Ch15 - Danger

The night was a little cold. On the quiet path, Du Ci expressionlessly hummed a song.

Granted, the song he hummed was full of mistakes, forgetting the melody here, humming wrong notes there. 

Qi Nanke: “…”

Qi Nanke gently pulled on the reins. The yellow horse stopped tacitly, he swayed his ears left and right and snorted loudly, as if laughing at the little prince’s lack of talent in music.

Qi Nanke asked, “You went to a male brothel?”

“Don’t say it so unpleasantly,” Du Ci retorted, “It’s called Zhuifeng House.” 

Qi Nanke, “Right. If I remember correctly, it’s a male brothel.”

Du Ci, “…”

Du Ci grabbed the horse’s mane, muttering to himself “Why is this topic not over yet?”

“Why go there? And who is master Yu?”

Du Ci pouted, “A friend.”

“You and a courtesan are friends?”

The courtesans in Zuifeng House are called “masters.” Some dressed like women, wearing gold hairpins and silver bracelets, long hair fell on their waists, silky dresses hanging off their bodies. Compared to women, they might even be more beautiful and enchanting. Some others look like beautiful scholars and excel in all subjects: literature, chess, calligraphy and painting. Their smiles are like bright crescent moons, very pleasant to look at.

Master Yu’s real name is Yu Quan. His stage name is Yu Xiaorou. The two became acquaintances due to Yu Xiaorou’s reputation in Royal City as a playboy who digs both men and women. In Zuifeng House, master Yu is quite famous. He is not only skilled in literature, chess, calligraphy and painting, but his bed skill is also top-notch. He has a bunch of regular customers. 

That said, most of his customers like to be bottoms. It’s because gentleman Yu’s appearance is not feminine, it is something between masculinity and handsomeness. His every gesture is alluring and sexy. When he gazes at someone deeply, it makes the person feel he truly is in love with them.

Ordinary men couldn’t possess such craftiness. Du Ci befriended him, but it was actually to learn his skills of hooking up with men, so they could be used on Qi Nanke later.

It’s a pity. Now he has obtained a considerable amount of skills, but they may not be utilized.

Du Ci thought and became depressed again. 

“What’s wrong with being courtesans? They didn’t steal or rob anyone. Don’t they also work hard to live like everyone else?” Du Ci was unhappy, so his words came out a little harsh, “Could it be only you people from the Duke mansion are considered decent people?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Earlier, in front of Big Yang and Second Yang, Du Ci used his miserable Dasheng’s language skill to speak and still managed to maintain some of his demeanor as a little prince. But now that he started speaking in the Shu Shi’s language, his demeanor suddenly switched to a troublemaking little thug in the blink of an eye.

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“Then what did you mean?”

“I didn’t mean to look down on anyone, it was just that…you…” Qi Nanke felt that the following words were very embarrassing to say, but after holding it in for a long time, he continued, “You are a dignified prince, it’s not good to be seen going into that kind of place. Besides, you…you already have an engagement!”

Looking at Du Ci’s careless appearance, Qi Nanke felt annoyed in his heart, “In a few days, the imperial decree should be issued, you and I would be officially engaged, yet you still went to the Zuifeng House to have a good time with that master. What kind of impropriety is that?”

Du Ci mumbled, “He and I are good sisters.” 

Qi Nanke: “…”

Thinking about something, Du Ci suddenly turned the table and got angry back at Qi Nanke, “You’re a dignified general, how could you actually lie without blushing? What Qingjun? What selling fish? I haven’t settled that score with you yet! You big liar!”

Qi Nanke said, “Qingjun is the Qi family’s ancestor name. At that time, it was not convenient to explain things to you, so I borrowed his name. It can’t be called lying.”

“That’s not lying you say?!” 

“It’s true that the Qi’s family started out by selling fish in Xinghua county, outside of Wuse city. Later on, the family was blessed with an exceptionally intelligent and talented child, my ancestor – Qingjun. Ancestor Qingjun went to study boat building and seafaring business. Afterwards, he traveled around on boats to sell sea fishes and expanded his knowledge. Once he became wealthy, he rebuilt the local school, so his children and grandchildren could gain benefit from it. By fate, his great-grandchildren, which was my grandfather, followed the former Prince Hui and overthrew the tyrant. After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he wedded princess Chongling to my grandfather and bestowed him the Duke title. From then on, the Qi family’s life took a new turn.”

Du Ci didn’t know these things about the Qi family’s ancestry and was stunned for a moment, “So, it was like that.”

“It has only been three generations since the Qi family was bestowed a rank, and only two generations have inherited it. Yet his majesty has already become impatient and wanted to get rid of us to prevent future troubles.” Qi Nanke looked at the darkness in front of him with a cold face.

Watching him, Du Ci’s heart felt a little sour. Even without mentioning other things, all three generations of the Qi family have served as great generals. No member of their family is mediocre. Qi Nanke himself as the eldest son could inherit the title without making meritorious deeds, but he still forged a strong will and became champion of martial arts at the age of sixteen, went to the battlefield with his father at the age of seventeen, and guarded the border at the age of nineteen. Everything he has, he earned them himself. 

Then, thinking about the infighting of his family, Du Ci couldn’t help but sigh, “Since ancient times, accompanying kings is like accompanying tigers.”

Qi Nanke glanced down at Du Ci. As a minister, it wasn’t surprising that he could be abandoned by the emperor at anytime. But Du Ci is a prince, a son of Shu Shi’s emperor who was even favored at one point, and yet he was abandoned just like that. By comparison, Du Ci seemed more miserable.

