Chapter 37 - 2#

Then what are they doing now?!

At this thought, Xiao Cuan could no longer hold back and strode forward.

Tonight, everyone had gone into the city to see the fireworks, so the alley was deserted. Even if anyone was there, they would have long since gone to sleep.

The wooden gate of the small courtyard was left slightly ajar, and a faint candlelight shone through the window paper.

Xiao Cuan paused in his steps, stopped in front of the wooden door, and pushed it open.

On the window paper, two silhouettes were clearly reflected.

Yan Zhi and Chu Yu sat facing each other, seemingly… counting money.

Yes, it was only natural to count and divide the money after returning from business.

That was good, counting money was fine.

As long as they weren’t doing anything else.

Xiao Cuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew the foot he had intended to step over the threshold.

He could allow Yan Zhi to have some friends outside, and he could allow the favorability between Yan Zhi and his friends to be a bit higher.

He could even allow Yan Zhi to spend some time with his friends; after all, he had endured Xie Yi and Big Brother Wei.

But he could not tolerate Yan Zhi falling in love with someone else!

Xiao Cuan retreated into the darkness once more, momentarily hesitating.

Reason told him that Yan Zhi and Chu Yu must be good friends.

If they truly liked each other, how could they still be counting and dividing money?

If they truly lived together, how could the door of Chu Yu’s house still be open?

If they were truly husband and husband, how could Chu Yu call Yan Zhi by his name?

Right, they were friends, only friends.

If he went in now, appearing before Yan Zhi and beating up Chu Yu, Yan Zhi would surely be afraid and sad.

Just like when he hit Xie Yi.

There was already a small rift between him and Yan Zhi.

He’d better not make this rift even wider; he’d better settle his mind before going to see Yan Zhi.

That’s how it should be.

Xiao Cuan finally withdrew his foot, standing in the shadows, staring fixedly at the window.

He would wait right here.

Wait for Yan Zhi to come out, wait for Chu Yu to leave.

He only wanted to see Yan Zhi.

A quarter of an hour later.

Yan Zhi strung all the copper coins together, hung them up, and announced loudly.

“A total of two hundred and sixty-eight copper coins.”

“And there’s silver too.”

“Mm.” Yan Zhi put down the coins, crossed his hands on the table, and watched Chu Yu count the money seriously.

“One mace, two mace…”

Yan Zhi suddenly said, “This piece of broken silver is so large; did you encounter a big customer?”

“No,” Chu Yu said. “I encountered a somewhat strange customer.”

“Who?”

“How would I know who he is?” Chu Yu said helplessly. “He looked like some high-ranking official or noble traveling in disguise.”

“How do you know?”

“You can tell by his aura. That person was very fierce, looking like he’d killed people.”

“Is that so?” Yan Zhi’s gaze narrowed as if thinking of something. “This person… what did he look like?”

“I didn’t dare look closely, fearing he’d kill me.” Chu Yu shrugged his shoulders. “But he was quite tall.”

“How tall?”

“About…” Chu Yu looked at him. “A head taller than you.”

Yan Zhi’s eyes widened, and he instinctively stood up, the copper coins in his hand falling onto the table.

It was only then that Chu Yu realized: “You don’t think…”

Yan Zhi whispered: “That person is just a head taller than me…”

“But isn’t he the emperor? Do you think he’d leave the government behind to come looking for you?”

“Impossible…”

Reason told Yan Zhi it was impossible.

His Majesty valued the government most, not to mention the empire was newly settled, and it was a busy time.

His Majesty would at most send a few people to search; it was absolutely impossible for him to personally come south to find him.

But His Majesty had indeed issued a decree, making him the Empress, and announced it to the whole world.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, Yan Zhi still felt that His Majesty was very clever and had a very sharp mind.

If His Majesty came personally to find him, he feared he…

Yan Zhi jumped off the small couch and, without even putting on his shoes, ran out.

“Hey! Yan Zhi!”

Chu Yu quickly chased after him.

Yan Zhi stood barefoot in the courtyard, looking around.

That familiar pressure was back.

In an instant, the dark clouds obscured the moon, pressing down heavily, almost making it impossible for him to breathe.

His Majesty… His Majesty…

Could the person Chu Yu met be His Majesty?

Was His Majesty here to find him? Then should he run now?

Should he leave his house and friends and flee in the night?

Chu Yu caught up and whispered, “Are you really suspicious?”

Yan Zhi raised his hand and pointed directly at the courtyard gate: “A-Yu, the gate is open.”

“Probably the wind blew it open?”

Chu Yu stepped forward and closed the courtyard gate, then patted his head, somewhat annoyed: “It’s my fault, my fault. I was too busy making money at the time and didn’t dare look closely at the person’s face. So now you…”

Yan Zhi lowered his eyes, thinking seriously.

Based solely on a “tall stature,” it was indeed difficult to conclude that this person was His Majesty.

Furthermore, he hadn’t gone out, and His Majesty didn’t know Chu Yu, let alone the brown sugar cakes he made.

But he just felt bad, his heart pounding wildly, as if it were about to jump out of his throat at any moment.

And he had always trusted his intuition.

“I…”

Yan Zhi forced himself to calm down, turned around, went back into the room, and put on his shoes.

“A-Yu, I have to leave.”

“Leave?” Chu Yu asked with concern. “Have you thought about where to go? Or just run blindly?”

Yan Zhi whispered: “I’m not going anywhere else; I’ll just hide on the mountain behind the town. I spoke to a hunter on the mountain a few days ago. He doesn’t hunt in the first month, and he can lend me his bamboo hut.”

“That’s good.”

The mountain forest was dense, and there were no paths to take. Even if they searched, it would be impossible to find such a remote place.

