It was almost evening.

Jing Ye came out of the imperial study, and Ye Mao hurriedly shook out his thin cloak and put it on him: “The weather has gotten colder these days, Your Majesty, be careful of catching the cold.”

“En.” Jing Ye let him tie the ribbon at the collar for him. Ye Mao seemed to have lost some weight. It seemed that he had spent a lot of time worrying about him in the past month.

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

Jing Ye suddenly said: “Are you going to follow zhen all your life?”

“What is Your Majesty saying?” Ye Mao smiled foolishly, “Where can this subject go if not to follow Your Majesty? Or could it be Your Majesty thinks this subject is too clumsy and wants to drive me out?”

Jing Ye thought for a while and said, “Don’t you want to find a companion?”

“This subject has to serve Your Majesty day and night, where will there be the time for a companion.”

Eunuchs could not compare to palace maids. Palace maids could ask to leave the palace when they reach the age of twenty. Eunuchs were physically handicapped and would be spurned by others and have no future at all outside the palace.

Jing Ye looked at Ye Mao’s moist cat-like eyes and remembered that on the way back to the capital, he stayed in a small farmhouse of a well-off family. The owner’s child was eleven or twelve years old, a pampered child with delicate skin and big bright eyes.

If Ye Mao… could also be born in a family with no worries about food and clothing, he would definitely be more adorable than that little boy.

During his recent travels, he did not completely gain nothing, at least he was able to see the customs and lives of the people wherever he went.

The imperial carriage stopped not far away, but Jing Ye did not go in. Ye Mao said: “Your Majesty…”

Jing Ye passed the carriage and said with a smile: “Zhen‘s legs are stiff after sitting all afternoon. Let’s take a walk and loosen up first.”

Ye Mao hurriedly followed him. The master and servant walked slowly on the palace road, followed by the palace maids and guards.

There was some twilight colors in the sky, but it was still bright. When the palace people walking back and forth saw Jing Ye walking slowly by, they all knelt down to pay respects.

Jing Ye tilted his head, listened, and said with a smile, “It’s so lively.”

Ye Mao listened carefully, and sure enough, the sound of laughter could be heard from the other side of the wall, and he hurriedly said: “It should be the newly selected Yulin guards practicing in the training ground.”

Jing Ye nodded and suddenly said: “Let’s go and have a look.”

Ye Mao: “Ah?” But Jing Ye had already turned around and headed in the direction where the laughter came from.

Ye Mao hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way.

Jing Ye had the palace guards wait outside, and followed Ye Mao to the palace wall. Looking down, he saw an open space that could accommodate hundreds of people. There were more than a dozen young people in their twenties, all dressed in black and red attire, a ribbon tied around their forehead, running around the field. One of them suddenly jumped up and kicked in the air, and the small ball rushed through the goal with the sound of wind.

“Good!”

Sitting or standing next to the open space were all handsome young men dressed in the same style, and they applauded from time to time.

Jing Ye watched quietly for a while, his eyes sweeping across the crowd. Someone seemed to notice when his eyes fell on them, and turned around and looked up.

Jing Ye raised a brow.

The person was also startled, then he knelt down on one knee and said loudly: “Paying respects to Your Majesty!”

This shout shocked everyone on the field. The young people looked up and saw Jing Ye, immediately knelt down on one knee and said in unison: “Paying respects to Your Majesty!”

Jing Ye gestured for Ye Mao to speak, and the latter said loudly: “Rise—”

Everyone took the order and stood up.

Ye Mao said again: “Young gentlemen, there is no need to be courteous, just continue as before.”

“Thanking Your Majesty!”

The young military officers leaned over and clasped their fists, and then dispersed.

The person who knelt down first was still standing there, looking up at Jing Ye.

Jing Ye looked back at him once, then turned around and walked down the palace wall. Ye Mao followed him: “Your Majesty, do you want to summon General Li over?”

“There is nothing to say.” Jing Ye still didn’t understand why Li Tingqiu came back, and sighed softly, “Forget it. Let’s go back to the palace residence.”

“Ai.”

When Jing Ye returned to his palace residence, he saw all the maids gathered in front of the bedroom looking in. Ye Mao coughed and they turned around and knelt down to pay their respects.

Jing Ye asked: “What’s wrong?”

The maid in charge stood up and curtsied: “Just now Lin Gongzi came here with the young prince. He originally wanted to wait for Your Majesty, but because a long time passed without any sign, he left first.”

Jing Ye entered the palace while listening. The palace maid looked inside the palace and said with a smile, “The young prince is eating snacks.”

Jing Ye entered the hall and saw that the little glutton was sitting on the soft couch, holding the snacks sent by Lu Baizang at noon and gnawing away at them. His tender face was covered with crumbs.

He couldn’t help but laugh. The little guy was very clever, when he saw that the person coming in was Jing Ye, he immediately threw down his snacks and reached out for a hug: “Susu!”

Jing Ye was surprised. He sat over and held Jing Xiaoyun on his lap, rubbing his little face: “You learned to talk?”

“Susu, miss… Susu.”

Jing Xiaoyun waved his two chubby paws, and the crumbs and drool were all smeared on Jing Ye’s robes. The palace maid spoke at the side: “Lin Gongzi asked this servant to tell Your Majesty that from now on, the young prince’s food, clothing, and daily life will be entirely entrusted to Your Majesty, but he must be sent back to his original residence every afternoon to keep company with his elder brother.”

“En.” Jing Ye held the little guy’s fist, “Has the side room been tidied up?”

“It was ready a month ago. The servants clean it every day. We also invited back the palace ladies and older maids who have served the prince or the little princes in the past to live in the palace.”

“Good.” Jing Ye stood up with Jing Xiao Yun in his arms, “Zhen will go take a look.”

There was only a wall between the side room and Jing Ye’s bedroom. In the inner room was Jing Yun’s small bed, which was made according to the little one’s size and surrounded by safety fences. The whole room was covered with thick cashmere carpets, and every step left a footprint.

Jing Ye put him on the bed. Jing Xiao Yun looked up at him.

Jing Ye smiled and picked up the small toy drum on the bench next to them to tease him. The little guy jumped forward, hugged the toy drum and started chewing on it.

“Aiiii, put it down! You can’t eat this!” Jing Ye quickly pulled the toy drum back, dumbfounded, “Who did you learn to bite whatever you grab from?”

Jing Yun looked at him innocently.

