Ch. 38 - Zhong Yansheng: Anyway…buying paint doesn't mean you can paint
Reborn: I Found The Wrong BrotherThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
When he was young, Xiao Nong would go back to Beijing with his parents during the Chinese New Year. At that time, Xiao Wenlan would follow Xiao Nong and call him brother, but Xiao Nong never thought that Xiao Wenlan's call sounded nice.
I never thought that I would miss this little bird calling me brother for so long.
Today's efforts were not in vain.
The canine teeth seemed to be itching again, wanting to lick and bite this sweet little bird.
Xiao Nong touched the tip of his tongue against the tip of his teeth, and for a moment he was actually a little envious of Taxue, the carefree rogue big cat.
If he bites Zhong Yansheng, the kid will look at him as if he is a weirdo.
Xiao Nong barely resisted the urge to take a bite or something, and couldn't help but rub Zhong Yansheng's hair again, causing Zhong Yansheng to groan again: "Call again."
That day, Zhong Yansheng called others "brothers" at King Jing's private banquet. Xiao Nong was always the best at doing things, so he would listen to the word "brother" more than others.
Although calling Xiao Nong brother would remind him of some embarrassing things, after calling him the first time, it was not difficult to say it again. Zhong Yansheng straightened his messed up hair and called him good-tempered, "Brother."
"Scream again."
"Elder brother."
"Continue."
“…”
Another gust of wind blew, Zhong Yansheng tilted his head and sneezed, looking at Xiao Nong with a dazed face.
Xiao Nong was satisfied with what he heard. He took off his outer robe and covered him with it. He jumped down from the battlement and teased him: "If you scream again, I will carry you down."
Zhong Yansheng called him brother obediently at first, and then he was teased for calling him brother several times. Now, looking at Xiao Nong who was patiently trying to persuade him, he ignored him, turned around slowly, knelt between the parapets, and slowly climbed down.
Xiao Nong clicked his tongue and said, "He doesn't even like being called brother," and reached out to pick him up.
Xiao Nong was half a head taller than Zhong Yansheng, with broad shoulders and long legs. He wore a fitted robe, which was extra large on Zhong Yansheng, leaving only his head exposed.
The soft hair was ruffled by the wind and Xiao Nong's hands, like a beautiful bird with ruffled feathers.
Xiao Nong's heart softened strangely, and he recalled the day when Lou Qingtang asked him, why did he look for Yuan Yuan in such an ostentatious manner, and treated him differently from others, was it just because of the special fragrance on his body that could relieve his pain?
no.
Even if Zhong Yansheng didn't have that hazy and fragrant orchid scent, he was still different from other people.
He is not just a pain reliever.
Xiao Nong thought about why, and then came to the conclusion confidently.
Because this gorgeous little beauty was deeply in love with him.
As for him... he was just like the general in the storybook, who couldn't bear to see the tearful little beauty, so he responded reluctantly.
Thinking of this, Xiao Nong reached out and took Zhong Yansheng in his arms, and took him down the city wall: "You can still call me brother even if you are unhappy in the future."
Ever since that night in the pleasure boat, Zhong Yansheng couldn't accept Yun Cheng's close service anymore. But when Xiao Nong held him in his arms and smelled his cold breath mixed with the bitter aroma of medicine, he surprisingly didn't feel repulsed: "Hmm!"
It's really strange. Compared with others, His Royal Highness Prince Ding gives people the strongest sense of oppression and aggression.
Before returning to the palace, Zhong Yansheng felt that it was not a good idea to leave suddenly without saying goodbye, as it would make the Marquis of Huai'an and his wife worry. He begged Xiao Nong in a low voice and screamed "brother" several times with red ears before Xiao Nong agreed to take him back to the palace.
The banquet in the front yard was not over yet, so no one should have noticed that he had left.
Xiao Nong saw Zhong Yansheng hopping under the towering courtyard wall like a little rabbit, trying to climb up. He folded his hands and admired him for a while, then took two steps forward, half-knelt down and carried him.
