Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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Just as Zhuang Tian’er was suffering the backlash, Zhuang Li and Qi Wang were bringing over a soft couch and squeezing together to cool off.
The western mountains were covered with dense forests, and a cool breeze blew down from time to time through the branches and leaves, carrying the fragrance of pine needles and green grass.
Qi Wang inhaled the fragrance, then lowered his head to kiss the young master’s temples, a satisfied smile dancing on his face. No one could imagine that just yesterday, he had been teetering on the brink of life and death.
He hugged the young man from behind, burying his face in the crook of his neck, and let out a heartfelt sigh of happiness.
Zhuang Li suddenly grabbed a strand of his hair that was hanging down, tugged it gently, and asked, “Tell me how you were ambushed back then. How exactly did this poisoned needle pierce your heart?”
Qi Wang hesitated. He didn’t know how to describe those bloody and cruel court struggles.
But Zhuang Li grew impatient and tugged at his hair again.
With a tense expression, Qi Wang said helplessly, “Four years ago, my elder brother fell seriously ill and summoned me back to the capital to take charge of the overall situation. I secretly rushed back to the capital, but on the way, I was ambushed by the eldest prince. This poisoned needle was left at that time.”
“Since you were ambushed, there must have been a traitor among you. Were the traitor eventually found?” Zhuang Li immediately pressed.
“Found him. He was one of my subordinates. He’s been dealt with.”
“With your martial arts skills, how could you not defend against a poisoned needle?”
“At the time, I was distracted because I was trying to save Chang Rong.”
“Who is Chang Rong?”
“Chang Rong is the child I adopted.”
Hearing this, Zhuang Li stopped asking questions, but the chill in his heart grew stronger. He closed his eyes and asked in his mind, “System, did the Crown Prince Chang Rong end up with Zhuang Tian’er?”
“Yes, they were a divine couple in the State of Jin.” 7480 nodded honestly.
“System, what exactly does this Prince Chang Rong see in Zhuang Tian’er?”
7480: “He became lucky after choosing Zhuang Tian’er.”
“Well, he became lucky after choosing Zhuang Tian’er. Besides that, what else? Zhuang Tian’er is a peasant girl with no status, no position, and no looks. What was a prince thinking when he married her? Did he truly love her? He didn’t see any signs that she had the ability to manipulate people?”
“The chosen one of every small world takes it upon himself to kill my lover. And, shortly after Zhuang Tian’er married the Crown Prince Chang Rong, my lover died quietly. Is this a coincidence?”
“If this wasn’t a coincidence, did the Crown Prince Chang Rong know anything about it? As the biggest beneficiary, was he completely innocent? Was it fate’s favor that made him the ultimate victor? In this process, did he do nothing and knew nothing, was he the purest person?”
At this point, Zhuang Li raised his eyebrows and asked, “System, if I said that the Crown Prince Chang Rong, who has been on the battlefield and killed enemy soldiers, and who has been thriving in the corrupt and turbulent palace for the past few years, is a pure white lotus flower, would you believe me?”
7480: “…”
It really couldn’t believe it.
Zhuang Li continued, “System, Prince Chang Rong eventually became emperor, right?”
7480: “Yes, Master.”
Zhuang Li sneered, “But he is destined not to become emperor.”
7480 foolishly retorted: “Why is he destined not to be emperor? It’s written in the script, and he did become emperor in the end.”
“Because he’s not a member of the royal family at all. He doesn’t have royal blood. Who all know this secret?” Zhuang Li opened his eyes, his pupils gleaming with an extremely cold light.
7480 seemed to realize something, and his tone became horrified: “This secret is known only to the god and his confidants.”
“Yes, only they knew this secret, so in the end they all died, while the Crown Prince Chang Rong smoothly became emperor.” Zhuang Li grinned, revealing his teeth. “I hope this Crown Prince Chang Rong isn’t what I think, otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Zhuang Li didn’t continue, but 7480 shuddered violently.
….
