Your Majesty, We’re Counting on You to Ruin the Country! 62

Chapter 62: Going Up the Mountain

“Huang’er, come here.”

It was spring, and the courtyard was in full bloom, full of life. Petals floated on the gurgling stream. Every breath of air was sweet.

Chen Shu sat at the stone table and beckoned to Qin Zhaohuang.

“How do you read this?” Chen Shu picked up Qin Zhaohuang with one hand and placed him on his lap, pointing to a line of characters in the book with the other.

“Jiji hu jiji…”

Chen Shu tapped Qin Zhaohuang’s forehead with the book and smiled. “Don’t fool around.”

“I am reading properly,” Qin Zhaohuang said, very wronged.

He wasn’t reading it wrong, but why was his pronunciation so strange…

Seeing Qin Zhaohuang’s puffed cheeks and reddening eyes, Chen Shu immediately touched his forehead. “Alright, alright, you didn’t read it wrong. What are you so wronged about? Crying over this, are you a man or not?”

“Wuu…” Qin Zhaohuang kept sniffing and shrugging.

Chen Shu sighed and gently hugged him. “Don’t mind what they say. It’s all false. I, on the contrary, think you are a lucky star. Have you ever seen such a beautiful jinx?”

It would have been better not to say anything. With this comfort, Qin Zhaohuang immediately burst into tears.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry…”

Qin Zhaohuang clutched Chen Shu’s sleeve tightly and gasped, “Ah Shu, you are the best to me…”

Chen Shu smiled and shook his head.

“Ah Shu, you promised. You can’t leave me… I only have you…” Qin Zhaohuang nestled into Chen Shu’s embrace, shaking his head, his snot and tears smearing all over his dark long robe.

“Alright, alright.” Chen Shu pinched Qin Zhaohuang’s tear-stained cheek. This little devil really knows how to act spoiled. He didn’t know why, but he was just a physician hired by the Qin family to treat Madam Qin, yet he couldn’t help but care for this little devil. Perhaps it was because he felt it was unfair for him.

This child was clearly the eldest son of the Qin family, yet he was locked up in this broken house with no one to serve or take care of him. He couldn’t eat his fill, and he didn’t have warm clothes in winter.

“Ah Shu, teach me how to write your name.”

Chen Shu raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t even written your own name properly yet.”

“I want to learn yours. I want to write your name well first.”

Chen Shu shook his head, put Qin Zhaohuang down, and went to get a brush and ink.

…

…

Qin Zhaohuang’s eyes flew open.

He looked around in a daze. It was a lush green field with towering ancient trees. Right… he had come up the mountain with Wen Ning’an and the others to find the Yingyue Grass.

Wen Ning’an and Feng Qi were sitting beside him, watching the fire to keep it from going out, while Zhou Wuxin and Li Huaisheng were surveying the terrain at the side. He heard Zhou Wuxin say he was looking for something… a dilong?

[Translator’s Notes: Dilong : This literally means “earth dragon” and is the Chinese word for an earthworm. Qin Zhaohuang is being a bit sarcastic, as if to say, “He’s looking for some mythical earth dragon, but all I see are regular earthworms.”]

Qin Zhaohuang thought to himself, But there are really no dilong here. Even if they brought me up, they wouldn’t be able to find one. If there aren’t any, there aren’t any. Could it be that Zhou Wuxin was mistaken…

Wen Ning’an touched Qin Zhaohuang’s forehead. “Dreaming of that person again?”

Qin Zhaohuang stared blankly at him.

Wen Ning’an said, “You were calling his name in your dream just now.”

“Oh…” Qin Zhaohuang was a little embarrassed.

Wen Ning’an frowned. “What on earth is that person thinking?”

Wen Ning’an thought to himself, Our Zhaohuang is so beautiful and such a good person, yet he’s still being wronged.

I really want to roll up my sleeves and go and beat that person up, make him obediently stay with him.