Jing Ye rubbed his little head: “You will live here from now on, so be good.”

Jing Yun called in a sweet voice, “Susu.”

“Ai.”

The second day, morning.

Jing Ye was sitting behind the desk, looking through the memorials. Outside, Ye Mao knocked on the door and said, “Your Majesty, Lord Feng wants to see you.”

“Feng Ling?” The hand turning the page paused, “Summon him in quickly.”

“Yes.”

Soon, the door creaked open, Jing Ye raised his head, and the young man brushed his robes and knelt down: “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye stood up and walked over to help him up: “Qing, rise quickly.”

When his hand grasped his arm, he could feel the other trembling slightly: “Feng Qing?”

Feng Ling raised his head and looked at him, his expression so complicated that even he couldn’t decipher it himself.

Jing Ye looked at him with concern: “What’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

Feng Ling suddenly grabbed his hand and opened his mouth as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he remained silent.

Jing Ye’s left hand was held by him, his expression was slightly surprised, and he became more and more concerned: “Feng Qing?” He actually took the initiative to hold his hand. This was probably the most inappropriate thing Feng Ling had ever done.

“This subject… it’s nothing.” Feng Ling swallowed and didn’t know what to say, “It’s been a month.”

A month? Jing Ye was stunned, what month?

“This subject has been waiting for Your Majesty to come back.” Feng Ling gently let go of his hand, took two steps back, bowed and saluted, “This subject is relieved. Your Majesty is busy with state affairs, so this subject will retreat first.”

“…En.” Jing Ye watched him retreat out of the door, then turned around. His back was still upright, but he felt a little bitter for no reason.

Ye Mao came over and asked: “Your Majesty, shall the memorials be continued to be looked over?”

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

Jing Ye came back to his senses and said, “Continue.” After saying that, he turned around and sat down. Ye Mao bent over and closed the study door with a creak.

The sky was getting a little dark, and the wind was picking up again, bringing with it a little bit of coolness. The palace people all raised their heads.

It was raining.

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Lu Baizang didn’t notice anything at first. It wasn’t until the noise of fighting came from outside the small building that he realized that his hearing was not as good as usual.

Leaning on the soft couch, he squinted and lifted the chin of the person in front of him. Liu Rushi obediently lay beside the soft couch, raised his head, his eyes filled with emotion, looking very pitiful and endearing.

Lu Baizang smiled slightly, his hand rotated, and in the next moment, grasped his throat with five claw-like fingers: “Did you put something in the tea?”

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

Liu Rushi was choked so hard that he couldn’t breathe: “Villa… Villa Master… Ru Shi only asks for one night…”

Lu Baizang tightened his fingers and looked at his flushed face that revealed a frightened and sorry looking appearance, and sneered: “Do you know that no matter how beautiful your face is, it will always turn ugly the moment right before you die.”

Liu Rushi’s eyes widened and he began to struggle, tears welling up in his beautiful almond eyes: “Villa Master… please, Villa Master forgive me, for Brother Chen’s sake…”

Grabbing him by the neck he threw him away: “Killing you would only dirty my hands, get out.”

Liu Rushi didn’t expect that things would turn out like this. He curled into himself and stumbled away trembling. He knew that at that moment, Lu Baizang really wanted to strangle him to death.

Lu Baizang stood up and walked downstairs quickly. A guard in black appeared from the steps, kneeling on one knee: “Villa Master Lu, the Lord has already left.”

Lu Baizang gritted his teeth: “Is he injured?”

The guard in black lowered his head and said, “A stab in the abdomen, missed the vital point.”

A knife in the abdomen. Lu Baizang knew how weak Jing Ye’s body was. Even if the wound was not critical, it would probably still leave behind lingering illness.

A woman dressed simply and smartly came over and said, “Villa Master… Lord Chen, the zhizhou, has led his troops in.” (TN: senior provincial government official in dynastic China)

“Zhizhou?” Lu Baizang sneered, his heart already clear, “Come to arrest treasonous rebels?”

“…Yes.”

Lu Baizang turned to the black-clothed guard and said, “Take the medicine and call Doctor Meng. Follow the path Ah Ye took and catch up as soon as possible.”

“Yes.” The guard in black stood up and left.

He stood quietly for a while, listening to the sound of weapons outside the building, his eyes gradually became colder: “Oh Shi Niang, so this is what you said, that everything would be safe and sound?”

The woman knelt down: “This subordinate is stupid, please punish me, master!”

“After the matter is over, go back to the villa to receive your punishment.” Lu Baizang strode out the door, “Then find some people to clean this building thoroughly. No filth should be left behind.”

“This subordinate has received the orders.”

Jing Ye covered the wound and realized that he was gradually becoming hot and losing consciousness.

The carriage jolted forward, and the guard raised the curtain and asked, “My lord, why don’t we stop and take a rest.”

Jing Ye opened his eyes in a daze, stared at him blankly for a while, and then tried to gather his senses: “No, keep going.”

The guard lowered the curtain. The carriage continued forward.

After riding for a while, the sound of horses neighing suddenly came from behind the carriage. The sound soon came from far to near, and the carriage stopped.

There were voices outside the carriage, and someone lifted the curtain and stepped inside. Jing Ye struggled to open his eyes to see who it was. That person held his hand and leaned over.

It was dry and warm.

He had lost too much blood and was feeling cold all over. He couldn’t help but lift his arms and hug the other, burying his head in this man’s warm embrace.

It seemed that someone else also got in the carriage as well, said a few words to Lu Baizang, then came over to put his hand on his wrist to check his pulse and look at his wounds. He then got out of the carriage.

The person holding him moved, as if afraid of touching his wound, then lowered his head and spoke, his hot breath falling on his ears.

He said: “Ah Ye, I feel very distressed.”

Can your distress help me heal that stab wound quickly? If not then there’s no point in talking nonsense.

Jing Ye rested his head on his shoulder and gradually relaxed. Before he passed out, he was still thinking: It’s twice now, can’t I be allowed to arrive at my destination standing upright?

Jing Ye was woken up by the sound of crying. He twisted his neck and turned his head to look, and was startled by someone’s face covered with snot and tears.

Ye Mao covered his face with his sleeves: “Your Majesty, wuwuwu…”

Jing Ye: “…What are you crying for? Are you still a man?”

Ye Mao pressed his fingers together with tears in his eyes: “Your Majesty is disdainful of me, this subject is not a man in the first place.”

