

How could he leave without seeing Bo Yueming’s angry expression?

Bo Wang stood where he was. His gaze shifted from Bo Yueming to Pei Yi, and then fell on Inspector’s variegated pupils. “Bo’er, are you raising this black cat? You’ve raised it well, ah.”

As he spoke, he reached out and tried to touch Inspector.

Pei Yi retreated to the side and commented solemnly, “Your hands are dirty.”

“……”

The shunned Bo Wang ground his molars, and forcefully continued his rhetoric, “I hear that the reason why cats have different colored eyes is because they have congenital eye problems?”

“Isn’t this a coincidence?” He pointed to Bo Yueming with a single finger and identified him emphatically, “A blind man.”

In a few words, the ridicule rushed at his face.

Bo Yueming’s expression sank, and a storm that could devour people brewed deep in his eyes.

But Bo Wang was still trying to die, and pointed at Pei Yi and Inspector, “Matched with a fool and a sick cat. Tsk, tsk, isn’t this the best match?”

As soon as these words fell, Inspector suddenly went crazy in Pei Yi’s arms. “Meow-wu!”

It showed its claws at once, and leaped fiercely at Bo Wang’s open neckline to scratch. It made a deep, rough growling sound when it landed, full of wildness, and then ran back to the house in an instant.

“Ah!—”

The burning pain seemed to spread, and Bo Wang held the long blood stain on his chest in disbelief. His face turned from red to green, and the anger rushed straight to his head. “That dead cat!”

Pei Yi saw Bo Wang’s killing intent toward Inspector, so he pretended to be stupid and stopped him before he could enter the house. “You’re not allowed to bully Inspector, it’s a good cat!”

Bo Wang gritted his teeth. “Good cat?”

Certainly.

Pei Yi nodded, and with apparent innocence, dropped a sentence that could choke this person to death—

“En, good cats catch stinky rats~”

---

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Chapter Eight <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Ten

Yan Mingting returned to the mansion first, took the Chisha Sword, and went to the ancestral hall to burn incense for his father before going out with the sword.

When he rushed to the other palace without stopping, He Cuizhang and the others were no longer there. Only a group of flustered servants remained.

He found one of them and asked: “Where is Zhao Xu?”

“He, he fled,” the servant said tremblingly. “Just now, a group of men in black suddenly appeared and fought with a group of soldiers, and then secretly took him away.”

Yan Mingting searched around again. If he fought He Cuizhang and the others, there would definitely be some casualties. In the end, he found some scattered corpses on the way down the mountain.

He tore the mask off a corpse. The costume and headgear were obviously from Nanjiang, and his face was already turning black, likely because he had poisoned himself.

At this time, a flare lit up in the sky. This was their signal arrow. He immediately ran in that direction and found He Cuizhang and the others outside the city gate.

“General, those people were using poisoned arrows and gas, and escaped,” He Cuizhang said guiltily.

“Which way did they go?”

“They were very clever, and scattered in all directions. I have sent people to chase them separately, but there are not enough people and I fear their tricks,” He Cuizhang said.

“You go back and send more people to chase after them, I’m afraid something big is going to happen.” After Yan Mingting gave orders in a heavy voice, he followed the main road to Nanjiang until dawn. Seeing neither the fleeing group nor hearing from the other teams, he returned.

Morning court had already started, so Yan Mingting walked directly into the main hall, reported the previous night’s situation, and said: “The Nanjiang people took away our prince without fear, either because of internal problems, or because the entirety of Najiang has the intention to rebel.”

The officials were in an uproar. They didn’t expect that the King of Nanjiang would dare to do such a rebellious thing not long after he left Beijing. They were also surprised that the useless prince still found a chance to escape. The goal was very clear – most likely, he was coming for the throne.

Zhao Xuan said: “General Yan did not return last night, so I have already sent someone to spread the order to search all the strongholds. This person must be brought to justice. There are people arranged by us in Nanjiang, and if there is any change, we will definitely be informed.”

Not only that, but Zhao Xuan also mentioned the cause of the old General Yan’s death. The officials were indignant, and asked Yan Mingting for details. 

Now that the murderer had been identified, Yan Mingting explained everything in detail. In any case, he would kill Zhao Xu with his own hands sooner or later, so as to save the Imperial Censor time impeaching him for the great crime of disrespecting the royal family.

After learning that the death of the old general was related to Nanjiang, some people who had attended the banquet began to recall the details.

Li Jinyu suddenly said: “Speaking of which, I remember one thing. When Nanjaing showed us Gu poison, I inadvertently saw the former prince and the Eighth Princess of Nanjiang exchanging poison in the corner. It’s just that everyone was making exchanges at that time, so I didn’t think much about it.”

“Was the poison colorless and odorless?” Yan Mingting asked.

“It seemed to be so.”

“It appears that the matter has become clear. The former Crown Prince and the Eighth Princess knew each other in the early years, and secretly communicated with each other. They covertly gave and received poison, and poisoned General Yan, who was serving the country and the people, committing a heinous crime. Forthwith, the fugitive Zhao Xu will be hunted down across the nation.”

After court was dismissed, Yang Mingting followed Zhao Xuan to the side hall, where Zhao Yelan was.

As soon as he walked to the door, he saw Zhao Yelan seated on a chair, dozing off with one hand on his forehead and a city defense map on his lap.

“Mengting.” Yan Mingting walked in quickly.

Hearing this voice, Zhao Yelan opened his eyes, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke: “You’re back? Have they been found?”

“They got away,” Yan Mingting said, removing his cloak and putting it on him. “You’ve been waiting a long time, let’s go home first.”

“En.” Zhao Yelan stood up, pounded his legs, and followed him to leave.

“Go back and have a good rest. I will let you know if something happens,” Zhao Xuan said.

After returning to the General’s Mansion, Yan Mingting brought him back to their room and asked: “You’ve been in the side hall since last night?”

“En, didn’t you tell me not to run around?” Zhao Yelan said.

“I didn’t expect them to get away so smoothly, so I was delayed until now.” Yan Mingting removed his outer layers and tucked him under the blanket. “Sleep for a while, I will wake you up later.”

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I won’t sleep.” Yan Mingting shook his head. He held his hand and remained quiet for a while, then, a little choked up with emotion, he said: “Mengting, I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep when I think that my father’s murderer and enemy escaped right out from under my nose.”

Zhao Yelan touched his cheek: “You will definitely catch him with your own hands.”

