Chapter 60 - Honey Tangerine Flavored Shadow Guard Gong (18): Current mission progress rate: 85%！
Translator: KunLin
Editors: Vez, Blarghette
As the proverb went, hit the person but not the face.
Gou Liang’s action of hitting the face was an extreme act of humiliation. The violent act made onlookers shocked.
No one expected that he would act so lacking in grace nor did anyone expect that he would dare to act so unbridled inside the imperial palace.
Zhong Yue fell to the floor and when he spat, his spittle carried blood and there were two teeth lying on the palm of his hand. His entire face distorted, “Zhong Gu!!!”
However, Zhong Quan had already pushed his Master far ahead.
Li Yan’s face was full of humiliation at being ignored. He stopped Zhong Yue who wanted to fight it out with Gou Liang and instead reprimanded sternly, “You dare to commit a violent crime inside the Imperial Palace! Someone, take those two down for this Prince!”
The YuLin guards answered loudly in response, they were about to act when they heard King An laughing loudly while saying, “It was just a small joke, why is His Highness getting so worked up?”
“This Prince saw clearly just now, they were just walking normally on the road but a dog suddenly leaped out to bite them. Giving it a kick to teach it a lesson is only a matter of course. His Highness is the heir to the country, isn’t it unacceptable to not be able to distinguish between right and wrong and act purely on personal motives? Moreover, Zhong Gu is of the State Teacher’s line that had greatly contributed to the country. Father Emperor even personally invited him to attend the banquet today. His Highness ordering the YuLin guards is indeed awe-inspiring, but I’m afraid, wouldn’t this be disrespectful towards Father Emperor?”
Li Yan looked at him darkly, he said angrily to the hesitating YuLin guards, “What are you guys waiting for? Seize them!”
King An: “Let me see who dares!”
As the two brothers were stuck in an impa.s.se, they saw the Head Eunuch who usually accompanied the Emperor hurriedly walking down that stairs towards Gou Liang.
“Little Zhong-xiansheng, His Majesty has been waiting for you, please follow this servant over.”
“Thank you, w.a.n.g-Gongong.”
“Xiansheng is polite, His Majesty has been mentioning you all day.”
The Head Eunuch smiled whilst inviting the other into the palace. How could the YuLin guards still dare to act?
Li Yan’s face was ashen. King An smiled even more contently and waved his hand at the YuLin guards, saying, “Still not leaving? Or is it that Commander Zhang only listens to the Crown Prince’s words nowadays and even dares to ignore the Emperor’s decree?”
The commander of the YuLin guards knelt in fear and asked for forgiveness. He then left with the soldiers at rocket speed.
King An looked at Li Yan, scoffed, then strutted away.
Li Yan endured to the extreme. Finally, he looked at Zhong Yue, “I’ll send you back first.”
He thought he had hidden the impatience and contempt in his eyes well but they were all seen clearly by Zhong Yue. Zhong Yue clenched his jaws, turned around, and left.
Gou Liang’s finger stroked the s.p.a.ce between Zhong Quan’s thumb and forefinger. He laughed lowly and said, “Well done.”
Zhong Quan saw his good mood and his eyes were also infected with a trace of a smile, “I’m glad it pleased you.”
When they entered the main hall of ZhengYang Palace, the Emperor was playing chess with Liu-won’t-speak. When he saw them enter, like a doting elder he smiled and said, “Just now Zhen and beloved subject Liu were talking about the old days. On every birthday of Zhen’s, the State Teacher would always hold a ceremony to ask for blessings for Zhen, but now it’s been many years since one was held…”
His face was full of regret.
Gou Liang’s legs were inconvenienced so he only bent his back and said a greeting before saying, “Unfortunately, Zhong Gu only has shallow learning and did not inherit Grandfather’s capabilities. It is not possible to ask for blessings for the dragon son of heaven.”
The Emperor waved his hand and said, “Ai, it’s all Zhen’s fault, if Zhen wasn’t deceived back then by the Gao Clan, that group of traitors, then how could…”
“His Majesty needn’t blame yourself. You upheld justice for the Zhong Clan and returned innocence to my clan. Zhong Gu can only be thankful. If grandfather is watching from the skies above, he is surely grateful to Your Majesty’s benevolence.”
“Haha, let’s not speak of these anymore. Just now Zhen heard you had a clash with the Crown Prince? Is there a misunderstanding in this?”
The Emperor returned to the main topic.
Gou Liang smiled and said, “Replying to Your Majesty, the conflict is not with the Crown Prince, but the young official by his side is indeed hateful. The moment he opened his mouth, he called me handicapped and disfigured. Zhong Gu is simply teaching him how to be a better person as his senior. Unexpectedly, this angered the Crown Prince, it’s this one’s fault.”
