CH 117

January 3, 2023Merchie

“My Lord, you’re back.”

Shen Shijiu obediently answered him, “Shifu just said that she’s taking me to the General’s Manor. General Zhao was poisoned, it seems to be very serious.”

“General Zhao?” Pei Zheng’s eyes narrowed, and his voice was filled with displeasure, “You’re familiar with him?”

Shen Shijiu shook his head, “I’m not, I don’t know him.”

“Yet you’re still going?”

Jiang Yubai stood between them and said, “Lord Pei, I was the one who asked Master Shen and Xiao Shi to go. Why are you making things difficult for him? If you have any questions, just ask me.”

Pei Zheng said, “I don’t have any questions, but he cannot leave.”

Jiang Yubai had long since grown accustomed to Pei Zheng’s brazen and unreasonable attitude. The moment he came up with the idea to bring the little Highness to the General’s Manor, he knew that Pei Zheng wouldn’t allow it, so he chose to come at a time when Pei Zheng wasn’t around.

But since the Ghost Doctor had already agreed to go, there wasn’t any reason for Shen Shijiu to go as well.

Jiang Yubai pursed his lips, “Fine, fine, fine. Lord Pei, you’re too strict, why don’t you just tie him to your waist? He doesn’t have to go, I’ll just take Master Shen there.” Jiang Yubai spoke to Shen Huan, “Master Shen, there’s a carriage waiting outside, please follow me.”

As he spoke, Jiang Yubai was about to walk out of the gate. But while he had already exited the main hall, Shen Huan hadn’t followed.

Jiang Yubai turned around again, “Master Shen?”

Shen Huan looked at Pei Zheng, who was standing a short distance away. Her little disciple was completely hidden behind his body.

She was furious.

Whose disciple was he? Right now, he was surnamed Shen, not Qi, wasn’t he? And he definitely wasn’t surnamed Pei!

Why the hell was her disciple so obedient toward Pei Zheng?!

Shen Huan strode over, and stood in front of Pei Zheng. The top of her head reached the area below Pei Zheng’s chin, so she had to look up at him, which made her lose a bit of her ferocious aura.

“Lord Pei, I’d like you to understand one thing. That’s my disciple.”

Pei Zheng replied with a bland “mm”, “So?”

“So he should come with me. He goes wherever I go. We as master and disciple cannot afford to part again!”

Shen Huan yelled, “Disciple! What do you say, do you want to leave your shifu?”

Shen Shijiu’s little head popped out from behind Pei Zheng, and he looked at Shen Huan, his eyes flashing with an earnest sparkle.

“This disciple doesn’t want to leave shifu.”

Shen Huan raised her brows at Pei Zheng, clearly trying to provoke him.

Pei Zheng reached behind his back and grabbed Shen Shijiu’s wrist, gripping it tightly, but he said nothing.

For a moment, the three of them didn’t say a word; the atmosphere was abnormally quiet.

Jiang Yubai wanted nothing more than to roll his eyes into the sky. This wasn’t goodbye forever, what were they being so dramatic for?

“My God, the three of you, if we keep dragging our feet, General Zhao’s wound won’t even need to be detoxified, we can just chop his arm right off.”

Unexpectedly, Pei Zheng sneered, “Go ahead and chop it off then.”

The moment he finished speaking, he dragged Shen Shijiu along and walked out.

He refused to take even the smallest of risks.

He could let Shen Shijiu go, but what if he didn’t come back? What if he couldn’t find him again?

What if… he was recognized by Zhao Litang?

There were too many factors that were out of his control, but Pei Zheng refused to allow any of these things to happen.

Shen Shijiu was very obedient the entire time. Pei Zheng’s grip on his wrist was a bit too hard; he could feel His Lordship fingers trembling a bit, as though he were trying to restrain himself. So, he obediently allowed himself to be led away and did not speak.

But he was also unwilling to leave Shen Huan. As he walked out with Pei Zheng, he looked back at Shen Huan. He looked miserable, like he was about to cry.

As he walked to the door, Jiang Yubai also saw that there was something wrong with Shen Shijiu’s expression. He knew that it was difficult for him to be caught in the middle, so he stretched his arm out to stop Pei Zheng.