Nodding, Yan Mingting turned around and went to the study. He took out a detailed map of the Xuan Dynasty and a border map, comparing the routes repeatedly and trying to block all possible escape routes.

He Cuizhang and the others also came and awaited his orders.

After the group of people discussed the tracking route, they heard footsteps outside, and Zhao Yelan appeared in the doorway: “You said they fled without a trace?”

“Why are you up?” Yan Mingting walked to the door and replied: “We chased them all night without finding any trace.”

“Perhaps Zhao Xu didn’t escape from the capital at all?” Zhao Yelan said.

“I also thought of this possibility. I arranged for people to investigate in Beijing, but I haven’t heard anything yet,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan nodded: “Don’t miss a single corner. He is probably hiding in the capital and waiting for an opportunity.”

“En, a meticulous search has been launched.” Yan Mingting coaxed him to sleep again.

After three days and three nights of searching, no sign of Zhao Xu was found in the capital, and there was no news from other routes. Zhao Xu seemed to have evaporated from the world, and the trail became a mystery.

The palace finally received some news involving a secret report from Nanjiang that a coup had taken place within the Nanjiang royal family.

After the King of Nanjiang returned this year, he was put under house arrest jointly by the Eighth Princess and her elder brother, the Second Prince. Simultaneously, the eldest prince was executed. Just five days ago, the Second Prince ascended the throne as King of Nanjiang, and the reason was to emulate Zhao Xuan in seizing the throne. He also spoke wildly about expanding the territory and no longer bowing their heads to the Xuan Dynasty, and was actively persuading the subjects in Nanjiang to attack the Xuan Dynasty.

“Absurd!” Zhao Xuan was so angry that he threw the note in the hall. “The new King of Nanjiang is raising such a clamor. What do you think?”

The officials were furious, and the voices of the pro-war faction were the loudest. Today was different from the past. The soldiers had been back in Beijing for a year and had recharged their energy. They had sufficient combat power and enough strength to deal with the new King of Nanjiang.

Yang Mingting even took the initiative to volunteer to lead the army out in person.

Zhao Yelan only learned about this when he returned from the Imperial Academy in the evening, and didn’t say a word during dinner. Yan Mingting picked dishes for him several times, bathed and washed his back in the evening, and told several jokes, but received no response.

Lying down, Yan Mingting hugged him and became extremely quiet.

The two of them kept silent with their eyes open for a long time before Zhao Yelan asked: “When do you set off?”

“Tomorrow.”

“The food, fodder, army, and horses are ready?”

“En.”

Zhao Yelan knew that he couldn’t be stopped. Whether publicly or privately, Yan Mingting should go. He sighed deeply, then got up, lit a candle, and walked out the door.

“Where are you going?” Yan Mingting immediately chased after him.

The two came to the kitchen one after the other. Zhao Yelan rummaged around for a long time, then packed up a lot of steamed buns and handed the bundles over to him.

Yan Mingting didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “We have prepared dried food.”

Zhao Yelan ignored his words completely and kicked open Xiao Gao’s door, causing him to be so frightened that he knelt up directly from the bed. He rubbed his eyes and asked sleepily: “What does My Lord need from me?”

“Where are you hiding all your tanghulu?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Xiao Gao pointed to the drawer under the table.

After opening it, Zhao Yelan confiscated the dozen or so tanghulu inside and stuffed them all into Yan Mingting’s luggage. It could be described as aboveboard robbery.

Xiao Gao was dumbfounded, and Yan Mingting was even more dumbfounded. Then he laughed.

The two of them returned to the room. Zhao Yelan took out his two short knives and small crossbow and arrows, asking: “Do you think these can be used?”

Yan Mingting said with a smile: “You can use these for self-defense.”

Zhao Yelan was a little discouraged. It was unknown what occurred to him, but he went to the cabinet in the corner, fiddled with it furtively for a long time, and then took out a box and set it in front of him: “Take this, ba.”

“What is this?” Yan Mingting opened the box and found that it was full of bank notes. They were also exchanged into notes from various banks, so that one would not be afraid to travel all over the territory of the Xuan Dynasty.

Looking at the thick stack of banknotes, he suddenly felt like his hands were burning a little: “What are you giving me these for?”

“In the event that you run out of food and fodder, use this in an emergency,” Zhao Yelan said.

“……So many banknotes, are you willing?”

Zhao Yelan glanced at it with an aching heart, then looked away and comforted himself: “After spending money, I can make money back.”

With a smile on his lips, Yan Mingting put the banknotes back, closed the lid, and handed it to him: “This is your baby, I can’t take it.”

“But……”

“I only need you to stay at home and rest assured that I will come back. You don’t need to worry about things like military rations. If the Imperial court can’t satisfy us with even this little thing, then we don’t need to fight this battle.”

Of course he understood this reasoning, but Zhao Yelan was worried and couldn’t follow in person. The battlefield changed rapidly. Yan Mingting had fought for so many years, and his strength could not be underestimated. His own frail body could not be taken along as a burden to him. Furthermore, he wanted to ensure the smooth progress of the front lines from within the capital, so as to avoid things like what happened to the old general. He must urge the people in the capital to support the front lines honestly. There must be no mistakes.

“Don’t worry, the Second Prince and the Eighth Princess are just two jesters, I will be able to clean them up soon. I only hope that Zhao Xu has already arrived in Nanjiang so that I can kill him straightaway,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan nodded. Thinking of something, he felt on his body and found a safety talisman, the one that Li-niang had beseeched him to take. He tied it around Yan Mingting’s neck: “It’s too late to find a new one. Use what you have first, and I will ask for another one for you later.”

Yan Mingting looked down and said with a smile: “I remember you don’t believe in gods or Buddha. During the drought, you said yourself that you don’t believe in gods, and only believe that man can conquer nature.”

Zhao Yelan raised his eyes and glanced at him. Without saying a word, he just fastened the string hard.

After keeping so busy preparing things the whole night, Yan Mingting had more big packs, which he carried on his shoulders at dawn, and the feeling of parting became stronger.

The two embraced silently for a moment, and then Yan Mingting led him outside. He Cuizhang was already waiting outside the door, and said: “The soldiers have arrived at the city gates.”

“Let’s go, ba.” Yan Mingting mounted his horse neatly and turned to look at Zhao Yelan.

Zhao Yelan raised his head and said: “Give me a ride. Just one ride.”

