Chapter 21: It's Confirmed That His Eyes Are Full Of Hatred.
"Hong Xiu, Hong Xiu?"
After a few calls, Hong Xiu finally came back to reality. She suddenly fixed her gaze and found that the cup in front of her was also full, but she was still pouring.
"Ah!" Hong Xiu shouted, and hurriedly took a cloth to clean it, "Your Majesty, forgive me!"
"What's wrong with you? Falling in trance, are you sick?" Xiao YuAn asked worriedly.
"I'm not sick, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern." Hong Xiu bowed her head.
Xiao YuAn took a closer look at her and saw that there were indeed no signs of illness, so he didn't pursue it: "I will go to Jing Yang Palace later."
Hong Xiu wiped her hands: "Your Majesty, are you going to see Yan Heqing?"
Xiao YuAn said: "Yes, I will go by myself. Don't do anything unnecessary."
Hong Xiu advised: "His Majesty should bring an Imperial bodyguard."
Xiao YuAn thought about it, strolled to the door of the dormitory, and brought Yang LiuAn in: "Comrade Yang, I'll go on a trip to investigate the Leader, will you accompany me?"
Yang LiuAn was stunned: "Forgive Weichen1, I'm stupid and didn't understand what His Majesty meant."
AD
Xiao YuAn smiled: "You don't need to understand, let's go. We'll bathe in the glory of the male lead."
The two came to Jing Yang Palace and went directly to Yan HeQing's wing-room. Yang LiuAn was about to push the door open but was stopped by Xiao YuAn.
Yang LiuAn was puzzled and saw Xiao YuAn stepping forward, tapping the door lightly three times.
Yang LiuAn was shocked and speechless.
Who is this Yan HeQing, and why His Majesty should be so sincere and fearful!
Seeing Yang LiuAn's shocked face, Xiao YuAn asked doubtfully, "What's the matter?"
"Your Majesty." Yang LiuAn struggled to utter his words, "Well, what exactly does this man mean to you? Why should you call him 'Leader'?"
Xiao YuAn thought for a while: "Male Lead, he! The focal point of the world's contradictions! The embodiment of the central idea! Everything rotates around him and we're all bound to jump with our eyes closed!"
Yang LiuAn was stunned!
The door was opened with a squeak, and Yan HeQing, dressed in white, appeared in front of them.
Yang LiuAn turned to look at Yan HeQing in shock!
Yan HeQing: "…?"
AD
Xiao YuAn saw that Yan HeQing had put cakes in the center of the clear house, went inside to take a plate, stuffed it into Yang LiuAn's arms and said: "LiuAn, you can go and eat cakes elsewhere."
Yang LiuAn was caught off guard: "Your Majesty, but …"
"It's okay. Go ahead."
Seeing that Xiao YuAn had a tough attitude, Yang LiuAn had to obey the order. He gave Yan HeQing a complicated look and turned away with the cakes.
Unlike from the previous embarrassment, Yan HeQing was clean and fresh this time; with his black long hair tied up in a high ponytail, beautiful and handsome emerging to the world, it's really a face rarely seen on earth.
Seeing Yan HeQing blocking the door while looking at him, Xiao YuAn smiled and asked, "Won't you invite me to take a seat?"
Yan HeQing stared at him for a while, and turned sideways.
Xiao YuAn walked leisurely into the house from his side and sat down next to the round yellow wooden table at the middle of the wing room.
Yan HeQing reached out to close the door, and Xiao YuAn shouted violently: "Don't close the door!"
Yan HeQing's action made him look at Xiao YuAn and his voice was cold: "Why?"
Xiao YuAn said: "I'm afraid you will cut me into pieces. There's no place where I can escape to if you close the door."
Yan HeQing was silent for a second and slammed the door shut.
AD
Xiao YuAn jumped three feet high and subconsciously ran towards the window. Yan HeQing turned around and gave him a look: "Since you're so scared of me, why did you persuade the Imperial bodyguard to leave just now?"
"For your innocence! If there's an Imperial bodyguard at the door, the people in this Jing Yang Palace will know that I came to see you. And although these concubines are men, there must be some of them that will get jealous. You don't worry about being the target, but I'm worried about you!" Xiao YuAn grabbed the window and was ready to turn it over at any time.
Yan HeQing was stunned and said, "I don't have a knife."
Xiao YuAn asked: "What about a dagger?"
"No."
"Sword?"
"No."
"And what about a hammer?"
Yan HeQing: "…What's a hammer?"
Xiao YuAn: "Then here I am, deceiving a puppy."
With that in mind, Xiao YuAn sat back at the table while remaining vigilant. He coughed twice to cover up the gait, and then pretended to be deep: "Comrade Xiao2-Yan."
Yan HeQing: "…"
AD
Xiao YuAn continued, "Did you get accustomed in living here? Are you cold sleeping at night? Do you usually like to go out for a walk? Princess Yongning's palace is on the east side of your wing room. Do you understand what I mean?"
Xiao YuAn's smile is very amiable! Very meaningful! Very thought-provoking!
Yan HeQing calmly replied, "Yes, I understand."
Oooh! You're really worthy of being the protagonist! Look at this realization! Look at this ability to distinguish between primary and secondary conflicts! Look at this consciousness of grasping the main contradiction! I admire you!
Yan HeQing continued, "I will not go to the east."
Xiao YuAn almost fell off the stool.
You must go! You must go for me! Please! If you don't go, you will miss your first wife. You don't understand anything!
Xiao YuAn swallowed: "I didn't mean this…"
Yan HeQing said, "I understand."
You don't! You don't understand!
Forget it. It's better to ask Princess Yongning if she needs a bodyguard.
Xiao YuAn shuffled a few more words, and then got up and left. Yan HeQing said nothing, and watched silently. When Xiao YuAn left, those seemingly indifferent eyes were instantly cold and calculating.
AD
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Footnotes
微臣 wēi chén; this small official/humble servant.
小 xiǎo; Its original meaning is fine dust particles, and by extension, it means tiny, and from tiny, it means lowly, young, or young people, etc. It's also used as a humble way of referring to oneself, someone or something related to oneself. As an adjetive, it's used before a surname, first name, ranking, etc.; to express a nickname. As a noun, it's used to refer to young people, extended to the younger generation.
Chapter 22: I've Confirmed That His Eyes Are Luring And Scummy.
Walking out of the wing-room, Xiao YuAn wandered around looking for Yang LiuAn, but he didn't got to take a few more steps when he heard a surprise call behind him: "Your Majesty!"
Xiao YuAn turned around confused, he saw a man dressed in red looking at him with delight.
He was a man, but he had extremely charming and beautiful facial features. His posture was twisted, and even his voice was deliberately pinched into a thin tone. He rushed onto him to hug him, the fragrance between his sleeves almost made Xiao YuAn faint.
Xiao YuAn quickly stepped back, avoiding the man's intended hugging attack.
The man fell on an empty space, feeling grieved, throwing a tantrum almost bursting into tears: "I haven't seen you in days, Your Majesty, don't you want A-Yu anymore?"
You, you, you talk properly! No way! Don't cry! Wait! Don't come any closer!
Xiao YuAn dodged again, trying to buy time while he tried to remember who this person was in the original book.
