Chapter 93: Encountering a Clear Day Chapter 72: Possessive Desire for the Art of Killing

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

The servant peeling longan to the side glanced secretly at the Head of Household's complexion, unable to help but whisper: "Head of Household, it's already been three days and three days..."

Zhuang Yuanzhi was already annoyed; hearing this, he glared at the little slave: "Only you know how to count!"

The servant not only knew how to count, but also how to eat: "Then when will you buy soy-braised pork elbow..."

"Stupid slave, I see you can't tell the difference between one full meal and full meals every time," Zhuang Daren raised his brow: "If you understood even a shred of the way of the big picture, you should be hoping the Commandery Prince's Mansion sends a letter soon, instead of thinking only of soy-braised pork elbow!"

Hearing this rhetoric, the servant knew his master was using the big picture to trap him again; the master spoke eloquently, but clearly wanted to welch on the debt, to make him feel ashamed and voluntarily give up the bet he had won.

The servant understood clearly in his heart, but dared not refute on the surface; the master was a man of great appetite for gambling, while he was insignificant and his words carried little weight.

The servant, pained by the loss of the soy-braised pork elbow, slumped his shoulders and said sullenly: "It's that the Sixth Prince refuses to write a letter; even if I stretch my neck waiting, it's no use..."

Zhuang Daren stuffed the peeled lychee slave into his mouth, chewed a few times, and frowned while giving himself psychological counseling: "Perhaps Wuling Commandery has not yet truly calmed down; we need to wait for this wave of attention to pass. Caution is the foundation of success..."

He said this with his mouth, but his heart remained anxious... who could say for sure that the child wouldn't hold a prejudice against him because of the previous generation's affairs? After all, he was still a young man.

Zhuang Yuanzhi thought this, and couldn't help but stroke his gradually thinning beard.

Since returning from the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion, his state of mind had changed quite a bit.

On the first night after returning, he lay on the bed, and after a bit of self-scrutiny, he couldn't help but feel his judgment had been too impulsive and rash; perhaps he had been stirred up by Huang Jie's "passionate fervor"?

Zhuang Daren sat and waited for that passion to subside, planning to make a new judgment after calming down.

Who knew that from the moment he opened and closed his eyes, it was all that young man's aura and demeanor, which he couldn't shake off... after several days, the passion had not faded at all, but instead had watered a scene of vigorous vitality like a withered tree meeting spring in the depths of his heart.

This old tree of his had suddenly met spring, while that seedling of extraordinary courage in this remote place was in danger of growing crooked; thinking of this, Zhuang Yuanzhi agonized over seedling protection plans for several consecutive nights, devising many growth strategies in his heart.

It just so happened that he hadn't yet been allowed to enter the mill, but had already started secretly working.

The anxious and agitated Zhuang Yuanzhi couldn't blame the spirited youth, so he could only vent all his dissatisfaction onto Tang Jia—the Sixth Prince was young and immature, needing someone to pave the way from the side; how could Tang Jia not know to help put in a good word before the Sixth Prince?

This Tang Jia was truly dull and obtuse, possessing nothing but a heart of uprightness and benevolence, knowing nothing of socializing and scheming!

However, upon further thought, the reason His Majesty had appointed this person to guard the Sixth Prince was clearly because he valued these very qualities... probably hoping this virtuous and kind person would properly teach and advise the Sixth Prince, so that the Sixth Prince wouldn't develop other thoughts or create other possibilities.

In terms of the art of rulership, this was certainly not unreasonable.

But from his own perspective, Zhuang Yuanzhi couldn't help but feel that Tang Jia, this Changshi, was truly causing mistakes, doing things without understanding them at all, and how could he compare to replacing him?

Zhuang Daren had slept poorly last night, even thinking of some southern evil technique of exchanging souls through Gu that he had heard recently... but unfortunately he had personally investigated it, and it was nothing but a lie, just two barbarians trying to cause a scene acting it out, with such poor acting that it made him both angry and embarrassed.

