Chapter 1 (1) There are three people who look the same
Capital, March.
The early spring weather was warm, and many people were out and about enjoying the spring. It happened that His Majesty had recently appointed his younger brother Crown Prince and issued a general amnesty, leading to nationwide celebrations. The capital was filled with a vibrant and beautiful atmosphere.
The street-side teahouse was bustling with activity, its seats completely packed. Scholars and refined guests gathered in a private room on the second floor, where they could both see the crowd below and hear the storyteller's voice clearly. The storyteller wore a black hat, held an inscribed folding fan in his left hand, and stroked his beard with his right. With a clatter of the wake-up stick, he began to recount one of the popular anecdotes: "Just as the story reached the point where Emperor Lingdi saw the handsome man, his face as handsome as a crown and his figure as graceful as a pine tree, his heart was filled with joy, and he immediately approached him..."
Emperor Ling, Chen Fenglian, was the young emperor who was beheaded by the current emperor three years ago. It was widely known that Chen Fenglian was young and incompetent, indulging in pleasure all his days. When he was imprisoned and executed, no one expressed regret; instead, they applauded and celebrated the arrival of an enlightened ruler in the Daning Kingdom. Stories about Emperor Ling were also extremely popular in the capital.
The waiter brought tea to the elegant seats by the window on the second floor. Just as he was about to pour tea for everyone, the distinguished guest in black who was leaning on the railing suddenly had his hand shaken and the teacup in front of him fell to the ground.
Bo Kang came back to his senses, stood up, bowed, and laughed out loud: "My hands are shaking. Sorry, everyone."
The waiter noticed that his clothes were wet and wanted to ask him to change. Bai Kang shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the stairs below. His friend Chang Yuzhu, who was traveling with him, jokingly said, "Unhappy? What did you hear?"
"No." Bai Kang said, not knowing which question he was answering.
He usually loves to joke around, but for some reason today he was listless. Yesterday, when the Six Departments were on duty, Bai Kang had a stern face, but he didn't say anything, and Chang Yuzhu couldn't find out why.
"That Emperor Ling..." Chang Yuzhu was halfway through her sentence when she saw Bai Kang's body stiffen again. She laughed out loud, "Still being stubborn! Bai Kang, you've really been distracted by what happened to the late emperor!"
Bai Kang sighed twice, finally perking up, and said leisurely, "Don't speculate. Since you can see that I'm in a bad mood, you don't comfort me, but you bring up someone unrelated?"
When people in the capital spoke of Bo Kang, they all said he came from a humble background, yet possessed an outspoken personality. Unlike the children of the more aristocratic families in the capital, he showed no regard for formalities. Before joining the Ministry of Rites, he was merely a minor palace guard, naturally ignorant of etiquette and often laughed at. Even after becoming an imperial guard and then working for the Ministry, he never lost his ruffian nature.
It was during this time that Chang Yuzhu met Bai Kang. Back then, Bai Kang often spoke ill of the late emperor to him, saying that the late emperor was spoiled at a young age, often scolding palace maids and acting arbitrarily, and that the imperial guards were often harassed by the late emperor. Bai Kang's frequent admonitions led to him being the one who received the most punishment from the late emperor.
At that time, Bo Kang said that it must be because he was too straightforward and his words were offensive, which made the late emperor unhappy, so he always tortured him with trivial matters. He scolded him with gnashing teeth and hatred.
Chang Yuzhu saw that Bai Kang was distracted and knew that he was lost in his memories again. She regretted coming to the teahouse today. "Don't think about it. The late emperor has been dead for three years... You don't really like him, do you?"
Bai Kang was too outspoken. After the new emperor ascended the throne, no one dared to mention the previous emperor, seeking to protect themselves. However, Bai Kang said that the previous emperor died young and it was a pity. Some in the court speculated about Bai Kang's relationship with the previous emperor. After all, Bai Kang had only been a guard in front of the emperor for a short time before he went to work in the Ministry of Rites.