“All right.” Yan Mingting stretched out his hand and pulled him onto the horse, and the two rode toward the city gates.

The common people had already heard the news that the General was about to leave again. They all came out one after another to see him off, and the road was soon full of people. The soldiers’ relatives came to see them off, and Yin Pinglu was among the crowd, saying goodbye to Zuo Ran.

Zhao Yelan dismounted when they reached the city wall, and in the blink of an eye, Yan Mingting was enthusiastically surrounded by the common people.

At this time, someone grabbed Zhao Yelan, who was almost hit by someone. He turned his head and saw that it was Gu Niaoniao, so he walked to the corner and looked ahead, saying in a low voice: “Is there still no news of Zhao Xu in Beijing?”

Gu Niaoniao shook her head: “None. How long will the General’s trip be?”

“I don’t know.” Zhao Yelan looked at the man on the horse. “He should be back soon, he’s Yan Mingting, ah.”

Yan Mingting accepted the blessings of the people and raised his head to seek out Zhao Yelan’s figure, but saw him turn around and go up the city wall.

The corners of his mouth curved. Riding the horse out the city gate, he went to the front of the team, and with the wave of a flag, led the mighty army to set off.

After walking hundreds of meters, Yan Mingting could still see the vague figure on the city wall when he turned his head. At this moment, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Zuo Ran holding onto the safety amulet on her chest and asked: “Where did you get the safety talisman?”

“Pinglu got it for me years ago,” Zuo Ran said.

“Oh.” Yan Mingting pointed to the two big bundles on his shoulders. “Mengting prepared these for me in a hurry last night. If he started preparing years ago, it is likely that there would be two carriages full. Can you believe it?”

“Oh……”

He Cuizhang: “That’s enough from you two! Can you have a care for this single man?”

Until the team completely vanished from sight, Zhao Yelan continued to stand on the city wall, staring in the direction of their journey dazedly. Xiao Gao called him several times, but he didn’t answer. It wasn’t until a carrier pigeon flew onto his shoulder that he finally regained his composure.

“There’s a letter.” Xiao Gao caught the pigeon curiously, removed the bamboo tube, and took out the letter inside, handing it to Zhao Yelan.

The range within which pigeons could deliver letters was relatively small. Zhao Yelan guessed who had sent it immediately. He opened the letter promptly and saw that it read —

Go back quickly to eat on time and rest early. Check back in with me.

No matter the distance, I only hope you will be safe.

---

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

He had originally just wanted to tease him, but Liu Xian’an was actually awoke from his lethargy. After opening his eyes, the top of the carved bed and the person beside it blended together into colorful phantoms, and it took a long time before they overlapped clearly. Liang Shu raised the corners of his mouth, bent his fingers, and knocked on his forehead as usual, trying to call out that wandering man. Liu Xian’an didn’t respond. His brow was slightly furrowed, and although he was looking at Liang Shu, his eyes were not very focused, thoroughly dazed and lost.

After a long time, he still couldn’t wake up, so he simply closed his eyes as if he planned to continue to sleep.

The revered young and elegant Royal Highness Xiao Wang walked anywhere in the territory of Dayan. Not to mention being sought after by thousands of people and having enough fruit tossed his way to fill a carriage, he should at least be shown no shortage of courtesy. A person with an attitude like Second Young Master Liu, who just glanced at him and continued to sleep, would probably get beaten if it were someone else – however, he was indeed beaten a little bit. Liang Shu gave him a hard knock and said fiercely: “Stop sleeping!”

Liu Xian’an had no choice but to wake up with ringing and buzzing in his ears, though his mind was still extremely chaotic. Liang Shu lifted him and sat him upright: “After living for forty-eight thousand years, who would be scared like this by two mere southern barbarians?”

“…….”

Liu Xian’an’s lips moved twice, as if he wanted to explain something, but he didn’t say anything in the end. He just let out a long sigh and fell back again.

Liang Shu pulled his hair.

Liu Xian’an was in so much pain that he had to sit back up.

Liang Shu didn’t let go of his grip. He curled the black hair between his fingers and brushed the other’s face with the tips. Then he stopped his teasing and softened his tone: “Tell me, what did those two do to you?”

Liu Xian’an thought for a while, struggling to salvage memories from his splitting brain, then shook his head: “Nothing. I forgot.”

Liang Shu continued: “Then why were you crying?”

Liu Xian’an leaned against the head of the bed and pulled the blanket closed: “I suddenly realized many things.”

“In a cave?” Liang Shu couldn’t help but laugh. “Why did you single out such a place?”

“I don’t know.” Liu Xian’an continued to frown. “They tried to kill me.”

The smile on Liang Shu’s face vanished for a moment, but he soon recovered and continued to ask: “And then?”

Then, the next thing was not easy to describe. Liu Xian’an said slowly: “The world seemed to die before me, and then was rebuilt in an instant. It was different from before, but still the same, just like……” He wanted to explain to the other party as clearly as possible, but was bothered by the headache, so he could only roughly say, “It seems that there is a more majestic and vast world, encompassing everything. I couldn’t see it clearly at first, but I can now, and I couldn’t get out.”

“That’s why you cried?”

Liu Xian’an buried his head in his knees. His brain was still swollen with pain and hurt endlessly, as if new worlds were pouring out uncontrollably, constantly expanding. His hands grabbed the blanket, their thin joints nearly breaking.

Liang Shu suddenly asked: “Why haven’t you asked me if we caught those two people?”

Liu Xian’an asked in a muffled voice: “Did you?”

“Raise your head.”

Liu Xian’an: “……”

Very unwillingly, he raised his heavy head. His eyes were obviously red again.

Liang Shu found that sometimes people could be too smart. This was not always a good thing, because they would torment themselves. Many mortals didn’t even understand the world they lived in. They were overwhelmed by the three meals and separations and reunions before their eyes, and naturally had no time to pay attention to the so-called “Three Thousand Ways.” Seeing that flowers were only flowers, at most they would sigh over their beauty, and never wonder why flowers bloomed or why they died.

He said: “I didn’t catch them, but I saw the sigil on one of them. The boy in blue is a member of the Baifu Sect. I fear I will need to go south again in the future.”

Liu Xian’an gave an “en,” his perfunctory attitude visible to the naked eye.