In order to get close to the promising seedling he admired, Zhuang Daren's thoughts had already begun to take unconventional paths, even fantasizing about seizing a colleague's body, but he couldn't seize it, so he could only continue blaming Tang Jia for causing mistakes.

In the Wuling Commandery Prince's Mansion, in the Commandery Prince's residence, Tang Jia stood before the side gate leading to the back garden, suddenly covering his face with his sleeve and turning his head to sneeze twice.

Tang Jia thought the weather had indeed turned cool, but the Sixth Prince had been going to the garden frequently lately; wouldn't that make it even easier for cool and damp qi to enter his body?

He frowned and spoke sternly to the eunuch blocking the road: "Quickly go and announce to the Sixth Prince, and tell him this official has important matters to discuss with the Prince; if the Prince refuses to see me, this official will wait here!"

Since the day the Brocade Guard came knocking, he had gone six days without seeing the Sixth Prince.

Although previously, because of the Sixth Prince's drinking, things had been somewhat unpleasant, this was after all a family matter of the Commandery Prince's Mansion; after the Brocade Guard made a fuss, this bit of displeasure had long been washed away—what grudge had he ever had with the Sixth Prince?

Now he only worried that this child, having suffered such humiliation, would become even more extreme.

And that strange maid who appeared that day... he had paid close attention these past few days, but hadn't seen a trace of that maid again; had she been secretly sent away, or was she still hiding in this back garden? So the Sixth Prince lingered here every day?

One was solitary seclusion and gloomy depression; the other was hiding a woman for carnal pleasure... Tang Jia couldn't say for a moment which scene would be more headache-inducing.

However, whether he would be allowed to step into the back garden to see him was still a question.

Seeing a eunuch go to announce him, Tang Jia sighed deeply, determined to barge in today even if he had to force his way.

At this moment, in the main hall of the back garden pavilion, the doors and windows were wide open, the hall bright throughout, a wisp of fading osmanthus fragrance drifting about.

Deng Hu stood guard outside the hall; inside the hall, Shaowei and Liu Qi sat opposite each other across a table, the two of them reading books.

Shaowei was recovering from her injuries and couldn't practice her skills diligently, and in recent years she had developed the habit of reading every day; so yesterday, when Liu Qi casually asked if she needed anything, she requested some books to read.

She specifically stated that she didn't want ones that preached principles, only ones that discussed schemes; best if it was about that life-and-death study of give-and-take, you die I live.

Liu Qi understood: since she couldn't extensively practice the killing arts of sword and blade for the time being, she wanted to make up for it with the killing arts from books.

Asking him for such books could be considered asking an expert; Liu Qi ordered Deng Hu to bring over two full boxes of bamboo slips meeting Shaowei's requirements.

Shaowei frowned and read deeply; there was no thirst for knowledge in her eyes, only a desire to possess the art of killing.

Seeing her engrossed in reading, and her flipping speed not slow at all, Liu Qi was quite surprised.

The reason he sat here was originally to answer her questions and clear up her doubts, but until now, she hadn't uttered a single question.

Liu Qi was surprised by her literacy, and also surprised by his own ridiculousness; to win her over, he only needed to send her books, but when had he become so "fond of teaching others"? Just now he had actually held a feeling of expectation for her to ask him for advice; coming back to his senses now, he felt it was extremely strange and utterly ridiculous.

However, he indeed hadn't expected her to know so many characters; this wasn't out of contempt, but because she was truly naturally unrestrained, showing not a trace of having been disciplined.

After a person knows many characters and reads many books, logically it's hard to retain this natural qi.

But she not only hadn't been shaped by principles, instead her whole body was filled with a feeling of unwillingness and indignation at wanting to shape principles in return.

I don't know who taught her; I suppose it must be an otherworldly transcendent master.

But being noticed and enlightened by such a master was enough to prove she was herself no ordinary person.

The more they interacted, the more he felt the secrets on her were as numerous as stars, making it impossible not to feel curiosity.

Curiosity was worth keeping, but the heart of being fond of teaching others must not exist anymore; Liu Qi reflected on this in secret, and also changed to another scroll, planning to quietly read it.

