Ch. 49 - Xiao Nong: He still cares about me

In the blink of an eye, Zhong Yansheng was kidnapped by Xiao Nong and disappeared in a cloud of dust, leaving everyone following him stunned.

How...how can this be possible!

Even if he had a grudge against the Eleventh Prince, how could he disregard the royal dignity like this!

Prince Ding is really as the rumors say, arrogant and ambitious, and he doesn't take the royal family seriously at all!

Huo Shuang was furious and was ready to chase after them with his men. However, before they could catch up, the black cloud-like cavalrymen tacitly separated their formation and blocked their way.

Zhan Rong reigned on his horse, his face stern: "The prince wants to talk to the young prince for a few words. No one is allowed to disturb him."

Huo Shuang's eyes were gleaming with fire. "Who are you to command me? I am the personal guard that His Majesty has given to His Highness the Eleventh Prince. Get out of the way! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."

As soon as he finished speaking, the subordinates behind Huo Shuang drew out the long swords from their waists and pointed them at Zhan Rong.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to explode, Zhan Rong did not draw his knife. He glanced at Huo Shuang, thought about what his master would say in this situation, and immediately followed suit, frowning: "The traitors haven't been eliminated yet, and you are turning against them first, attacking the people who helped His Majesty to suppress the bandits? What is your intention!"

What a big hat!

Huo Shuang had never expected that the Xiao family's black-armored soldiers, who were rumored to be as indestructible as sharp blades, could actually say such shameless words. He immediately choked and said, "You... get out of the way! I need to confirm the safety of the young prince!"

"I just said that outsiders are not allowed to disturb us." Zhan Rong had no expression on his face. He thought that learning from the prince was indeed useful, so he continued, "His Royal Highness Prince Ding got the permission from His Majesty to protect the young prince when he went south to deal with the rebels. Naturally, he would protect the young prince. Or, do you dare to doubt His Royal Highness Prince Ding and His Majesty the Emperor? You are really worthy of death!"

Huo Shuang held the knife at his waist, his face grim: "..."

The guards behind looked at each other in confusion.

Who wouldn't suspect that Prince Ding had bad intentions? But no one would shout it out in public, not to mention that this was a decision made by His Majesty. Speaking in front of Prince Ding's subordinates would be like questioning Prince Ding and His Majesty. Who would have the courage to do that?

Huo Shuang's face was gloomy, and he could only raise his hand in the end: "...Put away the knife."

Anyway, it will only take a short while, and Prince Ding will not dare to do anything. After boarding the ship, Prince Ding will not take the little prince away to be alone.

The feeling of riding a horse by yourself is different from riding a horse with someone else.

At least I'm not so tired anymore.

Zhong Yansheng was caught early in the morning and was busy with this and that. He didn't even have a bite of food. He lay in Xiao Nong's arms for a while, and when he felt he had regained some strength, he realized that this face-to-face position was really a little too ambiguous and awkward.

The horse was moving too fast. If he wanted to sit up straighter and keep a distance from him, it would be more tiring and strenuous than riding normally. If he relaxed his body like he was now, he would fall into Xiao Nong's arms and would have to hug his waist.

My brother has a very strong, thin waist...so he looks good in clothes.

Zhong Yansheng thought quietly in his heart, poked Xiao Nong's chest, and earnestly suggested: "Brother, can you let me change the position?"

The force was not strong, just like a furry bird pecking a person twice. It didn't hurt, but it was very itchy, and the itch went through the skin and into the bones.

The voice also sounds very soft due to the bumps.

Xiao Nong said coldly: "Don't act like a spoiled child."

Zhong Yansheng: “?”

Zhong Yansheng was a little confused, but he still tried to straighten his back and expressed his opinion: "It's tiring to sit like this, I want to ride the horse upright."

Xiao Nong had a blank expression on his face: "You have quite a lot of opinions."

Riding a horse is tiring.

"But," Zhong Yansheng's voice weakened, and he muttered, "My waist is really sore."

