CH 56

Chapter 56: Could It Be That You Want Us To Bathe Together?

The next day, when the dawn fell on the green tiles, Qi Ci woke up only to find that Bian Zhonghua was no longer on the bed. At that moment, a maid knocked on the door and waited for Qi Ci to dress and wash himself. After tidying up a bit, Qi Ci remembered that today was the day they’d take out his mother’s coffin.

Qi Ci was a bit overwhelmed, but Bian Zhonghua took care of everything for him. After calculating for an auspicious time, Qi Ci paid his respects in advance and proceeded with the process of opening the grave and moving his mother into a new coffin. In an orderly way, everything was done without the slightest mistake.

In the blink of an eye, it was already time to return to the Capital. At that, Bian Zhonghua consulted with Qi Ci: “We can’t settle in the town with the coffin because it’s taboo. I suggest dividing our men into two groups. One group will take the coffin back to the Capital by water, as for us, we’ll continue the journey by land.”

Naturally, Qi Ci had no objections: “Alright.”

However, because the group that’d have to carry the coffin all the way back to the Capital would be carrying a heavy Yin Qi with them, Bian Zhonghua had to take some considerations. After thinking about it, Bian Zhonghua decided to appoint 8 Secret Servants to guard the coffin. A-Jia had some doubts about it, so he said: “But, Lord Bian, there will only be two Secret Servants left to guard the Prince. Will—”

At that moment, Bian Zhonghua pointed at himself.

A-Jia stopped talking altogether, clasped his fists, and obeyed the orders.

After everything was arranged, the two groups set out at the same time for the Capital.

After traveling for a bit more than a month, Qi Ci’s group finally arrived in Jiangnan. That day, when they saw that it was too late, and they couldn’t enter the town, the group had to stop at a post station.

The post station was small and dilapidated, and there was only one elderly postman there. When the group revealed their identities, the postman almost fainted from the shock. After all, the postman had guarded this post station for so long, and he had never seen a traveler with such a noble status.

After asking for the number of people in the group, the elderly postman was in a predicament: “My Lord, there are only five small rooms here….”

Qi Ci nodded: “It’s perfect. After all, we are ten people, we can share rooms.”

The old postman wiped his cold sweat and said: “But, but… My Lord, who can share a room with you?”

Bian Zhonghua, who was next to Qi Ci, raised the corners of his lips in a smile: “I will.”

For the past few days, as they traveled through the mountain roads, the group would often encounter this situation. At first, Qi Ci would politely say: “There’s no need to think too much about it. Bian Zhonghua, let’s share a room.”

Later, neither Qi Ci nor Bian Zhonghua bothered to say anything, and they would always share a room together. Both were happy in their hearts, secretly thinking that the other hadn’t noticed about each other’s feelings.

The old postman nodded and carefully sent both masters into a room. Because it was already late, when the moon rose on top of the willow trees, the old postman lit an oil lamp. At that moment, he heard Bian Zhonghua ask: “Excuse me, old man, is there a stream or a pond nearby?”

The old postman replied: “There’s a small clear pond 1km to the West. My Lord, why are you asking this?”

Bian Zhonghua smiled and replied: “I’ve been traveling for such a long time, I would like to take a bath.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as the old postman heard Bian Zhonghua say this, he immediately waved his hands and raised the tone of his voice: “No! My Lord, you must not!”

Bian Zhonghua raised an eyebrow and asked: “Why?”

“My Lord, you may not know this, but there have been evil monsters wandering around recently!”

“What kind of evil monsters?” Qi Ci asked.

“I don’t know what kind of monster it is, but towards the West, there’s a small village that belongs to the Lu Family. Because there are a lot of men in there, some have to return home late after work, and many have bumped into this monster by accident. The next day, they will wake up with big bellies!”

“A big belly?” Qi Ci looked confused.

The old postman was a little ashamed to say it, so Bian Zhonghua had to explain it to Qi Ci: “A pregnancy.”

Qi Ci was now surprised beyond words: “Ah??? Men can get pregnant???”

