CH 49

Chapter 49: There Was Someone Lying On The Bed.

Qi Ci muttered: “I’m worrying already! Wait, according to what you said, won’t the Empress Dowager try to arrange a match between me and the County Princess of Bei’an?!”

Bian Zhonghua’s smile faded as he nodded his head.

Qi Ci’s heart was filled with doubts, but according to the Empress Dowager’s attitude in the Imperial Garden, it didn’t seem like she was trying to set up a marriage between Qi Ci and the County Princess. On the contrary, after hearing that Qi Ci liked someone, Empress Dowager Xianyi encouraged him to propose marriage to that person.

‘Why?’

When Bian Zhonghua saw Qi Ci falling into silence all of a sudden, he thought that Qi Ci must be considering the matter with the County Princess, so he said sourly: “What is it? Are you already thinking whether the wedding dress should be embroidered with a Dragon and a Phoenix pattern, or with Mandarin Ducks playing in the water?”

Qi Ci raised his eyes and said: “I think that the Dragon and Phoenix embroidery is the most auspicious.”

Bian Zhonghua: “….”

Qi Ci smiled and asked: “Why aren’t you saying anything? Or do you think that the Mandarin Ducks playing in the water is better?”

Instead of teasing Qi Ci, Bian Zhonghua was the one being teased in the end. Rather than getting angry, Bian Zhonghua laughed out loud. As he raised his eyebrows to Qi Ci, he said slowly: “Why? Is my opinion that important?”

Qi Ci coughed lightly as his eyes dodged his stare: “Weren’t we brainstorming? Anyway, let’s stop joking. I don’t have those kinds of feelings for the County Princess. If the Empress Dowager really wants to match us, I will refuse right away. But it’s not just because of what you just said. Since the King of Bei’an County loves his daughter very much, how will he allow her to marry someone like me? Someone with a low-class background….”

Bian Zhonghua restrained his smile, frowned, and said: ”You’re extremely kind.”

Without any hesitation, Qi Ci helped the poor brother and sister duo, Xu Run and Xu Li, when no one was willing to. He also carried a maidservant of the Prince’s Residence all the way to see a physician when she was about to die. Qi Ci didn’t bear any grudges, he was careless, and very gentle.

Qi Ci was so good that Bian Zhonghua really didn’t want anyone to say anything against him. Not even himself.

When he heard Bian Zhonghua’s words, Qi Ci was stunned for a short while, but then he smiled and said: “Thank you….”

The night was dark and the moonlight melted on the streets. As the lanterns with red candles inside floated down the river, the candlelights shimmered on the river like stars. In the background, the cicadas chirped and the frogs chanted incessantly. Qi Ci’s smile was clear and calm, like the unrestrained moon on top of the clouds.

Bian Zhonghua was lost in thought for a moment, and it took him a long time before he could move his gaze away, muttering to himself: “The Dragon and Phoenix pattern would look better-….”

“What?” Qi Ci couldn’t hear his words clearly.

“Nothing.” Bian Zhonghua smiled, stretched out his hand to rub Qi Ci’s head, and changed the topic: “Hmm? There’s a pastry store in front of us. Let’s go and see if there are any preserved plums for sale.”

Right after saying that, Bian Zhonghua walked towards the store on his own.

Qi Ci tidied up his dishevelled hair as he followed Bian Zhonghua’s heavy footsteps: “Wait for me.”

Although the pastry store was small, it was well organized. There were rows and rows of vermillion wooden boxes filled with fragrant snacks, as well as salted preserved fruits. The preserved fruit were decorated with light reddish osmanthus flowers, making it look quite tempting.

Bian Zhonghua picked a few, let the store owner wrap them in oil paper, and put away one packet. The other packet was handed over to Qi Ci, to share with him.

With the sweet and sour plum preserves in their mouths, the two of them walked around the bustling crowd and headed towards the Prince’s Residence.

Qi Ci then asked confusedly: “I wanted to ask this before, but why are you always carrying fruit preserves with you?”

Unexpectedly, when Bian Zhonghua was asked about this matter, he stopped walking and said: “Ah, because….”

‘Because….’

‘Because of what?’

Bian Zhonghua couldn’t remember.

In fact, there were many things he couldn’t remember. So many he couldn’t even begin to imagine it himself.

For a long time, Bian Zhonghua didn’t know who he was. He even wandered around the world, not knowing where to go, and from where he came from.

Dressed in ragged clothes, and his hair looking a complete mess, he wandered in every single corner of the streets, and deep into the forests. Even though he was mocked by ignorant children and hated by pedestrians, he dragged himself without feeling hungry or thirsty. Although he was in such a miserable situation, Bian Zhonghua felt indifferent to it all.

He knew that he was extraordinary, someone that could be glorious and rich. But he just didn’t want to.

Why?

He didn’t know. He doesn’t know.

Until one day, State Master Li found Bian Zhonghua. The first thing he said was: “You shouldn’t be reduced to this.”

Bian Zhonghua then asked him in return: “How should I look then?”

State Master Li said: “You can only ask that to yourself.”

Bian Zhonghua thought about it for a moment and then said: “You’re right.”

After that, Bian Zhonghua followed State Master Li and joined the Secret Servant Division.

Later, he would gradually remember some things, such as how to control his power, and that he should always carry fruit preserves with him.

But when he really thought about it, there wasn’t an actual reason for it.

“Because… of a feeling?” Bian Zhonghua replied vaguely.

“A feeling?” Qi Ci was even more confused after hearing this.

“I mean….” Bian Zhonghua grabbed the faintest part of his memory and searched for it to give Qi Ci a reply: “As if….”

‘I’ve been buying them for someone….’

At that moment, Bian Zhognhua’s head started to buzz, followed by a torrent of pain. The scene in front of him immediately blacked out and he fell straight to the floor. The oil paper bag containing the preserves in his hand also fell down, scattering all over the floor.

“Bian Zhonghua!!” Qi Ci shouted as he hurriedly stepped forward to support him.

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But Bian Zhonghua couldn’t hear him.

In front of him, there was a chaotic black and foggy scene. So dark that he wasn’t even able to see his own fingers. As he struggled to push away the fog, he suddenly saw an exquisitely carved vermillion bed1.

There was someone laying on the bed.