When Chu Xinian saw Chu Jiaoping walking towards him, his steps paused slightly, knowing that his actions a moment ago had aroused suspicion in him. However, he did not take the initiative to speak but waited silently for him to ask.
“Second Brother, you… you’ve changed a lot since you lost your memory.” Chu Jiaoping had too many doubts in his mind, to the point of not knowing where to begin, so he could only utter this emotionally complicated sentence.
Chu Xinian was silent for a moment and then said, “Is that so? I can’t remember much of the past.”
Chu Jiaoping, considering that this was Xie Jingyuan’s residence, did not want to arouse suspicion, so he did not speak much to Chu Xinian, “Mother is very worried about you, but it is good that it has been proven that you are not involved. How have you been in the General’s Mansion?”
How have I been?
The person most to be avoided at the mansion was Xie Jingyuan. However, he would not actively seek trouble and most of the time, he would be in his room, pretending to be sick. So, Chu Xinian’s days were pretty good.
But he could not tell that to Chu Jiaoping.
Chu Xinian smiled faintly and gave a diplomatic reply, “Xie Jingyuan has begun to trust me to a certain extent…”
So…
“There is no need for Prince Jin to send spies again. I will take care of the matter myself.”
He seemed to be hinting at something, like that military list.
Prince Jin, as the protagonist’s ally, must surely have many capable people under his command. The three spies who had died yesterday were only sent as a vanguard, the real experts were hidden. Although the General’s Mansion had its defenses, it might not be able to detect them.
It would be better for Chu Xinian to take the initiative and provide a fake list to deceive them, and thus avoid potential trouble.
Chu Jiaoping frowned slightly, feeling worried, and whispered, “Can you get the list?”
Chu Xinian nodded, “Wait for my message tonight, Elder Brother.”
Since Chu Xinian mentioned that he wanted to move to a different place yesterday, Xie Jingyuan had someone move all his belongings to Yuheng Pavilion. The layout was not much different from the previous courtyard, except for the study where many confidential letters were placed.
Chu Xinian looked at it briefly and then calmly looked away. After finishing his bath, he put on a loose white shirt and sat cross-legged on the end of the bed, slowly unrolling the silver needles. His voice was soft as he said, “General, allow me to give you acupuncture today”.
The acupuncture was to be administered by Chu Xinian. After Xie Jingyuan made the chubby assistant cry yesterday, he stubbornly refused to come. Meanwhile, Wan Jimiao was still studying the antidote, secluding himself in the pharmacy and neglecting everything else, even to the point of ignoring sleep and food. Thus, he had no time to come to administer acupuncture.
Xie Jingyuan was sitting on the edge of the bed, on his knees, and at that moment he was polishing his Fallen Abyss Sword. A precious sword should be cleaned regularly and should not accumulate dust. He seemed to enjoy polishing various weapons, be it swords, bows, or daggers.
Xie Jingyuan looked at Chu Xinian and said, “You touched and rubbed that corpse today, and now you want to give me acupuncture?”
This statement was unfair. He touched it, but what did ‘rubbed’ mean? He went to examine the corpse, not to do anything else.
Chu Xinian lowered his head, looked at his hands solemnly, and asked in turn, “What, is the General afraid I will do the same thing to him? Hmm…?”
The last sound was nasal, complementing his deep, magnetic voice, inexplicably causing a stinging sensation in people’s eardrums and a warm feeling in their hearts.
Xie Jingyuan wore no mask. He looked at Chu Xinian out of the corner of his eye, his narrow, deep-set eyes reflecting two clusters of indistinct wild flames beneath the candlelight. His right profile looked even more terrifying, making people curious again as to how he had gotten that wound.
“Heh…”
Xie Jingyuan seemed determined to scare Chu Xinian. He leaned closer to Chu Xinian and whispered ominously near his ear. Like the hiss of a venomous snake, seductive and dangerous at the same time, “You dare?”
Chu Xinian stared at Xie Jingyuan’s face, which was close enough to touch, and felt as if the slightly curved corner of his lips were teasing something. As a result, he reached out his hand and slowly traced his fingertips across the wounded right side of Xie Jingyuan’s face, his voice deep and full of laughter as he replied, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”
The semi-transparent gauze curtains hung and the red candle flickered, casting a warm yellow light. The silhouettes of the two could only be seen as vague shadows from outside, melting in the boundless enchantment like melting wax.
Xie Jingyuan instinctively turned his head to hide the wound. He wore a jade pendant tied with a red thread around his neck, which was accidentally revealed. Chu Xinian saw two characters engraved on it…
Lanting.
