Chapter 20 Secret Passage
Chapter Summary: Little Green's Moment of Social Anger.
In a side alley, Lian Xing sat on a wooden box with his head drooping.
Xu Luchuan walked over and casually tossed a piece of lactose to Lian Xing. Lian Xing subconsciously caught it, then turned around and said in surprise, "I don't want it, give it to Your Highness."
"She's all alone, she doesn't deserve to eat so much." Xu Luchuan mocked deliberately, as if venting his anger, but Lian Xing heard it and placed a sword against his shoulder and neck. "Say it, Your Highness, and I'll kill you."
Xu Luchuan glanced sideways at the sharp blade, showing no fear whatsoever.
He slowly raised his finger and gently pushed the hilt of the sword aside, saying, "Liu Shiyu told you to follow me, not to kill me."
"Furthermore, what I meant was that Your Highness cannot eat that much. You have misunderstood."
Lian Xing was coaxed and tricked by Xu Luchuan into putting away his sword. He then unwrapped the oil-paper-wrapped lactose, casually picked one up, and popped it into his mouth, the milky aroma filling the air. Xu Luchuan watched as Lian Xing's face instantly transformed from gloomy to beaming.
"tasty."
Xu Luchuan smiled helplessly. After all, he was just a child; a packet of lactose could make him this happy. But his ability to change his expression was exactly the same as Liu Shiyu's.
Looking up at the sunset sky, Xu Luchuan turned to Lian Xing and said, "It's getting late, we probably won't make it by walking. Can you manage to walk on the rooftops?"
Upon hearing this, Lian Xing nodded, carefully put the lactose into his pocket, and replied, "Mm."
Rising and falling, the two walked briskly into the distance in the rosy glow of Jinling.
Although Xu Luchuan's martial arts skills were extremely poor, his agility was exceptional. This was likely a skill he had honed in Liyang, where Madam Xu had often kept him confined to a secluded courtyard. With no doors or paths, the walls and eaves became his only way out.
Over the course of eight years in Liyang, Xu Luchuan's lightness skill became increasingly refined, to say the least.
Even a master like Lian Xing was left behind by him in just a few steps.
...
As day turns to night, swallows return home.
Xu Luchuan and Lian Xing arrived at Princess Liu Shiyu's residence in just a quarter of an hour. Standing on the roof, Xu Luchuan was about to jump down when Lian Xing, who was chasing after him, grabbed his arm.
"Don't jump, it's a secret passage."
Xu Luchuan couldn't understand Lian Xing's strange way of speaking, so he asked in confusion, "What secret passage?"
Lian Xing did not answer, but instead pulled Xu Luchuan to the southwest courtyard wall of the princess's residence.
"Why did you bring me here?" Xu Luchuan looked at the alley, which was even quieter than Shanghe Main Street, with great wariness.
Lian Xing pointed to a desolate tavern not far away, separated from the princess's residence by only a wall. Xu Luchuan looked over and was surprised. Lian Yue was standing under the eaves, holding a long sword, nodding in acknowledgment.
No way? Becoming Liu Shiyu's lover, could he really be betrayed? Unfortunately, there was no escape. Xu Luchuan could only grit his teeth and walk with Lian Xing towards the extremely eerie-looking tavern.
As the man approached, Lian Yue clasped his hands in greeting and said, "My lord, His Highness has been waiting for you for a long time. Please follow me."
Xu Luchuan, seeing the empty tavern, boldly entered. Lian Yue was just about to follow when Lian Xing unexpectedly shoved a lactose into her mouth. Startled, she hadn't even had a chance to speak when Lian Xing turned and flew onto the roof of the princess's residence, continuing her routine inspection.
The taste of lactose permeated his heart and soul, and Lian Yue silently turned and stepped through the door.
...
Inside the tavern, there was a man and a woman, their faces unfamiliar.
Xu Luchuan dared not make a move, for he felt a familiar sense of menace emanating from the two men's brows. Lian Yue led Xu Luchuan to the backyard, and the two men did not stop them.
"Is this Liu Shiyu's idea?" Xu Luchuan couldn't help but ask.
Lian Yue pushed open the hidden door to the backyard and casually took out a tinderbox from her sleeve to light the candlestick outside the door. The candlelight fell on Xu Luchuan's fair face, and Lian Yue lowered her eyes and said, "His Highness instructed that from now on you will enter the Princess's residence from here. The people in front are all His Highness's people, and you may come and go freely, my lord."
Looking at the pitch blackness before him, Xu Luchuan couldn't help but wonder, "Is this how we enter the princess's residence? What if we encounter a large influx of visitors?"
"Don't worry, my lord, this shop will be empty." Lian Yue said as she walked deeper into the secret passage. "This was originally a run-down shop. His Highness sent someone to take it over simply because he didn't want this advantageous location to fall into the hands of others."
