Editor: Otwentyfirst
After bribing a few prison guards, An Xiao Er was able to get in touch with Hua Zhu Yu. Thinking it through carefully, she felt in the end that it was best not to act rashly and break out of prison. It was far too risky. Nie Cheng Yuan was within the grounds of the Imperial Palace, and it was heavily guarded as well. Escaping wasn’t going to be easy. Moreover, if she were to leave just like that, not only would she be divulging her high martial skills, but she would also be implicating Huangfu Wu Shuang. As his personal eunuch, her each and every move affected him. Not to mention, his trial was reaching a crucial period.
Hua Zhu Yu must endure patiently.
The shabby prison meals, the dreary darkness, even the putrid smell, she must bear with.
But fortunately, after the incident with Zhao Si, the other prison guards were discreet in their conduct, no longer daring to wantonly stare at her.
Though there were certain things she could tolerate, there were some that she couldn’t. For instance, the arrival of that time of month.
She had her first period two years ago. Because she was a general at the time, she had her own personal camp. This gave her the privacy to deal with it easily. After entering the palace and becoming an eunuch, she didn’t have any issues dealing with it either since she had a lot of freedom. But now that she was imprisoned in this cell, what was she to do?
An Xiao Er wasn’t aware of her female ident.i.ty, there’s no way she could ask him to go buy those things. Unless she was left with no other choice, she didn’t want to reveal herself. Moreover, how could she use those things in this cell? An eunuch using feminine products would be like broadcasting to the world that she was female.
Hua Zhu Yu was frustrated to death! Compared to her period, her present wounds were trifling, for they would eventually stop bleeding. That night, she was lamenting, going crazy thinking about what she should do when the cell door suddenly opened. At the entrance stood a silhouette of a man.
Composing herself, she narrowed her eyes and saw that it was Lan Bing who had come. Within the dark cell, she could make out his blue robes and elegant self as he looked at her with eyes twinkling with mirth.
She didn’t have a good impression of him from the start simply because he was one of Ji Feng Li’s men. Moreover, he always had on that meaningful smile on his face whenever he saw her. It was already the middle of the night, why had he come?
“Have you gotten used to this place yet, Bao gong gong?” Lan Bing smiled and walked in.
She knew it was unlikely he had any good intentions. The corners of her lips hooked up as she said, “How could I not, this servant even feels this place is quite relaxing. It’s a great place to avoid the summer heat. If Lan darenfeels it’s too hot out there you can also come stay here!”
This was a prison, how could anyone get used to it? It reeked of a musty odor and the food was pitiful. It was clear that Lan Bing had come to ridicule her but she won’’t give him the opportunity.
Lan Bing smiled and swept his gaze around the cell. Holding his chin, he exclaimed, “You’re right, this place isn’t bad! I’d also like to stay here, but regretfully I don’t have that fortune.” He shrugged his shoulders and continued, “But I’m afraid Bao gong gong can’t remain here any longer either.”
Startled, she wondered if Lan Bing had come to send her off to Western Paradise (heaven). Furrowing her brows, she gave off a cold
aura. She knew that Ji Feng Li wasn’t one to take unnecessary actions. Did he send Lan Bing here to get rid of her? If so, she must escape tonight.
“Lan daren, you’re not planning on letting me become a starving ghost are you? Is Left Chancellor so stingy as to not even allow me one last meal?” She calmly asked him, all the while stealthily employing her internal force so that she could break free of her chains at any moment.
Lan Bing narrowed his eyes and said, “Bao gong gong misunderstood, I came this time not to send you off, but to escort you to the Chancellor’s Residence. Guards, come unlock the chains for Bao gong gong!” A prison guard came in with the keys and removed the chains binding her.
Hua Zhu Yu was shocked. He wants to escort her to the Chancellor’s Residence? What scheme was Ji Feng Li plotting? Is he already that powerful to be able to set a prisoner of Nie Cheng Yuan free? If that’s the case, Huangfu Wu Shuang really had no hope left.
