The servant girl led Jing Ye and My Baizang to the lake. The night wind suddenly picked up, blowing the lanterns on the lake. The phrase “green ripples” must have come from this scene.

Jing Ye was taken to one of the small buildings by the lake, but this one was built on the other side of the lake, opposite the other buildings across the lake.

When Jing Ye entered the door, he saw the word “Stealing Love” written on the plaque, and his forehead twitched.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Lu Baizang scooted over to take credit and said, “I wrote it, does it look good?”

Jing Ye didn’t answer him, and the two of them walked to the main bedroom. The bedroom was separated by a green gauze screen. There was a bed inside and tables and chairs outside. The style of the room was simple, but the utensils, gauze curtains, and bed rails were all exquisitely made. There was a wall panel embedded next to the green gauze cabinet. On the panel were painted several beauties holding baskets, each with unique gestures. The characters “Beauties Walking” were inscribed in the corner of the painting.

The servant girl’s name was Xiao Ying. At this moment, she said, “Dinner is ready. Gongzi, Villa Master, please wait a moment.” Then she withdrew.

Jing Ye looked at the furnishings in the room and looked back at Lu Baizang: “Is this your bedroom?”

“Yes, do you like it?”

“Villa Master Lu.” Jing Ye turned his back to him and looked at the women in the painting, “You have a lot of bedrooms in this building, why must you insist I squeeze in here?”

“How could that be?” Lu Baizang smiled and held his hand, “My bed is so big that it can sleep three or four people without being crowded.”

Jing Ye nodded knowingly: “It seems Villa Master Lu also tried ‘three or four people’.”

Lu Baizang froze: “It’s not what you think.”

Jing Ye smiled: “It’s just a joke, the villa master doesn’t have to worry about it.”

“I…” Lu Baizang was about to say more, but the door was lightly knocked twice, and Xiao Ying came in with several maids bringing food.

Jing Ye had trudged around all afternoon, and his appetite was whetted by the fragrant food. He immediately turned around and sat down at the table. Seeing Xiao Ying serving rice for him, he asked her: “What’s your name?”

Xiao Ying glanced at Villa Master Lu, whose expression remained unchanged: “The name of this slave was given by the Villa Master. The Villa Master once read a poem, what was it called… ‘Limpid waters in between.’” (TN: used to describe the good manners of a demure lady)

“‘Gazing at each other silently’. It suits you very well.”

Xiao Ying smiled and lowered her head, “Gongzi flatters me.”

Lu Baizang finally felt the jealousy of his former lovers when they saw him flirting with the maids. It was indeed uncomfortable. But he, the majestic villa master, couldn’t possibly fight for favor with a little girl.

After filling his stomach, his eyelids began to droop. Jing Ye had no intention of arguing with a certain someone, so he simply lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Seeing that he was sleeping soundly, Lu Baizang went outside to the receiving hall to listen to his subordinates report their recent villa affairs, but saw Liu Rushi standing in the hall instead, waiting for him: “Villa Master.”

“Liu Rushi.” Lu Baizang glanced at him and found a seat, “Chen Shu gave you a good name. I have kept several lovers and male pets, but you are not among them, are you?”

Liu Rushi lowered his eyes: “Without these rumors, how could the villa master remember Ru Shi’s name?”

“You play the qin well.” Lu Baizang smiled and leaned against the back of his chair. “It’s a pity it’s not penetrating enough.”

He had favored many people. Because the first impression when meeting was very comfortable, because the occasional frown and smile were very touching, because the appearance, temperament, and figure were in line with his own taste. As long as he took a fancy, he would not begrudge any amount of favor.

But this kind of favor often didn’t last long. It was of no matter, he could always find more. Now that he had feelings for Jing Ye, what was the harm in being cold to others?

Jing Ye slept until almost evening. When he got up he wanted to take a walk, so Lu Baizang took him to the lake.

There were many koi carps of various and beautiful colors in the lake. Jing Ye simply sat on the stone bench by the lake, meditating.

Ever since he came here, there had only been trouble all the time. This emperor’s shell had been weakened by the pleasures and wine, and with so many wolves watching, he really couldn’t endure it anymore.

Jing Ye slowly exhaled.

Next to him, Lu Baizang held his hand: “It’s still too cold outside. Come inside and I’ll relieve your boredom.”

Jing Ye glanced at him: “Are you going to tell me a bedtime story?”

“Sure.”

Jing Ye turned around in disdain.

Lu Baizang looked at him. He always liked beauties who were lively and fun, or who were unruly and prickly. But at this moment, with the breeze blowing on his face, and the person next to him closing his eyes slightly, his expression peaceful.

Suddenly he felt that this was not bad either.

Jing Ye sat for a while, then got up and walked back. Suddenly he heard the sound of a qin, coming from the other side of the river, playing “phoenix seeks love”.

Jing Ye didn’t know how to appreciate music, but the sound of the qin floating melodiously on the lake, set against the setting sun in the evening, did have a sad and heart-wrenching artistic conception.

