◇ Chapter 37 (37) Being Tricked

Lianzhi glanced behind the car. It was too dark to see clearly, but from the figures moving in and out among the trees, he could tell they were Arus's men.

He had seen Arus wearing clothes like that.

Thinking of this, Lianzhi felt more relieved. Arus's men were dead, so what? It was none of his business. Whether Arus's men had injured Bai Kang, or Bai Kang had killed them in return, it had nothing to do with him.

He turned his head and the tip of his nose bumped into Bo Kang's chin. Lianzhi pretended to complain and was about to speak when Bo Kang asked him, "What are you looking at?"

"Looking for someone." Lianzhi said, "Didn't you say someone was following us? Why don't I see anyone?"

Bai Kang stared into his eyes, trying to discern whether what he said was true or false. Lian Zhi tilted her head back and blinked obediently: "Brother Kang, you are not trying to scare me, are you?"

"No." Bai Kang turned his head.

The night wind was a bit chilly. Lianzhi, wearing little, had worked up a sweat after strolling around the market, and the cool breeze made him feel a bit chilly. He closed the window and leaned against Bai Kang's chest, intending to take a nap.

Just enough time to take a nap before returning home.

Soft, silky black hair spread across her knees. Bo Kang reached out to grab it, but it slipped through his fingers. His grip was so strong that even with restrained strength, it still caused some pain on Lianzhi's scalp. Lianzhi raised her eyes and shook her head: "Why are you yelling at me?"

Those round, cat-like eyes, glaring slightly in anger, gleamed in the moonlight like clear glass, more like a kitten flirting with its owner. But Bai Kang suddenly felt that the person before him would slip away from him silently like sand in his palm, like long hair slipping from his fingertips.

Bai Kang coughed, lowered his voice, and asked casually, "Baby, do you really not want to go back to Liangzhou?"

"Why are you asking again? Do you want to drive me away?" Lianzhi asked suspiciously.

Bai Kang smiled awkwardly and raised his hand to swear that he wouldn't. Lian Zhi snorted and closed her eyes to continue sleeping. He had excellent sleep quality, and perhaps it was because Bai Kang's arms were so comfortable that he really fell asleep.

When he opened his eyes, he saw only the familiar black leather collar. They had already returned to the house and were about to go back to their room. Bai Kang held him with his left hand, and Xiao Liu and Xiao Ye followed closely behind, one on each side. Xiao Liu was sharp-eyed and saw Lian Zhi open his eyes. He quickly squatted down and said, "Master Lian Zhi, let me carry you."

Lianzhi was still not fully awake, and nudged herself in Bai Kang's arms. Bai Kang laughed and immediately raised his hand to stop Xiao Liu: "No need."

Xiao Liu looked at him awkwardly, but didn't stand up: "Sir, your injury hasn't healed yet."

He was somewhat dissatisfied with Lianzhi's willfulness, but afraid that Baikang would blame him for being too nosy, he could only whisper his dissuasion. He didn't deliberately lower his voice so that Lianzhi could hear. Xiaoye also knelt down to salute with him. Lianzhi only then realized that Baikang's injury had not healed yet.

"I'll walk on my own." Lianzhi rubbed his eyes. He didn't want Xiaoliu or Xiaoye to carry him—they were too frail and wouldn't be comfortable carrying him. He needed someone stronger like Baikang.

Wait until Bai Kang recovers, then let Bai Kang carry him. He is so considerate, worthy of his kindness.

Of course, Bai Kang couldn't let Lianzhi walk back by herself, not to mention that he really liked Lianzhi sticking to him - if it were him, he would never dare to take the initiative to ask to hold Lianzhi.

When they reached the door, Lianzhi couldn't wait to jump out of his arms and go back to ask Eunuch Wen to help him change his clothes. He wanted to take a quick bath and occupy the bed for himself so that Bai Kang wouldn't come and squeeze him.