“Lan daren truly knows how to jest. I’m a prisoner, how can I just go to the Chancellor’s Residence. If His majesty were to find out, that’s wouldn’t be good,” she calmly replied.
“Bao gong gong doesn’t need to worry. If the Left Chancellor has the ability to set you free, he naturally will have the power to not be criticized. In the future, you’ll no longer be Bao gong gong but a guard of the Chancellor’s Residence,” Lan Bing replied matter-of-factly.
Furrowing her brows, she realized it was impossible for her to not leave this place tonight. But to go the the Chancellor’s Residence and be his guard? She truly didn’t understand what Ji Feng Li was planning at all. But if she were to remain in prison, she wouldn’t have the chance to fight Ji Feng Li. If she were to become his guard, she would have the opportunity to stab him in the back at anytime. If one didn’t enter the tiger’s den, how can one catch the tiger cub? She had no other choice.
Using the wall to steady herself, she stood up but felt a sudden heat in her lower body. She lamented in her heart. She almost forgot about her period. Clamping her legs together, she slowly walked out.
Pa.s.sing by Huangfu Wu Shuang’s cell, she could not make out a single sound inside. A few days earlier, she heard from An Xiao Er that Ji Feng Li had not tortured Huangfu Wu Shuang and the latter did not confess to anything either. But all the evidence pointed to him, so there was no way to overturn this case. Perhaps he will spend the rest of his life in this prison. But currently the old emperor was ill and Kang w.a.n.g held power, how could Huangfu Wu Shuang remain in this prison safe and sound?
“If this servant is not wrong, Kang w.a.n.g will be succeeding the throne soon. This servant just doesn’t know what will happen to His Highness Wu Shuang?” asked Hua Zhu Yu.
Leading the way, Lan Bing turned around with a smile and said, “I had said Bao gong gong was clever. First, Kang w.a.n.g will be succeeding the throne and Lord Chancellor will a.s.sist him. Bao gong gong, a wise bird knows which branch to perch! As for His Highness Wu Shuang, everything will be handled according to His Majesty’s decision.”
“Lan daren thinks this servant is a wise bird?” she asked with a faint smile.
“It doesn’t concern me. As long as Lord Chancellor thinks you are, then you are. That’s right, you also don’t have to keep referring to yourself as a servant anymore. It’s really hard to listen to,” Lan Bing said as he continued to walk up ahead.
“Lan daren truly knows how to jest, even if I leave the Crown
Crown Prince, leave the palace and become a guard of the Chancellor’s Residence, it cannot change the fact that I’m an eunuch!”
Lan Bing was silent and did not say anything further. He only sighed deeply and continued to walking forward. Zhou Quan came to send them off.
Outside Nei Cheng Yuan, a horse carriage was waiting and Lan Bing signaled for Hua Zhu Yu to get on.
The carriage traveled along a secluded road and left the palace without any trouble. When they arrived at an intersection in Yu City, she lifted the carriage curtains and looked outside.
Since returning from the Qing Jiang Palace, she was immediately imprisoned in Nei Cheng Yuan. It’s been a long time since she’s seen the streets of Yu City. It was still a bustling scene as before. Though things have remained the same, people have changed.
Pa.s.sing by a market, Hua Zhu Yu spotted a clothing shop in the far back and quickly said, “Lan daren, I’d like to change out of this prison uniform. Would it be alright if I go buy a set of new clothes? If I were to enter the Chancellor Residence wearing this, it would be disrespectful to the Chancellor.”
His gaze swept over Hua Zhu Yu’s clothes and he furrowed his brows, saying, “The Chancellor Residence isn’t lacking in clothes, there’s no need to go buy them. Once we return to the residence, you can change then! Who knows if you’ll use this opportunity to run away or not.”
Hua Zhu Yu forced a smile and said, “Lan daren, in regards to the previous matters, I was the one in the wrong, but wasn’t everyone just doing things for their respective masters? Now that my master is the Left Chancellor, how can I run away? If you want, you can a.s.sign someone to follow me inside. How can I have the ability the escape your eyes? I just don’t want to enter the Chancellor Residence wearing this uniform, it’s inauspicious.”
