Chapter 14
When it comes to preparation, in fact, Wen Ji has nothing to prepare.
The original owner is a poor person. When he came to the East Palace he did not bring many things hence he couldn't bring much things out of the east palace.
The next day, early in the morning, Wen Chi got up.
Ruo Tao packed a few simple things for him, including a few cakes packed in food boxes—these cakes were made by Ruo Tao and Ruo Fang last night and the cakes were cut squarely and of the same size. Although the heavy cream smeared on the outside is still not well-proportioned, with the decoration of mangoes cut into small pieces, it also gives a sense of irregular beauty.
Ruo Tao and Ruo Fang were very reluctant to send Wen Chi away.
Ping An didn't like chattering like the two little girls did. He bowed slightly and walked behind him without saying a word.
In the past, Wen Chi didn't know about it and never felt that there was anything between Ping An and Ruo Tao. Now that he pays attention to it, only to realize that Ping An seems to be a little shy about Ruo Tao, whenever Ruo Tao speaks, he would shut up. If Ruo Tao was around Wen Chi, he would definitely stay away calmly.
On the other hand, Ruo Tao, the little girl who was still chatting and talking didn't notice anything wrong. Those big bright eyes were like stars in the night sky, staring straight at Wen Chi, with undisguised enthusiasm and joy.
Wen Chi had to admit that on the surface, Ruo Tao was really a cute little girl.
Maybe because Ping An is a person who seems to have a lot of worries, so even if he does this, Ruo Tao and Ruo Fang don't see any problem and are very careful to keep their distance from Ping An.
Along the way, Wen Chi was looking at Ruo Tao.
It's a pity that he still didn't find anything unusual in Ruo Tao.
When they were about to separate, Wen Chi gave up and quickly put those thoughts behind him.
Outside the palace, Xiao Shuanzi, beside Eunuch Zhu, was quietly waiting beside a carriage.
The carriage was different from ordinary carriages. It looked more atmospheric and luxurious. The golden curtain covered the roof. The horse is a pure black steed. Even Wen Chi, who doesn't know how to look at horses, can see at a glance that it must be a very valuable horse.
"Young Master Wen." Xiao Shuanzi bowed his head and said, "The servant is here at the order of His Royal Highness."
Wen Chi was surprised for a moment: "His Royal Highness?"
"Exactly." Xiao Shuanzi said, "Young Master Wen, get in the carriage quickly, so as not to delay the time."
Wen Chi understands what Xiao Shuanzi means, but he still doesn't understand what the crown prince means – specially arranging a carriage to take him back. This is really not like the style of the crown prince, but more like a weasel paying New Year greetings to a chicken, full of bad intentions.
But let alone a carriage, even if the crown prince arranged for a prison carriage, Wen Chi had to bite the bullet and get on it.
After he thanked Xiao Shuanzi, he took out a piece of silver from his sleeve like Ruo Tao and Ruo Fang usually did and secretly handed it to Xiao Shuanzi.
Xiao Shuanzi smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into a slit, so he said a few more good words "Young Master Wen, this servant has been serving His Royal Highness for many years, but this is the first time I have seen His Highness take such good care of a person. Young Master Wen doesn't need to worry about those many concubines in the East Palace, those gaily dressed maidens, because you are the only one who is in the eyes of His Royal Highness."
Wen Chi took advantage of the situation and said, "Eunuch Shuan, I have something to ask."
The short-handed1 little Shuanzi hurriedly said. "Please speak, Young Master Wen."
"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince lives in the East Palace and rarely goes outside, even those people's courtyard, is this true?"
"Since this news has reached the ears of Young Master Wen how can it be false?" Xiao Shuanzi laughed, "Not to mention that His Highness stepped into the courtyard of those concubines, now the people in the East Palace go in and out, except for Young Master Wen, who has the privilege of seeing His Highness's true face every day, other people who have seen His Highness are either dead or disabled."
Wen Chi was startled, he thought of Yue Shan and the man who was kneeling outside the Crown Prince's study that day.
Seeing that Wen Chi was silent, Xiao Shuanzi put his hand in front of his lips and lowered his voice: "Young Master Wen still remembers Young Master Yue Gui and the others?"
"Remember." Wen Chi nodded, "How are they?
"Yesterday they were each beaten with thirty strokes. Someone fainted in the middle of the beating and they woke him up with cold water and continued to beat him and I don't know if they could survive these few days." Xiao Shuanzi is used to this and he doesn't feel anything, "The one who was beaten most heavily is Young Master Yue Gui. Because Young Master Wen you pleaded for him to His Highness, His Highness also specially instructed to only leave Young Master Yue Gui with one last breath."
Wen Chi: "…"
No one can guess the mind of the foolish prince,
In the end, Xiao Shuanzi made a concluding remark: "Young Master Wen, as long as you serve His Royal Highness well and give birth to a son for His Royal Highness, you will not have to worry about the difficult journey in the future."
Wen Chi automatically ignored the topic of childbirth and hesitantly said, "But His Highness is in a high place and I am in a low place, I am satisfied as long as I can look up to His Highness, I am not worthy of His Highness treating me that well …"
"Hai2, Young Master Wen, this is not good enough." Xiao Shuanzi looked around, then approached and said, "Young Master Wen doesn't know, His Royal Highness has a sweetheart that he thinks about day and night and he even made a painting of that person. At that time, the servant was grinding ink and saw it clearly. That person had a great resemblance to Young Master Wen. It's not too much to say that it was the same person."
Wen Chi was stunned.
He never dreamed that there was a hidden plot in the plot line of the villainous prince.
He read the novel over and over three times and he can say with certainty that the crown prince in the novel has no sweetheart, he only loves himself.
After Xiao Shuanzi finished speaking, he did not forget to remind Wen Chi tactfully: "This secret is only known to the slave, not even to Eunuch Zhu. This slave risked his life to tell the secret to Young Master Wen, later when Young Master Wen is favored, I hope you will look after this slave."
Wen Chi nodded blankly. After getting into the carriage, he still hasn't recovered from the shock.
He didn't know whether what Xiao Shuanzi said was true or not but after thinking about it, Xiao Shuanzi probably wasn't bold enough to make up things about the crown prince to fool him and when Xiao Shuanzi talked about the crown prince, the fear in his eyes could hardly be concealed.
So…
the prince is special to him just because he looks like the crown prince's sweetheart?
1
Short-handed, unable to deal with problems fairly and justly, soft-mouthed, unable to speak frankly according to the facts. If you are short-handed, accept someone's benefits, you will be controlled by someone, you have to protect someone, protect someone, and do things for someone. The second half of the sentence is "eating people's mouth softly". It is often used to warn others not to accept bribes, or benefits that are unclear
2
嗐 [hài] 叹 expressing sorrow/regret
Chapter 14.2
Wen Chi searched back and forth for the supporting characters in the novel in his memory but couldn't find any characters that matched the crown prince's sweetheart and Xiao Shuanzi said that the person looked a lot like the original owner, so it was even more impossible to find out. .
Wen Chi kept thinking about it till his head hurt but he still had no idea.
He simply closed his eyes, ready to rest for a while and then slowly fell asleep in the rickety carriage.
When Wen Chi woke up, the carriage had come to the gate of Wen Mansion.
Xiao Shuanzi helped Wen Chi get out of the carriage and a group of people were already waiting eagerly outside.
Wen Chi glanced over and did not see any of the Wen family members, they were all maids and servants.
The middle-aged man in gray clothes and a mustache standing in the middle was the butler of Wen mansion. Before entering the palace, Wen Chi met him outside Wen Changqing's study. At that time, Wen Chi was just an unfavored son and the housekeeper didn't even bother to look at him.
Now the tide is turning, Wen Chi accompanied by Xiao Shuanzi and two little eunuchs, returned to the Wen House in the Crown Prince's carriage, not only attracted the eyes of many passers-by around, but also made the butler, who has always been dog-eyed, to squeeze out a flattering smile.
"The eldest young master is back!" the butler hurriedly said, "Come in quickly."
Although Wen Chi and Wen Liang grew up in the backyard of the boudoir, they were too afraid to go out and show their faces and would not be recognized by others. In the end there are many people here and accidents are inevitable, plus several eunuchs are still watching, the housekeeper is afraid of revealing their secrets and immediately shows hundred percent enthusiasm to let the maids and servants swarm around the Wen Chi as he enters the mansion.