Qin Zhaohuang snorted. “What else can he be thinking? He just sees me as a yellow-mouthed child.”

I see you as a… but you see me as a child!

“Let’s not talk about him. Come and eat this.” Wen Ning’an handed a large roasted chicken leg to Qin Zhaohuang.

Looking at the plump, juicy, and sizzling piece of meat, Qin Zhaohuang swallowed. “A chicken leg… that’s not good… cough, cough, leave it for His Majesty.”

Feng Qi, at the side, rolled his eyes. “If I tell you to eat, then eat. If you’re so coy, then don’t.”

“Eat! I must eat!” Qin Zhaohuang’s eyes lit up, and he snatched the chicken leg like a hurricane.

Wen Ning’an nudged Feng Qi with his elbow and said in a low voice, “Why are you so fierce?”

Feng Qi pouted. “You’re being biased. You don’t love me anymore. I’m in a bad mood.”

Wen Ning’an smiled and swallowed the words “what a little wife.” He didn’t want to be an eyesore with Feng Qi in this desolate mountain in front of everyone.

Seeing Zhou Wuxin and Li Huaisheng getting further and further away as they surveyed the mountain, Feng Qi said in a low voice to Wen Ning’an, “Why did that Li guy come along too?”

Wen Ning’an smiled to himself. What’s with “that Li guy”?

“Brother Li said he was worried about me.”

Feng Qi’s smile twitched. “We’re not worried about him. I’ve already told Senior Zhou and Zhaohuang to be on guard against him. Who knows what he’s thinking.”

Wen Ning’an nodded slightly. He naturally trusted Li Huaisheng, but he couldn’t gamble with the lives of others. Plus, Qin Zhaohuang knew no martial arts, so everything had to be done with caution.

Feng Qi said, “I’ve received another secret report. The Li family has been in close contact with the King of Youzhou recently. Perhaps they have joined forces.”

Wen Ning’an frowned. “Duo Bo is not an easy person to get along with. He will definitely not become the puppet emperor the Li family wants. The Li family is seeking a tiger’s skin.”

Hearing this, Feng Qi sneered. “The Li family has no other choice. I killed off the Feng clan’s line until only me and Jun’er were left.”

On the day of Feng Qi’s coronation, he had gone on a killing spree at the celebratory banquet, and the blood of the royal family had flowed throughout the entire palace. From then on, he had been jokingly called a “tyrant” by the common people, but no one dared to challenge the throne again, for fear of provoking this madman who would kill at will.

Qin Zhaohuang, having eaten his fill, went back to sleep. After all, his constitution couldn’t be compared to theirs, and after such a long and arduous journey in the deep mountains, he was already exhausted. Zhou Wuxin and Li Huaisheng had also gone far away. Only Feng Qi and Wen Ning’an were left by the fire.

Feng Qi looked at the dancing flames in a daze, as if remembering something. He said to Wen Ning’an, “My relationship with the Empress Mother became strained after the celebratory banquet. She couldn’t forgive me for killing Feng Ji.”

Feng Ji, Feng Qi’s full-blooded younger brother, one of his closest blood relatives in the world.

“The Empress Mother resents me for killing Feng Ji and has not shown me a kind face since. Little does she know that if I hadn’t made a move, he would be the one sitting on the throne now.”

Wen Ning’an saw that although Feng Qi’s face was expressionless, his eyes were dark and unreadable. He couldn’t help but reach out and hug him.

“It will be alright. One day, the Empress Dowager will understand.”

“I don’t care for her understanding. She can do whatever she wants. Anyway, Feng Ji is her son, and I am not.” Feng Qi sneered.

Wen Ning’an sighed. These two are both so stubborn.

“Brother Wen.”

After Li Huaisheng returned, Feng Qi ended the topic and turned to prepare a straw mat for himself and Wen Ning’an to rest.

“What’s wrong?”

Li Huaisheng handed Wen Ning’an a wax pill. “News from the army. Brother Gao has arrived with the garrison.”