This man was briefly mentioned in the original book, but Xiao YuAn feels that he can still remember him. He also thanked the female fans who pestered the comment section with this topic.
His full name is Qin Yu. He's the most favored one among the male concubines and the only one that was mentioned in the original book.
When the Northern Kingdom was about to be defeated by Yan HeQing, the young Monarch poisoned all his male concubines, but left Qin Yu alive. He even wanted Qin Yu to escape with him to the North, it seemed that he really felt deep love for Qin Yu.
However, in order to survive, Qin Yu betrayed the young Monarch and he was caught by Yan HeQing at the entrance of the Palace.
AD
This plot twist, in the original book, was described in a few paragraphs, but it touched many fangirls' nerves. For a while, the book reviews were full of him being described as a scum Shou, sadomasochistic, with deep emotions and so on.
At that time, Xiao YuAn wanted to ask these girls: How do you know that Qin Yu is a Shou! The original book doesn't mention it at all!
Now Xiao YuAn just wanted to say: Do y'all have an unique talent to recognize who's a Gong and who's a Shou?!
When Qin Yu saw that Xiao YuAn kept avoiding him, he bit his lower lip tightly, and his eyes glistened with tears: "Your Majesty? Why? What did I do wrong? Did I make His Majesty unhappy? I heard that His Majesty has been very busy day and night. This time, you finally came to Jing Yang Palace, but you didn't come to see this servant?"
Xiao YuAn answered decisively: "No."
Qin Yu: "…"
As soon as Qin Yu's eyes closed, he burst into tears. When he opened them again he looked very pitiful and beautiful with his tears falling like rain: "It seems that His Majesty has found another love recently, then, a-Yu will leave now. He won't be offending His Majesty anymore."
Xiao YuAn nodded: "Okay, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye."
Qin Yu was instantly immersed in shock because of Xiao YuAn's sudden singing voice. He then found that the tears that had been successful before, were useless this time!
Xiao YuAn really turned away and left!
Fearing that the entanglement with Qin Yu would cause him troubles, Xiao YuAn hurriedly left to continue searching for Yang LiuAn. Just when he was puzzled as to where to go to find him, the familiar sound of a Guqin suddenly came.
It was on that day when Xiao YuAn couldn't fall asleep, when he went out for a walk, he heard the sound of the Guqin before running into Yang LiuAn near the Pavilion.
AD
Xiao YuAn was puzzled, he followed the Guqin sound towards a small yard where willows were planted. Unexpectedly, at the moment he stepped into the yard, the Guqin sound was quietly silenced until it disappeared completely. It was quiet all around.
Xiao YuAn raised his head in doubt and happened to see Yang LiuAn hurriedly approaching.
Seeing Xiao YuAn, Yang LiuAn was surprised, and then kneeled down on one knee to salute: "How did you come here, Your Majesty?"
Regardless of why I came, why is there a theme song every time you appear?
Xiao YuAn looked at the man with his own theme song: "Don't kneel, get up. Have you finished all the pastries?"
Yang LiuAn got up and said, "Answering to His Majesty, yes I did."
Seeing Yang LiuAn empty-handed, Xiao YuAn asked, "Well? What about the plate?"
Yang LiuAn suddenly supported himself, his voice was stuttering: "Pla-plate, W-we-weichen lost it."
Xiao YuAn said: "It's okay, it's not a valuable thing. Let's go back to the Palace."
Yang LiuAn took a long breath and saluted again: "Yes."
Chapter 23: I've Confirmed That His Eyes Were Indeed Cruel.
In the dead of the night, Hong Xiu was still serving Xiao YuAn as usual; she then waited for him to rest before leaving.
Xiao YuAn was just lying on his bed when he suddenly asked, "Hong Xiu, is there a famous Qin player in Jing Yang palace?"
After thinking for a while, Hong Xiu replied: "Answering to His Majesty, there is."
Seeing Xiao YuAn nodding his head, Hong Xiu asked with sincerity: "Does His Majesty want to…"
"No! I was just asking! No other meaning! Don't over-interpret!" Xiao YuAn interrupted her quickly.
Hong Xiu bowed her head to salute and said, "This maidservant was too stupid. Xiao Fengyue has been in the Palace for a year, but His Majesty has never seen him. Why is His Majesty suddenly asking about him today?"
After all, I heard the sound of the Guqin twice by accident and I've always wondered who was the one playing it. So his name was Xiao Fengyue.
Xiao YuAn searched the name back and forth twice in his mind, but he didn't have any recollection of it. It seemed to be a character not mentioned in the original book.
Xiao YuAn said: "I was just curious, don't worry."
Hong Xiu nodded and extinguished the candlelight beside the bed. Xiao YuAn, who had breathing sounds next to him, soon fell asleep.
Seeing Xiao YuAn sleeping, Hong Xiu leaves quietly. Outside the Palace, the moon was bright in the sky, but the night was really dark; and Hong Xiu, wrapping the clothes, was full of worries.
AD
Eunuch Zhao's words were still lingering inside Hong Xiu's heart. In the past, she would go back to rest by now, but this time she couldn't help but walk out towards the Jing Yang Palace.
Yang HeQing's wing room is on the far East side of Jing Yang Palace. Because of the curfew, at this time, Jing Yang Palace is quieter at night.
Hong Xiu was only thinking about things when unconsciously she got there. When she was about to leave, she saw a figure in the East part of the courtyard!
Hong Xiu's heart was shocked. Holding her breath she saw Yan HeQing standing in the middle of the courtyard, facing South, staring at the moon.
The night was as cold as water, and the bright moonlight was falling on the cool snow, on the dry tree branches and in the eyes of Yan HeQing, for quite a while.
The vast land ten thousand miles away from this place was his hometown, and the white bones buried under it were his ancestors.
Yan HeQing held the jade hairpin tightly in his right hand. There was unwillingness, remorse and determination in his eyes. When he raised his eyes again, they were flowing with murderous intent.
Hong Xiu was horrified, and her head was filled with Eunuch Zhao's advice: The people in Jing Yang Palace are going to be sent to His Majesty's bedside. If you send a wolf, you will hurt His Majesty…
At this time, Eunuch Zhao sat on a chair drinking tea. While Steward Feng was massaging his legs for him, he asked: "Eunuch Zhao, you said that this Hong Xiu is just a maidservant; after listening to your words, what else can she do? I'm afraid that Yan HeQing's days at Jing Yang Palace will be very comfortable."
After hearing this, Eunuch Zhao sneered and shook his head: "The only thing I'm worried about is that she didn't listen to my advice."
"Huh? Did Eunuch Zhao make some arrangements in Jing Yang Palace?" Steward Feng was surprised.
Eunuch Zhao looked at Steward Feng with disgust: "You, why don't you just ask directly?"
AD
Steward Feng was a yes-man: "Instruct me Eunuch Zhao."
Eunuch Zhao said, "Do you know how many years has Hong Xiu been in the Palace?"
Steward Feng wiped the cold sweat: "This slave is stupid, I don't know."
"Humph." Eunuch Zhao sneered. "She, ah, she entered the Palace at the age of eighteen and she has been in charge of the Jing Yang Palace for more than five years. Do you know why it took her only three years to become the head master of the Jing Yang Palace?"