The butler smiled and took out a piece of silver and handed it to Xiao Shuanzi and said flatteringly, "It's been hard on you to come this far."
Xiao Shuanzi accepted the silver without changing his face: "It's not hard."
The steward made a gesture of sending off the guests, "Then please…."
Who knew that Xiao Shuanzi glanced at the butler coldly and snorted: "We are the eunuchs beside His Highness the Crown Prince, we accompanied Young Master Wen back this time, representing His Highness the Crown Prince. But you don't invite us in and have a cup of tea, how dare you rush us to leave?"
As long as His Highness the Crown Prince was brought out, everyone would feel a deep sense of fear and the butler was frightened. His legs softened and he fell directly to the ground.
"I dare not! I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will forgive me!" The housekeeper trembled and got up from the ground. "Eunuchs, please come in."
Xiao Shuanzi snorted heavily and stepped into the mansion.
As a result, just after walking a little way, he saw Wen Chi being squeezed by the maids and servants in a not so wide corridor, accompanied by voices of bickering. And when he looked closer, it seemed that Wen Chi wanted to go somewhere but was stopped by the maids and servants.
Xiao Shuanzi shouted sharply: "Bold, you dare you stop Young Master Wen as well?"
Xiao Shuanzi's shrill voice is unique to eunuchs and the only place in the whole Da Feng country where there were eunuchs was the majestic imperial palace, which everyone under the sky would have a subconscious fear of.
Before Wen Chi, who was blocked in the middle, could react, the surrounding maids and servants had already knelt down.
The butler caught up from behind and upon seeing this, he wiped the cold sweat from his face: "Eunuch Shuan…"
Eunuch Shuan turned his head and taught the butler a lesson: "Look, look at the people you have trained in Wen residence, even dares to stop the ones beside His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, you really ate the leopard's gall1!"
The butler was so frightened that he knelt down again: "This servant is ignorant, let Eunuch Shuan laugh."
After speaking, he turned his head and scolded, "Get out of here!"
The maids and servants who were already scared to death immediately scattered like birds and beasts.
Seeing that it was getting late, Wen Chi didn't have time to spend with them here, so he asked the butler, "Where is my father?"
The butler kneeled on the ground, not daring to get up. With cold sweats he said: "There are guests in the mansion today and the master is in the study meeting guests."
Guests.
It seemed he arrived just in time.
Wen Chi gave the rest of his things to the butler, carrying only the food box with the cake: "Help me put these things back, I have something to say to my father first."
"Eldest young master!" The butler anxiously got up from the ground, "Master is still receiving guests, you can't go over there, young master!"
Unfortunately, before the butler's voice could be heard, Wen Chi had already run away with the food box.
The butler glanced at Eunuch Shuan's cold smile and abruptly resisted the urge to catch up.
1
"Eating a leopard's gall" appeared in "Water Margin". It was rumored in ancient times that people with leopard gallbladder are very courageous. Sometimes we need enough courage to overcome someone when something unexpected happens. The phrase "leopard courage" is a derogatory term to describe a person who treats something regardless of consequences or concerns, and is full of courage
Chapter 15.1
Wen Chi was agile and ran extremely fast and arrived outside Wen Changqing's study in a short time.
When two servants were guarding the door and saw Wen Chi running from a distance, they hurried up to meet him and shouted, "Eldest young master, you are back."
Wen Chi glanced at the faces of the two servants. Since they have been waiting by Wen Changqing's side, no wonder they obviously know him and still call him the Eldest Young Master. It seems that these two people have been thoroughly brainwashed by Wen Changqing.
But the name calling or whatever is not important to Wen Chi. Slightly gasping he asked, "Where is my father?"
A servant said, "The master is inside …"
Before the latter words could be said, he was interrupted by Wen Chi: "Just in time, I'll go in to find him."
"Young master!" The servant tried to stop Wen Chi, "The master is inside meeting guests, you can't go in yet."
Wen Chi didn't care so much. He leaned aside and after nimbly avoiding the two servants' outstretched hands, he ran into the study.
"Father!" Wen Chi happily shouted, "Father, I'm back!"
Wen Chi had come to the study once and was quite familiar with the structure of the study. Carrying the food box, he ran inside as fast as a light swallow and the two servants behind him chased him in a panic.
His voice was not low, and the people inside clearly heard the voice. When Wen Chi stopped, what came into view was Wen Changqing's cold and frightening face.
Wen Changqing was sitting on the guest chair, after seeing Wen Chi's face clearly, he could barely hide the panic on his face. He was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at him, banged his hand on the table: "Bastard! Who allowed you to come in!"
The two cups of tea rested on the table, toppled from the bang and the hot tea inside splashed on the back of Wen Changqing's hand. Wen Changqing gave a painful hiss and hurriedly withdrew his hand and rubbed it hand carelessly.
Wen Chi, who was yelled at, was not angry, instead he blinked innocently and said: "Father, didn't I come back to see you."
After he finished speaking, he immediately looked at the blue-clothed middle-aged man sitting opposite Wen Changqing and said with a smile, "This must be Lord Yin, the Minister of Rites."
Yin Shangshu is fat and has a round face with two left falling strokes1 like small mustaches in front of his mouth and always smiling – this appearance is really exactly the same as the description in the novel.
Originally, Yin Shangshu was still embarrassed by Wen Chang Qing's sudden and intense reaction, but now after hearing Wen Chi's words, he suddenly became interested and asked, "Who is this?"
"Lord Yin, this is my son Wen Liang." Wen Changqing was afraid that Wen Chi would say something and hurried to speak out before Wen Chi spoke, "Today is the day he returns from the East Palace."
Yin Shangshu heard the news that the Wen family had a son who married into the East Palace, he gave an indistinct oh and stroked the small beard in front of his mouth, "So this is Lord Wen's eldest son."
"Exactly." Wen Changqing said in a low-spirited manner. While winking at the two servants who came in, he picked up his spirit to teach Wen Chi, "You've already married and are still so presumptuous. How did your mother teach you? Get the hell out of here!"
The two servants who had been instructed also rushed up and hurriedly tried to drive Wen Chi out.
But Wen Chi refused to go out and said, "Lord Yin, I have something to ask from Lord Yin."
Wen Changqing was furious: "Get him out of my sight!"
However, Yin Shangshu said, "Wait a minute."
At these words, the two servants looked like they were touching a hot potato and swished their hands back.
Wen Changqing's face was extremely ugly but he had to squeeze out a smile and turned to look at Yin Shangshu.
He saw that Yin Shang Shu's eyes lingered for a moment on the food box Wen Chi was holding and then said curiously, "I remember that I have never met you before, how did you know my identity?"
Wen Chi ignored the gloomy eyes cast by Wen Changqing, took a step forward without changing his face and replied obediently: "Lord Yin is the pillar of our country and is a legend praised by the people, especially when the news of Lord Yin's success in controlling the locust disaster in Jinzhou a while ago spread to the capital, who did not say that Lord Yin is the blessing of our country? Even those storytellers in the teahouse have been repeating Lord Yin's deeds over and over again, and now that Lord Yin is right in front of me, how can I not recognize Lord Yin?"
Wen Chi's rainbow fart came as soon as he opened his mouth, word by word, it could be said that it had hit Yin Shangshu in the heart.
Yin Shangshu raised his head, laughed, shook his hand and pointed at Wen Chi, looked back at Wen Changqing and said, "Master Wen, your eldest son is really amazing, no wonder you are full of pride when you talk about your eldest son, if I were you, my tail would have been up in the air."
Wen Changqing with bitterness in his heart, could only force a smile.
After Yin Shangshu finished laughing, he quickly returned to his serious expression. He shook his head and said, "The locust plague in Jinzhou is not under my jurisdiction. I just saw that those people were at their wits' end, so I crossed the line and presented my idea to the emperor, the so-called credit for the locust control is only temporary and the praise from the people makes me feel ashamed."
"There will always be a way." Wen Chi smiled comfortingly and then said coyly, "To be honest, I made some snacks today and originally wanted to give my parents a taste, but since I ran into Lord Yin, I hope Lord Yin will not mind and try my handiwork."
