Chapter 47 The Secret Room, Waking Up Early

The chaos along the riverbank ultimately resulted in no casualties thanks to Shen Hegui's arrival.

After thanking the emperor and saying goodbye in the carriage, Lu Wensheng felt hungry and decided to take a detour to buy his favorite candied rabbit ears and salted duck.

Rubbing his nose, which was itchy from time to time, and fanning himself with the newly bought emerald green palm-leaf fan, Lu Wensheng leisurely turned into a small alley.

"Waaaaah—liar, I'll never believe in love again, hiccup—Mom! Your son misses you so much!"

Lu Wensheng stopped in his tracks.

What kind of wicked ghost is this, running around in the alley in broad daylight crying like a ghost!

Lu Wensheng wanted to pretend she hadn't heard it and walk away quickly, but the crying seemed to have hooks that burrowed into her ears.

She hesitated for a few moments, but finally went to look for him, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan.

After walking about a hundred meters, she saw a burly man dressed in dark coarse linen clothes deep in the alley. He was slumped against the wall, his clothes soaked and his face covered in tears.

Isn't this the guy who jumped into the river just now?

Lu Wensheng stepped forward, patted his shoulder with a green palm-leaf fan, and comforted him, "You're not even afraid of death, now you've just met a heartless man, what's there to cry about! It's a good thing to find out early and cut your losses early!"

Cheng Sang hiccuped and sobbed, "I'm not crying for him, I'm crying for my money and my new household registration. The places I used to work at rejected me because they looked down on me for selling myself in a male prostitute. Now I'm penniless and can't make a living!"

She had never been to a male-male brothel, but she had heard that as long as you were willing to go all out, you could earn more than a brothel, so you had to be really down on your luck to be penniless.

Perhaps it was because Lu Wensheng's gaze was too direct, Cheng Sang wiped his nose and began to pour out his heart.

"The first time I served a customer, I pulled off his wrist. The second time, I accidentally broke his arm. The third time, I almost broke his lumbar spine. After that, the boss only allowed me to do odd jobs and physical labor, and to accompany customers for drinks. I didn't earn much. The male brothel provided room and board, and I didn't have many daily expenses, so I used all my money to buy him writing materials."

Lu Wensheng: "Then what about your land?"

Agriculture is the foundation of the nation. Every household in Yanjing is allocated land. If they run out of money, they can go back to farming. As long as the crops can grow, even if they are penniless, they will not starve.

Cheng Sang: "He wanted to take the imperial examination and told me he needed money to grease palms, so he sold everything!"

Lu Wensheng: "...You really don't leave yourself any way out."

Another simpleton.

"He said he would support me for life once he passed the imperial examination." Overwhelmed with sorrow, Cheng Sang began to wail again, "How could I have known the future would turn out like this!"

Lu Wensheng vigorously shook the palm-leaf fan twice, carefully examining the other person's burly figure, and quickly began to make plans in his mind.

She's so easy to fool, why not just lure her home and let her guard the house! The imperial examinations are coming up soon, she'll probably be away from home all the time, so someone will have to keep watch over her for Mother and Yingniang.

Having made up his mind, Lu Wensheng raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's your name? How strong are you?"

"Cheng Sang, I can easily lift a stone weighing no more than 500 jin." He raised his hand and wiped his eyes heavily.

To prove he wasn't just boasting, Cheng Sang scanned the alley with bloodshot eyes, his gaze landing on a discarded bluestone block in the corner.

He stood up and stepped forward, easily lifting the stone block.

The stone block was about one meter long and half a meter wide. It was very sturdy, and it would be difficult for two strong men to lift it. However, Cheng Sang was not out of breath and even walked around Lu Wensheng several times.

Cheng Sang: "How is it? The young master asked me how strong I am. Does that mean he has a job to recommend to me?"

Lu Wensheng was very satisfied: "Excellent! I'll buy you for three years. Name your price? The job is simple: just take good care of the house when I'm not home."

At present, the price for an ordinary servant is about five taels of silver, but thinking of his own appetite, Cheng Sang put down the stone stool and hesitantly held up five fingers, "Five copper coins?"

Lu Wensheng was overjoyed and immediately agreed: "Deal!" Five strings of candied hawthorns, what a steal!

Thinking of the lowly status of prostitutes, Lu Wensheng added with a smile, "After three years, I can free you from that status."

Cheng Sang wiped away his tears: "Let me clarify first, I have a big appetite."

"It's nothing." We're all human, how big can it be!

Lu Wensheng waved his palm-leaf fan nonchalantly.

An hour later, at the Lu family's courtyard.

Song Zhiyun asked in a low voice, "Where did you pick up that rice bucket?"

Yingniang stared blankly at the empty rice steamer: "One meal is enough to eat for three days at home!"

Lu Wensheng stared expressionlessly at the seemingly washed empty bowl: "I miscalculated! I really shouldn't have been so greedy!"