Liang Shu felt that if he was allowed to continue to “enlighten” like this, the dao would be made clear, but there was an eighty percent chance he would become foolish and silly. At this time, he understood why the sages in ancient times often walked barefoot and wandered as they pleased, weeping and sobbing, being laughed at as lunatics by the world. It was likely because they had already been in another world and saw everything in the world of mortals as mere ants, so they didn’t pay attention to it.

So he lifted the blanket and pulled him out of bed: “Let’s go.”

Standing barefoot on the cold floor, Liu Xian’an’s whole body woke up: “Go where?”

“Walking.”

“……..”

Walking?

Liu Xian’an was casually covered in a robe by the other party, and staggered out the door without even putting on his shoes. This was a small village at the foot of the mountain. In the middle of the night, it was so quiet that not even a dog was barking, and the moonlight was silver-white like a lantern, casting distorted shadows on the trees, increasingly strange.

Liu Xian’an’s legs and feet were weak. He turned around to go back to sleep.

“Ridiculous.” His Royal Highness Xiao Wang originally wanted to use his power to suppress others, but after some thought, he didn’t know which world the other party had drifted to at this time, so it may be faster and more effective to use force. So his right hand locked around the other’s wrist like an iron band, dragging him all the way from the foot of the mountain to its bend.

Liu Xian’an hadn’t eaten much, had slept too long, and still had a headache. After all this tossing about, he couldn’t go on anymore. He sat on the ground and hugged a tree with both arms, resolutely refusing to move.

Liang Shu crouched in front of him: “Tired?”

Liu Xian’an mumbled: “Hungry.”

Liang Shu took out an oiled paper bag from his pocket: “Your new world doesn’t bother with food?”

The sweet scent of osmanthus wafted out, and Liu Xian’an stretched out his hand to reach for it, but Liang Shu stepped back: “Which one should you choose, the world in front of your eyes, or the world in your mind?”

Liu Xian’an sniffed his nose: “This one in front of me.”

Liang Shu handed him the oiled paper bag: “It seems you’re not so far gone that you can’t be pulled back.”

Liu Xian’an did not argue with him, and only took the sugar cake and ate it in big mouthfuls. Liang Shu sat beside him, bounced a stone in his hand for a while, and then tossed it at his feet: “Forget it.”

Liu Xian’an turned his head and looked at him curiously.

Liang Shu said: “I wanted you to see something fun, but there is nothing rare that a forty-eight thousand year old sleeping immortal hasn’t seen, so forget it.”

Liu Xian’an swallowed what was in his mouth: “I can also watch.”

“After watching it, you will stay in this world?”

“……That is out of my control.”

Liang Shu nodded, and didn’t press him anymore. He picked up a thin stone from the ground, closed his eyes and sensed where to aim, then threw it toward a puddle in the distance. The water that splashing under the moonlight was also a beautiful silver-white, and as the thin stone flew all the way, the fireflies in the grass on both sides were startled one by one, flying like fragments of fire, a sprawling phantom.

Liu Xian’an was engrossed in watching it. There was something in his stomach now, and the cool wind was blowing on him, brisk and refreshing. It was indeed much more comfortable than lying in bed.

“Have you rested enough?” Liang Shu skipped another rock over the water. “Enough to continue walking up the mountain.”

“You still want to walk?” Liu Xian’an had rejection written all over his body. “I won’t go.”

Liang Shu gripped the back of his collar and led him back onto the path without much effort.

Liu Xian’an complained: “I won’t go.”

Liang Shu was unmoved: “Don’t you also refuse to stop pretending in your head?”

Liu Xian’an pulled at a vine: “It’s the heavenly dao that won’t let me stop.”

“What a coincidence,” Liang Shu said. “Now it is this lord who won’t let you stop.”

Those words could not be said! Liu Xian’an wanted to explain the difference between the way of heaven and the way of humanity, but was so out of breath that he didn’t have the energy to think about it. Liang Shu was tall and had long legs. One of his steps took the weak Second Young Master Liu two steps. After turning at two mountain bends, half of his life had been lost. Thus, he hugged a tree for a while. Stopping and going like this, they finally reached the most dangerous peak before dawn.

Liu Xian’an lay on the ground and covered his face with his wide sleeves, angrily refusing to move.

Liang Shu did not make him move, but sat to the side, admiring for a long time this mortal man who took a rare step out of the dao and experienced a normal emotion.

After a while, a ray of light suddenly shone upon Liu Xian’an’s face through the thin layer of fabric. His first reaction was that Liang Shu was playing tricks again, so he didn’t want to pay attention to it. But the light was getting brighter and brighter, so bright that no matter how he turned his head, he couldn’t hide. So he had to take away his sleeves and sit up, saying angrily: “You —”

He stopped abruptly in the middle of speaking, because a huge red sun was erupting before him with awesome brilliance. The mountains were ablaze, and the sea of clouds seemed to be wrapped in a thousand layers of brocade, surging and churning, spreading all the way to the very limits of sight.

Never in his life had he been so near the sun, so close that it seemed as if he could pick it up with his fingers. He actually stretched out his hand and grasped a handful of fiery light.

“Although there are many worries in the world, there are also many things worth seeing.” Liang Shu stood side by side with him. “It’s not necessary to hide in your Three Thousand Worlds all the time. Think of something interesting related to the world in front of you.”

Liu Xian’an did as he said. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let the morning air dispel the chaos in his mind. Interesting. Related to this world. After some thought, he suddenly remembered and said: “I bought two jars of very good wine a while ago!”

Liang Shu looked at him: “Why did you want to buy wine?”

Liu Xian’an replied: “I was waiting to have a drink with the prince. In addition to wine, I also found a few good restaurants. Although Baihe City is small, if you go shopping carefully, you can spend three to five days there.”

“All right,” Liang Shu said with a smile. “Wine and food, that sounds like a good itinerary.”

Liu Xian’an was also happy, because he didn’t realize until now, of course, ah, I planned to invite His Royal Highness Xiao Wang to drink, and His Royal Highness Xiao Wang is right in front of me, he really came!

“When are we going?”

“Right now.”

Then there was a new problem. To set off for Baihe City, they had to descend this ridiculously high mountain first.

Liu Xian’an said again: “I can’t walk anymore!”

Liang Shu said: “I also can’t walk anymore.”

“…….”

Liu Xian’an tactfully said: “But the prince doesn’t look like he can’t walk.”