I will stop here for the next month.
In reality, eight out of ten shops outside the princess's residence are actually registered under Liu Shiyu's name. The royal city is rife with undercurrents; this is merely her way of surviving amidst the chaos.
The secret passage was not long, less than a hundred steps.
When the candlelight in his eyes suddenly turned into moonlight, Xu Luchuan stepped out of the darkness and looked around. Outside the secret passage stood more than twenty servants of clearly defined ranks. These people seemed unusually excited about Xu Luchuan's arrival.
"Look, what a handsome young man!"
...
"Who is this? Who is this! Does anyone know? Is this His Highness's lover?"
...
"I don't know, I'm not sure, don't ask me."
Xu Luchuan stood there dumbfounded, wishing he could leave immediately, but then he suddenly heard Liu Shiyu's voice.
"Is that Little Green?"
Liu Shiyu then jogged through the crowd and arrived in front of Xu Luchuan with a squinting smile, saying, "The Court of Justice clearly closes at 5 PM, why are you so late?"
As she spoke, she glanced down at the oil paper bag in Xu Luchuan's hand and asked curiously, "Is this for me?"
Xu Luchuan's mind went blank at that moment, and he handed over the oil paper bag like a puppet. Liu Shiyu didn't care, happily reached out and took it, and immediately tore it open.
"It's lactose!" Liu Shiyu took a piece of lactose and put it in her mouth, then pouted. "Okay, at least you know you can't come empty-handed. I'll forgive you for being late for now."
These words caused an uproar among the crowd.
"Thank God, His Highness has finally seen the light! This old servant is overjoyed!"
...
"What happened? What's going on? Why are you all so surprised? Is something wrong with our prince?"
...
"I don't know, I'm not sure, don't ask me."
Xu Luchuan finally came to his senses and wanted to turn around and leave.
Liu Shiyu clearly saw through his intentions, but how could she give him a chance to escape?
Liu Shiyu stepped forward and took Xu Luchuan's arm, her eyes beaming as she addressed the crowd, "From today onward, Young Master Xu is this princess's lover. As always, anyone who dares to leak any matters of the household will be executed without mercy."
"Kill without mercy?" Xu Luchuan looked at the person next to him in astonishment.
But everyone in the mansion responded in unison, as if it were commonplace, "Yes, Your Highness!" But when everyone looked up at Xu Luchuan again, there was another uproar.
"Judging from Young Master Xu's expression, he seems reluctant. Could it be that he was threatened by our Prince?"
...
"You're just being nosy. As long as His Highness is happy, that's all that matters."
...
"I don't know... You're right, you're right."
Le Xin and Feng Rong stood to the side, equally shocked that Xu Luchuan had become Liu Shiyu's lover. However, unlike the others, they didn't comment. Seeing this, Le Xin cupped his hands and asked, "Your Highness, if you have finished speaking, I will instruct the kitchen to prepare the meal."
"Okay, go prepare." Liu Shiyu waved her sleeve dismissively. "You may all leave."
"Yes." The crowd responded and withdrew.
After everyone left, Xu Luchuan seized the opportunity to throw Liu Shiyu at him and said, "The tavern, the secret passage, and them. Liu Shiyu, what exactly were you doing all this for?"
Liu Shiyu glanced back at Xu Luchuan, then casually picked up a piece of lactose and waved it in front of him, asking, "So why did you buy this?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Luchuan angrily grabbed Liu Shiyu's wrist and stared into her eyes.
Liu Shiyu just smiled and said, "Xiao Lü, do you really have to worry about these things? Are they that important?"
It seems that Liu Shiyu herself didn't have the answer to the question Xu Luchuan wanted to ask. She simply did what she wanted to do. Perhaps one day Liu Shiyu will understand, but not now. Just like Xu Luchuan's visit to the candy shop. Clearly, what he was thinking wasn't the real answer either.
Xu Luchuan remained silent for a long time, so Liu Shiyu had no choice but to move her wrist and gently press the piece of lactose in her hand against his lips, saying, "Please have some candy."
"I bought this candy." Xu Luchuan pushed Liu Shiyu's arm away with disdain.
Looking at the piece of lactose in her hand that Xu Luchuan had stained, Liu Shiyu clicked her tongue and said, "You've already touched it, why don't you eat this piece?"
Xu Luchuan ignored her. But Liu Shiyu wouldn't give up. She raised her hand, pinched his cheek, and stuffed a candy into it when he wasn't looking.
"We can't waste it!"
Liu Shiyu was quite pleased with himself for his successful scheme. He put his hands behind his back and was about to leave when Xu Luchuan suddenly reached out and grabbed him. Unexpectedly, Liu Shiyu lost his balance and fell into Xu Luchuan's arms.
