“I need to go relieve myself.”
Translation Checker: jellypeaches
Editor: jellypeaches, Dobhsh
On this quiet night
The rubbing of smooth skin released a few faint wisps of heat.
Meng Huan’s hair was wiped by the handkerchief and moved back behind his ears, revealing his clean white face and earlobe. He rested with his head in the crook of Lin Bozhou’s neck, curling up like a kitten, nodding off, and feeling drowsy.
The use of today’s medicine nearly resulted in someone’s death. Lin Bozhou was alive and kicking, while Meng Huan suffered from the tossing and turning.
In his half-wake, half-sleep state, Meng Huan saw the man’s bare shoulders and neck in front of him. Frowning, he raised his hands and tugged Lin Bozhou’s collar closed. “One must maintain one’s male virtue.”
“…”
So he would not be seduced by the other again.
Meng Huan flipped his fingers over and patted his chest. “Sleep!”
In the darkness, Lin Bozhou lifted his lips silently.
He leaned close to Meng Huan’s ear and whispered, “This husband has to attend the court tomorrow morning; will Huan Huan allow it?”
Meng Huan gawked, “You are really going…”
“There is something that needs to be discussed with His Majesty; this husband will return right after.”
Meng Huan felt so sleepy and didn’t want to talk, but he still pursed his lips and said, “Fine then.”
Lin Bozhou stroked Meng Huan’s face with his fingertips and felt the wrinkles between his brows. He could not hold back frowning.
That mumbled response… The youth was really displeased with him.
Lin Bozhou had received orthodox Confucian teachings in refined etiquette since childhood; if it had not been for the accident with his eyes, he might have become a man of the highest integrity, both physically and mentally. However, after his eye accident, the mental shadows in Lin Bozhou’s heart grew more and more, but he could not release them in front of his parents.
Later, he became fond of hunting, enjoying the blood and screeches of his prey as his arrows pierced their throats. He also liked to release his murderous urges during faction struggles. During those times, he could feel his sanity somewhat returning to him.
He had a lot of darkness, unbeknownst to many people. Twisted desires after removing his clothes and an endless unattractive side during his moments of blindness… All these things are known to Meng Huan, who was lying beside him.
Having his entire being accepted by someone turned out to be such an amazing feeling.
Lin Bozhou, journeying through the darkness in front of him, could not resist chuckling.
–
Early in the morning, the spot next to him was empty.
Meng Huan woke up feeling groggy as he sat on the bed, feeling like he was a widow.
You Jin answered, “His Royal Highness went to court.”
“…”
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.
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At first, Meng Huan was resting his head in his palm in a daze. Hearing this, his interest was piqued. “Let’s go and see.”
The runner respectfully said, “After the Young Master and His Royal Highness’s visit that day, the local magistrate instantly issued an order to search the whole city without any delay. Last night, they caught someone in the inn of the Floating Fragrance Restaurant in the east of the city. Thus, the Young Master’s presence is specifically requested this morning.”
Meng Huan asked, “How many were caught?”
“According to the initial eyewitnesses, there was more than one person, but the others have not been caught for the time being. Once we get him to confess, he will definitely rat his partners out.”
Meng Huan arrived at the government office.
The man he saw that day had changed into prisoner’s clothing and was kneeling on the ground. Around him were other civilians who had come to identify the murderer. It appeared he had already received severe punishment, with blood oozing from his back, his hair disheveled, and his sharp eyes staring lifelessly at the front of the hall.
A runner nearby showed a furious expression and gave the man a kick.
“Bastard!”
“I really want to kill him.”
The local magistrate also showed a grave expression. “Yesterday, when our forces went to make the arrest, he killed two of our men.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Huan’s chest jolted in astonishment. He turned to the local magistrate. “Were there really members of the office who died on duty?”
“Yes, these outlanders have no etiquette culture, but they are all brave and strong, with bestial habits. This man…” The local magistrate walked in a circle and hooked up the man’s chained hands with his boot. “The calluses on his palms are extremely thick from holding knives and riding horses all year round, and he killed my men without mercy. Rather than an ordinary outlander who came to the capital to do business, he is more like a soldier in a foreign army.”
