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[Chapter 30 - Purple toad] That Sai Pan An is reportedly sick
The imperial sleeping quarters were quite big, but there wasn"t much decoration inside; at a glance, it looked quite empty. Amongst all, only the royal bed, gold plated and inlaid with jade, was rather conspicuous -- this was a bed built by the Zhou King from the previous dynasty; the ancestors of Chu, in order to warn their descendants to be industrious and frugal, left this bed; it could be considered to be the only extravagant item.
Chu Yuan"s skills weren"t low, and had naturally realized that someone had intruded in; just as his right hand grabbed onto the dagger beneath his pillow, he heard Si Xi say hastily outside: "Xi Nan King, in any case you should let this old servant go in to relay your arrival first."
He came here now? Chu Yuan sat up with a frown, raising a hand to ma.s.sage his temples; his first thought was that he overslept. Before he could wear his clothes and get down the bed, someone had already charged in.
"This...." Eunuch Si Xi was following behind, at loss on what to do.
"No matter." Chu Yuan waved his hand, "Go out first, and let Physician Zhang to come later."
"Yes." Eunuch Si Xi acknowledged and retreated; before he went out of the room, he again reminded Duan Bai Yue in a low voice, "The emperor is still sick."
Chu Yuan leaned against the bed, looking exhausted.
"What"s the matter?" Seeing him in this state, Duan Bai Yue naturally didn"t care about Gao Li King anymore, and went to sit by his bedside; he placed his hand on his forehead; it was a little warm.
"It"s nothing, I was too tired the past few days, and became dizzy after morning court today." Chu Yuan coughed twice, "Entering the palace in such a rush, did something happen outside?"
Duan Bai Yue: "........."
"Say something." Seeing him remain silent, Chu Yuan became more bewildered.
"It"s...." Duan Bai Yue was extremely stoic, "That Sai Pan An on the stage, although it looks as if he only has a servant boy with him, but he has actually brought many people into the capital, and is searching for the location of Mu Chi Lao Ren." Luckily, there was something for him to muddle through. Or else looking at him working hard for the matters of the country day and night, and himself yet was bothered about a gossiping sister of Gao Li King, it was certainly too....embarra.s.sing.
"So it"s like this." Chu Yuan leaned backwards a little, "Look like it"s very likely that he was the person who made an agreement with Lan Ji." One was for Mu Chi Lao Ren, one was for the Qian Hui Huan made by Mu Chi Lao Ren; their motives can be considered to be the same. Moreover, both their motives were at the capital.
"But it"s not a big matter either; there"s no need to keep thinking about it." Duan Bai Yue pulled his clothes closed, "For you to recover properly is the most important thing."
"Since it"s not a big matter, why did you rush into the palace as if a fire was burning?" Chu Yuan looked at him funnily.
Duan Bai Yue answered without any hesitation this time: "Want to see you."
Chu Yuan: "......."
"I finally managed to find an excuse." Duan Bai Yue smiled, "Or else if I had barged in without any reason, I would have been chased away by Si Xi."
Chu Yuan tucked himself into the blanket more, mumbling, "Si Xi can"t stop you anyway."
"Yeah?" Duan Bai Yue raised an eyebrow: "So I can come in anytime I want?"
"You dare!" Although Chu Yuan"s voice was a little hoa.r.s.e, his majestic aura didn"t decrease one bit.
Duan Bai Yue smiled, and helped him gently to lie down properly: "Alright, sleep well."
"Right, there"s another thing I forgot to talk to you about." Chu Yuan laid on the bed and said, "Gao Li King is coming a few days later; Princess of Gao Li is also coming."
Duan Bai Yue said: "Oh."
Chu Yuan broke into laughter at his expression, reaching out and pushing him a little: "You better hide well, in case she finds you to her taste and kidnaps you."
"It"s nothing much that Gao Li King is coming, but why is the Gao Li Princess coming too?" Duan Bai Yue"s expression was of suffering, "Don"t say that the proposal of marriage is still on."
