◇ Chapter 104 (104) How could I become your enemy (Part 1)
"Brother Kang." Lianzhi lay on top of him, rubbing her cheek against his chest, and said in an almost nostalgic tone, "Brother. Brother."
The grievance of being deceived, the unwillingness of being abandoned, the anger of being used, the physical pain after being injured... all the sins, all the pain, and all the troubles of self-doubt suffered in the past few days seemed to disappear in an instant after hearing the soft calls of Lianzhi.
Lianzhi's face was still pressed against him, cool and soft.
Lianzhi was thinking about him. Lianzhi liked him.
His baby.
Bo Kang didn't dare move, fearing he would be discovered and scare people away. But he really wanted to touch the lotus branch, even if only for a moment.
"Brother." Lianzhi called out again, her voice like a kitten's. He shook his head vigorously, ruffling his hair into a mess. After a long while, he raised his head, sighed contentedly, and actually backed away, slowly getting out of bed and trying to leave.
At that moment, Bai Kang subconsciously grabbed Lianzhi's wrist.
In just one month's absence, he has lost weight again.
Tonight was the first time he'd been unable to fall asleep. The eldest princess's study wasn't far away, and the candlelight outside was too bright, and the footsteps of servants and students were disturbing him. He'd always gone to bed early before, not because he was particularly sleepy, but because his wounds sometimes ached, making him faint.
Lianzhi froze, unable to move. Bo Kang struggled to sit up, and with his long arms, he pulled Lianzhi into his arms. "Lian'er, where do you want to go? Are you still going to hide from me?"
Lianzhi lowered her head and looked at her toes. Bai Kang said to himself, "You saved me, you don't want to kill me, right? You like me too, right? No, I won't believe anything you say. I have eyes and ears, I can judge for myself, you like me, baby. Don't leave me again, stay with me, okay? Please."
He rambled on, not needing Lianzhi's response, convinced of his own statement. When he finally stopped, Lianzhi turned her head, her eyes still a little red, and her tone was steady: "I just want to get a quilt."
He pointed at the small quilt on the couch. Bo Kang uttered an "ah" and felt a little embarrassed.
"Let go." Lianzhi said lightly.
Bai Kang didn't let go, holding him to get the quilt, and watched Lianzhi skillfully make the bed beside him, and then lie down on it. This time, there was nothing he didn't understand. No wonder this was clearly Lianzhi's room, but they hadn't seen it in all these days.
So that's how it is. Every night, Lianzhi would sneak back to sleep while he was asleep. Thinking of Lianzhi curling up beside him in the dark, Bai Kang felt even softer inside.
He held Lianzhi in his arms without asking any further questions. The candle in the study finally went out, and daybreak began to dawn. Bo Kang held Lianzhi in his arms, fearing that the light would expose him to the sunlight and keep him awake.
This time, it was Lianzhi who lost her patience.
"Aren't you going to ask me?" Lianzhi pushed him away with force, her eyes dazed. "Don't you have anything to ask me?"
Bai Kang thought for a long time before asking, "Are you used to living in Yanmen?"
"Bokang!"
Lianzhi was anxious. How could Bai Kang not guess what he was thinking, but he was afraid that if he asked now, Lianzhi would run away. He didn't ask, so Lianzhi took the initiative to speak: "Don't you want to know why? I was the one who sent Madam Liu to Rongcheng, and Eunuch Ding is also my man. But what they said is true. If it weren't for my mother, how could your mother become the head maid, how could she become the wife of an official? You can obviously avenge my mother, but you are enjoying your life with peace of mind. They all deserved to die, and it was because of my mother's plea that they were able to survive!"
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, his fingers trembling uncontrollably until his knuckles turned white. Tears streamed down Lianzhi's face as she spoke, "I've never liked you. I've already said I hate you! Why can't I use you? I'm the prince, and you're just a minister! Besides, you owe me this!"
Bai Kang held his hand, which was cold, wet and soaked with sweat.
"Let's just say I owe you something." Bo Kang patted him on the back gently. "Can I repay you, baby?"