“…”

Jing Ye shuddered and struggled to sit up. Ye Mao hurriedly helped him: “Your Majesty has slept for six days and five nights. Forcing yourself is not good.”

Jing Ye lay on his back on the bed, surrounded still by the bright yellow gauze curtain and a brocade quilt and jade pillow as always.

He came back.

“That’s right.” Ye Mao turned around and brought a wooden tray, “Gu Gongzi said that as soon as Your Majesty woke up, this subject must serve you to drink the medicine.”

“…”

Damn. Jing Ye tilted his head inward, the reality was too cruel, he might as well continue to faint.

When Gu Hong entered the hall, Jing Ye was walking back and forth, supported by Ye Mao, moving his hands and feet that were stiff from laying for so long.

“Your Majesty.”

At the familiar deep voice, Jing Ye looked up and couldn’t help but smile: “Gu Qing.” (TN: term used by the emperor for his subjects)

This period had been really full of twists and turns. If he thought about it carefully, he hadn’t seen the other for only a month, but it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Gu Hong came over to support him, so Ye Mao let go and stepped back. There were only two of them left in the hall. Their palms touched, Gu Hong sighed softly and moved his fingers, interlocking them.

Jing Ye was a little unsettled, he twitched his hands and was about to speak when Gu Hong leaned over and pulled him into an embrace.

“Your Majesty…”

Jing Ye was a little shorter than him, his chin rested on this man’s shoulder, and he smelled the warm and fragrant scent of palace incense.

“I, zhen has not been in the palace these days. Zhen heard Ye Mao say that all the affairs, big and small, were handled by you. Thank you for your hard work.”

Gu Hong laughed lightly and touched the knife wound on the right side of his waist with his fingers, his long eyelashes trembling slightly.

A long time later.

Jing Ye’s neck hurt from being craned on his shoulder, and he twitched his lips and said, “Gu Qing, do you have to hold zhen like this?”

Ah! If not because he had just woken up and was jelly all over, you tofu-eater would be lying on the ground long ago!

Gu Hong smiled and gently let go of him, touching their foreheads together: “This subject came to apologize to Your Majesty.”

“Oh.”

Jing Ye was speechless. He had already guessed that he and that pair of mental father and son kidnappers were conspirators. He wanted to step back, but his legs had become weak after standing for too long, and he suddenly stumbled.

Gu Hong hurriedly hugged him again, this time he simply lifted him into his arms and hugged him sideways.

Jing Ye was shocked. F**k, someone as gong-like as me doesn’t suit a princess carry! This couldn’t be tolerated! So he struggled fiercely.

Gu Hong hugged him tightly: “Your Majesty, don’t move, I won’t be able to hold you… Your Majesty has suffered all the way, why do you seem to have become heavier?”

Jing Ye: “…”

Gu Hong carried him to the bed and sat on it himself. Jing Ye turned around to look at him. He was still wearing moon-white robes, his eyebrows were like distant mountains and his thin lips were smiling slightly, the cinnabar mole on his forehead elegant and captivating. There was just a slight hint of unnoticeable fatigue in his expression.

Jing Ye didn’t want to admit to softening at the sight.

Towards such a pretty face, it was hard not to be soft-hearted.

He paused, then coughed slightly and said: “The affairs in the palace are complicated, having to take care of both sides, thank you for your hard work.”

Gu Hong’s eyes were smiling: “It’s not very tiring. Xiao Sheng and Ting Qiu shared some of the duties.”

Li Tingqiu?

Thinking of this, Jing Ye frowned: “Zhen sent him out, and promised him his future, why did he come back again?”

Gu Hong looked at him and sighed softly: “This subject doesn’t understand either.”

People’s hearts were unpredictable. Jing Ye couldn’t make any wild guesses. He suddenly thought of Le Zhenghuan and asked him, “You asked people from Pingyue City to take zhen away. Is it because the capital was infiltrated?”

“Yes.”

“People who want to kill zhen? Jianghu people?”

“Yes.”

“Is it the Zhao family…? No, although the Zhao family is powerful, they can’t order around jianghu people. So who could it be…” Jing Ye turned his head and saw Gu Hong leaning his head on the jade pillow, his eyes closed and seeming to be asleep.

“Gu Qing… Gu Ruoshui?”

“…”

Jing Ye was speechless, this fellow really didn’t treat himself as a guest.

He leaned closer to take a closer look at the man. It was not so obvious when he spoke with a smile. But at this time, with his eyes closed and asleep, his face looked a bit tired and haggard, and a little pale.

Jing Ye got off the bed lightly, looked back at him, and sighed.

Forget it, for the sake of you working as a hard laborer for me.

Jing Ye leaned over to remove his hair crown and lifted his legs onto the bed. After thinking about it, he also reached over and pulled the thin quilt to cover him.

Then he straightened up and walked out, parting the bead curtain. Ye Mao was waiting outside the curtain. Seeing him, he hurriedly stepped forward: “Your Majesty…”

Jing Ye signaled him to keep his voice down, and whispered to him to get some clothes for him. Ye Mao understood and ordered the palace maid to get some clothes and said, “Your Majesty, Lu Gongzi is waiting in the front hall.”

Jing Ye thought about it and realized that he was probably here for the seven-star lantern, so he nodded and went to the front hall.

When Lu Baizang saw him coming, he smiled and saluted: “Paying respects to Your Majesty.”

Jing Ye said: “Zhen will issue an order later. Just take the order and go to the treasury to get it.”

Lu Baizang did indeed come here for this purpose. Hearing Jing Ye’s direct attitude, he actually felt as if he was being shooed away. He suddenly felt unhappy and took a few steps forward to grab his hand: “Does Your Majesty’s wound still hurt?”

If you didn’t mention it, I would have almost forgotten. Jing Ye looked at him with an expressionless face.

Lu Baizang felt that he was in the wrong and tried to please him: “This subject made lunch, Your Majesty, please have some?”

It seems that he was indeed hungry. Jing Ye touched his belly, and Lu Baizang took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek. Without a bat of an eye, Jing Ye pulled his sleeve to wipe his face.

Lu Baizang: “…”

The food box containing the dishes was put on the side. Lu Baizang walked towards the bedroom. Jing Ye had no intention of stopping him, but suddenly remembered that Gu Hong was still sleeping on the bed and blurted out: “Wait a minute!”