Cheng Sang put down his chopsticks with satisfaction, a simple smile on his face: "I'm full, young master! Where shall I stay tonight?"

Song Zhiyun patted Lu Wensheng on the shoulder and said earnestly, "You should make your own arrangements for what you picked up yourself."

Lu Wensheng: "..."

The Lu family home was small, consisting only of guest rooms and a woodshed. Cheng Sang, despite his large appetite, was still human and was naturally assigned to a guest room that had never been used before.

*

New position, new beginnings.

The next day, Lu Wensheng deliberately got up 15 minutes earlier than usual.

"Mother, do you think I look better in the jade crown or this silver crown?"

"They all look good." Song Zhiyun straightened Lu Wensheng's belt and replied without looking up.

"Mother, you can't just brush me off like this. Today is my first day on duty, it's very significant!"

Song Zhiyun rolled her eyes and shoved the official hat into Lu Wensheng's arms: "Jade crown, silver crown, official hat, what can you expect me to see?"

Lu Wensheng is a joke.

Her mother is right, but it doesn't matter, we can decorate other places.

Lu Wensheng lowered his head, tugged at his crimson official robe with a pleased expression, and asked, "Isn't the color a bit too monotonous, Mother? What kind of waist ornament do you think would suit me best? Does crimson look better with white jade or green jade?"

Song Zhiyun took a deep breath and gritted her teeth: "This is official attire, not your own robes." Her vanity had kicked in again.

Lu Wensheng nodded.

It is reasonable to wear personal ornaments on court attire.

etc!

court dress?

Lu Wensheng's heart skipped a beat, his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly asked, "Mother, what time is it now?"

"It's past the middle of the Mao hour (5-7 AM)."

Lu Wensheng felt a chill run down his spine and his heart sink. "It's over, it's over, it's over! I'm late!"

Song Zhiyun was puzzled, "How can I be late when it's past half past Mao Shi (5-7 AM)?"

Lu Wensheng pointed to the crimson color on his body and said urgently, "A third-rank official must be present at the Fengtian Hall to listen to government affairs at 5:15 AM every day!"

Song Zhiyun's pupils contracted slightly: "Every day at 5:15 AM?! Does that mean you'll have to get up at 3:00 AM from now on?!"

Lu Wensheng gasped several times, his vision blurring: "!!!"

Holy crap! I knew something was wrong! She wants to resign!

Misfortunes never come singly.

Just then, a rapid knocking on the door, accompanied by shouts, rang out outside the courtyard.

"Bang bang bang—"

"Open the door! Open the door! His Highness the Crown Prince summons Lu Wensheng, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, to enter the palace for an audience!"

Inside the room, Lu Wensheng and Song Zhiyun looked at each other, and said in unison, "What do we do now?"

They looked at each other for a few seconds.

"How about I pretend to be sick? You go open the door and say I'm dying."

"No, if I'm faking it, I'll give myself away!" Lu Wensheng immediately denied.

She racked her brains frantically, trying to come up with a reason for being late.

The two remained silent, neither of them opening the door, tacitly stalling for time. Unfortunately, they had both forgotten that they had brought back Cheng Sang, who knew nothing, yesterday.

With a creak, the courtyard gate was pulled open from the inside.

With his messy hair and bare, muscular upper body, Cheng Sang stood sleepily blocking the doorway, his voice booming: "What were you saying? It's not even dawn yet, and you're already yelling at people's doorsteps. That's incredibly rude! You're asking for it!"

"Who are you? How dare you be so insolent towards us!"

"Laozi Chengsang!"

Song Zhiyun: "..." So brave!

Lu Wensheng: "..." Well! There's no time left, so I have to bite the bullet and go for it.

Clutching her official hat, she hurriedly walked outside.

Yingniang rushed out of the kitchen and stuffed two pancakes into Lu Wensheng's arms: "Eat these on the way!"

"Alright!" Stuffing the cake into his pocket, Lu Wensheng hurriedly stepped forward and pulled Cheng Sang aside, smiling apologetically, "I had diarrhea and went to the toilet. My new guard is a bit simple-minded and has night blindness. He can't distinguish between humans and animals in the dark. I didn't mean to offend him!"

It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings. It's better to give an explanation, especially since everyone knows she was invited because she was late, so it's understandable that her attitude was bad.

Sure enough, once the reason was given, the leading guard's expression softened considerably: "Please, sir!"

"good!"

It wasn't until Lu Wensheng mounted his horse and rode far away that Cheng Sang came to his senses: "My goodness! So young and already such a high-ranking official!"

That striking red outfit suggested he was at least a fourth-rank official, but unfortunately, he couldn't concentrate on his studies and would never become an official in his life.

She thought the guards would lead her to the Fengtian Hall for court, but after many twists and turns, she ended up in the Zhaowu Hall, a place she had never been before.

At first, Lu Wensheng sat obediently in the chair and waited, but later, when he was so hungry that he couldn't stand it, he took out a pancake and ate it dry.