Yin Shangshu said with a smile: "Then I won't decline."
Wen Chi carried the food box forward, placed the food box on the table between the two chairs, opened the lid and carefully took out two plates of cakes and spoons from it.
He placed the cake and spoon in front of Yin Shangshu, and then pushed the other plate to Wen Changqing, not even bothering to give Wen Changqing a look during the whole process.
Wen Changqing: "…"
Chapter 15.2
Only the two servants who were trembling in front of the door could see the back of Wen Changqing's hand, which was clenched into a fist, was already showing blue veins, so you can imagine how much anger he was suppressing.
Yin Shangshu didn't pay much attention to it. To be precise, all his attention was on the cake in front of him. He had never heard of a dessert called cake and he had never seen a dessert of this shape, so he couldn't help but show a new expression of wonder.
Yin Shangshu asked, "Why is it called a cake?"
Wen Chi smiled: "Because the raw material requires a lot of eggs, so I chose the name of "cake1" at random, I hope Lord Yin will not laugh."
Yin Shangshu picked up a small spoon and scooped a spoonful of cake into his mouth.
Don't know what the white layer on the surface was but it melts in the mouth and spreads out in the mouth is a rich sweetness and not the least bit greasy. The sweetness is thicker than any sugar Yin Shangshu has ever eaten, as if soaked into the bones, accompanied by the unique taste of mango.
As for the cake in the middle, it is not as amazing.
But just the outermost layer of cream is already enough to keep Yin Shangshu coming back for more.
Few people know that Yin Shangshu is an authentic foodie, especially fond of sweets. He was willing to go all the way to a restaurant in Yangzhou for a plate of sweet and sour pork ribs.
The reason why Wen Chi knew this only because it was mentioned in the novel-once Wen Liang accidentally bumped Yin Shangshu and gave him a plate of sweets, which was why he got Yin Shangshu's help like sending charcoal in the snow2 at a critical stage later.
Wen Chi thought to himself that he would not delay the plot of Wen Liang delivering sweets to Yin Shangshu by delivering sweets himself to Yin Shangshu beforehand. It should not be considered as robbing Wen Liang of the opportunity. And also, now that his life is in danger, it is important to protect himself first.
Yin Shangshu ate a plate of cake cleanly while reliving the aftertaste. He narrowed his eyes with joy and glanced at Wen Changqing's untouched plate of cake. In the end he endured the desire in his heart and turned to heartfelt praise: "I didn't expect Master Wen's son to have such craftsmanship. Really, even the signboard of Yu Xiang Zhai can't compare to your plate of cake."
Yu Xiang Zhai is the most famous and most expensive pastry shop in the capital. Yin Shangshu is a picky eater and only lets his servants buy pastries from Yu Xiang Zhai. Comparing Wen Chi's cakes with Yu Xiang Zhai, this is already the highest evaluation given by Yin Shangshu.
Wen Chi humbly said: "It's also a blessing for me to get praise from Lord Yin."
After that, he took away the empty plate before Yin Shang Shu and also took away the untouched cake in front of Wen Changqing.
Wen Changqing is not a greedy person, but when he saw how intently Yin Shang Shu ate, he was actually a bit moved. He wanted to wait until he finished talking with Yin Shang Shu and then enjoy the plate of cake, who knew Wen Chi took it away without even asking him.
Wen Changqing watched as Wen Chi left the study after bidding them goodbye, he was so angry that he almost vomited a mouthful of blood.
Unfilial son!
What a rebellious son!
Didn't even give him a bite of cake!
Wen Chi hurried out of the study, and saw the ashen-faced butler was already waiting outside.
Now His Highness has arranged several eunuchs to support Wen Chi. The eunuch's words are all about how favored Wen Chi is in front of His Royal Highness. If Wen Chi is bullied back in Wen Mansion, everyone in Wen Mansion will have to bear the consequence.
In such a situation, even though the butler could only gnash his teeth and swallow the broken teeth in his stomach. He tried to squeeze out a smile that was worse than crying and said curtly: "Young master, the servants have already arranged the eunuchs' accommodation, the eldest young master must be tired from running around for a long time, so you should go back to the courtyard to rest."
Wen Chi nodded and said goodbye.
Beiyuan is still the same as before, perhaps temporarily cleaned up a bit but also looks much cleaner than before.
Chen momo led a group of maids and servants to greet him. The moment she saw Wen Chi, she couldn't help but redden her eyes: "Second… Eldest Young Master, you finally came back."
Although Chen momo deceived Wen Ji in some matters, she is after all the best person in the entire Wen mansion to treat Wen Chi. Wen Chi was held by Chen momo and when he remembered the frightening days in the East Palace, his heart felt sour.
He sighed: "Yeah, I'm back." It's a pity that it was only for a few days.
Wen Chi was indeed a little tired. He let Chen momo to send away the maid servants newly arranged by the butler. After eating some food, he lay back on the bed and fell asleep.
He didn't know how long it took but Wen Chi woke up, he finally felt a lot more refreshed.
Just then, Chen momo came in from outside: "Young Master, Young Master Wen Liang is here."
Wen Chi pressed his temple and felt a headache, thinking to himself, why does the protagonist shou3, always come to him to show his presence? When he thought that his future tragic encounters were related to the protagonist shou, he couldn't calm down when facing the protagonist.
Despite his thoughts, Wen Chi still replied: "You tell him to wait outside for a while, I'll put on my clothes and come out."
When Wen Chi dawdled to get dressed and came out it was already a long time later. He walked out of the bedroom and found Wen Liang still sitting there waiting, rubbing his red eyes from time to time.
After hearing footsteps, Wen Liang looked up, with a pitiful look like a little rabbit being bullied, the big red mole on his forehead flashed Wen Chi's eyes again.
Wen Chi closed his eyes, only to feel deeply tired.
Wen Liang, however, became emotionally agitated, stood up trembling and shouted with a shaking and crying voice: "Younger Brother Chi."
Before Wen Chi reacted, he subconsciously pinched his throat and said: "Elder Brother Liang."
Wen Liang: "…"
1
cake in chinese is 蛋糕 Dan Gao. Here dan means egg and gao means cake or pastry
2
Sending charcoal in the snow refers to sending charcoal to keep people warm on snowy days; it is a metaphor for giving people material or spiritual help in times of difficulty or crisis. Containing commendatory meaning; generally used as predicate, object and attribute in the sentence
3
It is common, but not universal, for the two male protagonists of a danmei work to be divided into gōng (Chinese: 攻; lit. 'attacker') or "top" and shòu (Chinese: 受; lit. 'receiver') or "bottom" roles, which are analogous to the Japanese seme and uke.
Chapter 16.1
Apparently, Wen Liang was taken aback by Wen Chi's address and was silent for a while before he reluctantly pulled the corners of his mouth: "How have you been lately?"
Wen Chi said calmly, "Not well at all."
Wen Chi: "…"1
Maybe because Wen Chi said the words too bluntly, not giving Wen Liang the slightest opportunity to answer, so that Wen Liang was speechless.
But Wen Chi didn't mean to stop there and he didn't know if it was because his state of mind was not good, anyway, every time he saw Wen Liang, he could not help but blame Wen Liang – if it wasn't for Wen Liang and that broken system making trouble in the middle, he wouldn't be living on thin ice in the east palace now.
Although Wen Chi knows very well that this is necessary for the plot, he still feels annoyed.
As long as he doesn't see Wen Liang, it's fine, but when he sees Wen Liang, he can't help but want to slap him.
"Wen Liang, you should have heard about the temper of His Royal Highness. I'm serving by His Royal Highness's side, isn't it easy to guess if I am having a good or bad time?"
Wen Liang's face turned pale again after hearing this. Once again, crystal tears poured out of his eyes again, he tried hard not to let himself cry but whimpered softly: "I'm sorry brother, it's my brother's fault. It's all my brother's powerlessness and not being able to protect even my own brother … "
Wen Chi was tired of hearing such words and turned to say: "Actually, serving His Royal Highness is secondary and the most important thing is that people in the East Palace, including His Royal Highness, do not know my true identity. Once it is revealed that I am Wen Chi, not only me, but the entire Wen family will be involved."