Xiao Nong stared at Zhong Yansheng with his deep eyes for a while, and finally gave his judgment.

This child speaks in a coquettish tone, which is extremely deceptive and sweet-talking.

Anyone can misunderstand.

Seeing Xiao Nong looking up at the road and ignoring him, it was obvious that he was not going to accept his advice. Zhong Yansheng, who had a sore waist and neck, stretched himself and lay back in Xiao Nong's arms, not wanting to move anymore.

He likes to stay in one place and doesn't like to move.

Although Xiao Nong's arms were not soft, they were still quite broad.

There is also a bitter and cold fragrance that is reassuring and familiar.

Zhong Yansheng rested his furry head in the crook of his neck, and his breathing gradually slowed down.

Xiao Nong raised his eyebrows and looked down at the boy who squinted in his arms: "Zhong Yansheng?"

How audacious!

He hadn't even figured out how to settle accounts with this brat yet, but he dared to sleep with him as a pillow.

The morning breeze whistled past my ears, and the horse he was riding seemed to slow down a bit and was not so bumpy anymore.

Sitting was not so uncomfortable, so Zhong Yansheng slept even more deeply. He did not wake up until he arrived at the ferry.

Because His Majesty has not been feeling well these past two days - people in the capital speculated that it was probably because of Prince De angering him, so the grand ceremony of sending Zhong Yansheng off today was not grand. He was only seen off at the city gate and was not escorted to the ferry along the way.

It was a good thing that they didn't send him to the ferry, otherwise Zhong Yansheng wouldn't know how he would have ridden his horse to the ferry.

The old emperor is a bad old thing and won't allow him to ride in a carriage.

Several shipyards were waiting quietly. The wind was strong at the ferry. Zhong Yansheng felt a little cold. He felt warm in Xiao Nong's arms and didn't want to get off the horse for the moment.

Xiao Nong led him and left the group of people behind and arrived first. The others were still behind and had not caught up. It would be okay for him to stay with me for a while, right?

Zhong Yansheng was not thinking clearly.

He was wearing light armor, looking a little more heroic than usual. His soft hair fell down to cover his eyebrows, and his eyes were lowered, making him look very intelligent.

...How could a smart person find the wrong place and still believe it so much that he follows him around every day and calls him brother.

Thinking of what he said when Zhong Yansheng was still wearing a veil and pretending to be stupid, and when he saw the seals on the three paintings in the study of the palace, Xiao Nong's face suddenly turned cold: "Go away."

Zhong Yansheng let out an "oh" and found it difficult to dismount in this position. He was afraid that he would fall down. After thinking for a while, he grabbed Xiao Nong's forearm, rested his head on his neck, and completely ignored Xiao Nong's sudden stiffness, and slowly moved down.

Xiao Nong's big black horse was very tall, much taller than his little white horse.

When the soft hair rubbed against the neck, the rich and moist fragrance also squeezed into the chest, filling it with the dizzying orchid scent.

But the young man in his arms seemed to be completely unaware and kept rubbing against him, adding fuel to the fire.

Xiao Nong got a little angry, raised his hands to grab the thin waist, lifted him up, turned over and jumped, landing steadily on the ground.

Zhong Yansheng finally landed on the ground, raised his head and said obediently: "Thank you, brother."

Xiao Nong suspected that he did it on purpose.

He folded his hands and uttered two words: "Spoiled."

Zhong Yansheng felt innocent and wronged.

Did he accidentally offend his brother again?

He had just said two sentences when the large group behind him arrived.

Huo Shuang was the adjutant who should have taken close care of Zhong Yansheng, but he was intercepted by Xiao Nong's sudden interruption. Seeing Zhong Yansheng standing there safely, he breathed a sigh of relief, dismounted and rushed over: "Young Prince!"

Zhan Rong sneered and led the black-armored soldiers back behind Xiao Nong.

As the large army appeared, Xiao Nong's face became even colder, and he folded his hands and stopped talking.