"Who likes who? Stop the nonsense. Don't you think I'm losing my head fast enough?" Bai Kang rolled his eyes, genuinely confused as to why these people kept skewering him and Emperor Ling. Chang Yuzhu was asking this, as were those old men from the Ministry of Rites, and even His Majesty was suspicious of him because of this.
Chang Yuzhu chuckled. Bai Kang didn't want to pay attention to him and continued to listen to the storyteller's commentary. Since Chen Fenglian's death, many teahouses have compiled his story into stories and circulated them in the city.
Some even made up erotic songs mocking Chen Fenglian's comments. When Bai Kang first heard the popular song "Soft peach and plum blossoms, lingeringly looking forward to spring," he almost took people to shut down the singing house.
Although in the end he found a reason to order most of the singing halls in the capital to be closed and rectified.
Three years have passed, and the man is gone. Perhaps the only thing he's remembered and commented on the most is his beautiful face. If Chen Fenglian hadn't been beautiful, she wouldn't have received any praise, and the world would only curse and abuse her.
Although, your Majesty’s instigation was indispensable behind this.
Bai Kang picked up the newly delivered tea and took a sip. It was good tea, but he found it bland. His Majesty's rebuke and the storyteller's voice downstairs, tinged with ambiguous laughter, mingled in his ears. His head was buzzing, and his forehead was aching more and more.
It must be because the Ministry of Rites has been very busy recently and he hasn't had a day off for a long time, so he's tired.
"We're leaving for Liangzhou the day after tomorrow, right? I'll have someone pack their luggage early when we get back. It's said there are so many beautiful women in Liangzhou, there must be some prettier than that one."
Once in the carriage, the two of them sat more casually. Chang Yuzhu, hugging a soft pillow, chattered away, but the other person remained silent. Finally realizing what was happening, he paused, looking over in confusion.
Bai Kang sighed, propped up his head, and looked at him as if he were a fool: "You finally got to the point."
Chang Yuzhu:?
"Do you think I'm angry about the opera?" Bai Kang said in annoyance, "I'm angry about this matter. His Majesty rejected my mourning leave. The Ministry of Rites has not been busy recently, and there are more than a dozen old men in charge. Which one of them doesn't have more experience and know more than me? His Majesty is clearly making things difficult for me!" Officials who mourn their fathers and fulfill their filial piety will be praised for their virtues, but he brought up this reason, but still refused to approve it.
"Hush! Be careful with your words!" Chang Yuzhu lowered her voice, but then she remembered that the man in front of her was Bai Kang, a man known in the capital for his fearlessness, who had once been praised by the Prime Minister, a prim and proper old man, for his outspokenness. She said no more, "I remember your parents are still alive? Then why did you resign your official position to observe mourning?"
"My parents are fine. I'm applying for mourning leave for my cousin's grandmother," Bai Kang said nonchalantly. "Your Majesty has been reprimanding me recently, accusing me of being flamboyant and suggesting I tone down my actions and resign as soon as possible."
Who couldn't see that such a mourning leave was intentional?
Also, Your Majesty, isn't it because you're really flamboyant? A few days ago, you had a huge argument with the Minister of Personnel in the street.
Chang Yuzhu didn't know what to say. It was true that the relationship between Bai Kang and Emperor Ling was strained, but in the eyes of the public, Bai Kang was a close minister to the late emperor. Since His Majesty's position was not stable, he would outwardly favor Bai Kang and try to win him over to demonstrate his benevolence. He would certainly not suggest that he resign.
Three years ago, when His Majesty first ascended the throne, he took advantage of the situation and, after the Prime Minister praised him for his outspokenness, promoted Bai Kang, then Minister of Rites, to the position of Shangshu. I just don't know if this was a good thing for him.
