Chapter 44 - 2#

“Old Gu, please take a look at him quickly.”

This old eunuch came over and began to examine Liao Jiang’s body. After a long while, he said slowly, “He won’t die.” Then, he began to treat his wounds.

Even Hua Yunfei couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Wei Liang: “Manager, Liao Jiang is like this, he definitely can’t serve. Do we still need to send someone over?”

“No.” Hua Yunfei said coldly, “They really think this is their own territory.”

The Yueyu envoy was clearly looking for trouble. Not to mention whether there was such a dagger, even if there really was, it was still unknown who stole this dagger!

If it was said that a small eunuch like Liao Jiang stole some money, Hua Yunfei might believe it a little. A dagger, no matter how precious, Liao Jiang would be crazy to steal it.

For palace servants, if a sharp weapon like a dagger was found on them on a normal day, it would be a considerable crime.

Was Liao Jiang still rushing to find trouble for himself?

Over there, the old eunuch was applying medicine to Liao Jiang’s back. Obviously, it hurt him so much that he woke up. The slightly crying wail was really pitiful. The old eunuch even said slowly while speaking, “Being able to howl means you still have some strength. Endure it, don’t lose your strength later.”

Liao Jiang’s face was distorted with pain. How could he endure this!

Just as he screamed again, a soft cloth was stuffed into Liao Jiang’s mouth. A familiar voice sounded, “Bite it, lest you bite off your tongue.”

…Jingzhe?

Liao Jiang mumbled twice, unable to make out what he was saying. But Jingzhe seemed to know his worries and said calmly:

“Manager Hua brought you out, you’re fine.”

Hearing this, Liao Jiang’s nose soured. He hadn’t cried even when he was dry-heaving, but now he was crying his eyes out.

The old eunuch shook his head while treating the bloody back.

After changing several basins of bloody water, Liao Jiang’s back was bandaged up. The thick layer looked a bit glaring. Fortunately, his chest and abdomen were touched one by one by the old eunuch, and the bones were not broken, which was a blessing in misfortune.

Hua Yunfei looked at the listless Liao Jiang and said lightly, “I know you are very uncomfortable now, but I need to know what happened. What exactly did the Yueyu envoy lose?”

“This servant really didn’t steal anything. Today was the same as yesterday, just serving in the separate palace. They didn’t let us get close, and the room was full of Yueyu people. It’s impossible to get past the guards to steal things…” Because the injury was too painful, Liao Jiang spoke intermittently, “In the afternoon, the envoy suddenly smashed the cups and plates, said something I didn’t understand, and then let those guards start searching…”

The Yueyu guards didn’t find anything. No one had this so-called dagger on them. As a result, the envoy looked around at the serving palace servants, suddenly flew into a rage, and kicked Liao Jiang.

Liao Jiang was very wronged, “They said that because I was new, things were lost as soon as I came, so it must be me who stole it… But, I don’t even know the layout of the separate palace, how could I steal?”

He refused to admit it, so the envoy had someone whip him, causing Liao Jiang to roll on the ground in pain.

However, Liao Jiang had a bit of stubbornness in him. If he really did it, he would admit it readily. But it had nothing to do with him at all. Even if he fainted from the pain, he still didn’t admit a single word.

“Got guts.” Hua Yunfei sighed in admiration, “Don’t worry, you don’t have to go again in the future.”

He gave Liao Jiang a reassurance to prevent him from not daring to rest and recover in peace.

The Yueyu envoy clearly wanted to force a confession, but unexpectedly chose Liao Jiang, who gritted his teeth and refused to admit anything.

This matter was neither big nor small, but Hua Yunfei didn’t plan to delay. He left Jingzhe to take care of Liao Jiang and hurried out with Wei Liang.

Looking at his appearance, he should be reporting this matter.

Jingzhe stayed in the room and poured some water for Liao Jiang. It was not easy to drink water while lying on his stomach, so Jingzhe used a spoon to feed Liao Jiang.

Liao Jiang was very thirsty, but after being fed a few mouthfuls, he became embarrassed and refused to drink anymore.