My brother seemed to be in a bad mood and was not very willing to talk.

The previous note I wrote back to him was another incident.

Zhong Yansheng had previously speculated whether Xiao Nong was upset because of the old emperor, but now he had to admit that it seemed that he was the one with whom he was upset.

After just a short while of riding the horse, he had already scolded him for being "coquettish", "full of opinions" and "spoiled".

Zhong Yansheng was a little depressed. He politely responded to Huo Shuang's greeting, put away his lost mood, and said with a serious expression: "Let all the soldiers board the ship."

"Yes." Huo Shuang glanced at Xiao Nong inconspicuously and lowered his voice, "Your Highness, do you want to disperse Prince Ding and his subordinates to different ships?"

Xiao Nong's Black Armored Army was famous for its fierceness and bravery. They had frightened the barbarians outside the Great Wall. Even if Xiao Nong only brought 500 people this time, he would be able to easily win against the thousands of soldiers from the three camps.

In addition, a dangerous person like Xiao Nong also came in person, which made the threat even greater.

Zhong Yansheng saw Huo Shuang's fear and his thick eyelashes trembled. He didn't want to assign Xiao Nong and his subordinates to other ships, but if he refused directly, it would seem very obvious.

Huo Shuang was sent by the old emperor. Zhong Yansheng was not that stupid and knew that he was the old emperor's eyes.

"If we disperse them," Zhong Yansheng calmed down and said seriously, "we won't know what Prince Ding will do. Each of his men can fight ten enemies at once, and they are good at ambushes and attacks. If they are dispersed, it will be too unstable. If they do something secretly, we won't be able to detect it."

Huo Shuang hesitated for a moment.

What the young prince said makes sense. How could Prince Ding be so kind as to agree to accompany the eleventh prince to the south to suppress the bandits? There must be something fishy going on.

"So, just keep Prince Ding and his men under your noses and keep an eye on them."

Seeing Huo Shuang's hesitation, Zhong Yansheng was excited, but his face remained mysterious: "Have someone arrange Prince Ding's cabin next to mine, and I will keep an eye on him myself."

Huo Shuang's expression suddenly changed: "How can this be possible? It's too risky!"

"It's okay. I know my limits." Zhong Yansheng said solemnly, "If we arrange for Prince Ding to stay in another place, he might be dissatisfied. It would be bad if he took the opportunity to cause trouble and embarrass us."

Huo Shuang was moved, but still felt something was wrong: "But Prince Ding dared to kidnap you in public, which was extremely rude. I think it is too rude to place him near you..."

"Don't I have you?" Zhong Yansheng said sincerely, "Huo Shuang, I trust you very much."

Huo Shuang was startled, his face showing some suppressed excitement: "Your Highness, you..."

"I know you will protect me." Zhong Yansheng patted his shoulder and thought for a moment, "Once we succeed in suppressing the bandits and return to the capital, I will ask His Majesty to promote you to a higher position!"

Well, promising benefits is more useful.

Huo Shuang pondered for a while, and finally nodded: "Okay, as your highness said."

Zhong Yansheng was delighted and tried to keep a straight face: "Yes! He will definitely take the control of our ship in a while, just listen to him and don't send anyone too close, he has a bad temper and is very alert. Don't worry about me, let me deal with Prince Ding."

The little prince is really... completely different from what he looks like, so brave.

No wonder His Majesty wants to train the little prince and let the inexperienced little prince go to suppress bandits.

Isn't such a persevering character better than the impatient, reckless and arrogant King De?

Huo Shuang lowered his head deeply: "Yes!"

Zhong Yansheng got very close to Huo Shuang, whispering to him. After racking his brains to coax him, he watched with relief as Huo Shuang went to pass on the message, then turned around to find Xiao Nong to tell him the good news.

When he turned his head, he saw Xiao Nong turning his head with a sullen face, walking towards the ship without saying a word, and ignoring him.

Zhong Yansheng was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed: "Uncle!"

