Chapter 79 Come on, take advantage of it!
Xiao Lang came back late at night and Zheng Qing was waiting for him.
"It's not in the study," Zheng Qing said worriedly, "Where else could the prince put it?"
Zheng Qing couldn't understand where else to put this small account book if not in the study. Everyone knew that the prince was blind, and he couldn't check it all the time. The prince wouldn't put it next to his pillow, right?
Xiao Lang left Zheng Qing to worry alone and poured himself a glass of water.
Zheng Qing turned around and asked Xiao Lang, who had nothing to do with the matter, "You didn't show your secrets last night, did you?"
Xiao Lang paused while drinking water and said vaguely, "Maybe."
Zheng Qing was not satisfied with Xiao Lang's answer, and then asked: "Do you know that the prince has put Diao Jieshi in prison?"
Xiao Lang nodded.
Zheng Qing sighed. The emperor had seized power from Xiao Lang in the name of protecting the crown prince. The Xiao family was in trouble. Not to mention saving Diao Jieshi, they might not even be able to save themselves.
Although Diao Jieshi is the son of Diao Lu, he has not learned any of Diao Lu's decisiveness and bravery. He spends the whole day writing flowery poems and has no appetite.
He went around telling people about Fan Boying and ended up getting himself thrown into jail, but thanks to his light body, he was able to be tortured out of it in just a few days.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is truly cruel and ruthless, and even the orphan cannot tolerate him. If this continues, not only will he be deposed due to his blindness, he will gradually lose the support of the people, and the censors may even jointly petition to depose the Crown Prince.
Zheng Qing had no idea what the prince was thinking, and he had no way of guessing. The only master he could rely on was Xiao Lang.
"General, in my opinion, we might as well curry favor with the prince and ask him to help. Perhaps we can rescue Diao Jieshi," Zheng Qing looked at Xiao Lang's face and tried to discuss.
Fan Boying was wiped out, and Xiao Jiajun hated him to the core. Zheng Qing anxiously waited for Xiao Lang's answer, as he was not sure whether Xiao Lang would agree.
The Xiao family was envied by the emperor, and Xiao Lang was assigned to be the bodyguard of the crown prince who was about to be deposed. The purpose was to see which prince would compete for Xiao Lang. The emperor was very scheming.
Zheng Qing worked hard for the Xiao family, so he should consider Xiao Lang. The best plan now is to please the deposed prince so as not to arouse the emperor's suspicion or get involved in the fight for the throne among the princes. Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope.
Xiao Lang had no objection to Zheng Qing's proposal, but he frowned slightly and asked hesitantly, "How to please him?"
He originally thought that if Diao Jieshi could not be rescued, he would wait for interrogation and jail time, but he was afraid that his privately raised army would be exposed, and it would be difficult to protect it after it appeared in the court.
Now Zheng Qing has a suitable method, which may be worth reference.
Seeing Xiao Lang asking seriously, Zheng Qing coughed twice with guilt before speaking: "That's it... just to please."
"Well, you go on my behalf tonight and find out what the prince likes," Zheng Qing said seriously, "If the prince can cure his eye disease, he will be our future monarch. Even if he is deposed, Diao Jieshi's life is in his hands anyway, so it's not a loss."
"He doesn't like me," Xiao Lang recalled the prince's disgusted expression in the tavern. The Wolf Leader had confidants, and he was not the confidant that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wanted.
Zheng Qing clapped his hands and advised tirelessly: "That's why we have to please the prince."
Although Xiao Lang had the talent to lead troops, he knew very little about the court. Zheng Qing was afraid that Xiao Lang would offend, but unexpectedly, Xiao Lang did not seem to resist much.
"I have already inquired about it. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a cold. General, you will go to warm his bed." Zheng Qing touched his chin. "Of course, if there is something on the pillow, it would be best if you can bring it back."
Zheng Qing wants Xiao Lang to find the account book. Xiao Lang is a martial arts expert and will surely achieve twice the result with half the effort. It would be better for Xiao Lang to go to the prince's summons tonight.
Xiao Lang's silence made Zheng Qing uneasy. Just when Zheng Qing was about to brush off his unreliable suggestion, Xiao Lang spoke up: "He pushed me off the couch last time."
