Ch. 41 - Zhong Yansheng: Eleventh Prince... Me?

When others say that someone is cutting someone, it may just be a joke.

But His Royal Highness Prince Ding’s cutting of people is probably a literal meaning.

Thinking about that scene, Zhong Yansheng couldn't help but press his stomach, raised his head and asked timidly: "Brother, can I not cut people?"

The carriage was already waiting. Xiao Nong stepped on it and turned back when he heard the voice. He looked very kind and exchanged glances with the expectant Zhong Yansheng for a few moments. He reached out and grabbed Zhong Yansheng, who saw his intention to flee, and said, "Why are you running? I told you not to do it."

Zhong Yansheng was carried into the carriage like a baby bird in despair. The driver outside waved his whip and drove the carriage away.

The speed was not slow, but it was very steady. Zhong Yansheng had no choice but to sit still.

Only after sitting down did he realize that Xiao Nong's carriage was furnished quite luxuriously, with soft mats under my feet. Even the small couch was covered in a soft and comfortable manner, as if it was specially made for someone to lie on.

There were also snacks that Zhong Yansheng liked on the small table, but Zhong Yansheng was fed too much by the group of people in the kitchen. He looked at them with regret, lifted the car window curtain and looked out**: "Brother, where are you going to kill people?"**

Xiao Nong had just finished bathing and changed into a dark blue robe that was attractive and seductive. Seeing Zhong Yansheng wrapped in his robe, he was satisfied. After waiting for a while, he saw that he still didn't even look at him. He sighed and reached out to turn his head around: "Your eyes are about to fall to the ground. Why are you in such a hurry? You'll know when we get there."

Zhong Yansheng has been with Xiao Nong for so long that he has already deeply understood how to get along with Xiao Nong. Just be good and let him stroke his hair. He turned his head obediently, but still did not dare to look at Xiao Nong.

After all, what they both did when they just woke up in the morning was very abnormal.

He had always worried that Xiao Nong would take revenge on him and bite his neck after finding him. Now Xiao Nong came back to retaliate, but instead of biting him, he licked and rubbed him like Taxue... something was wrong.

The carriage arrived at its destination soon.

It seemed to be a prosperous place, full of people, laughter and joy. Zhong Yansheng poked his furry head out, but before he could see where he was, Xiao Nong pushed him back and put a veil on his head.

When getting off the carriage, the coachman had disappeared and there was no stool placed next to the carriage. Zhong Yansheng held the hem of the carriage and carefully reached down with his toes, then Xiao Nong grabbed him by the waist and lifted him up to the ground.

At first, when Zhong Yansheng was held like this by him, he would try to struggle, but now he has given up.

He felt like a small object, being carried around by His Royal Highness Prince Ding all day long.

After stepping firmly on the ground, Zhong Yansheng looked around at the nearby scenery before realizing where he was.

It was Dongshi Flower Street where he had been before, but he had come to keep an appointment with Meng Qiping. He only took a look from the outside and then got on Meng Qiping's pirate ship without taking any further look.

The store in front of him seems to be the largest store on this street. Its decoration is much more luxurious than other stores nearby. Compared with Qinlou and Chuguan, it looks more like a magnificent restaurant.

[Qinlou and Chuguan = Brothel and official pleasure places]

When Xiao Nong brought Zhong Yansheng out, they did not ride in the carriage with the emblem of Prince Ding's palace. Moreover, His Royal Highness Prince Ding had been away from the capital for a long time and rarely showed up after returning, so few people recognized him.

But his deep blue eyes were so special, his face was so handsome, and his robe was so bright that as soon as he appeared, he attracted a lot of attention, and everyone looked at him suspiciously.

……No way?

Many people knew that His Royal Highness Prince Ding had deep blue eyes because his mother was of a foreign race, but the possibility of His Royal Highness Prince Ding appearing in a brothel was as low as the possibility that the Tartars would attack the capital tomorrow.

——The latest rumor in the capital is that His Royal Highness Prince Ding was injured while leading troops in battle.

