Everyone immediately knelt down after Su Ao announced the arrival. On the way down, Jin Xiyan and Wu Shanjin exchanged another tense glance before bowing their heads low. Jin Xiyan lifted his gaze enough to watch as Li Changyu strode in, wearing a golden robe that sparkled from the intricate embroidery. On his front was a purple round collar overshirt that had a winding dragon motif on the front. His steps were strong and sure and his posture was perfect; neither stiff nor too loose, and he carried himself with an air of a genuine Emperor.
Except his hair was collected in a mutton fat jade crown in a single, strong tail, which was eerily similar to a certain young Prince nearby. Sighing inside, Jin Xiyan at least figured out that mystery.
Li Changyu made a gentle lifting motion with his left hand, “All may rise.” Once standing, he gestured to Jin Haoran, “Xiao Hao, come here.”
Now, it should be said that Jin Haoran is actually an observant and fairly astute child. After wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve, he looked to his Emperor Father then at Empress Mother. It was his Emperor Father who would call him Haohao, but as of late when they met he was called Xiao Hao. After getting permission, on the few occasions he met with Empress Mother he was called Haohao by him!
But alas, Jin Haoran was still a small child, and he could not come up with a suitable explanation for why his Emperor Father acted so strangely, nor why Empress Mother was so familiar with him. He dutifully went to Emperor Father and took the offered hand.
Li Changyu’s other hand went to Jin Haoran’s cheek and he swiped a thumb over the plump little mound to dry a tear. Frowning, Li Changyu asked him, “Are things going well with the planning?”
Jin Haoran licked his lips and looked up at his intimidatingly tall Emperor Father, then at the Harem, “…well, this prince…this prince…”
Jin Xiyan stepped forward, “Answering Your Majesty, Haohao is a little over tired.” He smiled at Jin Haoran and then at Li Changyu. “I was just about to summon Nanny Song to escort him back for a nap.”
He made the decision to not bring more attention to Wu Shanjin’s insults, because it was the only course of action that had the least damaging outcome. He was supposed to be Li Changyu, an Empress with a supportive backing, and he’d appear to be bullying or throwing his power around. However, Li Changyu had no power in the Inner Court, and if he had said anything he risked being ostracized further.
If Jin Haoran had been the one to say anything, it was akin to putting a target on his back. Plenty of his Father’s concubines had done the same, and seeing his own Wives’, whom he thought were better than that…Jin Xiyan glanced back at Wu Shanjin. I was very, very wrong. And from that mistake, he had wronged Li Changyu many, many times.
Jin Xiyan kept his chin up as Li Changyu scrutinized him with a narrowed gaze. He pressed his lips together, hoping to communicate silently with Li Changyu for him to not press the issue. With his Wife’s determined sense of justice, he was unsure if he would.
Surprising him, Li Changyu just clucked his tongue then looked back down at Jin Haoran with a grin. “That is a shame then, because we needed a certain little Prince to help select clothes for his party.”
Jin Haoran scrunched his small button nose, “Pick out clothes?”
“Yes,” Li Changyu lightly tousled his bangs. “Outside the Palace.”
Jin Haoran’s face beamed brighter than the sun, but before Jin Xiyan could protest, Li Changyu dramatically turned with a flick of his sleeve and went towards the chess board.
“Everyone else is dismissed from His Highness’ yard,” he said, picking up a stray piece. “Su Ao, please set up a room in Phoenix Palace for us to change.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Su Ao bowed dutifully, but his pinched face revealed his displeasure at carrying out the order. He scurried inside Phoenix Palace as the Harem bent in a curtsy to bid Li Changyu farewell and moved along.
Out of earshot from the Harem now, Jin Haoran bounced excitedly with each step that he took after Li Changyu, “We really get to go outside? Like, outside outside?!”
Jin Xiyan was hot on his Son’s heels and addressed Li Changyu directly, “You cannot be serious!”
Li Changyu answered Jin Haoran first with a smile, “Yes, really.” Then, with a straight face to Jin Xiyan, “Yes, I am serious. I received an urgent message and there is some place we have to go.”
Jin Xiyan ushered his Son aside, who was content to hop in place and sing his own made up song about going outside. He frowned up at Li Changyu, “Is something wrong?”