Steward Feng stuttered: "This s-slave…"
Eunuch Zhao continued: "I will tell you something, one of these male concubines was once found to be an assassin. This assassin should have been executed immediately, but his appearance was extremely pleasing for His Majesty. His Majesty's heart was very itchy and impatient, but he was also afraid of the beautiful man's force, so he handed the man over to Hong Xiu. Later, the next day, the assassin's tendons were cut and his teeth were broken. Then, he was sent to His Majesty's bedside."
After finishing his speech, Eunuch Zhao disregarded the fright in Steward Feng's face and stood up from the chair. He knocked on his old leg with the back of his hand and said: "There's some things that can't be changed."
Chapter 24: I've Confirmed That His Eyes Are … Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Xiao YuAn has been going to Yongning Palace recently.
On the first day, Princess Yongning was learning to play the Guqin. When she saw Xiao YuAn, she was very happy and played a piece of music for him. Her slender jade fingers were flying, and the scenery was beautiful.
Xiao YuAn was amazed, and then, went right to the point: "Ning'er, do you want a personal Imperial Bodyguard?"
Princess Yongning hooked the strings and looked up doubtfully: "No, thank you for your concern, Imperial Brother."
Why don't you want! How can this be! Why are you both, young couple, so frustrating! Why!
Xiao YuAn smiled kindly: "Why not?"
Princess Yongning did not understand: "Why should I?"
Because he can develop into your husband!
Xiao YuAn said: "He can serve you."
Princess Yongning said: "Yongning is very happy with her personal servants and doesn't need one more person."
"He can protect you."
AD
"The palace is safe day and night. Yongning doesn't need to be protected."
"He can talk with you."
Princess Yongning smiled: "If Yongning feels lonely, why can't I talk with Imperial Brother? Instead, I have to deal with someone I don't know?"
Xiao YuAn said with difficulty: "In case I'm busy with politics, I'll have no time to accompany you."
Princess Yongning blinked mischievously: "Then Yongning is willing to wait for Imperial Brother to find me when he's free. At that time, Imperial Brother will certainly talk with Yongning, right?"
Xiao YuAn breaks down and caresses his forehead: "Yes…Yes…"
For fucks sake!
Princess Yongning sweetly smiled and said, "You are so nice, Imperial Brother!"
Nice my ass!
The next day, Xiao YuAn said firmly to Princess Yongning, "I still think you need a bodyguard."
Princess Yongning's face showed grievance: "Why? Because Imperial Brother doesn't want to talk to Yongning anymore?"
Don't twist my words! You believe that just because you look sad, I will be soft hearted and I won't arrange a bodyguard for you!
AD
Then Xiao YuAn became soft hearted, and didn't mention the matter of the bodyguard for the whole day.
On the third day, Xiao YuAn made psychological preparations beforehand and went straight to Yongning Palace.
Princess Yongning was also very happy to see Xiao YuAn: "Imperial Brother, I've found a bodyguard!"
Xiao YuAn stared at her with wide eyes.
What! So I don't need to know when you two ran into each other, so I'm not necessary for the plot to develop?!
They're genuinely worthy of being the male and female protagonists.
Xiao YuAn felt that he was worrying for nothing.
"If you found him, then that's good." Xiao YuAn smiled like a father and nodded.
"But she's not a guard yet. Yongning wants to ask Imperial Brother to give her a position." Princess Yongning shook Xiao YuAn's hand.
Xiao YuAn said kindly: "I understand, I understand."
"Great, I'll let her see Imperial Brother!" Princess Yongning said happily, and quickly sent her maid to bring someone.
Xiao YuAn took a long breath.
AD
Ah, this seems like a strange illusion of marrying a daughter.
As soon as Xiao YuAn finished this feeling, Princess Yongning brought a tiger with a wide back and a big waist. They were like two Xiao YuAn's wide bodies.
A woman.
This woman, who resembled Lu Zhishen1, was so embarrassed that she gave Xiao YuAn a polite gesture: "This maidservant salutes His Majesty."
Xiao YuAn stumbled and asked Princess Yongning: "This, this is the bodyguard you are looking for?"
Princess Yongning smiled: "Yes! Do you feel at ease?"
Yes! Can't refute!
"Yes, yes…" Xiao YuAn hesitated, "She gives people the feeling that …no, it's not like she would be able to protect you."
Hearing Xiao YuAn's words, the woman suddenly exhorted, covered her face and began to cry: "Your Majesty, this maidservant, this maidservant will do everything to protect the Princess! I swear! Wuwuwu!"
Princess Yongning quickly patted her on the back: "It's okay, Cui'er don't cry, don't be aggrieved, Imperial Brother just doesn't understand you."
Xiao YuAn: "…"
I don't understand! I really don't understand!
"
"
Princess Yongning said: "Just show Imperial Brother that you can protect me, okay?"
Cui'er wiped away her tears, nodded carefully, then reached for the porcelain cup on the table and easily crushed it with her bare hands.
Crushed… With her bare hands…
Xiao Yu'an was still immersed in shock. When Cui'er ran out of the Yongning Palace, after finding a tree with thick branches, she embraced it with both arms. She then roared and suddenly uprooted it! Then she took another small step and shook it two or three times, weak willow's leaves were falling down.
Xiao YuAn: "…"
Princess Yongning: "Look Imperial Brother! She can serve me, right?"
Xiao YuAn: "Yes…"
"And protect me!"
"But…"
"And talk to me!"
"This…"
Princess Yongning finalized: "Okay, it's decided that she's the one!"
AD
Xiao YuAn was very tired, he put his head on the table and his hands fell on his sides. A lifeless look on his face, he couldn't even drink the delicate porridge in front of him.
Hong Xiu asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?"
Xiao YuAn replied weakly: "The cold leaves are floating all over my face, and my daughter's rebellion hurts my heart."
Hong Xiu was used to Xiao YuAn's amazing words for a while now. She bowed her head and asked: "Is His Majesty's internal fire attacking him, is his heart burning? Should this servant arrange a little slave for His Majesty to extinguish the fire?"
Xiao YuAn held his head with both hands: "Ah, poof–"
Hong Xiu advised: "I know that His Majesty is worried about the country and the people, and is now very obsessed with the government. But if this internal fire doesn't go away, it will also hurt your body."
Xiao YuAn tried to change the topic: "By the way, how has Yan HeQing been recently? Tomorrow I will… Forget it, you can call him over now."
Xiao YuAn decided to forcibly follow the plot moving on it's own, and let Yan HeQing and Princess Yongning meet by chance! If the two of them don't spark this time, he doesn't care! It doesn't matter!
Suddenly, Hong Xiu screamed: "Your Majesty, but, this maidservant thinks he's not ready yet."
Xiao YuAn was puzzled: "Ah? What are you going to prepare him for?"
Hong Xiu froze, then saluted: "This maidservant understands."
After saying that, Hong Xiu immediately left.
AD
After Xiao YuAn finished the porridge, he waited at the left side of the Imperial Palace then he waited at the right, he waited until it was time to sleep. Suddenly, Hong Xiu reappeared: "Your Majesty, it has been arranged properly. "
Xiao YuAn nodded and went back to the bedchamber with Hong Xiu. She didn't get inside and instead closed the door gently. Xiao YuAn didn't care too much, thinking that she wanted to give him and Yan HeQing some privacy.
