No wall was completely watertight. During the banquet, Qin Daoyan was accused by Jin Ruhai and the Crown Prince. As a result, his residence was thoroughly searched by the Ministry of Justice.
That day, most of the Capital’s residents gathered outside to watch the commotion. They saw the guards taking out boxes of gold, silver, and jewelry. From dawn to dusk, they could only count about half of the confiscated objects. Not to mention the extravagant possessions.
Because of the seriousness of the case, the three ministries and six departments conducted a joint inspection. Officials worked tirelessly day and night for several days and finally compiled a list of more than 150 charges against Qin Daoyan, both major and minor, making it impossible for him to escape punishment.
Emperor Yan gave Qin Daoyan no opportunity for defense or plea. A death decree was immediately issued, destroying what had been an influential figure in the Court. The hundreds of adopted sons and daughters were also led by Qin Shuang to escape in an instant.
On the day of the execution, Qin Daoyan was bound in chains and shackles, his face covered with disheveled, white hair. In an instant, he appeared to have aged more than ten years. The eyepatch he wore was nowhere to be seen, exposing his ugly, deformed right eye to the bright sun.
He was unwilling to accept death and fought relentlessly. Forced to kneel before the execution platform, he summoned all his strength and uttered a desperate, anguished howl to the sky, “Dog emperor! Cunning rabbits die, and dogs will be cooked. When birds have flown, a good bow is hidden!
You have little grace and lack righteousness, ruthlessly killing loyal subjects. I, Qin Daoyan, should have long ago awaited such a fate!”
“Xie Bi then, now it is I, Qin Daoyan! After my death, I will become a vengeful ghost that will haunt you, making you restless!”
In the face of his impending death, he dared to speak, revealing some secret palace information. The official was frightened and pale, unable to bear to listen any longer. Before the appointed time came, he threw down his tablet and urged, “Quickly strip this traitor’s tongue, don’t let him spout nonsense!”
The executioner pulled a small knife from somewhere and plunged straight into Qin Daoyan’s jaw. The blade flailed in his mouth, causing Qin Daoyan to writhe in pain, his tongue already mangled.
The spectators exclaimed in shock, unable to bear to watch any longer.
Not far from the place of execution, there was a teahouse. On the first floor, three young customers were sitting by the window. Among them, a man dressed in black with a silver mask covering half of his face spoke coldly when he heard Qin Daoyan mention Xie Bi’s name, “Who does he think he is? He’s not even worthy of being compared to General Xie Bi.”
The Crown Prince sat in front of them and also intervened, saying, “Even at the time of his death, Qin Daoyan still wants to pretend to be a loyal minister and compare himself to General Xie. I wonder if King Yama of the underworld will believe him.”
Chu Xinian keenly noted that the two had a close relationship with General Xie Bi. Although he could understand Xie Jingyuan’s defense of a senior member of his clan, it was strange to see the Crown Prince also indignant.
Nonchalantly sipping his tea, Chu Xinian asked, seemingly indifferent, “Your Highness, do you know the Xie Family?”
The Crown Prince paused at the question, his eyes flying around, preparing to make an excuse to cover it up. However, Xie Jingyuan had already answered for him, “In the past, His Majesty ordered the princes to gain military experience. Prince Jin was sent to the southern desert, and the Crown Prince to the western frontiers. General Xie Bi was stationed in the northwest and taught the Crown Prince some martial arts. He can be considered his half-master.”
Chu Xinian really couldn’t say that the Crown Prince had any martial arts skills, so he ambiguously asked, “Then, Your Highness must be quite skilled in martial arts?”
“Skilled?” Xie Jingyuan heard that as if he had heard a joke, laughed lightly, and directly exposed the Crown Prince’s shortcomings, “Among the princes, he is the most clumsy, forcing General Xie Bi to personally come and teach him.”
Chu Xinian raised an eyebrow indifferently, “I see.”
In his heart, he was somewhat puzzled. Xie Jingyuan seemed to know a lot of confidential information, much more than an ordinary collateral branch member.
The two seemed to be in perfect harmony, making people feel overwhelmed. The Crown Prince’s gaze swept over Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan, sensing that their relationship seemed different from before, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had changed.