“No, but an…acquaintance, I suppose you could say, found someone that may be able to help our…” Li Changyu twirled his hand about, “Situation.”
“And Su Ao is approving this?”
Li Changyu huffed and rolled his eyes, “Of course not. I have to let him come in order for him to agree. Initially it was supposed to be just us but Jin Haoran looks like he could have some fun.”
Jin Haoran joined the conversation again and asked, “Is where we going lots of fun?!”
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.
“Yes!” Li Changyu patted his head, “Lots and lots of fun!”
———
“You did not say we are going to a BROTHEL!”
Jin Xiyan had the sense to rip off the straw hat with a gauzy veil off his head to glare at Li Changyu directly with his accusation. Li Changyu pulled the hat from Jin Xiyan’s hands to plop it back on top of his head, where it sat askew until Jin Xiyan fixed it.
“Keep your face covered,” he hissed. “It is the most recognizable.”
The five of them – Su Ao, Li Changyu, Jin Xiyan, Shen Pei, and little Jin Haoran – all stood in front of a large dark slatted building with a giant red sign above the door. In golden lettering it named the place “Friends of Wanderers.” It boasted a wide second floor balcony that was decorated with long garlands of brightly colored flowers and scarves fluttered in the soft breeze.
“Y-y-your Majesty this is—”
“Ah, ah, ah.” Li Changyu snapped a cream colored fan open and lightly fanned himself. “You said we had to be in disguise.”
Su Ao visibly deflated. He was out of his eunuch uniform and dressed like a plain servant, which already made him feel out of place. In front of such a den of sin, it was just too much!
“Young Master, this is hardly an appropriate place to meet your acquaintance. Perhaps we should send a message to meet somewhere else?”
“Absolutely not. My acquaintance owns this brothel.”
“Big Brother, what is a brothel?”
Because their outfits were middle-class instead of the usual finery, the quick Jin Haoran understood he had to pretend his Emperor Father and Empress Mother were different people. This earned him a happy pat on the head from Li Changyu, however Jin Xiyan was less than amused.
“What sort of place is this to bring a child?!”
“What?” Li Changyu frowned, looking genuinely perplexed. “Night workers love children!” He slapped his fan closed and bent down to scoop Jin Haoran up and rested him on his hip. “And when they see how cute this little guy is, they will fall head over heels.”
Jin Xiyan rubbed his temples. Maybe Li Changyu really is a horrible influence. How did the man even know someone in a brothel!? He gestured to himself next, “But did I honestly have to come dressed like this?”
While everyone, including Shen Pei, wore masculine clothing, he had to wear a flowy robe that was much too feminine down to the finest details. Even the cloak he wore was daintily embroidered, and his hair styled like a young girl’s.
Li Changyu arched a brow, “Hmph, you act like you weren’t the one paraded down the streets when arrested.”
That barb flew so easily from Li Changyu’s mouth that it took a second for Jin Xiyan to register what he had said. The memory of Li Changyu’s arrest rushed immediately in his mind and it struck him right in the center of his heart, stealing the breath from him.
Of course I have to wear such an elaborate disguise… Struggling to find the words to respond to him, Jin Xiyan opened his mouth several times, looking like a guppy. But Li Changyu did not wait for any response.
“Let us go.”
Shen Pei, without needing to be prompted, went to open one of the double doors. The host outside greeted them warmly and helped them in by opening the other, ushering them through. Jin Xiyan was taken aback by the interior.
Like its outside suggested, the inside was large and spacious. There was a main floor flanked by tables and cushions where performers danced and played instruments. Behind it was a grand staircase that led to a second floor that stretched out all around them, and two secondary staircases at either end that proceeded up to another floor, then another. Up on the high, vaulted ceiling, three long lengths of red and pink fabric swung from the center, overlooking the main stage. Tangled within them were scantily clad performers performing elegant tricks, and Jin Xiyan had to blink and rub his eyes, because he thought they deceived him.
The moment of awed silence was broken by Su Ao, “Your–Young Master, ah…what does your acquaintance look like?”
Li Changyu scanned the room, his lips twisted in a smirk, “Look for the one wearing too many jewels.”
As soon as he said this, a woman with bells on her wrists and barely any fabric on her sidled up to Li Changyu. “Is this handsome Young Master looking for Friends?” She twirled a finger around the length of Li Changyu’s hair as she asked, but her eyes quickly strayed to Jin Haoran who was glaring at her.