"How could…" Wen Liang was startled for a moment and hurriedly said, "Brother, the identity of you and I are of vital importance. We must not let others know about the exchange of identities, or else when it comes to parents and the Wen family …"
Wen Chi sat down on the stool, one arm resting on the edge of the table, squinted at the face full of fear and anxiety Wen Liang, laughing: "Brother, how can you say that? Letting us exchange identities is a decision made by my father and my aunt2. If this matter is really exposed, it should be they who implicated us, and how can we implicate them?"
Wen Liang stared blankly at Wen Chi's indifferent face and gradually understood something: "Brother, you still hate us."
Wen Chi thought that the protagonist was a little self-aware and he said with a smile, "I'm not a saint, without any joys or sorrows."
"I'm sorry." Tears once again rolled down from Wen Liang's eyes and his face was full of deep apology. He half-knelt on the ground, close to Wen Chi and gently grabbed Wen Chi's hand on his lap, "I'm really sorry."
But in the blink of an eye, Wen Liang was choked up again.
Wen Chi lowered his eyes and looked at Wen Liang's beautiful eyes wet with tears, as well as his fragile and beautiful face when he cried. He could feel that Wen Liang was sincerely ashamed as he did last time but unfortunately it was useless. He secretly sighed and helped Wen Liang up: "Forget it, things have come to this, there is nothing you and I can do to change anything."
Wen Liang choked and said, "Younger brother, Elder brother owes you one, when you need me in the future, brother will definitely help you."
Wen Chi said: "I'll write it down, don't go back on your words."
Wen Liang was forgiven and broke into a smile: "Brother will do what he says."
Today Wen Liang is wearing a white robe, and the light blue belt outlines the delicate waistline, but also increasingly set off his skin is better than snow, as if a peony flower blooming in the sun, even Wen Chi also had to sigh, this protagonist was really born with a good look, no wonder in the peach blossom banquet he hit the heart of the fourth prince, Shi Jin.
Wen Liang's collar is loose and he can see his beautifully shaped neckline, as well as a thin red string above it.
On the red rope is a colored stone the size of a fingernail. The shape of the stone is very irregular, but it has a strange aesthetic feeling. Maybe because of the gentle half kneeling action just now which exposes the stone originally hidden in the collar.
Wen Chi's eyes were instantly attracted to the stone.
This stone…
It should be Wen Liang's golden finger, the stone that summoned the system.
Before Wen Chi's gaze could retrieve his gaze, Wen Liang noticed it. Wen Liang lowered his head blankly and followed Wen Chi's gaze to look at his neck. When he saw the exposed stone, he panicked.
Wen Liang hurriedly tucked the stone back into his collar, his pale face was filled with an expression of guilt that could not be concealed. He looked up to find Wen Chi looking at him with a complicated expression and smiled: "This is just a stone I picked up randomly, I thought it looked good, so I ordered the craftsman to polish it, put on a rope and hang it on my body, making my brother laugh."
Wen Chi shook his head, thoughtfully.
Wen Liang seemed to be afraid of Wen Chi asking more and quickly changed the subject.
However, apart from the East Palace and His Royal Highness, the topic between them was the upcoming peach blossom banquet. Wen Liang did not dare to mention East Palace and His Royal Highness the Prince again, for fear of poking Wen Chi's sore spot, so he talked about the peach blossom banquet again.
"In a few days, the eldest princess will hold the peach blossom banquet. At that time, all the young masters and young ladies will go and even we can go." Speaking of the peach blossom banquet, Wen Liang's eyes were full of longing and yearning, as if he saw the dawn of a happy life, he suddenly remembered something and said to Wen Chi, "Now that His Highness the Prince loves you so much, he will definitely take you to the peach blossom banquet."
Wen Chi looked at Wen Liang's innocent and rosy smile and laughed, "How do you know that His Highness loves me?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince couldn't even rest assured when you went back home and sent several eunuchs to escort you back, what is this if not favor?" Wen Liang said rightfully.
With such a big battle today, even the people outside are discussing it and increasing the prestige of the Wen Residence once again.
1
It should be Wen Liang, idk why the author put Wen Chi
2
大娘 [dà niánɡ] Wen Chi address WL's mother as aunt or as a respectful salutation for an elderly lady and not mother as per rules
Chapter 16.2
Thinking of this, Wen Liang couldn't help but feel a little envy in his heart but then he thought that the legendary prince was both disfigured and crippled and that envy disappeared instantly.
Speaking of His Royal Highness, Wen Liang suddenly remembered something and his delicate brows knit together in embarrassment: "By the way, everyone said that the crown prince lived deep in the East Palace and hadn't stepped out of it for a long time. He didn't even attend the peach blossom banquet in previous years. Will he attend this year?"
Wen Chi really thought about it seriously and then said: "I guess not."
"That's a pity." Wen Liang said dejectedly, "Brother also hopes to meet you at the peach blossom banquet."
Wen Chi said: "Even without His Royal Highness, I can go to the peach blossom banquet by myself."
"How?" Wen Liang blinked his big eyes curiously, "Did you also receive an invitation from the Eldest Princess?"
Wen Chi deepened the smile on his face and said very kindly: "Because the person invited by the eldest princess is Wen Liang and not Wen Chi, and now everyone thinks that I am the real Wen Liang, and you are father's second son Wen Chi, so the person who went to the invitation to the peach blossom banquet should also be me and not you."
Wen Liang: "…"
After a moment of silence, Wen Liang's eyes turned red again.
Wen Chi was unmoved, enjoying Wen Liang's performance in a calm manner.
Who knew that Wen Liang seemed to be seriously hurt and he didn't even have the heart to perform. After whispering that he was uncomfortable, he hurriedly left Beiyuan.
Wen Chi watched as Wen Liang's figure disappeared from sight, slowly withdrew the smile on his face and he began to think.
It is written in the novel that the role of the system is to predict the future and help to ward off the necessary disasters for Wen Liang. After reading the whole novel, Wen Chi is sure that the system does not have any ability to control others in the novel – in this case, that time in Wen Changqing's study, where did the power to control him come from?
Wen Chi thought that if he took the initiative to change the plot and told Wen Liang that the person who went to the peach blossom banquet was not Wen Liang but him, it might trigger that mysterious power.
However it didn't.
So why was he controlled by that inexplicable force? Is that power really the work of the system? If the system is not responsible, what is the meaning of the existence of that power?
Wen Chi thought that he had to figure out the principle of how that power was triggered as soon as possible or else if the power is triggered on some key occasions in the future, I'm afraid then he won't even know how to die.
Wen Chi was worried for a while and then slowly let go.
If god wants him to die, he has to die, might as well make himself comfortable first.
So Wen Chi called Chen momo and ordered a bunch of dishes. Chen momo wrote them down one by one and hurriedly went out and ordered the kitchen to cook them.
Around you shi1, Wen Chi was resting on the toffee chair in the courtyard. Chen momo came over and saw that there was no one around, so she whispered in Wen Chi's ear: "Master, Lord Yin wants to see you."
Sure enough, he was here.
Wen Chi had expected it for a long time and he knew that Lord Yin was a smart man.
After all, Wen Chi had already married into the East Palace and it was not appropriate to meet Lord Yin in the Wen Mansion. In order to avoid suspicion, Lord Yin set the meeting place in a restaurant not far from the Wen Mansion.
Wen Chi changed into low-key clothes and without the knowledge of Xiao Shuanzi and the others, he left the Wen residence alone.
With the help of the original owner's memory, he easily found the restaurant where Lord Yin was and followed the waiter up to the private room on the second floor and saw that Lord Yin had been waiting for a long time with two cups of tea and several plates of delicate desserts on the table.
Wen Chi saluted: "Lord Yin."
"No need to be polite." Lord Yin waved with a smile, "Come and sit."
Wen Chi graciously took a seat opposite Lord Yin.
Lord Yin is a straightforward person, since he has already asked Wen Ji to come here, he does not intend to beat around the bush. He stroked the teacup with his thumb and said kindly, "Young Master Wen must have spent a lot of time making that cake. If I didn't meet with Young Master Wen, I would have truly failed Young Master Wen's painstaking efforts."
Wen Chi smiled: "Lord Yin is really as discerning as the common people say."