“Come with me for a second.”

Jiang Yubai forcefully pulled Pei Zheng to the side. Pei Zheng was still holding Shen Shijiu’s hand, and had yet to let go of him.

Jiang Yubai took a step closer to Pei Zheng, and whispered, “Pei Zheng, I know what you’re worried about. But this is what you owe General Zhao, no?”

Pei Zheng’s expression turned terrifyingly cold. He raised his eyelids and cast Jiang Yubai a sidelong glance.

“I owe him? Why don’t you tell me what the hell I owe him.”

Jiang Yubai also became displeased with his tone.

“You owe him a person! Pei Zheng, you need to understand one thing, you are merely relying on the little Highness’s innocence and kindness, as well as the fact that he likes you, so you are unscrupulous, and you do everything as you please. But the little Highness has never been an accessory that you can keep to yourself!

At these words, Pei Zheng’s gaze became even gloomier.

Jiang Yubai was also relying on the fact that Pei Zheng wouldn’t do anything to him. So no matter how ugly Pei Zheng’s face became, he continued, “It’s true, he’s not favored, he’s not smart, but you’re not the only one who loves him! What right do you have to keep him by your side, or dictate his actions?”

Pei Zheng said coldly, “Are you done?”

“No!” Jiang Yubai’s voice rose slightly, “Pei Zheng, you’re afraid, aren’t you? Right? You’re scared.”

Pei Zheng didn’t speak. He pulled Shen Shijiu along, looping around Jiang Yubai, and walked toward the manor’s back garden.

Jiang Yubai watched his receding back, and clicked his tongue.

“You’re afraid, yet you still won’t admit it. Ai, I never expected that the great Prime Minister Pei could get scared too, how strange…”

Pei Zheng held Shen Shijiu’s hand as they walked in silence. They passed through numerous courtyards, and arrived in the back garden.

There wasn’t a person in sight in the back garden; servants weren’t allowed to enter the garden during the day, so it was quiet and tranquil.

Because the weather had turned chilly, the leaves on the trees in the garden had fallen. Their bare branches carried a hint of coldness and desolation.

Pei Zheng no longer wanted to look upon this lonely, ruined scenery by himself.

The wrist he was gripping shifted slightly, before a small hand slowly reached in and pressed against his palm.

“My Lord…” A soft, sweet voice called out.

Pei Zheng felt the warm touch against his palm; it was much warmer than his own hand. It was as though he was holding a little stove.

“My hands are cold.” Pei Zheng said, and tried to loosen his grip; he didn’t want to freeze the small man’s hand.

“That doesn’t matter to me.” Shen Shijiu held Pei Zheng’s hand and didn’t let go, “I’ll warm up my Lord’s hands, okay? So my Lord, please don’t be angry at shifu anymore…”

Pei Zheng stopped under a tree, before he reached out to stroke Shen Shijiu’s little head.

“I’m not angry.”

“Then my Lord, what’s wrong? Are you unhappy?”

Shen Shijiu’s almond eyes suddenly flashed, “Oh, did His Majesty get mad at my Lord?”

Pei Zheng smiled, “That’s not it either.”

In truth, Pei Zheng knew that Jiang Yubai was right. He was scared.

He wanted to tie the small man to the manor forever, or keep him by his side.

In the past, he would have trapped him in the manor regardless of his wishes.

But now, Pei Zheng would never do something so foolish.

He wanted to keep him here, but it couldn’t be at the price of hurting him again.

“Do you want to go with your shifu?”

Shen Shijiu pouted, and nodded slightly.

“Shifu can’t do it all on her own, I want to help shifu.”

“Is it only because of your shifu? It’s not because of anything else? Perhaps it’s because General Zhao is a hero who guards our territory and protects the country?”

Pei Zheng did not believe it himself, but this was what the entire world called Zhao Litang: a hero who protected the country.

“No, that’s not it.” Shen Shijiu shook his head, “I don’t even know General Zhao. I just can’t bear to let shifu go. Before, she left for a long time, and she didn’t even tell me where she went. I was scared that she abandoned me and left by herself…”

The more Shen Shijiu spoke, the more aggrieved he became, and his eyes reddened.