A little servant girl came over quickly, knelt down and said to Lu Baizang: “Villa Master, Liu Gongzi invites you over for a chat.”

Lu Baizang frowned.

Jing Ye walked forward slowly and flapped his hand: “Since he wants to see me so much, it is also not bad to listen to the music played by the famous Liu Gongzi of Jiangnan.”

Jing Ye looked at him: “I’m hungry.”

Lu Baizang said: “The chef at Qingyu Restaurant is the best here. Their ham and fresh bamboo shoot soup…”

Jing Ye: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier, let’s go.”

Lu Baizang: “…”

Jing Ye wanted to pull his hand back, but the man’s grip was so tight that he couldn’t pull it out.

The handsome and unrestrained man walked slowly along the lake while holding the gentle and jade-like gongzi. The scenery was very picturesque indeed.

The little maid led the two people in, and went upstairs to the second floor. On the viewing platform outside the house, a person was kneeling on a soft mat, playing the qin in his hand, his long black hair flowing down, covering his expression. 

Jing Ye followed Lu Baizang up the last step, and the qin player stood up and looked over.

Jing Ye looked the other over a few times. He was indeed beautiful. His facial features were as beautiful as those of Gu Hong and the others, but it was just too soft and charming and lacked masculinity.

Liu Rushi bowes towards Lu Baizang: “Villa Master.”

“Why did you invite me over?”

“…” Liu Rushi pursed his lips and looked at Jing Ye. The latter understood, turned to Lu Baizang and said, “Where’s the fresh bamboo shoot soup you promised?”

“You can stay here…”

“The soup is already being made.” Liu Rushi said, “Gongzi might as well go to another room and wait.”

Jing Ye blinked: “That’s also fine.” He took out his hand and turned to go downstairs. The maid was already waiting at the steps. When she saw him coming down, she bowed and led him to another room.

Jing Ye sat on the armchair with his chin propped and started to get bored. He thought about what evil things Zhao Mingde and his cronies were up to. He also thought about when he could go back to the palace. He didn’t know what was going on in the palace. With Gu Hong there, everything should be fine. He had been away from Jing Xiaole for so long, would he notice that his uncle was missing? Children were said to be quite clingy. And Feng Ling, and that Li Tingqiu, who managed to leave with difficulty but came back again, was he still planning to be Consort Li? …

The door was pushed open, Xiao Ying poked her head in and said, “Gongzi.”

Jing Ye raised his head and smiled: “Why are you here?”

“The Villa Master wants me to serve gongzi during dinner.”

“Then come in.”

Jing Ye knew that maids like Xiao Ying could identify whether food was poisonous or not, as well as the safety of the incense, drinking water, and refreshments. They were simply universal deciphering machines.

Xiao Ying brought the food in, followed by a little servant girl with her head lowered.

Jing Ye watched her arrange the dishes and put the rice on the table, then handed over a pair of chopsticks and stepped aside.

He suddenly felt that the atmosphere was a little strange. He took the chopsticks and a flash of light suddenly flashed in front of his eyes. He looked up suddenly and saw the little servant girl rushing over with a sharp knife in her sleeve.

“Gongzi!” Xiao Ying screamed.

Jing Ye dodged back to avoid the dagger piercing at his chest. The sharp blade swept past his waist and abdomen, bringing a bone-gnawing chill.

The sound of weapons was also heard outside the house. Two guards in black were fighting with the intruder and were in a stalemate. Xiao Ying in the room rushed forward and grabbed the dagger the servant girl pulled out. The blade cut her hand and blood flowed down.

“Gongzi, leave quickly!”

The guard in black cut the assassin’s throat with a sword, turned around and rushed into the house. The sword rose and fell. The servant girl’s hand holding the dagger loosened and she fell to the ground on her back.

The guard in black knelt down on one knee: “Please forgive this subordinate for being late!”

Shouldn’t you come over and help me stop the bleeding at this time? Jing Ye wanted to cry but had no tears. He held the wound on his waist with one hand and motioned for the guard to come over and press the pressure points to stop the bleeding. He pointed at Xiao Ying with the other hand and said to the guard who came in from behind: “Do you have any medicine for the wound? Take her out to clean… tss… and bandage it.”

The guard in black took the order. Xiao Ying was obviously frightened, her hands were bleeding and shaking at the same time, and her tears streamed down her face: “Gongzi…”

Jing Ye smiled at her and said, “It’s okay.” He listened carefully and seemed to hear the noise of many people in the distance, so he ordered the guard in black, “Take me to leave from the back.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“Yes!”

The guard in black bowed, came over to help Jing Ye, found the back door opposite the noisy front entrance, and slowly walked out.

Jing Ye felt a little dizzy.

That fellow Lu Baizang, he wouldn’t still be having an affair with a pretty boy was he? Next time he had to let him get a taste of being stabbed himself.

Bastard.

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