"If she wants to have a marriage arrangement, it won"t be with you anyway." Chu Yuan hid his chin under the blanket, "She"s a proper princess, and it"s not like no one wants her; since you weren"t willing, can Gao Li King still force it; she long has already picked someone else."
"Who is it?" Duan Bai Yue asked.
"At the start she wanted to marry the top scorer in the imperial examination, but after hearing that he was already over forty, she didn"t want to anymore, saying that she wants to marry the runner up." Chu Yuan said, "But the runner up has a face full of pock marks, after his painting was sent over, that Gao Li princess also didn"t like him."
Cogs turned in Duan Bai Yue"s mind, and he insincerely rubbed his chin: "Isn"t there still a Tan Hua?" A scholar from Jiang Nan, good looking, br.i.m.m.i.n.g with talent, and knows the language of Gao Li; he is very suited for marriage, and afterwards he can reside in Gao Li; it was best that he only comes back once every eight to ten years.
If this really happens, then Xi Nan manor will give a generous gift.
Maybe even two.
Or maybe even more.
Chu Yuan shook his head instead: "Official Wen can"t marry her."
"Why?" Duan Bai Yue came back from his wild daydreams.
"This Gao Li Princess is called Jin Shu, she"s reportedly very shrewish, and even knows some martial arts." Chu Yuan said, "Official Wen is so weak and gentle, if they"re married, I"m afraid he will be at an disadvantage; we can"t bear to do that to him."
Duan Bai Yue said: "Then you were able to push her to Xi Nan manor?"
"In the first place, it"s the princess from another country who liked you." Chu Yuan said, "How can we even stop her?"
"Why can"t you stop her?" Duan Bai Yue said, "In this world, only you have the right to stop others."
Chu Yuan only showed his eyes and looked at him.
"Sleep now." Duan Bai Yue rubbed the back of his hand against his face, "There"s finally time for rest, and there"s none of that group of half-dead old fellows kneeling outside, remonstrating to the heavens."
Chu Yuan laughed audibly.
"Then I will leave first, and not disturb you." Duan Bai Yue"s voice is gentle.
"Wait," Chu Yuan reached out a finger and pointed at a side cabinet, "There"s a box inside, go and take it out."
Duan Bai Yue rose and walked to the side of the cabinet: "This?"
"Yes." Chu Yuan nodded, "It"s Bao Ji Liu Li Zhong; Xiao Jin wanted it, so we got someone to find two of it; thinking of it Yao-er will like it too, so take one."
And he even prepared a gift for that little demon. Duan Bai Yue, with sourness in his heart, said: "Why can"t it be given to me?"
"You aren"t raising Zhong anyway." Chu Yuan said.
Duan Bai Yue was very resolute: "I do raise them."
Chu Yuan said: "Then it"s still to be given to Yao-er."
Duan Bai Yue"s chest ached.
Chu Yuan turned his back to him, and said lazily: "Alright, if this n.o.bleman has no other matters, then please withdraw."
Duan Bai Yue really didn"t know whether to laugh or cry.
When he returned to the inn, Duan Yao was examining the trap; he saw his brother enter, and before he could greet him, a big box was placed in front of him with a "thump".
"For you." Duan Bai Yue said coldly.
"I don"t want, don"t want." Duan Yao shook his head, look at your face like I owe you something, it wouldn"t be something good.
"You don"t know anything good from bad!" Duan Bai Yue sat by the table, "Open and take a look."
Duan Yao was on guard: "Is it poisonous?"
"You"re still scared of poison?" Duan Bai Yue frowned.
I"m of course not scared of other people"s poison, but it"s hard to say with you. Duan Yao opened the cover carefully, preparing to run away at a moment"s time.
A shiny Zhong, with embedded jewels, laid inside; multicolored lights shone from it, pure and exquisite.
"Wah!" Where did you find it?"
Duan Bai Yue snorted: "Not scared that it"s poisonous?"