Pei Zheng understood. He gathered the small man into his arms and stroked his back.

“All right, I know.” He sighed softly, “I’ll let you go, okay?”

No matter how reasonable someone’s argument was, it would never be as effective as the small man’s red eyes; they rendered Pei Zheng unable to speak any words of refusal. He would give him whatever he wanted, he would give him everything.

“But you must answer me this.”

Shen Shijiu lifted his head off of Pei Zheng’s chest, and nodded obediently, “Okay.”

“Do you like me?”

Shen Shijiu was stunned, and his earlobes immediately flushed red. He hurriedly buried his head back into Pei Zheng’s chest, and didn’t make a sound.

Pei Zheng moved away slightly. He tilted the small man’s chin up, rendering him unable to escape, before he leaned closer. He was so close that he could smell the scent of medicine mixed with the small man’s milky fragrance.

It was light, sweet, and alluring to the extreme.

“Do you like me? Hm?” Pei Zheng leaned into Shen Shijiu’s ear. His voice was very soft and a bit breathy, but it was deep and playful.

The small man appeared to be dizzy from all the teasing, and his little cheeks were flushed. Pei Zheng’s handsome face filled his vision, and his breathing became chaotic.

“I…. I do…”

His voice was high-pitched, carrying notes of shyness and cuteness.

Pei Zheng’s lips curved into a smile, a smile that reached the depths of his eyes.

Shen Shijiu had never seen Pei Zheng smile like this before. Their faces were so close; Pei Zheng’s handsome eyes seemed to be shining with a river of stars.

“Then remember…” Pei Zheng’s lips hovered above Shen Shijiu’s bright red mouth, before he mouthed silently, “… I love you.”

When he finished speaking, he leaned down to steal a touch of charming tenderness.

When the two returned to the main hall, Shen Huan was sitting in a chair with her hands in her lap.

Jiang Yubai was at the side, anxious and helpless. He had been trying to persuade Shen Huan for a long time now, but Shen Huan was adamant on waiting for Pei Zheng to let her disciple go. Until then, no matter what Jiang Yubai said, she refused to leave the Prime Minister’s Manor.

When she heard that her little disciple was going with her to the General’s Manor, Shen Huan still couldn’t believe it.

Unexpectedly, Shen Shijiu followed Jiang Yubai out of the Prime Minister’s Manor, and climbed into the carriage at the gate.

Shen Shijiu even lifted the curtain over the carriage window, and called out to Shen Huan, who was standing at the gate of the manor, “Shifuuu, hurry up and get on!”

Shen Huan huffed at Pei Zheng, who was also standing at the gate, before she climbed into the carriage.

Shen Shijiu was leaning over the window. His head was tilted, his eyes locked with Pei Zheng’s. It was obvious that he was very reluctant to leave.

As the carriage began to move forward, Shen Shijiu continued to wave at Pei Zheng until he could no longer see the gate of the Prime Minister’s Manor. Only then did he lower the curtain.

Shen Huan took a deep breath, “Ah! We’ve finally left the Prime Minister’s Manor! Feels good!”

She glanced at Shen Shijiu, who was sitting beside her, and asked, “Disciple, why did Lord Pei suddenly agree to let you come with your master to the General’s Manor?”

Shen Shijiu replied, “His Lordship said I can help shifu, but there are some things that I can’t do.”

“What things?” Jiang Yubai was curious.

Shen Shijiu began to count on his fingers.

“I’m not allowed to forget what His Lordship told me, I’m not allowed to be alone with General Zhao, I’m not allowed to speak unnecessarily to General Zhao, I can’t have any physical contact with General Zhao…”

“Stop, stop, stop!” Jiang Yubai said, “It’s all related to General Zhao? He should’ve just not let you go to the General’s Manor if he’s just going to forbid this and forbid that.”

“No, that’s not it, there are also a few things related to Imperial Physician Jiang.” Shen Shijiu stretched out his other hand and began to count.

“I can’t be alone with Imperial Physician Jiang, I can’t let Imperial Physician Jiang hug me, I can’t listen to Imperial Physician Jiang’s nonsensical words, ….”

Notes

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