Jingzhe’s voice was calm, “Drink two more mouthfuls. If you think too much, there won’t be any more.”

Drinking too much water, with his injuries, it would be very troublesome to get up to go to the toilet, so he could only eat and drink as little as possible.

Liao Jiang reluctantly drank two more mouthfuls and then shook his head.

Jingzhe took it back, put it on the table, and prepared to take it out to wash together later.

“…Jingzhe, am I really going to be okay?” Liao Jiang was very tired, very sleepy, and in great pain, but still couldn’t sleep, “That is, after all…”

“They are a vassal state.” Jingzhe said lightly, “Here, this is our country. Don’t worry, there is no reason to send you back to suffer again.”

Hearing this, Liao Jiang finally felt at ease.

Strangely, Hua Yunfei was the manager, and it was he who argued reasonably to bring Liao Jiang back. But his promise, Liao Jiang was still somewhat uneasy. After Jingzhe finished speaking, he finally truly relaxed…

Then his head tilted, and he fainted directly.

Jingzhe looked back at him and sighed, shaking his head.

A quarter of an hour later, Hua Yunfei came back with Wei Liang, only saying that the matter had been resolved and there was no need to send people to Yueyu anymore.

Jingzhe looked at the room, thoughtfully, “Recently, many envoys from vassal states have arrived. Not during the New Year or festivals, but at this time, is there some reason?”

If it was His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday, or the Empress Dowager’s birthday, that would be understandable. But at this time, why did these envoys come to court?

Hua Yunfei glanced at Jingzhe keenly, thinking to himself that this kid was quite sharp.

But these things, it was useless for ordinary palace servants to know too much. Hua Yunfei didn’t explain to Jingzhe, but told him and Wei Liang not to mention this matter casually after they went back.

The two naturally knew the importance.

After all, it was a state envoy, and they were just palace servants. If it really caused a scene, the arm still couldn’t twist the thigh. It was already a great fortune that Liao Jiang could survive.

After returning, Jingzhe indeed learned bits and pieces of this matter from Shi’en’s mouth. But Shi’en only knew that something happened in a separate palace. As for the details, he knew nothing.

Hua Yunfei blocked the news very quickly and didn’t let the matter leak out.

Sleeping that night, perhaps because of Liao Jiang’s matter, Jingzhe tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep a little.

He looked at the sleeping Shi’en, got out of bed secretly, and faced the cool night wind, feeling more awake.

He had been thinking about that Yueyu envoy.

It wasn’t that Jingzhe was overthinking, but the system had said that in the future, the imperial court might be invaded by the iron cavalry of foreign tribes, and Yueyu was a nomadic people. Seeing the attitude of that envoy today, it was also very arrogant, which was displeasing.

Yueyu deliberately caused trouble, and at this juncture…

By the way, why did they come to court at this time?

“Not sleeping in the middle of the night, wandering outside, how will you have the strength to work tomorrow?” A familiar voice sounded, cold, with a bit of interest, “Jingzhe, you are not being good.”

“I just can’t sleep a little…”

Jingzhe paused, looking at the shadow on the ground.

Behind him, a much taller figure loomed over, completely swallowing Jingzhe’s original shadow, covering it tightly.

“Isn’t Rong Jiu the same?” Jingzhe turned his head and sure enough saw the tall man, “Are you going to say that you are on night patrol today?”

Rong Jiu nodded casually, “You guessed right.”

Jingzhe wrinkled his nose, not believing it at all.

Who patrols at night, all the way from the Taishi Palace to here? Shouldn’t he be guarding the Taishi Palace all the time?

This place was still a long way from the Taishi Palace.

“You can’t sleep?”

Jingzhe tilted his head, sizing up Rong Jiu.

“Why not think that I was woken up by someone in the middle of the night?”

At this hour, it could be said that he was staying up late, or it was very possible that he was woken up by someone.

“If you were woken up, you wouldn’t be so peaceful.” Jingzhe teased Rong Jiu with a smile, “Perhaps, you would become a very scary monster.”