Anyway, he didn't expect the room to be without lighting, he couldn't see anything clearly. On top of that, the fragrant incense burner was sending out a sweet smell, which made Xiao YuAn feel kind of dizzy.
Xiao YuAn felt strange and was about to call for Hong Xiu. But suddenly, he was struck by lightning and understood what was going on, quickly approaching the bed.
After seeing the person lying on top of the bed, Xiao YuAn's back went cold and his knees trembled in fear, almost kneeling down.
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Footnotes
鲁智深 lǔ zhìshēn; Lu Zhishen is a fictional character in 《水浒传》(shuǐ hǔ zhuàn), "Water Margin", one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature. It was written by 施耐庵 (shī nài ān) Shi Nai'an [1296-1371].
Chapter 25: I've Confirmed That His Eyes Gave Up Thinking.
Xiao YuAn first stumbled and backed away a few steps, but then he realized that he was mistaken. So he went back, glanced at the situation at the bed, took a deep breath of cold air, and backed away ten or so meters, turning around intending to escape.
It was so silent around that even the sound of a needle dropping would be heard. Suddenly, a painfully sob came from the bed right towards Xiao YuAn's ears.
Xiao YuAn abruptly stopped, meditated three times in his heart that escape would be shameful, then took a deep breath and ran back towards the bed.
Yan HeQing was blindfolded by a black cloth, and his mouth was covered with cloth strips, his white clothes were open and his body was bound by hemp ropes. He struggled too hard and his naked skin was already crimson because of the ropes, even a little bit of blood could be seen.
Xiao YuAn took off the cloth on Yan HeQing's eyes and mouth. Under it, Yan HeQing's eyes were bloodshot, but his lips were pale.
Xiao YuAn was ready to be scolded and bitten. Unexpectedly, Yan HeQing didn't say a word, curled up and breathed heavily. Xiao YuAn reached out to untie Yan HeQing's robe on his body, but suddenly, he felt something was wrong.
Yan HeQing's consciousness was extremely unclear, and he was left blank except for his empty eyes. His whole person was lying on the bed in a daze, without a trace of movement. Even when Xiao YuAn kept talking to him, it was like talking to a puppet, without any response.
Yan-ge1, why are you so stupid! The world will be depending on you to be saved!
The rope was extremely fancy, and it could be described as bondage, but it was more like a preference. Xiao YuAn had never been exposed to these kinds of knots before. In a hurry, he was very confused, and for a while he wasn't untying anything; instead he was making the knots more complicated.
In a rage, Xiao YuAn pulled out a small part of the rope that was finally untied!
Then after that, tied a bowknot…
AD
Xiao YuAn abandoned himself and cried out with a trembling voice: "Hong Xiu!"
After several shouts, the candlelight flickered at the entrance of the bedroom, and Hong Xiu hurried in, kneeling beside the bed: "Your Majesty, what happened?"
Xiao YuAn's brain was a mess. He didn't know where to start, he could only say: "You, you, you first untie this rope for me."
Suddenly, Hong Xiu seemed to realize what she had done wrong. Her face went pale, and she quickly got up to untie Yan HeQing's rope.
"Is he stupid?" Xiao YuAn looked at Yan HeQing, who all this time didn't give any reaction, he suddenly felt that his internal organs were all mixed together.
Hong Xiu untied the rope, and then knelt back to the ground again: "Answering to His Majesty, for fear that he will rebel and hurt His Majesty, this maidservant gave him the overpowering drug, he is not really stupid. As long as he takes the antidote, nothing will happen to him and he will only need to rest for one night."
Xiao YuAn patted his chest and let out a long breath: "Where's the antidote?"
Hong Xiu took out a small porcelain bottle containing the antidote and handed it over.
Xiao YuAn took over the white porcelain bottle, sat down beside the bed, reached for Yan HeQing, and fed him the antidote carefully.
After drinking the antidote, Yan HeQing quickly fell into a deep sleep. Xiao YuAn pulled his clothes on and covered him with the quilt. After a long time of work, he turned around and found that Hong Xiu was still kneeling there.
Xiao YuAn said: "Don't kneel, get up."
Hong Xiu doesn't obey, lowering her head: "This maidservant begs His Majesty to punish her."
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Xiao YuAn stretched out his hand and pulled up Hong Xiu. He said with a wry smile, "Why the punishment?"
"Hong Xiu knows that His Majesty dotes on this man and ordered Hong Xiu to not touch him before, but this man is too dangerous! Hong Xiu couldn't help but send him to His Majesty's bedside. But now that His Majesty saw his injury, he can't bear to go any further…"
"Wait!" Xiao YuAn grabbed the keywords, "Injury, what injury?"
Hong Xiu answered stupefyingly: "The whip wound on his back …"
Xiao YuAn inhaled and exhaled, then inhaled and exhaled again, and then turned over the cabinets.
Hong Xiu was puzzled: "What are you looking for, Your Majesty?"
"Gold and silver, jewelry, expensive clothing and other valuable things."
"Why are you looking for these?"
"Run away! No! No, we are not running away, we are going to, what is called, strategic shifting!"
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Footnotes
哥 gē; Elder brother.
Chapter 26: Fake Medicine Harms People.
"Y-your Ma-majesty, what's wrong with you? Why are you running away? Where are you going?" Hong Xiu panicked and pulled Xiao YuAn who was running around.
Xiao YuAn stopped and looked quietly at her soft hand.
Yeah, where can he go?
Xiao YuAn calmed his mind, stood up, and asked Hong Xiu, "What have you done to him?"
Hong Xiu bites her lower lip and her hands were twisting in front of her belly, finally she bowed her head to answer: "Answering to His Majesty, this maidservant wanted to teach him how to serve His Majesty, but I haven't had the time to do so; so I had to use the drug first."
"What about the whiplash?"
"During the curfew, he wandered in Jing Yang Palace without permission, so he was punished."
"Besides that?"
"Nothing more."
The situation seems to be saved! The main issue is how to solve the problem that Hong Xiu keeps wanting to send Yan Heqing to his bed every day.
Xiao YuAn put his hand on his chin, walked back and forth, and after two rounds, stopped. He stood in front of Hong Xiu, pointed to Yan Heqing on the bed and with a serious tone, he said: "Hong Xiu, do you think that I like him?"
AD
Hong Xiu did not hesitate: "You like him because he's handsome."
Xiao YuAn turned and lifted the cabinet, then he put it down, then lifted it again, then put it down. When he calmed down, he turned around and shouted to Hong Xiu: "I don't like him!"
Hong Xiu didn't understand: "But his Majesty thinks about him day and night."
Xiao YuAn asked: "Think about it, do I like this type of appearance?"
Hong Xiu was stunned, silently thinking about it. His Majesty really only likes the seductive, gorgeous type. Although Yan HeQing is so handsome to astonish nature, he's not what His Majesty prefers.
Hong Xiu asked in a small voice: "Then why is His Majesty…"
Xiao YuAn pretends to be deep: "Winning hearts is better than violence1. I'm preparing for another Southern expedition in the future!"
Hong Xiu was shocked, and enlightened: "His Majesty is wise!"
Xiao YuAn said: "When you see me favor him, it's actually an illusion. I'm just spying on the enemy, so I'm not interested in him at all, and you don't have to bother to teach him anything."