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Do you know the ident.i.ty of the youth?”
“Who he is isn’t important, his upbringing is truly lacking. Even if he is an important guest invited by His Majesty, Zhong Gu won’t forgive him just because of who his parents are. After all, I’m not his father nor his mother, isn’t that right?”
“Hahaha, what you say is reasonable.”
The Emperor had eaten many losses from Zhong Yue and had even nearly paid with his life. Although they had struck a deal, he was still delighted to see the other’s misfortune.
“Your Majesty, it’s your turn.”
Liu-won’t-speak politely reminded him.
The two resumed their game of chess and Gou Liang spectated from the side. When the hour was right, they finally went to attend the banquet.
“Greetings to Your Majesty, long live your Majesty!”
It’s things like these deferential voices that made the Emperor unwilling to admit he’s old, unwilling to go die, and unwilling to hand everything over to another person, even if it’s his own son.
The Emperor subconsciously glanced at where Zhong Yue was sitting and saw that today he, like Gou Liang, was wearing a mask. He couldn’t help but furrow his brows. He then said, “You may rise.”
“Thank Your Majesty!”
The birthday banquet gradually became lively under the influence of the ongoing acts.
When the banquet finally ended, Gou Liang returned to the manor only to see a horse carriage parked in front of the gate. It had been waiting there for a while.
“Zhong Gu—Chang Qing, wait!”
Li Yan saw him pretending not to hear and couldn’t help but get off the carriage, calling out loudly.
Gou Liang raised his hand, signalling for Zhong Quan to stop. He turned around to look at Li Yan. Before the latter could be delighted, he said in a cold voice, “Chang Qing? This isn’t a name His Highness can call, it’s dirtying the courtesy name given by my grandfather!”
“Chang Qing, you—”
“Does His Highness not understand human words? Or do you also want to experience the feeling of being slapped?”
“You!”
“Perhaps His Highness thinks I won’t dare to?”
Gou Liang looked at him with a smile that wasn’t a smile, “His Highness shouldn’t forget what sort of person I am. It’s as His Highness had said back then, I’m not as pure or as good as Zhong Yue. I’ve devised countless schemes and my heart is vicious. Today I hit the TianJi kid and His Majesty didn’t reprimand me in the slightest. In the future should I hit you too, His Majesty is also unlikely to say anything, out of consideration of my grandfather. Besides…His Highness should be very familiar with my methods. If I want a person to die before midnight, even if the other is the Crown Prince of a country, they will definitely not live past zi shi.”
When Li Yan heard him mention the words he had said to belittle him in the past, his heart relaxed a little.
After all, this showed that Gou Liang still couldn’t let him go, and still loved him.
However, as he continued to listen, his expression changed.
He is clear on the original host’s methods. Gou Liang’s methods are even less for him to underestimate.
“His Highness should leave, otherwise, I can’t guarantee that among the bodies sent to the East Palace tonight, yours won’t be included.”
“Zhong Gu, why must you be like this—”
“Zhong Quan, have someone send the Crown Prince back.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Zhong Gu—”
Li Yan still wanted to say something but someone had silently appeared beside him and grabbed his neck.
The cold fingers as well as the fear of having his neck caught made Li Yan’s back break out in cold sweat in a split second. He heard a gloomy voice said, “Your Highness, please.”
He swallowed. He wanted to look at Gou Liang again, but was held by the scruff of his neck and shoved into the carriage. His guards, other than his personal eunuch who was laying limply on the floor, had all lost their lives. Not even the secret guards protecting him in the shadows had been able to escape! Their bodies were loaded onto the Crown Prince’s carriage that was both luxurious and s.p.a.cious. The bodies piled up one after another.
Even when he had returned to the well lit East Palace, his gait was still panicked with a heavy step followed by a shallow one.
When Zhong Yue heard him open the door and walk in, he smiled coldly and said, “His Highness finished visiting his old sweetheart so soon?”
Then he turned around and saw Li Yan’s sorry figure that was drenched in cold sweat. He furrowed his brows faintly and said icily, “Seems like you old sweetheart doesn’t want your affection.”
The injuries on his face and his missing teeth made his speech lose the clear and sweet quality it had before, making him sound odd.
Li Yan glared at him and pushed aside his personal eunuch, who was still shaking. He poured himself a cup of hot water before regaining his composure.
“Master, it’s time to rest.”
Gou Liang heard this and set down the report in his hand. One hand rubbed the s.p.a.ce between his brows and the other stretched towards Zhong Quan with natural ease.
Although he could already walk a distance himself, he would often forget that he had already recovered, far too accustomed to using Zhong Quan as his transportation tool.