“And then eat you.” Rong Jiu sneered coldly, “You really think too much.”

Jingzhe was happy to see Rong Jiu and didn’t care about these words at all. After chattering for a few sentences, he suddenly remembered his thoughts, looked left and right, and quietly dragged Rong Jiu into the shadows.

Rong Jiu raised his eyebrows, letting Jingzhe do as he pleased.

Jingzhe whispered, “Rong Jiu, you are in front of the hall, do you know many things?”

Rong Jiu: “What do you want to ask?”

Jingzhe’s thoughts were pierced by Rong Jiu’s words, so he skipped the preamble and asked directly, “At this time, not before or after, not during the New Year or festivals, why are so many envoys coming to court at this time?”

Rong Jiu: “Because, this is the time when the ancestors of Helian and the various vassal states ceased fighting a hundred years ago. They bowed their heads and became subjects, coming to court every year.”

Jingzhe: “Every year?”

“This tradition was suspended thirty years ago, during the late Emperor’s time.” Rong Jiu’s cold voice revealed a bit of strangeness, “The late Emperor’s civil administration was passable, but his military achievements were not. Some vassal states rose up in rebellion and were the first to break the agreement. Since then, except for the annual tribute being sent, envoys rarely came to court.”

Jingzhe frowned. If so, then why pick up this habit again? Was it because these vassal states were scared by Emperor Jingyuan and bowed their heads in submission?

This seemed unlikely.

The Yueyu envoy was so unruly.

That arrogant posture was enough to show their attitude.

“After the Emperor ascended the throne, his methods were more iron-blooded and cruel than the late Emperor. Although it didn’t make them tremble with fear, most of the vassal states were willing to submit, except for Yueyu, Yin, and Gaonan, which often plundered other vassal states during the autumn harvest.”

Jingzhe raised his eyebrows. This sounded a bit like doing all kinds of evil.

“Then our border?”

“Occasionally, but they dare not go too far.” Rong Jiu’s expression was faint, “Mostly harassing the surrounding areas.”

Even so, Jingzhe was a little angry.

Rong Jiu found it interesting and reached out to touch Jingzhe’s cheek, incidentally finishing his words.

“This time the envoys came to court after a long time. The six ministries and the cabinet hope to show their majesty and subdue them. As for the vassal states, some are to ask the court to uphold justice for them, and some are to take this opportunity to test the national strength.”

This matter was not a one-day effort. The reason it was so lively was all due to the thoughts of all parties.

Jingzhe was a little confused at first, but then he understood and showed a strange expression.

“…Want to deter the vassal states… So this time, the reason why the location was chosen at Shangyu Garden, is it to let them…”

Jingzhe stammered and didn’t finish his words.

The tall horses Shi’en mentioned many times, the vast land of Shangyu Garden, and the hopes of the various ministers…

Could it be that Emperor Jingyuan wanted to train troops in Shangyu Garden?

Rong Jiu pinched Jingzhe’s chin, his fingers gently scratching, as if stroking some small beast, and hummed slowly, “Why are you so smart?”

Jingzhe slapped away Rong Jiu’s hand and glared at him in shame and anger. Why was he getting more and more handsy?

Just like stroking a puppy.

Rong Jiu sighed coolly and said to himself, “The work is so heavy, I have to work hard and seriously. I finally squeezed out a little time to come over, but I’m still disliked…”

The cold voice said such words, which really made Jingzhe not know whether to laugh or cry.

He helplessly reached out, grabbed Rong Jiu’s fingers again, tilted his head to look at him, “You miss me that much?” Jingzhe’s words were light, with a bit of shyness, but his bright black eyes looked at Rong Jiu frankly.

How could one give a negative answer?

Rong Jiu originally wanted to tease him, but for a moment, other emotions were ignited, and he slowly pulled the person into his arms.

“Listen.”

Jingzhe lay on Rong Jiu’s chest, listening to the heartbeat that was faster than usual, and couldn’t help but purse his lips.

If not, he was afraid he would laugh out loud.

