Seeing his acquiescence, the man circled around a few times and said
hesitantly, "That's impossible! Your Excellency, we are all aware of your
assassins' skills. They have never failed, and yet all of them were lost this
time. It is … who could it be?!"
Pang Shao smiled and stared intently at the candle flame flickering on the
table.
"It's not all useless." He said, "At least it confirms my suspicion, proving
that someone has long been watching Zhao Dunting and has tampered with
his house."
Another official next to him said, "But without catching someone, there's
no way to confirm who did it! Today's incident, everything fell flawlessly
into place. The person who directed this, however, remains hidden behind,
making us unable to find a trace."
Pang Shao remained silent for a long time, and his hand fell on the tea lamp
on the table.
"Speculation does not require evidence." He said, "It's enough for me to
know deep inside who it is."
His fingers slowly played with the lid of the tea marigold. He turned his
head sideways, and his gaze fell on the south side.
That was the direction of Qinghe Lane.
"Who started to add fuel to the flames, who ultimately felt complacent, and
who secretly competed with me and made a tie with me, and who fought with me secretly, and kept me in check… It's all clear to me," he stated
slowly.
His voice sounded calm, and there wasn't a trace of gnashed teeth at all, but
it made the people around feel chills creeping up their spines.
When everyone heard what he said, they all knew that he did not intend to
name someone explicitly.
No one dared to ask. Only one official stepped forward cautiously and
changed the subject: "Yes, Chief Minister's heart is like a mirror, so these
lowly officials can feel at ease. But, on His Majesty's side… What can we
do? "
The Emperor threw such a big tantrum towards the Chief Minister today,
and all civil and military officials of the dynasty knew it.
The Emperor didn't even call him uncle today, and for the first time in
history, he called the Chief Minister directly by his first name.
Everyone knew that the Chief Minister was so illustrious and majestic now,
but his status all depended on the one sitting on the throne who had always
accepted whatever he advised.
Pang Shao sneered, picked up the tea cup and lifted the lid.
"What happened today was that Zhao Dunting quarreled with Qi Min.
When he harmed him, he borrowed my name and tried to plant the blame
on me in vain. That's all. As for how to tell His Majesty, do you need me to
teach you?"
Several officials bowed and saluted him, indicating that they understood
what to do.
Pang Shao lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea.
After just one sip, he put down the cup of tea and looked quietly at the tea
swirling in the cup with downcast eyes.
"The first-rate Mingqian Longjing is spoiled without rhyme or reason," he
said.
A servant quickly approached his side in response.
Pang Shao put the tea cup on the table with a clang.
"Go ask who prepared it," he ordered lightly.
"If you spoil such good tea, you should pay with your life."
——
After Jiang Suizhou got drunk, he slumped on the table and didn't get up.
Huo Wujiu swung his wheelchair to his side, reached out and held his arm
to help him up. Jiang Suizhou couldn't open his eyes, and definitely had no
strength to carry himself, so he fell towards Huo Wujiu due to the latter's
force.
Jiang Suizhou went from lying on the table to leaning on Huo Wujiu's arm.
Huo Wujiu felt as if struck in his acupoints, freezing in place for a while.
His arm went numb all the way up, and the left side of his heart all but lost
consciousness.
He initially intended to call Meng Qianshan in, but all the words got stuck
in his throat.
After some unknown time, he slowly lowered his head and gazed at Jiang
Suizhou, who was leaning in his arms.
The lamp light illuminated his eyelashes with a seemingly golden glow, and
his lips were stained with strong wine, glistening with moisture.
Huo Wujiu's throat rolled up and down.
Just then, Jiang Suizhou, who was leaning on his arm, seemed to feel
uncomfortable. He moved and plunged straight into Huo Wujiu's arms. An unconscious low hum emerged from his throat and gently fell into Huo
Wujiu's ear.
Huo Wujiu's ears burned.
A flame rushed from his originally numb heart like magic and fiercely
burned straight into his brain.
With a bang, a certain string seemingly ignited.
Two points of force seeped out of Huo Wujiu's hand that was holding Jiang
Suizhou's arm, and it trembled imperceptibly.
He realized one thing clearly.