Qi Nanke’s face was stiff, he didn’t know how to comfort people. After thinking for a long time, he raised his hand stiffly and patted Du Ci’s shoulder.

Du Ci, “???” 

Du Ci, “Is there something on my shoulder?”

Qi Nanke, “…”

The two went to the rendezvous point they had agreed on before. Qi Nanke tied the horse to the tree, then rolled up his sleeves and went picking up dry wood to make a fire. Du Ci, having been starved for a long time, took out a dry biscuit from Qi Nanke’s bag and started mulching it.

While lighting the fire, Qi Nanke glanced at the little prince’s direction. The fair prince in dirty clothes was sitting carelessly on the pile of dead leaves while nibbling on a biscuit, his cheeks bulging like a little mouse. The little mouse was very well-behaved, didn’t make a fuss or complain at all, only quietly devoured the dry biscuit with cold water. 

Qi Nanke silently got up and went hunting for something better for the little prince.

Not long after Qi Nanke left, Du Ci frustratedly sprawled on the ground, his hands and feet spread out in the 大 character as he stared at the night sky in a daze.

The starry night sky was very beautiful, a sight rarely seen in Yongge Royal City.

If only Qi Nanke was still the original Qi Nanke, how wonderful that would be. 

If that was so, he could pretend to be wronged, hugged the other’s arms and whined pitifully “I was very, very lonely.” Not only that, he could also pretend to be so weak he couldn’t eat by himself, then the general would have to feed him. Master Yu said all generals like delicate little beauties. He could take the opportunity to fall into the general’s arms. With his head slightly tilted and his most beautiful profile revealed, he would whisper softly, “For you, I could risk my life without regrets!”

The general’s heart would definitely move and felt grateful to him. Then, if he shyly and timidly expressed his admiration for him, the general might hug him and even give him a kiss!

Waa! Right under the vast sky! How wonderful is that!

Du Ci turned towards the direction Qi Nanke disappeared and sulked: Damnit, why did you have to go and become so stinky old? 

Truthfully, towards someone he has liked for so long, even if the person’s appearance has changed and is no longer the same young general in his memories, his feelings wouldn’t just simply vanish. He was only embarrassed.

Anyway, he still likes him! Du Ci pouted, feeling like he had suffered a huge loss.

He took another bite of the biscuit and stared dazedly at the night sky, thinking: How did that scar come about? Was it dangerous at the time? Did you almost lose your eyes?

He risked his life and almost got disfigured, yet the emperor wanted to plot against him, it really made people’s hearts turn cold. 

Then Du Ci thought again: Why was I so stupid? Couldn’t even comfort people and only showed him a sulky face.

But…

Not only that person didn’t resist the order, not refuse the marriage, he didn’t want me to go to Zuifeng House and even ate master Yu’s vinegar. So cute!

Dummy! 

Du Ci went from laughing, to frowning, then giggling, then mumbling to himself, again and again, like he was schizophrenic.

Just as the little prince was zoning out, sounds coming from the pile of dead leaves not far away entered his ears. The yellow horse next to him suddenly neighed.

The little prince thought it was Qi Nanke coming back, but a sudden chill ran across his back. He immediately sat up. Before he could see what was going on, there was a sharp pain in his shoulder.

“I…?” The little prince’s eyes widened. An arrow pierced his shoulder and nailed firmly in it. He stared at the slightly swaying feathers and was unable to recover his senses. 

The severe pain quickly spread from the wound. As soon as he moved, a type of heart-piercing pain, as if his entire arm could break off from the shoulder, would surge.

The little prince’s face was pale. Now he believed what Qi Nanke said – he really was a paper man, and he might die from the pain!

“The little prince really put up a good show.” The visitor walked over step by step. It was Ma San!

Ma San was a person sent by the Third Prince of Shu Shi to supervise and deliver messages. He could be regarded as the Third Prince’s confidant. Naturally, he was not as easy to fool as other people in the hideout. 

Ma San had been paying attention to Big Yang’s and Second Yang’s movements. After finding that there was no sound in the inner room, he looked in from the window and found no one in the room.

Ma San immediately realized something was wrong. He took his own troops and started searching the mountain. However, because the torches were too conspicuous at night, and as he didn’t want to alarm magistrate Kong and cause unnecessary panic, he did not send many people.

Ma San’s luck was not bad. He was the one who found Du Ci first.

Ma San blew on a long whistle, and Du Ci knew that more people would come over soon. He was a bundle of zero fighting power, while Qi Nanke didn’t bring any weapons. It would be difficult to deal with Ma San and his group. Furrowing his brows, Du Ci made a decision in my heart. 

Damn, I kept taking losses without a single gain! While scolding, he endured the severe agony and got up, gritted his teeth and broke off the arrow, leaving its head buried in his shoulder.

This was really taking half of Du Ci’s life. He shivered and staggered back with dizziness. Du Ci speculated that Ma San might not know there was a second person with him, he wanted to lure these people away from here.

“Where is Big Yang and Second Yang?” Ma San looked around, “Return the Crown Prince’s box to me.”

Du Ci patted his chest. In fact, the box was with Qi Nanke, but he deliberately said, “Come and get it yourself.” 

Ma San sneered, “The little prince is really courageous, this lowly servant admires that.”

Ma San strained his bow, his voice was sarcastic, “Next time, it will be your head.”

Du Ci grabbed a piece of wood in the fire next to him. The burning wood immediately scalded his white and tender hand. He grabbed it tightly and threw it out. While Ma San was busy dodging, he jumped on the horse. With a bloody shoulder, he pulled on the reins, “Let’s go! Run!”