It seemed… more intimate?
The Crown Prince took a sip of tea, but suddenly felt nauseous, immediately bending over as if he was about to vomit. Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan couldn’t help but look at him simultaneously.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm was heard from below, and instinctively, as they looked down, they saw a head being lifted into the air, blood splattering a meter high.
Qin Daoyan was dead.
The executioner struck swiftly, ending his life.
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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Chu Xinian shook his folding fan and spoke softly, “Your Highness, it is best to maintain proper etiquette in such a public environment.”
Xie Jingyuan, on the other hand, was not so patient and frowned, saying, “Swallow!”
The Crown Prince, with a pained expression, forced himself to swallow the tea in his mouth, feeling that he did not want to go out with these two beasts again. He couldn’t beat Xie Jingyuan in a fight, and he couldn’t match Chu Xinian in wit. Every time, he ended up being bullied.
Qin Daoyan’s head flew through the air and landed in the crowd. People were instantly startled and scattered in all directions, except for an old white-bearded Daoist who stood still in his place.
Everyone watched as he slowly stroked his beard, closed his eyes, and recited an incantation. He whispered to Qin Daoyan’s head, who refused to close his eyes in death, “Countless sufferings and myriads of disasters in the world, now that you are dead, it is time for liberation. Do not cling to the mortal world. Oh soul, go…”
As he finished his words, he raised his sleeve, and countless banknotes scattered, covering the cobblestone street.
Xie Jingyuan sneered, “Tricks.”
Chu Xinian watched the old Daoist carefully, deep in thought. Then he whispered to Xie Jingyuan, “Someone follow this wandering Daoist and find out where he is staying.”
Xie Jingyuan looked at him, “He is just a wandering Daoist, why bother investigating him?”
Chu Xinian smiled in satisfaction, “General, didn’t you say you wanted Prince Jin to trip? This person is the key.”
He deliberately left him in suspense, and just as Xie Jingyuan was about to ask, the Crown Prince suddenly leaned over, looking at the two of them with a suspicious look, “What are you two whispering about?”
The Crown Prince must have suspected that someone was once again speaking ill of him.
Xie Jingyuan didn’t bother with him and got up from his seat, saying, “It’s getting late, the show is over. Let’s return.”
After speaking, he left with Chu Xinian. As they passed by Jiu Yong, Xie Jingyuan quietly indicated to him that someone should keep an eye on the old Daoist.
In the original plot, although the Crown Prince was never favored by the Emperor, there was still a certain family bond between them. What caused their irreparable rift was a wandering Daoist named Xuan Yeping.
Xuan Yeping had traveled far and wide in his early years and was quite skilled at performing tricks, earning his living by deception while claiming to be a disciple of the immortals. By a twist of fate, he entered the service of the Crown Prince, reading his fortune and telling fortunes for him. He claimed that the Crown Prince had the destiny of a true dragon and would ascend to greatness in three years.
This matter was kept secret, but somehow by chance reached the Emperor’s ears, arousing his thunderous anger. Not only did the Crown Prince receive his wrath and fall out of favor, but Xuan Yeping himself was silenced by the Emperor. In a sense, this incident hastened the Crown Prince’s path to rebellion.
Of course, the above was only the unmodified version. Now, the plot had changed, and no one knew in which direction it would develop. The only thing for sure was that Xuan Yeping was a troublemaker, causing mischief wherever he went.
And Chu Xinian’s goal was to find a way to send him to Prince Jin’s side.
Jiu Yong quickly gathered information and returned in the afternoon. He knelt outside the curtain and reported in detail, “General, the wandering Daoist has found lodging in Lion Street. He has set up a fortune-telling stall for the people there. He will probably not leave the Capital anytime soon. I have already arranged for someone to keep a secret watch on him.”
He lowered his gaze, concentrating on his nose and calming his mind, not looking at the two blurred figures behind the curtain. He only came out after hearing Xie Jingyuan’s slight “hmm” from inside, signaling him to step back.
Chu Xinian sat cross-legged on the bed, changing Xie Jingyuan’s bandages. After a period of recovery, the wound on Xie Jingyuan’s right arm had finally healed, allowing him to move more freely.