When you have something on your mind, the scenery before you becomes less beautiful.
Zhuang Li broke free from Qi Wang’s embrace and said bluntly, “I want to hypnotize you and take you back to the day you were poisoned by the needle.”
“Why?” Qi Wang asked, his face full of confusion.
“I have a guess in my mind, but I’d rather not say it. I want you to go back and see for yourself.” Zhuang Li turned around and stared intently at Qi Wang.
Qi Wang could not refuse any of the young man’s requests, so he obediently accepted the hypnosis.
The guards standing not far away immediately surrounded the small courtyard, protecting it completely.
“Now that you have returned to that day, I ask you to carefully observe the Crown Prince Chang Rong’s every move and then tell me what he is doing,” Zhuang Li asked, voicing his doubts.
The Qi Wang replied with his eyes closed, “He is being attacked by several assassins.”
“Are those assassins really attacking him? Is he in danger?”
“It was very dangerous; he was slashed several times.”
Qi Wang stood in the air, silently observing the assassination taking place in the woods.
This wasn’t a god’s-eye view, but rather everything he’d seen out of the corner of his eye back then, only these scenes were stored in his subconscious and ignored by him. In the midst of his maneuvering and dodging, his gaze could completely scan the entire scene.
“Besides you, is there no one else who can save him? Take a good look at his every move. Is he really in danger? If you don’t save him, is he sure to die?” Zhuang Li pressed further.
This time, Qi Wang hesitated. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, as if he saw some details he couldn’t understand.
Zhuang Li astutely seized upon this hesitation: “What did you see?”
“The assassin slashed at him; he could have dodged, but he didn’t. He deliberately stretched out his arm. In that instant, he intentionally amplified the volume of his scream.” Qi Wang’s sleeping face began to harden. He seemed to realize something as well.
“What else have you observed? Think carefully, don’t rush,” Zhuang Li reassured him at the right time.
“He looked at me and cried out, “Father, save me!””
Sweat began to bead on the Qi Wang’s forehead. After struggling for a moment, he changed his story in a hoarse voice: “No, he wasn’t looking at me, but at a tree to my left. The assassin who shot the poisoned needle at me was hiding in that tree. His eyes widened, his pupils contracted slightly, and his expression was unnatural for a moment. I’m sure he saw the assassin, but he didn’t cry out ‘Father, be careful,’ he cried ‘Father, save me!’ I rushed to save him, which gave him an opening, and the assassin seized the opportunity to shoot the poisoned needle.”
At this point, Qi Wang fell into a long silence.
Chang Rong was the first to spot the assassin, but instead of alerting Qi Wang, he deliberately offered his arm to the assassin’s blade, risking injury to divert Qi Wang’s attention. The assassination might not have been his doing, but he cleverly seized an opportunity— a chance to kill his adoptive father without anyone noticing.
If it weren’t for his concern leading to confusion, Qi Wang wouldn’t have been unable to dodge even a poisoned needle.
Only after revisiting those overlooked details did Qi Wang finally understand everything that had happened back then.
The memory was so vivid; what else could the Qi Wang not understand? Even in his dreams, he couldn’t help but show an expression of heart-wrenching pain. It was as if the poisoned needle that had been pulled out had pierced his heart again in an instant.
Seeing that his expression was becoming increasingly painful, Zhuang Li quickly guided him to wake up.
Qi Wang suddenly opened his eyes. Cold sweat immediately slid down his forehead, soaking into his eyes and making his reddened eyes sting with pain. This was the child he had raised with his own hands, the child he had deceived his father and mother into being listed in the imperial family register.
He taught him martial arts, guided him in strategy, paved the way for him, and granted him authority. In the end, is this how he repaid him?
What were his thoughts the moment he saw the assassin? Did he already know his true parentage? Did he wish for his adoptive father’s death? If so, would he truly be a prince?
Each increasingly cruel speculation pierced the heart of Qi Wang like a knife, causing him to clutch his already bloodied chest and groan in pain.
