Chapter 4: Out of money? Go find a sucker!
Yun Zhan patted his round belly and let out a satisfied burp.
Just now, he strode confidently into the most impressive-looking restaurant in the county town with the silver "sponsored" by Yan Linye, ordering only the most expensive dishes. Braised pork knuckle, steamed sea bass, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall... Since it wasn't his own money, he didn't feel the pinch at all.
As he ate, he smugly said, "Hmph, Yan Linye, you didn't expect this, did you? The money you used to seemingly win people's hearts ended up in the stomach of your assassination target! That's called aiding the enemy! Foolish!"
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, when it was time to pay the bill, Yun Zhan casually slapped the small money pouch on the counter: "Keep the change!"
After counting the silver, the waiter gave an awkward but polite smile: "Sir, you... are still three qian of silver short."
Yun Zhan was taken aback, then quickly grabbed the money pouch and shook it; it was empty. He then remembered that the money pouch Yan Linye had given him wasn't particularly full to begin with, and he had been so caught up in ordering food that he hadn't considered the budget at all.
"Uh..." Yun Zhan blushed and rummaged through his pockets, trying to make up the difference with his own money. But as he did so, his heart skipped a beat—the money pouch containing his actual travel expenses, hidden in his robes, was gone!
He tried hard to recall if he had accidentally dropped it when he reached for the purse Yan Linye had given him at the restaurant, or if someone had stolen it while he was walking down the street. He remembered the time he tripped and fell in the alley earlier; maybe that was it…
"Damn it! Which bastard thief dared to steal my money!" Yun Zhan was so angry that he jumped up and down, wishing he could drag the thief out and beat him up. "Do you know that I am... I am..." He stopped himself in time, swallowing the word "emperor" back, his face turning red with embarrassment.
The waiter's expression gradually changed from a smile to suspicion: "Sir?"
Yun Zhan was on the verge of tears, but had no choice but to grit his teeth and pawn his "showy but impractical" gem-encrusted dagger on the counter. After much pleading and promising to redeem it with money the next day, he was finally allowed to leave the restaurant.
Standing on the bustling street, Yun Zhan felt a chill run through him as the evening breeze blew.
Now, the money Yan Linye gave him is all gone, and his own savings have been emptied. He, Yun Zhan, the supreme ruler of the Dayin Dynasty, is now penniless and homeless on the streets!
What to do now? Slink back to the palace in disgrace?
Just thinking about Eunuch Gao's face, which might have a "I knew this would happen" expression, and that group of muscular "concubines"... Yun Zhan felt a chill run down his spine, and he immediately suppressed the thought as soon as it popped into his head.
Moreover, he had finally made up his mind to "influence" (physically) Yan Linye at close range, and retreating before the mission even started was inconsistent with his (self-perceived) tenacious persona!
No way! Absolutely not! To come back defeated on the very first day is too embarrassing! Yun Zhan can't afford to lose face like that!
But if he doesn't go to the palace, where can he go? Sleep on the streets? With his delicate skin, he probably won't last a night.
Just then, a thought flashed through his mind—Yan Linye!
That's right! Didn't that guy say, "If you have any difficulties, you can find me at the charity home in the west of the city"?
Although seeking help from the assassination target sounds absurd, ... well, there's no other way! Besides, Yan Linye himself invited him! This is like inviting a wolf into the house! It's foolish not to take advantage of a free lunch!
Get close to the target, gain their trust, and make it easier to strike later! Yes! That's it! This is a strategic compromise!
Yun Zhan instantly found the perfect excuse for himself and rallied his spirits. After inquiring about the location of the charity home in the west of the city, he set off with what he considered to be a triumphant spirit.
The so-called charitable shelter was actually just a dozen or so simple houses connected together, set up by Yan Linye and some like-minded people to shelter refugees and the poor. When Yun Zhan arrived, he saw Yan Linye distributing cornbread to several ragged children in the courtyard, with a gentle smile on his face.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, gilding him with a layer of gold, making him look... even more like a good person.