"Yingniang's cooking skills are getting better and better!"

The rich aroma of wheat and meat lingers on the lips and teeth, but it also draws away the little saliva one can taste.

"It's just biscuits, and they're a bit dry." Lu Wensheng choked, his throat tightening. He couldn't help but look around, desperately wanting to find some water to drink.

Looking around the empty outer hall, Lu Wensheng was puzzled: "What kind of place is this? Is Shen Hegui planning to put me in solitary confinement? There isn't even a decent table, but the chairs are quite big!"

After searching the outer hall thoroughly without finding a teapot, Lu Wensheng hesitated for a moment before finally going around the screen and entering the inner hall.

With a quick glance, Lu Wensheng finally spotted the table and teapot in front of the bed.

It was so dry and hard to swallow that she blew it all out into her mouth.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Lu Wensheng looked at the meat pie in his hand with a troubled expression.

I can't bear to throw it away, but I'll choke if I eat it.

Yingniang works hard to make pancakes early in the morning, but it's better to just boil two eggs for breakfast, which is quick and easy!

No, eggs can also cause choking, so you shouldn't eat breakfast between 3 and 8 a.m.!

After much deliberation, Lu Wensheng decided to eat the meat filling and throw the wrapper into the teapot.

I need to find a place to clean the teapot and, while I'm at it, find out if Shen Hegui really intends to lock her up.

Thinking this, Lu Wensheng picked up the teapot and walked outside, but after taking only a few steps, he suddenly turned back.

That little snake statue on the display shelf is quite nice!

Carrying the teapot, Lu Wensheng turned and headed towards the antique display shelf on the right.

With a body of white jade and eyes of blue jade, it was flawless all over, like mutton fat.

She raised her hand.

It feels warm to the touch, unlike the coldness of ordinary jade. Up close, it is lifelike and has a lovely expression.

want to!

The wicked little hand, filled with lust, began to exert force.

Um? !

How could she not be able to lift it with one hand? The statue is clearly smaller than her hand!

Lu Wensheng put down the teapot and began to exert force with both hands!

She could easily pull up a four-pound radish, but how come this little statue... is even more solid than a radish?!

Could it be that it was welded on?

With a thought, Lu Wensheng turned the statue to the left.

The unexpected clicking sound of a mechanism broke the silence of the inner hall.

Lu Wensheng was slightly taken aback when he saw the secret passage that suddenly appeared behind the display shelf.

Oh wow! There's a secret room!

Shen Hegui had just moved into the palace, and she figured this secret room must have been set up by Prince Su or His Majesty. The secrets of those in high positions of power were her bargaining chips, and she had to go in and take a look.

Fortune favors the bold; only by venturing into the tiger's den can one catch the tiger's cubs!

Having mustered his courage, Lu Wensheng moved the teapot aside and stealthily crept inside.

The secret passage is circular, without windows or candles, so it gets darker the deeper you go.

When he could no longer see anything with the naked eye, Lu Wensheng stopped and took out a tinderbox and a thin green candle from his modified official boots.

The refreshing minty scent not only invigorates the mind but also calms the nerves and relieves irritability.

Holding a candle alone, Lu Wensheng walked slowly and deliberately, knowing that the road ahead was unknown and all downhill.

About fifteen minutes later, the candle flame in her hand suddenly swayed from side to side, then instantly returned to a straight position.

We've finally reached the bottom!

Lu Wensheng's spirits lifted, but he became even more wary.

I wonder what important thing they're hiding there, that they built such a deep secret chamber, like a snake's den!

The faint light from the thin candle in front of him barely illuminated a much larger and more dangerous underground space than he had imagined.

Unfortunately, Lu Wensheng read too many books too quickly when she was preparing for the imperial examination, which damaged her eyes. She needs more light to see what's around her clearly.

A damp, stuffy smell mixed with a strong spice scent clung to Lu Wensheng's nose, overshadowing the refreshing minty aroma.

Her gaze first fell on the two sides of the wall, where exquisite copper oil lamps were embedded.

Tilt the candle in your hand, and the orange flame kisses the white wick.

Strange, the lamp oil is all yellow, but the candle wick is white, and the lamp is full of oil. Why is the lamp not being used? Do visitors always come in the dark?

I can't figure it out.

Driven by curiosity, Lu Wensheng reached out and poked the lamp oil twice.

Instantly, a sweet, fishy smell mixed with an indescribable stench filled my nostrils.

"vomit--!"

It smells like corpse oil!

Lu Wensheng vomited up all the breakfast and water he had just eaten.

-----------------------

Author's Note: [doge] Yes, that's exactly how it was written. You didn't misread it, you guessed wrong. [doge]

Thankfully, after fixing the typos, I glanced at it and realized the time was set for 10 PM tomorrow. Another day of being so stupid I could cry [crying emoji].

I don't want to get stuck here. There's not enough time. I'm really enjoying writing and can't wait for Shen Hegui to appear.