After all, he could even harm a beauty like Zhong Yansheng. How terrible it is. What else could it be other than hurting the family?

Xiao Nong didn't care about all kinds of looks, and strode into the gate holding Zhong Yansheng's hand. The servants had already made arrangements, and when they saw Xiao Nong coming, someone appeared and led the two of them upstairs.

This brothel is very special. When you step into the inner courtyard, there is a large stage in the middle. One side of the surrounding private rooms faces the stage, with only a thin gauze curtain hanging down, so you can clearly see what's going on on the stage.

At this time, there was a group of dancers on the stage dancing to the rapid beats of drums. They were probably Hu girls from outside the Great Wall. They were dressed coolly and boldly, and their dance moves were wild and passionate. They spun on the stage, which was extremely eye-catching. Zhong Yansheng only took a glance, and before he could see what their clothes looked like, his eyes were covered.

[Hu girls = Brothel girls]

Xiao Nong covered his eyes, led him to the stairs, and lectured him with a stern face: "Children are not allowed to look at this."

Zhong Yansheng: "I'm not a child."

"Still you are not allowed to look at that."

Zhong Yansheng choked up, aggrieved: "..."

He just took a look out of curiosity!

His Royal Highness Prince Ding's strange personality is becoming more and more unpredictable.

The guard who had been arranged to come in in advance listened to the conversation and twitched his lips slightly. He respectfully invited the two people into the private room on the third floor with the best view: "Master, everything has been arranged."

Xiao Nong nodded casually.

The group of dancers just finished dancing, and the rapid drumbeats stopped. Some dissatisfied voices came from all around: "Is it over? Master, I haven't seen enough."

"Haha, Li Er, it turns out you like spicy things."

"Hey, I'm not a pervert like you. I don't like those teenagers who haven't grown up yet..."

The voices all came from other boxes, because each box faced the middle stage and was not very far away. This group of people were probably used to being arrogant and didn't care whether their words could be heard or not. Anyway, the gauze curtain was hung down to block the sound, so they still had some decency and kept yelling at each other.

Zhong Yansheng listened for a few times before he figured out what was going on.

Most of the people who came to "Tianxiang Tower" today were young men from aristocratic families, because they received news yesterday that there would be a good show to watch here today.

The young masters usually do not have much fun, except for cricket fighting and cockfighting, or riding their horses at full speed through the downtown area and causing complaints from the people. When they heard that there was a big show, they all came, but they had been waiting for a while and their patience was gradually running out. The only exciting thing about the show was the whirling dance of the Hu woman on the stage, but it was over after they watched it for a few seconds.

So they started complaining.

Zhong Yansheng heard their familiar tone, thought carefully for a while, and suddenly realized.

Although he didn't see the faces of these people, he remembered their voices. They were all Meng Qiping's lackeys. Last time in Jinghua Garden, they followed Meng Qiping to surround him.

Zhong Yansheng vaguely sensed something and blinked and looked at Xiao Nong.

Xiao Nong didn't explain, but patted the seat next to him and motioned for him to sit down.

The box is not very big, but it is exquisitely decorated and has everything you need.

As Zhong Yansheng walked over, the damn sequel to "The Record of Golden Wind and Jade Dew" suddenly flashed through his mind.

It was also in such a restaurant, behind the curtains, people outside were talking about books, while people inside were...

He stiffened for a moment, and suddenly didn't want to go over there anymore. He took off his veil, moved a chair with a sullen look on his face, and sat in another corner of the room.

The next moment, his feet were suddenly off the ground, and Xiao Nong picked him up along with the chair and placed him next to the table in the middle.

Xiao Nong lectured unhappily: "Why are you sitting so far away? Be obedient."

Zhong Yansheng: “…”

The young men in other private rooms were still complaining. Because one wall was hollow, and the sound insulation was very poor, the voices in the adjacent private room were particularly clear and came through word for word: "Why haven't you put on any new performances yet? Are you kidding us?"

