CH 34

Chapter 34: If You Don’t Say Anything, I’ll Assume You’re Being Shy.

When State Master Li heard Qi Ci’s words, he stiffened for a brief moment. But, in the end, he didn’t say anything to dissuade him, he simply summoned someone to serve Qi Ci well.

Outside the main hall, Qin Yicang and Lin Baihu, who were hidden behind the wall, looked at each other when they heard those words.

Qin Yicang fanned himself and asked Lin Baihu with a smile: “Are you thinking of another way of separating them?”

Lin Baihu slowly shook his head: “It’s already too late.”

Qin Yicang then said leisurely: “Yes, but it isn’t bad. It could be said that it’s a disaster that couldn’t be avoided. Alright, let’s go find the wine for Bian Zhonghua.”

“Wine?”

“Yeah, I lost ten jars of wine when playing chess with him before. Why? You also want to drink? Do you want me to bring you a jar? The wine made by the thousand-year-old peach blossom wine owner on Qingqiu mountain has the most mellow fragrance in the world. You’ll get drunk just by smelling it.”

Lin Baihu actually didn’t like to drink, but after hearing Qin Yicang’s words, he became a little curious, so he nodded his head gently.

Qin Yicang closed his fan and covered the cunning smile at the corner of his mouth. Then he gently lifted Lin Baihu’s chin with the fan handle and said with a smile: “Little white bird, in this world, nothing comes for free.”

“What do you want?” Lin Baihu asked indifferently.

Qin Yicang replied extremely fast: “I want you.”

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“Bye.” Lin Baihu also replied extremely fast.

Seeing that Lin Baihu was ready to leave, Qin Yicang grabbed him: “Wait, wait! In business, you shouldn’t leave before making a deal. Let’s renegotiate. Why don’t you tell me about the person who made you sad in the past? If you tell me, I’ll bring you a jar of wine. How about that?”

Lin Baihu asked in return: “Why do you want to know who that person is?”

Qin Yicang grabbed Lin Baihu’s shoulders with narrowed eyes. Although he looked playful on the surface, the tone of his voice was extra serious: “If I knew, then I’ll step beyond Heaven, and through the Underworld to find that person, chop him, crush his blood and bones, and throw him into the gutter to feed the worms. Ah, eh, eh, little white bird, don’t go! Why are you walking away? Are you feeling shy? If you don’t talk, I’ll assume you’re being shy!”

…

Bian Zhonghua didn’t return to the Secret Servant Residence until midnight. Not because it was hard to deal with the wandering demons outside the city, but because he saw the Prince’s palanquin when he returned.

Bian Zhonghua didn’t know what Qi Ci was doing at the Secret Servant Residence, but because of their previous conversation, Bian Zhonghua had already drawn a line in his heart between him and Qi Ci.

What did he mean by ‘what do you want in return’? In Qi Ci’s heart, was Bian Zhonghua nothing else than a vain man who helped him simply because he knew of Qi Ci’s identity as the Prince?

Bian Zhonghua had always been willing to help other people. In the past, he was often misunderstood by others as to whether he had a hidden agenda. But, for some reason, this was the only time in which Bian Zhonghua felt truly hurt.

When Bian Zhonghua thought of going back to the Secret Servant Residence, where he had to pretend to salute to Qi Ci as the Prince, he felt so upset that he simply turned around and wandered aimlessly through the streets.

He strolled around until darkness engulfed the city and until the lamps inside the shops were extinguished at night, showing that they were closed. By the time Bian Zhonghua went back, he saw that the Prince’s sedan chair was gone, so he walked into the Secret Servant Residence with confidence.

Although this place was a Residence, there were no maids or servants around, so it became extra quiet at night. With the sound of frogs and cicadas in the background, Bian Zhonghua walked to his wing room. Before he could reach his wing room, he met with Qin Yicang, who was holding a small jar of wine in his hand.

AD

Qin Yicang was surprised to see him: “Why are you back this late?”

Bian Zhonghua didn’t reply. Instead, he asked: “Where’s my wine?”

“Don’t worry, I haven’t broken my promise. I put the wine in your wing room. Right….. nah, forget it…. I’m too lazy to tell you. Just go in and see it for yourself. I’m going to find someone to drink with.”

After saying that, Qin Yicang waved the fan in his hand as he carried the wine jug in the other. While he hummed an unknown tune, he got up and left.