Jiang Suizhou indeed bore no improper thoughts towards him, but he
seemed to…
He stared closely at Jiang Suizhou.
He seemed to have dirty thoughts about Jiang Suizhou at some point.
He had been among men since he was a child, fighting and making trouble,
so he was certain he sure he should be more than a little disgusted with such
thoughts. However, in his heart, he was now left with only a dawning
nearness to home.
He had never had any particular interest, and had always been indifferent to
everything.
He had never had such a raging desire for monogamy and overwhelming
fondness. These emotions sprouted so fiercely and it made him cringe in
disbelief. This confusion gave birth to fear.
It turned out that people could become cowards before the person they love
so dearly.
He lowered his head, quietly gazing at the man. Under the light, Huo Wujiu
seemed to become a sculpture, not daring to move a muscle.
Huo Wujiu stayed in such a posture until Jiang Suizhou stirred in his arms.
Huo Wujiu seemingly reacted, but it was already too late. He looked up at
the door, moved his lips, but made no sound.
He had never read books of sages and men of virtue, nor did he understand
what it meant by taking unfair advantage in a dark chamber. No one had
taught him that where there was no one, he should restrain his instincts and
make the choices he should make.
The evil dragon wanted to guard his treasure tonight.
He withdrew his gaze and tightened his hold, directly bringing the man into
his arms. He leaned forward a bit, carried Jiang Suizhou straight up, and
stood up from his wheelchair.
He was only now able to stand on his feet, thus he walked strenuously.
Nevertheless, he slowly but steadily carried Jiang Suizhou and walked to
the bed where he laid him down on his own bed.
The moment Jiang Suizhou landed on the pillow, he opened his eyes hazily.
Seeing that it was Huo Wuju, a rather slow smile stretched on his face.
"Huo Wujiu." His voice rang softly, and almost only his lips moved.
"I won't let you kill me." He was so intoxicated long ago that he actually
blurted out his heartfelt words to Huo Wujiu.
But due to the rubbing of clothes and silk together, Huo Wujiu only heard
the head and tail.
"Huo Wujiu, I won't let you die," he heard Jiang Suizhou mutter.
When Jiang Suizhou woke up the next day, he saw an unfamiliar beam.
He was about to turn over and sit up, but felt a splitting headache. The
slightest movement made him dizzy.
He frowned and rested on the bed for a moment, and then slowly sat up
until his vision was no longer spinning round.
Then he realized that it was bright everywhere. There was some familiarity
in the strangeness. He was in Huo Wujiu's room.
This is…?
Jiang Suizhou felt disoriented for a while. He held his forehead for a
considerable time before he regained some memories.
He had been drinking at Huo Wujiu's place last night. The wine was strong,
but his health was poor. Hence, halfway through the drink, he passed out
drunk.
This time, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't recall what happened
after.
So … did he sleep with Huo Wujiu last night and took up his bed?
Jiang Suizhou still felt light-headed when he heard the bedroom door open.
It was Huo Wujiu, who had washed himself clean with clear moisture on his
face. He rolled his wheelchair and entered.
"Are you awake?" He heard Huo Wujiu ask.
Jiang Suizhou looked up at him and saw the clear and fresh looking Huo
Wujiu. Although the latter was poker-faced, he was sitting upright in his
wheelchair. He, on the other hand, was leaning on the bed and leaning
weakly against the headboard. Something was quite wrong with the
atmosphere.
"I drank so much last night that I didn't know I spent the night with you,"
Jiang Suizhou said, rubbing his forehead with one hand.
Huo Wujiu gingerly glanced at him and replied, "It's okay."
Then, he swung his wheelchair to the outer room and called Meng Qianshan
in loudly.
Meng Qianshan had been standing outside all night. Upon hearing Huo
Wujiu's call, he quickly pushed in the door, and asked for someone to bring
in the sobering tea that he had prepared earlier.
He waited on Jiang Suizhou as he drank the sobering tea. Finally, Jiang
Suizhou didn't feel dizzy anymore. Jiang Suizhou got up and changed his
robe. He saw Li Changning with Wei Kai coming in from outside.
The two were both stunned to see him sitting on Huo Wujiu's bed and
drinking tea. Li Changning promptly bowed his head and feigned ignorance
to his presence, not forgetting to motion to Wei Kai who was following
behind him, staring outrightly at Jiang Suizhou.