Shaowei originally might have satisfied Liu Qi's rare heart of being fond of teaching others—she was very envious of Liu Qi's handwriting, and originally wanted him to teach her a thing or two.

But matters had their priorities; no matter how well she learned calligraphy, it couldn't turn into a killing sword.

And Shaowei worried that since the other party was so skilled in calligraphy, once she started writing, he might find ironclad evidence from the slightest clues, confirming the origin of the Eight-Character Warning.

He claimed it was out of grace, but his mother, brother, and uncle had all died tragically, and he himself had a leg illness; Shaowei couldn't help but half-believe, half-doubt this claim of grace, and once she admitted this matter, she would have to explain how she could foresee such calamity—perhaps this was the "divine ability" the other party cared more about, and such things should absolutely not be placed in the open for scrutiny; she must remain vigilant.

All in all, now is not the time to learn characters; reading more books is the proper business.

Golden sunlight streamed through the window, slowly settling atop Shaowei's head.

She read with such focus that she noticed nothing.

Once, because she wanted to find those detestable two characters "Ni Pi," she had studied diligently as if seeking revenge.

Now, however, she read because she wanted to find those detestable two characters and seek revenge for the person who had written them in days past.

Discussing warfare on paper is always shallow, but if one cannot even possess this shallowness, one can only be a tadpole spinning in a low muddy pit, unable to swim out of the pit, and thus unable to find the person one wishes to see.

Shaowei read more than half of the scroll in her hand, finally managing to read two obscure characters; strictly speaking, there had originally been only one unfamiliar character, while the other still left a slight impression, but once this character with an impression was paired with that completely unfamiliar character, the former took on a feeling of defecting to the enemy and betraying one's lord, so much so that Shaowei could not even recognize it.

Shaowei pondered for a moment, feeling it truly affected her understanding of the context, and was about to speak to ask Liu Qi, when she suddenly saw Deng Hu enter, saying that a palace attendant had come to report that Tang Changshi insisted on coming to request an audience.

After thinking it over in his heart, Liu Qi first said to Shaowei: "The Changshi knows nothing of my actions; I often need to use his mouth to put the hearts of the Capital at ease. This Back Garden has not easily allowed anyone to enter without permission in recent years, and now is precisely a time of turmoil; if I were to refuse an audience again and again here, it would instead be suspicious."

Shaowei understood: a house not easily seen by the light of day, in a special period, must occasionally have its door pushed open to let people take a look that there was nothing unsightly hidden inside.

She thus set down the book, thought for a moment, and said: "He might very well be here to arrest me; he saw me that day."

As she spoke, she had already sat up straight, looked around for a moment, and pointed her finger behind Liu Qi: "To deal with such a situation, hide nearby; under the lamp is darkest and safest, I just don't know if it is convenient for you?"

Liu Qi turned to look in the direction she pointed: a folding screen, and beyond it was the place for sitting, lying down, and resting.

"I have nothing inconvenient, it's just that this 'under the lamp is darkest' is indeed too much under the lamp; do you truly feel convenient hiding?"

"My Concealment Technique is near completion; with my breath concealed, there is no difference from a dead person." Shaowei spoke with a touch of arrogance, raising her foot to go behind the screen, and said as she went: "If he can truly sense my existence, it shows this person's skill is unfathomable, hidden extremely deeply, and very dangerous; you can just take the opportunity to start eliminating him."

Imagining the scene of the lifelong honest and loyal Tang Changshi suddenly having the blade of suspicion held to his neck, Liu Qi suppressed his smile and nodded: "A good idea; the one who comes to spy is instead spied upon—it is indeed a fine case of using their own plan against them."

Shaowei had already walked behind that painted floor-standing screen with a wooden and stone frame, and lay down on the low bed, taking the opportunity to close her eyes and rest her spirit.

Before Tang Changshi arrived, Deng Hu came again to relay a message, saying that a green-robed monk who had been in seclusion for many days had also come to request an audience.

After Liu Qi and Deng Hu nodded, they said to Shaowei behind the screen: "I trouble Young Lady Jiang to also help me probe this person's skills and details."

