It was a sunny March of spring, and the fields on Phoenix Mountain were lush and green.
Zhu Yunjing got out of his carriage and was welcomed into Zhuangzi by Zhuangshang’s steward. He asked casually: “Has that person been behaving recently?”
The steward replied with a smile: “He has become more peaceful than before. He is no longer dazed, and is willing to have a meal. At noon today, he even took a walk by the lake. Please rest assured, Your Highness. The little one guarantees he will be more obedient in a few more days.”
“He already sent a message to ask Gu to come here, so there’s no need to wait a few more days,” Zhu Yunjing didn’t take it seriously. Since he came here today, he had no intention of letting Xu Shixian go.
At this moment, Xu Shixian was restless and filled with sorrow and anger in his room.
He had been under house arrest for the past few months. He worried about his teacher’s family and dared not act rashly. Zhu Yunjing had only come once and ignored him since then. He was also relieved at first. But as time passed, he became more and more uncertain. He always thought he could feel at ease only by seeing the teacher with his own eyes. That’s why he had to take the initiative to request an audience with Zhu Yunjing.
But today, at noon, when he heard Zhu Yunjing would come, he finally stepped out of the room in a state of distraught. Originally, he intended to go to the lake to breathe fresh air. However, he overheard two servants from Zhuangzi discussing, saying that his teacher Du Tingzhong, the prefect of Jingzhou, and his family of over ten people had already been guillotined three months ago!
Xu Shixian didn’t want to believe Zhu Yunjing would lie to him like this. However, upon closer thought, a high-ranking crown prince like Zhu Yunjing, was known for being capricious and inscrutable. He was said to never speak without jesting, and his thoughts were always unpredictable.
Zhu Yunjing opened the door and came in. Xu Shixian, who was restless, immediately stood up. I couldn’t care less about his usual demeanor, and asked him anxiously, “Where is my teacher?”
Zhu Yunjing raised an eyebrow: “Did you specifically ask Gu to come here just to ask that? As Gu said earlier, your teacher and his family are safe now. What’s the matter? Do you not believe in Gu?”
For the first time, Xu Shixian looked serious at the young Crown Prince in front of him. Zhu Yunjing smiled wickedly, without concealing his arrogant and disdainful expression. A person like him wouldn’t care about others’ lives and deaths. How could he have been so gullible to trust him?
The more Xu Shixian thought about it, the heavier his heart became. It seemed that his teacher was in serious danger.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Zhu Yunjing walked to the side of the couch. Wang Jiu brought tea in and placed it on a low table. One cup was placed in front of Zhu Yunjing, and the other at the opposite end. When Wang Jiu left, he exchanged a meaningful glance with Zhu Yunjing. The corners of Zhu Yunjing’s lips curled up slightly, and this scene happened to catch the eyes of Xu Shixian who was on the side.
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Zhu Yunxun was proud in his heart. Xu Shixian was just like this. He had to bow his head for three or two months.
In this way, he became less anxious. He noticed that there were drawing papers spread out on the desk at the other end of the room. Zhu Yunjing strolled over and flipped through them casually. All of them were paintings and calligraphy by Xu Shixian. He didn’t expect Xu Shixian to have such leisure. Xu Shixian took the initiative to explain: “This servant paints and practices calligraphy on weekdays to find inner peace. My brushwork is not refined enough for the grand halls, which makes Your Highness laugh.”
Zhu Yunjing chuckled and said, “How could it be? Xu Hanlin is a Tanhualang, so don’t underestimate yourself.”
It was apparent that most of these calligraphy paintings were not steady, possibly made by Xu Shixian when he was upset. Zhu Yunjing found it interesting to look at and really admired them carefully.
Xu Shixian’s gaze shifted to the two cups of tea on the low table, and then to Zhu Yunjing, who was flipping through the paintings with his back facing him. His heart was pounding, but he no longer hesitated anymore. He approached and quickly switched the teacups.
It was the first time in his life that he had done such a thing. Xu Shixian’s palms were covered with cold sweat. However, he had no choice but to do it. Although he didn’t know what was tampered with in the tea, judging from the gaze of the eunuch just now, it couldn’t be a good thing. It was very likely that consuming it would make people unconscious and even lead them to commit something disgraceful. He could only gamble and rely on this to buy some time.
Zhu Yunjing barely turned around and did not notice Xu Shixian’s strangeness as he stood upright straight. He returned to his couch and gestured with his chin towards Xu Shixian, saying: “Why are you still standing there? Sit down and have tea with Gu?”
Xu Shixian concealed his uncertainties and stepped forward, watching Zhu Yunjing raise the teacup to his mouth. He also picked up his own cup. But his hand slipped, and the teacup fell to the floor, splashing tea onto his clothes’ hem.
Zhu Yunjing frowned, and Xu Shixian immediately knelt down to plead guilty: “I have been disrespectful. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Zhu Yunjing was a little unhappy. After all, he didn’t say much, just asking Wang Jiu to come in and change a cup of tea. In any case, he had prepared three pills of the medicine. One cup was wasted, and there was still a second cup. No matter whether Xu Shixian did it on purpose or not, he couldn’t escape it.
Xu Shixian begged: “This servant really doesn’t dare to taint Your Highness’s eyes with this distressed appearance. So please allow me to go inside and change my clothes before coming back to accompany you for tea.”
Zhu Yunjing nodded nonchalantly: “Hmm.”