"Don't dare." Lord Yin waved his hand modestly, "What do you want me to do? Just tell me."
Wen Chi straightened his face and said, "I heard that Lord Yin has been troubled by the locust plague in Jinzhou recently."
Speaking of the locust plague, Lord Yin showed an expression of having a headache.
Wen Chi went on to say: "Nowadays, the locusts in Jinzhou are flooding, ruining the food and the people are living in poverty. Jinzhou and Liuzhou are only separated by a mountain. Maybe in a few days, the locusts will cross the top of the mountain and go to Liuzhou, this is a major problem and everyone's responsibility. I have some ideas here, but I don't know if they can be used, so I hope to discuss them with Lord Yin."
The author has something to say: A change was made earlier – Yue Shan does not know the true identity of Wen Chi.
When I was sorting out the outline during the day, I found that this point was a bit conflicting with the plot behind it, so I just skipped this line, and it didn't affect the viewing, alright.
1
酉时 [yǒu shí] 名 the period of the day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Chapter 17.1
Lord Yin gave a suspicious 'oh' and asked: "You have a method?"
Wen Chi nodded and without saying anything he took out a piece of paper folded into a square from his sleeve, pressed it on the table with his forefinger and middle finger, moved it to Lord Yin and made a gesture of invitation.
Lord Yin didn't expect that Wen Chi had prepared these a long time ago. He couldn't help but glance at Wen Chi. He quickly suppressed the surprise in his eyes, reached out and picked up the piece of paper and slowly opened it —–
The next second, his expression froze and looked at Wen Chi speechlessly.
Wen Chi guessed what Lord Yin was thinking and scratched his head embarrassedly: "Lord Yin, my handwriting is ugly, so I made you laugh."
Lord Yin's gaze fell back on the paper.
The white paper was covered with crooked black tadpoles, and it was clear that Wen Chi was not really good at calligraphy, each character was written extremely small and unevenly, so that Lord Yin struggled to read it all the way down.
However, after looking at it for a while, Lord Yin's expression gradually became serious and slowly developed into an astounding expression, in the middle of which he paused several times, wrinkling his brow as if he was thinking about something, and looking at Wen Chi with increasingly astonishing eyes.
Because Wen Chi really can not use a brush, in order to save energy, the content was reduced to around no more than five hundred characters.
But it took nearly half an hour for Lord Yin to read these five hundred characters while thinking.
During this half hour, the idle Wen Chi finished a few plates of desserts and drank four or five cups of tea.
Finally, Lord Yin finished reading but he was still not satisfied. He even couldn't bear to put down the paper. He carefully re-folded the paper into the square and then looked up at Wen Chi: "Did you write this method?"
Wen Ji smiled mockingly: "Lord Yin can tell just by looking at the words on it that it all came from my hand alone."
Lord Yin's eyes were full of admiration, he nodded and said, "You are right, prevention is more important than cure to control locusts. In recent years, our country has spent money like running water on locust control, but it has little effect. Even when I personally went to Jinzhou a while ago, I only achieved short-term results. If we can eliminate the insect eggs, it is naturally more effective than fighting them after they become adults."
Wen Chi said: "Locust control is not a trivial matter that can be solved in a few days, but requires a long-term plan to lay a firm foundation and achieve the goal step by step.
Lord Yin stroked his beard and laughed, "You are right."
After that, he paused and said, "But such an important matter is not for me alone. I have to write down your method in the evening and present it to the emperor at the morning court tomorrow."
"That's good." Wen Chi said, "Then I'll trouble Lord Yin."
Lord Yin waved his hand, "You didn't find me just for this matter, right?"
"Hai, as expected, nothing can be hidden from Lord Yin's eyes." Wen Chi got up, bowed to Lord Yin and said a little awkwardly, "To be honest, the reason why I am doing this is because I hope Lord Yin can say a word or two before the emperor for me one day."
"Oh?" Lord Yin raised his eyebrows in surprise and after a moment of silence, he said abruptly, "You are Lord Wen's second son, Wen Chi, right?"
Wen Chi was shocked.
Lord Yin smiled and made a reassuring gesture, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Wen Chi felt that his heart was about to pop out of his throat, he barely suppressed the shock in his heart and his voice was a little hollow: "How did Lord Yin find out?"
"I guessed." Lord Yin said calmly, "I have worked with your father for many years, and I know a little bit about your Wen family and his temper. If someone told him that he can steal the beams and change the pillars1, he won't miss the opportunity."
Wen Chi immediately grasped the point: "Lord Yin means… my father's idea of swapping my identities with Wen Liang was not his own idea, but was encouraged by someone on the side?"
"There was once such gossip that reached my ears and I took note of it." Lord Yin shook his head gently, "So I only know a little bit about it."
Wen Chi didn't ask any more questions and quickly fell into deep thought.
The two chatted for a while and after drinking a pot of tea, they got up and said goodbye.
Before parting, Lord Yin assured Wen Chi that if the emperor liked this method, he would definitely say a few more good words for him in front of the emperor.
Wen Chi was grateful and sincerely thanked Lord Yin. In order to avoid suspicion, he left the restaurant first – of course, Lord Yin did not forget to ask him for the cream recipe.
After staying in Beiyuan for three days, Wen Chi planned to leave for the East Palace – partly because Xiao Shuanzi was pressing hard and partly because Wen Chi was really tired of Wen Liang coming to nag him from time to time.
Early in the morning, the people of Wen mansion had prepared Wen Chi's luggage. In addition to some personal items, there were also several high-quality items specially prepared by Madam Xu Wen Liang's biological mother. From these items If you pick one out at random, it's worth enough for two wooden boxes of Wen Chi's dowry.
Wen Chi remembered that on the day he got married, only a dozen people in the entire Wen Mansion came to see him off. Now, with Xiao Shuanzi and others supporting the scene, half of the Wen Mansion has been squeezed out and there were gourd eaters2 outside the Wen Mansion which was very lively
Wen Changqing and Madam Xu are the most enthusiastic, they intend to earn performance points in front of Xiao Shuanzi and others.
Madam Xu's appearance and Wen Liang have five or six points of resemblance, belonging to the charming and pitiful type.
She took Wen Chi's hand reluctantly in front of several eunuchs and said in a trembling voice: "My son, come home to see more when you have time, I miss you at home, I look forward to seeing you again."
Wen Chi met Madam Xu's tearful eyes and got goosebumps. He silently withdrew his hand and smiled, "If mother misses me, then come and see me in the palace."
"Seriously?" Madam Xu's eyes lit up and he nodded hastily in response, "His Highness dotes on you, so I'm sure he wouldn't want us to endure the pain of longing for each other."
Wen Chi turned his head to look at Xiao Shuanzi who was standing by the side expressionlessly and asked innocently like Wen Liang, "Eunuch Shuan, can my mother enter the palace?"
1
to perpetrate a fraud
2
Internet slang, referring to those who only watch and do not express their opinions when encountering events or gossip.
Chapter 17.2
Hearing this, Wen Changqing and Madam Xu looked at Xiao Shuanzi eagerly.
Although Wen Changqing served as the third-rank Assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites in the imperial court, he was suppressed by Lord Yin the Minister of Rites and there are several colleagues who are also servants of the Ministry of rites to check and balance. Therefore his performance is really not conspicuous. To say that his greatest achievement in recent years, it should be that his son is actually favored by His Royal Highness.
His Royal Highness is the Crown Prince, and his mother is Empress Hua who passed away many years ago. The crown prince not only has the backing of the elusive Hua family, even the emperor is afraid of him, if their Wen family gets the favor of his Highness the crown prince, it is really easy to turn one's hand1 in the imperial court in the future.
The more Wen Changqing thought about it, the more beautiful it became and he even created a beautiful blueprint for himself. He quietly exchanged glances at Madam Xu and both saw the hope in each other's eyes.
Who knew they had just finished thinking about it when they heard Xiao Shuanzi pinched his throat and said coldly, "Is the East Palace a place where any cat or dog can go in? If Young Master Wen misses home, he can come back."
Wen Changqing: "… …"
Madam Xu: "…"
Only Wen Chi expected Xiao Shuanzi to say this and winked at Wen Changqing and Madam Xu: "This son did his best."
