Chapter 6- Disguise
The next day when Qiu Chen woke up, he saw Zhao Yichen sitting at the table by the window. The morning sun shone on him making him look extra handsome. Qiu Chen smiled at the sight. As if Zhao Yichen could sense, he looked up. When he saw his wife smiling at him, he smiled back. He stood up, then walked slowly to him.
"Haven't you gone to the morning court?" Qiu Chen asked, his voice lazy and nasal from sleeping. In Zhao Yichen's ears, his wife sounded like a purring cat. He sat down by the bed and extended his hands towards Qiu Chen.
"The morning court has ended," Zhao Yichen replied as he helped Qiu Chen sit. "Is your waist sore?" he asked. They 'fought' again last night, and it was more intense than the first night.
"Haven't you already applied medicine?" Qiu Chen replied. He was too at peace at this moment to pretend to act coquettish in front of his husband.
Zhao YIchen chuckled. "Then it means I have not worked hard enough" he could not help but tease his wife.
Qiu Chen, instead of getting shy, laughed out loud. His laughter like flowing water of a fountain running down from a mountain entered Zhao Yichen's ears. He looked at him like he was looking at the most painstakingly and carefully carved piece of jade. When he thought that this laughter was caused by him, happiness flowed down inside his chest, a smile formed on his thin lips.
Qiu Chen looked at him smiling so foolishly, he felt that his husband was actually very cute, not a fierce general. He leaned his head forward and placed a kiss on Zhao Yichen lips, "Good Morning, Husband."
After breakfast Qiu Chen dismissed all the servants from the room. He leaned in Zhao Yichen's arms and asked softly, "Have you ever been to the Fragrance House?"
Zhao Yichen suddenly panicked. Though he had never been to any brothel, he was afraid that his wife had heard some nonsense rumor. He hurriedly tried to clarify himself, "NEVER! I have never been to any brothel, I swear!"
"Why are you working up so much? Have you actually done anything shady?" Qiu found his reaction funny so teased him with a serious face.
Zhao Yichen's face visibly paled. As a soldier, he always has been a person of little words. Normally no one would dare to talk like this in front of him, only this person would. But he could not even explain himself.
Qiu Chen saw Zhao Yichen panicking, his heart melted in a puddle. He stroked his chest softly, "I know that you haven't done anything. But, was it always like this? Someone blamed you and couldn't even explain yourself?"
Zhao Yichen didn't reply. After his mother's death it always had been like this. So his father sent him with General Ye to train. Although Zhao Yichen did not talk, Qiu Chen understood.
"I will help you explain from now on, okay?" Zhao Yichen was never coaxed by someone. So when his wife did it, he was a bit overwhelmed. Qiu Chen naturally sensed it; he changed the topic smoothly.
"Go to Fragrance House now. Someone is waiting for you there." Qiu Chen told Zhao Yichen. Seeing that Zhao Yichen was about to question, he reassured him, "Have faith in me a little bit, will you? I am not going to share my husband with anyone."
So, Zhao Yichen, the henpecked husband had to obey his wife and go to the place where he never set his foot in.
When the Fourth Prince entered the number one brothel of the capital, there was lots of whispering sound. How could Zhao Yichen not know what the whispers were all about? So, his face turned even colder than usual. Seeing him so murderous no lady or young master from the brothel dared to go near him.
"Oh, my my! Isn't this our brave General, The Fourth Prince?" A jingling sweet voice sounded in front of Zhao Yichen. A pair of fair and slim hands came into his sight in the posture of a salute, "Caomin* has seen Wangye." The owner of the voice said. It was a very petite ger dressed in gorgeous blue robes. ( *Grass people, used by common people to refer to themselves in front of royalty)
Zhao Yichen kept his eyes down not looking at the ger. So, when the ger extended his hand to hold Zhao Yichen hand, he moved sideways to avoid. The ger was not disheartened either. He laughed again with his attractive jingling voice.
"Pray Wangye follow caomin," the ger said and stepped towards the staircase. He took Zhao Yichen to a gorgeously decorated room. Zhao Yichen guessed that it should be the room of the Madam of the brothel. He was a bit surprised, but still went in.
The elegant and beautiful woman sitting on the leisurely couch greeted him, "Wangye." She saluted, but did not stand up. "Please take a seat," the madam said with a smile.
Zhao Yichen sat but was vigilant. The youth that took him in the room went over to the qin at the corner and started playing a piece from faraway lands.
"May I ask why Furen asked Ben Wang to be here?" Zhao Yichen asked, his face as cold as an iceberg.
"Aiyah! My place is a place for pleasure. Why does Wangye want to talk about business here? Is there a type Wangye likes?" The madam said in a flirting tone.