Xiao Nong still ignored him and stepped straight over the gangplank. The black-armored soldiers behind him followed him in a well-trained manner and quickly took control of the ship as Zhong Yansheng had expected.

Zhong Yansheng couldn't figure out how he had offended Xiao Nong. He turned around and saw Zhan Rong. His eyes lit up: "Zhan Rong! I have something to ask you!"

Zhan Rong saw Zhong Yansheng and quickly quickened his pace: "Sorry, little prince, I'm a little busy right now - hey, you guys, your highness's Xuanyun has a bad temper, he's a horse ancestor, how can you lead like this, I'll do it!"

Other black armored soldiers: "..."

Are there other ways to lead a horse?

Zhan Rong led the horse and quickly went to the stable of the ship, not daring to look directly at Zhong Yansheng.

After all, the main force behind the rumor in the palace that "Young Master Zhong is completely devoted to the prince" is Zhan Rong.

The master was thick-skinned. After the shock of Yun Cheng's words, he was embarrassed beyond words but still managed to remain calm. But Zhan Rong was not like that. He felt that he needed to practice more.

Now when he saw the young master, his toes were still clenched and his scalp was tingling.

Not like the master at all, he kidnapped the person as soon as they met.

Zhong Yansheng was no fool, so he could naturally see that Zhan Rong was deliberately avoiding him.

What on earth happened? Why is even Zhan Rong like this?

Zhong Yansheng felt confused and aggrieved. He went to the third-floor cabin for rest, trying to find Xiao Nong. After looking around, he still didn't see anyone. He could only sigh and lean on the side of the ship depressed, watching everyone busy moving to the ship.

After watching for a while, a voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Master, are you thirsty? Would you like a cup of tea?"

Zhong Yansheng was stunned for a moment, then turned around immediately, surprised and said, "Yun Cheng? Why are you on the boat?!"

The person wearing servant's clothes behind him is Yun Cheng!

Seeing Zhong Yansheng, Yun Cheng's eyes almost got hot again, and he smiled: "It was His Royal Highness Prince Ding who brought me here. I didn't expect to see the young master here."

When Yun Cheng was arrested and taken to Prince Ding's Mansion by Xiao Nong a few days ago, he thought he was going to die.

But after being brought back to Prince Ding's Mansion, he did not suffer the tortures that were rumored by the outside world. Xiao Nong only asked him whether he could read and write. After getting the answers, he threw him a blank booklet and asked him to write down everything about Zhong Yansheng. Then he left him in the yard and ignored him.

Although it was strange why His Royal Highness Prince Ding wanted him to write down what the young master liked to wear, what he couldn't eat, what he liked to play and so on, but writing these things down would not harm Zhong Yansheng, so Yun Cheng followed Xiao Nong's instructions and filled up the booklet honestly.

Prince Ding's Mansion was not like what others had said, a horrible hell on earth. It was no different from a Marquis' mansion, except that the yard was too big and there were too few people, and it was quieter.

Yun Cheng was sitting there bored, and while taking care of the yard, he met a very kind uncle who asked him a lot of questions about the young master.

Until today, when Yun Cheng was taken out of the house in a daze and saw Zhong Yansheng on the boat, he was still a little bit in disbelief.

He can actually return to the young master without becoming a eunuch!

After listening to Yun Cheng's experience, Zhong Yansheng was a little confused: "Ah? Brother... Why did His Royal Highness Prince Ding take you to the palace?"

Yun Cheng scratched his head: "I don't know either. Maybe His Royal Highness Prince Ding likes to capture people and bring them back to the palace."

Zhong Yansheng always felt that something was strange, but compared to that strangeness, he wanted to ask other questions more: "How are the mother and father? And...where is Zhong Sidu?"

Speaking of this, Yun Cheng's face turned serious. "The Marquis and his wife are in good health, and the eldest young master is also preparing for the autumn imperial examination... But many new faces have appeared in the mansion recently. It is said that they are people sent by His Majesty. After they came, the atmosphere in the mansion became strange. The madam rarely went out and worshiped Buddha in the temple every day."