“This is a peculiar place to bring a child, Young Master,” she chided flirtatiously.
“I told you so!” spat out Jin Xiyan. He didn’t know what he was more angry by – the fact someone was rubbing themselves on his own body, or Li Changyu, or that he actually agreed with the harlot.
Li Changyu ignored him in favor of the woman, making him even more angry. “Be that as it may…”
Li Changyu pulled two bank notes from his sleeve and the woman’s eyes went as big as dumplings. The way he flashed the two thousand silver notes drew nearly every worker’s eye towards them. Smirking, Li Changyu shoved the bills towards the unsuspecting Su Ao’s chest.
“It is actually my dear friend’s coming of age, and I wanted to spoil him with some good fun that I know only this fine establishment could provide!”
“Wh-wh-whuh!!”
Like bees to honey, a small swarm of men and women alike crowded themselves around Su Ao. The original woman that had been stuck to Li Changyu promptly left one body for another. She clung to Su Ao the tightest, her bosom pressed firmly against Su Ao’s shoulder. Su Ao was quickly overwhelmed and stood there stammering while Li Changyu carried on with Shen Pei.
“Keep an eye on him,” Li Changyu jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Su Ao. He handed Jin Haoran off to her and gave him a small pouch. “When you see someone pretty with food, give them some of what’s inside there, okay?”
“Sir, I think you just made the youngest little Master rich.”
Li Changyu shrugged carelessly and grabbed Jin Xiyan’s wrist, “Follow me.”
“But-!”
While Li Changyu dragged Jin Xiyan along, Su Ao reached out his own arm towards Li Changyu and stared woefully at his departing back.
“Master! Wu wu, Masteeerrr! Wuu wuu!”
Su Ao’s crying was drowned out by the music and livelihood of the brothel. He followed Li Changyu along the grand center staircase until they reached the very top. There was a wide partition door ahead of them, which Li Changyu promptly opened without giving a knock.
Two figures startled inside, one a lanky omega strewn across the lap of what looked to be a Daoist monk – but he was far too young by the looks of it. They were seated on the floor near a table laid out with tea and snacks. The omega’s shoulders were exposed, his expensive robe pulled down enough to reveal them and the jewels and kiss marks that decorated his long, elegant neck. Jin Xiyan had the sensibility to turn his gaze away, but Li Changyu looked rather bored. The omega’s pretty face twisted in a snarl, smudging his drawn on mole on the corner of his mouth.
“You! Who do you think you are to disturb my quarters!”
“Oooh?” drawled Li Changyu as he shut the door behind him. “Is that how you greet a Cousin?”
That took the omega aback. Li Changyu took hold of the rim of Jin Xiyan’s straw hat and lifted it up. With the omega’s attention now on him, Jin Xiyan forced himself to look ahead. There were a few beats of silence, then the omega let out a loud laugh and pointed at Jin Xiyan.
“What in the good Li name are you wearing?! You look ridiculous!” Tears flowed out the corners of his eyes and his cheeks were as red as prawns as he continued to point and laugh. “Never would I think in a million years to see the General in a dress!”
“Good Li name?!” Li Changyu stepped forward and seized a stray pillow from the ground and threw it square at the omega’s face. “If you keep cackling like a magpie, I’ll never acknowledge you as a Cousin!”
“Ah!” Both the omega and the Daoist shouted, falling over and entangling themselves further. The omega grabbed the pillow and ripped it off his face and glared at Li Changyu before his eyebrows flew up and a sort of dawning came over his face. The omega looked to Jin Xiyan, then back to Li Changyu, and a hand flew to his mouth.
“Heavens, you were not joking in your letter, were you? Aiya!” The omega pushed on the Daoist, “Get up off me!”
The two scrambled about, fixing clothes that had come undone, and Jin Xiyan politely kept his eyes down. Li Changyu just crossed his arms and tapped his foot until the omega promptly bowed, but it was towards Jin Xiyan.
“This subject Li Wangshu welcomes His Majesty. Please, I hope that my establishment has not offended Your Majesty.”
Now to Daoist looked appropriately alarmed and he pointed to Jin Xiyan with a shaky finger, but his question was directed to the omega, “Th-that’s the Emperor?” Next he pointed to Li Changyu, “But what about him?”
