Chapter 60: The Substitute - Your Brother and the Emperor?
Pei Zilie, who was usually arrogant, choked on his words. He was shocked by the shamelessness of the male prostitute.
The man in blue was still talking.
"If the young master doesn't give it to me, then so be it—"
"That man just now seemed to be Young Master Xie. I had a very pleasant time with him last time. I wonder if Young Master Xie still remembers me..."
"Stop talking!"
Pei Zilie's expression immediately changed. He cut him off and called over the attendant beside him, ordering, "Do you have any money on you?"
"Your Highness, we did bring some, but not many." The head guard nodded, but his voice lacked confidence.
Pei Zilie frowned. "Give me the money you have on you first."
First, give the male prostitute money to shut him up, and then keep saying things he doesn't want to hear.
The guard obsequiously handed over all the money, while Pei Zilie tossed it to the man in blue beside him. He raised his chin and said with an air of nonchalance, "What I promised, I will naturally do. Here's some money for your travel expenses. Someone will deliver the rest to you tomorrow."
The man in blue remained calm upon hearing that the matter had been resolved. He bowed slightly, pursed his thin lips, and said, "I am naturally at ease with Your Highness's handling of matters."
"That's good, you can go now."
Pei Zilie said this, as if he wanted to get rid of the trouble.
The man in blue looked up at him, but his expression was indifferent. He shifted his gaze back, seemingly looking at someone else.
"What are you looking at? Get out of here!"
Pei Zilie naturally noticed, his eyes narrowed and his expression was not good. He immediately ordered a guard to take the person away. He had been an eyesore all day and really didn't want to see this person anymore, not to mention that this person had just mentioned Xie Changyu.
The guard was very fast, and he quickly disappeared from his sight.
He stood there, staring into the darkness, afraid that the person might come back.
Only after confirming that the person had truly left did he turn to look at Xie Changyu's side. Pei Zilie saw that the distance was a bit far, so he walked over and saw that the two of them were whispering something to each other with their heads very close together.
An inexplicable anger rose within him, and he let out a loud snort that caught the attention of Xie Changyu and Fu Jing on the other side.
The unspoken understanding between the two of them—asking why they hadn't left yet—made Pei Zilie even angrier. He stepped forward, bringing them even closer.
"I'm still here! What are you two saying about me behind my back?!"
Xie Changyu sensed something was off about the tone. Was this guy taking his anger out on them after being rejected in love? He gave Pei Zilie a strange look and said, "What do you mean 'behind your back'? Do you think I'm like you? If I wanted to say something, I'd say it to your face!"
Fu Jing nodded in agreement.
"You!" Pei Zilie was about to explode again, but as if he had thought of something, he calmed down and said, "I'm being magnanimous this time and won't hold it against you."
Xie Changyu found it even stranger. When did this guy become so kind? He stepped forward, circled the man, and rested his hand on his chin, looking on with a curious expression.
After looking around and finding nothing, he simply asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you possessed?"
Pei Zilie glanced at him and retorted, "You're the one who's possessed by a ghost!"
Xie Changyu raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that right?"
"You! Xie Changyu, are you trying to make me angry?!"
Pei Zilie's pent-up anger was reignited by Xie Changyu's casual remark, and he glared at Xie Changyu as if his eyes were spitting fire.
However, Xie Changyu's expression remained unchanged, still wearing that smiling face. She wasn't afraid of his anger; instead, she seemed relieved and said, "Is this how you normally are?"
As he spoke, he reached out and touched Pei Zilie's head, quickly stroking his long black hair as if smoothing it.
After touching him, she quickly retreated behind Fu Jing before her subordinates noticed, only revealing her head with her eyebrows and eyes curved.
Fu Jing turned his head to look at the person behind him, his tone strange, "Why are you touching him? He definitely hasn't washed his hair in a long time."
"What?" Xie Changyu was clearly surprised to hear this. He looked at his hands with some annoyance. "No way, this thing is so dirty?"
"...I can hear everything you're saying..."
Pei Zilie blurted out those words out of the blue. His expression was calm, and he was not as angry as Xie Changyu had imagined. However, he still secretly glared at Fu Jing, who was spreading rumors in front of him.
Xie Changyu looked at his black hair and asked directly, "When did you wash your hair? It hasn't been a long time since you washed it, has it?"
"I just washed it yesterday, what are you afraid of? Didn't you think about it before you dared to touch it?"
Pei Zilie smiled, watching him make a fool of himself, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
The moonlight, as white as snow, cast a cold, lonely glow across the mossy steps. A silver moon rippled across the river's surface, and the figures of several people vaguely appeared in the water.
Xie Changyu glared at him but hadn't said anything when a shout rang out.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
The sound grew louder as it approached, and a man dressed as a servant ran over. The guards standing nearby recognized him and let him in.