"Mr. Meng doesn't take us out for fun day and night like he did before. It's so boring. There's nothing new."

"Xiao Wenlan is the same." Someone suddenly turned topic to Xiao Wenlan and said in an unpleasant tone, "He used to drink with us, but ever since Prince Ding returned to the capital, he has been shrinking like a quail."

"He didn't even accept our invitation to come out. Does he, Xiao Wenlan, think he's that great? Who is he looking down on?"

"Well, you two, although I know that you are very dissatisfied with Xiao Wenlan, but Xiao Wenlan's cousin is the Prince Ding after all, and he is also a member of the Xiao family. His Majesty is quite fond of him and often took him to the palace in the past..."

"Besides being the cousin of Prince Ding and a member of the Xiao family, and being favored by His Majesty, is Xiao Wenlan so great? He came out when we called him before, and pretended to be generous by paying our bill, but now he dares not to accept our invitation!"

"That is!"

“…”

Hearing the people next door angrily saying bad things about Xiao Wenlan, Zhong Yansheng became a little angry.

Are these dandies who spend their days cockfighting and running errands really capable?

If it weren't for the protection of their family, how could they sit here and eat and drink to their heart's content?

Even if Xiao Wenlan didn't have any great abilities, at least he had a much better heart than them. He didn't speak ill of others and was loyal. He also came to Prince Ding's mansion to rescue him?

Xiao Nong's expression was indifferent. He listened to others discussing his cousin, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry. His knuckles tapped the armrests of the chair lightly from time to time.

After the group of people finished talking about Xiao Wenlan, they changed the subject**: "Prince Ding... I don't know what happened to the captured Zhong Yansheng."**

It sounds like someone wants to gossip about Xiao Nong, but the fear of Xiao Nong has been engraved in most people's hearts. They will turn pale when Xiao Nong's name is mentioned, so when the words come to his lips, he still takes a detour.

Zhong Yansheng was angry when he inexplicably became their topic of discussion. He stood up angrily and turned around twice.

Xiao Nong had narrowed his eyes at first, but when he saw Zhong Yansheng's reaction, a faint smile appeared in his eyes again.

"That Zhong Yansheng, wow, he's so handsome. He's already a little beauty now. I wonder what he'll look like when he grows up."

"It's a pity that he was...caught and tortured. That guy is not the kind of person who would show mercy to anyone."

"With the connection to the Huai'an Marquis' Mansion, he shouldn't be killed, right?"

"Oh my, the Marquis of Huai'an already has a legitimate prince, why would they care about the life and death of a fake one? It's been so long, and I haven't seen the Marquis of Huai'an report it to His Majesty."

"Anyway, when that guy gets tired of playing, he will most likely be thrown out. I'm still waiting to be a hero and save the beauty, and trick him back and lock him up, hehe... well, soft jade, warm fragrance, a beauty hidden in a golden house."

"Haha... add me in."

The meaningful laughter faded away, carrying with it an unspoken obscene meaning. Zhong Yansheng felt uncomfortable all over, and Xiao Nong's face turned completely cold. He raised his hand and patted him lightly.

The surroundings seemed to suddenly become quiet, and Zhong Yansheng noticed that someone was being taken, or rather, escorted, to the platform in the middle.

The man was half-naked and tied up with black chains. His face could not be seen clearly, but something might be stuffed in his mouth. He was whimpering. The man who pushed him onto the stage probably thought his hands were dirty, so he quickly threw him away and wiped his fingers.

The person who was thrown to the ground screamed even louder, groaning, his face terribly flushed, and he struggled to get down, twisting his body with all his might, like a dirty worm.

The young men who were still grumbling and urging the show to start suddenly became quiet and looked at the people on the stage in surprise: "What is this doing? Instead of arranging beautiful women to sing and dance for us, why are we getting ugly people?"

"It's so disgusting, who wants to watch this kind of thing?"

"Oh? I do find it strange, but there's nothing interesting about watching him crawling on the ground."