"Big brother." Duan Yao hung on his back, "I will find w.a.n.g Zhuang Yuan some day, and get him to write a poetic essay for you." Gorgeous and singing of praises throughout, and it must be the kind that is especially long.
Duan Bai Yue dragged him down: "Keep it safely, if you lose it, then I will also lose you along the way."
Duan Yao: "......."
Really.
"It wasn"t me who found it." Duan Bai Yue poured a cup of tea for himself.
Duan Yao thought about it, and promptly understood the cruz of the matter: "It"s sister-in-law who gave it to me?"
Duan Bai Yue acknowledged it silently.
"It really is." Duan Yao was moved, "Sister-in-law is so rich." That was good, at least when his brother married over he wouldn"t starve.
That"s right, it was "marry over", the kind where he would only return to Xi Nan manor once every eight to ten years; it could undoubtedly be even longer.
Duan Bai Yue: "............"
Duan Yao picked up the Liu Li Zhong and examined it cheerfully, before asking: "Then do I have to reciprocate?" The marriage hadn"t been held after all, they weren"t a family yet; it was better to have good manners.
Duan Bai Yue nodded: "How about sending you into the palace to attend to them?"
Duan Yao"s eyes instantly widened, ah?
Duan Bai Yue"s gaze swept downwards: "It"s quite good to follow Si Xi and be an eunuch too."
Duan Yao decisively took the Liu Li Zhong and ran out.
Duan Bai Yue held onto him from behind: "Sit down, I still have things to say."
"What do you want again?" Duan Yao said reluctantly; say it out quickly, I want to return to my room to feed the new Zhong!
Duan Bai Yue said: "That day at Jiu Xuan Ji, how did you break through the trap?" Although he did follow him inside secretly, it was just to prevent anything from happening to him, and he didn"t do much. He didn"t feel that the tower was as frightening as the rumors say; sure, there"s concealed weapons, but it"s just that; it"s a huge difference from a sinister place that can swallow people whole.
Duan Yao said quietly: "Before I charged in, I absolutely didn"t know that there were traps inside."
Duan Bai Yue coughed twice.
"Dodge it when there"s concealed weapons, dismantle it when there"s traps; what can I do otherwise." Duan Yao said, "After dismantling one or two, one can also become experienced in dismantling them."
Duan Bai Yue looked at him pensively.
According to Mu Chi Lao Ren, that tower of traps wasn"t just built by himself; he was just responsible for repairing a part of it. The real array gate of Jiu Xuan Ji was Fen Xing; those who could break through it were fated people of Fen Xing.
Duan Yao cupped his cheek with a hand: "Is there anything else?"
"Go and put on a disguise." Duan Bai Yue said.
Duan Yao instantly turned bitter: "What am I putting on a disguise for?"
Duan Bai Yue said: "Accompany me to Tai Ci street, and see if you can solve that deadlocked chess."
Duan Yao thought about it, asking: "You"re the one solving it, I"m just accompanying you, right?"
Duan Bai Yue shook his head: "You"re the one solving it."
Duan Yao: "........."
Duan Bai Yue said: "What are you still in a daze for?"
Duan Yao pointed at his own nose, saying with difficulty: "When have you seen me play chess before?"
Duan Bai Yue said: "You didn"t break through an array before either." But you still broke through Jiu Xuan Ji barehanded.
Duan Yao couldn"t refute that.
Duan Bai Yue said: "After disguising yourself, no one will recognize you anyway." It wouldn"t embarra.s.sing to lose either.
Duan Yao could only agree to it.
Of course, in order to fit the goal this time, Duan Yao disguised himself as a young student, weak and thin; one look and one knows that the wind can fall him.
That Sai Pan An was still dozing under the sun as usual; only when he heard someone get up the stage, then did he slowly open his eyes.
Duan Yao threw some money into the box next to him, then sat opposite him in front of the chessboard.
The people nearby all quickly gathered around them, enjoying the scene.
