Chapter 53: Ch53 - Honey Tangerine Flavored Shadow Guard Gong (11)

Who said this loyal dog didn’t know how to flirt? His heartbeat had nearly been played broken by him 〃w〃

Translator: KunLin

Editors: Vex, Blarghette

The tremors in Yan Fief were violent and carried on for thousands of miles, causing the entire country to be in a state of panic.

After three days, the earth dragon’s wrath finally faded, but rumors began springing up from all corners.

Heaven had sent a sign and no one dared to overlook it. For what reason were the deities angered?

The more knowledgeable people didn’t dare to carelessly comment in front of the influence of the imperial clan, but the common citizens were different—they may be more uneducated but they were also more direct. Compared to the Emperor who felt so distant to them, they were more fearful of the transcendent deities. They took turns guessing how the Emperor had angered the Heaven. Maybe it was because the monarch wasn’t benevolent enough or was it because loyal officials had been wronged, perhaps the deities’ wrath wasn’t over yet and the next calamity will happen on their head?

The Emperor couldn’t possibly block everyone’s mouths, but he was also unwilling to block his own ears. Plus he knew preventing the common people from talking was like preventing a river from flowing. Although he was reluctant in his heart, after the earthquake, he immediately led a hundred officials to visit Huguo Temple to offer incense and worship the Heaven while presenting a report to confess his sins.

He specially had people read the imperial bulletin aloud everyday throughout every street of the country so the citizens would learn of it, thus changing the mass’s opinion.

“…Zhen loathes that he cannot do more. During the three days of the calamity, Zhen was immersed in incense while praying day and night in the palace for the Heaven’s benevolence, and for them to protect our citizens. Zhen did not dare to eat a single grain or drink a single sip. Zhen hated that he couldn’t be with the people of Yan and be subjected to the disaster in their stead. Thankfully we had received the QinTian supervisor’s prediction beforehand and had sent the Third Prince to lead soldiers and provide aid, successfully evacuating the citizens in time. Heaven is fair to all life and bestowed a warning, allowing Zhen to save our citizens from this plight. Because Heaven is fair, the lives of the ten million citizens in Yan Fief were protected. But although Zhen tried his utmost, casualties still numbered in the thousands. In regards to this Zhen cannot feel more remorseful. Today Zhen makes an offering to the Heaven and will lay out all sins for judgement, may the Heaven be merciful…”

Reading up to here, Gou Liang lost all desire to continue.

“Indeed that old man Emperor is shrewd. Tch, tch, not eating or drinking for three days and nights to pray for the common people’s wellbeing, proclaiming while beating it a gong, such fanfare, it is enough to fool people.”

Gou Liang set the imperial bulletin aside, the corner of his mouth forming a cold smile.

It’s just that, no matter how much the Emperor shifted the responsibility, in the end a scapegoat was needed to bear Heaven’s wrath and pacify the citizens’ hearts. The scapegoat’s identity and status cannot be too shabby, he wondered who the Emperor would pick.

Gou Liang thought back to the former Crown Prince who had been confined and hidden away, and many thoughts flashed through his head. He then thought of Li Yan.

The disaster in Yan Fief was calamitous, but Gou Liang’s people had prepared the heaviest hit provinces in advance. His men went to the core officials of these provinces and, by coercion or advice, persuaded them to evacuate citizens, even without the Emperor’s command. This helped keep casualties to a minimum.

However, the economic loss was still considerable. The evacuated citizens were unable to return to their hometown and their despondent cries could often be heard from the refugee camps.

But fortunately the court was willing to spend big money this time, cart after cart of silver and food were sent out for disaster rescue and relief, and soldiers were also dispatched to help with rebuilding. Emperor Wu had also stated clearly in his decree that land will be assigned back to them according to the records in the Yamen, allowing the refugees to regain some hope.

King An also took this chance to advertise his existence in front of the citizens. He would personally visit refugee camps and offer his condolences, eat the same rice porridge as them, and generously give speeches encouraging the citizens to bravely face their new lives, perfectly embodying the phrase ‘to love the common people like one’s own children’.