Zheng Qing stepped back subconsciously. It turned out that when the prince summoned him, it was not just for show?
Blind, tyrannical, and lustful, this prince is doomed to die!
Zheng Qing thought angrily.
"General, you... can seduce the prince with your beauty," Zheng Qingyan asked, maybe it's possible that the prince really likes men.
The eunuch's voice came from outside the door, "Is Master Qingqing here?"
Zheng Qing said in a hoarse voice: "I have prepared everything. When will Your Highness call me?"
The young eunuch was given goosebumps by Zheng Qing's sweetness, and left in a hurry after saying "The prince has sent a message that no one will be seen tonight, so Master Qingqing should take a rest."
Zheng Qing was stunned. He had finally managed to persuade Xiao Lang, but the prince suddenly disappeared today.
Zheng Qingqian was thinking in a bad direction. Was it that the prince knew their identities?
Zheng Qing did not miss the fleeting disappointment on Xiao Lang's face, and said calmly: "If the general wants to go, he can go."
It was common for concubines in the harem to compete for favor, and it was not surprising if the concubine was not summoned to sleep with him.
Xiao Lang shook his head. If the prince didn't let him go, he wouldn't go. Zheng Qing gave up trying to persuade him.
The eunuch who delivered the message reported back to Yuanbao, who said he understood and hurriedly transported the charcoal stove to Shenzhi Hall.
Shen Zhi soaked in hot spring water every day to relieve the pain caused by insects. He originally thought that he was poisoned and liked heat and was afraid of cold, and the symptoms were strange.
He never expected that someone would trap him and torture him.
Shen Zhi was sweating profusely. When he heard Yuanbao rushing over, he wrapped himself tightly in the quilt and panted, "Yuanbao, if you can survive but are humiliated, do you still want to survive?"
Yuan Bao looked at Shen Zhi's pale lips with heartache. He didn't understand Shen Zhi's intention but nodded. "My life is worthless. No matter what, I still want to live."
Shen Zhi heard Yuan Bao sobbing and became irritated. He scolded her, "Get out."
This was not the answer Shen Zhi wanted to hear, but it was also an answer Shen Zhi could not resist, and he did not want to die either.
Yuanbao moved the charcoal stove to the side of Shen Zhi's bed, walked around it seriously, and covered Shen Zhi with several layers of quilts before leaving hesitantly.
His Highness doesn't want to see him, and his staying will only cause trouble for His Highness.
Shen Zhi could not feel any warmth, and the biting cold penetrated into his bones. At this moment, Shen Zhi always thought of many things.
Seeing his father's disgusted expression, the ministers in the court calling for the prince to be deposed, and the entire Fan family crying for help, Shen Zhi laughed softly. He had wrongly killed more than a hundred lives in the Fan family, and he deserved this punishment.
The bone-gnawing pain surged into his heart like crazy. Shen Zhi arched his body in pain, veins popped out on his neck, and his pale lips were bitten into a gorgeous red.
Chu Cunjian met him in the afternoon and told him that if he wanted to lure the insect out, he must use the man's blood.
It would be better to let the current crown prince die than to let him be submissive to a man, especially Xiao Lang.
But he couldn't die, he still had things to do.
Shen Zhi gnawed on the thin white finger bone until it turned from pink to crimson and the skin broke, revealing bright red flesh, seemingly feeling no pain.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Zhi's hands were forcibly pried open and rough fingertips were stuffed into his mouth.
Shen Zhi spat out the foreign object that was stuffed into his body and coughed a few times, "Who is it?"
Shen Zhi's hand that was touching the short blade on the pillow was held down, and a voice that Shen Zhi was not familiar with sounded from the back of his neck. The person seemed to pause for a moment before saying, "Qingqing, male pet."
Shen Zhi didn't have the strength to fight him, and the person behind him also realized it, and slowly approached Shen Zhi and held the cold person in his arms.
"Male pet," Shen Zhi rolled over the two words on his tongue, laughing hoarsely.
Shen Zhi sighed: "Qingqing."