Yun Zhan shook his head, dismissing the dangerous thought that "he is a good person," took a deep breath, and went inside.
"Brother Yan!" Yun Zhan tried his best to make his voice sound pitiful and helpless.
Yan Linye turned around upon hearing the voice, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw it was him. He then smiled and said, "Brother Yun Zhan? What brings you here?"
"I..." Yun Zhan forced a look of misfortune, "My purse was stolen, and now I'm penniless and have nowhere to go... Remembering what Brother Yan said during the day, I... so I shamelessly came here." As he spoke, he secretly observed Yan Linye's reaction.
Yan Linye glanced at his empty hands and slightly disheveled appearance, and without suspicion, nodded gently: "I see. Since you're here, please stay. Although the shelter is simple, it can still provide shelter from the wind and rain."
"That's great! Thank you, Brother Yan!" Yun Zhan immediately exclaimed, "Thank you so much!" His mind was already racing with calculations: First step, successful infiltration!
Yan Linye led him to a fairly clean shared room, which already housed several people. After settling him in, Yan Linye went to attend to other matters.
Yun Zhan lay on the hard wooden plank bed, beginning to plan his assassination attempt for the night. Once everyone was asleep, he would sneak into Yan Linye's room…
As he thought about it, the exhaustion from a long day overwhelmed him, and he fell asleep without realizing it.
He didn't know how long he had slept when he was woken up by the urge to urinate. He groggily got up and, guided by his senses, went outside to find a latrine.
The charitable institution looked quite large, but its structure was simple. Yun Zhan, half-asleep and half-awake, pushed open a door he saw and went inside.
It was pitch black inside. He felt his way to the corner of the wall, unbuckled his belt, and prepared to relieve himself.
"Huh? Why doesn't this toilet have a lid?" he mumbled groggily.
Just then, a somewhat helpless yet amused voice rang out from the darkness: "Brother Yun Zhan... that's a water vat."
Yun Zhan jolted awake and instantly became clear-headed!
By the faint moonlight streaming through the window, he looked closely—what lay before him was not a toilet at all, but a large water vat, about half a person's height! And the source of the sound was Yan Linye, who was lying on another plank bed not far away!
He actually sneaked into Yan Linye's sleeping room! And he almost peed on the water tank!
"Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Yun Zhan was so frightened that he was scared out of his wits. He hurriedly pulled up his pants, but tripped over the pant leg and fell headlong into the water vat.
"Watch out!" Yan Linye reacted quickly, leaping off the bed and pulling him back before he could knock over the water vat.
Still shaken, Yun Zhan leaned against Yan Linye's chest, able to smell the clean scent of soap on the other's body and feel the warmth and strong heartbeat from his chest. His face instantly turned bright red, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
"I...I'm looking for the outhouse..." His voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum.
Yan Linye chuckled softly at his embarrassed and nearly bursting expression, his chest heaving slightly. "The outhouse is in the right corner of the yard. Let me take you there, so you don't get lost again."
Yun Zhan was extremely embarrassed and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "No need, no need! I'll go myself!" After saying that, he almost ran away from the crime scene in a clumsy manner.
Having relieved himself, Yun Zhan walked back, his face flushed, mentally cursing himself a thousand times: "You've already ruined your mission before you even got started! Yun Zhan, were you here to assassinate someone or to be a joke?!"
He returned to his dormitory room dejectedly, lay back on his bed, covered his head with the blanket, and felt that his life was full of gloom.
In another room, Yan Linye recalled the scene just now, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
This boy named Yun Zhan is clumsy and seems a bit off-track-minded. He acts recklessly and strangely, but... he is somehow lively and interesting, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that are different from one another.
"What an...interesting little fellow," Yan Linye muttered to himself, his interest growing stronger. He wanted to see just how many more "surprises" this suddenly appearing boy had in store.
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