When Bian Zhonghua heard that there was good wine inside his wing room, his footsteps suddenly became a lot lighter. At that moment, he suddenly remembered his promise of drinking together with Qi Ci, and his heart hurt again. He felt as if there was a burning fire in his chest, stuffy and irritable.

Bian Zhonghua then pinched his brow, wanting to put his disordered thoughts aside. But, as soon as he saw the wing room in front of him, his eyes widened, and he immediately stood frozen in place.

Qi Ci was sitting in front of the door of the wing room, leaning against the wooden door frame, supporting his dozing head with a hand. This night was windy and cool, and Qi Ci felt very cold at this moment. As he pitifully gathered his clothes, he shrank into a ball.

Qi Ci had been waiting for Bian Zhonghua for a long time now.

He had also politely declined State Master Li’s repeated attempts to persuade him to go back to his residence by saying: “It’s alright. Don’t worry about me. I’ll just wait here.”

Because it was getting late, Qi Ci sent back his sedan chair and the maids who accompanied him.

Like this, he nestled in front of the door of Bian Zhonghua’s wing room, waiting for him from dawn till the dead of the night.

Nobody persuaded him to leave, since he was being so stubborn and ridiculous.

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Qi Ci was feeling sleepy, so he had lowered his head and half-closed his eyes. His thoughts wandered thousands of miles away, and in a trance, he saw a pair of black boots in front of him. Qi Ci looked up, and when he saw that man’s face, he suddenly became excited, not feeling sleepy anymore.

Qi Ci suddenly stood up, and because he had been waiting for so long, surrounded by the cold wind, his whole body was stiff. He could feel his bones creaking, accompanied by a raging ache: “You…. you’re back….”

As soon as Qi Ci said those words, Bian Zhonghua stood silent for three whole seconds. Qi Ci thought that maybe because his expression was too ferocious, he ended up frightening Bian Zhonghua.

Three seconds later, Bian Zhonghua retreated, bowed, and said indifferently: “Greetings, Your Majesty. What is His Majesty doing here?”

The feeling of alienation and distance stunned Qi Ci. He laughed dryly twice, turned his wrist, and moved his stiff body. With a soft voice, he said: “Didn’t we agree before that when you came out of punishment, we would drink together? So, I…. I….”

‘So, I waited for you here for five hours.’

“I…. heard that you were out of the Secret Servant Prison, so I…. came to see you.”

Bian Zhonghua was still acting neither hostile nor friendly: “Drink? His Majesty’s status is different from this subordinate, it wouldn’t be appropriate for this subordinate to share a drink with His Majesty. If His Majesty has something to ask from this subordinate, just give the order. But if His Majesty is trying to repay this subordinate, there’s no need. So please go back.”

In the end, Bian Zhonghua still felt too hurt when Qi Ci returned his token, as well as when Qi Ci said that their identities were too different.

Inexplicably, Bian Zhonghua suddenly thought of something: ‘If, from now on, I never ask Qi Ci for anything, would Qi Ci be able to realize that I never tried to help him with the intention of obtaining something in return?’

‘But, why am I even trying to prove my innocence in the first place?’

Bian Zhonghua’s ‘please go back’ was like an invisible hand clutching Qi Ci’s neck, blocking all his frankness, fondness, and boldness. Qi Ci squeezed his eyes, at a loss at what to do.

AD

‘Why is he so cold? Is it because it’s too late in the night? Have I disturbed him?’

‘Think about it. How could have I been so heartless? Bian Zhonghua had a mission today, and he even returned so late. He must be feeling extremely tired, and I still came here to bother him.’

‘I better hurry back to the Residence, so that Bian Zhonghua can rest as soon as possible.’

Qi Ci vaguely hmm-ed, suddenly raised his head, and stretched out his hand to pat Bian Zhonghua’s shoulder. Then he said with a big smile: “What difference in status are you talking about, ah? If you never treated me like a prostitute in the past, then don’t treat me as ‘Your Majesty’ now. Ah, I won’t bother you anymore tonight. I’ll come find you again for a drink whenever you’re free in the future. I’m not in a hurry.”

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

After bidding his farewell, Qi Ci swept past Bian Zhonghua and walked away with hurried steps.

When he had walked a few meters away, he heard Bian Zhonghua suddenly shout out: “Wait!”

Qi Ci stopped abruptly and looked back at Bian Zhonghua with confusion.

Their line of sight crossed over the cool moonlight, through the mist and night dew, until finally, their eyes met each other in the air.

After a brief moment of silence, Bian Zhonghua opened his mouth and asked: “Did you know that I went to the Prince’s Residence today to look for you?”