His good reputation traveled all the way back to the capital and caused Li Yan to smash his ink slab in anger. He made it plain to Zhong Yue: Li Mu must not be allowed to return to the capital alive! Otherwise, in the capital and at court, there will no longer be any place for this Prince.

Right now, the killers he had sent were already on their way to the Yan Fief.

Thinking up to here, Gou Liang ordered: “Zhong Quan, let the people below act more carefully, don’t let King An die.”

“Yes, Master.”

“However, just leaving his life is good enough, no need to care about other aspects…” He revealed a smile full of malice, “Come and lower your ear.”

Zhong Quan crouched down. Gou Liang leaned in towards his ears and gave his orders. After receiving them, Zhong Quan went to carry them out.

When he had completed the orders given by Gou Liang and was about to report back to the study, he was blocked by Wang Li.

Wang Li had taken pain to dress up today. Her make-up was exquisite and she wore a gorgeous outfit with the belt tied tightly to outline a slim waist. Embroidered on the lotus colored fabric covering her chest was a red peony that was extremely eye-catching—seeing Wang Li walking towards the big blind spot with a confident posture and a smiling face, Gou Liang snorted coldly: Was she afraid people can’t tell she was on the prowl? He wants to see how Zhong Quan will react!

“Li’er greets benefactor.”

Wang Li bended her body like a graceful willow and made what she believed was her most beautiful smile. She raised her head—Zhong Quan had already walked past her, not even stopping for a moment.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Ktf rwlif bc Qjcu Ol’r rwlif lcrajcais ogbhf. Lfg fjgr jcv mtffxr oiertfv klat jcufg jcv afjgr obgwfv lc tfg fsfr yea lc atf fcv rtf wjcjufv ab gflc lc tfg afwqfg, mtjrlcu joafg tlw jr rtf mjiifv bea: “Dfcfojmabg, qifjrf kjla!”

Itbcu Hejc rabqqfv jcv Qjcu Ol’r ojmf aegcfv lcab bcf bo pbs, yea atfc rtf tfjgv tlw rjs lc j mbiv nblmf: “Zlrr Qjcu’r yfcfojmabg lrc’a tfgf, vbc’a mjii bea atf kgbcu qfgrbc.”

Wang Li quickly said: “Benefactor, there’s no need to humble yourself. Sir lending a hand in aid, this is deeply engraved in Li’er’s heart. If benefactor hadn’t stood in front of Li’er that day, Li’er’s head might already be separated from her body. Such tremendous grace, Li’er—”

Zhong Quan: “I was only carrying out orders, it’s not worth mentioning. That day, be it saving your life or taking your life, as long as Master orders it, I will do it for him. Miss Wang, it is windy at sea, it’s best not to wander around, otherwise if you fall into the sea, no one on board will save you without Master’s order.”

“Benefactor, please wait! This little girl has no other intentions, I only wish to know benefactor’s name, so in the future I can pray for benefactor’s wellbeing in front of the Buddha in return for the life saving grace…”

Not waiting for her to finish speaking, Zhong Quan had already walked out of view. She bit her lips and stomped her foot, “Stupid goose, do you know that I…” As she spoke, unbeknownst why her face grew red. She lifted her skirt and ran back to her room.

Gou Liang who watched everything:…What was this girl’s head filled with?

Zhong Quan didn’t place this occurrence in his heart, he gave the report as usual and Gou Liang once again motioned him forward to relay orders into his ear, but before unexpectedly before he could say a word, he furrowed his brows first: “Take three steps back, stay farther away from me.”

Zhong Quan didn’t understand why, but when he saw a trace of hostility flash through the other’s eyes, his heart tightened as he fearfully took three steps backward. He asked somewhat uneasily: “Master, this is?”

Gou Liang let out a cold laugh, “Your luck with women is not bad ah, this smell of cosmetics on your body, where it it come from—there’s only one woman on board, I can tell she feels more than just gratefulness towards you, it is I who delayed this good marriage…”

Zhong Quan could not bear this offence, he hurriedly interrupted him, speaking anxiously: “Master, you misunderstood! This subordinate only coincidentally encountered Miss Wang today and only said a few lines, nothing more.”