The old postman said: “That’s it! Those men were so unlucky to bump into that monster! Aiya, it’s so terrible. I heard that this monster likes to pick young men from rich families too. My Lords, don’t go out in the middle of the night. If you want to take a bath, I’ll bring you a wooden bucket and boil some water.”

“I understand. Thank you, old man.” Bian Zhonghua, after thanking the old man and sending him out of the room, closed the door. As soon as he turned around, he saw Qi Ci sitting on a wooden chair with a puzzled expression on his face. He was probably thinking about the strange things the old man said.

Bian Zhonghua laughed and said: “I read about this kind of evil monster in an ancient book.”

“Hmm?” At that moment, Qi Ci raised his head.

Bian Zhonghua then sat opposite Qi Ci, picked up a cup made out of bamboo and wood from the table and filled it with water for the two of them. Then, he slowly said: “It’s said that in Jiyang there was a man named Ren Gu who would rest under a tree after a long day of working on the field. One day, a man dressed in feathery clothes appeared out of nowhere. That man lusted over Ren Gu and harassed him. When it was already done, the feathery man disappeared. Afterwards, Ren Gu realized that he was pregnant with that man’s child. After ten months passed, when Ren Gu was about to give birth, the man in feathery clothes appeared again. That man pierced Ren Gu’s abdomen, took out a snake from inside, and disappeared again!”

“That’s too evil,” Qi Ci said. As he absently rubbed his arms, he said: “Do you encounter evil monsters like this often?”

Bian Zhonghua shook his head: “Human-like monsters are rare, and most of them are very difficult to deal with. I’ve only heard about this feathered man in books, but….” Bian Zhonghua held up his chin as he thought, “since he seems to be wandering these lands, I can’t sit idly by.”

As Bian Zhonghua spoke, the door of the room was knocked. It was the old man who had brought the hot water. Bian Zhonghua opened the door, carried the wooden bucket and the hot water into the room, and thanked the old man.

The old man put clean a cloth on the wooden chair and said: “You are very kind, my lord. Speaking of which, are you going back to the Capital?”

Bian Zhonghua replied: “Yes.”

The old man said softly: “There are high mountains around here, so it’ll be hard to travel by foot. Don’t delay your journey, my lords, and hurry back home.”

Qi Ci didn’t understand: “Why do you say that?”

The old man said: “Recently, people who had stayed here said that there have been more and more monsters around. I’ve heard a lot of terrible rumors! I’m afraid the world is not as peaceful as it used to be.”

Qi Ci and Bian Zhonghua looked at each other, and Qi Ci finally said: “Don’t worry, old man. The Imperial Court has set up a Secret Servant Division, right? Moreover, there are many righteous people in this world who can exorcise monsters and demons, they won’t let a disaster like this worsen.”

“Let’s hope so.” The old man sighed.

Then, Bian Zhonghua asked: “I would like to ask you, old man, when did this situation start?”

The old man pondered for a while, and then said: “Around summer of this year.”

Bian Zhonghua nodded.

‘It coincided with the moment we departed from the Capital to the Northern Border, no wonder I haven’t heard about it. However, when abnormal things happen, demons are usually involved. When we return to the Capital, I must report it to State Master Li, and then investigate it properly.’

“Then, I will no longer bother the Lords.” The old man bent down and retreated, closing the door behind him.

Qi Ci was still thinking about what the old man had just said, but when he saw Bian Zhonghua picking up a towel and a pile of clean clothes as if he was ready to go out, he reacted.

“Where are you going?” Qi Ci asked.

“I’m going to the pond to wash myself. You can use the bucket of hot water.” Bian Zhonghua smiled.

“It’s late autumn, won’t you freeze to death if you go to the pond?” Qi Ci disagreed.

At that, Bian Zhonghua’s smile intensified. As if to make Qi Ci hear his words extremely clearly, he dragged the sound of his voice as he spoke: “Could it be that you want us to bathe together?”

So BZH and QC have been flirtling in front of everbody all the way hahahaha I pity the guards