Ch. 48 - Xiao Nong: Little liar

“Ah choo!”

When he stepped into the study room of Minghui Palace, Zhong Yansheng's nose suddenly felt itchy, and he tilted his head and sneezed slightly.

Feng Ji was knocked unconscious by Zhan Rong last night and thrown into the bushes. He slept on the cold floor with the breeze blowing all night. His nose was a little stuffy. Seeing this, he thought that he had infected Zhong Yansheng and quickly stepped back: "Oh, did the little prince catch a cold?"

Zhong Yansheng rubbed the tip of his nose. Before he could speak, he sneezed twice more. Tears welled up in his eyes. He said with a nasal tone, "Um, no."

Last night, after the old emperor and Tian Xi left, he saw the little note left by Zhan Rong and slept well.

Zhan Rong is still a good person. His brother can only write little notes to call him stupid.

"Then someone must be thinking about you." Feng Ji winked and signaled the maid behind him to cook some medicine to prevent colds. He smiled and joked, "It seems that they are thinking about you very much."

Hearing this, Zhong Yansheng's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Xiao Nong was talking about him?

Feng Ji was delighted: "Maybe His Majesty is thinking of you!"

Zhong Yansheng: “…”

Well, goodbye then.

Just after separating from Xiao Nong, Zhong Yansheng was called back to the old emperor's bedroom.

Even in the daytime, the bedroom was dark and filled with a strong smell of pickled medicine. The old emperor drank the medicinal tea and lay on the bed. He looked skinny and withered, like an old tree that was about to run out of vitality. His cloudy eyes fell on Zhong Yansheng and asked him what he thought of Xiao Nong.

Zhong Yansheng knew that the old emperor was keeping a close eye on him, and if he talked with Xiao Nong together, he would be reported immediately, so he was mentally prepared.

Just staying in such an environment, being stared at by the old emperor, he couldn't help but feel hairy all over and uncomfortable. He tried to maintain a calm expression: "Uncle is not easy to get along with... But if he is willing to go south with us, I think the suppression of the bandits will be much smoother, so I just went to him to say a few good words."

He chose his words carefully and spoke very naturally. After he finished speaking, the old emperor did not respond for a long time.

When Zhong Yansheng was feeling anxious, the old emperor suddenly laughed. His voice was old and hoarse, and his laugh was like some kind of rough sandpaper rubbing against his ears. Zhong Yansheng was just wondering, and the old emperor coughed heavily a few times, took a few quick breaths, and praised: "Little Eleven, you did the right thing."

Zhong Yansheng looked at him in confusion and noticed that the old emperor seemed to be coughing up blood.

Tian Xi, who was serving beside him, seemed to be used to it. He wiped the old emperor's hands with a hot towel and handed him tea. The old emperor wiped his hands, pushed away the hot tea, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply, as if very tired: "You did the right thing... Xiao Xianwei is a sharp knife, and it is easy to use it... But this knife has no handle, so it is easy to cut yourself... But I have been prepared... He is a knife, and also a whetstone..."

[Whetstones are used to sharpen the edges of steel tools such as knives.]

The sounds behind him became lower and lower, and unclear. Under the effect of the medicinal tea, the old emperor gradually fell into a deep sleep. His breathing became weak and almost non-existent, like a candlelight swaying in the wind, as if it would be extinguished in the next moment.

Tian Xi gently lowered the bed curtain, smiled at Zhong Yansheng, and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, please go back. His Majesty is going to rest."

Until now, the strong and pungent smell of medicine still seems to linger at the tip of his nose.

Zhong Yansheng came back to his senses and blinked.

Is the old emperor satisfied that he is learning how to use Xiao Nong?

But he would never take advantage of Xiao Nong.

For the royal family, Xiao Nong is probably indeed a sharp and good knife, or in other words, in their eyes, the Xiao family is the royal family's knife.

Did my brother know? The old emperor's infinite indulgence was clearly... He must have known, he hated the royal family so much.

Zhong Yansheng shuddered, not daring to think about Xiao Nong's attitude any further, and looked out the window.

My brother seemed to have an inexplicable hostility towards Yuncheng, and I don't know whether he sent someone to convey his words to Yuncheng.

Yun Cheng was sold to the Marquis' Mansion by his parents when he was very young and lived with Zhong Yansheng. The best gift Zhong Yansheng could think of was to return the indenture contract to Yun Cheng.

Yuncheng must be very happy now.

I wonder what my brother is doing?

"Say clearly."

It was so quiet around that it seemed as if there were no other living people.