Zhong Yansheng sat on his shoulder unexpectedly, and he almost fell down in shock. Xiao Nong quickly held down his legs, stood up, lifted him up, and pushed him up: "Come back soon."
Zhong Yansheng was suddenly lifted, his face flushed, and he frantically clung to the wall to support himself: "I know, let me go, brother!"
Several secret guards who followed nearby were shocked to see their master being used as a human ladder and were so frightened that they almost fell off the courtyard wall.
The more experienced secret guard introduced stealthily: "Yes, it's that young master."
The secret guards suddenly realized what was going on and looked at Zhong Yansheng who was slowly climbing down, with shock and awe in their eyes.
This is the young master who is rumored to be able to chat and laugh with the terrible old butler Wang Boxian, and quarrel with the bad-tempered Taxue!
He could even sit on his master's shoulders without being chopped to death!
Out of curiosity, everyone rushed to the courtyard wall to pay their respects to Zhong Yansheng.
Although he seems to be slow in movement, unresponsive, and weak in strength, even Boss Zhan Rong acknowledges his strength!
Don't judge a book by its cover!
Under the admiring gaze of a group of secret guards, Zhong Yansheng was afraid of falling, so he carefully and slowly stepped on the tree branches next to him and jumped down the wall, but he couldn't help but look up at the courtyard wall.
At this moment, the moon was hidden by dark clouds, and the surroundings were pitch black, so he couldn't see anything clearly.
But he always felt uneasy, as if there was something in the darkness... no, a group of things were staring at him.
Zhong Yansheng was a little scared and couldn't help but shouting across the courtyard wall: "Brother!"
After a while, Xiao Nong appeared on the wall. He looked down at Zhong Yansheng, who was looking around suspiciously. Then he looked up at him. His face was small and very cute. He asked in a panic, "Brother, is there something over there?"
Xiao Nong glanced at the secret guards hanging on the wall like a group of bats, raised his hand expressionlessly, broke off a slender branch from a nearby tree, and threw it over with a little force.
The secret guard who was hit didn't dare to come out, let alone make a sound, and slid down.
Seeing that their master was getting impatient, the secret guards quickly slid down.
Xiao Nong then said calmly, "No."
This bunch of good-for-nothings.
The vague sight in the darkness seemed to disappear, and Zhong Yansheng patted his chest: "That's good."
Seeing that Zhong Yansheng was not frightened at all, Xiao Nong raised his eyebrows: "Do you want me to accompany you?"
"Don't want to!"
Zhong Yansheng thought that if someone saw His Royal Highness Prince Ding appearing at the Huai'an Marquis' Mansion, this joyful banquet tonight would not be able to take place.
After returning to Chunwu Courtyard, Zhong Yansheng lit a candle, took out the small bag of flower seeds given by Wang Boxian from the bed curtain, and then wrote a letter to inform Huai'an Marquis and his wife that he had left with Xiao Nong first, and carefully pressed the letter with the sachet containing the flower seeds.
When he went out, Zhong Yansheng looked at the bustling front yard again.
Someone should be coming from the palace by now. From today on, Zhong Sidu can return to the family tree and take back the title of the heir of Marquis of Huai'an that should belong to him.
He sincerely hopes that Zhong Sidu can get what he wants.
Although the excitement had nothing to do with him, he was very happy that someone was accompanying him tonight to celebrate his 18th birthday.
His Royal Highness Prince Ding is not scary at all, he is a very good brother.
When he returned to the wall he had been to before, the moon was bright in the sky, and the moonlight was like flowing water. His Royal Highness Prince Ding was sitting on the courtyard wall, tossing the clay xun in his hand out of boredom.
Zhong Yansheng's eyes couldn't help but follow the clay xun up and down.
Xiao Nong keenly noticed his gaze and looked down: "Do you like this?"
Zhong Yansheng hesitated, shook his head, stretched out his hand to Xiao Nong, and muttered: "I just feel that we are like the young lady and the scholar in the storybook, flipping back and forth like this..."
Xiao Nong almost fell off his seat, so he pulled Zhong Yansheng up and taught him a lesson with a cold face: "Stop reading the storybook."