“Is that your courtesy name?” Chu Xinian reached out and held up the jade. That was the only explanation he could come up with.
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.
Wlf Ojcalcu, atf cjwf rbecvfv qgfaas clmf.
Wlf Alcusejc vlvc’a fzqfma tlw ab cbalmf atf pjvf. Lf lcralcmalnfis gjlrfv tlr tjcv ab ags ab gfaglfnf la, yea obg rbwf gfjrbc, tlr tjcv ogbhf lc wlvjlg, ribkis ojiilcu vbkckjgvr; la kjr j mbcagjvlmabgs jmalbc, kjcalcu ab rabq yea rageuuilcu ab ifa ub.
“…”
Xie Jingyuan didn’t say anything, neither admitting nor denying it. When Chu Xinian saw enough, he put the jade back under his clothes.
Seeing that Chu Xinian looked thoughtful and fearful that he might find out something, Xie Jingyuan grimaced and threatened with narrowed eyes, “Do you know that anyone who has seen this jade must die?”
Chu Xinian slightly raised an eyebrow and said, “If this jade must not be seen by others, why is the General carrying it around?”
“…”
Xie Jingyuan’s mind stirred upon hearing those words. He stared at Chu Xinian for a while without uttering a single word. Finally, he turned around, his back to Chu Xinian. And quickly unbuttoned his clothes, his voice void of emotion as he said, “Insert the needles.”
The above statement seemed to have touched a nerve, leaving Xie Jingyuan visibly tense.
Chu Xinian did not apply the needles immediately. His right hand rested on Xie Jingyuan’s shoulder, kneading it lightly in a rhythmic manner. Xie Jingyuan closed his eyes, lost in thought, before finally breaking the silence and asking, “You know how to examine a corpse?”
Chu Xinian smiled in amusement, “Of course not.”
It was not uncommon for a rich young master to know how to practice literature and martial arts, but it would be too much to say that he knew how to examine a corpse. So he didn’t admit it.
Xie Jingyuan looked up, his eyes filled with grim intensity as he fixed his gaze in the distance. He pursed his lips and said, “Then how did you deduce that the person who killed Jiu Niang was an expert?”
“Thirty-four sword wounds, all consistent in depth and severity. Isn’t that the mark of an expert? Either he is a renowned swordsman or an exceptional chef.” Chu Xinian replied, jokingly.
Xie Jingyuan had taken a look at the body from afar today. Being a weapons expert, he smiled wryly and added, “Perhaps he is even a master of dual-wielded swords.”
Chu Xinian’s movements faltered slightly upon hearing that, and he approached from behind. A smile in his voice as he said, “General, it seems we have come to the same conclusion.”
This particular action felt as if Chu Xinian had enveloped Xie Jingyuan in his embrace from behind, shoulders touching and emanating a faint warmth.
Xie Jingyuan lowered his gaze, his fingertips twitching, in a moment of conflict. However, he gradually regained his composure and his fingertips returned to a state of calm. He nodded silently at Chu Xinian’s bold move and laughed mockingly, “You certainly know how to flatter yourself. So, have you figured out the identity of the culprit?”
Chu Xinian had some clues.
The various speculations about the culprit reminded him today of a supporting character in the original story of ‘A Thousand Years of Feud’. However, the plot had changed significantly, and he was not entirely sure.
Chu Xinian replied, “Maybe. Tomorrow, I plan to visit the suburbs of the Capital.”
Xie Jingyuan’s body tensed for a moment, and he looked at Chu Xinian with a sinister expression, “What, tired of living?”
The mastermind behind this incident had targeted Chu Xinian. If he was rashly venturing to the scene of the crime, wasn’t he seeking death? In the Capital, with so many pairs of eyes, the moment he stepped out of the General’s Mansion, he would undoubtedly become a target.
Chu Xinian was aware of this matter, “I plan to go at night, to avoid attention.”
Xie Jingyuan’s tone turned cold, “Oh yeah? Well, you’re pretty smart.”
Adding tone to this statement, it meant; You are incredibly stupid.
Xie Jingyuan said nothing more and gradually relaxed his posture. As Chu Xinian inserted the needles, he said, “This may not necessarily be directed at me.”
Xie Jingyuan wiggled his fingertips slightly, “If it’s not directed at you, then at me?”
Chu Xinian, however, said, “Most likely.”
Although all the evidence seemed to point to Chu Xinian, he focused not on superficial appearances, but on underlying relationships and interests. Chu Xinian, as a frivolous playboy, had little value as a target for others. The only possibility was that he was being used as a pawn to manipulate the forces behind him.