"Let's take it one step at a time." Bo Kang leaned against the window, his expression somewhat lazy. "Anyway, the more flamboyant I am, the more His Majesty will think I'm frivolous and won't take me seriously. The day I become too cautious, he will come to punish me."
Before the carriage reached the Shangshu Mansion, the driver suddenly stopped. Chang Yuzhu was about to ask what was going on when, upon opening the door, she saw Eunuch Lu, the Emperor's chief eunuch, waiting hunched over on the stone path outside the Shangshu Mansion. He was followed by three young men and a humble, court lady. The housekeeper brought a chair and invited Eunuch Lu to sit and wait.
Chang Yuzhu secretly cried out in disbelief and tried to stop Bai Kang. Unexpectedly, Bai Kang pushed him away and looked at Eunuch Lu: "What's the matter, Chief Steward Lu?"
Eunuch Lu bowed briefly to each of them and said with a flattering smile, "His Majesty is concerned about Lord Bai and has specially sent this servant to convey His Majesty's oral instructions. Your leave has been approved by His Majesty."
Bo Kang raised an eyebrow.
When he asked for leave, he did so on purpose, wanting to see what His Majesty would do.
"It's just that," Eunuch Lu changed the subject, "Lord Bai is a pillar of the country, and the court cannot do without you. His Majesty knows that you are worried about family matters, so he has granted you a month's leave as a token of his great grace."
One month.
This was a concession, much as Bo Kang had guessed. He accepted it calmly, kneeling on one knee to receive the decree: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."
"Your Majesty's rewards haven't ended yet." Eunuch Lu's old face was as bright as a flower. "Your Excellency is returning home this time. The journey is long, and you should have a beautiful woman to accompany you. But Your Excellency Bai doesn't even have a flower that can speak sweetly. His Majesty has specially bestowed three beauties upon you. Why don't you thank him quickly?"
Bai Kang glanced at the little palace maid who was lowering her head and looking docile behind Eunuch Lu.
Aren't there three beauties? This is just one, and she looks quite young. This is inappropriate.
"Hey, I haven't finished speaking yet." Eunuch Lu waved his hand, signaling the three young men beside him to come forward. "Your Majesty, these are the three who are rewarding you."
After saying this, Eunuch Lu tapped the young man beside him with his whisk and said, "Everyone, raise your heads and let the master see you."
The moment they saw the faces of the three people, Chang Yuzhu and the housekeeper were stunned.
The three young men had fresh, charming features, their eyebrows and eyes striking, their androgynous features indistinguishable, their faces as beautiful as flowers and moons. They all looked no more than twenty years old, all wearing dark brown robes and their hair styled in the same bun common to actors.
Three beauties indeed.
If the facial features of these three beauties were not more or less similar to those of the late emperor, they would be more willing to appreciate them.
When the three saw Bai Kang staring at them, they thought of the instructions and threats from Eunuch Lu on the way here, and they suddenly became more shy and introduced themselves one by one.
"Replying to Lord Bai, this servant is Lianzi."
"Your servant Lian Ye."
"My name is Lotus."
Hearing the names, Bai Kang felt even more dizzy. He squinted his eyes and bowed to Eunuch Lu: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving me three brothers. These three brothers have such beautiful names. I am almost hungry just hearing them."
Chang Yuzhu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing. Eunuch Lu's face was ashen, but he knew that he and Bai Kang couldn't rush things, so he could only try to hint, "This is a good name bestowed by His Majesty himself! However, these three are not brothers. I wonder if Master Bai is satisfied?"
Eunuch Lu deliberately emphasized the words "personally bestowed" and "good name," practically gritting his teeth as he spoke. Even if Bai Kang was slow-witted, he understood what he meant.
Lotus seeds, lotus leaves, lotus flowers.
It's obvious who he's referring to. Has His Majesty reached the point of using three actors to probe his thoughts?
So, why do we think he would be pleased with the late emperor?
Bai Kang looked at Eunuch Lu, who was smiling cunningly, and then at the young man with a complicated expression. This is really...