Sai Pan An nodded slightly: "This young mister, please start."
Duan Yao randomly took a chess piece, and put on an act of thinking extremely hard for a long time, before making his move.
Sai Pan An frowned.
Inside, Duan Yao cheered, could this really be it?
Sai Pan An shook his head: "This young mister, if you don"t know the way of the chess at all, then don"t come and cause trouble."
Among the sounds of the crowd hissing, Duan Yao calmly fleed in defeat.
Duan Bai Yue was at an alley behind the street, laughing till his stomach hurt.
After returning to the inn, Duan Yao threw the mask to one side, and angrily drank three big bowls of cooling tea to calm his fury.
Duan Bai Yue consoled him: "It"s not embarra.s.sing."
Duan Yao humphed, turned away and returned to his room.
Duan Bai Yue leaned against the bed, staring at the orange-tinged clouds outside, lost in thought. He didn"t have high hopes that that the chess puzzle would be so easily broken anyway, and only wanted to attempt it; since a blind cat can"t catch a dead mouse, then he will have to simply think of another way.
After five minutes, Duan Yao pushed the door open again.
Duan Bai Yue said: "What"s the matter?"
"The purple toad seems to be overly excited." Duan Yao said, "It"s jumping all over the room."
Duan Bai Yue frowned.
Duan Yao continued: "I just fed it yesterday, it should be sleeping till next month instead." With such weird behavior, it was very likely that it smelled food. Ever since this purple toad was born, it was fed various kinds of gu chong, and didn"t eat any other thing before.
"You"re saying that that Sai Pan An has gu chong in his body?" Duan Bai Yue asked.
Duan Yao nodded: "The insects I"m raising are all sealed in bottles; it"s not possible for the purple toad to find them."
"What an interesting development." Duan Bai Yue rubbed his chin, "Gu chong has met with the king of toads, I reckon they have already long been in a panic."
As expected, on the second day, someone came to reported that that Sai Pan An seemed to have become ill, and didn"t even set up his stage.
Acting without thinking; Duan Bai Yue felt like laughing.
Duan Yao said: "The gu chong in his body must have gotten a shock, they will recover after a few days." Not every gu is like your Jin Can Xian after all, don"t talk about being near a purple toad, even if it was swallowed all at once, it would still continue to sleep.
"How fortunate." Duan Bai Yue said, "Gao Li King is coming to the capital in these few days, let him lie on his bed for a few more days to avoid anything troublesome from happening."
Although he was only a king of a small va.s.sal state at the frontier, his treatment by Chu was still sufficient. On the day itself, Chu Yuan personally led everyone to Xuan Wen gate to welcome them; the commoners by both sides of the street had also already long taken up their places, afraid that they wouldn"t be able to see anything if they were late.
Duan Bai Yue sat by the window on the second floor of the inn, drinking tea with his teacher.
Nan Mo Ye clicked his tongue: "You, look at the panache of others."
Duan Bai Yue"s hand hesitated.
Nan Mo Ye continued: "Grand, luxurious and meticulous, with crowds of people waiting to welcome them. Normally Gao Li shouldn"t be as lavish as Xi Nan manor, so why is there such a large difference between you and him?"
Duan Bai Yue suggested sincerely: "Why is teacher unwilling to take a walk in the streets?"
"The looks of Gao Li King shouldn"t be bad." Nan Mo Ye said, "Maybe he even knows how to make pickled cabbage; compared to him, you have nothing. Don"t talk about that person who you fancy but haven"t gotten, maybe even this teacher can"t help but to take him in to be your martial brother."
Duan Bai Yue raised his chin: "There, that"s your beloved disciple."
Nan Mo Ye quickly focused his attention and looked down, and saw that eight strong men were carrying Gao Li King past him; he looks to be around forty plus years old, dressed exotically, his eyes disappearing when he smiles.
........
Nan Mo Ye said coolly: "He"s extraordinarily handsome, as expected."
Duan Bai Yue couldn"t be bothered to continue, and only said: "The palace should be very lively today."