Hong Xiu salutes: "This maidservant understands, this maidservant will take him away."
Xiao YuAn glanced at Yan HeQing, who was sleeping on his bed, and couldn't bear it, so he blurted out: "It's so late, forget it, let him sleep here tonight."
Hong Xiu: "…Your Majesty you really don't…"
AD
Xiao YuAn interrupts her firmly: "Really! No!"
Xiao YuAn talked a lot with Hong Xiu, he pointed towards the sky and the land around them, he vigorously shouted to observe the moon's reflection. This ability to talk made Hong Xiu turn from someone skeptical to firmly believing without a doubt.
Xiao YuAn, who persuaded Hong Xiu to leave the palace and suffered various attacks and tortures in one night, could finally rest.
"Ah." Xiao YuAn sighed, sat beside the bed, leaned against the bedpost, and closed his eyes trying to sort out his thoughts quietly.
After a long time, Xiao YuAn opened his eyes, rubbed his temples and turned his head to look at Yan HeQing. Suddenly, he felt a chill passing through his chest and his blood began to boil.
Yan HeQing didn't know when he woke up, and his eyes were still bloodshot. At that moment, he glanced at Xiao YuAn with a fierce glare, cruel like a ghost.
She said that you'll wake up after a good sleep! Fake medicine does harm to you!
As a president…as a president who was once asked to memorize tyrannical quotes, Xiao YuAn's mind thought of various sentences in an instant.
Say, do you want cash or a check? Anyway, love, I definitely can't be without you.
Don't worry, I will be responsible. One million is enough.
Since you have caught my breath, you will be my man all your life, and you will never escape.
Man, did you feel my deep love last night?
President Xiao quickly searched through these golden sentences, and immediately made a final decision. He reached out his hand and pointed out at the window, his expression and his tone were calm: "Look! It's flying, cough, an airplane!"
That's right, Xiao YuAn was scared.
While Yan HeQing was still in a daze, Xiao YuAn got up, took a step and exerted force. Just at the moment of his escape, his wrist was grabbed fiercely, making Xiao YuAn fall onto the bed in a mess.
The next second, Xiao YuAn's neck was tightly held, and he could only scream four big words inside his head.
My life is over!
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Footnotes
攻心为上,攻城为下,心战为上,兵战为下 gōngxīn wéi shàng, gōng chéng wèi xià, xīn zhàn wéi shàng, bīng zhàn wèi xiàit; It's better to attack a person by his/her heart than attack him/her in battle. Firstly, one must not order troops to attack without knowing the hearts or situation of the enemy or an unknown opponent. From《三国志·蜀志·马谡传》(sān guó zhì·shǔ zhì mǎ sù zhuàn), "History of the Three Kingdoms – Records of Shu – Biography of Ma Su". Written by (陈寿 chén shòu) Chen Shou [233-297 AC], a historian from the Western Jin dynasty [265-316 AC].
Chapter 27: Learn About Modern Civilization.
Xiao YuAn was struggling to hold Yan HeQing's tight grip with one hand, until finally he was able to raise his hand tremblingly between the two of them. He gasped briefly and held out a finger: "I-I want to say that I didn't touch you last night."
Yan HeQing turned his hands and grabbed Xiao YuAn fiercely, his strength wasn't weak: "I know that, although my consciousness was chaotic, I have memories."
Xiao YuAn felt relieved and began to struggle: "Cough if you cough have something to say, let's talk about it first. Yan HeQing! You're strangling me now, have you thought about how you will escape after this?"
Yan HeQing's eyes were shining with cold light, and his black hair covered his face. With a sad smile he said: "Escape? Where can I escape? To my destroyed country, to my dead family? Succumbed by the abuse of authority, I was taken away home, and now we will die, jade and stone burned together1. Even if my body is torn apart, limb for limb by five horses2. I will not regret it."
Xiao YuAn understood that Yan HeQing hadn't listened to what he said to him before in Jing Yang Palace!
I said that I will not harm you! But you want to die with me, give me a break!
Yan HeQing, you're too ruthless, you're cruel, and you make trouble for no reason!
Xiao YuAn could already feel suffocation and pain, and even his eyes began to see black. He was trying his best to get Yan HeQing's hands away from his neck. Until in the gap between panting, Xiao YuAn shouted: "Yan HeQing, I will not harm you!"
Yan HeQing sneered: "You and I are enemies, why would you…"
Xiao YuAn roared and interrupted him: "Because I'm not the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom!"
The fierce strength on his neck relaxed. Xiao YuAn, relying on his desire for survival and in his experience in self-defense, turned over and lifted Yan HeQing away from his body, he quickly pulled back Yan HeQing's hands, put his knees against his waist, and tried to clamp him down. Xiao YuAn instinctively restrained Yan HeQing, but the Emperor's body was weak so Xiao YuAn failed to grasp Yan HeQing's hands, allowing him to break free.
"
"
Yan HeQing was naturally not willing to let him go, so he turned around and twisted Xiao YuAn's arms to his back.
Seeing that they were entangled together, Xiao YuAn hurriedly shouted: "Stop stop stop!"
Right at that time, they both relaxed their strength, each occupying a corner of the bed. Xiao YuAn covered his neck, panting, there were only 10.000 MMP3 sentences left in his heart. He eased his mind and repeated: "I'm really not the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom…"
Yan HeQing's eyes were dark and gloomy, finding it hard to believe in him.
Because he was strangled, Xiao YuAn's voice was hoarse and his words were intermittent: "I know that the jade hairpin is your mother's relic and I can testify…"
Yan HeQing asked in a deep voice, "Who are you then?"
Xiao YuAn thought for a while: "I'm your Daddy's friend."
Your father is equal to the author.
This is what Xiao YuAn came with at the end.
Yan HeQing frowned: "Daddy?"
Xiao YuAn: "Yes!"
I was almost strangled to death, why can't I take advantage of this?!
AD
Yan HeQing asked: "… what is a Daddy4?"
Xiao YuAn was powerless: "The mysterious power from the modern civilization."
Yan HeQing: "…"
Xiao YuAn rubbed his neck: "I know what else you want to ask me, 'how did you pretend to be the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom.' You may think I'm crazy or I'm being stupid, playing the devil, but I'm telling you the truth. I died in my last life, and then I became the Emperor as soon as I opened my eyes. I can't help it, but I'm not really him."
Yan HeQing stared at Xiao YuAn's face as if he wanted to see right through him.
Both of them looked at each other for a long time, Yan HeQing's eyes showed a hard-to-detect flash of coldness, like sharp ice, a sharp blade, under this cold light, you could feel a terrifying murderous intent.
Xiao YuAn felt like his heart was being strangled. Every bone in his body was trembling with fear, chills was running through his spine, swimming amongst his four limbs.
Yan HeQing doesn't believe him!
I think that, in this case, how can a weak excuse be convincing? Looks like I have to think of another strategy.
Almost at the same time, the two acted together.
Xiao YuAn jumped out of the bed but was instantly grabbed. He was pulled back, with huge force from top to bottom, Xiao YuAn's shoulder was held down and his back hit heavily on the bed.
The bed board made a deafening noise. Xiao YuAn took a deep breath and his eyes were full of pain.