Liang Shu took his time turning over old accounts: “In order to find you yesterday, I walked in the mountains for a whole day and exchanged hundreds of moves with people. I was almost injured and had no time to rest at night, climbing this dangerous peak with you. Not to mention the whole night’s journey, you even ate my meal.”

Liu Xian’an: “……I thought it was prepared for me.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Liang Shu shook his head. “I didn’t eat anything, and wanted a casual bite on the way.”

Liu Xian’an had no choice but to give in: “Then I can walk a little longer on my own.”

Liang Shu leaned weakly against a tree: “But I really can’t walk anymore, I need someone to carry me for a while.”

Liu Xian’an listened, but did not hear. His footsteps were hasty and his stride very fast, and his figure looked unsteady from the back.

Liang Shu laughed again for a long time before lifting his legs to catch up.

At noon, the two returned to the small village, but still failed to leave for Baihe City, because Liu Xian’an lay in bed as soon as he entered the door. Even though A-Ning threatened him with a cold handkerchief, he refused to get up, falling asleep in the blink of an eye.

“Your Highness.” A-Ning was a little anxious. “My family’s Second Young Master always sleeps like this……”

“It’s all right,” Liang Shu said. “He needs a good rest.”

A-Ning and the disciples beside him felt that this was nonsense. Second Young Master Liu needed rest? He had been lying down for almost half of his life, and also slept for a day yesterday.

“This time is different, all of you go out,” Liang Shu said. “Don’t disturb him.”

A-Ning lowered the curtains, blocking some of the light. The dim space let Liu Xian’an sleep more securely, and the faint scent of sandalwood in the air also made him feel a bit more secure.

This time really was different from before. There was no dao of heaven, no yin and yang, and no worlds unfolding. There was only a sheet of sweet, black cotton wool that wrapped a person up like he was rolling in the sun, so comfortable that even his bones were soft.

Liang Shu also exited the room.

“Your Highness.” Cheng Suyue was standing guard outside the courtyard. “Should we wait for the results of the government search, or leave for the royal city as soon as possible?”

“Neither,” Liang Shu said. “We’re going to Baihe City first.”

---

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

As the silver dagger approached, Liu Xian’an’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, but he didn’t dodge, because at the moment when his eyes reflected in the sharp blade, the three thousand worlds in his mind suddenly became more beautiful and eye-catching. The blue sky was vast, and the sun and the moon hung together.

Second Young Master Liu was very surprised to find that at the critical point between life and death, his thoughts actually completed another leap toward a higher dimension. Many causes and effects that were beyond reach in the past now revealed their most authentic core. Just like clouds and mists being blown away by a strong wind, the dao was within reach.

With a ding, the blade fell to the ground. Yun You said angrily: “It’s useless to keep him anyway. Little uncle, why don’t you let me kill him?”

The masked man said: “Because killing him is also useless.”

“At least he won’t be an eyesore here!” Yun You put the dagger back into its scabbard. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. There were at least eight hundred disciples in Baihe Mountain Village, and he even heard that the old man who burned firewood knew how to heal diseases. Why was the one he picked out and captured himself the one who was ignorant and incompetent? When the Liu family discovered that they had lost someone, whether they would report it to the officials and search the mountain could not be ascertained for the time being. At the very least, they would strengthen their guard, so how could they keep the second young master?

Because Liu Xian’an’s various deeds were so lazy, Yun You even suspected that even if he threatened the Liu family with his life, he may not be able to replace him with a decent doctor. After all, according to all the rumors, apart from helping the world in a gentle and refined manner every day, Master Liu Zhuang would pick up a big stick and beat his son in exasperation.

“Hey, you —” Yun You turned his head to the corner of the wall, but before he could finish his sentence, he was taken aback. Because he found that Liu Xian’an was crying. A tear slid down his face and lingered on his cheek for a moment, and then dropped onto his sleeve.

“…….”

But Liu Xian’an had actually forgotten where he was. A huge storm was being set off in his mind and the world was spinning rapidly. The sea of clouds roiled with it as all things were re-formed and combined in a new dimension, from one to two, and from two to three. Standing high in the sky, he witnessed the blooming of a flower and the collapse of a dynasty at the same time. The turbulent and magnificent surge had already exceeded what a mortal body could bear, so there was no choice but to cry uncontrollably.

The masked man was also looking at Liu Xian’an. He vaguely felt that he was not crying due to fear, but could not pinpoint the reason. Yun You was annoyed by his tears and felt that he had brought this trouble back himself, so he had to solve it himself. He raised his palm and was about to knock him out, when suddenly there was a crash from outside the cave.

The masked man clenched the hilt of his sword and dodged into the dark corner near the cave entrance. Crash, crash. The sound continued to go on, but was unlike movement made by humans. Sure enough, after a moment, a wild boar ran over on a rampage. As if it couldn’t see clearly, it slammed into the entrance of the cave – bang – and then fainted.

Yun You breathed a sigh of relief and re-sheathed his dagger: “It’s the first time I’ve seen such a stupid bastard.”

The masked man turned back to the cave, and the hem of his clothing cast a shadow on the ground before vanishing in an instant.

And Liang Shu’s pupils shrank slightly as the shadow moved.

“Your Highness, there are indeed people in the cave.” Cheng Suyue lowered her voice. “This place is remote, and ordinary people would never come here. It should be Second Young Master Liu and the kidnapper who took him away.”

Liang Shu ordered: “Keep watch.”

Liu Xian’an leaned against the wall, hugged his knees with his arms, and fell soundly asleep. He was truly tired. The brain needed rest, and the body needed it too. Just like a traveler who had journeyed thousands of li on the wind, his entire body was as heavy as lead, and he didn’t even have the strength to lift his eyelids.

Yun You was almost in awe. At first he thought the other party was pretending, but later discovered that this was not the case. The rumors were not wrong, this was really a good-for-nothing who would sleep even if the sky was falling. He even patted that face with a cold dagger, but didn’t see the other person open his eyes. On the contrary, it made the person’s tears fall again. He choked up and sobbed in his dreams, crying unceasingly.

“……Since Liu Fushu can snatch someone from the hands of the King of Hell, why doesn’t he treat his own son?”

The masked man said: “Pack up your things, let’s go.”

Yun You was puzzled: “Now?”

The masked man said: “Wild boars don’t run into caves for no reason. There must be people around to drive them in such a way.”

Yun You asked: “You mean that the people looking for him are searching nearby?”