But after waiting for a long time, Bai Kang still didn't come back. At night, Lianzhi woke up and subconsciously tried to grab the quilt of the person next to her, but she found nothing and instead tore her own quilt apart. The cool night wind blew into her clothes.

He was confused for a moment and found that there was no one around him, Bai Kang was not there.

It's really strange. Ever since last month when Bo Kang misunderstood that he was in contact with the envoy from the North Sea and locked him up for two days, causing him to have a stomachache, he has been saying that he was afraid that he would be uncomfortable again and he had to watch over him before he could feel at ease and sleep in the same bed with him.

He's not here today. Are you no longer worried about him?

It was quiet outside. Under the moonlight that shone into the water, Xiao Liu, hugging her pillow, leaned against the small couch beside the pillar, keeping vigil. After being shaken violently a few times, Xiao Liu woke up and saw Lian Zhi's unhappy face.

Young Master Lianzhi didn't sleep late at night. Could it be that he suddenly thought of taking revenge... and punishing him?

"Where is Baikang?" Lianzhi tugged at the coat on her shoulders.

It turned out they were looking for the master, not him. Xiao Liu was relieved and replied, "The master had something to deal with and had just returned to his room to sleep. He asked us not to disturb you."

It is estimated that they have captured Arus. However, a few assassins are actually more important than him. Lianzhi felt something inexplicable in her heart, and she was unwilling to admit that it was a grievance.

Didn't you know he had stomach problems and were worried about him? Bai Kang was so annoying. He had always been there for him when he was still the emperor. Lianzhi grumbled a few words and went back to sleep. The next morning, just as he finished washing up, Qinghe came over and invited him to go to the study to have breakfast with Master Bai.

He was feeling unhappy and wanted to give Bai Kang some trouble. Lianzhi followed Qinghe to the study and saw Bai Kang, who looked refreshed and cheerful, from a distance. She became unhappy.

Lianzhi walked beside Bai Kang with a droopy look on her face, her head hanging low. Bai Kang's smile gradually faded, and he asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"My stomach hurts." Lianzhi said unhappily.

Bo Kang was startled and quickly put his hand on his stomach and rubbed it: "He was fine yesterday, what happened? I'll send someone to call a doctor now."

"I'm mad at you." Lianzhi grabbed his hand to stop Bo Kang's actions, "Why didn't you sleep with me last night!"

He didn't realize his tone was a little agitated, but Bai Kang could tell. Not to mention his expression was incredibly familiar; it was the same expression he'd seen Chen Fenglian make when she lost her temper for years. Bai Kang's tone was a little strange, like he was trying to suppress a smile. "You want to sleep with me?"

Lianzhi hummed softly and said nothing. Bai Kang asked again, "Do you want to repay me?"

Why bring this up again! Bai Kang always likes to tease him about this! Lianzhi was really annoyed this time, so Bai Kang pulled him to sit down and coaxed him, "Aren't you afraid of waking you up? It will be almost dawn when I go back. Don't be angry, baby. I called you here to talk about this. Let's eat first."

Lianzhi cared about him, even if he didn't realize it. Bo Kang was glad for this, but he didn't want Lianzhi to care too much about him. He was afraid that if he got too close to Lianzhi, he would be a bad influence.

Lianzhi is still young and can be ignorant, but he cannot.

The kitchen brought over a bowl of bird's nest and red date porridge and a bowl of cornmeal porridge. It was clear who each was for. The steaming clay pot was placed in front of Lianzhi, but she pushed it forward and said, "I don't want any of that."

"What's the matter?" Bo Kang sighed, as if he had expected it. "I prepared it especially for you."

"Bird's nest and red dates stewed together don't taste good." Lianzhi looked at the casserole with disdain, "Bird's nest should be stewed with honey and walnuts."

Hey, you're quite good at eating. Bo Kang patiently picked up the spoon and started to feed him: "Red dates are good for your stomach, so eat more. I've already stewed them for you, baby, please give me some face and eat some, okay?"