Shen Zhi could feel the person behind him hugging him tighter. A male concubine was good. Having a male concubine as a concubine in the emperor's bed would only make people accuse the prince of being blinded by lust. Then no one would say that he was of low character and could only please men.
Xiao Lang's ears felt slightly hot because of the Crown Prince's lingering words, which seemed to be coated with honey. When the Crown Prince's soft tongue touched his fingers just now, his heart also felt hot.
This may be the attraction of the alpha wolf, a natural temptation to him, a half-human, half-wolf who grew up in a wolf pack.
Xiao Lang was absolutely certain that the gorgeous Crown Prince in front of him was of the same kind as him.
Shen Zhi was warmed by the hot body and just thought that it was Qingqing behind him. This way he would not have any burden and a bullyable male pet would not stand over him.
The dark sky gradually began to break into the light of dawn. The person in Xiao Lang's arms fell into a deep sleep and his body warmed up.
Xiao Lang gently loosened his hand, leaving only a layer of quilt on Shen Zhi's body, and left through the window.
Logically speaking, except for Shen Zhi summoning Qingqing to sleep with him tonight, Xiao Lang would not see Shen Zhi again.
Not long after Xiao Lang returned, Yuanbao came and said that the prince had summoned him.
Xiao Lang changed his clothes and went there.
Shen Zhi had just come out of the hot spring pool. He slept well last night and the cold in his body seemed to have eased a lot.
Xiao Lang really has miraculous effects on insects, but Shen Zhi is unwilling to admit it because that means he will always be under Xiao Lang's control.
Hiding this secret is the only thing Shen Zhi has to do. He is almost certain that Qingqing is Xiao Lang.
It is just unclear why Xiao Lang chose to dress up as Qingqing. Whether Xiao Lang had other purposes or maybe using each other was a good option.
"Do you have any complaints about the punishment you received yesterday?" Shen Zhi's slender fingers fell on his knees, bending into a natural and graceful arc, and his hair even revealed the word "dignified".
Xiao Lang quickly passed by Shen Zhi's open collar. His delicate white collarbone supported his thin coat, looking fragile and harmless.
Xiao Lang remained respectful in front of the blind Crown Prince, "I have no complaints about my position."
Shen Zhi asked him to let Xiao Lang accompany him for the winter hunt. It was the rule for the prince to go on the winter hunt. Even though he was blind now and the emperor had not sent anyone to order him to go, Shen Zhi still wanted to go.
If he didn't go, it would mean that he had become the deposed prince. This was what Shen Zhaoheng intended yesterday. Shen Zhi would not let them get their wish so easily.
Xiao Lang had no other thoughts about this and he agreed readily.
Shen Zhi nodded and said "hmm", groping for the teacup on the table. The heat stained his fingertips red, leaving red marks, but Shen Zhi didn't care.
Shen Zhi felt the burning sensation on his skin and flesh and continued to ask, "General Xiao, do you have any wishes?"
Xiao Lang stared at the red marks on Shen Zhi's fingertips in a daze, his Adam's apple rolling subconsciously. He inexplicably thought that if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had fur, he would not have been burned, but it also looked very nice to be burned like this.
Xiao Lang's gaze slowly moved to Shen Zhi's thin clavicle. Would it look better if it stayed there?
"Xiao Lang?" Shen Zhi asked impatiently after not hearing a reply for a long time.
Xiao Lang closed his eyes, his waist and abdomen tensed, and his voice suddenly became hoarse, "Your humble servant..."
He is really reaching old age, otherwise he wouldn't be so bloated and painful in front of the prince.
Xiao Lang tried to clear his throat, "I want to get married."
The teacup hit the table, splashing tea everywhere, leaving red marks on the back of Shen Zhi's fair hand.
Xiao Lang blinked subconsciously, and the water drops slid down his eyelashes to his lower eyelids. When Xiao Lang raised his eyes, he heard the Crown Prince's words seemed to be a little heavier: "What kind of person is General Xiao looking for?"
Xiao Lang's eyelashes trembled as he looked at the Crown Prince's red lips and radiant face. He somehow spoke, "She has to be good-looking, fair-skinned, and easily angry."