The man standing on the platform covered his face, cupped his hands, and said in a neither loud nor soft voice: "This man is the most despicable and dirty slave we have captured. Gentlemen, you can ask anything of him today, or do it yourself. Whether you want to chop off his limbs or dig out his eyes, it only costs one penny."

After a moment of silence, the exclamations of "Are you crazy?" were drowned out by the faintly excited voices of others: "Is this true?"

"For a penny, I can do anything."

The masked man in the audience said in a grim voice: “As you heard.”

Zhong Yansheng squatted beside the gauze curtain and watched for a while, and finally figured out who the person who was crawling hurriedly on the ground was.

Meng Qiping.

There were several lines drawn on his face, so it was difficult to make out his facial features, and his mouth was gagged, so no one recognized him. However, Zhong Yansheng had such a deep impression of him that he even changed his appearance himself, so he was able to tell who he was after just a few glances.

Meng Qiping seemed to have been drugged, and his eyes were dazed. After hearing the surrounding noises, he regained consciousness, became terrified and humiliated, and tried desperately to crawl off the stage.

Zhong Yansheng swallowed and turned to look at Xiao Nong in shock: "Brother?"

Xiao Nong leaned back on the chair with his legs crossed, one hand resting on his chin, his posture was very lazy, half of his face was hidden in the shadow, the corner of his mouth was raised, but the arc was cold and vicious: "Killing him directly is a bit too easy for him. Yuan Yuan, what do you think?"

Those who dared to covet him and tried to attack him several times, would be facing deadly punishment from this king.

When his servants pulled Meng Qiping off from his courtyard this morning, Xiao Nong was already prepared for what to do.

As he spoke, a bloody and cold smile appeared on Xiao Nong's lips, and he casually threw out a silver coin.

With a soft "pa" sound, while others were still hesitating, the money fell to the center of the table in front of everyone's sight.

Xiao Nong said lazily: "Disable his right hand."

The masked man standing nearby pulled out a dagger and stabbed it into Meng Qiping's palm, nailing his right hand to the platform.

Meng Qiping's whole body trembled, and he let out a vague cry, but because of the effect of another drug, the pain brought a strange stimulation. He struggled and twisted even more violently on the stage. His facial features, which were already distorted by the ink on his face, looked even weirder.

With the first person throwing money, those second-generation rich people who had been eager to try also became excited.

Silver coins fell onto the stage one after another. The people invited today were not good people. The excitement aroused their hostility, and they became fanatical: "Cripple his other hand!"

"Let him learn to crawl like a dog."

"Strip him!"

"Hahahaha oh my god, why is he still in heat? Is there a dog outside? Bring the lead dog over to relieve his itch!"

The atmosphere around was extremely fanatical. Meng Qiping on the stage was stripped naked and made to do countless ugly gestures for the young masters to amuse themselves. Some of them even rolled up their sleeves and were ready to go on stage and do it themselves.

Zhong Yansheng had never seen such a scene before. A chill ran from the soles of his feet to his back. He couldn't help but shiver slightly. He took a step back in fear and happened to bump into Xiao Nong who had stood up and walked behind him.

The familiar bitter and cold fragrance brushed past his nose. Zhong Yansheng shuddered and subconsciously tried to pull away, but was held back by the waist.

His waist was so thin that Xiao Nong could put his arm around him with one hand. He lowered his eyes to look at his trembling eyelashes, which were long and black as feathers. He stretched out his finger and brushed them. They trembled in his palm like the wings of a flying butterfly.

His movements were forced, leaving no room for escape, and Zhong Yansheng's eyelashes trembled even more violently.

Xiao Nong was too good to him, which caused him to always forget that His Royal Highness Prince Ding, who could terrify almost everyone in the capital, might not really be such a good person.

The Xiao Nong who in the morning lazily leaned on his neck and rubbed it slowly like Taxue, and the Xiao Nong who now had the power of life and death over a person at will, were completely different people.

No... Taxue is not some innocent and cute kitten, it is the king of the snow mountains.