Zhao Yichen's face turned so cold that the temperature of the whole room fell. The madam chuckled softly, "Silly me! Wangye is married to a ger. Do you like gers? I happen to have a very good seedling here." The madam looked at Zhao Yichen playfully.
The ger from earlier, who knows when, came and sat beside Zhao Yichen and was pouring wine for him. Zhao Yichen looked at the ger's face. To be honest, the youth was beautiful, with a fair and small face, beautiful hands.....Hands? His Wangfei had such hands! This youth here could somewhat be similar to his Wangfei. But it was far less attractive than his Wangfei at home. Thinking to this point Zhao Yichen stood up all of a sudden, ready to leave. But the youth caught his hand. He tried to shake off the hold, but the youth spoke first, though he was facing the opposite direction.
"Auntie, are you happy now? Have you tested enough?"
"Wangfei?" Zhao Yichen was astonished. How can this person here be his wangfei. He left him at home with his personal shadow guards protecting him from the shadows. No! Wait, he talked to him a moment ago, but his voice was totally different! Even his aura was different. Zhao Yichen was dumbfounded when he thought about this.
Qiu Chen pulled Zhao Yichen to sit. As if he could read his mind, he spoke, "Wangye, what do you think? Whose martial arts is better? Your shadow guards' or your wangfei's?"
"You knew about them?" Zhao Yichen, though he knew that his wife was excessively smart, never could guess that he was so good at martial arts.
"Ahem!" Fu Milan cleared her throat. The young couple in front of her was being so sweet that the dogfood all over was hard for her to swallow. Qiu Chen got up and went to her. Fu Milan handed over some products to him. He wiped his disguise off. During the whole process Zhao Yichen was too stunned to speak.
"Auntie was my mother's friend. She, as my elder, wanted to test how faithful you are to me," Qiu Chen smiled softly.
Zhao Yichen frowned. But Fu Milan spoke before he could get the chance to say anything, "Aiyah! I thought I would arrange some of boys and girls to tease you. Who knew that this petty child would not agree to my arrangements and volunteer himself instead. Just married, yet so possessive!"
Zhao Yichen's furrowed brows eased at this. He saw Fu mIlan taking out a rolled paper.
"This is the list of corrupted officials in the imperial court. These marked ones here.............."
At the same time in the room of Song Yuxuan, there was something happening. Song Yutong was standing in front of Song Yuxuan with her head lowered. Song Yuxuan's ever tolerant beautiful face was showing a trace impatience.
"You told people to spread the words outside that Song Ruzhen wanted to break away from family?" Song Yuxuan interrogated.
"Why Shouldn't I? He's so unfilial! He took away all my nice jewelry! He didn't want to be a Song anymore but still using our surname! He's so shameless!" Song Yutong acted spoiled as always.
Song Yuxuan was having a headache from this sister of his. But he still tried to explain though it sounded a bit rough, "He is married to the Fourth Prince. Sooner or later they will be thrown away to the borders. But saying he broke away from the family is an insult to the Song Jia and it is also questioning father's authority that even an unfavored son can break away from the family. Do you understand now? Father even has to explain over again."
"Sorry, Third Brother," Song Yutong looked aggrieved to listen to all the scoldings. As everyone knows, she is the little overlord in the Song family. No one ever scolded her. But now her Third Brother scolded her for that damned Song Ruzhen!
"It's okay. Just don't do anything impulsively in future. Discuss with me before you do anything," Song Yuxuan went back to his affectionate and patient elder brother self.
Song Yutong didn't dare act too spoiled with him either. Everyone in the Song family already considered Song Yuxuan as the future empress. So, no one usually opposed him.
After sending his sister off Song Yuxuan called his personal servant in. He wrote a note, scrolled it and gave it to the servant. The servant automatically knew where to go.
Back to Fragrance House, the three already finished talking about important stuff. Zhao Yichen hadn't asked how Fu Milan got all the information. He could guess something but he also knew that he should not ask more for the time being. When they were about to go back, Qiu Chen borrowed a veil from his auntie. He wanted to stroll around the street with his husband but did not want to put on makeup for disguise.
When they were climbing down the stairs they met two people. Qiu Chen didn't think the first time he'd meet these two would be in a brothel. He felt kind of funny.
"Fourth Brother" the Second Prince called first.
"Second Brother" Zhao Yichen replied like he was seeing a stranger not a brother.
"When I first heard that you have come to a brothel, I felt quite unbelievable. Who could have imagined the dignified General of Great Zhao could be at such a place!" Zhao YiRong ridiculed Zhao Yichen.