“Oh,”Gou Liang didn’t believe his words at all, “Then a single deviation, repeat the conversation you had to me.”

Zhong Quan paused briefly for a moment then recounted his conversation with Wang Li word by word.

Gou Liang’s expression became increasingly ugly.

“Hah, what a good benefactor! I’m afraid she feels like she is unable to repay your kindness and wishes to devote herself to you instead!”

“This subordinate has no such intentions!”

“No such intentions? Unless you have done something, would a daughter of a noble house dare to be so bold in revealing her feelings to you? If you weren’t standing extremely close together, in the time it takes to speak a few sentences, how could your body carry the scent of her face powder!”

“This subordinate never—”

“Enough! You still dare to refute!”

Anger rose uncontrollably in Gou Liang’s heart, he picked up the teacup beside him and smashed it at the other’s feet.

As the porcelain shattered against the ground, a sharp shard flew out and nicked Zhong Quan’s face. Gou Liang froze in the middle of his rage and in the moment managed to regain some composure. Feeling both angry and remorseful, he clenched his fists and suppressed his temper: “Whatever, I’m tired, you withdraw.”

“Master—”

“I’m telling you to scram, did you not hear me!”

Seeing his reddened eyes and his appearance of barely constraining his anger, how could Zhong Quan just leave? He stood up and walked towards Gou Liang before kneeling at his knees again: “Master, don’t be angry, there is truly nothing going on between this subordinate and her. I have never had any relationship with her.”

Gou Liang turned his head away, he didn’t want to listen to him. In a moment of desperation, Zhong Quan clasped the other’s face, anxiously stood up and said: “Believe me, Zhong Quan’s loyalty towards you is sincere!”

There was nowhere to flee from the large hands covering his face. Gou Liang’s jaws tightened, he suddenly reached out a hand to grab Zhong Quan’s throat, saying in an icy tone: “Tell me honestly, did you long already have a relationship with that Wang Li? Has she long already crawled into your bed?!”

“No! Master, today is the first time this subordinate has seen her since she boarded. After exchanging only a few sentences, this subordinate had hurriedly reported back. It is probably because the scent of cosmetics on her is too strong, so the scent lingered on me.”

Zhong Quan couldn’t smell the cosmetics on himself, but Gou Liang had been following the old man in distinguishing medicines by scent and his nose was especially sharp, so Zhong Quan did not doubt him.

He only hated that shameless woman. Who knew how much perfume she had used for him to be accused like this, making Master angry for no reason.

Thinking this, a murderous aura flashed through his eyes.

“Oh really, how capable you are then to make a noble’s daughter disregard her dignity and reservedness for you.” The strength Gou Liang used to squeeze Zhong Quan’s neck grew stronger, “You had better give me an honest answer. That day, did you do anything to make her view you so favorably? Did you play hero to the damsel in distress, or did you touch her?”

He glared at Zhong Quan, his gaze seemed to tell the other: If your left hand touched her, then I’ll chop off your left hand, and if it’s your right hand, then I’ll chop your right hand!

Clearly his gaze was full of murderous intentions, but Zhong Quan felt his heart thud. When he saw his face that was red with anger, a hint of joy rose in his heart.

“None of them!”

It was like Zhong Quan couldn’t feel the pain of his throat being squeezed, he continued to say: “That day this subordinate acted as told and only saved Li Xi. Perhaps she had been near Li Xi, causing her to misunderstand.”

“Is that so.”

Gou Liang’s hand slightly loosened, he looked down at him, but the malice in his eyes did not recede. Instead it became even more apparent as he spat out: “However it is true that she harbors feelings for you, tell me, are you moved?”

“No!” Zhong Quan couldn’t take it anymore and hugged him tightly into his embrace, his lips brushing against his ear as he whispered in a hoarse voice: “With Master as witness, this subordinate’s only wish in this life is to accompany Master. If she makes you unhappy, this subordinate will go kill her right now!”