Noticing the eyelashes in his palm trembling violently, rubbing his palm like a small brush, Xiao Nong's tone was unpredictable: "Do you hate me? Or are you soft-hearted and pitying that Meng guy?"

That night, Zhong Yansheng drifted in the icy river for a long time. Because he was drugged, he didn't dare to swim to the shore.

If Lou Qingtang had not just developed an antidote for the poison, and felt that he had done a great job, and had not shamelessly dragged him out for some fresh air, he would not have met Zhong Yansheng on the houseboat.

The consequences for Zhong Yansheng would be either that he would die of exhaustion and cold in the river, or that he would be washed ashore and taken away by an unknown streetwalker...

Just thinking about these two possibilities, Xiao Nong couldn't stop the anger in his heart from surging, and he wished he could torture Meng Qiping to death with a single knife.

And after this incident, on the day at Jinghua Garden, Meng Qiping still dared to bring people to surround Zhong Yansheng, and even yesterday, he still insulted him with the intention of kidnapping Zhong Yansheng.

It's simply seeking death.

What you are looking for is a life worse than death.

Zhong Yansheng was held in his palm. When he heard Xiao Nong's question, he was stunned for a moment, then shook his head without hesitation.

How could he hate Xiao Nong?

It is even more impossible to be soft-hearted and have sympathy for Meng Qiping. This person is very hateful.

There was already blood on the stage, but people were still cheering wildly. It only took one penny to play with a person in any way they wanted, which brought them endless pleasure.

It's like a group of hyenas that usually only fight and play, but suddenly they taste blood, remember the taste, and start to party.

Zhong Yansheng suppressed his slight fear and whispered, "Brother, I just think that what you are doing is not very good..."

Using such means to deal with Meng Qiping is a bit disrespectful.

Moreover, if those young masters were allowed to taste the fun of playing with life and death, they might attack innocent people in the future.

Xiao Nong listened to his tone, lowered his head, and looked at him with deep blue eyes: "Are you afraid of me?"

Meng Qiping on the stage seemed to have something ripped out of his mouth, and a shrill scream suddenly rang out, which was horrifying, but what he got was those people shouting more excitedly**: "Cut off his ears!"**

"Cut his dick off and let him eat it himself!"

Zhong Yansheng shuddered and nodded with difficulty: "A little bit, scared..."

Xiao Nong pinched his face unhappily: "Don't be afraid, I didn't go down to do those things."

“…”

Is there any difference from what you did?

Just as the building was in a frenzy, suddenly a steady stream of footsteps rushed through the closed door, and someone shouted, "Jinyiwei is doing his job! Stop it!"

The masked man in the audience had disappeared at some point, and was replaced by several excited young men. When they heard what the man who suddenly rushed in called himself, their faces turned pale.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards are the emperor's men.

The next person to appear was the white-haired Duke of Pei. Others might not have recognized him, but he recognized at a glance who the thing on the stage that was almost inhuman was. Immediately, a surge of blood rushed to his head, his steps staggered, and he almost fell down.

The young man behind him held him firmly with one hand: "Come here, lift that man up and wipe his face clean."

Duke Pei immediately reacted: "Don't..."

After he finished speaking, the Jinyiwei acted very quickly and poured a cup of tea on Meng Qiping's face, wiping off the ink and blood stains on his face, revealing his pale face with a strange blush. He was naked and looked horrible. He stretched out his hand to the Duke of Pei, looking miserable and ugly, and called out incoherently: "Grandpa... help..."

Judging from his appearance, the man is completely disabled and his mind is not very clear.

Dead silence.

The second-generation rich kids who were making a fuss just now were like geese with their necks pinched. They were more dazed than the other. They slowly looked at Meng Qiping, then slowly looked at the pile of silver and money on the ground, and began to sweat and feel cold all over.

Meng Qiping?

The person they just played with was Meng Qiping? !

The Duke of Pei almost fainted this time. There was a rumbling in his ears. He wished Meng Qiping was really dead. After a long while, he took off his outer robe with a cold face and covered Meng Qiping. He looked around and said angrily: "Xiao Nong, come out! I know it was you who did it!"