"oh."
Xiao Nong frowned, but was still a little worried, so he warned him, "Especially don't look at the kind of books Xiao Wenlan introduces."
Can't let that brat Xiao Wenlan lead the obedient Yuan Yuan astray.
Zhong Yansheng nodded obediently.
Although riding a horse is very exhilarating, it is much more tiring than riding in a carriage, and my thighs are sore from the rubbing.
When he returned to Prince Ding's Mansion, Zhong Yansheng was already very tired, so he fell on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
In a trance, it seemed as if someone was standing in front of the bed, looking at him for a while, and then placed something next to the pillow.
That night, Zhong Yansheng's dreams were sweet and bright. When he was woken up by the footsteps of Taxue, his hair was standing on end and his eyes were hazy, not very clear-headed.
Seeing that the timing was right, Taxue immediately came over and wanted to lick Zhong Yansheng, which startled Zhong Yansheng into waking him up. He pushed Taxue's big furry head and looked down, where he found the clay flute that Xiao Nong had played last night next to the pillow.
Zhong Yansheng was stunned for a moment, then thought of Xiao Nong who was sitting on the wall and lazily playing the clay xun, and asked him if he liked it.
He couldn't help but smile.
The sound of the xun last night was more beautiful than any other sound Zhong Yansheng had ever heard before. Zhong Yansheng carefully picked up the clay xun, thinking of the iron flower show that was only for him to see, and Xiao Nong's seemingly gentle and serious expression in the junction of light and darkness, and he couldn't help but press his chest.
He seemed a little flustered, but not in the same way as when he was scared.
My heart is beating a little fast.
Taxue was ignored and rubbed his head over in dissatisfaction, trying to force his way into Zhong Yansheng's arms.
Zhong Yansheng squeezed him, and the wonderful tingling feeling in his chest was forgotten. He touched Taxue and felt a handful of hair. He couldn't help but blame him: "Taxue! You have been losing too much hair recently, don't go to bed!"
Taxue cried in grievance.
He looked at the tuft of hair in his palm and asked in confusion, "Why are you losing so much hair? Are you going bald?"
The leopard Taxue seemed to have its face slumped, and it neighed unhappily.
"Well," Zhong Yansheng comforted it, "even if you are bald, you are still a beautiful big cat in my eyes."
After his comfort, Taxue became even more unhappy. His ears drooped in grievance, and for the first time he refused to pay attention to Zhong Yansheng. He turned around, jumped off the bed gracefully, and walked away dejectedly.
It turns out that big cats also care about this kind of thing?
Zhong Yansheng wanted to comfort Taxue, but as soon as he opened his mouth he tasted a mouthful of fur and swallowed his words.
There is really too much hair loss.
Zhong Yansheng liked the pottery xun that Xiao Nong gave him very much, but he didn't know where to put it. After thinking about it, he put it back to his old place where he hid things.
The depth of the stack above the bed curtains.
Xiao Nong took him to see iron flowers, played the xun for him, and also gave him a clay xun as a gift.
Zhong Yansheng felt that he should also give Xiao something.
But a vase for Prince Ding costs thirty thousand taels of silver...
He now lives in Prince Ding's Mansion and cannot send a painting to Xiao Nong, otherwise it will be easy to discover that he is Mr. Chunsong. After all, he has little contact with outsiders.
After much thought, Zhong Yansheng decided to sell his paintings.
If I sell a few more paintings and pool my money together, I can afford a gift worthy of His Royal Highness Prince Ding.
However, there were no painting materials in the palace, and he couldn't go to the marquis' mansion to get them. Zhong Yansheng weighed the silver he had taken out of the house last night and planned to go out to buy something.
It just so happened that Xiao Nong was not in the palace in the morning. After a few days in the palace, Zhong Yansheng discovered that Xiao Nong was almost never in the morning and would only come back in the afternoon, so he dragged him to study hypnosis.
Wang Boxian and Zhan Rong were also elusive, and no one knew what they were busy with.