Hearing this, the red in Gou Liang’s eyes finally receded a bit. He released the hands wrapped around Zhong Quan’s throat, and also didn’t push him away, he only said in a light voice: “Since they are guests that I have invited on board, how can they be killed arbitrarily? But, I am indeed unhappy.”

“Master…”

Zhong Quan tilted his head to look at him. So long as Gou Liang showed any intentions, he would do anything for him.

However, Gou Liang didn’t mention it again. After a period of silence, he furrowed his brows and sighed while saying: “Never mind, it is good that you remember your own identity. Zhong Quan, remember your vow, if you dare to…have affairs with other people, I will make sure you die without a complete body!”

His tone was cold to the extreme, no one would doubt he wouldn’t make good on his words.

However, Zhong Quan only felt his heart beating like thunder, the close distance made it impossible to hide the fervor in his eyes. Looking at Gou Liang’s rosy lips, he suddenly had the blasphemous thought of offending his superior.

He endured with great effort and replied: “This subordinate will bear it in mind.”

Gou Liang continued to list his demands: “Thinking of other people in your heart is also not allowed, even for a moment, a second, it is not allowed! If you dare to think, then you better hide it well. If it is discovered by me, then from henceforth, you no longer need to appear in front of me.”

Zhong Quan’s heart began to beat even faster, Gou Liang’s murderous and icy gaze was like honey to him, making him deeply intoxicated.

【Ding, the target’s favorability value has been updated. Current favorability value: +95.】

He couldn’t hold back and pressed his face against Gou Liang, he raised his hand to gently stroke his throat and said in a quiet voice: “Master, I have never thought of anyone else. There is only you in Quan’s heart, thinking of you at every moment—”

“Cough, cough, what are the two of you doing?”

The voice of the old man suddenly sounded, causing Gou Liang to be startled. His face was red like he had been scalded and suddenly he realized Zhong Quan and his position had gotten overly intimate. He pushed him away and berated in a low voice: “Impudent!”

He then hurriedly fixed his lapel, no longer looking at Zhong Quan who was still kneeling beside him. He tried his best to act normal as he looked at the old man: “Grandfather, why are you here?”

The old man chuckled, “It’s my bad, interrupting the conversation between you two, however, your pulse needs to be taken today.”

Gou Liang’s face became even redder, he couldn’t help but glare at Zhong Quan fiercely. The latter loosened his fists and stood up, his eyes carried a newfound smile as he stood behind him, his gaze silently fixed on Gou Liang’s red ear tips.

The old man took his pulse and after a moment, he said with an upright expression: “Calm your heart, don’t think too much.”

Gou Liang blushed and coughed once, trying his best to control his heart that was beating too fast.

After a long while, the old man retracted his hand and said with satisfaction: “You’ve recovered well, in the future walk around more often, if you persevere, your legs might heal sooner than I originally anticipated.”

Gou Liang couldn’t conceal his joy: “Many thanks, Grandfather!”

The old man waved his hand. He looked at Gou Liang then looked at Zhong Quan, and sniggered mischievously, saying: “Then you two, continue.” He then left.

Originally, Gou Liang’s face had already returned to its usual complexion but now it reddened again. He glared at Zhong Quan again, saying in displeasure: “Go out if there’s nothing else. There’s no need to wait upon me today!”

Zhong Quan stared at him quietly for a while. He then crouched down and rearranged the blanket on his lap before speaking: “This subordinate, obeys.”

He walked out of Gou Liang’s sight, the sound of his footsteps fading. Gou Liang then watched as the big blind spot soundlessly made a U-turn, returning to the outside of his room, standing guard. He couldn’t help lifting the corner of his lips: Who said this loyal dog didn’t know how to flirt? His heartbeat had nearly been played broken by him

（〃w〃）!

On the thirteenth of September, King An met with assassins in XingTang and nearly lost his life.

The assassins were captured alive and after harsh torture, they revealed the name of the mastermind, it was the Crown Prince!