“Not at all. The Liu family only had dozens of doctors come over this time. Even if they found out and reported it to the officials, they would not be so fast.”

This was the consulting room they had prepared, but now that he had caught the wrong doctor, there was really no need to wait any longer. He pulled Liu Xian’an up from the ground: “Let’s go!”

Second Young Master Liu opened his eyes with difficulty, his thoughts still torn between fantasy and reality as he walked unsteadily. After leaving the cave, the sudden light woke him up a little bit. Perhaps it was intuition, or maybe he was longing for his friend in another world, but without knowing why, he suddenly called out: “Royal Highness Xiao Wang.”

Yun You frowned: “Who?”

As soon as this word fell, a shadow suddenly appeared like a thunderbolt, descending from the sky with great force that caused him to stagger a few steps back, and Liu Xian’an also sat on the ground. Liang Shu stretched out his hand to grab the person, but was forced to dodge back by the edge of a sword. Cheng Suyue also swept down from on high. Yun You had already reacted at this time, and unsheathed his dagger with murderous intent in his eyes, engaging her in battle.

The rest of the guards stepped forward quickly, trying to send Liu Xian’an away from the scene, but how could Yun You be willing? He kicked Cheng Suyue away, and with his other hand, let loose a cloud of purple-blue smog. If one looked closely, they could see hundreds of highly venomous bees buzzing and flying toward the crowd.

“Your Highness!” Cheng Suyue was so entangled by Yun You that she couldn’t leave her position, so she called out.

Liang Shu turned around and picked up Liu Xian’an. Placing him high in a tree, he pressed down on his upper body: “Hold on tight!”

Two guards also followed, supporting him one from the left and the other to the right. Liang Shu turned to pursue the masked man again. Regarding He Rao and Chang Wanli’s statements, this person’s martial arts were indeed strange and wicked, with signs of a shortened lifespan everywhere – making his opponent short-lived, as well as himself.

Liu Xian’an hugged the thick branch, trying his best to extract himself from the three thousand worlds, but he was taken in by the beautiful scenes that he had never before witnessed, and still couldn’t leave completely. Thus, the guards next to him were terrified, not understanding why Second Young Master Liu wouldn’t stop crying. What had those two villains done to him in the cave?

Liu Xian’an looked at the back of Liang Shu’s black cloak. He was also anxious at heart, so he slammed his head hard against the branch – boom!

A guard gasped and quickly stretched out his hand to protect his forehead, calling: “Cheng-guniang, Second Young Master Liu doesn’t seem quite right.”

Cheng Suyue and several other guards were still no match for Yun You, so she could only send an anxious glance toward Liang Shu.

The masked man said: “His Royal Highness Xiao Wang doesn’t seem to be trying to save a life.”

Liang Shu drew his long sword out of its sheath: “This lord is here to collect a debt from you on behalf of the tens of thousands of people in the Bai River Valley, and nearly a hundred people in the Tan family.”

The masked man, Feng Xiaojin, sneered upon hearing these words, and his originally pale lips attained a bit of ruddy color at this time: “What do the lives of tens of thousands of people in Baihe have to do with me? Everything was due to Tan Xiaozhong’s evil cause from the beginning. He deserved to die. He should have died slowly of cold and hunger in the wind and rain, but was fortunate enough to be killed immediately.”

Speaking of such hatred, he suddenly clenched the soft sword in his hand. It was a wicked, snake-like sword with dense barbs, soaked in blood and time to extreme smoothness.

Liang Shu’s sword was the complete opposite to his. After Liang Yu took the throne, he personally dug out a piece of rare black iron from the treasury and handed it over to the best group of refiners, letting them temper the long sword in the volcanic lava. It had not been named yet, but became a unique totem to protect Dayan. In the northwest, the common people would even paste a portrait of this sword to their doors in order to pray for peace and invincibility.

Feng Xiaojin didn’t intend to kill Liang Shu, and only wanted to escape as quickly as possible. He turned around in the air and shot two rows of darts from his sleeve, taking advantage of the moment Liang Shu dodged to knock Cheng Suyue down with a palm: “Let’s go!”

Yun You got up from the ground, followed Feng Xiaojin for two steps, and threw two smoke bombs backwards. But he was still not reconciled. At this moment, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of Liu Xian’an lying on the tree and turned back. Cheng Suyue shouted loudly: “Look out!”

The guards dragged Liu Xian’an away, but Yun You had already reached him. Whatever was in his hand, he flung it all over, denser than the previous swarm of venomous bees.

Cheng Suyue didn’t have time to think as she rushed up to take Liu Xian’an away. Liang Shu was already one step ahead of her, holding him firmly in the air. Feng Xiaojin also took the opportunity to pull Yun You over, exchanging one for the other, and dove into the smoke that had not yet dissipated.

Liu Xian’an leaned into Liang Shu’s arms with wet tears still on his face, his breathing weary and hoarse.

Liang Shu’s hand rested on his back, and when he touched a wet area, his mind went blank. He thought it was blood, but upon checking, found that it was sweat. His whole body was cold and wet as if he had just been picked up from the water.

“Bring him back.” Liang Shu handed him over to Cheng Suyue. “Have people take good care of him.”

“Yes!” Cheng Suyue called the guards to carry Liu Xian’an on their backs. “How many people should be left for the prince?”

“None, have them protect him.” Liang Shu proceeded to chase after Feng Xiaojin.

The smoke had cleared by now, and there were only green hills before his eyes.

. . . . . .

A-Ning and the rest of the disciples of Baihe Mountain Village were already very anxious. Seeing that their Second Young Master had been sent back, they said Amitabha, Amitabha, and hurried forward on weak legs to help him lie down. Second Master Liu Fuzhi also rushed back at this time, and personally checked his nephew’s pulse, saying: “He’s not hurt, not hurt. It’s only that he is a little weak, likely from the fright.”

“He isn’t injured?” Cheng Suyue asked.

“He’s not.” Lui Fuzhi covered him with a blanket and sent his disciples to decoct a tranquilizing medicine, then asked, “Could the kidnappers be caught?”

“The prince went after them personally,” Cheng Suyue said. “That major criminal of the Imperial court should be a stranger to Second Young Master Liu. It was not intentional targeting this time, they just wanted to find a skilled doctor to heal their injuries. The disciples of Baihe Mountain Village had better be on guard in the near future.”