After searching for a long time, Xiaohe finally saw that familiar figure and couldn't help but burst into tears. He ran to Xie Changyu, feeling extremely wronged.
"Young Master! Young Master! We've finally found you!"
Xie Changyu then remembered that he had forgotten that someone was with him. He coughed lightly and said, "You're here."
"It's good that you're here. You'll go back with your young master later."
Fu Jing said this.
After all, they were the ones who left their original spot first, which is why they couldn't be found. With so many people tonight, they must have been looking for a long time.
Xiaohe wiped her eyes and whispered, "Okay."
Xie Changyu found his reaction somewhat amusing and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Why are you crying? I'm not crying."
Upon hearing this, Xiaohe dared not wipe away his tears. He whispered, "I dare not."
Xie Changyu turned around and said directly to Pei Zilie, "That's enough for today's reminiscing, we're going back now!"
"Who's catching up with you?" Pei Zilie retorted immediately upon hearing this.
Xie Changyu didn't care; after saying that, he simply grabbed Fu Jing and left.
Fu Jing looked at the hand that was being held, and walked forward at an angle. The white and red clothes were very conspicuous on the night street.
Are we just going to leave like this?
From his angle, you can see his jade-like profile, with very long eyelashes that blink frequently.
His gaze gradually focused.
Xie Changyu neither noticed nor cared. He nodded and said, "If we don't leave now, when will we? I don't want to waste any more time with that idiot. It's enough that I've seen the joke."
As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curved upwards, and he looked like he was in a very good mood.
Fu Jing laughed along, a gentle smile on his handsome face. He whispered, "That's right, he's just a fool."
The moonlight was cold, the streets grew darker and darker, and there were fewer and fewer people around.
The journey back to the manor was still a while away, but Xie Changyu was getting tired and clung to Fu Jing, saying, "I don't want to walk anymore, carry me."
The young master, dressed in an ivory-white brocade robe, began to whine at him, his tone perfectly justified, "Hurry up!"
Fu Jing readily agreed, turning his back and bending down, "Come on."
Xie Changyu wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him.
However, just as Fu Jing stood still and was about to walk forward, he heard him say, "I need to get something done in a bit."
Xie Changyu took the longevity lock from his collar and shoved it to the side.
Okay, that feels much better now, it's not uncomfortable anymore.
He rested his face on Fu Jing's shoulder, his mouth close to his ear, and said, "Okay, let's go."
Fu Jing lowered his eyes and hummed in agreement.
Xiao He, standing nearby, dared not utter a sound. He could only watch as the two young masters walked back to the manor in an intimate manner.
He knew that his young master and Young Master Fu had a good relationship, but he didn't expect them to be this close. However, he felt uneasy. His young master was simple and kind, but Young Master Fu's reputation in the capital was not so good.
well.
However, as a servant, he couldn't interfere in his master's affairs and could only watch helplessly.
Xie Changyu was much more relaxed now that he didn't have to walk anymore. He could feel the person beneath him walking at a very steady pace, and he thought to himself that this person was indeed a martial artist.
Out of boredom, he started to tangle Fu Jing's hair, not caring at all whether this would disturb the other's walking. He slumped his head on the other's shoulder and asked, "Fu Jing, is your brother going back to the capital soon?"
The boy's voice became softer due to fatigue, unlike his previous energetic tone.
Fu Jing paused upon hearing this, but continued walking as if nothing had happened. His posture was steady, and the red-clad youth's expression was calm, but his voice was gentle, "Why are you asking about my brother?"
Xie Changyu blinked. "I'm curious. Your brother is so capable. My dad said he fought exceptionally well in this war and won back several cities!"
Even without looking at him, Fu Jing could guess that the person behind him had that irritating look of worship on their face. His mood immediately soured, and he muttered, "I will become powerful too."
"Of course I believe you! You'll have to become really, really strong to protect me."
Amazingly, Fu Jing's mood improved again, and he said, "Of course."
The conversation suddenly turned to his brother.
"Is your brother particularly close to the Emperor? I've heard many people say they have a close relationship."
Perhaps because there were no outsiders around, Fu Jing did not stop this potentially dangerous topic. He said in a calm voice, "I only know that my brother and His Majesty have known each other since childhood, and I don't know much else."
"You didn't know?"
Xie Changyu was skeptical. "Isn't it said that the emperor often visits your general's residence? You haven't run into him?"
Fu Jing frowned. "Where did you find out about this?"
Xie Changyu was somewhat unconvinced by his questioning tone, "What do I care where I found out from? You're just saying it's right or wrong?"
"Asking about the emperor is a capital offense. If it gets out, you'll be in trouble. I need to know who's trying to harm you."
Xie Changyu casually poked his ear and grumbled, "No one, I saw it myself."
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Author's note: I feel like this story will be even longer than the last one. Oh well, I'll just write it slowly this time. I can't rush it; I need to make sure everything is clear.
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