Chu Xinian had been tricked into escaping, but it was Xie Jingyuan who suffered the embarrassment.
Hearing this, Xie Jingyuan frowned deeply, lost in thought.
Everyone had their worries. Chu Xinian saw that time was almost up, so he got off the bed and placed the silver needles properly. He looked at the incense burner in the middle of the room, pondered for a moment, hesitated in his steps, and suddenly called out to Xie Jingyuan, “General.”
Xie Jingyuan, who was dressing, looked at him and said, “Speak.”
Chu Xinian took a small square piece of brown incense from the nearby incense box and looked down, “After examining the corpse today, I have felt deeply restless, and I fear I will have trouble sleeping tonight. May I burn some sleep-inducing incense?”
Since the poisoning incident, Xie Jingyuan has become sensitive to such things. He glanced around upon hearing Chu Xinian’s words, slightly raising an eyebrow, “What, are you afraid that you won’t be able to sleep?”
How could he not see that Chu Xinian was afraid of something?
Chu Xinian shook his head and smiled, “No, I am not afraid. It’s just that my thoughts are disordered. If the General doesn’t like it, then forget about it.”
As Chu Xinian was about to put the incense box back in place, he heard Xie Jingyuan say, “Do whatever you want.”
Chu Xinian unconsciously looked up and saw that Xie Jingyuan had already laid down. The gauze curtain was swaying slightly, making it difficult to see clearly, only a blurry figure.
Chu Xinian had originally thought he would need more persuasion, but he hadn’t expected Xie Jingyuan to agree so easily. He lifted the lid of the censer and slowly placed a spoonful of sleep-inducing incense inside.
As he watched the smoke rise gently, he murmured to himself, “General, having a soft heart is not a good thing…”
He had noticed that Xie Jingyuan had a soft heart. Could that also be a major factor that led to his doom?
Xie Jingyuan did not reply. He probably didn’t think Chu Xinian was talking to him, after all, the phrase “soft heart” had nothing to do with him.
Two wisps of pale smoke slowly rose from the mouth of the censer and dissipated into the air without a trace. Outside, the night was dark, and only the clinking of the patrolling guards’ swords could be heard, creating faint sounds.
Chu Xinian sat alone by the bed, covering his nose and mouth with a handkerchief. For he was not burning sleep-inducing incense, but a hypnotic incense that Yun Que had procured. In order not to arouse Xie Jingyuan’s suspicion, he only burned a small amount, but even a normal person would feel drowsy when smelling it.
The room was silent. After half an incense, Chu Xinian guessed that Xie Jingyuan must have fallen asleep. He slowly got up and blew out the candle.
As the flame went out, a wisp of blue smoke rose, plunging the room into darkness. Only the faint moonlight from outside allowed him to vaguely see the objects in the room.
Chu Xinian walked quietly into the study and searched carefully in every corner. Finally, he discovered faint traces of fluorescent powder on a vase on the antique shelf. He touched it with his fingertips and confirmed that it was the phosphorescent powder he had slyly sprinkled on Xie Jingyuan’s sleeve.
What was so special about this vase?
Chu Xinian tried to pick it up, but it seemed to be fixed in place, unmoving. He raised his eyebrows slightly and turned it carefully. With a soft click, something seemed to move under the desk.
“…”
Chu Xinian feared that Xie Jingyuan would notice, so he remained motionless for a while. Seeing that the person inside remained silent, he slowly bent down and discovered that one of the floor tiles had sunk.
Ancient mechanisms used to be like this. By turning a vase of flowers, you could usually open a hidden room. Even if it seemed ordinary to people of later generations, in an age without high-precision tools, it was already a masterpiece.
Chu Xinian lifted the tile and found a book hidden inside. He flipped through the pages one by one, and the inked characters were evident in the moonlight. There were more than thirty pages in all, and among them were six high-ranking generals.
All of these people were Xie Jingyuan’s trusted subordinates who would help the Crown Prince rebel in the future.
Chu Xinian memorized a few unimportant names, but he realized that there was not a single high-ranking military officer who lacked credibility. He became concerned when his gaze inadvertently swept over the character ‘Wu Xieliang’.
Throughout history, those in high positions of power inevitably had countless followers, but some traitors were bound to emerge. Xie Jingyuan was no exception. In the original ‘A Thousand Years of Feud’, during the later stages, Xie Jingyuan rebelled, and one of his subordinates secretly defected by joining Prince Jin and leaking information about Xie Jingyuan gathering private soldiers. This subordinate was the fourth-ranking general, Wu Xieliang.