From behind the screen came a careless "Nodding," as if it were nothing at all, and she had already begun to be sparing with words and conceal her aura.

Liu Qi smiled silently, feeling that behind him was hidden a truly remarkable divine object; she was certainly skilled at the Covert Aura Technique, but he might not be able to disguise himself well, so it seemed he would have to be more cautious than usual, so as not to drag her down.

The youth leaned back against the desk behind him, stretched out his long legs, closed his eyes for a moment, and suppressed that inexplicable smile.

Deng Hu closed all the windows, left only one half of the Hall Gate open, and changed the tea to wine; the wine had been sent to entertain that knight-errant, but that knight-errant was wholeheartedly caring for his master and had not tasted a drop.

When Tang Jia arrived, he smelled the full hall of wine scent in this dimly lit, cold and desolate pavilion, while the Sixth Prince leaned there in an idle and listless posture, eyes closed, not knowing how drunk he was.

From the moment he stepped into the hall, Tang Jia's gaze had been scanning and searching, but all around was terrifyingly quiet and desolate; he truly could not sense the existence of a fourth living person.

No, strictly speaking, there were only two and a half living people; he and Deng Hu counted as whole ones, while the Sixth Prince leaning there was deathly still, ghost qi overwhelming human breath, at most half a person.

Seeing this scene, Tang Jia felt not only disappointment in his heart, but more so pity; the question he had been thinking about before coming suddenly had a clear answer at this moment.

Compared to this suffocatingly cold and desolate loneliness, he would rather the Sixth Prince be here seeking pleasure; at least he could curse loudly.

Avoiding everyone, hiding in this cold and desolate Back Garden pavilion to drink wine—how is this different from licking one's wounds alone?

Tang Jia's heart was covered with a layer of pity; he stepped forward and knelt down, bowing his head to salute.

When he raised his head, he heard the youth casually ask him: "Changshi, what were you looking for just now?"

Tang Jia thought to himself, searching would be too late; if she were truly hidden here, why not hurry and hide away before he arrives?

He sighed and simply spoke plainly: "The day the Brocade Guard came to the door, this subordinate once saw a strange maid inside the Prince's house; I do not know if this girl is still in the residence now?"

Liu Qi only said: "Changshi's eyes are playing tricks on him."

Tang Jia was very clear whether his eyes were playing tricks or not; he pondered for a moment and said with some compromise: "If the Sixth Prince truly likes her, he can simply bring her back to the residence to serve at his left and right; this subordinate will have no further objections."

"..." Liu Qi's brow furrowed slightly; he felt a cold and sharp gaze cut through the screen from behind him, and for a moment he dared not speak, fearing that careless words would thus offend her.

The youth's silence only made Tang Jia more certain of his guess, with some helplessness and some sighing.

That maid's appearance was ordinary; she had neither snow-white skin nor alluring charm; presumably she did not rely on her looks, but was probably a confidante.

He had previously done his utmost to strictly forbid the Sixth Prince from contact between men and women, fearing this child would be too early bewitched by beauty and stray onto the wrong path again.

Now the Sixth Prince was already over sixteen years old; if he could have a youthful affection not bewitched by outward appearance, perhaps it would also be a beautiful and positive spiritual reliance.

"The Prince can consider this matter." Tang Jia was accustomed to being proper and not used to discussing such matters in too much detail; he then continued: "Apart from this, this subordinate has two other matters on this trip."

Good Night

? 【This chapter's Zhuang adult: has prepared a job application letter, but has long not received an interview notice. Hopes for an internal referral, but the other party simply refuses to refer.】

? 【This chapter's Shaowei: the little tadpole strives to jump out of the mud puddle to find its mother...】

? Thank you everyone for the monthly tickets and comments, thank you book friends Yan Zhi Hu 1, Mao Yin Yin Mi Mi, Fang Fei Fang Fei, De Du Reading After, Liang Nu 007, Nan Lan Wei Fei, Cong Cong Bao Bao, I am the Sister, Soda Bubble Tea, Book Contains Meta, Book Friend, Book Friend and other little darlings for their rewards.

? (Chapter End)