Your Majesty, We’re Counting on You to Ruin the Country! 67

Chapter 67: Favor

Yu Qianzu stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the back gate of the King of Youzhou’s residence. Creepy, thousand-legged insects slowly crawled on his black robe.

Seeing his senior brother, Yu Qianshou, who was originally about to leave, appear with his luggage, his steps a little rushed, Yu Qianzu couldn’t help but sneer. This person had just been brought back last night, and his senior brother had come in such a hurry this morning.

“You’re back?”

Yu Qianshou said, “Where is he?”

Yu Qianzu smiled. “Yu Qianshou, you are ruined.” With that, he gestured with his chin at Yu Qianshou’s hand, which was missing a finger, the provocation clear.

“Yu Qianzu, are you going to help or not?” Yu Qianshou looked at his junior brother, whose eyes were full of disdain, and said calmly, “If you don’t help, I will silence you here.”

“Yo, threatening people now. Yu Qianshou, you look just like a grasshopper on a hot pan right now.” Although he said so, Yu Qianzu still led him to a secluded and quiet courtyard. Although it was remote, it was heavily guarded.

Yu Qianzu handed his token to the guard and winked at Yu Qianshou, signaling for him to go in.

“Senior brother, just a look as you said in the letter. Don’t do anything foolish.”

Yu Qianshou took the key from the guard and opened the heavy lock. After pushing open the door, he indeed saw Qin Zhaohuang lying on the bed, his hands and feet bound by iron chains, unable to move.

“…Yu Qianshou?”

Seeing that Qin Zhaohuang was safe and sound, and although his eyes were tired, they still had a glimmer of light, Yu Qianshou let out a secret sigh of relief.

He sat down by the bed and applied medicine to the superficial wounds on Qin Zhaohuang’s body. Looking at the bruises and scratches from the branches and stones, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

Qin Zhaohuang stared blankly at him, not knowing how to react. He had said that from now on, they would be like well water not interfering with river water, just strangers. But he hadn’t expected that he himself couldn’t do it, and neither could the other person.

“Yu Qianshou, can you get me out of here?”

Yu Qianshou was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

Qin Zhaohuang turned his head away without a word. Yu Qianshou is Yu Qianshou. He still had some lingering thoughts of Chen Shu in his heart. The last time, their grace and righteousness had been severed. Why was he still not giving up?

Yu Qianshou sighed and took out an outer robe from his luggage, draping it over Qin Zhaohuang.

Qin Zhaohuang looked down. The outer robe was made of coarse linen, and the shoulders were wide. It was definitely not Yu Qianshou’s style or size. So he couldn’t help but frown. “This is not your outer robe.”

“Just wear it. It can protect you.” Yu Qianshou had a plan in mind. After applying the medicine for Qin Zhaohuang, he put away the medicine box and prepared to leave.

“Will you come again?” Qin Zhaohuang was alone in the enemy’s camp. To say he wasn’t afraid was a lie.

Yu Qianshou sighed. “Since you’re afraid, why were you trying to be a hero before?”

“There are very few people in this world who are good to me, just a handful. But if they are good to me, I will repay them a hundredfold.” Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were very good to him. Qin Zhaohuang was willing to do this.

Hearing these suggestive words, Yu Qianshou shook his head and got up to leave on his own.

Watching his retreating back, Qin Zhaohuang couldn’t help but sigh to the empty room.

The night was deep.

A scene of debauchery, of fragrant clothes and fluttering hair.

Chunxiao Alley was the sleepless place of Ruanzhou, and Chunxiao Tower was also the best flower house in Ruanzhou. The disguised Feng Changhuan followed Feng Jun down this street and only felt the endless sound of music in his ears, mixed with laughter and merriment. The roads were hung with bright red lanterns, colored lights, and silk ribbons, twinkling in the night, looking quite festive.

Along the way, at the doors of various flower houses, there were lovely girls or fair-skinned male courtesans soliciting customers, each one a feast for the eyes. The madams were even more enthusiastic, putting in all their effort to persuade a well-dressed young master like Feng Jun and Feng Changhuan. However, Feng Jun was unmoved and led Feng Changhuan directly to a song and dance hall.

Feng Jun himself basically only came to the song and dance hall for entertainment, and after a little effortless investigation, he had also found that Feng Changhuan was not fond of women.

“Oh my, you two masters, please, please come in!” The owner of the song and dance hall, seeing the two of them stop in front of her establishment, smiled so widely her mouth almost reached her ears.

After coming to a spacious and comfortable private room, the owner pointed out a few good-looking singing girls and musicians for them.

“You two masters, please enjoy!”

Feng Jun looked around and felt quite satisfied. Not only the singing girls, but the musicians were also pretty girls. There were pure and lovely young girls like hibiscus emerging from the water, and also glamorous and seductive women. This owner was truly a shrewd person.

One of the girls smiled. “What song would you two masters like to hear?”

Feng Jun smiled at Feng Changhuan. “Young master, please choose.”

“Oh? I choose?” Feng Changhuan smiled. “Then let’s have Eighteen Touches.”

[Translator’s Notes: Eighteen Touches: A famous and very explicit Chinese erotic folk song. It’s a highly inappropriate request for the formal setting of a song and dance hall, meant to be provocative.]

“Eigh… eighteen…” The girl immediately blushed, extremely embarrassed.

Feng Changhuan raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you here to sell your art? What? You don’t dare to sing?”

Feng Jun reminded him, “Young master, these girls sell their art, not their bodies.”