AD
Yan HeQing went again for Xiao YuAn's throat mercilessly. Xiao YuAn eyes twitched quickly, he held Yan HeQing's wrist and twist it with force. Yan Heqing frowned with pain, his hands went loose and his knee hit Xiao YuAn's lower abdomen.
The lower abdomen wasn't protected by bones and was the most vulnerable part of the human body, so Yan HeQing used all his strength. Xiao YuAn's neck was tender and weak, and the corner of his mouth was bleeding, shaking with pain, he suddenly realized something.
Yan HeQing really wants to kill me!
If I don't think of a way out, I will die here!
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Footnotes
玉石俱焚 yù shí jù fén; It's a Chinese idiom, it means the destruction of good and bad alike. From 《尚书·胤征》(shàng shū·yìn zhēng); "Book of Classics – Yin Zheng". One of the Five Confucian Classics.
五马分尸 wǔ mǎ fēn shī; a form of death sentence in ancient China.
MMP; it's a curse, forbidden word in Sichuan dialect, something like: "Your mother is a bitch". Which equals to: "Son of bitch".
爸爸 bà ba; informal way of addressing Father
Chapter 28: Speaking From The Bottom Of My Heart, Getting To Know Each Other.
Inside his heart, Xiao YuAn shouted the nationwide cursed words commonly used1 back and forth, repeatedly shouting them a hundred times, then he went to protect his abdomen with one hand and punched Yan HeQing with his other hand clenched into a fist.
Yan HeQing was able to avoid this punch, and when he turned around to suppress Xiao YuAn one more time, a knock came from outside the bedchamber!
Yang LiuAn's voice immediately sounded: "What's wrong, Your Majesty? Weichen heard a loud noise."
Yan HeQing's eyes shrank, feeling panicked inside his heart. He quickly reached out and tried to cover Xiao YuAn's mouth.
"I…don't!" Xiao YuAn just shouted a word, and the rest of them were silenced by the palm of Yan HeQing.
"Your Majesty? Emperor? Are you okay?" The knocking sounds and Yan HeQing's breath started to get hurried.
Yan HeQing knew that if the imperial guards came here at this time, not only he wouldn't be able to kill the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom, but he would also die without a burial place! Yan HeQing covered Xiao YuAn's mouth tightly with one hand, and stuck his other hand on Xiao YuAn's throat once more.
Naturally, Xiao YuAn will not let himself be slaughtered. Taking advantage of Yan HeQing's panic, he fiercely bit down trying to break free from the hand covering his mouth.
Outside the bedroom, there was constant knocking at the door. Yang LiuAn said anxiously, "Your Majesty? Your Majesty, if you don't reply, Weichen will come in!"
Yan HeQing's hand was bitten by Xiao YuAn and blood started to flow. He couldn't take any actions under pain and the whole situation seemed settled. Yan HeQing closed his eyes in despair.
A squeaking noise came from outside the door, and right at the same time, Xiao YuAn yanked away Yan HeQing's hand, unable to even catch his breath, and shouted loudly, "Don't come in!"
"
"
For a moment the world went silent, and the door that was being opened, closed again.
Yang LiuAn's uneasy voice came from outside the bedchamber: "What happened to your voice, Your Majesty? Are you really fine?"
Yan HeQing was speechless, staring blankly at Xiao YuAn.
Xiao YuAn coughed a few times, and then shouted with all his strength: "I'm fine, nothing serious happened, you can go and keep guarding the door. And no matter what you hear, don't come in."
"Yes, I'll obey His Majesty's order" When the door was closed, everything went silent once more.
After those few words, Xiao YuAn had lost all his strength. He covered his lower abdomen and curled up on the bed like an useless man.
Yan HeQing was no longer in danger. He mumbled for a long time and finally asked with disbelief: "Why…"
Xiao YuAn opened his eyes and wanted to look at Yan HeQing, but his eyes were dazzled, unable to focus: "I said, I'm not the Emperor of the Northern Kingdom. If I really wanted you to die, then I would've given the order the first time I met you in the prison, and you would already be dead by now. Since I didn't do it that time, then I won't have that idea anymore."
Yan HeQing lowered his eyelashes gently, not knowing what to think.
Xiao YuAn made a swear gesture, his eyes were serious and his expression was solemn: "Yan HeQing, I'm swearing an oath to the heavens and the earth's conscience that I didn't lie to you just now, and I will not hurt you in the future, no matter what."
Yan HeQing raised his head to look at Xiao YuAn, his whole being was still on alert. They both looked at each other for a few seconds, but Yan HeQing didn't mean to relax at all. Xiao YuAn feeling discouraged, pulled up the quilt, covered himself and laid down closing his eyes.
Yan HeQing asked incredulously: "…what are you doing?"
AD
"Sleeping." Xiao YuAn wrapped tightly inside the quilt felt pain all over his body, his throat seemed to have been burned by fire, it was hoarse, dry, it felt painful and inflamed: "I believe I said everything that needed to be said, even if you believe me or not. And if you want to strangle me, you should do it now. Anyways, I already died once, what's so scary about dying a second time?"
After that, there was no sound behind him. Xiao YuAn was really exhausted, and now he could finally rest and sleep.
After what felt like a century, Xiao YuAn was finally falling asleep, but then he felt that the person behind him was lying down slowly.
Xiao YuAn gave him half of the quilt by instinct.
A long awkward silence followed, but in the end, Yan HeQng took the quilt and wrapped his body.
Xiao YuAn woke up a little bit and muttered in a low voice: "I know you can't fully believe in what I said. It doesn't matter. I will be by your side for a long time, anyways, I'm yours."
After a pause, the wording felt wrong, so Xiao YuAn added: "I'm the one that will help you, by the way, are you still willing to stay in Jing Yang Palace?"
Yan HeQing mocked himself and asked: "Where else can I go?"
Xiao YuAn chuckled: "I also have nowhere to go, why not stay by each other's side."
Then, after a night without sound, they slept till dawn.
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Footnotes
国骂 guó mà; Common curse words, for example 他妈的 tā mā = Damn it!
Chapter 29: I Don't Know What To Believe.
When Xiao YuAn woke up the next day, immediately he wanted to die.
Not to mention that the muscles all over his body were sore, just the pain in his abdomen, back and throat was enough for Xiao YuAn to feel that way.
Xiao YuAn rubbed his neck and groaned. His voice was like a board of wood dragging on the sand, it was hoarse and unpleasant. He stretched out his hands and opened his clothes. His abdomen was bruised, there were black and purple spots all over, it was truly a shocking sight.
Hearing noise, Yan HeQing gradually woke up, and after seeing Xiao YuAn's appearance, his eyes flashed with a trace of feeling at a loss.
"We both fought each other, aren't you hurt too?" Xiao YuAn felt indignant. "Do I have a strangled bruise on my neck?"
Yan HeQing nodded his head.
Xiao YuAn sighed: "What can I do? If I'm seen like this, they will definitely wonder what happened, they will blame you."
Even though Xiao YuAn was harmed by Yan Heqing, he still thought about his safety. Yan HeQing was surprised.
"Well, it's winter, so it's normal to wear a lot of clothing. It should be fine to just cover it." Xiao YuAn muttered to himself, and he didn't realize that Yan HeQing's eyes had changed.