Like a soldier in a foreign army?
This man’s connection with Echul, who would eventually revolt, would be even greater.
Meng Huan felt a rare shift in his mood as he walked out of the building and signaled You Jin, “We need to inform Lin Bozhou of this.”
You Jin has long been accustomed to the Young Master calling His Royal Highness’s taboo name. “Then should we go back to the compound first?”
Meng Huan said, “Not to the compound; let’s wait outside the palace for him to get off court.”
As soon as Meng Huan took his first step out of the office, another person with gentle eyes and dressed in the clothes of an ordinary civilian came to the governmental office. He walked slowly, deliberately trying to hide his identity from the public.
The man walked to the governmental office and inquired with the petty officer on duty. “Is Minister Lu present? Requesting to meet with him.”
Minister Lu was the magistrate responsible for this case of murder by an outlander.
The petty officer was furious. “The local magistrate is very busy. He is not someone anyone can just meet unannounced! Get lost!”
The man looked calm, not annoyed with the petty officer’s irritable display. Intead, he pulled a letter out of his sleeve and said in a low voice, “This is what our Lord asked to be delivered.”
The petty officer glanced down at the letter.
On it were some words and a stamp.
When he saw those words, he turned pale as sweat poured down from his face, almost wanting to slap himself as he dashed inside.
“This lowly subject will report it this instant.”
–
On this hot summer day, the sun was scorching over the pavilions and walls of the capital, creating a blur of light and shadow.
Despite the hot weather, there were still many people who were out and about. Anyone could tell that this was the capital city, bustling with indescribable prosperity and style.
In the private room of a teahouse, Meng Huan sat drinking herbal tea while You Jin fanned him, causing the latter to lose a layer of powder from his face.
Meng Huan said, “Stop fanning. You should also sit down and rest with me.”
You Jin let out a sigh and sat beside him, taking a sip of herbal tea.
“With His Royal Highness unable to see, how is he going to handle official documents in the cabinet today?” As soon as Meng Huan calmed down, his thoughts could not resist turning to Lin Bozhou as he stared at the imperial city in the distance.
You Jin smiled and said, “Master, no need to worry. Someone will read the documents to him.”
“What kind of matter is so important that needs his attention at the imperial court before his eyes recuperate?”
You Jin continued to smile and said, “The sky is big, the earth is big, but matters concerning the allocation of money are the biggest. It is right for His Royal Highness to worry.”
Meng Huan listlessly took another sip of his tea before saying, “Alright.”
He propped up his head, like a cat who had waited too long for his owner to open the door, clawing around with his small paws from losing its patience. “When—will—he—get—off—court—ah—”
He dragged that last frustrated exclamation out particularly long.
“This old servant does not know.” You Jin patiently refilled the youth’s teacup.
The weather was hot, so Meng Huan drank a lot. After a while, he stood up and said, “I need to go relieve myself.”
You Jin hurriedly said, “This old servant will serve the Young Master.”
His serving was not in the literal sense. Usually, they would wait for Meng Huan from a wall away; if not, they would not be at ease.
Meng Huan did not turn down the offer either, only making an affirmative sound.
This was a small but relatively cool restaurant due to its location, with the sun shining on the back of the building and lush vegetation and abundant greenery in its vicinity. The latrine was just behind a bamboo door.
When Meng Huan entered, it was dark inside, and the room was very long. Presumably to make it easier for guests to use.
As Meng Huan tied his belt, he heard a rustling noise.
He paused for a second, feeling something approaching behind him.
This is a common intuition everyone gets—the sudden feeling that someone is watching them from somewhere in the room. Although most of it is just in the person’s head, it still makes people’s hair stand up, shuddering from the chill down their back.
Meng Huan was a little confused. Just as he was about to turn around, there was a sharp snap behind him.
Just as the word ‘fuck’ was about to escape from his lips, a handkerchief covered his nose and mouth. The pungent smell of medicine entered his nose before his vision spun and his shoulders went weak, as if someone had punched him there.