Lianzhi's tears hadn't stopped yet, and she suddenly fell silent. He looked up in confusion: "Didn't you hear me? I hate you, shouldn't you hate me too?"
He tilted his head, looking confused. Lianzhi was not good at making harsh remarks. Whether it was the previous incident in Fancheng or the way she looked now, it only made Bai Kang feel distressed.
"If you really hate me, why don't you execute me? Why don't you hold my mother and my mother accountable? You are the emperor. If you wanted to kill me, wouldn't you have killed me long ago?" Bai Kang asked back.
Lianzhi choked. After a long pause, she said weakly, "I do whatever I want."
"Then I'll do whatever I want." Bo Kang said, "I want to like you, so I like you."
Lianzhi didn't answer. She seemed shocked by Bai Kang's shameless and devoted attitude. Bai Kang thought that after saying so much, Lianzhi had no room for rebuttal and would naturally calm down. Unexpectedly, after a while, Lianzhi suddenly began to take off her clothes.
Then he crawled into Bai Kang's quilt again, and her smooth and shiny skin pressed tightly against him.
"I look good, don't I, brother?" Lianzhi's eyes flickered. She grabbed Bo Kang's arm and looked at him longingly. "You treated me well before because I looked good, didn't you? Brother, do it again. Please."
When the sun rose, Bo Kang, wrapped in his cloak, moved a small stool and sat at the door. Lianzhi had just fallen asleep, but he was no longer sleepy.
Of course, he didn't do it in the end. Bo Kang was confused by his actions and immediately pushed him away.
It was Lianzhi who said she hated him and cried out in pain, but when he pushed her away, Lianzhi started crying out of grievance.
So, Lianzhi thought that she liked him and treated him well just because he was handsome?
What a joke, how could he be such a superficial person!
He admitted that he liked Lianzhi's face very much. When he first became a palace guard, he would be stunned when he saw Chen Fenglian sitting in the sedan chair; when he reunited with Lianzhi in Liangzhou, he was immediately attracted by her face.
If it was just that face, he would have liked Lianzi and Jiang Yong a long time ago.
Bai Kang sat outside the door, staring blankly into the distance. The servants around him knew that he was the eldest princess's guest and did not dare to disturb him or ask him to leave.
Until a tall man dressed as Mobei came over with a basin in his hand and said to Bai Kang in a cold voice, "Get out of the way. I want to go in."
"He hasn't woken up yet." Bai Kang replied.
Arus turned a deaf ear and tried to rush in. Bo Kang had no place to vent his inner frustration and anger, and seeing that Arus was determined to go in, he drew his sword and held it in front of him.
"Don't understand? Want me to repeat it in your words?" Bai Kang raised his eyebrows.
"He doesn't like you." A smile appeared on the corner of Arus's lips. In Bo Kang's eyes, it was a provocation. "Didn't you hear? He hates you."
Was this person eavesdropping outside at night, or was he deliberately trying to piss him off? Veins popped in Bai Kang's forehead, and he clenched his fists.
The noise outside is too disturbing.
Lianzhi couldn't sleep at all. The screams and the sounds of swords and knives at the door were mixed together, making it hard not to pay attention. He picked up the candlestick on the bedside and threw it out.
It was suddenly quiet outside. When he woke up, he found Bai Kang and Arus sitting together at the door, both bruised and battered. Lianzhi looked at Bai Kang inquiringly, but he turned away awkwardly, not daring to meet his gaze.
He sneered and turned away.
He knew that Bo Kang had left Rongcheng to find him, but now that they had met, he was still avoiding him.
In the study, the others had been waiting for a long time. Lianzhi sat down at the table and asked, "Where is the princess?"
"The young prince is ill, and the eldest princess is taking care of him personally." The maid replied in a low voice.