Lu Baizang looked back at him: “What’s wrong?”

Wait, that’s not right, why did he feel guilty. Jing Ye paused for a moment: “Zhen… doesn’t want to eat in the bedroom.”

Lu Baizang stared at him: “Really?”

“Yes.” Jing Ye took his hand and walked towards the side hall, “Let’s go there…” But Lu Baizang held him back and said with a smile: “Your Majesty won’t let me go, could it be because you are hiding something inside.”

Jing Ye’s expression stiffened. Lu Baizang had already pulled him into the bedroom. Gu Hong was standing by the soft couch with a booklet and reading it carefully. He raised his head when he heard the sound.

His hair was not tied up, and was left flowing down his back, simply tied with the ribbon used by Jing Ye. His robes were also loosened, and his expression had a hint of joy and satisfaction. It practically said “meat tastes good when you eat it in your mouth” on his face.

Eat what meat, ahh! Nothing happened, okay! Jing Ye roared in his heart.

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

It was a pity that Lu Gongzi couldn’t hear it. He still had a smile on his face, but no matter how one looked at it it was still a bit unsettling.

Jing Ye tried to pull out his hand, only for the other to tighten his grip, so he could only turn his head silently to the side.

Thiswasnotbeingcaughtcheatingthiswasnotbeingcaughtcheating. 

This. Was. Not. Being. Caught. Cheating!

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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 classical 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 you 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 graceful 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 Xiao Yun 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 poisoned 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.”

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“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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At the southern gate of the city, several guard keepers sat by the gate with long swords hanging from their waists.

“It’s so damn unlucky that it’s finally the Flower Fair, but we have to stay here guarding the gate.”

“Ai, did you hear what they said? The one leading the dance today was Lady Huai Lan.”

“I shouldn’t have changed shifts with that kid. It’s a big loss now.”

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“You deserve it…” One person began making fun of his misfortune, but his voice suddenly stopped.

“How about we find someone to switch shifts…” The other person turned his head and saw the other clearly, and immediately shouted loudly, “Old Liu? Old Liu!”

“What’s wrong?” Several other people also came over to take a look. “This…”

Suddenly there were inaudible sounds of the wind in their ears, and in the next moment the three men fell to the ground.

There was a sound of horseshoes in the distance coming from inside the city gate. Jing Ye followed Lu Baizang to the city gate and saw a few people lying on the ground, all dressed like jianghu people. Two guards in black stood on the side. When they saw the two approaching, they knelt down on one knee and said, “Your Majesty, Lu Gongzi.”

“I promised to bring him out of the city.” Lu Baizang tightened the reins and rode up to the two of them: “Whether you can stop them or not depends on you.”

“Yes.”

He smiled, turned back to Jing Ye, who was looking at the people on the ground, and said, “Your Majesty, let’s go.”

“En.” Jing Ye glanced at the two people standing on the side, pulled his horse, and followed Lu Baizang towards the outside of the city.

The night was dark, and the two of them rode their horses on the road without rest. Lu Baizang was quite leisurely, and he had the idle interest to say to Jing Ye: “Riding a horse under the moonlight can also be considered an act of elegance.”

Jing Ye was not as leisurely and content as him. This body was used to a pampered lifestyle, and after jolting on the horse for a while, he gradually showed signs of fatigue.

Don’t know how long it had been.

Just after leaving a small forest, Lu Baizang heard the faint sounds of fighting in the wind, and couldn’t help but smile: “The men of Pingyue City are a level higher than that of the imperial family after all.”

Jing Ye looked at him: “Do you think the black-clothed guards could stop them?”

Lu Baizang shook his head: “Unlikely. If they could fight to the death, there is a chance that Your Majesty will be able to escape from Pingyue City’s control.”

Jing Ye gritted his teeth.

Lu Baizang looked at him and raised his eyebrows: “However, if I come forward in the name of my Lu Family Villa, you will definitely be able to win without a fight.”

Jing Ye lowered his eyes in silence and quickly said, “What do you want?”

“The seven-star lantern.” Lu Baizang said, “It’s in Your Majesty’s treasury.”

Jing Ye remembered that the seven-star lantern was a secret treasure handed down the imperial family. It was a treasure that the female emperor obtained from the battle with Xirong. Since then it was kept in the royal treasury and had not seen the light of day for decades.

But a living person was more precious than a dead object.

“…Fine.”

Lu Baizang smiled: “I believe that Your Majesty will not break your promise.”

Jing Ye looked up at him: “Of course.”

The two turned their horses and rode through the woods.

Le Zhenghuan was sitting on his horse, looking coldly at the killing in front of him. Suddenly he heard the sound of horse hooves and immediately raised his head.

He had excellent eyesight and soon saw Jing Ye riding alongside Lu Baizang.

“You want to run?” The reins in his hands were squeezed tightly, and the words that reached Jing Ye’s ears were enunciated word by word, “Do you think I will let you go?”

Jing Ye raised his head slightly.

Lu Baizang let his horse stop at a distance, turned to smile at him, and then spoke. His inner strength was deep, and his voice spread across the woods and reached everyone’s ears. 

“City Lord Le.”

The young man in red narrowed his eyes. The guard captain beside him raised his hand, and the guards who were fighting with the black-clothed guards immediately retreated.

“Today,” Lu Baizang said with a smile, “I must take His Majesty away.”

Le Zhenghuan: “What relation does this have to do with your Lu Family Villa?”

“How is there no relation?” Lu Baizang took Jing Ye’s hand and kissed it lightly, “His Majesty is the one I love.”

Jing Ye: “…”

Le Zhenghuan squeezed the reins in his hands, and the guard captain beside him said: “Young master, think twice.”

He looked at Jing Ye: “You hate me?”

Jing Ye: “I don’t hate you.”

“You said you like me.”

“I do.”

“Then why do you want to be with him!” Le Zhenghuan pointed at Lu Baizang with the tip of his whip, the gesture full of provocation.

Jing Ye suddenly felt embarrassed: “…No, I just can’t be with you.” He looked at the young man in red, “People can only be together after falling in love. You are too young to understand.”

The young man cracked his whip angrily: “Are you much older than me?”

Jing Ye knew that he had accepted the fact that he was leaving, or that he was powerless to stop it. Lu Baizang tightened the hold on his hand and said with a smile, “It’s time for us to go, Your Majesty.”