It seemed that this character had not been omitted by the butterfly effect.
Chu Xinian smiled and put everything back in its original place, then wiped off the traces of fluorescent dust. He grabbed a piece of paper from the table and quickly wrote down some names with the prepared charcoal pencil. Wu Xieliang was among them. He folded the paper into a small note and tucked it into his sleeve.
This done, he blew out the incense. Then, covering himself with his clothes, he went to the door, gently opening a crack.
Jiu Yong was patrolling in the courtyard. When he noticed him, his footsteps stopped and he approached with a hawk-like gaze. Although he did not speak, it was clear that he suspected Chu Xinian of some misdeed.
Yun Que saw Chu Xinian leave and remembered his instructions. He intentionally stepped forward and asked, “Young Master, do you have any orders?”
Chu Xinian nodded slightly with a sound, “I have something to do outside the Capital tomorrow. Remember to prepare the carriage and the horses in advance.”
Yun Que hesitated, saying, “Young Master, this servant… is unwell and wishes to see a doctor.”
Chu Xinian was good at acting. Hearing this, he turned around, went inside, and grabbed a bag of silver. Slyly, he put the note inside the bag, squeezed it, and then handed it to Yun Que, saying, “Go ahead, don’t delay your duties.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
Yun Que pocketed the silver, turned, and walked towards the courtyard. However, after taking only a couple of steps, someone stopped her. She looked up and saw Jiu Yong.
Jiu Yong’s eyes were filled with undisguised suspicion, “Where are you going?”
Hearing this, Yun Que gritted her teeth angrily but frowned slightly, clutching her shoulder as if it hurt unbearably. He said, “My shoulder hurts. I’m going to see a doctor. What’s the matter, can’t I?”
Jiu Yong’s tone was cold, “Don’t you know the rules of the General’s Mansion? Once it is night, servants are not allowed to go out without permission.”
Yun Que was enraged. Her eyebrows furrowed, her eyes widened and she stomped her foot. She shoved him straight and said, “That may be your General’s rule, but I belong to the Marquis of Quyang’s Manor. You have no authority over me. Last time you beat me. Isn’t that enough? If you have the guts, kill me!”
All you know is how to intimidate women. What kind of hero are you?
After saying what she had to say, Yun Que walked away without looking back, quickly disappearing at the end of the road. Jiu Yong tightened his grip on his sword, hesitated for a moment, but finally did not chase after her. He frowned and continued his patrol.
Chu Xinian stood by the window and watched Yun Que leave successfully before looking away. He unconsciously glanced towards the inner room. However, whether it was an illusion or not, he faintly sensed some movement. Without showing any sign, he lifted the curtain and entered.
Could it be that Xie Jingyuan had woken up?
Chu Xinian quietly approached the head of the bed, intending to get closer and check, but just as his fingertips touched Xie Jingyuan, someone grabbed his hand tightly.
“What are you doing?”
A cold voice suddenly burst out from the darkness, carrying a hint of laziness and weariness.
Chu Xinian’s heart clenched, but he acted as if nothing was wrong, “I couldn’t sleep.”
Xie Jingyuan slowly released his grip on him.
Chu Xinian’s wrist was no longer restrained. He found a tinder cartridge on the nearby low table and lit the candle. A small flame flickered, casting a bright light into the room once more.
Xie Jingyuan opened his eyes and looked at him, “Why did you come in?”
Chu Xinian wasn’t sure when Xie Jingyuan had woken up. He sat by the bedside and made up a random reason, “I couldn’t sleep well alone in the outer room.”
Newly awakened, Xie Jingyuan furrowed his eyebrows, “Are you scared?”
Today, that corpse was really scary.
Chu Xinian shook his head, and his handsome face accentuated in the candlelight, “I just can’t fall asleep.”
Xie Jingyuan thought that not being able to sleep was the same as being afraid. He saw Chu Xinian staring at the ceiling, lost in thought for a moment. And then frowned and turned over, lying down on the inner side of the bed.
Chu Xinian didn’t understand, “General?”
Xie Jingyuan’s brow furrowed even more, “Lie down. Let’s sleep together.”
The author has something to say:
Xie Jingyuan: Come, come, I will protect you~.
aw, xie jingyuan my sweetheart <3 soft-hearted indeed :’3 you’re lucky that chu xinian is looking out for you instead of trying to hurt you, or you would be screwed :’3
+1
+1
It is actually so rare to see a shou protecting his gong. My heart is fluttering >_<
Honestly, Jiu Yong should show Yun Que some more respect! 😤
Thank you for the update ❤️💯