Yun Cheng vaguely felt that the direction of things seemed to be different from what he thought, but he quickly understood it simply - it seems that His Royal Highness Prince Ding was really offended and looked very angry!

Didn't His Royal Highness Prince Ding conduct a large-scale search for the young master in the capital a while ago?

Yun Cheng swallowed again, gritted his teeth, and began to explain the whole story.

“…The young master may have overheard the real young master's affairs from the Marquis' wife, so he ordered me to find out where the young master is recuperating.

"…I didn't dare to listen too much or think too much at the time. I just thought that the young master was recuperating in Changliu Villa. When the young master recovered, I rented a carriage and took him to Changliu Villa…"

Yun Cheng was trembling with fear. With every word he spoke, he felt the surrounding air grow colder.

Zhan Rong had changed from leaning against the carriage with his arms folded to standing upright with his head down, pretending to be dead. He glanced at all the secret guards and saw that they had shrunk back, and cursed in his heart.

If he had known this earlier, he would have followed suit and shrank back, but now he didn't dare to move.

After hearing Yun Cheng's words, Xiao Nong's face had completely darkened, and he coldly spat out four words: "Nonsense."

[T/L NOTE:- The 'nonsense' word is made of 4 words of Chinese character.]

The little bird had obviously been secretly in love with him for a long time, and was extremely worried when he heard that he was poisoned and injured. He was also afraid that he would become suspicious if he knew his identity, so he came to the villa to find him under an assumed name.

He carefully prepared a seal with the theme of breeze and bright moon for him, and also painted a picture of birds perching on winter plum blossoms with his own hands.

After that, he just avoided seeing him out of shyness.

How could such a good child tell a lie?

No matter what, Lou Qingtang had had one or two romantic affairs in the past, so how could he be wrong?

Yun Cheng was frightened by Xiao Nong's tone. When he thought about how his young master had kept it a secret from him and had endured such a terrifying Prince Ding for so long, he felt touched and guilty. He spoke bravely again, "No, it's not nonsense! I guarantee on my own life, that everything I said is true. If I'm lying, God, God, may it strike me!"

Zhan Rong closed his eyes in pain: "..."

Don't open your mouth!

Before you were struck by lightning, the prince was struck by lightning first.

As Yun Cheng finished his oath, the curtain of the carriage suddenly dropped, covering the face of His Royal Highness Prince Ding.

Xiao Nong's cold voice came from the carriage: "Take it back."

Yun Cheng: “…”

It's over. Will he be taken back to Prince Ding's Mansion and tortured?

Woo woo, master.

Zhan Rong silently picked up Yun Cheng, and the coachman who had been pretending to be dead also carefully drove the horse towards the direction of the palace.

The carriage drove along the long and quiet road at the back door of the mansion for a while, and Xiao Nong's voice rang out again, sinisterly: "Bring Lou Qingtang here."

Now following the master, the atmosphere was so terrifying that several secret guards rushed to take action: "Yes!"

There was a commotion outside for a while, and then it became quiet again. Even the coachman, who was sitting behind a curtain, held his breath and pretended not to exist.

Xiao Nong leaned against the carriage for a long while before he took out the Tian Huang stone seal he carried with him with an expressionless face, turned it over and looked at the four small characters delicately engraved underneath.

The force was so great that it almost crushed the Tian Huang stone.

That bastard Lou Qingtang, not a single analysis he made was correct.

The jade was not given to him.

The painting was not given to him.

Even calling him brother was because I called the wrong person!

From the very beginning, the little bird didn't come to see him on purpose.

Thinking of the times when Zhong Yansheng hesitated to speak, he felt confident that it was all childish admiration and shyness...

After being a big gangster in Mobei for more than ten years, Xiao Nong's face has become thick enough to be used to paste city walls, but he almost couldn't hold it together just now.

His proud self-esteem was suddenly frustrated. He couldn't tell whether he felt more embarrassed or angry. The Tian Huang stone in his hand trembled and made a silent tremor.

It's not for him.

That was originally intended for Zhong Sidu.

Just before it was about to break, Xiao Nong loosened his grip and, with a sullen face, threw the almost shattered stone back into his sleeve pocket.

Forget about the jade... He's been playing with it for several months, so it's his.

The carriage stopped outside Prince Ding's mansion. The news from the palace had spread throughout the capital. Wang Boxian had naturally also heard that Zhong Yansheng was sent by the old emperor to suppress bandits. He was waiting outside the carriage. When he saw Xiao coming down with a very bad mood and a gloomy face, Wang Boxian immediately swallowed back his words.