"Right." Xiao YuAn propped himself up and looked at Yan HeQing, "Is your hand all right?"
Yan HeQing didn't understand: "Hand?"
AD
Xiao YuAn held Yan HeQing's wrist and pulled it closer to his eyes. The place he bit yesterday was no longer bleeding, only the deep tooth marks were left behind.
Don't leave any scars on these hands!
He must be in harmony with Princess Yongning!
And he must be praised for his good looks by his wives!
Ouch, to be honest, his hands are really beautiful. They're slender, white and have a clear bone structure.
Xiao YuAn was watching it attentively. Yan HeQing suddenly withdrew his hand, frowning slightly, his expression was awkward.
"Ah…" Xiao YuAn went stunned for an instant, then he rubbed his neck and smiled: "Don't worry, I'm not an homosexual like the Emperor."
Probably, maybe, I shouldn't be, I don't know.
Yan HeQing opened his lips slightly, glanced at Xiao YuAn, and seemed like he wanted to explain something, but at the end he didn't say anything.
The sky was faintly light with the dawn, and a knock sounded at the Imperial bedchamber door. It was Hong Xiu: "Your Majesty, this maidservant is waiting to help you wash, and get ready for the day."
Xiao YuAn quickly pulled up the quilt and wrapped it in a circle to cover up his neck and the rest of his body.
Hong Xiu walked in with a red basin, when she saw Xiao YuAn's appearance, she instantly looked at the messy bed, and could not help but be dumbfounded.
AD
Fearing that she might suspect something inappropriate, Xiao YuAn said: "Hong Xiu, take Yan Heqing back to Jing Yang Palace first."
Hong Xiu put down the basin, stuttering: "I'll o-obey His Majesty's o-order".
Seeing that the two of them had left, Xiao YuAn breathed cold air to ease the pain. While looking for a piece of clothing that could cover his neck, he washed himself and got dressed.
When Hong Xiu came back, she helped Xiao YuAn put on his robe, and seemed like she wanted to say something but stopped herself.
Xiao YuAn felt nervous: "What's wrong?"
Hong Xiu tied his belt for him, her lips were pressed in a tight line, suddenly she raised her eyes and said: "Your Majesty! I know everything!"
What do you know! I don't understand! Speak clearly!
Hong Xiu was angered to heart: "Since you don't have that kind of feelings for him, he forced himself onto you!"
"…"
Xiao YuAn patted his chest and eased his breath, feeling that yesterday's internal injury was now instantly attacking him.
Forget it, it's better to be misunderstood about such things rather than explain them. I was afraid that Yan HeQing's attempt of assassination was found out.
Xiao YuAn clenched his fist against his lips and coughed softly: "Cough, it wasn't forced. It's just that last night, the moonlight was very bright, and we both slept in the same bed. I wasn't careful enough…it was an accident, and is only part of my plan. I'm really not interested in him."
AD
Hong Xiu was sad and indignant: "Your Majesty, you've never been on the receiving side. In order to attack the Southern Yan Kingdom, Your Majesty, you had to sacrifice a lot, this, this, this is…disgraceful."
Xiao YuAn was twitching the corner of his eyes with that sad cry of hers.
Hong Xiu was still softly crying in despair: "Your Majesty, this maidservant will go get you some ointment."
Xiao YuAn was puzzled: "Why the ointment?"
Hong Xiu bowed her head: "It's applied 'there'."
Xiao YuAn still didn't understand: "What? Where?"
Hong Xiu stomped anxiously: "That 'place'!"
Xiao YuAn suddenly realized what she meant and asked for the Heaven's help without words: "…The ointment is no longer needed, is there any throat medicine…my throat really hurts…"
Seeing that Hong Xiu got up and was going towards the Taiyi Palace, Xiao YuAn added: "And then take some ointment for wounds healing and scar removal to Yan HeQing."
Hong Xiu felt uncertainty: "Ointment for wound healing and scar removal?"
"Well, I accidentally bit him yesterday."
"…Your Majesty, yo…"
"
"
"I really don't like him, don't look at me like that…"
In the fifth year of serving the young Monarch, Hong Xiu suddenly discovered that the Emperor's mouth was saying no, but in his heart he meant yes1.
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Footnotes
口是心非 kǒu shì xīn fēi; It's a Chinese idiom, when you say one thing but mean another thing / Two-faced / Duplicity /Empty words
Chapter 30: After Too Much Effort, I've Learned A Lot.
Xiao YuAn's wounds lasted for several days, and only after the strangled bruises faded away, did he dare to go outside.
On the second day, he dealt with the affairs of the state; and because he was worried that someone would make things difficult for Yan HeQing, Xiao YuAn got distracted while looking at the palace memorials1. He simply piled the memorials and went straight to Jing Yang Palace.
Hong Xiu wanted to stop him, but Xiao YuAn ignored her.
The year was going to dawn, and the time is fainting. The wind was cold and the clouds were heavy. The snowflakes fell one after another, floating amicably, covering the white ground. The snow in the Northern Kingdom seemed to be falling forever.
Xiao YuAn tightened his robe, patted the snow off his shoulders, and reached to knock on Yan Heqing's door.
Following Xiao YuAn with diligence, Yang Liuan clenched his fists and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen will wait for you outside the door."
Xiao YuAn refused: "It's too cold, go back."
Yang LiuAn insisted: "Weichen doesn't feel cold."
Xiao YuAn grabbed a Snowball and stuffed it into Yang LiuAn's clothes: "Is it cold or not?"
Yang LiuAn shivered: "…No, no, no, I'm not, I'm not cold."
You're shivering and yet you say you're not cold!
"
"
Xiao YuAn didn't know wherever to laugh or cry: "Go find a warm place to dry your clothes, and then, come back in an hour."
Although Yang LiuAn was still hesitant, he had to obey His Majesty's order under Xiao YuAn's insistence.
The North wind was howling, and his clothes were wet because of the snow. Yang LiuAn stealthily found a small courtyard where willows trees were planted inside the Jing Yang Palace. When he saw no one around, he knocked gently at the door.
"Who is it?" A doubtful voice came from behind the door, not long after, the door was slightly opened.
Yang LiuAn looked at Xiao Fengyue, who was extremely joyful, and sweetly smiled: "It's me."
"You, you're all wet, come in quickly." Xiao Fengyue hurriedly pulled him inside the room, heated the charcoal basin, put it in front of Yang LiuAn, and went to find some dry clothes. "Quick, remove your wet clothes first, and put these on."
"Yes." Yang LiuAn took off his robe and handed it to Xiao Fengyue.
"Let's change your inner garments too, it's all wet. Be careful with the wind and the cold." Xiao Fengyue said worriedly, his eyes full of distress.
Yang LiuAn's face showed a blush that was hard to see: "The inner garments, i-it doesn't matter, don't worry."
Xiao Fengyue suddenly realized what was going on. He lowered his head to make his expression unclear, but his earlobes were already painted red. Xiao Fengyue stammered and said: "Y-you go change your clothes. I'll go to the yard to sweep the snow, go change."
"Don't, don't go outside, it's too cold." Yang LiuAn reached out and held Xiao Fengyue's hand.
Xiao Fengyue's tone was worried: "No, if you stay in your wet clothes you will get cold."