Chu Yu still didn’t quite believe that the man was the Emperor looking for Yan Zhi, but he still did his best to help Yan Zhi plan.

“I’ll keep an eye out for you at the bottom of the mountain. If it’s safe, I’ll go find you, and then you can come down.”

“But it’s too late now; the mountain is too unsafe. Go back and sleep for a bit. When it gets a bit lighter, I’ll go call you and see you up the mountain.”

“Okay.” Yan Zhi nodded.

“Right!” Chu Yu turned around and grabbed a handful of copper coins from the table. “Take these first, in case you need them…”

“I won’t be able to use these on the mountain. I’ll take some food and drink and thick clothes. You keep these for me for now.”

“Alright. If you trust me, I’ll save them for you.”

Chu Yu packed the things away and then saw him home.

Even though Yan Zhi’s house was right next door, with only a wall between them, Chu Yu saw how truly afraid he was and saw him back.

The two of them stood at Yan Zhi’s door, talking in low voices.

Chu Yu said, “Don’t worry. From what I see, nothing major will happen. If all else fails, I won’t sleep tonight and will stay up for you.”

“It’s fine. You’ve been tired all day; go to sleep early.” Yan Zhi shook his head. “It’s only for one night. I’ll run as soon as it’s light; nothing will happen.”

“Alright, then go in quickly. If anything happens, call me loudly.”

Yan Zhi’s eyes turned red for no reason, and he whispered: “Thank you, A-Yu.”

“Don’t mention it; we’re sworn brothers. Go on, lock the door.”

Yan Zhi went home, locked the courtyard gate, and leading Tang Gao, returned to the bedroom and locked the bedroom door as well.

Seeing Yan Zhi go in, Chu Yu felt at ease and went back to his own house.

—Good, Yan Zhi and this Chu Yu do not live together.

The corner deep in the alley.

Xiao Cuan stepped out from within.

This Chu Yu should be thankful that he didn’t live with Yan Zhi; otherwise, his head would have long since rolled onto the ground.

Yan Zhi should also be thankful that he didn’t live with Chu Yu; otherwise…

Sooner or later, he’d be killed in bed!

Xiao Cuan’s footsteps were silent, like a demon from the underworld, as he came before Yan Zhi’s small courtyard.

It seemed this was Yan Zhi’s courtyard, the place where Yan Zhi lived.

He reached out and gently pushed the gate.

Yan Zhi had even locked the door.

Truly vigilant.

He reached into the door crack and weighed the copper lock inside.

Good, very good!

One look and it’s clear he’s on guard against him!

Just then, there was movement from the bedroom. Yan Zhi seemed to move twice in the quilt, climbed out of bed, then pushed open the window and looked out.

He asked in a low voice: “Who? Who’s there?”

Xiao Cuan dodged and hid behind the gate once more, out of his sight.

Yan Zhi watched vigilantly for a while. Seeing no one, he assumed he had misheard, closed the window, and continued sleeping.

Xiao Cuan folded his arms, leaned against the corner of the wall, and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

He thought he’d better wait until Yan Zhi fell asleep before going in.

By then, Yan Zhi wouldn’t run or scream and would be at his disposal.

That would be foolproof.

He thought so, thinking of Yan Zhi’s obedient, sleeping appearance, his quiet, closed eyes, and his even breath and rosy cheeks from sleep.

Xiao Cuan turned his head away, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

The cold wind blew, not only failing to dissipate the heat on his body but instead making him hotter.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Cuan estimated it was about time, and once again reached out and pushed the door.

The lock hanging on it swayed slightly, hitting the door and making a sound.

But this time, Yan Zhi was not awakened again, nor did he ask who it was.

Now! Now!

Xiao Cuan suddenly straightened up, used a clever force to remove a wooden board from the gate, then reached in, grabbed the lock with both hands, and broke it with force.

It was open!

He strode forward to the door of Yan Zhi’s bedroom.

A lock was also hanging inside the bedroom door, but that was no difficulty.

Xiao Cuan did the same, pushing open the bedroom door, pushing it wide.

A cold wind swept past, and moonlight poured in, finally illuminating Xiao Cuan.

He turned his head, his gaze fixed on the room.

Yan Zhi was covered with a quilt, lying on the small couch, seemingly sleeping soundly, and had not been awakened by his actions of picking the lock and opening the door.

But the wolf was lying on the floor in front of the couch; its hearing was sensitive, and its sense of smell was also sharp.

As early as when Xiao Cuan was picking the lock, it had stood up from the floor, pricking up its ears and tail, posing in a defensive stance.

Xiao Cuan didn’t take it seriously.

An ungrateful white-eyed wolf, daring not to recognize its father. He’d deal with it after teaching Yan Zhi a lesson.

Xiao Cuan only gave it a cold glance, then looked back at the person on the couch, approaching step by step.

Yan Zhi lay flat, his long hair spread across the pillow, his eyes tightly closed, his breathing even.

He was covered with a quilt, and his chest beneath the quilt was rising and falling.

Exactly as Xiao Cuan had imagined outside the door.

Seeing Xiao Cuan approach, the wolf cub opened its mouth, wanting to let out a “woof” to alert Yan Zhi.

Xiao Cuan noticed from the corner of his eye and was instantly alert.

But he didn’t step forward to pinch the cub’s mouth or neck. Instead, he lunged forward, grabbed Yan Zhi’s shoulders with both hands, and lifted him from the couch.

In the next moment, Xiao Cuan cupped Yan Zhi’s face with both hands, found his lips in the darkness, and kissed him squarely.

In the next moment, Yan Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, pulled out the dagger he had prepared under the pillow, and stabbed hard at the newcomer!

Like a flash of lightning, everything exploded!