As his eyelids drooped, he was dragged out of the bamboo door. He could still see out of his eyes, and his consciousness remained clear, but it was as if he was sapped of his strength, making him unable to move a single muscle.
In front of him was a face with a high-bridged nose and deep-set eyes, with distinct contours that did not quite resemble the appearance of people from the Central Plains. When Meng Huan was taken out of the bamboo door, he saw that You Jin was lying on the ground, as well as his two guards. He did not know whether they were knocked out or killed.
Upon seeing this scene, an indescribable sense of anger filled Meng Huan’s chest.
The man dragged him to the side of the wall and easily lifted him up with great strength. Just outside the wall came another pair of hands that received him.
Bang—
Meng Huan fell to the ground, letting out a muffled grunt.
Immediately afterwards, a black gauze landed over his face, obscuring his vision.
He was apparently thrown carelessly into the carriage before his hands were tied behind him. Following the rumbling sound of the carriage, his shoulders thumped against the wooden floor. His chin, covered by his hair, was pale from the painful impact, but he did not have any strength to lift himself up from the ground.
He stayed clear-headed throughout the ride.
He did not expect that there would be a kidnapping plot in the book.
Who kidnapped him? A political enemy of Lin Bozhou?
For what reason? An attempt to blackmail Lin Bozhou?
…And would something happen to him?
On the carriage, someone seemed to be speaking in a language he could not understand.
The carriage kept moving, and after an unknown time passed, the drug began to lose effect. The sluggish feeling in Meng Huan’s fingers gradually faded, and he could put in strength and flex them, but in exchange, the pain from his bound wrists became stronger.
A burst of exhaustion washed over him, and still, to this moment, he could not believe—the protagonist could be kidnapped, too???
Bang—
Like a steamed bun, he was thrown ruthlessly on the ground. Meng Huan hated this kind of brutality and violence the most. He tried desperately to calm himself down and face what was to come next, but his mind inevitably thought of Lin Bozhou.
He was fuming and speechless the whole way. Just at the thought of these three words, a burst of grievance swelled inside.
—Not even Lin Bozhou had tied him up yet!!!
Above his head, a voice rang out, “You found the person who painted the portrait of Anur?”
“Yes, I found him. The court of the Han people captured Anur. He said before that he would rather die than reveal our whereabouts and motives. He is a great hero, but he should not have died in the first place.” The voice that spoke was rough.
Meng Huan felt he was flipped over by something, revealing his face.
“Those who caused Anur to bleed should bleed the same amount. Those who caused Anur to be beheaded should also have their heads cut off.”
Suddenly, sunlight blinded Meng Huan, causing a field of white snow to cover his vision. A figure approached and forced a curved sword against his throat, causing a sharp, stinging tremor through his skin.
“Huh?” The voice of a slightly surprised young man.
Meng Huan could finally see more clearly.
Echul’s whip fell from his neck as he gazed down. He was the one holding the curved sword as it was pressed against Meng Huan’s thinnest blood vessel, leaving a red mark on his fair skin.
There was amusement in Echul’s eyes. “It’s you?”
The author has something to say:
Huan: You! Really! Are not afraid of death! Ah!?
–
Before, someone commented that they did not like reading the part with the runaway wife, so they can start skipping chapters from here, I guess.
the wife did not run, he was stolen lol
So let me get this straight, that Anur killed a man in cold blood, disgraced the body and tried to steal the head, killed another two officers who rightfully came to arrest him due to his crimes, and was punished accordingly…but yet somehow it’s still the innocent witness who is at fault and should die?? Great logic these people have 😭 the entitlement reeks
Right?? Sometimes I wanna smack them in the head and shout in their ear!
It’s in the title, but only this time the little wife was taken away without consent! 😤
Oh no! QAQ
Thank You for the new chapter (灬♥ω♥灬)
Oh boy I wish Meng Huan was a ruthless assassin in his previous life. I would love to see him defend himself and get home riding Echul’s best horse lol.
REAL
Oh, plot, please
Thank you for your translation 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
Lin Bozhou, don’t be mad at Meng Huan!!
Ugh our loving pair are separated and will Lin Bozhou get him back