After hearing the whole story, Second Master Liu’s first thought was also, why did they choose Xian’an if they wanted to kidnap a doctor……it seemed inappropriate for a doctor to say this, but it was true that the life of the kidnapper should not be long.

Liu Xian’an continued to mumble drowsily in his sleep, but no one could hear what he said, nor did they want to. After all, even what Second Young Master Liu said when he was awake was confounding.

Only Liang Shu, who returned in the middle of the night, sat by the bed, put his lips close to his ear, and ordered: “Louder.”

T/N: 

Normal people: Casually assimilating new knowledge and life experiences.

Liu Xian’an: Witnesses the restructuring and rebirth of a literal new universe inside his brain.

---

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Chapter Twenty-Six << Table of Contents >> Chapter Twenty-Eight

Feeling the movement by his feet, Bo Yueming’s voice gradually came to a stop, and he automatically lowered his eyes, but there was still nothingness in his field of vision.

“Meow-wu~”

The cat’s fleshy paws brushed his ankle, and the soft touch reminded Bo Yueming of Pei Yi when he was applying medicine.

It had been a whole afternoon. Why hadn’t Uncle Kai brought that person back yet?

Bo Yueming’s thoughts took a small turn. He stared fixedly and didn’t speak.

To the side, assistant Lin Zhong noticed his boss’s silence and hurriedly said, “Mr. Bo, a little black cat jumped out of nowhere under your feet, shall I ask a servant to take it away?”

As soon as these words fell, there was a burst of hurried footsteps.

Pei Yi, who was drawn in by the cat, ignored Uncle Kai’s dissuasion behind him and bent down to pick up the little milk cat by the scruff of its neck.

“Aiyo, Little Sir……” Uncle Kai was afraid that the little wild cat would resist, and hastened forward. “Put it down quickly, what if this wild cat with sharp claws scratches you?”

As soon as Uncle Kai spoke his anxious words, the little black cat in Pei Yi’s grasp hugged his arm and rubbed against his clothes without any fear, and its milky cry was even cuter.

Its whole body was black, with only a dot of white hair at the nape of its neck.

Pei Yi clutched the cat tightly with an obvious smile in his eyes. “Uncle Kai, it’s good.”

“It seems very friendly, and looks like it’s only two or three months old.” Uncle Kai also followed along and glanced at Bo Yueming, who was still sitting in his seat. “It is black, and its two eyes are yellow and blue, separate colors.”

The Bo family manor covered a large area. In the past two years, Old Mrs. Bo, who was still in charge of the household, had some free-range cats raised to keep out mice. The little black cat before them was likely a mixed cat from that batch.

Pei Yi praised in a low voice, “It looks good.”

The little black cat seemed to understand, and responded, “Meow-wu~”

When Bo Yueming heard this inexplicably harmonious “call and response,” his expression relaxed slightly. “All right, put this kitten on the ground and let it leave by itself later.”

Pei Yi looked at the cat in his arms and felt a bit reluctant at first glance.

The assistant caught this clue and asked tentatively, “Little Sir, you like this cat and want to raise it?”

That was just what Pei Yi wanted, so he simply nodded.

If he remembered correctly, there was a short background introduction in the original book—

Bo Yueming met a little black cat with different colored eyes after he lost his sight. The little fellow crouched around every day and clung to him, and from being ignorant at the beginning to feeding it regularly, Bo Yueming harmoniously got along with it.

But one day, the black cat’s neck was viciously twisted by a malicious person. The innocent thing died and was thrown against the door of of this villa, like a blatant demonstration.

After learning about this, Bo Yueming was somber for a long time, and his personality became increasingly distorted and violent. This was one of the things that indirectly led to his blackening.

The Bo family manor was large, and free range for cats was even more unrestrained, but how could a small animal withstand the schemes of vicious people? It was better to keep it by your side, where it would be safer.

“Raise a cat?”

Bo Yueming didn’t know Pei Yi’s true thoughts, and frowned disapprovingly.

He once had a brief experience raising a cat, and knew that if he didn’t have a one hundred percent ability to take care of a small animal, he shouldn’t consider it casually.

Pei Yi responded, “Raise, I will raise.”

Whether it was because of personal love or control of the plot’s trajectory, he didn’t want the cat to end up in such a way.

“Pei Yi, you can’t keep it.”

Bo Yueming’s tone was light, and his rejection was from an objective point of view. A “little friend” who might not even be able to take good care of himself, how could he care for a kitten?

Uncle Kai understood Bo Yueming’s meaning, and urged Pei Yi twice.

Assistant Lin Zhong didn’t dare to interrupt. Seeing that Pei Yi was still holding the cat, he couldn’t help thinking to himself—

Mr. Bo has always been a very principled person. He said that cats are not allowed, and I fear that this little gentleman who has just entered the door is destined to be disappointed.

Pei Yi didn’t know what other people were thinking. He went straight to Bo Yueming’s side, bent down, and stuffed the little black cat into his arms. “You hug it.”

“……”

Soft cat fur rubbed back and forth on his arm, and the tickle felt familiar. 

Pei Yi had made up his mind to keep the cat. Even without relying on Bo Yueming, he would be able to take care of it alone after leaving in the future. “It, it is very good, I can take care of it.”

Afraid of revealing too much by talking too much, Pei Yi went all in and crouched down and grasped Bo Yueming’s wrist, pretending to plead softly and hesitantly, “Beg you.”

“Meow-wu.”

The little black cat opened its round eyes, as if imitating Pei Yi’s attitude, and even stretched out its small meat pad and patted it on Bo Yueming’s arm. “Wu~”

“……”

Bo Yueming was slightly stumped for words.

At this moment, he couldn’t tell the difference between the two touches on his arm.

One person and one cat. There was always an indescribable similarity – well-behaved, cunning, and also pleasing. One couldn’t bear to say half a word that would disappoint them.

Bo Yueming changed his words. “Never mind, you can keep it if you want.”

Uncle Kai and Lin Zhong looked at each other. They didn’t expect Bo Yueming to change his decision so easily.

Pei Yi received the answer he wanted and smiled, withdrawing his hand. “En.”

The force on his wrist suddenly disappeared, and Bo Yueming suddenly felt a little more uncomfortable. He pretended to be calm and took off his work earphones, ordering, “Uncle Kai, take this cat for a check-up later, and buy some pet supplies for Pei Yi.”

As he spoke, his other hand smoothed the cat’s fur slightly.