Nan Mo Ye shed silent tears: "This sentence of yours, it"s makes my heart ache no matter how I hear it."
Duan Bai Yue: "........."
Gao Li King was called Jin Tai, and could be considered to be peaceful among the numerous border states; he had a jubilant nature too, thus Chu Yuan wasn"t bothered about him, and even rewarded him occasionally. Hence, ever since this Jin Tai succeeded the throne, he would come once every year; eating and drinking his fill, even taking some items home; everyone liked to do a cost free business. This time, he even set his mind to finding a husband for his sister.
In the great hall, songs and dances were performed in celebration of peace, a sight of prosperity. Chu Yuan raised his cup with the officials in celebration, but felt something was off after drinking it in one swallow; thus he turned and looked over.
Si Xi is happily attending to him -- Your Majesty is still sick, both the physician and Xi Nan King have instructed that wine cannot be imbibed.
Chu Yuan raised an eyebrow, and poured himself another a cup of....water.
Gao Li King looked around happily, feeling that every official also seems quite suitable, especially Shen Qian Fan who was sitting in front; he was very good looking.
"Old Liu, it"s finished this time." Lord Tai Fu pulled Liu Da Jiong"s sleeve, "Your niece"s husband has been targeted by others."
"Absolutely not." Liu Da Jiong put down his chopsticks in a panic, "You have quick wits, quickly help me think if there"s anyone else who can marry that Gao Li princess."
Tao Ren De said without much thought: "Zhang Zhi Can?"
"Don"t be disrespectful." Liu Da Jiong has the integrity of a matchmaker to some degree, "With Lord Zhang"s looks, and that att.i.tude, don"t talk about the princess, even this old man is not willing to marry him."
"Ke ke." Tao Ren De choked on his soup, "With your looks, this att.i.tude, if you wanted to marry him, I reckon Lord Zhang is more willing to be banished to the northwest wastelands."
Liu Da Jiong: "......."
As the two of them are stilling talking over here, over there Gao Li King had already sat by the side of Shen Qian Fan.
Chu Yuan took in the scene, reaching out to ma.s.sage his temples tiredly; don"t say he wants him to grant a marriage again. He couldn"t bear Wen Liu Nian, and he couldn"t bear this too.
"General Shen." Jin Tai was full of smiles.
Shen Qian Fan quickly greeted him.
"When this king came last year, general Shen was at the northeast border and we were unable to meet." Jin Tai praised, "You truly have the air of a war G.o.d."
"Gao Li King flatters me." Shen Qian Fan picked up his wine cup.
"Oh? Is this Qing Shi Yu?" Seeing his sword ta.s.sel, Jin Tai found a conversation topic on his own.
"Yes." Shen Qian Fan nodded, saying without a change in his expression, "It"s given by this lowly one"s....beloved."
Chu Yuan had just wanted to go down to help extricate him, but calmly sat back don on the imperial throne after hearing that. He was very clear about the origin of that sword ta.s.sel; it was a small thing picked up from the battlefield.
Jin Tai"s eyes were full of disappointment.
Shen Qian Fan said self-deprecatingly: "This kind of relationship between man and woman, I have mocked Gao Li King."
"Where, where." Jin Tai waved his hand, and after touching his wine cup with him, he simply returned to his own seat.
First it was Duan Bai Yue, then it was Shen Qian Fan; now that happened twice, Chu Yuan also felt that he couldn"t bear it. Thus, he took the initiative to say: "This time Gao Li King has come to my great Chu, we wonder what kind of husband this king is looking at for the princess?"
Jin Tai said: "Tall and handsome, highly skilled in martial arts, treats people well, and it"s best that he has some wealth."
Chu Yuan laughed: "These requests are certainly straightforward."
Below, Liu Da Jiong thought, if it"s really like this, then it"s not enough even for my ten plus nieces.
Jin Tai asked: "I wonder if Emperor Chu has any suitable candidates?"