Zhong Yansheng's heart skipped a beat.

The old emperor sent people to the Marquis' Mansion to keep an eye on my father and mother? Why did he do that?

Before, he always thought that the Marquis of Huai'an and his wife only found out that he was not their biological son after Zhong Sidu came to find them. Later, due to the pressure from the major families in the capital and the guilt towards their biological son, they felt embarrassed and acquiesced to Xiao Nong taking him away.

But now, Zhong Yansheng keenly felt that something was wrong.

Do Marquis Huai'an and his wife know something?

Did they know from the beginning that he was not their biological child?

Or maybe, they knew whose child he was, and the old emperor knew it too, so the old emperor was staring at the Marquis of Huai'an and his wife, forbidding them to say a word.

Zhong Yansheng felt a little confused for a moment.

His life experience seemed to be much more complicated than he had imagined.

Yun Cheng asked carefully: "Master, what's wrong?"

"...It's okay," Zhong Yansheng shook his head, "I'm a little hungry, Yuncheng. I didn't eat anything when I came out of the palace. Is there anything to eat in the kitchen?"

Yun Cheng immediately stood up and rushed out: "I'll go take a look, Master, wait for me!"

At this moment, all the soldiers have not boarded the ship yet, and the situation is chaotic, so they definitely have no food.

Zhong Yansheng lay back on the side of the boat. He just wanted to be alone for a while, or talk to Xiao Nong.

But Xiao Nong didn't seem to want to pay attention to him.

The more Zhong Yansheng thought about it, the more depressed he became, and a little angry.

Without even saying what was wrong, he just got mad at him for no apparent reason.

My brother is already in his twenties, how can he be more childish than him!

There were footsteps behind him again. Zhong Yansheng thought it was Yun Cheng who came back so soon. He turned around and saw it was Zhan Rong.

Zhan Rong brought some light food and placed it on the table: "Young Master, this is what I brought from the palace. You must have not had breakfast, would you like to eat something?"

Zhong Yansheng's eyes lit up: "Did my brother ask you to prepare it?"

Zhan Rong still didn't dare to look at Zhong Yansheng: "Well, I didn't say who it was."

Zhong Yansheng was indeed hungry, so he sat down and took a bite of the shrimp and fish bun. It was hot and seemed to have been freshly made early in the morning, and it was very appetizing.

He chewed slowly and asked sullenly**, "Zhan Rong, is His Royal Highness Prince Ding angry with me?"**

Zhan Rong: "...It's not your problem."

"Can you tell me what happened?" Zhong Yansheng's voice weakened. "Is it because I caused him trouble?"

"No!" Zhan Rong rejected, "Well, it's really not your problem. I suggest you don't ask Your Majesty. Your Majesty can take care of it himself."

Seeing that Zhan Rong refused to speak, Zhong Yansheng took another bite of the shrimp and fish bun in frustration: "Where is His Royal Highness Prince Ding now? Is he hiding from me?"

"No," Zhan Rong hesitated and said, "Young Master, you don't know that the master actually...can't swim and rarely rides a boat. He feels a little uncomfortable in his chest right now, so he stays in the cabin and doesn't want to see you."

After saying that, he quickly added: "Your Highness is in a bad mood right now, please don't go over there yet, and don't say it was this subordinate who said that."

Zhong Yansheng: “…”

I seem to understand.

No wonder he couldn't find Xiao Nong anywhere.

Zhong Yansheng grew up in Gusu, where there are a lot of water and boats. He knows how to relieve seasickness better than Zhan Rong and the others. He took out the sachet that he had kept close to his body and handed it to Zhan Rong: "Give this to His Royal Highness Prince Ding and ask him if he wants to see me."

Smelling this herbal scent can make my brother feels better.

He would rub the brother's heads, and it would make him feel more comfortable.

If brother sees him, he will help him. If he still doesn't see him, he should really be angry.