Close by, Pei Yi noticed Bo Yueming’s small movements and was not in a hurry to take the little black cat back—

Some people, ah.

On the surface, he reluctantly agreed because of his pleading, but in his heart, he might be even more of a cat slave than him.

. . . . . .

As a housekeeper, Uncle Kai was very efficient. Before going to bed at night, Pei Yi had everything he needed to raise a cat, in addition to a new computer and a new mobile phone.

That afternoon in the car, Pei Yi asked Uncle Kai for a computer in the name of wanting “cartoons.” Although the other party was surprised by his proposal, he fortunately did not refuse, and turned around to arrange it for him.

Uncle Kai regarded Pei Yi as a good boy, and specially retrieved a cartoon for him before leaving.

The door closed.

Pei Yi temporarily put on the cartoon video and promptly opened the properties manager to check the computer’s configurations.

Sure enough, this was the status of a rich and powerful family. To watch a cartoon, one must have a super high-end computer.

However, this was exactly what Pei Yi wanted.

He intended to use this computer to create his own first pot of gold in this world.

“Meow~”

The little black cat was familiar with the layout of the room, and at this moment, it once again rubbed and rolled at his feet affectionately. Pei Yi simply hugged it on his knees, and while stroking the cat’s fur, used the search webpage.

In the early years, Pei Yi came into contact with game programming by chance. After a lot of hard work, he and two friends set up a small studio. Pei Yi was the one in charge of the game structure, while his friends were responsible for recruitment, optimization, and external business operations.

In the past seven or eight years, their game studio had grown from small stand-alone games to pass the time, to large-scale online games, going from obscurity to fame in China. Pei Yi had also become the most sought-after game architect in the gaming circle.

Now that transmigration had become a reality, Pei Yi naturally had to think about his own future.

Pei Yi checked the game distribution systems and forums in this world and found that it was almost the same as in his reality. Of course, it was obviously impossible to create large-scale games and establish a game company with just a computer.

However, everything could be set into motion with small steps.

Mini-program games were a popular trend right now. For players, mini-games did not need to be downloaded, and were convenient and easy to use to pass the time when they were bored; for developers, they were also simple and easy to make. As long as there were clicks on the relevant gaming platforms, they could earn corresponding fees.

Plus, Pei Yi was the best at game concept innovation projects, and could also find production companies in relevant gaming forums to conduct a series of legal operations such as buyouts and cooperation.

Having confirmed this situation, Pei Yi was completely relieved. It was not difficult for him to simply write a few sets of small game programs, not to mention, weren’t there still a few creative IPs for large-scale games in his mind?

Which one of them was not a promising road to riches, ah!

Pei Yi smiled and rubbed the cat’s head vigorously. He had a card up his sleeve. “Okay, I’ll buy you canned fish when I have money, the best kind!”

The little black cat turned its head, licked his fingertips with the tip of its tongue, and responded, “Meow!”

. . . . . .

Pei Yi’s implementation ability had always been strong. After learning about the relevant rules of mini-game operation, he immediately threw himself into the preliminary work and just stayed in the room without going out.

In any case, the original owner was reticent and didn’t like to go out, so it wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

“Meow-wu.”

The sun was shining outside the window, and the little black cat in his lap suddenly became vigilant. Pei Yi, who was still immersed in his work, came to a sudden realization and quickly switched the computer interface.

Sure enough, a door that was unlocked had a tendency to be pushed open.

As soon as Uncle Kai opened the door, he saw Pei Yi sitting at the computer desk and staring at the screen intently. The classic children’s cartoon, “Black Cat Detective,” was playing on it.

Not only himself, but also the little black cat lying next to the computer was very attentive.

Uncle Kai, who had knocked on the door but didn’t receive a response, felt helpless and amused. “Little Sir, it’s time to go downstairs for dinner. We can’t stare at the computer for a long time and hurt our eyes.”

Pei Yi nodded and pressed the pause button on the cartoon, silently calming down his stalled heartbeat—

So close!

He was almost found out!

Pei Yi went downstairs with the cat and Uncle Kai, and when the two approached the dining room, the one sitting in the main seat had almost finished eating.

The relationship between Bo Yueming and the rest of the Bo family was not close. Since Old Mrs. Bo went abroad to recuperate, he rarely went to the main house to eat with the others.

Bo Yueming heard the two sets of footsteps. “You’re finally willing to come down?”

Pei Yi, who had worked so hard that he forgot to eat, sat opposite him in guilty silence.

Uncle Kai thought of the scene just now when he entered the room and found it interesting. He scooped up a bowl of fish soup for Pei Yi and explained, “Second Young Master, Little Sir has a childlike innocence, and was addicted to watching cartoons.”

“……”

Childlike innocence?

Pei Yi took the soup bowl, his cheeks hot.

Bo Yueming didn’t expect such a situation, so he was somewhat mystified. “Cartoons?”

Uncle Kai solemnly announced the three words, “Black Cat Detective.” Pei Yi wished to bury his face in the soup bowl—

He knew from the beginning that he shouldn’t have asked for the computer for the purpose of “watching cartoons.” Now he really had to be treated as a young child. His image was gone, ah!

Uncle Kai’s interest didn’t stop, and he continued to describe, “Second Young Master, Little Sir looked just like the cat while watching cartoons.”

“Meow~”

Bo Yueming fumbled to pick up the little black cat that ran to his feet. He imagined the picture that Uncle Kai conveyed, and suddenly felt a little more of an impulse to tease than before.

“Pei Yi, does this black cat have a name yet? Is it Detective?”

“…….”

The name-picking waste Pei Yi choked. 

He had originally wanted to name it this way for convenience, but in a flash, seeing Bo Yueming’s expression that contained a smile that was not a smile, he shook his head forcibly for the sake of face. “No, it isn’t.”

Uncle Kai wished that there could be more conversations at the dinner table, so that it was not as dull as before, so he immediately asked, “Little Sir, what are you going to name the cat?”

Pei Yi was able to react resourcefully, and switched to a half-hearted nickname, “Inspector.”

Bo Yueming didn’t say a word, and blocked the arc of his mouth by drinking water—

Was there any difference from “Detective?”

Watching cartoons to name a cat? This was just a child’s way of thinking.

Bo Yueming unconsciously patted the cat’s head again, and heard Pei Yi slurping the soup quietly. “Inspector?”

En, kind of cute.

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Chapter Seven <<Table of Contents >> Chapter Nine