Lianzhi said nothing, and ordered tea to be served. His expression had been grim since he entered the study, making it hard to guess his current plans. The two soldiers on his left suddenly knelt on one knee, bowed their heads, and said, "We, your servants, dare to say that the Imperial City is now within the grasp of our army. Your Highness should immediately consider becoming emperor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the others knelt in unison, and the sound of swords clashing rang out from within the tent. Lianzhi blew on the floating leaves in the cup and said calmly, "The Princess is not here, so let's discuss this later."
"The Princess is just a woman," replied the soldier who had spoken first, known as Lao Wu. Lianzhi glanced at him and warned, "You are now standing in the Princess's residence. You are her disciple."
Lao Wu wanted to say something more, but seeing that Lianzhi really had no intention of bringing up the matter again, he could only hold his words back.
"Is there any news from Jiangcheng?" Lianzhi asked.
Lao Wu regained consciousness and reported, "Emperor Chengming has already made Jiangcheng his new capital and will soon hold a grand ceremony to re-enter the throne. According to the defenders in the capital, there are no immediate plans for a counterattack. Your Highness! Now is the perfect time. You should immediately proclaim yourself emperor and lead our soldiers in the attack! If we give them time to recuperate, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to capture Jiangcheng again!"
No matter what he said, Lianzhi's answer was to discuss it later. Two hours later, everyone left in a bad mood. The military counselors pushed the door open and almost hit Bai Kang who was eavesdropping outside.
Lao Wu choked and angrily said to the people around him, "A person from the North Sea is so indecisive!"
Bai Kang stepped aside and listened quietly. Seeing Lianzhi coming out, he chased after her and tried to grab her hand, but this time she dodged him.
During this tense war, the soldiers and students stationed at Yanmen Gate were dining in the front courtyard of the Princess's residence. Bai Kang joined them, and Lianzhi sat quietly in the center. Lao Wu, who had just criticized him for being indecisive, sat down next to Lianzhi and placed his bowl in front of her. "Your Highness, please eat first!"
Lianzhi glanced at him with disdain. Another soldier followed suit, saying, "How many times have I told you this? Your Highness is from the North Sea. He's not used to eating the food you love! Your Highness, please enjoy the beef soup I've ordered."
Quite likable.
"You saw it too, didn't you?"
A gentle voice came from behind. Bo Kang was stunned and quickly came back to his senses and saluted: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Princess Jinyang waved her hand and smiled gently.
Judging from her temperament alone, she bore some resemblance to Lianzhi or Chen Fenglian, both possessing the kind and innocent features that elicited a positive impression. The golden gown, worn on her, made her look like a young girl in adult clothing.
But people who easily let down one's guard are the most dangerous. If she were truly just a weak woman, how could she help Lianzhi?
"Lord Bai is truly particular about etiquette. But now that my father and brother are gone, my role as the eldest princess is meaningless." The eldest princess smiled and went straight to the topic, "Look, Prince Zhulan has quite a lot of followers around him, far more than I do. Even my subordinates listen to him very much."
Bai Kang didn't know how to respond. It was obviously inappropriate to speak for those students, but he couldn't blame the princess either. Fortunately, the princess wasn't asking him that question. "I've heard about your relationship with Prince Zhulan. He's truly... a very charming man, and not one to be easily caught. Sometimes, I don't know what his motives are."
Princess Jinyang patted his shoulder in a friendly manner and said, "I've been married longer than you. Lord Bai, you must seize the opportunity. Since you are in love, don't let misunderstandings cause you regrets."
Did he know they were having a falling out? Without shying away, Bo Kang smiled openly, "Thank you, Princess, for your advice!"
After the princess left, Bai Kang rushed over immediately. Lian Zhi was listening to Lao Wu's speech, nibbling his food, looking very well-behaved. Suddenly, he quickly raised his head and glanced at Bai Kang.
While Lianzhi was still eating, she sat down next to him. Seeing Bokang sitting over, Lianzhi frowned unhappily.
"Lord Bai? Are you here to bring food to His Highness?" the soldier asked casually, his face clearly saying, "Are you here to show your courtesy as well?"
Bai Kang was in no hurry. Just as he was about to speak, Lianzhi suddenly put down her bowl and left. It was clear she didn't want to talk to him. For several days, Lianzhi seemed to be deliberately keeping him hanging, running away at the sight of Bai Kang.