If it weren't for Lianzhi, he wouldn't have asked the kitchen to prepare it. He didn't normally like sweet things like that. After hearing that sentence in the middle, Lianzhi smiled triumphantly and drank up the porridge. Bo Kang watched from the side, thinking he seemed to have found a way to deal with Lianzhi.

The bird's nest and red date porridge wasn't bad, but Lianzhi and Baikang were just being mad at each other, so they said so. He tasted it and found it quite good. He put down the bowl, rinsed his mouth with reserve, and then asked, "What are you talking about?"

Lianzhi's tone was soft after eating, and even her temper had improved a lot. Bo Kang hugged her tighter and rubbed her stomach.

Just when Lianzhi thought he was looking for an excuse to call her over, but was actually trying to force her to eat porridge, Bai Kang suddenly asked, "Do you have any other friends in the capital?"

"No." Lianzhi blinked. "How can I have any friends? In the whole capital, the only person I can rely on is Brother Kang..."

He could easily come up with words to show his weakness and pity, which was easier than asking him to eat porridge. Bo Kang had long since stopped believing it. In fact, even if Lianzhi was still in contact with people in Liangzhou, he would not be angry.

He would kill every one that came his way. Lianzhi was an obedient child after all, so as long as she didn't cause any trouble, he could keep her forever.

"Where is that foreign man?" Bai Kang's voice was calm, but it made Lianzhi shiver.

He was silent for a moment, then half-truthfully admitted, "I've seen it before."

"Have you been in touch recently?" Bo Kang asked as if he were a stranger. Lianzhi answered carefully: "Not recently."

After hearing this, Bai Kang let him go and took him to the next room. Lianzhi had never been in that room before. She had only heard Xiao Liu and Xiao Ye say that when Bai Kang was dealing with the cook, it was a separate room that Bai Kang had recently set aside for interrogations. It was far from the wing where they lived, so any noise would not reach Lianzhi's ears and would not disturb him.

Lianzhi was a little confused, not knowing why Baikang had brought him here. Baikang stood at the door and pushed it open a crack. The bloody smell rushed out impatiently, making Lianzhi want to vomit. Baikang had guessed his reaction long ago and didn't let him take a second look before closing the door.

"I'm afraid if I show you in advance, you won't be able to eat." Bo Kang pulled him away and said calmly, "After all, you are sent by your adoptive father, so I thought I'd let you take a look. I asked Qinghe to fumigate the study with black agarwood to get rid of the blood smell on her."

The scene inside the house lingered in Lianzhi's mind. He was no coward, nor had he ever seen bloody scenes before. Furthermore, the people from yesterday should have been dealt with by Bo Kang long ago. There was no body, only the bloodstains had just been cleaned up, and the smell was still there.

There were also several pieces of blood-stained black armor in the room. I wondered why Bo Kang had left them there. Those armors were once worn by his secret guards. He wouldn't mistake them.

The person who chased him yesterday was his.

He can only mobilize his subordinates with a token.

He was fooled by Arus!

"Where are the people from yesterday?" Lianzhi grabbed Bo Kang's arm and demanded, "Did you kill them all?"

The sun was shining brightly outside. Lianzhi tilted her head back against the light and could not see Bai Kang's eyes clearly.

He could only sense that Bo Kang was still on guard against him. Even though he indulged him now and called him baby, he was still wary of him in his heart.

"Kill them all." After Bai Kang said that, Lian Zhi's heart instantly turned cold. He was even a little angry, angry that Bai Kang killed them without even asking him.

Those were his countless, trustworthy and loyal subordinates.

Anyone you pick is more loyal than Bo Kang!

Perhaps because his gaze was too direct, Bo Kang's eyes had turned suspicious. Lian Zhi could only blink and force herself to shed a few tears: "I'm a little scared. Brother Kang, please don't kill anyone, okay?"

Bai Kang tried to find any sign of disguise on his face. Lianzhi's acting was too good. He stared at that beautiful face for a long time, and finally nodded: "I won't do that again."