Zhong Quan carried him up. Just doing this dispelled all the frustration in his heart.
Gou Liang stretched lazily and pretended not to notice how the other had quietly drank vinegar. He yawned and rested against the other’s shoulder, saying, “Did anything happen in the manor today?”
“As Master had predicted, that person acted to kill w.a.n.g HaiYi tonight. The killer was captured and was unable commit suicide but still died. There should be someone nearby controlling everything. This subordinate was incapable, the Quan guards chased the person outside the capital but still lost the other.”
“No worries, did he step into w.a.n.g HaiYi’s courtyard?”
“He should have.”
“Haha, then the one who should be anxious isn’t us.’
“Master’s meaning is?”
“Nothing, it’s just today I had offhandedly placed some poison in w.a.n.g HaiYi’s courtyard. Have the shadow guards surveil all the pharmacies within 100 miles. Watch anyone who buys these ingredients closely.”
He said this and handed over a list of medicine to Zhong Quan.
Like the old man said, Gou Liang’s talent for learning poison was greater than his talent for medicine. During a short one year period he could already make his own poison. The effects of that specific poison were inexhaustible, even the old man admired him sometimes. The grandfather and grandson pair often made and fiddled with poison with an att.i.tude like if they don’t screw with the world, they wouldn’t be satisfied.
However, although Gou Liang’s poison was powerful, that person was also extremely cunning. Gou Liang chased the matter, but in the end, only found a case of a prescription being stolen before the track broke off again.
Zhong Quan said in frustration, “This subordinate was inadequate, may Master give punishment!”
“Come over here.”
Zhong Quan stepped forward. On the bed, Gou Liang was laying on his side, his head propped by his arm. He lazily tilted Zhong Quan’s chin and rubbed his thumb over his lips. His gaze was frigid like an lofty immortal as he asked him, “How do you want me to punish you?”
“Master…”
Zhong Quan took his thumb into his mouth, his gaze hot.
Gou Liang couldn’t stop himself from smiling. He said, “Your performance was inadequate yet you still dare to look at me like this. Could it be that you want to eat me?”
Zhong Quan held his hand and kissed it. Seeing the pleased smile on his face, he couldn’t help but commit his routine crime of offending his superior.
As for whether today is the fifteenth or not, who cares!
After being bitten by a snake once, that person became much more cautious. Gou Liang wanted to guard under a tree to catch a rabbit, but the rabbit refused to pa.s.s by so he could only wait bitterly.
【The system that had been neglected for a long time wept: Master, you really don’t need me to follow after him? QAQ. 】
【Gou Liang: Be good, let my little honey tangerine play his fill.】
【System: Are you still my Master? You don’t need me, then what meaning is there to my life as a system! T 口 T 】
【Gou Liang: Using codes to tie your neck is no use, eat more virus ba. ^ _ ^ 】
【The system who had unsuccessfully commit suicide for the Nth time：Goodbye！╯^╰ 】
Like this, during the three months Gou Liang spent in the capital, other than the few times in the beginning where he tossed bodies back to the East Palace and when he had slapped Zhong Yue, he stayed inside the manor and rarely went out. Whether it was the Crown Prince’s or King An’s invitation, he didn’t accept any of them, staying extremely low-key.
As for the Crown Prince who had only recently escaped confinement, at court he was like the dry earth after a long drought meeting sweet rain. He hated that he couldn’t soak more, absorb more. He racked his brain everyday to achieve more merits.
Incidentally as the season changed from spring to summer, the Emperor’s illness acted up again after a rainstorm. He directly commanded the Crown Prince to look after state affairs and no longer asked after the court, retreating into his palace to quietly recuperate.
This time, don’t say King An, even Li Xi was unable to maintain his cool.
He disguised himself and went to visit the Zhong Manor, but pity he chose the wrong time. The tension in the manor was high, Gou Liang who hadn’t gotten angry in a long time was throwing a tantrum with Zhong Quan.
The medicine bowl smashed on the floor. Gou Liang said seethingly, “I said I’m not drinking! I can’t be better, I don’t need to drink medicine!”
Zhong Quan hugged him. He did not shrink in front of his temper at all. Not long after he brought another bowl of medicine to him.
“Master, this subordinate personally brewed this medicine, Old Jiang didn’t didn’t touch it so it definitely won’t be bitter. Please drink it quickly, otherwise the effect won’t be as good cold.”
“Not drinking!”
It wasn’t just the Emperor who fell sick from the rainstorm half a month ago when the season was changing. Gou Liang also did.