The grand army was about to attack Youzhou, and they also had to guard against the You King’s army from retaking Ruanzhou. The next battles were all extremely crucial, so they also needed more supplies and troops. Gao Lan and the garrison had now arrived as reinforcements.

Wen Ning’an smiled. “It’s a pity we can’t participate in the welcoming banquet. Ruanzhou must be very lively right now.”

“That’s right.”

Zhou Wuxin followed behind and also walked back slowly, smiling. “Alright, alright, it’s very late. Let’s rest early and replenish our energy. We still have a hard day tomorrow.”

Wen Ning’an pulled at the straw mat and was about to lie down when his face suddenly turned pale, and he bent over and dry-heaved.

“Yixin?!” Feng Qi and Li Huaisheng were startled and at the same time, bent down and reached out to support him. The two of them were stunned for a moment. Feng Qi glared at Li Huaisheng with hostility and then pulled Wen Ning’an into his own embrace.

“It’s nothing…” Wen Ning’an felt his stomach churning and had no choice but to forcibly suppress the urge to vomit.

Seeing Wen Ning’an’s pale face as he clutched his stomach and twitched, Feng Qi felt a panic in his heart.

“Yixin, wh-what’s wrong! Stomach ache? Is your stomach upset?”

Li Huaisheng also turned his head to check the remains of the meat they had just eaten.

“It’s nothing. It’s been like this recently. It’ll be fine in a moment.” Wen Ning’an waved his hand, but the next moment, he covered his mouth.

“It’s been like this recently?!” Feng Qi’s eyes widened. The two of them were together almost day and night. How could he not know!

Feng Qi was furious.

And after Wen Ning’an had taken a few deep breaths, he let go of his hand covering his mouth and forced a smile to comfort the two of them. “It’s really nothing. Maybe I ate something wrong, or maybe I’m just too tired recently. Don’t make a big fuss.”

Li Huaisheng frowned. “We must find a physician to take a look after we get back.”

Feng Qi continued, “It was my negligence. No need to wait until we get back. I’ll have the shadow guards send a message right now and have a physician come up the mountain to take your pulse and examine you! How can we delay matters of the body?”

“Stop fooling around.” Wen Ning’an patted Feng Qi’s hand. “The army still has to continue to advance. Whether we find it or not, we can only stay here for two or three days. We’re going back soon anyway. Why be in such a hurry to make a big fuss now?”

Feng Qi’s brow was tightly furrowed.

“It’s really nothing… just my stomach is occasionally upset…” Wen Ning’an didn’t know what to say to these two.

Seeing that Feng Qi and Li Huaisheng seemed not to be at ease, Zhou Wuxin shook his head and walked over to take Wen Ning’an’s pulse.

Only then did Feng Qi remember that Zhou Wuxin was a divine physician!

Zhou Wuxin’s fingers gently rested on Wen Ning’an’s wrist. A moment later, his brow furrowed.

“Oh my…”

“What’s wrong?” Feng Qi’s brow twitched. Why is Zhou Wuxin’s expression so complicated?

Zhou Wuxin smiled. “General Wen is fine, absolutely fine. He’s very well.”

“Then why…”

“As General Wen said, his stomach is just occasionally upset. Perhaps he’s just too tired.” Zhou Wuxin shrugged and smiled. “Alright, you two. You really should be sleeping.”

After Wen Ning’an lay down, thinking of Zhou Wuxin’s strange expression just now, he also felt a deep doubt. Could there be some mystery in this?

Feng Qi lay down beside Wen Ning’an. “Yixin, you don’t know how scary you were just now.”

Wen Ning’an blinked. He had always thought it was just ordinary nausea and discomfort, but had he really appeared so serious? Shaking his head, he comforted him, “Although it was scary, the divine physician said it was nothing serious. You don’t have to worry either. We’ll talk about it after we get back to the city.”

“Let’s leave it at that for now.”