In the middle of the night, it was easy to scare people.

Jingzhe buried his head in Rong Jiu’s arms, took a deep breath, and the familiar orchid fragrance passed through his lungs, staying in his chest for a long time before he exhaled slowly.

“Why did you start to like orchid fragrance?”

Jingzhe said softly.

Before, Jingzhe rarely smelled any extra scent on Rong Jiu, probably because he didn’t like it.

After Jingzhe received the calming incense, he would occasionally have the scent of calming incense on him. But as the former owner of the calming incense, Rong Jiu seemed to have never used it.

Rong Jiu: “It’s useful.”

Jingzhe blinked. Rong Jiu’s answer wasn’t that he liked it, but… it was useful?

In ordinary wealthy families, after the maids washed and dried the clothes, they would use incense to perfume them. It wouldn’t be too strong, but it would also remove the odor from the wardrobe.

The choice of spices was mostly based on personal preference.

Jingzhe saw that Rong Jiu recently always had a faint orchid fragrance on him and thought he liked this smell. But it turned out to be useful?

…Was it to cover up something?

Jingzhe hugged Rong Jiu’s waist tightly, sniffing hard in his arms, smelling here and there, and even lowered his head to smell those slender fingers, trying to smell a little bit of blood.

But it was very clean.

Only a faint orchid fragrance.

Jingzhe held Rong Jiu’s fingers and muttered, “Did I guess wrong?”

Another large hand covered Jingzhe’s puppy head, and the man said lightly, “When will you be more enlightened?”

Jingzhe raised his head against the large hand, “If I wasn’t enlightened, I wouldn’t have fallen for you.”

Rong Jiu rubbed it, “In the future, don’t do this to others.”

Jingzhe recalled what he did just now. Didn’t he just sniff around? Did Rong Jiu not like this? He didn’t mess around too much, right?

Rong Jiu looked at Jingzhe’s dazed appearance, rubbed it hard, making Jingzhe’s hair messy, then grabbed a few strands, lowered his head, and sniffed.

Rong Jiu seemed somewhat satisfied.

The feel was much better than before.

Jingzhe watched Rong Jiu’s movements in a daze. The man’s cold white fingers held those few strands of hair. After sniffing, he even dropped a few light kisses.

That noble and elegant action made Jingzhe’s heart beat faster. He stood on tiptoe, took the initiative to hug Rong Jiu’s neck, and leaned forward.

He didn’t ask for a kiss, but he was very obedient, looking at Rong Jiu with wet eyes.

Rong Jiu held Jingzhe’s waist with one hand, half-lifted him to step on his own boots, and supported the back of Jingzhe’s neck with the other hand, lowering his head to bite his lips.

“Mmmph!”

Why was it always biting? Rong Jiu’s wanton tearing and biting always gave Jingzhe the illusion that he was about to be completely swallowed.

Rong Jiu’s strength was great, making Jingzhe’s lower back hurt a little. The sensitive roof of his mouth was repeatedly licked, and the fine itch made his face flush, almost unable to breathe.

Jingzhe had to pound Rong Jiu’s shoulder a few times to escape, “You always seem like… you’re going to eat me…”

He panted lowly while complaining in a small voice.

Rong Jiu’s voice was deep, “It’s you who won’t let me eat.”

Really making people hungry.

Jingzhe’s body trembled slightly, and he abruptly covered his ears. Hearing Rong Jiu’s voice at this time always made one’s heart itch. This fine and dense itch would seep into the flesh and bones, stirring Jingzhe’s almost non-existent lust.

He could feel some kind of improper impulse…

Testing the waters.

Jingzhe silently circled behind Rong Jiu and pushed him towards the door.

“You’re kicking me out already?” Rong Jiu’s voice carried a hint of a smile, “Use and discard.”

Those suggestive words made Jingzhe want to jump.

…That was clearly mutual use!

How can you say that rubbing against each other is a one-person thing!

After Jingzhe sorted out the logic with a clear conscience, he continued to push Rong Jiu out.

“Hurry up, hurry up, if we talk any longer, we’ll have to get up and work.”