AD
Yang LiuAn holds his hand tighter: "I'll change, I'll go change my clothes. Just don't go outside."
With that said, Yang LiuAn quickly untied his undergarments and hurriedly changed into a set of dry clothes. Xiao Fengyue took the wet clothes and put them to dry by the charcoal fire: "What happened today? Don't you have to guard His Majesty?"
Yang LiuAn replied: "His Majesty came to Jing Yang Palace, looking for Yan HeQing."
Hearing this, Xiao Fengyue suddenly sighed.
Yang LiuAn was curious: "What's wrong?"
Xiao Fengyue explained: "Earlier, I heard some rumors about chasing the wind and clutching at shadows2, saying that His Majesty was favoring only one person recently, but I didn't expect it to be the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom."
Yang LiuAn nervously covered Xiao Fengyue's hand and held it carefully: "Are you feeling homesick?"
Xiao Fengyue felt like a spring breeze inside his heart, and he smiled gently at Yang LiuAn: "Although the Southern Yan Kingdom is my hometown, I was alone in the world. I don't have much to miss from there, but now…"
These days, feeling lovesick, exquisite red beans, it can't be a home without you.
Xiao Fengyue stopped for a while, and looked down at the charcoal pot with little sparks coming out from the fire.
Yang LiuAn didn't notice the difference, and asked reluctantly, "Why are you sighing?"
Xiao Fengyue sorted out his thoughts and raised his head to answer: "I'm afraid that the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom will become the target of everyone here."
AD
Yang LiuAn didn't understand: "Huh? For what reason?"
Xiao Fengyue carefully spread out Yang LiuAn's wet clothes so it would dry better, and then replied: "It's never a happy event to be the only one to have His Imperial Majesty's favor. In this Jing Yang Palace, there are too many people doing painstaking efforts to obtain accomplishments. It's also full of clever people."
—
Xiao YuAn was also worried about this issue: "Did anyone try to harm you recently?"
Yan HeQing shook his head.
"How about Hong Xiu, did she do something?"
Yan HeQing shook his head.
"And the House of Internal Affairs? What about Eunuch Zhao?"
Yan HeQing still denied with his head.
Xiao YuAn patted his chest and let out a long breath.
It seems that the skills of the villains are cooling down.
Seeing Xiao YuAn carefree attitude, Yan HeQing frowned: "Why do you want to help me? Although you're not the Emperor, you can still use this identity to call the wind and summon the rain3, and cover the sky with one hand4, right?"
"
"
Xiao YuAn raised an eyebrow.
Does Yan HeQing believe him?
But how can I dare to call the wind and the rain? You're the male lead, you should be the one making the call. You can claim the Northern Kingdom, and make it disappear! Call it!
Xiao YuAn chuckled: "There's no reason, I just want to be friends with you."
Yan HeQing said: "Friend?"
Xiao YuAn said: "When a true man conducts himself in a society, he should become the hero of the whole world."
Yan HeQing's eyes went on alert, but remained silent.
Xiao YuAn was too lazy to explain it to him, so he moved the stool near the charcoal basin, looked out the window at the howling snow, and rubbed his hands turning his palms to warm himself.
Yan HeQing looked at his actions and said: "Are you…afraid of the cold?"
Xiao YuAn was stunned at first, and then replied: "Ah? Uh huh. I was a Southerner in my past life, so I'm indeed afraid of the cold."
Yan HeQing asked again: "What was your name during your past life?"
Xiao YuAn filled a porcelain cup with water and with it, wrote his name on top of the round yellow table.
Yan HeQing murmured out, "Xiao, Yu, An."
"Yes, when there's no one around, you can just call me by my name." Xiao YuAn smiled slightly, and the red light of the charcoal basin illuminated his white porcelain face, his eyes were bright and shiny, very indistinct.
Yan HeQing wasn't convinced, but after a long time watching him, he finally agreed: "Fine."
An hour later, Yang LiuAn's clothes were finally dried. After he changed into his inner clothes, Xiao Fengyue carefully helped him put on his robe, fastened his belt and tidied up his lapel.
The two of them looked at each other for a long time, until Yang LiuAn finally closed his eyes: "I'm going back to pick up the Emperor."
Xiao Fengyue looked out of the window with anxiety: "The snow is so heavy, would you like an umbrella?"
Yang LiuAn shook his head, got up and walked out of the door: "No, I'm worried that someone will get suspicious."
Xiao Fengyue bit his lower lip and didn't insist.
Yang LiuAn just opened the door when the wind and snow suddenly blew inside. Xiao Fengyue then remembered something and he pulled back Yang LiuAn, took out a sachet from his sleeve, and handed it to him.
"This is?" Yang LiuAn took the sachet with surprise.
Xiao Fengyue said: "You can't take the umbrella to protect you, but you can always take this sachet and hide it close to you, right?"
Yang LiuAn rubbed his head and smiled happily and embarrassedly: "Yes, thank you. I will protect it well."
AD
Xiao Fengyue lowered his head and said: "Go ahead, don't let His Majesty wait."
Yang LiuAn closed the door for Xiao Fengyue, carefully placed the sachet inside his inner clothing, and hurriedly walked away holding onto his robe tightly.
The frozen wind was howling all around, the snow falling was so thick that it could cover the ears and make the eyes blind. The whole world seemed to be covered in white, and neither of them were able to see that behind the willows trees planted in the courtyard, stood a person watching them secretly.
Qin Yu observed the silhouette of Yang LiuAn hurrying away, and then took a look at the closed door of Xiao Fengyue. He murmured strange words, and then smiled mischievously, a trace of cunning shining in his eyes.
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Footnotes
奏摺 zòu zhé: A "Memorial to the Throne" (章表 zhāng biǎo) was an official communication to the Emperor of China. They were generally careful essays in Classical Chinese and their presentation was a formal affair directed by government officials. In the Qing Dynasty, because the bureaucracy might interrupt, conceal, or lose information important to their rulers, the Kangxi Emperor developed a supplemental system of "Palace Memorials" (奏摺 zòu zhé) in the late 17th century. This system delivered local officials' memorials to him directly. A "Folding Memorial", for instance, was to be written on pages small enough for the emperor to hold them in his hand and read without being observed.
捕風捉影 bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng; It's a Chinese idiom, it has a derogatory meaning. There is no factual basis for what is said / Groundless accusations / To act without evidence. From 《汉书·郊祀志》(hàn shū·jiāo sì zhì), "History of the Former Han Dynasty – Records of Jiaosi". Written by (班固 bān gù) Ban Gu [32-92 AC], a historian from the Eastern Han Dynasty [25-220 AC].
呼风唤雨 hū fēng huàn yǔ; It's a Chinese idiom, as a metaphor describes someone that can control the great power of nature, which has a positive meaning. It's also often used to refer to a person who is interested in inciting trouble. From 《罨溪行》(yǎn xī xíng), "A Trip to the River".
一手遮天 yī shǒu zhē tiān; It's a Chinese idiom, it refers to relying on power, playing tricks and hiding the truth from the masses. From 《读李斯传》(dú lǐ sī chuán), "Studying the Biography of Lisi". Written by (曹邺 cáo yè) Cao Ye [816-875 AC], a poet from the Tang Dynasty [618-907 AC].