Zhuang Li quickly hugged him and gently comforted him, “Don’t be sad, you still have me.” He didn’t know how to say anything more touching, so he could only kiss his lover’s forehead, which was covered in cold sweat, again and again.
Sweat dampened Zhuang Li’s lips, but his heart was filled with tenderness.
The Qi Wang, initially in a state of turmoil, quickly calmed down. Cold sweat still streamed down his face, but the stabbing pain in his heart slowly subsided. Yes, he still had his young tutor; thinking of this, he no longer felt so heartbroken. He had raised a white-eyed wolf[1], but that was alright; once he saw the truth, he could simply get rid of the wolf.
Qi Wang, who quickly understood everything, was about to reply, “I’m fine,” but then swallowed the words back down.
Instead he held his breath, gritted his teeth, and strained his eyes until they were bloodshot, looking utterly despondent.
Zhuang Li felt even more heartache, kissing his forehead down to his cheeks, and finally gently kissing his thin lips, murmuring comforting words: “From now on, I will always be with you, don’t be sad, okay?”
“How long will you be there?” Qi Wang looked at him intently.
“How long do you want?” Zhuang Li pressed his lips to his lover’s, ready to offer a comforting kiss at any moment.
“I want forever.” Qi Wang was obsessed with these two words. For him, forever was never a false proposition.
“Then forever.” Zhuang Li gave his promise without hesitation.
“Alright, it’s settled then.” Qi Wang finally smiled contentedly, then cupped the young master’s face and stole a deep kiss.
He had completely forgotten about his adopted son’s betrayal.
The guards, who had originally intended to comfort the prince, were rendered speechless.
….
When Prince Yun Changrong arrived at the villa, Zhuang Li was playing a game of “asking the immortals” with a group of guards in the pavilion. And Qi Wang sat to the side, watching with a warm smile.
Yun Changrong immediately stepped forward to greet him and said anxiously, “Father, I heard that you have found a master to treat your illness? Is he reliable? Should I help you investigate him? Even someone like Xuan Zhenzi is a fraud, I am really worried about him.”
“No need for investigation, the expert has already removed the poisoned needle for me,” Qi Wang said calmly.
Yun Changrong was stunned for a moment, then broke into a joyful smile. He then strode to the Prince of Qi’s side and asked loudly, “Father, the needle has been removed? So quickly? You no longer have to endure the excruciating pain day and night? That’s wonderful, wonderful! Your son is so happy!”
He choked up as he spoke.
Seemingly embarrassed, he turned away, quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and when he turned back, his face was filled with gratitude: “Father, where is that master? I must thank him properly!”
After saying this, a bright smile bloomed on his tear-filled face.
Every expression of his revealed his sincere filial piety, and every action showed his cherishing and respect; not a single flaw could be found.
The Qi Wang smiled at him, his eyes full of gentleness and affection, without a single flaw.
“This is the master.” He stretched out his hand and pointed to Zhuang Li, who was surrounded by guards and fiddling with a spirit board.
Yun Changrong seemed surprised that the expert who saved his father was so young, and was slightly taken aback.
But he quickly came to his senses, strode forward, thanked Zhuang Li respectfully, and then looked at the spirit board and asked, “What are you doing, sir?”
“I’m telling their fortunes. If the young master is interested, he can give it a try.” Zhuang Li smiled with interest.
“Oh? Fortune telling with a board? Okay, I’ll give it a try too.” Yun Changrong readily agreed, eager to please his father’s favorite.
7480 silently facepalmed: Damn it, another idiot has willingly walked right into the host’s line of fire. The host’s so-called fortune-telling, translated, means “I’ll kill you!”
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[1] In Chinese, “white-eyed wolf” (bái yǎn láng / 白眼狼) is a derogatory idiom used to describe a cruel, cold-hearted, or deeply ungrateful person. It refers to someone who bites the hand that feeds them and shows no loyalty to those who have helped or raised them.