"This lowly servant went to the main house earlier but didn't see Your
Highness. I didn't expect that Your Highness is actually here with Madam,"
Li Changning stepped forward and bowed.
Jiang Suizhou gently hummed and replied, "It doesn't matter. If there is no
adjustment to the dosage of decoction today, just ask someone to boil it as
written."
Li Changning responded.
Meng Qianshan helped Jiang Suizhou up, but when he got up, dizziness
struck his head, and he almost lost his footing.
He thought to himself, I need to go back and catch up on my sleep.
He raised his hand and ordered, "Do what you have to do. This Prince is
leaving."
The two men hurriedly sent Jiang Suizhou off at the side.
Jiang Suizhou nodded at Huo Wujiu and turned to go.
Jiang Suizhou moved sluggishly, and he walked out with a fluttering pace.
Once the door of the room closed from the outside, only three of them
remained in the room.
Wei Kai raised his head to look out alertly without delay and watched as
Jiang Suizhou walked farther away before glancing back at Huo Wujiu. His
eyes were wide open: "General, he's…!"
Huo Wugou glanced at him faintly and could work out what the kid was
thinking.
He frowned and said, "Don't think nonsense."
Only when Wei Kai heard this from him did he hastily let out a sigh of
relief.
Although he was inexperienced, alarms still kept ringing in his heart when
he looked at Jingwang's appearance.
How could he spend the night at the General's place and look a little bit
weaker than usual? Could it be that something happened between him and
the General last night?
But fortunately, since the General told him not to think of nonsensical
matters, then he could set his mind to rest.
Wei Kai had been on edge for a long time, but at this moment, he finally
breathed in relief. He no longer watched his language and blurted out, "This
subordinate understands! What kind of person is the General? How can you
be like him!"
As he stated that, he raised his eyes and looked at his general with shining
eyes.
However, when he met his General's eyes, Wei Kai suddenly felt cold all
over.
When Wei Kai was feeling disconcerted, the general frowned and said
coldly, "Keep your mouth shut."
Wei Kai hurriedly shut his mouth and nodded.
The General stopped looking at him. He stood up from his wheelchair and
walked slowly to the bedside. He stepped aside with a wink, took out the
medicine bag that Li Changning brought, and boiled the medicine for Huo
Wujiu.
Wei Kai was more than aware that he had just said something wrong and
made the General angry.
It was just that …
He was puzzled.
He hadn't said anything wrong just now, so what was the General angry
about?
In the main room of Anyin Hall, Meng Qianshan supported Jiang Suizhou
as he slowly lay down on the bed.
He was used to sleeping on his own bed, and he didn't expect Huo Wujiu's
bed to be so hard. It made his back ache all night. Meng Qianshan waited
for him to eat something before lowering the bed curtains and allowing him
to go back to sleep.
Jiang Suizhou still couldn't figure it out.
He pondered for a long time, but still had to ask, "How did I fall asleep
there yesterday?"
Meng Qianshan replied when he heard his question, "Ow, Your Highness,
how could this servant know? Yesterday, this servant kept watch along the
corridor until the third watch when Madam came to the door and said that
you wanted to sleep there."
Jiang Suizhou frowned: "Madam Huo said so?"
Meng Qianshan nodded.
"Doesn't Your Highness remember?"
Jiang Suizhou replied with a faint hum. After a moment, he said, "I drank
too much. Indeed I don't remember much."
Meng Qianshan hummed in response.
He heard Jiang Suizhou pause and then say, "It's just…"
Meng Qianshan prodded, "Just what?"
Jiang Suizhou frowned and pondered.
Hearing Meng Qianshan's answer, it seemed like Jiang Suizhou had asked
to stay there on his own initiative, but he couldn't remember saying such
words. Instead, he remembered brief moments. It seemed like someone
carried him over and put him on the bed.
But that memory was like a dream. The more he thought about it, the more
his head hurt, so he simply rubbed his temples and said softly, "Forget it,
it's nothing."
It must be a hallucination, Jiang Suizhou thought to himself. Huo Wujiu's
legs were still disabled. And even if they weren't, why would he carry him?