He has watched the prince grow up, so he is the most familiar with his temper.

The prince is in this state, so it's best not to provoke him at this moment.

Uncle Wang shut up very tactfully, but some people didn't.

It was Xiao Wenlan who was squatting nearby waiting.

Ever since Zhong Yansheng suddenly became the eleventh prince and was brought into the palace by Tian Xi, Xiao Wenlan has not seen Zhong Yansheng again.

Xiao Wenlan knew that his brother really disliked the people from the Pei family, so he never dared to come to Xiao Nong to ask anything, for fear that his brother would be in a bad mood and beat him.

But today, when he heard that Zhong Yansheng was going to be sent to suppress bandits, Xiao Wenlan couldn't help but worry - how could the weak and beautiful young Master Zhong be sent to suppress bandits!

So after much deliberation, he came to Prince Ding's mansion. When he saw Xiao Nong getting off the carriage, he started talking so fast that Uncle Wang couldn't stop him in time: "Brother! Are you going to go south with Young Master Zhong to suppress the bandits?"

If his brother had gone with him, Young Master Zhong would definitely be fine!

Xiao Nong suddenly looked at Xiao Wenlan, without a trace of emotion in his cold blue eyes.

Xiao Wenlan instantly turned into a quail, trembling all over: "...Brother?"

"No."

After Xiao Nong uttered these two words decisively, he said indifferently: "Zhan Rong, take the second young master to practice."

In the capital city where every inch of land is valuable, there is a training ground in Prince Ding's mansion, where the personal guards and secret guards practice every day.

Every time Xiao Wenlan got into trouble, he would be thrown in by Xiao Nong. Along with the personal guards, he would get up at 5 a.m. every day and go to bed at 11 p.m., practicing martial arts and sword skills. Every time, Xiao Wenlan would be exhausted to the point of paleness and weak legs and feet. Basically, after three days of practice, he would be well-behaved for three months.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenlan's face changed drastically, and he jumped up and wanted to run: "Brother, I suddenly remembered that I have something else to do, so I'll leave first... Uh!"

Before he could finish his words, Zhan Rong covered his mouth and grabbed him.

Wang Boxian followed behind Xiao Nong and couldn't help but say, "My Lord, are you going to..."

Xiao Nong said coldly: "Burn the painting."

Taxue was lying outside the study licking his fur when he suddenly saw Xiao Nong striding towards him with murderous intent. His ears twitched alertly, and he suspected that he was finally going to be cooked. He immediately scurried into the bushes and observed secretly.

Xiao Nong didn't even look at Taxue who was sneaking around. He stepped into the study and came to the three paintings. His steps paused, and his face became gloomy.

There are many confidential letters in the study, but no fire sticks...

Wang Boxian took out a tinderbox with a smile and handed it to Xiao Nong with both hands: "Your Highness, here you go."

Xiao Nong paused, took the fire starter from Wang Boxian, and said calmly: "Go out, I will burn it alone."

"Hey." Uncle Wang left the study and closed the door considerately.

Zhan Rong was sent out to do something. The secret guards left a few outside, while others went to capture Lou Qingtang, and some were guarding Yun Cheng. The surroundings finally became quiet, with only Xiao Nong left.

He stared at the painting of birds perching on plum blossoms. The bird feathers were painted in great detail, with every down visible and lifelike. The small group of birds looked as lively as living creatures.

That soft feeling is very similar to Zhong Yansheng.

Xiao Nong's gaze finally fell on the seal on the scroll.

All three paintings are printed with the seal of Peaceful And Clear Night.

He has been playing with the seal for several months and it has become his private seal.

Of these three paintings, two were bought by him and originally belonged to him.

The remaining painting, with his seal on it, became his.

Why would he burn his own stuff?

Xiao Nong paused for a moment, raised his hand and threw the fire starter into the trash can, his eyes dark.

Zhong Yansheng is not a good boy.

He is a deceitful, naughty child.

Two days ago, Zhong Yansheng went to Guanhua Palace at night and came back in time, so the old emperor didn't find anything wrong. However, the old emperor seemed to smell something, and there seemed to be more and more people patrolling around Minghui Palace.

Zhong Yansheng couldn't see anyone else, nor did he have the chance to go to Guanhua Palace again. He could only stay in the study to make up for his lessons. Two days before leaving Beijing, he read a few military books drowsily and felt worried.

Why hasn't my brother come to the palace these last two days?

They are leaving tomorrow. Does his brother really not care about him and let him go south alone?