When Madam Xu stared at Wen Chi's gloating expression, she was so angry that she almost spit out a mouthful of blood. She woke up early today and was busy doing things for Wen Chi. She even gritted her teeth and sent out a few dowries prepared for Wen Liang, isn't this a way to save face in front of the several eunuchs?
In the end these several eunuchs mocked them, but even Wen Chi, the white-eyed wolf2, did not speak for them.
If she had known this, she would have thrown this white-eyed wolf outside to feed the dogs!
The more Madam Xu thought about it, the more angry she became and Wen Changqing's expression didn't look any better. The gloom under his eyes almost gushed out with his gaze, but unfortunately, in front of the eunuchs, they could only swallow all the bitterness and resentment in their stomachs.
Wen Chi's heart was full of joy, anyway, this man and woman were not kind to him.
Before leaving, Wen Liang suddenly appeared and said that he had something to say to Wen Chi alone.
Wen Chi hesitated for a moment and then led Wen Liang into the carriage – surrounded by people, only the carriage is the quietest.
As soon as he got into the carriage, Wenliang's eyes turned red. Fortunately, he held back his tears and didn't cry again in front of Wen Chi. He hesitated but then found the courage to say, "Brother, can I ask you something?"
Wen Chi sat down on the padded bench with ease and looked up at Wen Liang, who was a little helpless but couldn't hide his guilty conscience: "What's the matter?"
Wen Liang took a deep breath: "Can you not go to the Peach Blossom Banquet?"
Wen Chi was not surprised after hearing this, since Wen Liang has a system to help him predict the future, it is naturally impossible to miss such a good opportunity to choose a mate.
But looking at the face of Wen Liang, he got up to tease again, intentionally pretending to think and said with difficulty: "The eldest princess has invited you to go, if you don't go, I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to the eldest princess."
"It won't be." Wen Liang shook his head like a rattle, his face and eyes were full of pleading, "I have my own way to deal with the Princess' side, younger brother, elder brother knows elder brother's request is very selfish, but brother really has no choice."
Wen Chi thought to himself that you had said that you had no choice before as well.
"Just think of it as brother begging you, don't go to the Peach Blossom Banquet, okay?" Said Wen Liang's tears scrambled out as he humbly pleaded, "If you agree to my request, I will make up for it in other ways in the future."
Wen Chi poked his ears out of boredom, thinking that this sentence is still familiar, and Wen Liang has already said it a second time, changing the soup without changing the medicine3.
Seeing that Wen Chi was unmoved, Wen Liang grabbed his hand with a sob: "Younger Brother…"
1
metaphor that things are very simple and very easy to complete.
2
a person who is not grateful
3
"Change the soup without changing the medicine", a Chinese saying, which means that although the name and shape of the metaphor have changed, the actual content is still the same
Chapter 18.1
"Younger Brother" sounds as nauseating as Madam Xu's "My son" and Wen Chi's got goosebumps when he called him that.
Wen Chi lowered his head to meet Wen Liang's pleading gaze and quietly pulled away the hand that was clenched by Wen Liang.
"Don't worry." Wen Chi said, "I didn't plan to go to the Peach Blossom Banquet at all, let alone in your name."
The Peach Blossom Banquet is the home court of Wen Liang and the fourth prince, Shi Jin, if a cannon fodder like him go tere, nothing good will come out of it. At the end of the day, it might be better to lie down on the bed and relax. He just pity the eldest princess who will be robbed of the limelight.
After hearing Wen Chi's words, Wen Liang's eyes instantly burst with surprise, he hurriedly wiped away the tear marks on his face and couldn't help but hug Wen Chi.
"Thank you." Wen Liang, not very gratefully, said, "Brother promises you, brother will definitely maintain your reputation."
Wen Chi froze for a moment, thinking that he dared to think that Wen Liang was going to go to the Peach Blossom Banquet under his name.
But when he thought about it carefully, he remembered that Wen Liang in the novel was attending the peach blossom banquet as Wen Chi. How could he know that his performance at the peach blossom banquet was astonishing -fortunately, before his true identity was exposed, Wen Changqing had already spread the news of Wen Chi marrying into the East Palace instead of his brother.
In any case, it was Wen Chi who suffered in the end and Wen Liang, the initiator, acted as if nothing had happened and quickly fell in love with the fourth prince, Shi Jin.
Wen Liang did not know what was in Wen Chi's mind, seeing that Wen Chi was not talking, thinking that Wen Chi was still angry with him, he carefully said: "The peach blossom banquet is really very important to me so, I have to go. I will always remember your kindness."
Wen Chi thought that Wen Liang's promise was already worthless and he waved his hand with a headache: "Anyway, we have exchanged identities, you can do whatever you want."
Wen Liang felt guilty and promised again and again that he would do his best to help Wen Chi in the future before excitedly getting off the carriage with.
On the way back to the East Palace, Wen Chi drowsily slept for a while before feeling much more refreshed, and even the psychological shadows left on Wen Chi by Xu's mother and son had also dissipated a lot.
In the Bamboo Flute Residence, Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao were cleaning, and when they saw Wen Chi return, the two young girls immediately put down the things in their hands and greeted him cheerfully.
"Young Master Wen is back!" Ruo Fang smiled so much that she couldn't see her eyes.
"Young Master Wen, was it fun outside?" Ruo Tao said longingly, "I heard that the market outside sells a lot of fresh gadgets."
Wen Chi let them follow him inside and took out two masks from his bag and handed it to them- these two masks were bought by chance when he passed by a small stall after meeting with Lord Yin and both masks depicted the face of a Fuhuahua doll1, with snow-white skin, a conspicuous plateau red on her cheeks, and a wisp of hair combed down on her forehead.
Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao stayed in the deep palace and never had the chance to step out of the palace gate. When they saw these gadgets in the market, they were both surprised and happy, holding their masks and laughing from ear to ear.
"Mine is a female doll." Ruo Fang pointed to her own mask and then pointed to Ruo Tao's mask, "Yours is a male doll."
Ruo Tao couldn't get enough of the mask and kept putting it on her face for a while, her voice came out through the mask: "Male dolls are good, I like male dolls."
Ruo Fang tilted her head in confusion: "Why?"
Ruo Tao took off the mask and looked at her, her long eyelashes blocking her eyes, only to hear her tone calm: "It's convenient for male dolls to do things."
"It's more convenient for us girl dolls to do things." Ruo Fang hummed unconvincingly, turned to Wen Chi and said, "Young Master Wen, these days when you were not in the Bamboo Flute Residence, me and Ruo Tao are not idle. We were making cakes every day and the cakes we make are getting better and better."
"That's awesome." Wen Chi smiled, not mincing his words, "But from tomorrow onwards, you don't need to make them, the cakes need to be kept refrigerated but there is no ice in the Bamboo Flute Residence, making more is easy to spoil."
Ruo Fang wrinkled her nose and said: "That's true."
After saying that, Wen Chi realized that something seemed to be missing in the courtyard, he looked around and asked: "Where is Ping An?"
"I don't know." Speaking of Ping An, Ruo Fang's tone was no longer so affectionate and there was a bit of complaint, "Ping An always likes to act alone, and he doesn't tell me and Ruotao where he goes, so we don't bother to care about him."
Wen Chi smiled helplessly. Laughing, he took the gift for Ping An and went to Ping An's bedroom to look around, but he still didn't see Ping An's figure, so he put the gift on Ping's table and left.
The next day,
Wen Chi was lying on a chair in the courtyard basking in the sun, when he saw Ping Ping running in a panic.
"Young Master Wen! Young Master Wen!" Ping An was panting as he ran. He raised his hand to wipe the sweat on his forehead before panting slightly, "Xiao Shuanzi was beaten with twenty strokes by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Xiao Shuanzi ?" Wen Chi immediately sat up, "Which Xiao Shuanzi?"
"Of course it was Xiao Shuanzi who sent Young Master Wen back to Wen Mansion." Ping An said, "This is already yesterday afternoon, when this slave came back, I heard that the Xiao Shuanzi had done a good job in protecting Young Master Wen and His Highness had rewarded him with many good things, but then Xiao Shuanzi said something he shouldn't have said, so he received the twenty strokes."
What should not be said …
Wen Chi instantly realized what that was and his face turned pale with fright.