Zhan Rong responded and immediately took the things to find Xiao Nong.

In the dim cabin, Xiao Nong sat leaning against the head of the bed, pinching his brows, looking a little lazy. When he saw Zhan Rong coming back, his face returned to its expressionless state.

Zhan Rong handed over the sachet with both hands: "Master, the young master asked me to give this to you and asked if you would like to meet him."

Seeing that it was the sachet he had sent into the palace, Xiao Nong took it casually.

After being hidden close to Zhong Yansheng for so long, in addition to the bitter fragrance of the medicinal herbs themselves, there seemed to be a faint orchid fragrance, which greatly soothed Xiao Nong's chest tightness and irritability.

His tightly knitted brows relaxed, and without even raising his eyelids, he said ruthlessly: "No."

He hasn't seen little Yuan'er for a while. Besides his brother Zhong Sidu and brother King Jing, there is a new ugly guy by his side.

We can't talk for a long time at such a close distance without worrying about being infected by such ugly looks.

Zhan Rong was not surprised: "Yes."

Before he turned his back and walked out of the house, he heard another voice behind him: "He ate it?"

Zhan Rong suppressed his laughter and said, "Yes, the young master is very satisfied with Uncle Wang's shrimp and fish buns."

Xiao Nong hummed coldly, and waited until Zhan Rong left before he held the sachet to his nose, closed his eyes and took a deep sniff.

I've said I won't be fooled again.

It made him think too much, and if he opened his mouth and met people, he would lose.

Wait until Zhong Yansheng can't wait any longer and comes to me, then consider whether to meet him.

After sniffing the sachet for a while, he felt better and the nausea and vomiting feeling disappeared. Xiao Nong played with the sachet and suddenly realized that there were other things in it besides medicinal herbs.

Xiao Nong raised his eyebrows, opened the sachet and took a look, revealing two carefully folded pieces of paper.

He paused for a moment, picked it out with his fingertips, opened it and took a look.

It was the two notes he handed over.

One had a big word "stupid" on it, and the other had just a circle on it.

...Why did you keep the note he wrote so carefully?

Xiao Nong's heart pounded when he thought of the note that Zhong Yansheng had sent to him by a secret agent in the palace. The pretty little man drawn on the note looked aggrieved and anxious, waiting for his response.

Although I was very angry at that time, I still found him cute. When I came to my senses, I became even more annoyed.

Isn't this so shameless?

But in the end, I still couldn't tear up that beautiful little man.

Why didn't Zhong Yansheng tear up what he wrote?

There was a sudden knock on the cabin door again.

Xiao Nong stood up instantly, opened the door, and said in a leisurely tone: "He's coming?"

Well...it's not that we can't meet.

For the sake of the sachet.

Outside the cabin, the guard who came to report the news was stunned for a while, then he reacted and held up the things in his hands with both hands: "My lord, the young master is going to inspect the ship and is not here, but the young master asked me to bring this to you."

Xiao Nong frowned and opened it.

It is a jar of pickled radish that is commonly seen in ordinary people's homes.

Sour radish?

Could it be that Zhong Yansheng thought that he could buy him off with a few pieces of pickled radish and make him calm down?

"Uh, Master?" Seeing his uncertain expression, the guard shrank his neck. "I've tried it. Do you want to try it...? It tastes pretty good."

Instead of coming, someone sent a jar of pickled radish over.

Xiao Nong said coldly: "Throw it away."

"Yes!"

The guard turned around and pretended to throw the jar overboard.

Before he threw it down, he heard another voice from behind: "Come back."

The guard took out the chopsticks very skillfully: "Yes!"

Xiao frowned and picked up a piece of sour radish and tasted it.

It's sweet, sour, and crunchy, and it really helps with seasickness.

Xiao Nong crunched the pickled radish, lowered his eyes to look at Zhong Yansheng who was being invited away by Huo Shuang, stared at the furry black head, and thought absentmindedly.

He still cares about me.

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