The omega, Li Wangshu, took a deep breath. He shot the Daoist a glare, “That makes him the Empress, you fool! Bow!”
In the middle of the young Daoist’s bowing, Jin Xiyan found his voice again, “Is…is he really your Cousin?”
“No.” “Yes.”
Li Wangshu and Li Changyu stared one another down, but it was the former that won the contest. Li Changyu threw his hands up.
“He took the surname, but I refuse to ask for his name to be put on the register unless he helps us.”
“And after receiving your rather unbelievable letter, I asked for Daoist Chu to help.” Li Wangshu presented the Daoist with a light flourish of his hands.
Li Changyu’s jaw ticced as he ground his teeth. “Li Wangshu, either that beta next to you has learned such advanced cultivation that he is literally aging backwards, or you have found a swindler!”
“Wait, wait!” Daoist Chu held up his hands in surrender, “I may be young, but-but maybe I can help?” He scooted back and motioned to the table. “Li Wangshu shared with me the letter, but if I heard the events from you two, I may better understand the situation.”
For the first time today, Li Changyu looked at Jin Xiyan with pause. He had to admit, Jin Xiyan felt like he was out of his element, but Li Changyu had not steered him wrong yet. Though he was unsure, Jin Xiyan nodded.
“Let us see what insight he may have.”
And they did just that. The four of them sat around the table as he and Li Changyu shared the story in its entirety, as best as they could recollect. This was how, over tea that Li Wangshu served, did Jin Xiyan finally come to understand Li Changyu’s final moments.
“There was a poison vial?”
He died thinking I sentenced him to death? Jin Xiyan, who had not touched the tea, suddenly held the cup in order to ground himself to something. Is this why he was so suspicious when I woke up? The heat from the cup distracted him from the throb in his chest. So lost in trying to hold back his sudden surge of emotion, he almost missed the rest of Li Changyu’s explanation.
“…began to see visions. All around me were red spider lilies, and I fell into the lake. All I remember was seeing the moon, and a flash of red, and at my last breath I woke up in another body.”
“Hmm…” Daoist Chu furrowed his brow and took this in seriously. Then to Jin Xiyan, he asked, “Was it the same for you?”
“Just about…I had been having headaches for a long time, but that night it plagued me more than other nights. I remember leaning over and hitting my head on something hard and then I heard Shen Pei yelling for Li Changyu.”
“Have you tried anything to change back?”
Both of them shook their heads.
“Really? Nothing?”
“Well…” Jin Xiyan released the cup finally and splayed his hands in a hopeless gesture. “We do not know how to even begin thinking of ways to change back.”
Daoist Chu steepled his hands together, his face set in a stern expression that looked almost ridiculous on his smooth baby face. He took a few deep breaths before asking:
“Have you two considered sleeping together?”
Bwhahaha! An outing to a brothel ! ! And HaoHao was the least shocked. Lol
Thank you for the chapter as always ❤️
Poor Su Ao though
I’m positive Su Ao will make the best of it for duty’s sake. Shen Pei tho has to keep HaoHao’s chubby little cheeks safe from pinching
Jin Xiyan is finding out again and that he still has no idea how much Li Changyu suffered. Daoist Boy’s suggestion could probably be added to that list 😂.
Is Su Ao loyal to the person he was with during the attack on the hunting trip? I assumed they would make him think it’s a relationship if they’re doing it for information, but not necessarily if it was just to keep him away that night. He’s going to be a mess if he thinks he’s cheating on someone 🤭
Oh yes, a certain alpha back at the palace is definitely sharpening his blade if he smells perfume on little Su Ao.
Ow ow.. The daoist.. That’s great… Thank you, for your suggestion
I knew you would be a fan!
Yes yes… Can’t wait for next chapter
Lmao.. poor Su Ao. Once i heard they are going to brothel i knew it was Li Wangshu.
This is very interesting. I wonder why the daoist ask that.
Thanks for the update!
Well, this Daoist goes to a brothel so… 😂
Hahah lol make sense that it is the first thing he think of😂
I love love LOVE the whole brothel scene! It is just too funny 😂
And the possible way for them changing back being sleeping together is just the acing on the cake. This might easily be my favorite chapter!