However, Zhong Yansheng had no curiosity to explore. Even if Xiao Nong asked Zhan Rong to come and report when Zhong Yansheng was present, he would avoid it himself.
Very well-behaved and worry-free.
Zhong Yansheng thought that he would be questioned or stopped by Xiao Nong's personal guards when he went out. Fortunately, the elder brother's personal guard was talkative, but his face was still stern, and he opened the door and let him in.
He smiled, greeted his guards, and walked out of the door with brisk steps.
The personal guards watched Zhong Yansheng leave without blinking, and then waited for the secret guards who followed him to sneak out of the door. He gave them a look that said "protect the young master well" before slamming the door shut again.
Zhong Yansheng was only familiar with the East Market in the capital, so he went to the East Market without much hesitation after he went out. He made a list in his mind, walked around the familiar street, found a shop and went in.
The shopkeeper was working on an abacus when he saw a handsome young man coming in. His eyes lit up, and he forced a smile: "What would you like, young man?"
Zhong Yansheng had thought of everything on the way, counting on his fingers: "Cinnabar, azurite, rouge, sky-water azure... and distant mountain indigo, all of them."
Many of the colors he requested were quite valuable and expensive. The shopkeeper's smile became more sincere, and he personally packed all the items Zhong Yansheng requested. During the process, he kept peeking at Zhong Yansheng, noticing that the fabric of his robe was luxurious and shimmering under the light. He guessed which noble family he was from and asked, "Do you want it delivered to your house?"
Zhong Yansheng quickly shook his head: "No, help me wrap it tightly so that no one can see what it is."
He couldn't let the people in the palace find out that he was buying paint. If they found out, it would be the same as being discovered by Xiao Nong.
It would be so embarrassing for Xiao Nong if he found out that he was Mr. Chunsong! He even told Xiao Nong that Mr. Chunsong was an old man.
And the letter to Mr. Chunsong...
The secret guards disguised as ordinary people were peeking at the door.
What are you buying these for, young master?
Forget it, I'll tell my master later.
Zhong Yansheng thought he had bought good things secretly, and when he walked out of the shop, he wondered whether he should buy some new flower seeds for Uncle Wang. The capital city had been getting hotter and hotter recently, and Uncle Wang had been out for a while, and his personal guards didn't know how to grow flowers, so when they came back, all the flowers they had grown had died, and he sighed and complained to him.
While thinking, Zhong Yansheng looked around, looking for where he could find someone selling flowers, when suddenly a very familiar face appeared in his sight.
Meng Qiping.
Zhong Yansheng saw Meng Qiping, and Meng Qiping naturally saw Zhong Yansheng as well. His expression changed immediately, and he sneered and stepped over: "Ha, who was it? It turned out to be Young Master Zhong... Oh, no, he's not Young Master Zhong now."
Zhong Yansheng blinked and recalled the almanac he had read before going out.
It seems that it is not suitable to travel today.
Why is it that when it's time to go out, I always run into Xiao Nong, and today when it's time to go out, I always run into Meng Qiping?
Is the Imperial Observatory's calculation correct?
[T/L NOTE:- Here, every time he read almanac - that today is the good day for travelling, he runs into someone he doesn't want to meet.]
Zhong Yansheng pondered for a moment, and Meng Qiping had already walked over quickly, followed by a group of people who looked like bodyguards - probably after learning the lesson from last time, he found that it was useless to bring some lackeys, so it would be better to bring a few capable fighters to save lives at critical moments.
After not seeing each other for a month or two, Meng Qiping had become visibly gloomier. He wore a finger cap to cover his broken finger, and there was a hint of resentment in his expression as he stared at Zhong Yansheng.
Although it was not Zhong Yansheng who did it, he felt that Zhong Yansheng was also involved. If he had not gone to find Zhong Yansheng, if Zhong Yansheng had not run to that remote place and mentioned Prince Ding, how could he have had his fingers cut off?
"Why, after being dumped by the Marquis of Huai'an, you managed to climb up to Prince Ding's high branch?" Meng Qiping said in an ambiguous tone, "Your small body may not be able to withstand a few blows from Prince Ding."