After a while, Xiao Nong's slow voice was heard from behind the gauze curtain on the third floor: "Oh? I didn't do anything, Duke Pei, please don't slander me."

The Duke of Pei really wanted to vomit blood, but he still managed to maintain a trace of rationality: "You have the guts to do this to my grandson, but you don't even have the guts to admit it! Today, the Jinyiwei are here, and we have caught you red-handed. Let's see how you can argue in front of His Majesty!"

The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He could even remember how Meng Qiping had offended Xiao Nong in the first place, and roared, "That Zhong Yansheng is also with you. He has deceived Ping'er time and again, and deceived Prince Ding into doing such a thing. I will not let him go today! I will tear him into pieces to make amends for Ping'er!"

There was a chill in Xiao Nong's eyes. He pulled aside the gauze curtain and looked down at the Duke of Pei, whose head was full of blue veins. He laughed coldly and was about to speak when the guards guarding outside the door suddenly pushed it open, walked quickly to Xiao Nong, and said two words in a low and quick voice.

Zhong Yansheng was standing next to Xiao Nong, so he heard those two sentences clearly.

The guard said: "My Lord, Zhan Rong sent me an urgent letter saying that the person who followed the young master that day was someone from the palace."

The second sentence is: "Someone from the palace is here."

Almost at the moment when the second sentence was finished, another group of people walked into the building. The person leading them was Tian Xi, the eunuch in charge of His Majesty.

The Jinyiwei are also responsible for patrolling the imperial city. It is normal for them to be invited by the Duke of Pei when they are on patrol. Maybe the news has not yet reached His Majesty's ears.

But Tian Xi is different. He is like a mouth for His Majesty. His appearance here proves that His Majesty already knows what is happening here.

When he saw Tian Xi, the Duke of Pei, whose chest was heaving violently, felt a little relieved and wanted to speak. The other people who realized that they had caused a big disaster were also startled. Those who were more flexible in their thinking knelt down quickly and tried to pass the blame.

Xiao Nong was watching from above them, and they did not dare to push the blame on Xiao Nong in front of him. Thinking of what the Duke of Pei had just said, they immediately had a target and begged for mercy, "It was all... it was all that Zhong Yansheng who bewitched us, eunuch, eunuch, please understand, understand!"

"Yes, yes, it's all because of that bitch Zhong Yansheng. We don't want to treat Third Young Master Meng like this. Zhong Yansheng, Zhong Yansheng has a grudge against Third Young Master Meng. It must be him who instigated His Royal Highness Prince Ding to do this..."

Tian Xi's face always had a friendly smile on it, which made him look very friendly and likable. But today, he didn't smile at all. When he heard the incoherent excuses made by these people with bloody sleeves, he said lightly, "Slap them in the face."

With a few crisp "slap" sounds, the people who were crying for their parents were slapped by the person behind Tian Xi and were stunned.

"Golden branches and jade leaves, is that what you guys said?"

[golden branch, jade leaves (idiom) = blue-blooded nobility, esp. imperial kinsmen or peerless beauty]

Tian Xi's shrill voice was chilly, and he immediately exchanged glances with the leader of the Jinyiwei, then turned around and looked at the handsome young man with black hair and fair skin who was quietly sticking half of his head out from behind Xiao Nong.

The Jinyiwei suddenly knelt down in unison, and even Tian Xi followed suit and knelt over there, shouting in unison: "Greetings to the Eleventh Prince! With the order of His Majesty, we have come specially to welcome His Majesty back to the palace!"

Tian Xi and the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guards both looked towards Zhong Yansheng.

Not only the Duke of Pei, all the young masters upstairs and downstairs, but even Xiao Nong who suddenly saw him were stunned, and even Zhong Yansheng himself was stunned.

He opened his eyes wide, first looking at the respectful group of people downstairs, then looking at Xiao Nong in panic, confused and unbelievable: "... Eleventh Prince... Me?"

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