Lan Bing furrowed his brows and said, “You want to go buy clothes? Then do you have any money?” Hua Zhu Yu felt somewhat embarra.s.sed, she truly didn’t have a single coin on her body. There was no need for money when she was Huangfu Wu Shuang’s eunuch and then when she was in prison there was no money when she needed it.
Seeing her embarra.s.sed expression, Lan Bing fished out two silver coins and tossed it in her hand, saying, “Hurry and buy what you need. If the Lord Chancellor returns and doesn’t see us, I’ll be the one punished. So hurry up!”
Hua Zhu Yu took the money and got down from the carriage. Intending to head towards the clothing shop, she suddenly heard a commotion up ahead and noticed an entourage of approaching troops. A guard armed with a sword was riding ahead, leading the way. Behind him were guards filed in two orderly lines followed by a dazzling carriage, pulled by two fine black steeds whose heads held high, solemn and reverent.
The night wasn’t too late and there were still many people roaming the streets. Yet they all fell silent in face of the awe-inspiring sight. Everyone stared at the dazzling carriage with admiration as it slowly approached.
Lan Bing got off the carriage after Hua Zhu Yu. Seeing this scene, he smiled and said, “I didn’t think the Lord Chancellor would return so soon.”
Taking another careful look, she recognized the burly man leading the way was indeed Tong Shou so the person inside the carriage must be Ji Feng Li. She coldly humphed and quickly entered the shop. Seeing this, Lan Bing followed after her but she had yet to take two steps when she heard Lan Bing ask in a surprised voice, “Yuan Bao, why are you walking like that?”
Her face could not help
not help but slightly flush. Thankfully the night was dark and no one else noticed. She gritted her teeth and said, “Isn’t it all thanks to Lord Chancellor. I was tortured last time and till now my legs still hurt!”
If Ji Feng Li were to know that she said her period was all thanks to him, don’t know if he would be angered to death or not. She quietly took another glance at the stunning carriage in the distance, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng with coldness. The most humiliating moment of her life wasn’t the day she was forced to marry, or the evening she was tossed into the red tent, but precisely this night.
Falling for her lies, Lan Bing followed after her and whispered, “Oh so that’s how it is. If that’s the case, you should thank Lord Chancellor, if it wasn’t for him, I fear you wouldn’t have legs left to walk on.”
Although he showed mercy, wasn’t he the one responsible for her being imprisoned in the first place?
“Lan daren is right!” Hua Zhu Yu calmly replied but her hands were clasped in a tight fist beneath her sleeves, her nails biting into her skin. Ji Feng Li, just you wait. Wait until the moment you’re imprisoned and tormented to death, we’ll see if you’re grateful for the mercy I show then!
Luckily the shop she entered sold both male and female clothes. If it sold female clothing, then it must also sell feminine products. But with Lan Bing following right behind her, buying them would be difficult. Inside the shop was a shopkeeper and a male shop a.s.sistant. Perhaps because it was already late, the female a.s.sistant had gone home. She could not directly ask them for those items.
Randomly grabbing a few male garments, she entered the dressing room to change. Afterwards, she took a peek outside and noticed the shopkeeper and male a.s.sistant keeping Lan Bing preoccupied. Right outside the dressing room were a lot of fabrics. She rummaged through them and finally found what she was looking for. She quickly grabbed them, fished out a silver coin and left it in place of the items she took. If she didn’t and the shopkeeper realized some items were missing he might brand her a thief.
Carrying a few male garments, she went out. “Well, these fit alright so I’ll be buying these,” she informed Lan Bing before placing down a silver coin and leaving the shop in a haste.
The Left Chancellor’s carriage had yet to leave and was stationed in front of the shop. At this time, a slender hand reached out to lift the curtains, revealing the peerless talent Ji Feng Li. Lan Bing hastily stepped forward to pay his respects. Ji Feng Li whispered a few words to Lan Bing before Lan Bing quickly returned to her side and said, “Yuan Bao, Lord Chancellor said you can ride in his carriage.”