Zhong Yansheng felt uneasy and had to take a risk. He asked Feng Ji to help put the note he asked about in the place Zhan Rong mentioned.

Afraid of being discovered, he thought about it and didn't dare to reveal anything. Instead, he drew a little man. He was a good painter, and the little man was exquisite and beautiful, with a face full of confusion and anxiety, and a pitiful look, and the painting was vivid.

He waited anxiously until the evening, when Feng Ji came back from dinner and secretly brought back the response note.

Feng Ji also knew that, except for him, all the other palace people were staring at Zhong Yansheng. After a while, when everyone had left, he shook his sleeves and placed the note on Zhong Yansheng's desk as if nothing had happened.

Seeing the response, Zhong Yansheng was delighted and quickly started.

There was only a big circle and period on the letter paper.

Zhong Yansheng stared at the circle blankly, and slowly realized that Xiao Nong didn't want to pay attention to him, and felt a little aggrieved.

What happened again?

The next morning, when it was still light, Zhong Yansheng was gently woken up by Tian Xi: "Your Highness, it's time to get up and call the troops to set out."

Zhong Yansheng didn't sleep well the whole night because he didn't receive any news from Xiao Nong yesterday. He got up with a bitter face, put on the silver light armor prepared by the old emperor, and kept muttering about Xiao Nong in his heart.

He usually likes soft clothes, has a good temper, and speaks softly, which makes him look particularly soft. Today, he changed into light armor, and his delicate and beautiful facial features also added a bit of heroic spirit.

Tian Xi personally put on light armor for Zhong Yansheng, and couldn't help but marvel in his heart.

He looks exactly like that guy.

If he didn't know how to wear armor, Zhong Yansheng wouldn't want anyone to get close to him. Seeing Tian Xi staring at him in a daze, he thought to himself, "Eunuch Tian Xi, who do you think I look like?"

Tian Xi smiled naturally: "Your Highness looks so heroic in the light armor, which reminds me of the sixteen-year-old Prince Ding who went to war after the Mobei Incident. They were both heroic young men."

Zhong Yansheng was a little angry at Xiao Nong. He didn't want to pay attention to Tian Xi's words, but he couldn't help but be curious: "Why did His Royal Highness Prince Ding have to go to war at the age of sixteen? Isn't there anyone else?"

Tian Xi: “…”

This little prince is really something. He looks so soft and slow, but he always manages to get to the point.

No one can answer.

Tian Xi maintained a pleasing smile: "It's time for your Highness to set off."

Well, this is another question that even Eunuch Tian Xi can't answer.

He knows everything and tells it all.

Zhong Yansheng became increasingly skeptical of Tian Xi's integrity. He nodded, took the commander's sword handed to him by Feng Ji, and put it around his waist.

Although it is called light armor, it is also heavy. With a sword, it becomes even heavier.

Zhong Yansheng staggered for a few steps before he adjusted himself and went to bid farewell to the old emperor.

The old emperor seemed to be getting worse these past two days. He hadn't gotten up for a few days and was lying on his sickbed. He opened his eyes with a weak energy. When he saw Zhong Yansheng coming in, he looked a little dazed. His cloudy old eyes narrowed, and after a long while, he smiled and said, "My son...will surely return victorious."

Zhong Yansheng nodded obediently on the surface, but he thought quietly in his heart, it's not certain.

When the troops were being inspected, Xiao Nong was still not there.

It is said that there were several hundred bandits in Baoqing Prefecture. In addition to Huo Shuang and others who were given to Zhong Yansheng as guards, the old emperor allocated three thousand soldiers to Zhong Yansheng, which was not too much, but not too little either.

Zhong Yansheng had been frail and sickly since childhood, and was carefully protected in a deep mansion by the Marquis of Huai'an and his wife. He did not like crowds and would feel uncomfortable when facing too many people. But now he had to force himself to do so, and he could only try his best to keep a straight face and not show any timidity as he went through the motions.

Apart from some court officials who stood far away, the only prince who came to see him off was Pei Hong.

Zhong Yansheng hadn't seen Xiao Nong show up until now, and he felt even more depressed. He didn't pay attention to what Pei Hong said. He came to his senses and nodded, "I understand."

Pei Hong held a farewell glass of wine, and seeing his absent-minded look, he smiled and said, "Xiao Sheng, are you waiting for someone else?"

“…No.” After staying in the palace for a while, Zhong Yansheng was able to lie without changing his expression.

Pei Hong drank the farewell wine by himself and threw the cup back.

There was a crisp sound of "pop".