The rainstorm happened to be on the fifteenth. Gou Liang and Zhong Quan were developing new detoxifying postures when unexpectedly halfway through the night, he heard the system’s heartless notification.
【Ding, the mission progress has increased. Current completion rate: 85%!】
Gou Liang shook and his entire person became sober.
On the second day, he silently dialed back the effect of the Blue Blood Prop and let himself burn with a fever for a whole day and night. The considerate Jianghu Doctor even gave him a diagnosis: Debauchery had led to exhaustion of his yang qi.
Then thinking of the Zhong Clan’s broken rule where they had to live a clean life and not indulge in pleasure of the flesh until they were thirty, even if Gou Liang was the was the son of heaven, the old man still solemnly pa.s.sed his verdict to Zhong Quan: Unless needed for detoxifying, they should restrain themselves.
Gou Liang received the results he wanted, but his heart was broken to pieces.
The mission progress rate was too high, he didn’t dare to brush it diligently. When it reaches 95%, he’ll have to begin the life of abstinence again…so cruel.
Thinking this, he couldn’t help but vent his anger on Zhong Quan: How can you be so easily satisfied, didn’t do him to death, increase what mf mission progress rate!
Truth be told, he was just throwing a fit.
Compared to the youthful little strawberry who couldn’t control himself and the little lemon with an encyclopedia inside his head, Zhong Quan, because of his profession and nature, was already quite reserved. At the same time, his obsession towards Gou Liang ran extremely deep, to describe him as ‘greedy and insatiable’ could not be more suitable. Otherwise, given that Gou Liang had already been in this world for close to two years, that progress rate wouldn’t only be at 85%.
But he was still mad…
Zhong Quan coaxed him gently—this kind of situation had happened many times in the last half a month. The Quan shadow guards went from their initial shock of seeing their leader acting like a little wife while coaxing their Master like Master was a three-year-old kid, to being accustomed to it.
Gou Liang still hasn’t played enough yet. He was grinding his teeth on Zhong Quan’s pectoral muscles when a Quan shadow guard carefully notified them from outside, “Master, Li Xi is asking to see you, he has already been waiting for some time in the reception hall.”
Gou Liang sat up straight and restored his expressionless celestial air.
“Invite him to the inner hall, I’ll go shortly.”
The Quan shadow guard received the order and left. Gou Liang took the bowl of medicine with great resentment and drank it. Afterward, he wrinkled his brows and glared at Zhong Quan.
Zhong Quan stroked his head. He poured him some water to wash his mouth with and then fed him a candied fruit.
Gou Liang looked at him while eating. What does a candied fruit amount to, he wanted to eat his little honey tangerine! Zhong Quan seemed to have heard his inner thought, he held his face and kissed him. Gou Liang took this opportunity to pa.s.s the bitter taste in his mouth to Zhong Quan while biting off mouthfuls of positive soul energy. Only then did he push him away in satisfaction—although the taste wasn’t as concentrated as that night, it was still very sweet.
Li Yan watched as Zhong Quan carried him out, Gou Liang’s face was red and his lips were ruddy, he didn’t look like a sick person at all.
Zhong Quan gave him a look and he didn’t dare to look anymore. He hurriedly bowed and said, “Li Xi greets sir. Previously I had heard sir was ill so I hadn’t come to visit, please do forgive me.”
“No big deal.”
Zhong Quan set him down on a soft cushion then stood quietly to his side.
Gou Liang lightly swept his eyes and Zhong Quan knowingly replaced the pastries on the table with fresh and delicious fruits.
Gou Liang ate one and was satisfied. He finally opened his mouth and asked Li Xi, “What has Little Marquis come to visit for this time?”
Li Xi quickly said, “The Crown Prince is currently responsible for the state affairs and the entire court is praising him to be a sage. Is sir only going to watch as he wins over people’s hearts and inherits the country?”
“What, are you questioning me?”
Gou Liang gave him a light look.
Li Xi was alarmed, he quickly got up and said, “Xi doesn’t dare, it was something said in a moment of anxiousness, please forgive me. It’s just, with the situation in court right now it’s unknown if His Majesty can still retract the power in the Crown Prince’s hands. He may be just a proxy now, but he might soon become the real deal.”
The Emperor was bedridden from his illness. He refused visits from the ministers and even gave the authority at court to Li Yan. Many people with selfish motives even wondered if the Crown Prince had done some disgrace and was confining the Emperor.
However, Liu-won’t-speak would visit the Emperor every day and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Like so, it didn’t seem like the Crown Prince had done something.
The current situation was extremely baffling.
Gou Liang curved the corner of his mouth and said, smiling, “What are you impatient for? The higher he climbs, the harder he falls. I’m afraid Li Yan can’t be arrogant much longer…’