"This really worries me!"
Eunuch Lu was stunned. Bai Kang said with a half-smile, "Your Majesty is showing consideration for me by sending these three actors to my residence, but where does this put my reputation? If word gets out, even yours will be ruined. I will invite the Prime Minister to come with me to the palace to give Your Majesty a proper hearing."
He used his familiar bluntness, startling everyone present except Chang Yuzhu. Eunuch Lu quickly apologized, "That... Your Excellency's words make sense. It's just that these three aren't actors, and their family backgrounds are clean. Besides, His Majesty sympathizes with you, so who would dare criticize you?"
His heart was pounding. This Lord Bai was as straightforward as ever...
Your Majesty's gift of beauties is a grace, and these three men aren't ugly, even if they were men, it's Your Majesty's grace. Any ordinary man wouldn't be happy to thank Your Majesty for his concern, but this Bai Kang, the first thing he considered was his reputation.
But there are only three attendants, how can that be considered as his good reputation?
Seeing that Bai Kang was silent, he felt a little uneasy and could not help but slow down his tone and said, "If you really don't like it, just keep it in the mansion. Feeding three mouths is a small matter, but the respect given by His Majesty is something that cannot be bought with any amount of silver. Don't you agree?"
"You are right." Bo Kang said with a smile, and thanked him again, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
He finally gave in. Eunuch Lu wiped his sweat in frustration and said, "Your Excellency is considering His Majesty. His Majesty will naturally appreciate your loyalty. I have already delivered the person and will return to the palace to report to His Majesty."
After saying this, he hurriedly boarded another carriage with the accompanying palace maid. Outside the carriage, the voices of Bai Kang and Chang Yuzhu chatting could still be heard faintly.
"What are you going to do with these people?"
Eunuch Lu pricked up his ears, thinking that if Bai Kang showed any regret about the appearance of the three people or said anything disrespectful to His Majesty, he would report it immediately after returning to the palace. Bai Kang's voice drifted into the carriage and into Eunuch Lu's ears.
"Just leave it there. Does the Shangshu Mansion need three pairs of chopsticks? Your Majesty really understands me and knows that I like to appreciate beautiful women. Maybe next time you will reward me with something with lotus roots or lotus pods, so that I can have eight."
So weird, really... really...
Eunuch Lu's ears were red with anger. But judging by his expression, it was unclear whether he was still thinking about Emperor Ling. It had been years, and yet His Majesty was still suspicious of Lord Bai.
If there were no old ministers and clan members who came in to question the legitimacy of Your Majesty's accession to the throne, why would Your Majesty have to go to the extent of fighting with his ministers?
After the carriage drove away, Bo Kang clapped his hands and asked the butler to come and take everyone inside. The three young men before him all looked up timidly, revealing their thin cheeks and eyes that looked like spring water. Their thin lips were pursed pitifully, and they looked even more pitiful.
The left one has similar eyes, the right one has similar face shape, and as for the one in the middle, the lower half of the face is really similar...
Looks very much like Chen Fenglian.
At first, Bo Kang really didn't notice it. But the other people's reactions were too obvious, so he was just pretending to be dumb. He turned around and looked at Chang Yuzhu, who was still in a daze beside him: "What are you looking at? Have you come to your senses?"
Chang Yuzhu blinked and said mischievously, "If you don't like her, why don't you let me take her back? My house is still short of a few beautiful servants. Even if it's lighting the fire or cooking, it needs beauties to do it, so it will be pleasing to the eyes."
Hearing this, the three of them showed uneasy expressions. Bo Kang said speechlessly: "Let the beauty light the fire? You are so smart. But you reminded me, butler! Take them to the kitchen!"
Everything from lotus to lotus seeds can be eaten. It sounds like you should go work in the kitchen.