“Wait.” The young man whistled, and a black horse stepped out of the crowd, “Take it with you.”

Obsidian ran up to Jing Ye, looked at his current mount, and sneezed contemptuously.

Jing Ye smiled and rubbed its head: “Thank you.”

Le Zhenghuan raised his chin and looked at Jing Ye: “You will regret it one day.”

Regret what?

The night wind was calm, Jing Ye wanted to say something to the other, but in the end he smiled, turned around and left with Obsidian.

Lu Baizang took Jing Ye to find a small town and stayed in an inn there. The black-clothed guards left two people to guard the emperor, while the others found their own places to treat their injuries and rest.

The leading guard deputy captain handed Jing Ye a letter, written by Gu Hong himself.

The letter reported that Zhao Mingde had been staying at home out of illness, but secretly kept in touch with ministers in the court and often summoned the aides he kept in his manor to discuss matters. There were also more and more letters between his wife Madam Xu and her brother Xu Ming.

However, no one had yet discovered that the emperor was no longer in the capital.

Jing Ye read all the way to the end, only to see at the end of the letter: Ting Qiu has returned.

Li Tingqiu?

The door was pushed open with a creak, and Lu Baizang walked in with the food and put it on the table. He said with a smile: “It’s time for dinner, Ah Ye.”

Jing Ye’s forehead twitched. After entering the town, this man kept calling him “Ah Ye” with the excuse of hiding his identity.

Forget it, “Ah Ye” was at least better than “Ye Ye” or “Ye’er”.

Lu Baizang opened the lid of the food box and took out three dishes and one soup. The ingredients were very ordinary, but all the dishes looked tasty and smelled fragrant. There was even the fragrance of bamboo leaves in the rice. Jing Ye put down the letter, raised his chopsticks and tasted it.

Lu Baizang didn’t even realize that he was actually a little nervous: “How is it?”

Jing Ye chewed it slowly, looked up at him, and couldn’t help but laugh.

Lu Baizang: “…What are you laughing at?”

“Lu…Villa Master Lu.” Jing Ye’s eyes curved and he tapped his cheek with the end of his wooden chopsticks, “You have a smudge here.”

Lu Baizang touched it with his hand, and sure enough.

Jing Ye still smiled and said, “If Villa Master Lu’s playboy reputation hadn’t already been so well-known, I would have thought you to be the most virtuous husband in the world.”

“But I am.” Lu Baizang stretched out his hand to hold him, “I only hope Ah Ye won’t dislike me.”

“No one will believe your lies.”

“You don’t believe me even if I tell the truth.”

Lu Baizang looked at Jing Ye who shook his head, then continued eating. The two of them were just like an ordinary couple, sitting in an ordinary room, one eating and the other smiling and watching on.

Wait. Villa Master Lu suddenly realized, why am I the…?

The two of them rode southward. After passing through several prefectures and towns, they arrived in Zhengzhou.

Zhengzhou was a prosperous place. When the two arrived, there seemed to be more people than usual.

Jing Ye led the horse by the reins and followed Lu Baizang into the city to find a place to stay. After two hours, they still found nothing. All the inns with good food and lodging were full, while the lesser ones were passed by Lu Baizang.

Jing Ye had been on the road for two days, and his physical strength had improved a lot. He didn’t feel tired despite following him around, so he simply observed the condition of the streets and houses here.

The two of them rested in a tavern. The tavern was also very lively. People in simple attire were sitting everywhere, talking enthusiastically about the “Flower Fair”, “Liu Gongzi“, “Miming Pavilion” etc..

How could Lu Baizang be willing to drink the wine in the tavern? He asked the waiter to remove the tea and wine from the table and only serve a pot of water. Jing Ye said: “There ia also a Flower Fair in Zhengzhou?”

Lu Baizang said with a smile: “Any decent pleasure house in the world would hold such an event every eighth or ninth month of the year.”

“Oh…” Jing Ye nodded and smiled, “Isn’t that Liu Rushi, Liu Gongzi, an old friend of yours? Why not find him to borrow a place to stay?”

Lu Baizang’s mouth stiffened, and he felt inexplicably embarrassed: “How does Ah Ye know?”

The waiter brought the pot of water over, Jing Ye reached out and poured a cup, saying with a smile: “The girl who waited on me during Lady Huai Lan’s dance back in Pingyue City told me this.”

“…Actually, I only met him once.”

“En, I understand.” Jing Ye smiled, “But we have to find a place to stay for one night. Lu Gongzi is good at socializing and will definitely have the other smiling and pleased.”

Lu Baizang: “…”

Then they actually went to Luyi Tower, the largest brothel in Zhengzhou.

Seeing Jing Ye beside him speaking gently to the little servant girl who was leading the way, making the little servant girl blush, the Villa Master Lu began to reflect for the first time whether building the villa’s liaison offices in various places into brothels… was actually a little inappropriate?

Luyi Tower had several small buildings built near the water, dedicated to the residence of some of the most popular top names in the pleasure house. The most exquisite one belonged to Liu Rushi, who was as famous as Huai Lan.

As night was approaching, Liu Rushi finished playing a piece of music, raised his head and said to the guest in front of him: “Liu Gongzi, the time has come.”

The guest looked at him still entranced, came over and kissed him on the cheek and said, “Wait for me tomorrow night.”

“Ru Shi will be waiting for you at that time.” Liu Rushi lowered his eyes slightly to hide the displeasure in his eyes.

Liu Gongzi stroked his face one last time and walked away, looking back every three steps or so.

The older woman who served Liu Rushi opened the door and came in, holding a cloth and water in her hands: “Gongzi.”

The woman wetted the face towel with water. Then took it and wiped his face carefully.

“This slave has good news.” The woman smiled.

Liu Rushi turned to look at her: “What is it?”

“You might not believe it but,” The woman leaned forward and said in a joyful tone, “Master Lu is here.”

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“What?” Liu Rushi straightened up, “How…when did he arrive?”

“Just now, gongzi, will you still see guests tonight?”

Liu Rushi was stunned for a while, and then said hurriedly: “…I won’t see anymore. Come quickly and help choose some clothes for me.”

“Ai, this slave will go now.” The woman looked at his lovesick look, covered her lips and smiled softly.

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Jing Ye soon discovered that there was no need to inquire, as soon as he entered Harmony Pavilion, he could hear almost all the guests at the tables talking about the “Flower Fair”.