"Xiao Sheng, please don't get into trouble." Pei Hong looked at him gently, "Brother King Jing will go and pray to the Buddha more often, and pray that you return safely."

The morning wind was strong, and the sky was still dark. Zhong Yansheng felt that King Jing was very kind to get up at this time to see him off, so he nodded obediently: "Thank you, Brother King Jing."

Brother King Jing is so nice that he even prayed to Buddha for his safety.

Not at all like that brother who never shows his face.

After saying goodbye to Pei Hong, Zhong Yansheng jumped on his horse, reined in the horse, led his troops, and rode out of the city gate at full speed.

After keeping his head held high, and his chest puffed out for less than two cups of tea, Zhong Yansheng began to feel tired.

I didn't sleep well last night. I'm so sleepy. The armor is so heavy, and riding a horse is so tiring. My waist and legs ache.

The old emperor ordered that as a member of the royal family, Zhong Yansheng should set a good example and not be spoiled.

So there is no carriage to ride.

Fortunately, he went to the ferry to take a boat south, otherwise he might not have made it to Baoqing Prefecture and would have had to leave first.

The road to the ferry was quite long. The sky gradually brightened, the air was filled with sultry heat, and the sound of chaotic horse hooves could be heard. Zhong Yansheng felt a little irritated, which was rare for him. The farther he was from the capital, the more lost he felt.

In the end, Xiao Nong still didn't come.

But Xiao Nong had never promised him to come that day... He was very confident that his brother would definitely be worried about him and would agree to accompany him south.

Even if he doesn't come, can't someone come to see him?

Zhong Yansheng didn't know what was wrong with him. If Pei Hong hadn't come, he wouldn't have been so sad.

He was wilting like a cabbage that had been wilted in the sun. Suddenly, everyone heard the thunderous sound of horse hooves galloping towards this side in unison.

Zhong Yansheng opened his eyes wide in surprise and turned his head to look. There was a ray of light in the sky, and hundreds of black-armored soldiers on horseback came like a scimitar piercing the dark night, raising dust.

Compared with the soldiers of the three camps who were eating the finest food and fodder in the capital, this troop, although consisting of only a few hundred people, appeared to be more elite, well-disciplined, and full of vigor. Zhong Yansheng had no doubt that if this was aimed at them, then the four thousand men under his command would probably be no match for these hundreds of people.

The person leading these hundreds of people was Xiao Nong!

Zhong Yansheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately rode over: "Brother...Uncle!"

Xiao Nong glanced over.

Then, amid a sound of people gasping for air, Xiao Nong's horse did not stop. As he quickly passed by Zhong Yansheng, he reached out and grabbed Zhong Yansheng onto his horse.

The soldiers of the three camps were all stunned for a moment. Huo Shuang, who was assigned as the deputy general, suddenly changed his expression: "Your Highness Prince Ding! Put the little prince down!"

Xiao Nong was so upset that he wanted to kill someone. He glanced at it coldly, pressed down the little head that wanted to pop up in front of him, retracted his gaze, blew a whistle, and the horse's speed did not slow down but increased, galloping towards the direction of the ferry without stopping for a moment!

Zhong Yansheng was carried onto Xiao Nong's horse. Unlike last time, they were facing each other. The horse was still running forward. His head bumped into Xiao Nong's chest. He whimpered and covered his head. He was forced to cling to Xiao Nong's arms and asked him in a daze: "Can you... make it slow down?"

Xiao Nong showed no expression: "It's in a bad mood and can't control it."

Zhong Yansheng suspected that he had something else in mind, and uttered a dizzy "Oh". He raised his eyes amid the turbulence and barely saw Xiao Nong's face. His previous anxiety and depression melted away in an instant, like ice and snow. His eyes sparkled, and he couldn't wait to confirm: "Will you accompany me south?"

Xiao Nong said nothing.

The person in my arms was like a restless little bird, moving back and forth, with a faint scent of orchid.

When he parted with King Jing, he was still reluctant to leave and called him brother, but when he came in front of him, he was silent.

He used to call me brother so sweetly, but it was this little liar who lied to us.

Zhong Yansheng waited for a long time but got no response. The horse was too bumpy, and he couldn't sit still. He was tired of looking up and swaying from side to side. He had to give up the idea of looking up at Xiao Nong and put his arm around Xiao Nong's waist. He said softly, "Brother, I'm so happy that you can accompany me to the south."

It was like a soft little bird flying into my arms.

Xiao Nong frowned and said "hmm" coldly.

Little liar.

Still want to continue to deceive him.

He won't be fooled again.

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