Chapter 18.2
As the saying goes, the more you know, the more dangerous it is. Even Xiao Shuanzi was beaten with twenty strokes by the crown prince, then he, who knew the inside story…..
Although Wen Chi didn't know the concept of twenty strokes, just from the fact that Yue Gui and the others who received thirty strokes are only one step away from death after receiving thirty strokes, it is most likely he will lose half his life.
Ping An carefully looked at Wen Chi's face, saw that Wen Chi's face look like the sky is falling down and deliberately asked, "Young Master Wen, what did Xiao Shuanzi say to you, to make His Highness lose his temper so much."
Wen Chi opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Ping An didn't speak, just hunched over and looked at him eagerly.
Wen Chi turned around and met Ping An's gaze but what he said was a completely different topic: "Have you received the gift I brought you?"
Ping An was stunned: "What gift is Young Master Wen talking about?
When Wen Chi saw Ping An's confused look, he guessed that Ping An had not returned to bed last night. He waved his hand, no longer in the mood to ask where Ping An had gone last night and only said, "Leave, I want to be alone."
Ping An bowed and quietly retreated.
Facts proved that what should come will still come.
Two days later in the afternoon, Eunuch Zhu led two little eunuchs to the courtyard of Bamboo Flute Residence.
Eunuch Zhu was still the same, with folded arms and a whisk in his hands, squinting his eyes and standing there calmly. Seeing Wen Chi come out, he said in a shrill voice: "Young Master Wen has been gone for many days, His Highness misses Young Master Wen and it just so happens that His Royal Highness is free this afternoon, Young Master Wen hastily tidy up and go there."
Young Master Wen wanted to ask if he was going to receive the twenty strokes but he swallowed the words back in the face of Eunuch Zhu's cold expression.
In the study, the crown prince was the same as always, propping his cheeks and closing his eyes for a nap and the two little eunuchs carefully massaging his shoulders for him.
After not seeing him for many days, the crown prince is still so terrifying and the aura emanating from him overwhelms everyone in the study.
Wen Chi stood with his head buried behind Eunuch Zhu, wondering if he would take the initiative to confess, anyway, he would die anyway, maybe the crown prince will let him off the hook for being so proactive.
Since he thought so, he acted likewise and flung himself to the ground.
Fortunately, the floor of the study was covered with a soft cashmere carpet, so no matter how many times you kneel, you won't feel any pain.
Eunuch Zhu seemed to be startled by his behavior and glanced at him several times.
Wen Chi, with a pounding heart, said bravely: "I am guilty, I hope Your Highness will punish me."
Not long after, the crown prince's lazy tone sounded in front of him: "What's the crime?"
Wen Chi said. : "I was too eager to get to know His Royal Highness, so I inquired from Eunuch Shuan a few times. I also know that if I wanted to understand His Royal Highness, I should get to know His Royal Highness little by little by getting along with Your highness, so I can only blame myself for being too eager and accidentally breaking His Highness' taboo."
After saying that, Wen Chi buried his head deeply and the string in his heart was almost tense to the extreme.
It seemed that after a long time, he heard the sound of the wheelchair sliding. When the crown prince's languid voice sounded again, it was close at hand.
"Then tell me." The crown prince asked curiously, "What did you ask about bengong?"
The cold sweat on Wen Chi's back was seeping out, he didn't dare to be careless and blew rainbow farts with trepidation: "I thought there was a world of difference between Your Highness and me. Your Highness was like a god in the sky, while I was just a grass in the earth, I really couldn't understand how I got the favor of Your Highness. Every time I see His Highness, I feel so unreal."
After saying these words in one breath, Wen Chi had to admit that his rainbow fart skills were really growing at a rocket speed.
It's a pity that these rainbow farts are of no use to the crown prince. Maybe because he has heard too much rainbow farts from others, after hearing Wen Chi's words, he calmly asked, "Did Xiao Shuanzi give you a satisfactory answer?"
Wen Chi thought for a moment, then tentatively replied: "Perhaps it seems like… no."
As a result, after he answered the question with such a strong desire for survival, he heard the crown prince laugh. Then, a cold hand pinched his chin and forced him to raise his head.
The surrounding light was so bright that Wen Chi had to squint his eyes and the crown prince's face came into his sight.
The crown prince raised his hand and dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids, even Eunuch Zhu also quietly withdrew from the study and gently closed the door of the study.
"Since you didn't get a satisfactory answer, how about Bengong tell you?" The crown prince pulled up the corners of his mouth, his face was full of open smiles, half of his face covered with burn marks was filled with a ghostly sense of seduction dancing between light and shadows.
Wen Chi froze and looked up, frightened into a quail on the spot.
More importantly—
he found out in the corner of his eye that the crown prince actually stood up from the wheelchair…
Chapter 19.1
Holy Shit!
How did Shi Ye stand up?!
Aren't his legs disabled? Wasn't he still sitting in a wheelchair just now?
Wen Chi was shocked, so far as to think he was having a hallucination.
However, it turned out that the image he saw was not an illusion. Shi Ye not only stood up from the wheelchair, but also stood firmly, with a tall and straight figure like a standing poplar.
Wen Chi here was so shocked that he couldn't speak, but Shi Ye on the other hand ripped off the clothes on Wen Chi's chest. His actions were so rude that Wen Chi didn't know what was going on. He only felt a few pieces of rags flying in front of him, and then he felt cold on his chest.
He looked down in a daze and saw that the clothes on his upper body were torn and the exposed skin was dazzlingly white.
Shi Ye lowered his eyes, a thin layer of frost had formed on his stern face, he narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at a certain part of Wen Chi's abdomen for a moment.
Wen Chi maintained the posture of his chin being pinched by Shi Ye, his body was stiff and motionless, his slightly thin body shivered, and he didn't know whether he was cold or frightened by the icy aura emanating from Shi Ye's body.
Time passed minute by minute.
After an unknown amount of time, Shi Ye suddenly retracted his gaze that fell on Wen Chi's abdomen. He raised the corner of his mouth and gave a cold smile: "As expected."
Wen Chi was still confused.
Shi Ye's hand holding his chin suddenly tightened and he approached with a sullen face: "You look very much like a person Bengong knows and that person has traces of being wounded by a dagger between the abdomen and legs but unfortunately you don't."
Wen Chi can't figure out where the plot is going now and he racked his brains but couldn't figure out who is the person that Shi Ye knew in the novel that looked like the original owner or if this was actually a hidden plot that wasn't mentioned in the novel.
Wave after wave of shocking twists were like small clubs, mercilessly hitting Wen Chi's head, knocking him into a dizzy mess and his brain became a pot of porridge.
While he was stunned, Shi Ye asked in a cold voice, "Bengong asks you, have you ever been injured before?"
Wen Chi hurriedly rummaged through the original owner's memory and then answered honestly, "Answering back to Your Royal Highness, I've never been injured."
"Pity." Shi Ye seemed to really feel sorry, "What a pity."
Wen Chi struggled for a moment, then asked bravely, "Dare to ask His Royal Highness, is that person an old friend of His Royal Highness?"
"No." Shi Ye smiled suddenly, the un-deformed half of his face had a kind of stunning beauty, but unfortunately the other half of his face crawling with burn marks hardened and ruined this beauty, despite his smile, it was still so frightening, "How could that man be an old friend of bengong, he is an enemy of bengong."
Wen Chi: "…"
He looks exactly the same as the crown prince's enemy, is there anything worse than that?
No wonder Shi Ye ordered him to take off his clothes without warning that day, so he wanted to check if there were dagger wounds on his abdomen.
The more Wen Chi thought about it, the more scared he became. If Shi Ye strangled him directly, he wouldn't feel as scared but Shi Ye himself said that he looked like his enemy, which means he probably wouldn't have let him die painlessly.
As the biggest villain and the most brutal king in the novel, what kind of torture methods can't Shi Ye think of? It seems that he personally skinned a concubine in the later part of the novel.
Just recalling the words describing the plot, Wen Chi was shaking like a sieve. He is not afraid to die but afraid to live a life worse than death.