Connected with the “Flower Fair” was the “Miming Pavilion”.

This Miming Pavilion was clearly different from the general brothel and pleasure houses. After entering the door there was a stage for singing and dancing made of red gauze. Pretty girls in pink silk sat there, a pipa gently clasped in their hands as they sang songs of lovesickness. Small wing rooms separated by hollow doors surrounded the stage, each with a circular window opened towards the side of the stage. After the red gaze curtains were put down, due to the slightly dim candlelight, figures could only be seen vaguely, along with faint laughter that could be heard coming from inside.

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As soon as Jing Ye led Shanyue inside, a handsome young man immediately came up to him and said, “Is the guest here to see today’s courtesan competition? There just so happens to be two good seats vacant just now…”

Jing Ye motioned for him to lead the way.

The servant then led the two of them to a wing room facing the stage, two girls in bright yellow brought in fruit and wine with lowered heads, and then stood by the side.

The servant smiled and said: “There is less than an hour before the Flower Fair, so gongzi must wait for a bit. This is Liu’er, Feng’er, let them accompany you first.”

“En.”

Jing Ye sat on the soft seat by the circular window, raised his hand to signal Shanyue to sit opposite, and the servant quietly retreated.

The two girls secretly glanced at each other, wanting to step forward to serve, but Shanyue’s eye swung at them with every step like knives, so they were so frightened that they didn’t dare to move.

Jing Ye shook his head at her.

Shanyue couldn’t help but say: “Gongzi…”

“We already came.” Jing Ye laughed, “Could it be that the money should be spent in vain?” Then he said to the two girls, “Come over and pour some wine.”

The two walked over gracefully, curtsied, and then knelt down by the wine table. The one called Feng’er was more daring and clever, she rolled up her sleeves to reveal her slender fingers and delicate wrists, and said with a smile while pouring wine: “Gongzi, is rice wine fine?”

“I don’t have a preference.” Jing Ye half propped his head to watch her posture while pouring wine. The two girls both wore light makeup, and possessed a certain charm. The girl called Liu’er still kept her head down but her collar exposed a section of fair neck, shy and lovable.

A woman was like a vase, which could not be touched but could be admired.

Shanyue felt that the eyes of the young master’s wife really needed to be treated with two more bowls of medicine.

If she still knew a little modern slang, she would definitely be angrily yelling f**k (╯｀ ′)╯(┻━┻ in her heart now.

Jing Ye took a sip, remembered something and asked the two, “There isn’t anything added inside, is there?”

When he asked this question, he appeared both curious and wary, causing Feng’er to cover her lips and smile: “Gongzi, don’t worry, we don’t use any special medicine in the Miming Pavilion, unless you request it.”

“Oh.” Jing Ye sniffed and drank while continuing sniffing.

Feng’er was very good at chatting and making jokes. Seeing Jing Ye’s gentle temperament, she relayed to him some funny scenes related to drunken guests. The topic jumped from one to another and eventually settled on the Flower Fair.

“They say it is many courtesans competing against each other, but in fact the next owner of the flower crown is already decided between two. One is Sister Huai Lan, and the other is Liu Gongzi.” Feng’er poured wine for him again, “Both of them are beauties talented in poetry, calligraphy, music and painting, but Liu Gongzi is slightly better at playing the qin, and Huai Lan is better at dancing.”

Literate or illiterate, did it make a difference after the lights are blown out?

Jing Ye sipped wine silently.

The sound of the pipa downstairs gradually stopped, and suddenly the sound of the guzheng sounded loudly, and everyone in the room sat up straighter. Feng’er said: “It has begun.”

Liu’er went forward to pull up and hang the gauze curtain on the silver hook, and from the window, one could see the stage below lined with red candles that shone brightly.

The sound of the guzheng gradually lowered.

They then saw a girl wearing a vermilion gauze skirt, holding a large fan of the same color, coming out from behind the screen.

There were gasps and noises from the audience.

Feng’er also covered her lips and exclaimed, “Huai Lan is actually leading the dance personally!”

Jing Ye took a sip of tea, staring at the dancing girl with long sleeves on the stage.

Her legs were long, her waist was very thin, and her cleavage was… cough, quite deep, with a slender and elegant neck. Half of her face was covered by red gauze, revealing only willow-leaf brows, and almond-shaped eyes that were full of autumn waves and tenderness.

Jing Ye looked at the woman’s waist, which could be grasped by one hand, and then pinched himself with his left hand: “What the hell… who said I have a thin waist.”

At the same time.

There was only one wing room in the hall, the window of which was facing the center of the stage. At this time, there were two people sitting in the room. There were two full jade cups on the small table in front of them. The candlelight refracted off the wine which shone like amber, causing it to be even more intoxicating.

The man picked up one of the cups and took a sip, then said with a smile, “Look here, I’ve put so much effort into building the foundation but in a moment of carelessness it’s all ruined by you.”

Lu Baizang glanced out the window, then turned his head boredly: “You have a good musician here.”

“…” The man raised his head to look at him, “Although I don’t like to boast, Huai Lan’s appearance, figure, talent and character are rare in the world.”

“Hmm.”

“…”

“A beauty is still a beauty.” A certain Mr. Lu picked a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth, “But recently, for some reason, I don’t have the same interest as before in regards to entertainment.”

The man stared: “…You can’t get it up?”

Lu Baizang pointed out the window: “Do you want to try landing on the ground from here?”

“It’s just a joke.” The man smiled awkwardly, and suddenly thought of other possibilities, “Could it be… you’ve fallen for someone? That’s not right, you have only been in the palace during the past two years…” He suddenly inhaled, “You, don’t tell me…”

Lu Baizang’s eyes were slightly deep.

“Oh my Buddha.” The man slapped his forehead, “Which one did you fall for, the youngest son of the Gu family? Or that tanhua? Or the Lin family’s…”

Lu Baizang took a sip of the wine, got up and walked to the window, with a smile on the corner of his mouth: “Guess.”

“A palace maid?” The man carefully observed his expression, “…or a eunuch?”

After the dance ended, everyone praised and applauded. When the man looked over, he saw Huai Lan curtsying and looking their way with lingering eyes.

It was a pity that all the winks were thrown to the blind man.

Lu Baizang looked to the right with a smile on his lips: “He must have never been to a place like yours. Have your kitchen make some crab cakes and send them over, as well as some tofu skin buns.”