Silently standing on the street, she coldly glared at him.
translations @ peachblossomgrove.com
He did not seem to mind her glare in the slightest, and even deepened his smile, eyes beaming radiantly like the dazzling night stars. On the street, a few pa.s.sersby were stunned by his smile but Hua Zhu Yu was unmoved. She slowly made her way towards the carriage.
The carriage was awfully large. Inside, Ji Feng Li was dressed casually as he reclined in his seat, appearing a bit languid. Within his hand he held a book; his lashes downcast, veiling his dark eyes. Hearing Hua Zhu Yu entered, he did not move. His phoenix eyes slightly opened fleetingly as they lightly glanced her way before returning back to the book.
Lightly knitting her brows, Hua Zhu Yu tightly held onto her bundle of clothes and took a seat directly opposite him. Though she tried her best to suppress her emotions suppress her emotions whenever she met Ji Feng Li, a bit of anger still showed. She was accustomed to the crude and rough manners of soldiers, and very rarely did she ever meet a person as graceful and calm as Ji Feng Li. She wondered if he would still carry such an elegant demeanor when killing someone. She thought back to that day and remembered just how calm and graceful he was sitting at the interrogation desk. Hua Zhu Yu wondered if there was anything in this world that would unsettle him. Since Ji Feng Li was ignoring her, she also had nothing to say. She just continued to look at him. She knew the person before her was difficult to fathom and hard to deal with. The best way to deal with him was to speak less and stay composed.
But the longer she stared at him, the more she felt that the heavens were unjust.
His head was slightly lowered as he read, his ink dark eyes faintly open as a few loose strands of hair fell before his forehead. He was a picture of luxury and grace, a mesmerizing sight.
If one day he were to fall into her hands, the first thing she would do was to etch a few marks on his face with a knife. A heartless person like him should have a disgusting appearance.
Carried away by her own thoughts, she did not realize that Ji Feng Li’s gaze had s.h.i.+fted from his book to her. His eyes were piqued with interest as he calmly said, “Bao gong gong has suffered these few days! I heard that your wounds have yet to heal. Take this bottle of medicine,” From his long sleeve he took out a porcelain bottle and threw it in her hands. A light scent of ambergris filled the air.
When Ji Feng Li mentioned her wounds, she felt her face slightly flushed but fortunately the light inside the carriage was dim. She quickly lowered her head, trying to suppress the shame in her heart. After a moment, she coldly smiled at Ji Feng Li and said, “Thank you Left Chancellor for your concern. But such precious medicine shouldn’t be wasted on a measly servant as myself, Left Chancellor should take it back!” She then threw the bottle at his face. Though her movements were light, she had used a bit of internal force. She really wished to wipe that fake smile off his face.
Unfortunately her wish was not fulfilled. Ji Feng Li calmly raised his book which the bottle hit before falling and rolling to the corner of the carriage. Placing the book down, he looked at Hua Zhu Yu, his eyes slightly narrowing. He calmly asked, “Bao gong gong, do we have some sort of deep hatred between us?”
She had lost control of herself in front of him again. After calming herself down, she hatefully said, “What does Left Chancellor think? You used the beasts to harm the Crown Prince and imprisoned him. Now he won’t be able to ascend the throne, should I or shouldn’t I hate you?” Previously she was uncertain but now she was definitely sure the beasts were Ji Feng Li’s doing. He wanted to help Kang w.a.n.g. Once Kang w.a.n.g ascends the throne, all the power of Southern Kingdom would fall into his hands.
Ji Feng Li was slightly startled before smiling. “Bao gong gong truly is clever. It’s true that it’s all my doing.” He was straightforward, never trying to hide. “Though you are clever, you don’t have eyes to recognize people. Huangfu Wu Shuang isn’t fit to be Emperor. It is quite rare to find a person so infatuated with their master. There really are people with broken sleeves in this world! It seems it won’t be easy for you to willingly follow me.”