Jingzhe stingily calculated how long he could still sleep, and then very painfully discovered that an hour and a half was already a lot.

Rong Jiu: “Take leave.”

Jingzhe chuckled. He thought everyone was like him, able to give his superior a look. Having a subordinate like Rong Jiu, Commander Wei was really miserable.

With twelve points of willpower, he “drove away” Rong Jiu, then secretly went back to sleep. The originally messy mind went to sleep as soon as he lay down, as if summoned by the Duke of Zhou.

The next day, he was still woken up by Shi’en.

Shi’en looked at Jingzhe suspiciously, swaying from side to side, unable to even open his eyes, “You didn’t sleep well yesterday? Got up in the middle of the night?”

This looked like he didn’t sleep much.

Jingzhe yawned, covered his mouth, and said in a muffled voice, “Couldn’t sleep, so I got up for a walk.” He yawned again, touched the corner of his eye, and there was actually a bit of moisture.

“Your mouth…” Shi’en leaned closer and said curiously, “Why is it a bit swollen?”

The food eaten last night shouldn’t have been spicy.

Jingzhe’s body stiffened slightly. He touched his lips with his fingers, rubbed them hard a few times, and rubbed them even more red and swollen, smiling awkwardly, “Maybe I bit it in my dream.”

Shi’en didn’t take it to heart. Seeing Jingzhe was awake, he went out to wash up.

Leaving Jingzhe alone sitting on the edge of the bed, chanting Rong Jiu’s name, gritting his teeth in anger.

Last night, Jingzhe “drove away” Rong Jiu, but it wasn’t so smooth. He still paid a price.

Jingzhe’s tongue was bitten and swollen.

Why is his mouth also swollen now??

Jingzhe got up. When changing clothes, a small key rolled down, making a crisp clicking sound.

He looked down at the key on the floor and only then remembered that last night before Rong Jiu left, he gave this key to him. As a result, he carried it back to sleep, fell asleep as soon as he lay down, didn’t even take off his clothes. Now they were wrinkled and couldn’t be seen by people.

Jingzhe bent down to pick up this key and looked at it a few times.

It was too late yesterday, and Jingzhe didn’t have time to look closely. Now looking at this key, it was nothing unusual, just the most common kind of padlock key.

What did Rong Jiu say yesterday?

“This is a gift, buried under the peach tree by the pond in your home. However, I don’t know if you will like it, so this key is given to you.”

It was a gift, but it didn’t seem like a gift.

Rong Jiu gave Jingzhe the choice of whether to open the gift.

Jingzhe only found it funny at the time, “You buried it under the peach tree in my home, how can I see it?” He couldn’t leave the palace.

Rong Jiu said meaningfully, “There will always be a chance.”

Jingzhe didn’t dwell on this issue and put the key away, “Since it’s a gift, and it’s from you, how could I not like it?” He looked up at Rong Jiu and said with a smile.

The moonlight was not stingy, bathing Jingzhe in silver-white. The hooked smile was vivid and lively.

It was a green, shyly growing fruit, slowly hanging on the branch, without any vigilance, not knowing what kind of terrifying thoughts the beast that lowered its head had, and even affectionately rubbed the monster’s nose.

“You will really like it?”

“Of course.”

“Won’t be afraid?”

“Why should I be afraid?”

Jingzhe was very confident. He already knew what kind of bad-hearted person Rong Jiu was. Even if it was an outrageous gift, he could definitely still accept it!

Rong Jiu put his hands behind his back and smiled lightly.

The tall body was against the light, and his expression couldn’t be seen clearly, but it could be clearly heard that there was no warmth in that laughter.

“Jingzhe,” that voice was very gentle, but also equally cold… unable to give any softness, but instead like some malicious curse, “you must remember your words.”

Jingzhe: “…” Just a gift, why so gloomy?

Very scary.

Author’s note:

Jingzhe: Just a gift.jpg

Also Jingzhe: …Ahhhhh don’t treat everything as a gift (frantically shoveling the soil back)