After wrapping the gauze, Chu Xinian said to Xie Jingyuan, “The wound is finally getting better. Tomorrow, General, you will accompany me to meet that wandering Daoist, okay?”
Xie Jingyuan plopped down on Chu Xinian’s legs and looked at him. He used his fingertips to play with his Adam’s apple, moving it up and down teasingly, “What exactly are you planning to do?”
Chu Xinian held his restless hand and brought it to his lips, giving a soft kiss, “General, you’ll know tomorrow.”
Although they had already expressed their feelings for each other, due to Xie Jingyuan’s injury, their interactions had been limited to sleeping together. They had done nothing else. Chu Xinian’s clothes were slightly disheveled, his ink-black hair was in disarray, and a smile peeked at the corner of his lips. This action of his inexplicably aroused desire.
Xie Jingyuan watched Chu Xinian’s actions and his ears inexplicably warmed. He reached out, wrapping his hand around Chu Xinian’s neck, slowly tightening his grip, and his voice became hoarse, “Chu Xinian…”
The innuendo was rough.
Chu Xinian naturally understood its meaning. He hugged Xie Jingyuan’s flexible waist, lowered his head, and kissed him directly. After several days of sleeping together, they had become experts in the art of kissing. Their lips and tongues intertwined, creating ambiguous sounds, and they were reluctant to part.
Naturally, they fell onto the bed. Xie Jingyuan clung to Chu Xinian’s neck, like a snake engulfing its prey, ready to savor it or… perhaps it was he who was being tasted.
Chu Xinian unbuttoned Xie Jingyuan’s robe and buried his head, kissing his wounded face. Xie Jingyuan instinctively turned his head to avoid him and pointed to his unblemished left cheek, “Kiss this side.”
Chu Xinian laughed softly at these words and his warm tongue gently ran over the uneven scars on Xie Jingyuan’s face. He lightly bit his earlobe and said, “I happen to prefer kissing this side…”
The lingering heat echoed in his ears, causing him to shiver.
Xie Jingyuan closed his eyes and tilted his head back, leaving his vulnerable Adam’s apple exposed. It bobbed up and down in the middle of Chu Xinian’s familiar kissing technique, causing his breathing to become erratic. Although he claimed he didn’t enjoy it, his mouth said otherwise, “Do you have some strange fetish, don’t like beauty, and prefer ugliness?”
Chu Xinian gently stroked his cheek and said, “This half of your face has suffered for the General. If I kiss, it will naturally be on this side.”
Xie Jingyuan curved his lips and pulled hard on Chu Xinian’s neck, lightly kissing and licking his ear as he uttered explicit words, “Overall, there is more than one wound on this body of mine…”
Hearing this, Chu Xinian squeezed the hand holding Xie Jingyuan’s waist, making him let out a choked moan, “I am well aware of how many wounds the General has.”
Before Xie Jingyuan could respond, Chu Xinian suddenly turned him around, and a tingling sensation like raindrops fell on his shoulder. The wetness was seductive, and a tremor surged from the top of his head to his tailbone, spreading throughout his body.
“Ahh…”
Xie Jingyuan let out a low, choked moan, and gripped the bedclothes beneath him tightly. He repeated Chu Xinian’s name over and over again, not knowing what he meant, trapped like a beast in a cage, unable to escape.
“Chu Xinian… Chu Xinian…”
He tried desperately to turn his head to get a clear view of the other’s face in the dim candlelight. However, all he received in response were wet kisses that climbed up to his ears, carrying a hint of comfort.
Xie Jingyuan had many wounds on his body, some healed and some not. The crisscrossed scars symbolized the dangers he had faced, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Chu Xinian kissed every one of them and finally turned Xie Jingyuan around, returning to the contact of his lips and teeth. His voice was muffled and slurred as he asked, “How did the General get the scars on his face…?”
Hearing this, Xie Jingyuan’s body suddenly stiffened, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over him, chilling him to the bone.
Chu Xinian slowly stopped the kissing motion and looked at him calmly in the dim candlelight, without haste or insistence. The air was plunged into silence, with only the gentle swaying of the curtain.