Zhong Yansheng frowned, not quite understanding: "What are you talking about?"
Meng Qiping sneered: "Do you think I can't guess it? It was Prince Ding who took advantage that day. Only fools would believe those rumors, such as that you were captured by Prince Ding and tortured..."
His voice suddenly dropped, and his eyes swept over Zhong Yansheng's body, focusing on the lower part, with a hint of intimate malice: "Are you unable to get out of bed because of that mad dog every day?"
His expression and tone were the same as when he was in the pleasure boat and Jinghua Garden. Zhong Yansheng felt a little nauseous and frowned and took a step back.
If Meng Qiping felt that there was something going on between him and Xiao Nong, how could he dare to speak like that?
After thinking it over again and again, Zhong Yansheng seemed to understand.
Meng Qiping broke a finger, but His Royal Highness Prince Ding was only lightly punished with a few days of confinement. But Meng Qiping really couldn't afford to offend His Royal Highness Prince Ding, so he had to provoke him to vent his anger.
Although he was a little slow, Zhong Yansheng had a very clear mind on some things. After thinking it through, he didn't think Meng Qiping was that scary anymore, and the psychological shadow was also weakened a lot. He said calmly and seriously: "Meng Qiping, if you don't want to break your whole arm, you'd better be careful with your words. His Royal Highness Prince Ding is not someone you can insult casually."
The corner of Meng Qiping's eye twitched, and he obviously recalled some not-so-good memories, but then he spat again: "Would he dare to kill me?"
Zhong Yansheng doesn't think so.
His Royal Highness Prince Ding does things as he pleases. If Meng Qiping really offends him, my brother may dare to kill him.
Seeing that Zhong Yansheng was looking at him calmly, unlike before when he was always a little timid and fearful, Meng Qiping's initial fear of Prince Ding subsided again.
There are many people in the capital watching the excitement of Zhong Yansheng, most of them with ridicule. Yesterday, Zhong Sidu was officially included in the family tree and received the imperial edict from His Majesty, so Zhong Yansheng became even more of a joke.
Such a weak canary, stripped of the identity of the prince of Huai'an Marquis' Mansion, is nothing, yet you dare to look down on him!
These days, his family has gone from crying and begging for justice for him to warning him not to cause trouble again. He is so angry that he is going crazy.
Meng Qiping looked around and saw that Zhong Yansheng was alone. He smiled coldly and said, "Kidnap him away for me!"
If Prince Ding really cared about Zhong Yansheng, would he let the rumors spread like that? He obviously just regarded Zhong Yansheng as a pretty toy, and maybe he was tired of playing with him, otherwise he would have sent someone to follow him and would not let him go out alone.
He just wanted to teach Zhong Yansheng a lesson. Given Zhong Yansheng's current status and circumstances, he wouldn't have the courage to file a complaint.
Just as a cruel smile appeared on Meng Qiping's lips, he felt a sharp pain in his chest and his body was kicked away by a huge force.
Everyone was stunned, and even the security guard next to him was dumbfounded. He didn't see who had done the attack at all, and he didn't dare to move, looking around in panic.
Zhong Yansheng was also stunned for a moment. He originally wanted to waste the paint in his hand and splash it into Meng Qiping's eyes, but he stopped and turned to look to the side.
Two secret guards who were dressed as civilians and had been waiting on the side with little presence came forward. They had stood on both sides of Zhong Yansheng without him noticing. They showed their swords and had cold eyes. Their temperament was definitely not that of ordinary guards, but more like death warriors.
Meng Qiping's heart trembled, and he suddenly realized that there was someone following Zhong Yansheng.
Those two people looked exactly like the ones who chopped off his fingers that day, with cold, murderous eyes...
His fingers seemed to be hurting again. The feeling of being knocked unconscious by the pain and unable to scream, Meng Qiping felt a chill down his spine as he thought about it. He shouted in panic, "Protect this young master... Go, go!"
Seeing Meng Qiping running away as if he had seen a ghost, Zhong Yansheng tilted his head, hesitated for a moment, then turned around to thank the two people behind him.