It just so happened that the recent period was turbulent, and reports of battles in Jiangcheng were frequently transmitted back to Yanmen. Bo Kang's status here was awkward, and it was not convenient for him to join them, nor did he have the intention to do so.
It was during these days that he gradually discovered that many people in the army believed in Lianzhi. For several days in a row, Lianzhi did not return to her room. He stayed awake until dawn, but no one showed up.
At daybreak, Bai Kang pushed his iron wheelchair out again. Just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, several people were already training in the front yard. Seeing someone emerge from the room, they all looked eagerly, but when they saw it was Bai Kang, their gazes dimmed again.
Are they all looking forward to the lotus branches?
He's just like a dog.
Bai Kang didn't know what was going on with the subtle emotions in his heart. He smiled and waved to the few people, saying hello. Lao Wu saw the wheelchair under Bai Kang and said in a subtle tone: "Master Bai's legs..."
"I'm too lazy to walk, so I'll just take a couple of laps in the wheelchair. You guys practice, don't worry about me." Bai Kang didn't care. As he continued to push the wheelchair forward, he noticed a small figure behind the crowd.
Um?
"Child?" Bai Kang asked.
Following behind the crowd, imitating their training, was the child he had rescued. He had been unable to travel recently, and he had only heard from Geerer that this child was quite familiar with the people in the Princess's Mansion.
When the child saw him, he ran over and began to kneel down and kowtow, which startled Bo Kang. However, the child insisted on doing so and said, "Thank you for saving me."
"It's just a piece of cake." Bo Kang's expression was mysterious. "What's your name?"
Child: "My name is Agui."
Agui's parents were small traders in Qizhou. When they were returning from the outskirts of the city that day, they accidentally ran into the army of the Helan tribe and were accidentally injured. They could only hide the child in a water tank.
If it weren't for the unexpected encounter, Agui would have really died. Therefore, he was very grateful.
"You are my number one savior, Agui will definitely repay you!" Agui said confidently, like a little adult. Hearing the word "savior", Bai Kang was dazed for a moment, but quickly came to his senses and said with a smile: "Then who is the second biggest savior?"
"It's Her Highness Zhulan!" Surprisingly, Agui said Lianzhi's name. "You saved my life. Her Highness Zhulan is the best person to me. I will definitely repay you."
This time, Bai Kang hadn't expected anything. He waved to Agui, asking him to push him to the corner. "What's going on? Tell me."
"Her Highness Zhulan feeds Agui delicious meals and has people take care of me." Agui counted on his fingers, "She even lets Agui study with her. I never knew her study was like that before. Her Highness Zhulan is truly the best person in the world."
Yes, he is indeed the best and kindest person in the world.
Just be tough with him.
"What's wrong with you?" Agui asked in confusion. Bo Kang shook his head: "Nothing's wrong. Just listen to me. When Princess Zhulan comes to see you again, tell me secretly and let me come over, okay?"
Agui nodded vigorously.
He deliberately avoided visiting Lianzhi for a few days, hoping that she would relax her guard. This method really worked. At first, Lianzhi was busy and had to be on guard against Bo Kang's appearance. Later, when she saw that he didn't come looking for her, she stopped deliberately hiding her whereabouts.
Although Gezhier said that Bo Kang felt that it was inconvenient for him to participate in the princess's plan and deliberately avoided him, but... did Bo Kang really no longer want to see him?
I think since he is deliberately avoiding me, why not just go our separate ways?
"You're distracted."
Lianzhi was startled and turned around. Arus reminded her coldly: "Thinking about him again."
"What does this have to do with you?" Lianzhi cursed, then turned and headed for the small study. This was the princess' inner courtyard, and usually only Lianzhi was allowed in besides her and her husband. He stopped outside the small study window and watched the two children inside writing.
After looking for a long time, the window was suddenly opened from the inside. Agui and another child smiled and said to him, "Greetings, Her Majesty Zhulan!"