"Is not Second Brother a dignified prince of Great Zhao? How can he be at such a vile place, I wonder," Zhao Yichen's reply surprised Qiu Chen. He didn't know that his husband who'd be flustered by him easily could also have a poisonous mouth. Wasn't he being miserable in front of him just this morning? But Zhao Yichen's secretly acting coquettish did not prevent him from feeling proud of his husband.
"But I was not at least married less than a week ago. It seems like my sister-in-law's luck is really bad. This little young master is stunning, I must say," Zhao Yirong said looking at Qiu Chen.
Qiu Chen was about to say something but Zhao Yichen cut him off, "What happens to my family, happens inside the walls of the General's Mansion. Is Second Brother trying to peep into my walls?" Zhao Yichen said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Zhao Yirong was too stunned by his bland mockery to speak, "You-"
"Is Wangye not doing justice to his newly married wife? Ruzhen, after all, is my little brother. Though Caomin is an ant in front of Wangye, I can't stand by to see my brother getting wronged," Song YuHan said quite righteously.
Qiu Chen felt sick listening to his rubbish, so he could not help retort, "Isn't Song Shizhi* turning black into white? As far as this little one knows, Wangfei was actually kicked out of the Song family? Oh, and also, isn't Shizhi's true born brother is promised to The Second Highness? You are fighting here for the brother that you guys do not recognize but accompanying the future husband of your true born brother to the brothel, Song Shizhi really has a heart as big as the sky." ( *the heir to a family)
Qiu Chen's tone was that of teasing. Zhao Yirong was not mad at his words, moreover, he could not refute to in front of people. Because, one, Qiu Chen's words were not directed to him, but to Song Yuhan. Two, although he is engaged to Song Yuxuan, they are not formally married yet, and as a prince he can't openly be responsible any official's private matters. Three, arguing with a brothel's young master's words will lower his status in people's heart. So he could only talk to Zhao Yichen.
"Fourth Brother is really amazing. Married as soon as he came back to capital, even a little young master can argue with people for him. Alas, I can't get Fourth Brother's luck," Zhao Yirong mocked Zhao Yichen again.
"Caomin has seen Your Highness," Qiu Chen finally greeted Zhao Yirong.
"Young master's mouth was really sharp now. I wonder what I might call Young Master?" Zhao Yirong pretended to be a gentleman.
"Caomin is called Yueji*," Qiu Chen told the name he prepared for his disguise. ( * Yueji here means Chinese rose)
"Yueji? Understandable, beautiful but thorny. Will you show your face to this prince?" Zhao Yirong was flirtatious by nature. So, needs not to mention, he was already hooked by Qiu Chen's beautiful eyes and sharp mouth.
How could his intention go unnoticed by Zhao Yichen. His face turned as bblack as charcoal and the vein on his forehead bulged, "Second Brother must be joking. Yueji is not comfortable with showing his face to others. Moreover, we were just going to go out. If Second Brother excuses us?"
After finishing Zhao Yichen did not wait for any "excusing", grabbed Qiu Chen's wrist and left. Zhao Yirong looked at the backs of the two rushing figures. The delicate ger had already caught his attention. He liked wild things in bed. On the other hand, no matter how wronged Song Yuhan was to see his future brother-in-law eyeing other people, he could not do anything.
"Zhao Yichen! You slow the fvck down!" Qiu Chen could not keep up with the fast pace of Zhao Yichen no matter how proficient he is in martial arts.
Zhao Yichen did not slow down as if he could not hear Qiu Chen at all. So Qiu Chen tried another tactic.
"You're hurting me!" Qiu Chen almost shouted at his husband but suddenly lowered his voice. This made him sound aggrieved.
Zhao Yichen stopped abruptly. He loosened his grip on the other's wrist but did not let go. He brought it in front of his eyes. The fair, almost transparent skin turned painful red. Zhao Yichen's heart hurt seeing this. He hurt his baby again.
"I am sorry. I didn't want to hurt baby..." Zhao Yichen looked flustered. Qiu Chen's heart melted instantly.
"I know. You were angry how he looked at me," Qiu Chen caressed Zhao Yichen's cheek with the back of his other hand. "Now, buy me candied hawthorn if you really want to say sorry."
So, the rest of the day the couple spent their sweet time buying whatever they wanted, though it was just Qiu Chen liking something and Zhao Yichen paying for it. At the same time, the matter of Fourth Prince's liking somebody from Fragrance House spread out in the capital like wild fire.
Zhao Yichen dropped Qiu Chen at the brothel. They could not blow Qiu Chen's cover yet. He returned the mansion alone and went directly to the study. Upon entering the study, Zhao Yichen summoned the shadow guards in charge of Qiu Chen's security.