Previously, when the Crown Prince returned to the capital after being injured, he had sent people to steer public opinions, discreetly pushing the attempt on his life onto King An’s head. But later on because of the earthquake, rumors like this paled in importance—after all, right now King An had gone to the place of disaster in the Crown Prince’s stead, this was an act of great benevolence.

And now, King An had earned great merits for the disaster relief but was met with assassins, even though the Emperor intended to suppress this matter, the Crown Prince’s popularity still fell in a straight line.

Rumors spread amongst the citizens again, the content being: The Crown Prince hadn’t actually been attacked by assassins that day, but he had overheard the QinTian supervisor’s prediction and was afraid to enter the perilous location so he faked an injury in order to run away.

The Emperor harboured some doubts so he brought in the physician who had treated the Crown Prince for questioning. Under the pressure from the Emperor, the physician confessed to the matter of helping Li Yan fake his condition.

The Emperor was infuriated, but since these were troubled times, he could only help the Crown Prince cover it up. He suppressed news of this matter then sent a trusted aide to rediagnose Li Yan.

Li Yan then knew that he had been exposed. However, Physician Wang was escorted by imperial guards so even if he wanted to coerce the other, there was no chance to do so.

And as expected, not long after Physician Wang left the East Palace, the head of the imperial guards came to relay the Emperor’s message: “The Crown Prince is bedridden with severe injuries. Zhen has taken pity and will leave an envoy from the Physician Academy in the East Palace to tend to the Crown Prince’s wound. The Crown Prince should focus on recovering with peace of mind, before the injury is healed, there is no need to be concerned about the court.”

The Emperor knew his injury was fake yet still passed such an order, wasn’t it just an excuse to confine him!

Li Yan was shocked, he hurriedly said: “But if this Prince’s wound is already recovered—”

The head of imperial guards spoke again: “His Highness only needs to focus on recuperating, there’s no need to inquire about other matters. There is one more message from His Majesty: The matter of that day has been suppressed by Zhen for the sake of the imperial clan’s prestige, but if you are still unrepentant and act unkindly against King An again, don’t blame Zhen for dealing with things justly!”

The head of imperial guards had left for a long time, but Li Yan sat in the same spot stunned, his complexion pale as paper.

“Dear Yan…”

Zhong Yue saw all this and felt both apprehensive and anxious.

Li Yan finally regained himself. He supported himself up and asked in a cold voice: “What did you come here for?”

“…His Majesty has passed his decree, recovering in the East Palace you might feel lonesome, so I was ordered to accompany you.”

Zhong Yue didn’t know the content of the Emperor’s message to Li Yan but his expression was also heavy—the Emperor had also feared that he and Li Yan would become too intimate, but now out of nowhere he’d given him a decree like this, it was suspicious.

Li Yan took in a deep breath and said: “Father Emperor already knows that this Prince’s injury is fake, but still lets this Prince stay in the East Palace to recover, forbidding this Prince to inquire about the court. Do you know what Father Emperor means by this?”

Not waiting for Zhong Yue’s reply, Li Yan continued on: “He is disposing of me. Maybe one day, in Father Emperor’s decree, I will die in this East Palace because of my ‘serious injury’!”

“This is the ‘nothing will go wrong’ you speak of?”

“That day if it wasn’t for your meddling, then right now the one racking up accomplishments and winning the public’s heart in Yan Fief wouldn’t be Li Mu but me instead! But now, Li Mu still lives yet, when he returns to the capital, perhaps this Crown Prince position of mine will have to be offered up to him! Perhaps this is the true life threatening danger you foresaw? It didn’t happen in Yan Fief but in the capital!”

“Do you still not understand why Father Emperor had you come here? As the direct descendant of the TianJi Mountain’s Zhong Clan, you’re not even comparable to the QinTian supervisor that old bastard, who was taught by the later generations of a Zhong Clan outcast!”

“He’s letting you, this trash, accompany me! So we can both perish in this East Palace!”

Zhong Yue suddenly landed a slap across his face. In an icy tone he asked: “Who did you call trash just now?”