The three of them exchanged glances and sighed, feeling that the current developments were not what they had imagined. Before this trip, Eunuch Lu had specifically instructed them to win over Lord Bai. Now, it seemed that Lord Bai had no interest in any of them. Wouldn't this be a violation of His Majesty's orders?
But since Bo Kang is willing to accept them, Your Majesty should not punish their families, right?
The three of them quickly reached a consensus and, feeling much happier, ran off to find the housekeeper to arrange matters. Bai Kang looked at the three of them from behind, unable to help but reveal a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
Not like that.
Although they look similar and have a clean temperament, making them more pitiable than Chen Fenglian, these three people are just empty shells, and none of them resembles Chen Fenglian.
Chen Fenglian never displayed such a timid or cowardly expression. Even when he was deposed and imprisoned in the palace, he always maintained the airs of an emperor, with a perpetually bold and unbridled smile on his face. Even after ascending the throne, he was subject to the control of others, but he never lost the upper hand in front of the Empress Dowager and the ministers.
Did His Majesty not even choose the person before sending him? Not to mention that he didn't like the original one, even if he did, he wouldn't be attracted to a fake one that only looked similar.
Chang Yuzhu saw that he was distracted, not like he was vehemently grieving the lingering Emperor Ling. He sighed, "Bai Kang, what are you really thinking? It's true that His Majesty is suspicious of you, but do you really want to go to Liangzhou? Aren't you afraid of unrest in the capital by taking a month off?"
"If I don't leave, I'm afraid I will die soon. Only by leaving Beijing can Your Majesty believe in my loyalty." Bai Kang's eyes were solemn.
Chang Yuzhu was speechless for a moment. Tomorrow she would leave for Liangzhou. She hoped Bo Kang wouldn't regret it.
After a quick meal at the Shangshu Mansion, Chang Yuzhu returned. Of the three new arrivals, Lianhua and Lianye were assigned to manage the storeroom, while Lianzi was assigned to Bo Kang's study. The three of them were sent by His Majesty, so the housekeeper couldn't possibly have them cooking in the kitchen.
On the last night before his departure, Bai Kang still had a mountain of work on his plate. Those old men at the Ministry of Rites, relying on their age, had delegated all the dirty work to him. The Imperial College's chores were easily handled by the clerks, yet they were forcing him to do them himself. Bai Kang held his pen in his mouth, feeling rather impatient.
A bowl of warm Tremella soup was placed beside him. Bai Kang frowned and looked up. The servant with gentle eyes said timidly, "Master Bai, the housekeeper asked me to bring you a midnight snack."
This Lianzi, ignoring his face, was a skilled worker, unlike some pretty face. Bai Kang ordered Lianzi to grind ink, then looked at his obedient face, lowering his eyebrows and asking, "How old are you? Where are you from?"
"Your Excellency, I am twenty years old this year."
Bai Kang chuckled. If it were Chen Fenglian, she certainly wouldn't call herself a younger one. She'd probably just grab someone and give them a good scolding.
That ostentatious face with small canine teeth appeared in front of Bai Kang again.
When Lianzi saw him smile, she thought she had won Bai Kang's favor, so she also smiled slightly. She no longer had the timid and pitiful look on her face, and she looked a bit like Chen Fenglian.
Speaking of which, Chen Fenglian is even smaller than a lotus seed.
Why did he think of it again? It was all Chang Yuzhu and that eunuch's fault. They kept reminding him of Chen Fenglian's face. Bo Kang immediately put away his smile and said expressionlessly, "Grind your ink."
【Author’s words】
The top and the bottom have a common first love, and there is a reason why the person who appears is similar to the bottom, which will be explained later.
Next up is "Cat God Raising Guide", a green tea-loving wife, a 9,000-year-old top x a beautiful and cute little cat demon. The previous work has been completed, the full text is free, if you are interested, you can go and have a look (′▽`〃)
This article has been overhauled, and the plot has been changed. I do not accept discussions about the original plot after watching pirated versions.
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