The two secret guards remained expressionless, bowed, and disappeared into the crowd again.
The young master in the rumors talked to them!
They would brag about it to those who are not on duty today.
Zhong Yansheng felt as if he understood why he sometimes felt that someone was watching him in secret.
Sometimes it's not just a line of sight, but a group.
It turned out to be someone sent by my brother... I'm glad he wasn't a ghost.
But can this paint still be used? Apparently his itinerary for today has been exposed.
These pigments were very valuable. Zhong Yansheng counted his small treasury miserably and felt for the first time that he was short of money.
He didn't want to use the money from Huai’an Marquis' Mansion, so after much thought, he decided to take it back.
He has to earn money to pay for his food, he can't just eat and drink for free in the palace all the time.
And after I bring Yuncheng out, I still have to take care of him.
Anyway…buying paint doesn't mean you can paint.
Zhong Yansheng was thinking as he walked back to the palace. When he turned the corner, he saw a shadow bumping into him. He subconsciously stepped back, but the person still bumped into him. Zhong Yansheng was fine, but the things he was holding were not held tightly and fell all over the floor. He quickly squatted down to pick them up.
The other person seemed to be stunned for a moment, looked down at him for a while, quickly squatted down and picked up the things, and apologized repeatedly: "Sorry, sorry, I'm in a hurry."
Zhong Yansheng checked it and luckily the shop owner had wrapped it well, and it wasn't broken. He felt relieved and waved his hand in a good temper, looking up and teaching seriously: "It's okay, don't walk so fast, it would be bad if you hurt other people."
He was a young man with handsome features. When he saw his face, he seemed stunned for a moment, blushed, and apologized repeatedly before leaving.
Zhong Yansheng instinctively felt that this person was a little strange.
Thinking of the thief in the storybook, he felt his pocket and found the purse was still there. He looked back and felt puzzled.
He is not a thief, so why does he look weird?
The secret guards naturally noticed something was wrong, looked at each other, and two of them followed.
But soon, one of the people who had been separated came back with a sullen face and shook his head: "It's gone."
Those among them who were better at tracking actually failed to catch up.
This matter is strange, and Meng Qiping's words and actions are also quite suspicious. I must report to the master immediately.
When several secret guards were dispersing, 'he' bumped into Zhong Yansheng, who was turning around and entering an alley. He looked back to make sure that he was not followed, then turned a few more corners and walked out of the alley.
There was a carriage parked by the roadside.
The man got on the carriage, and the people inside the carriage were drawing the boy's slender back, revealing a part of his neck.
The other painting had just been completed and was almost dry. It was exactly the same as the one when Zhong Yansheng was standing outside the shop with something in his arms and confronting Meng Qiping.
"There's a flower petal birthmark."
The young man said briefly: "Prince Ding has sent people to keep a close eye on us. They should catch up with us soon. Let's go."
The portrait painter in the carriage quickly painted the birthmark on the neck, then rolled up the two paintings and handed them to him: "Split into two groups, I'll lead the people away, and you present them immediately."
Almost at the moment when Zhong Yansheng stepped into the gate of Prince Ding's Mansion again, the two paintings that had been completed in secret were urgently delivered to a person's desk.
There was already another painting on the desk. If someone from more than ten years ago was present, they would be able to recognize whose portrait it was.
The former crown prince Pei Xi.
After a while, the man leaning against the dark coughed a few times, his voice old and hoarse: "It's really similar... Tian Xi, come and see, are they similar?"
Tian Xi, who was standing by, had already broken out in a cold sweat. Hearing this, he came closer with a smile and took a closer look. His expression was exaggerated and pleasing: "Oh! They really do look alike, especially the eyes. They are exactly the same."
The man who was still sitting in the darkness coughed a few times and said in a kind tone, "How can there be two people in this world who look so alike?"
Tian Xi just smiled and didn't dare to say anything.
The old man sighed and ran his fingers over the eyes in the two portraits one by one, stroking them as if cherishing them: "It's been eighteen years... I really can't forget those eyes."
"It must be my Xi'er who missed me and came back to see me."