He Huailing arrived at the private estate of the eldest Princess in Phoenix Mountain in the afternoon. The eldest princess often held banquets here, and the younger generation from various noble families in the capital were frequent guests. Today, there were even more people than the previous birthday celebration, which had only invited the imperial relatives. Almost all the younger generations from the prominent families of the capital arrived, except for the Crown Prince, who said he would come later to pay his respects to the eldest princess.
The female guests enjoyed the flowers and scenery in the pavilion on the rockery in the garden, while the male guests sat along the banks of the stream at the foot of the mountain, engaging in the tradition of floating wine cups down the water.
The wine cups, held in broad lotus leaves, slowly flowed down from the upstream along the water. Everyone was in high spirits, drinking wine, reciting poems, and occasionally peeking at the beauties in the rockery. They had a great time.
He Huailing went to Jiangnan when he was eight years old. After returning to the capital, he followed his father to the battlefield within two years. He didn’t know many people in the capital. Zhu Yunxun didn’t come today because he had an errand, and He Huailing didn’t have anyone to chat with. He only said hello to a few acquaintances and casually sat down at a random place in the lower reaches of the stream, planning to sit for a while before finding an excuse to leave.
The maid brought a fruit plate and fine wine, in a small pot just like everyone else had. Those who came here today were all descendants of elegant families, unlike those rough soldiers who would drink in big bowls. He Huailing smirked and felt a mix of emotions.
Although this wine was said to be brewed in the eldest princess’s Zhuangzi, it had a spicy taste. He Huailing was a little surprised. He had been fighting abroad for several years, and he had only tasted such mellow wine from the barbarians in the north. How could the wine brewed in the eldest princess’s Zhuangzi be like this? Seeing other people calmly drinking the wine and engaging in lively discussions, He Huailing couldn’t help but frown, his eyes darkened slightly.
Nevertheless, it didn’t matter. He had drunk even stronger wine before. This little wine wouldn’t affect him in the slightest.
Inside the pavilion, Zhao Xiuzhi, who had been paying attention to He Huailing’s movement, almost crushed the silk handkerchief in her hands. Wasn’t it said that just one sip of this wine could make even a strong man of eight feet collapse in drunkenness?! Why did He Huailing drink a whole cup without any reaction at all? She managed to bribe a steward in this estate, waiting for He Huailing to get drunk so someone could help him leave. She had even asked someone to prepare a room for that purpose, to ensure her plan would succeed? How could it turn out like this?
When Huailing realized it wasn’t early, he put down his wine cup and got up to leave.
There was only one wall between the eldest princess’s Zhuangzi and the Crown Prince’s Zhuangzi. Existing through this side gate would lead to the outer wall of the Zhuangzi next door. The wall was about two people’s height. For a general like He Huailing, it was not difficult to climb over. He planted his toes on the ground, leapt into the air, and in an instant, he was at the top of the wall.
Xu Shixian went into the inner room behind the folding screen and walked straight to the window and opened it. The windows here were facing the lake, with a dense bamboo forest on the opposite shore. He had no other choice.
After climbing up the window, Xu Shixian took a deep breath and jumped into the seemingly bottomless lake in front of him without hesitation.
Wang Jiu brought in a fresh pot of tea and cleaned up the broken porcelain pieces on the floor before retreating. He closed the door behind him carefully. Zhu Yunjing leisurely sipped his tea, feeling amused in his heart. Did Xu Shixian dawdlingly think he could hide for a while and avoid the consequences forever?
He was not in a hurry at all. Unknowingly, he finished a whole cup of tea and poured himself another cup. There seemed to be some faint sounds coming from the inner room, but they were too far away to hear clearly. So he ignored them.
After another half a cup of tea, Xu Shixian still didn’t come out. Zhu Yunjing reclined on the couch, but his cheeks were already flushed abnormally.
It was so hot. His hands tugged at his neckline unconsciously. His body felt on fire, yet his limbs were weak and powerless. Moans escaped from his lips intermittently. His sanity was completely unconscious, and he was eager for something that even he himself did not understand.
The Crown Prince’s private Zhuangzi was quite large. After He Huailing came in, he could only grope around and search around. He had to be careful to avoid patrolling guards. In any case, since he had come this far, he didn’t intend to give up. As long as he could find someone, he would definitely find a way to bring them out.
When he entered the courtyard near the water, He Huailing had already noticed something unusual in his body. There was a restless heat in his lower abdomen, and it seemed to show signs of arousal.
These years, he had been continuously engaged in military fights, rarely having time for self-indulgence. His desires in that aspect had grown faint, almost nonexistent. At this moment, it suddenly happened. The only possibility was that someone had drugged the wine he had drank earlier.
He Huailing took a deep breath, trying to force himself to calm down, but it was in vain. He didn’t know what kind of drug was in that wine. It was so overpowering. Soon, his breathing became heavy. Leaning against the cool wall behind him, he struggled to maintain his dwindling composure and contemplated his next move. Just as he did, he heard voices approaching from around the corner a few steps away.
“His Royal Highness won’t be coming out for a while. I just need to guard myself. You should all leave and wait elsewhere.”
The sound of footsteps gradually grew closer, causing He Huailing’s heart to sink. Without considering much else, he pushed open a nearby window and swiftly climbed inside.
Ohooo, so that’s what happened huh? Both got drugged and turned on 😩 i hope to got they at least recognise each other before doing the deed jfjfjfkd
This Zhao girl is really daring 😒
Even tho I particularly don’t care about Xu Shixian I’m ruting for him to escape, go hunny go!!!
Thanks for the translation 💗
Thank You for the chapter (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