Shi Ye felt the trembling of the man in his hand, and the curvature of the corners of his mouth gradually widened. He laughed heartily, closing in on Wen Chi's ear and said viciously: "Bengong has been looking for that person for more than ten years, and I have been thinking about him day and night. With a face that is very similar to yours, Bengong hopes to catch him with my own hands one day, trap him in a cage like a mouse, tease him a few times when he is in a good mood and remove one of his legs when he is in a bad mood."
Wen Chi didn't wait for Shi Ye to finish speaking, he knelt down with a pale face with tears of horror rushing out of his eyes: "His Royal Highness, forgive me, that person is not me, I have never seen Your Royal Highness before coming to the Eastern Palace!"
Shi Ye slowly squatted in front of Wen Chi, propping his chin with one hand: "But you look like him, if bengong can't catch him, it's a good idea to find a substitute."
Wen Chi's face was full of tears. He choked, "I'm different from that person."
"Oh?" Shi Ye pondered, "What is different?"
Wen Chi said carefully: "I can make cakes."
Shi Ye was silent for a moment and gave a faint Oh: "You're awesome."
Wen Chi: "…"
Don't think he couldn't hear that the dog prince was mocking him.
However, this answer was effective. Shi Ye slowly stood up again, sat down on the wheelchair behind him and returned to his previous lazy appearance. He said, "Get up."
Wen Chi didn't dare to delay. He hurriedly got up from the ground, with a bare upper body, like a poor quail.
He knew that he was crying like a wimp a moment ago but he couldn't control his tears. He wanted to raise his hand to wipe the tears on his face but because Shi Ye was right in front of him, he didn't even dare to move his fingertips.
Until Shi Ye faintly said: "Raise your head."
Wen Chi struggled to raise his head and looked at Shi Ye through a layer of watery mist.
He was originally fair but after crying like this, his eyes and the tip of his nose were all red, which was especially obvious, he really looked like a jungle rabbit.
Looking at Wen Chi's appearance, Shi Ye really recalled the time when he and the emperor went out to hunt together. A stupid white rabbit hit the leg of his riding horse and was caught by his ears. After that, his four legs were shaking with fright and the frightened expression of the stupid rabbit was exactly the same as that of the person in front of him.
Heh, They are all stupid.
Wen Chi lowered his eyes and avoided Shi Ye's straightforward gaze but he could feel Shi Ye's gaze scrutinizing him from head to toe.
Not long after, he heard Shi Ye snicker: "It seems that you are not useless."
Wen Chi sniffed quietly and said humbly, "Thank you, Your Highness, for the compliment."
Shi Ye said, "Bengong is mocking you, can't you hear it?"
Wen Chi immediately changed his tone: "Thank you for the sarcasm, Your Highness, I am not very honored."
Shi Ye: "…"
Chapter 19.2
Shi Ye seemed to be shocked by his cheekiness, after a moment of silence, he waved his hand and said : "Go to Zhu Xian to get some clothes."
Wen Chi knew that Shi Ye meant to let him go. He was relieved, a strong sense of joy instantly surged in his heart at the same time but he never dared to show it. He pursed his lips, bowed and whispered "yes".
But before he went out, Shi Ye called out to him again: "Bengong doesn't like mangoes."
Wen Chi quickly understood what Shi Ye meant and couldn't help but feel fortunate. Fortunately, his ability to make cakes saved him and he asked, "Which fruit does Your Highness want? I can place them all on the cake."
Shi Ye frowned: "Bengong has already made it so clear but you still don't understand?"
Wen Chi instantly broke into a cold sweat.
Fortunately, Shi Ye didn't mean to continue to make things difficult for him and only said: "Bengong doesn't like any fruits."
Wen Chi quickly replied yes, and hurriedly slipped out of the study.
Outside the study, Eunuch Zhu and others had been waiting for a long time and when they saw that Wen Chi was completely intact… Oh no, the tattered-clothes Wen Chi came out, they almost failed to hide the surprise in their eyes, even the always calm Eunuch Zhu also could not help but look at Wen Chi a few more times.
After listening to Wen Chi repeat the crown prince's words, Eunuch Zhu hurriedly said, "Young Master Wen, please come this way."
He doesn't know if it was Wen Chi's delusion but Eunuch Zhu's attitude towards him seemed to be a little more flattering.
When passing in front of several eunuchs, Wen Chi accidentally caught a glimpse of a stretcher that seemed to be used to carry people. He remembered that he had not seen this thing when he came.
So Wen Chi asked, "Eunuch Zhu, what is that stretcher for?"
Eunuch Zhu turned around and replied with a smile, "To be honest, if Young Master Wen goes in vertically and comes out horizontally, then that stretcher will be used to carry Young Master Wen to the morgue."
Wen Chi: "…"
Eunuch Zhu finally couldn't hold back and sighed: "Speaking of which, Young Master Wen is the first person who has stayed by His Royal Highness's side for such a long time. Young Master Wen is very special to His Highness."
Wen Chi thought to himself, after all, he looks like the enemy that Shi Ye has been dreaming about for more than ten years, can't he be special?
Eunuch Zhu led Wen Chi to change his clothes and when Wen Chi returned to Bamboo Flute Residence, he, Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao got busy together.
Wen Chi was really afraid that Shi Ye, that mad man, would go crazy again, so he worked extra hard to make an eight-inch cake with a pile of heavy cream on top and after carefully shaping the shape, he asked Ping An to send it to Eunuch Zhu.
Early the next morning, Wen Chi was still having breakfast in the residence when he saw Ruo Fang running in in a panic.
"Young Master Wen!" Ruo Fang said excitedly, "Eunuch Zhu is here!"
Wen Chi was so frightened that he almost spat out the porridge in his mouth. Fortunately, he restrained himself in time and quickly put down the dishes, wiped his hands with a handkerchief and walked ahead of Ruo Fang to welcome him.
In the courtyard, Eunuch Zhu changed his expressionless face and smiled. After seeing Wen Chi's figure, he took the initiative to walk up to him.
"Young Master Wen, I have been specially sent these rewards by the order of His Highness the Crown Prince." Eunuch Zhu smiled profoundly, "I would like to congratulate you first."
Wen Chi glanced at the things held by the eunuchs and said, "Rewards?"
"This is the reward given by His Highness the Crown Prince for Young Master Wen for serving His Highness well." Eunuch Zhu said, "Young Master Wen, why don't you quickly receive the reward?"
Wen Chi still didn't understand what was going on but he also knew that the matter could not be delayed, so he asked Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao to take turns to take the things in the hands of the eunuchs and put them into the room. When Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao took turns to take the things, Eunuch Zhu would announce the name of the items.
Although Wen Chi is not very knowledgeable about these things, he can tell from the appearance and names of those objects – they are all valuable things. Compared with the things that Madam Xu sent through gritted teeth to those sent by Shi Ye is dwarfed in comparison,
After Eunuch Zhu and his party left the Bamboo Flute Residence in a mighty manner, Wen Chi was worried about the large and small objects placed on the table.
He guessed that these things were the hush money given by Shi Ye – after all, what he saw with his own eyes was that Shi Ye was not disabled.
But this kind of silencing method is not at all like Shi Ye's style. According to Shi Ye's temper, he should have directly sent him to meet the king of hell.
Wen Chi also recalled that when Shi Ye and several officials discussed how to deal with the Fourth Prince, he did not shy away from him at all.
Could it be that…
In Shi Ye's eyes, is he already a dead person who can't speak?
Wen Chi was worried for a few days, so worried that he could not eat his meals, but Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao were very happy and even more motivated to make cakes.
Wen Chi sat on the chair with a sad face, watching Ruo Fang and Ruo Tao pasting the icing and said sincerely: "It's good to be a little girl who doesn't know the world."
Ruo Fang heard this and said innocently: " Young Master Wen doesn't have to envy the slaves, strictly speaking, Young Master Wen is considered half a girl."
Wen Chi's face was full of black lines: "Are you saying that I am neither a man nor a woman?"
Ruo Fang quickly shook her head and explained earnestly: "Young Master Wen will have children, doesn't that mean you are half a girl?"
Wen Chi: "…"
He almost forgot, he really is not male and female physique in this world.
Wen Chi wasn't finished worrying here but Lord Yin over there had already taken action. It didn't take long for Wen Chi to receive a message from the eunuch next to the emperor, saying that the emperor wanted to meet Wen Chi.