At that moment, not only Liu Shiyu, but even Xu Luchuan felt every hair on his body stand on end.
The two looked at each other, and Xu Luchuan said in a deep voice, "Liu Shiyu, do you really know the meaning of the word 'lover'?"
"Boring!" Liu Shiyu clenched her fists, her angry eyes unable to hide her anger.
What does that mean? I don't know, but I do know that if you dare to touch me today, I will kill you!
Xu Luchuan refused to back down and held the man hostage.
Liu Shiyu, don't think that just because you know my weakness, I'm afraid of you.
The two faced off, neither able to gain the upper hand.
However, this scene was witnessed by Feng Rong, who came to report, and she was so frightened that she quickly covered her face and exclaimed, "I didn't mean to disturb you! I just came to tell you that dinner is ready and Your Highness and your husband can dine in the backyard at any time."
"I have finished speaking, I will take my leave."
Feng Rong, being quite sensible, quickly turned and left.
Liu Shiyu turned to look at Xu Luchuan, struggled a couple of times, and complained, "Xu Luchuan, you'd better let me go now, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
As Xu Luchuan spoke, the name "Liyang" suddenly flashed through his mind, and he immediately pushed Liu Shiyu out.
The shove caused Liu Shiyu, who was completely unprepared, to stumble several steps before coming to a stop. Glancing back at Xu Luchuan, Liu Shiyu angrily declared, "Otherwise! I'll have Lian Xing tie you up, and you'll be watching me eat tonight!"
Liu Shiyu's words silenced Xu Luchuan; it turned out she hadn't meant to say those two words.
The evening breeze ruffled his brocade robe, soothing his unease. Xu Luchuan walked past Liu Shiyu and said softly, "Let's go, aren't you hungry?"
Who said they were hungry?
Liu Shiyu pouted in dissatisfaction, but she was not one to hold grudges. She replied, "Come with me."
Before leaving, Xu Luchuan followed Liu Shiyu out of the courtyard where the secret passage was being built.
...
The two arrived at Qihua Pavilion.
Looking at the table laden with delicacies, Liu Shiyu seemed to have cast aside all her unhappiness and ran towards Qihua Pavilion with shining eyes.
Standing under the pavilion, Liu Shiyu waved, "Little Green, Little Green! Come quickly!"
Xu Luchuan sighed and rubbed his forehead upon hearing this. He figured that no matter how many times he said it, Liu Shiyu wouldn't change her mind and stop calling him "Little Green."
Stepping into Qihua Pavilion, Xu Luchuan looked at the table full of dishes and asked in surprise, "Are there other people here?"
"No," Liu Shiyu shook her head. Xu Luchuan was even more puzzled. "That's all? This whole table of food, just the two of us eating?"
Liu Shiyu sat down, smoothed her skirt, picked up the wooden chopsticks, and smiled brightly.
“I didn’t know what you liked to eat, so I asked the kitchen to make a few extra dishes. Besides, I’ve seen how much you eat, Xiao Lü. Oh, and from now on, if you want to eat something, just tell Feng Rong or Le Xin in advance so they can prepare it.”
As Liu Shiyu spoke, she picked up a piece of fish and ate it while glancing at Xu Luchuan standing beside her.
"Sit down. Don't be shy, eat as much as you like."
Xu Luchuan seemed to be deep in thought. Although he had been forbidden from eating by the Xu family, how could he accept Liu Shiyu's free meals? He had his pride. He slowly took out a money pouch that he had prepared beforehand from his sleeve and placed it next to Liu Shiyu.
Seeing this, Liu Shiyu pointed to herself and asked, "For me?"
Xu Luchuan did not answer, but bent down and sat down.
Liu Shiyu opened the money bag and saw the gleaming silver inside, which he estimated to be more than half a month's salary. He then pushed the money bag away.
"I don't want it. I'm the one who wants you to have dinner with me, how can I accept your money?" But Xu Luchuan stubbornly pushed the money bag back, "If you insist on not accepting it, I will never come again no matter what you say."
Although Liu Shiyu didn't understand Xu Luchuan, she still chose to respect him because of his stubbornness.
"What a stubborn mule! I'll take it." With that, Liu Shiyu picked up the money pouch and carefully put it into his pocket. "Alright, I'll take it. Can we eat now, Mr. Xu?"
Seeing that Liu Shiyu had accepted the money pouch, Xu Luchuan felt a little relieved. He picked up his chopsticks without saying anything more. Liu Shiyu quickly started eating and began to eat heartily. Only then could the two of them finally begin their meal in a relaxed manner.
During the meal, Liu Shiyu chuckled, seemingly lost in thought.
Xu Luchuan, standing to the side, asked in confusion, "What are you laughing at?"
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