“…”
Xie Jingyuan was momentarily unsure how to put his scattered past into words and tell Chu Xinian about it. After a moment, he hesitated before slowly speaking, “I’ll tell you next time.”
These words were quite mysterious… next time, when was the next time?
Fortunately, Chu Xinian did not continue to ask. He simply said, “… Alright, tell me when you’re ready.”
With that, he hugged Xie Jingyuan and pulled up the sheet, getting ready to rest.
Xie Jingyuan sniffed the cold fragrance emanating from Chu Xiniann’s neck and felt it intoxicating like poison. He reached out his tongue to lick Chu Xinian’s Adam’s apple, leaving behind a wet mark, silently suggesting a desire for further intimacy.
However, Chu Xinian restrained it, sketching a soft smile and saying, “Next time.”
Xie Jingyuan, “…”
They went to bed early and completely forgot about the errand they had given Yun Que to bring them some pastries. So when Yun Que returned from the kitchen, she was stunned to see that the candlelight had already faded behind the window.
She carried a tray in her hands, with several plates of delicious snacks still warm on it. Yun Que hesitated whether to bring them or not. Just then, Jiu Yong stepped forward, sword in hand, and blocked the door. In a tone devoid of emotion, he said, “Master has already fallen asleep.”
Disturbing Chu Xinian was harmless, but Xie Jingyuan was not in a good mood.
Hearing Jiu Yong’s words, Yun Que looked at him but said nothing. She did not meet him with her usual stare. She bent down and set the tray on the ground, then adjusted her skirt and sat on the stone steps, watching the night as she usually did.
Military discipline at the General’s Mansion was extremely strict, and guards could not act without permission. Yun Que, however, did not have so many rules to follow. She plucked some thin strands of grass and sat in front of the door, busily weaving a grasshopper. The lantern above her shone a halo of light that cast a faint shadow on her nose, giving her an extremely delicate appearance.
Yun Que remembered that Chu Xinian had ordered her to get information out of Jiu Yong, but she didn’t know how to approach the subject. It wasn’t until she had almost finished weaving the grasshopper that she lowered her voice and asked Jiu Yong in a seemingly casual manner, “Sir Jiu Yong, how long have you been following General Xie? I can tell he trusts you a lot.”
For the first time, she was polite, no longer calling him “coffin face” or “ice block face.” Instead, she respectfully addressed him as “Sir”.
Jiu Yong never engaged in idle conversation on duty, so he frowned but kept silent.
#Socially awkward vs. cold guy＃
When Yun Que saw that he didn’t answer, she was already somewhat discouraged. She thought that it was as difficult as reaching for the heavens for Young Master to make her extract Xie Jingyuan’s information from Jiu Yong. Since he had always considered her a spy, why would he easily divulge such things?
The moonlight was frosty, and the night inevitably felt a bit chilly. Yun Que swung her legs, thinking that she should go back to her room first and look for another opportunity next time. However, before she could make a move, a cold and harsh voice suddenly rang in her ears, “Twelve years.”
Yun Que paused at those words and unconsciously looked at Jiu Yong. Only then did she realize that he was answering her earlier question and, for a moment, she felt somewhat lost. Nervously clutching her skirt, she forced a dry smile and continued to inquire, “Oh? I heard that General Xie saved you on the battlefield, did you also fight in the war, where did you fight?”
The fact that Jiu Yong was saved by Xie Jingyuan from the battlefield was something Yun Que had heard from the servants of the mansion. If he questioned her about it, she would not be afraid.
Jiu Yong didn’t feel much like talking, but seeing Yun Que sitting on the steps, looking at him with her almond-shaped eyes, determined not to give up until he answered, he frowned and said, “Northwest.”
After speaking, seeing that Yun Que was about to speak again, he quickly maneuvered his sword and pointed it straight at her, saying coldly, “Didn’t your master tell you not to talk too much while on night watch?”
Startled by the sudden unsheathing of the sword, Yun Que instinctively took a step back, her body leaning back, and stood up from the steps, feeling guilty, “Sir Jiu Yong, you misunderstood me. I just wanted to tell you that… if you are hungry, you can eat these pastries.”