“I know. Since they sell their art, is it not okay to sing a song?” Feng Changhuan’s face fell, and his presence was oppressive. The girls were so scared they all looked at Feng Jun, their eyes full of pleading.

“Clang—”

The tea was knocked over by Feng Changhuan, and the girls screamed and ran out.

Looking at the suddenly flared-up Feng Changhuan and the mess on the floor, Feng Jun didn’t know what to do and sat there silently, looking at the ground.

“You really think I would like these places?” Feng Changhuan sneered.

Feng Jun thought to himself, Isn’t this a place that every man likes?

He laughed dryly. “It is rumored that the King of Hong Xi is clean and self-disciplined and does not indulge in women. Seeing it today, it is indeed so.”

“Oh? Where did this rumor come from?” Feng Changhuan said. “They say I am not fond of women, but have they said I am fond of men?”

…Huh?

What did you say?

Feng Jun felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He didn’t know if Feng Changhuan was joking or what.

Feng Changhuan pointed to the musical instruments at the side. “Why don’t you play something for me?”

“Your Majesty is joking.” The tea table in front of Feng Changhuan had already been overturned, so Feng Jun poured his own and handed it to him.

Feng Changhuan took the teacup but didn’t drink. Instead, he moved the teacup to the top of Feng Jun’s head and slowly poured…

Feng Jun only felt a heat on the top of his head, and then a warm liquid flowed from his hair, from his forehead to the tip of his nose, and then from the tip of his nose to his chin, finally dripping onto the straw mat they were sitting on.

Feng Jun: “…”

Feng Changhuan narrowed his eyes slightly. “You are defying me.”

After all the tea in the teacup had been poured out, Feng Jun wiped his face, the smile on his face not diminishing in the slightest. He just calmly stood up…

“Thud—”

He picked up a cup and threw the tea inside at Feng Changhuan’s face with force.

“Your Majesty, we are on an equal transaction. Bei Miao does not owe Hong Xi, and this prince does not owe you. Bei Miao’s hundred-thousand-strong army is waiting outside. We will not die without the King of Hong Xi’s help.”

Feng Jun put down the teacup and cupped his fists with a smile. “This prince will take his leave first. The male brothel is next door. I wish Your Majesty a pleasant time.”

With that, Feng Jun turned and quickly left the private room without looking back.

Feng Changhuan took out a handkerchief and wiped his face, licking his lower lip with a smile. “He really got angry.”

And the owner was very confused. Why did they go into the private room for a while and come out with both their faces wet? And their hair is still dripping. What happened?

The night grew deeper. When Wen Ning’an woke up in a daze, he saw that Li Huaisheng was still waiting by his bed.

“Brother Li, the night is already deep. You should go back and rest.”

Li Huaisheng reached out and tucked him in, smiling. “It’s alright. I just feel uneasy. I’ll feel more at ease waiting here myself.”

Wen Ning’an frowned. “You also have injuries. Don’t overexert yourself.”

Li Huaisheng just smiled.

“Huaisheng, I’m sorry.”

Li Huaisheng was stunned, then asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wen Ning’an sighed. “I was suspecting you were a spy before. It was my fault.”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. It’s a small matter. If it were me, I would naturally have the same thought. It’s alright.” Li Huaisheng waved his hand, indicating that he didn’t mind.

Just as Wen Ning’an was about to say something, he saw a black shadow flash past behind Li Huaisheng.

“Be careful!”

Li Huaisheng’s reaction was also extremely fast. With a leap and a backhand, he drew his sword and swung it with the speed of lightning, sweeping away the ambusher behind him.

Seeing that many assassins had suddenly appeared in the tent, Li Huaisheng sneered. “I knew you would come.”

Before his words had even finished, the shadow guards of the Li family’s army and the Left Army all appeared and surrounded these “uninvited guests.”

Just as Wen Ning’an was about to get up and subconsciously reached for his Cold Spring Sword, he was pressed down by Li Huaisheng.

“You lie down. I guarantee that these assassins have no ability to get close to you.”

This time, because they were well-prepared, the assassins were quickly dealt with. Servants came in and took away all the corpses or the men in black who had decided to surrender.

Li Huaisheng looked at the blood on the floor and said helplessly to Wen Ning’an, “It seems you have to change rooms.”

Wen Ning’an dodged the hand that Li Huaisheng was reaching out without a trace and smiled. “You knew all along? News from the Li family, right?”

“Ah.” Li Huaisheng was a little uncomfortable.

“Huaisheng, thank you very much.”

“My family… they may be about to rebel. This is wrong. I will naturally not help them do something that goes against heaven’s will.” Li Huaisheng said, “I will also keep my promise to you.”

Li Huaisheng was now just afraid that Wen Ning’an would suddenly do something foolish one day, so he could only helplessly be good to him.

The two of them left the tent and slowly headed for the new residence that Feng Jun had prepared for them.

The night was cool, and the sound of soldiers’ neat footsteps could be heard from time to time.

Li Huaisheng smiled. “The child… what name are you planning to give him?”

Wen Ning’an said, “Let’s wait for Huaitian to come back and let him decide on the name.”

Li Huaisheng mumbled an “mmm,” not saying anything, nor did he want to be a wet blanket and expose him.

“As for the courtesy name, I’ve already thought of it. Let’s call him Guilong. Long’er, that’s nice.”

[Translator’s Notes: The name Guilong literally means “Returning Dragon.” Long’er is a familiar, affectionate form of address using the last character of the name (Long, meaning “dragon”), plus the diminutive suffix -er.]

Li Huaisheng smiled and nodded. “Long’er, that sounds good.”