The man had a vague premonition: “To whom?”

Lu Baizang turned his head, as if he was recalling something interesting, with a smile on his face.

“Of course it’s to… actually, since he’s in Pingyue City now, you might as well call him Jing Gongzi.”

Jing Ye looked at the two trays of snacks in front of him: “Why suddenly send over snacks at the last minute?”

“This… I don’t know either.” Feng’er looked at the pastries carefully, only to feel that it was completely different from the ones first sent over when they entered the wing room. The appearance was simple, but the color and fragrance were on another level.

This kind of craftsmanship should be specially used to serve the owner and several young mistresses.

Liu’er slightly raised her head and said, “Gongzi, why don’t you try it first?”

Jing Ye looked at Shanyue: “Then let’s try it?”

Shanyue thought for a while and nodded. There was no need to worry with the strict control over food in Miming Pavilion.

From the beginning to the end of the Flower Fair, the event would last for more than half a month. Tonight, with Huai Lan’s pearl and jade-like example in front, it was very likely that the courtesans coming after would be compared to rubble. The owner of the establishment obviously understood this, so today ended early.

Jing Ye was led downstairs by the servant, and when he was about to reach the entrance, a servant girl hurriedly ran over with a food box, but bumped into Jing Ye head-on, and the food box fell the ground with a “crash”.

The servant girl immediately bowed her head and knelt down: “Gongzi, forgive me…”

Jing Ye wanted to help her up, but Shanyue moved first: “Why are you so careless? Fortunately, it was an empty food box. If there was some hot soup and rice in it, wouldn’t it have burned my young master.”

The servant girl knelt down again, touching her forehead to the ground: “This slave is stupid, gongzi please forgive me.”

“Forget it, it’s nothing.” Jing Ye smiled at Shanyue, “Let’s go.”

Jing Ye walked ahead, and when he passed by the maidservant, he glanced down inadvertently, and saw the tip of a snow-white tail moving slightly among the piles of food boxes scattered around.

His eyes flickered slightly. Turning back to Shanyue, he said, “The steamed stuffed buns just now were quite delicious.”

“If gongzi likes it, we can ask the cook back in the manor to make some.”

“Fine.”

The carriage of the City Lord’s Manor was parked outside the pavilion, the driver lifted the embroidered curtain, and Jing Ye lowered his head and sat in.

The wheels rumbled across the ground, gradually moving away from the bright lights, and suddenly stopped when they reached a secluded area. Jing Ye raised his eyebrows: “Shanyue?”

Only the wind fluttering the curtains could be heard.

Jing Ye waited patiently, and soon he heard the “creak” of the door, and the curtains were lifted. The person who lifted the curtain smiled at him frivolously.

“Your Majesty, could I be considered a hero saving the beauty?”

“Not really.” Jing Ye stretched out his hand for him to hold, and stepped off the carriage, “You haven’t rescued me yet.”

Shanyue fell beside the car, Jing Ye stepped forward and said, “Did you kill her?”

“I just tapped her sleeping pressure point.” Lu Baizang stood behind him, wrapped his hands around his waist, and leaned into his ear with a chuckle, “I know Your Majesty would be reluctant.”

Jing Ye didn’t bother to quibble over his sneaky gestures, he raised his head and asked, “Are we leaving now?”

“En.” Lu Baizang rubbed against his face, “They stirred some chaos in the southern area, and that young master is rushing to find a way to solve it.”

Jing Ye looked at him: “Then what are you waiting for?”

Lu Baizang smiled wickedly: “Stay for a while longer, when this subject thinks about eloping with Your Majesty, my heart is instantly full of joy.”

Jing Ye: “…”

There were many qinggong masters in the city, so Lu Baizang led Jing Ye to an inner courtyard residence. There were horses parked in the yard, and a man stood on the side, apparently having waited for a long time.

Jing Ye followed Lu Baizang forward, took a look with the help of the moonlight, and couldn’t help but startled slightly: “Sir?”

It was the scholar who sold noodles in plain soup.

“Jing Gongzi.” The scholar cupped his hands and greeted heartily.

Jing Ye and Lu Baizang got on their horses. He leaned over and said, “We’ve met for a while, but I still don’t know sir’s name.”

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

“What’s the use of asking for the name of a lowly person?” The scholar smiled widely enough that his eyes curved into crescents, “I will be moving my noodle shop to the capital in the next few days, at that time please take care of my business, gongzi.”

Jing Ye smiled and said, “Naturally.”

After saying so, the two rode out of the courtyard and headed for the south gate.

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TN: bonus chapter💕

At noon, in the bedroom of the Little Mountain Residence located in the City Lord’s Manor, several plates of tasty and delicious side dishes and two bowls of rice were placed on the table, the steam rising into the air little by little.

The maidservants were all guarding outside the green gauze changing screen. They exchanged looks and finally pushed one person out. She carefully stepped into the inner room and said, “Young Master, the food is getting cold, would you like it to be warmed up?”

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The young man raised his head and looked at her sinisterly: “What do you think?”

Maid: “…”

Shuifeng originally wanted to stay outside to avoid being scolded, but when she saw that something was wrong, she hurried in, raised her hand to signal the maidservants to bring out the dishes of food to be warmed, while she curtailed and said: “Young master, you have come to Pingyue City for the first time, and everything must be a novelty. It is natural to have forgotten the time.”

Shanyue and Shuifeng have served the young man since they were young, and though they were called maidservants, they were no different from his sisters in reality. He harrumphed, suppressing his anger for now.

Maids A, B, and C were waiting for the food outside the room, and while waiting, they couldn’t help but gather together to chat secretly.

Maid A: “The marriage has yet to take place, but the young master is already so clingy.”

Maid B: “Ai, you don’t know the young master’s temper. He’s just like Blackie from next door. Every time a little female dog gets close to Silly Bean, he would rush up and give them a face full of scratches.”

Maid C: “…Keep your voices down.”

Shanyue led Jing Ye hurriedly through the flower garden and entered the courtyard gate of Little Mountain Residence. Maids A, B, and C were all sitting on the small couch chatting while waiting for the food to be ready. When they saw the newcomers, they pointed their fingers at the room, making an expression that hinted that situation was not good.

Indeed it had become a prickly business.

The two entered the room, passed through two green gauze screens, and arrived at the inner room. The young man was sitting at the table, his whole person shrouded in a dark and gloomy aura.