Chu Yuan shook his head: "Since it"s marriage, the princess must naturally choose him herself. The duels between the fighters of our countries are held two days later, at that time there will be quite a few highly skilled sons of n.o.ble families, maybe the issue will be settled then."
"That"s good, that"s good." Jin Tai nodded, and glanced regretfully at Shen Qian Fan again.
Why did he have a beloved already.
The banquet was very grand; when the guest had finally dispersed, it is already deep into night. Chu Yuan leaned in the sedan, ma.s.saging his temples dizzily.
"Your Majesty, we have reached the sleeping quarters." Eunuch Si Xi indicated that the sedan carriers had to lower the sedan more gently, and went forward to open the curtain himself.
Chu Yuan coughed with a sore throat, feeling that his whole body was aching all over.
Eunuch Si Xi helped him into the palace, but got a fright upon entering the room.
Duan Bai Yue stood up by the table, quickly walking forward with a frown, receiving him into his own arms: "How did he get so sick?"
"...." Eunuch Si Xi also didn"t know what he should do.
"Withdraw first." Chu Yuan said.
Eunuch Si Xi reminded him: "Your Majesty has one more medicine to take before sleeping."
Chu Yuan nodded, and sat on the side of the bed.
After Si Xi left, Duan Bai Yue crouched in front of him: "Is there really no need to call for the physician?"
"It"s just a cold, and we sat in the great hall for a whole day, that"s where the wind comes in." Chu Yuan"s voice was hoa.r.s.e, "Medicine has been prepared beforehand."
Duan Bai Yue took out a pill: "Open your mouth."
Chu Yuan was surprisingly cooperative, and didn"t ask what it was either, swallowing it down obediently.
A refreshing feeling spread from the tip of his tongue, dissipating most of his dizziness.
"Just when can you sleep well for a few days." Duan Bai Yue sighed, "If I knew being the emperor was so tiring, then I wouldn"t have helped you to seize the throne, what use is it to want this."
Chu Yuan pulled over a cloth to wipe his nose, saying m.u.f.fledly: "Audacious."
Duan Bai Yue was frustrated into laughing by him, and poured some more warm water.
Chu Yuan asked: "Why are you in the palace?"
"I knew that you would have tired yourself out for a whole day, and didn"t eat properly." Duan Bai Yue opened the container on the table, "I brought some porridge over, at least eat a little."
"The palace can"t even cook a bowl of porridge?" Chu Yuan felt like laughing.
"It"s not the same." Duan Bai Yue handed the bowl to him.
"The same rice, the same water; how is it not the same." Chu Yuan used the spoon to stir it twice, "You made it?"
Duan Bai Yue paused, and said: "Yes."
Chu Yuan ate a mouthful of it; smooth and soft like silk, incomparably fragrant; the standard seemed a little too high, thus he reminded: "The punishment for lying to the emperor is a beheading."
The consequences seemed quite serious, so Duan Bai Yue could only admit: "It was made by the cook in the restaurant, if you want me to make---"
"Don"t want." Chu Yuan ate another mouthful.
Duan Bai Yue: "..........."
In the sleeping quarters, it was very quiet; there were only the crisp sounds of the spoon hitting the porcelain bowl. After finishing a bowl of porridge, his vigor had recovered a little. Eunuch Si Xi sent in the medicine and saw him drink it down, before bowing and retreating outside.
Duan Bai Yue attempted to ask: "Want me to accompany you tonight?"
Chu Yuan: "No."
Duan Bai Yue asked: "What if the fever comes back in the middle of the night?"
Chu Yuan said: "Then let it come back."
Duan Bai Yue: "......."
Chu Yuan sneezed again, then called with a red nose: "Si Xi!"
"Your Majesty!" Eunuch Si Xi rushed in.
Xi Nan King stood up, self-aware.
"Prepare the sedan, we are going to the springs." Chu Yuan instructed.
Duan Bai Yue was surprised.
He wasn"t "invited" out this time?