"Wangye." "Wangye," Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu greeted Zhao Yichen one by one. They looked at Zhao Yichen face for a second. They did not know why, their back felt cold.
"Where were you all day?" Zhao Yichen asked in a low voice, no ups and downs in his voice.
"On the roof of the main courtyard, hidden in the shadow," they answered together in a military way.
"You were guarding Wangfei?" Zhao Yichen asked again.
"Yes" both answered.
"Did Wangfei have his lunch?"
"Wangfei's personal maid took the meal inside, and after some time she carried the dishes back to the kitchen."
"Anyone else entered or exited the room?"
"No, Wangye."
Zhao Yichen did not ask anything but clapped his hands. Xiao Si entered the room upon getting the signal.
"Go to the main courtyard and ask Wangfei to come here," Zhao Yichen ordered Xiao si in a grave tone.
Xiao Si ran to the main courtyard at an instant. Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu, on the other hand could not understand what was happening but that didn't prevent them to be scared. Zhao Yichen looked at them as he took a sip from the tea placed before him but didn't say anything. After a few moments Xiao Si came back running, he knelt down in front of Zhao Yichen as soon as he came.
"Wangye, it's bad! Wangfei isn't in her room!"
Hearing what Xiao Si said, Xiao Wu and Xiao Li knelt down with a thud. They were in the military for years. They were both masters in martial arts. If someone could come and take Wangfei without their notice, it meant that the person in higher in skills than them.
"Sinners didn't protect Wangfei well. Requesting to Wangye for punishment," they said. At this moment both of them felt cold wind blowing by them, and next second they heard a soft chuckle.
"Why are you scaring them?"
They looked up in surprise. Their Wangfei was sitting in the chair beside Wangye. He looked soft and delicate like a vine that would sway with the evening breeze. But......but just now they did not even fell the existence of another person in the room. This realization turned their face pale.
"They should train harder. Today they could not detect you, but what if it was someone else abducting you?" Zhao Yichen trembled at the thought. Qiu Chen grabbed his hand as an assurance. Zhao Yichen closed his eyes to control his emotions. When he opened them, they were cold as usual.
"Go to the South-east leisure house tomorrow. Train there for half a month. I will test you personally after you're finished." Zhao Yichen's words sounded casual, but anyone who knows his system of training soldiers knew that it was like a order to live in the hell for fifteen days for Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu. They saluted the couple and set off for the outskirt of the capital at once. They could not but think in their hearts Is Wangfei so good in martial arts that he can move without them tracing him? Just how powerful is he!
Next morning Qiu Chen woke up with slight discomfort in his lower back. He knew the reason, but what made him wonder was it was far less uncomfortable than it should be. It was not like they were less intense last night. But his body didn't feel like it was just their third night together. Must be the medicine in this dynasty is better. He didn't dwell on the matter for long. After he had his breakfast he called Xiao San in.
After Xiao San finished saluting, Qiu Chen asked, "How is your investigation about the spies?"
"One maid from Song Jia, one servant from the Third Young Master Song whom the one from Song Jia is unaware of, two maids and one servant from the Second Prince, one maid from the Right Prime Minister, two servants from General Yang, one servant from the minister of Rites were detected." Xiao San reported.
"You are quite efficient," Qiu Chen praised. "Send the servants to the border but arrange people to keep an eye on them. Send the maids to a nunnery near the border, better if you have access to the nunnery." Qiu Chen passed his order. But Xiao san still hadn't moved. "Anything else?" Qiu Chen asked.
"There is one servant. He did not do anything suspicious, but I can feel that he's hiding something. I don't know if I'm overthinking," Xiao San answered honestly.
"What is the name of this particular servant?"
"Xiao Bao."
"Call the Butler here," Qiu Chen said looking at Xiao Li. "You go do your thing. I am looking into this," he told Xiao San.
After Xiao San left, Butler Wang came. He was now very afraid of Qiu Chen. His summon felt like a summon from the death to him. He came in hurriedly and saluted Qiu Chen, "Wangfei."
"The roof the Moon Gazing Pavilion is falling apart. Tell the servants to repair it." Qiu Chen ordered.
"But Wangfei........." Butler Wang hesitated.
"If I say it's falling apart, it's falling apart. Make the servant named Xiao Bao do it. But make it seem like he was randomly chosen," Qiu Chen used his deadpan voice.
Butler Wang hurried away without daring say another word. Qiu Chen also got up. He went to the mirror and looked at himself. Was he so scary? Well, he had fun being scary. After some time, he exited the room.
A/N: My favourite band held a concert in my