Shanyue smiled, stepped forward and said, “Young master…”

The young man didn’t look at her at all, his gaze sweeping straight to Jing Ye: “Where have you been?”

“I took a stroll around the city.” Jing Ye replied meekly enough, “If the young master doesn’t allow me to go out, I will stay here.”

Young man: “You…” He had indeed wanted to say this at first, but when he saw the person in front of him acting so calm and submissive, he felt even more displeased.

Jing Ye knew the other’s youthful nature, the other won’t feel comfortable without refuting a few words, so he changed the topic: “I haven’t eaten lunch yet, has the young master already eaten?”

“Of course I have!” The young man became irritable again, “Do you think there would still be anything to eat when you come back so late?”

As soon as he finished speaking, maid A, B and C brought the food inside: “Young master, the food is ready.”

Young man: “..”

Jing Ye smiled and said, “I have brought some water chestnut cakes back from shopping, the young master can have them as snacks after the meal.” He lifted the small wooden box in his hand and lifted the lid. Inside were several exquisite small cakes, looking very delicious at a glance.

The young man stared at the pastries for a long time, then stared at Jing Ye again. His face flushed red as if he had thought of something, and after holding back for a long time, he said magnanimously, “Sit down and eat.”

Jing Ye sat down easily. The two raised their chopsticks and began to eat, the atmosphere strangely quiet. The blush on the young man’s face never disappeared. Jing Ye occasionally raised his head to look at him, and felt that a slightly embarrassed beauty was more moving than a mocking beauty.

After lunch was a midday nap. The young man dragged Jing Ye to the bed matter-of-factly, took off their outer robes, and the two slept in each other’s arms.

Jing Ye was distracted, and he was not sleepy at all, so he could only watch the young man rubbing and burrowing against him time and time again. He really didn’t know what expression to make.

In short, people have to bow their heads under the eaves. (TN: One often has to concede when he or she is in a disadvantaged position.)

After lying there for a long time, he also fell asleep eventually, and when he woke up, the bedroom was empty. He simply dressed himself, walked to the table, and found that there were only a few crumbs of pastries left in the food box.

Jing Ye: “…”

Even the most meanest kidnappers still have one or two endearing traits…

…Right?

In the martial arts training ground of the City Lord’s Manor, the young man had just finished performing a set of sword skills. Facing the gratified and emotional face of the middle-aged partner trainer, he opened his mouth, only to let out a burp.

Jing Ye didn’t know what Gu Hong and the rest were planning. He had been away from the capital for nearly ten days, and the fact that the emperor was not in the palace was still clearly kept secret. Pingyue City had jianghu people coming or passing by from all over the empire almost every day. He wandered outside every day, and had never heard any news that came from the palace.

The same was true in the City Lord’s Manor, except for Shanyue, Shuifeng who occasionally showed a look of knowing his identity, the rest of the people “didn’t know and wouldn’t know”.

Jing Ye was not very panicked, Gu Hong must’ve definitely hid his disappearance from the ministers and dealt with the government affairs. The current situation was likely considered safe, so he just needed to sit quietly under the watchful eyes of those people and wait for an opportunity.

The Gu family had a certain belief regarding the Jing family’s bloodline that lasted for several generations, and the dragon chair could only be sat by a member of the Jing family. Gu Hong was no exception in this regard.

“What are you thinking about?”

When Jing Ye came back to his senses, Le Zhenghuan was sitting beside him, frowning.

“I’m thinking, there are a lot more people in the city these two days.” Jing Ye lowered his head and took a sip of freshly ground soybean milk.

Le Zhenghuan watched him drink up the soy milk, his Adam’s apple rolled, and his face also became a little red, but his expression was still impatient: “It’s just some boring stuff.”

Jing Ye raised his head: “The young master knows what’s going on?”

Le Zhenghuan was stunned for a moment when he saw his smile, and then his expression sank: “Why are you asking this?”

Jing Ye: “…?”

Young Master Le became irritable again: “Did you see something?”

Jing Ye reached out and served a bowl for him too: “This tastes good, try it.”

Le Zhenghuan: “…”

Jing Ye smiled at him and said, “I don’t know anything, but I won’t ask if you don’t want me to.”

Young Master Le’s face slowly turned red.

The porcelain bowl containing soy milk was put back on the table, Jing Ye only felt the room flash before his eyes, and the two of them were suddenly on the bed.

Jing Ye pushed the young man’s head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, “You still have sword practice this afternoon…”

Le Zhenghuan held his wrist, and with a twist of his fingers, their fingers were interlocked. Then he suddenly lowered his head, buried it in Jing Ye’s neck, and sucked a few deep breaths.

“Lunch break is half an hour…”

Jing Ye felt the slight sting of his licking and biting, and had no choice but to raise his chin, allowing the other to suck his Adam’s apple in one mouthful, sucking harder and harder, making wet and ambiguous sounds between his lips and teeth. At the same time also kneaded Jing Ye’s belly and waistline with his hands.

Jing Ye only felt the small current-like pleasure that traveled from his neck and abdomen, which left him feeling numb and unlike himself. It spread to all parts of his body like a stone thrown into the center of a lake, causing his hand to subconsciously bury in the hair at the back of the other’s neck, letting him lick and kiss from Adam’s apple to collarbone, and then continue down.

Le Zhenghuan’s lower half was already hard, and it was very obvious between Jing Ye’s legs, rubbing against his equally hard member, slow but eager.

Jing Ye was a little dizzy from the heat that surged through his body. He heard Le Zhenghuan chuckle in between heavy breaths in his ear: “You’re hard…”

Any man wouldn’t be able to stand such teasing, okay?

He dazedly felt a hand slip into the back of his trousers, stroked him a couple of times, and then began to rub vigorously. The pain made him hiss, and he raised his hand and slapped the Young Master Le’s buttocks.

“It hurts!”

Le Zhenghuan stopped and looked at him with a straight face.

The two looked at each other.

After a long time, Jing Ye smiled, pushed him away and straightened the clothes that slipped below his shoulders: “Young master, these things should be done with the person you like.”

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

Young Master Le: “Hmph.”

Jing Ye: “I like the young master.”

Le Zhenghuan’s handsome face burned with heat: “…Hmph.” The voice was like that of a mosquito.

Jing Ye looked at him, and suddenly felt that his blushing appearance looked very much like Feng Ling.

Feng Ling.

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