"...Yeah." Lianzhi touched their heads, "I'll go in first and continue teaching you how to write today."
When Bai Kang heard that Lianzhi was in the small study, he hurried over.
There was no one at the gate, so he slipped in. The study was empty. He'd assumed he was too late, that Lianzhi had already left, but then he heard a child's voice in the garden. He wheeled his wheelchair over, saw who was inside, and was stunned.
Agui was there, but there was another child sitting next to him, playing with him and throwing a ball. Agui was the one who tipped him off; he had known he would be coming and ran over happily, "Sir!"
Another child followed him and said, "Master Bai."
How could there be another one? Bo Kang looked at the child's dark and gorgeous clothes and the jade crown on his head, and was speechless.
He had a vague guess in his mind, and sure enough, Agui said, "Sir, this is the young prince."
Sure enough, it was the eldest princess’ son.
"Greetings, young master." Bai Kang was very polite to the child. He looked around and didn't see Lianzhi, so he sat down by the corridor and didn't plan to leave. "Young master, Agui, can I play ball with you?"
Bai Kang really played with them for half an hour.
Playing with two well-behaved children is not tiring. Bo Kang threw the colored ball in his hand. A Gui recovered very well and picked up the ball very quickly. On the contrary, the little prince was slow and did not seem to be particularly smart.
The young master was a step slower, but he still ran to catch the ball, but missed it and it fell to the ground with a thud. Bo Kang couldn't help but laugh a few times in a very disrespectful way.
"Your Highness!"
Suddenly, someone appeared from behind him. Lianzhi came out from nowhere, helped the young master up, and anxiously patted the dirt off his body: "Did you fall?"
Bai Kang was suddenly speechless. Lianzhi wiped the young master's face with a gentleness Bai Kang had never seen before. He suddenly felt something was wrong.
Lianzhi's attitude towards the young master is not right.
Lianzhi looked left and right as if she were looking at a treasure, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that the young master was not injured.
"Your Highness Zhulan," Agui said timidly, "We were just joking."
"I know, I don't blame you." After saying that, Lianzhi let them continue playing, and walked to the corridor and sat next to Bai Kang.
"Don't play with them like that anymore." Lianzhi said coldly.
Bai Kang uttered a guilty "oh." Although he'd seen Lianzhi, he felt awkward. Agui threw the ball again, and Bai Kang caught it, suddenly unsure of his next move.
"You like the young master very much." Bai Kang said.
"He's my nephew, so naturally I like him." Lianzhi said calmly. He watched the interaction between Bai Kang and Agui and suddenly asked, "Brother Kang, do you like children?"
"Hmm?" Bo Kang was stunned and threw the ball back to Agui. "It's okay. It's just okay."
There are already enough younger brothers and sisters in the family. As the eldest brother is like a father, he doesn’t have any thoughts about his own children.
Lianzhi nodded, her expression a bit relieved, and even a hint of regret. He said something surprising: "Do you want a child? It would be great if we could have a child."
The ball that just flew over was thrown away by Bai Kang with great force. Bai Kang's ears quickly turned red and hot. He pulled the man aside, his cheeks red as blood: "Ancestor! Do you know what you are saying?"
Lianzhi looked up at him. Bo Kang had no choice but to drag her into the small study next door, close the door, and then hold it tightly. Lianzhi's expression was indifferent. He sighed and whispered, "You don't need to ask such questions."
"So you still like it?" Lianzhi asked.
"You clearly know what I'm talking about." Bai Kang sighed again.
What he had been reluctant to mention for days, afraid of touching Lianzhi's heart, and unwilling to expose, now had to be said: "You don't have to repay me, baby. I said, I don't need you to repay me. You don't have to do this."
Lianzhi's eyes trembled slightly, but her mouth was still very hard: "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Do you want me to make it clear? You want to repay a favor, whether it was in the past or now, you want to repay a favor, right?" Bai Kang pinched his face and said lightly, "You don't owe me or my mother anything."
That day, when he heard Chang Yuzhu's words, he understood instantly.
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