After speaking, she pointed to the luscious pastries on the steps, looked at him, and hurriedly turned around and ran out, clutching her skirt.
The guards next to them could not help but whisper among themselves, “Who would have thought that even the stoic Jiu Yong would have a girl who likes him.”
Every word was spoken in a low, soft voice. But Jiu Yong’s hearing was sharp, and he heard it quite clearly. His figure could not help but pause, “…”
Lion Street was located at the entrance to the bustling market, where people came and went, and merchants found a place to set up shops. Xuan Yeping had just set up a fortune-telling stall at the corner of the street, telling fortunes and reading people’s faces. Whether his predictions were accurate or not depended on one’s perspective.
That day, when he had just set up his stall and business had not yet started, he noticed another fortune-telling stall next to him.
The owner of the stall was a man dressed in a Daoist robe. His hair was tied back with a sandalwood hairpin. Two tufts of white hair grew next to his temples, even his beard was white. He exuded an ethereal aura and, since setting up the stall, had remained seated without a word, peculiar indeed.
Behind him was a man dressed in black, with a bamboo hat hiding his face. He exuded a cold and ruthless temperament, holding a sword in his hands, resembling someone from the martial world.
These two people were none other than Chu Xinian and Xie Jingyuan.
The thief Qianqian was an expert in the art of disguise. When Chu Xinian captured her and brought her back, he found the items she used to disguise herself. Wigs, false beards, and wax-like substances made from who knows what, all of which come in handy today.
Chu Xinian had disguised himself and Xie Jingyuan specifically to set up a stall next to Xuan Yeping, intentionally “competing for business” with him. The sign in front of his stall had only one sentence written on it…..
Fortune-telling for fate, free of charge.
Xie Jingyuan saw Chu Xinian sitting quietly, pretending to be a white-bearded old Daoist on the street corner, and his eyelids couldn’t help but twitch, “You dragged this General here early in the morning just to play pranks here?”
Chu Xinian put a finger to his lips, gesturing for him to calm down, “General, we’re just waiting for the fish to take the bait.”
It was still early and there were not many passersby. They sat quietly for an hour or so until finally, a wealthy man wearing a square hat approached Chu Xinian and Xuan Yeping’s stall. He looked around hesitantly, unsure whom to consult.
Chu Xinian remained motionless, meditating with his eyes closed.
Xuan Yeping could contain himself no longer and took the initiative to solicit business, “May I ask what the esteemed guest would like to have a reading on?”
The plump wealthy man chuckled and simply sat down in front of his booth, revealing his tyrannical demeanor in his words, “Lao Tzu is not short of money, but I’ve never had my fate read before. Let’s see what’s so fascinating about it. If you get it right, you will be handsomely rewarded. If you get it wrong, don’t blame Lao Tzu for taking you to the authorities!”
Not far behind him were several burly servants, looking formidable and not at all easy to deal with.
Inside, Xuan Yeping could not help but feel unease, realizing that he had encountered a difficult customer.
Meanwhile, the surrounding commoners, seeing the famous ruffian and rogue of Lion Street getting his divination read, eagerly gathered around, intent on enjoying the spectacle.
The chubby rich man rolled up his sleeves, his eyes sparkling with shrewdness, and asked Xuan Yeping, “Daoist, can you guess the surname of Lao Tzu?”
Xuan Yeping had always predicted only ominous signs on people’s foreheads and bloody calamities, so he could not guess this kind of thing. Inwardly, he sighed and pretended to calculate with his fingers, but he stammered and could not give any reasonable answer.
The chubby rich man asked again, “So, do you know where Lao Tzu comes from?”
Xuan Yeping stammered once again.
Angry at the sight of him, the chubby rich man was about to have his men tear down Xuan Yeping’s stall when a slow and leisurely voice suddenly sounded in his ear…
“This esteemed lord is surnamed Zhou, he comes from the south. His bones are buried in a pile of rouge, and he possesses immense wealth. I wonder if this humble Daoist’s assumption is correct.”
The man followed the voice but saw that the speaker was the Daoist fortune-teller in the stall next door.
The sweetness in this chapter is so overwhelming!! I’m grinning from ear to ear over here! ><