CH 76

Chapter 76: But I Already Have Someone I Like.

“So, when my mother asked me to not go to the Capital, it was because she was afraid I would get involved in the muddy waters of the Palace. If one day my true identity was investigated, she was afraid I would end up in prison.” Qi Ci sighed and couldn’t say another word.

Bian Zhonghua didn’t expect the story would be so long. Finally, he said: “Don’t worry, you’re a Prince now. Who will be able to distinguish the difference between the original and the fake?”

Qi Ci lowered his head and looked at his hands, which were wrung nervously. As he choked up a bit, he recalled bits and pieces of his life with Qi Rulan. However, he couldn’t find a single hint from her that he wasn’t her biological son. Qi Ci then muttered: “My mother has always been good to me. I miss her so much.”

Bian Zhonghua stepped forward and patted Qi Ci’s shoulder soothingly.

Qi Ci restrained his thoughts in order to try and hide his sadness. Then smiled at Bian Zhonghua and said: “So, what was the thing you wanted to threaten me for?”

Bian Zhonghua raised the corners of his mouth and said: “I’m not in a hurry for that.”

Although Qi Ci suddenly learned such a shocking secret, they still had to resume a long journey to the Capital. Thus, Qi Ci and Bian Zhonghua bid their farewell to Granny Yao and went back to the road.

Granny Yao was a little reluctant to let Qi Ci go, worried that there would be a change of circumstances once he arrived at the Capital. However, knowing that she couldn’t persuade him, she didn’t say anything else and simply sent them out of the valley.

After seeing Qi Ci off, Granny Yao returned to the lake. As she looked at the calm water of the lake, she lamented about her experiences over the years and walked back into her wooden house. However, all of a sudden, she remembered something important. After walking into the inner room, she searched for something, and not much later, she found an old yellowed book. Granny Yao muttered: “I should’ve given this to that child….”

As she muttered, Granny Yao opened the book, revealing the paintings inside. At a single glance, one could see that it belonged to Qi Rulan. The first painting was of a quiet lake, while the second painting showed a woman standing next to the lake, hiding her face as she cried bitterly.

The third painting still showed the beautiful scenery of the lake, but at the center of the lake, there was a baby floating mid-air.

…

Since a section of the road was crushed by a collapsed mountain, the delegation heading to the Capital had to take a detour. In the end, it took them a day to find a town nearby.

This town, along with the north to south official road, the road through water, and the roads through the earth, was quite prosperous. Because of this, even when such a mighty group entered through the town’s gate, it didn’t attract the attention of others at all. After all, there were too many travelers coming and going all the time, so such a thing wasn’t unusual.

Since the group had taken a temporary diversion, the Officials in the town didn’t know that there was a Prince passing by. Qi Ci, on the other hand, didn’t want to deal with those Officials, so they found a random inn to rest for the night before leaving early in the morning.

The waiter was very clever. At a single glance, he could tell that among that group of people, Qi Ci and Bian Zhonghua were not ordinary people and were by no means idle. So, he couldn’t help but come forward to ask: “These two Gongzis are here for business or for pleasure?”

Bian Zhonghua glanced at him and smiled: “For pleasure.”

“Oh! It seems that these two Gongzis had also heard about the name of that place! So they came here for that!” The waiter smiled cheekily, showing a meaningful expression on his face.

“What place?” Qi Ci was puzzled.

The waiter was stupefied: “Could it be that the two Gongzis don’t know?”

“We arrived just now, we haven’t heard of anything yet.” Qi Ci replied.

“Ah! You don’t know!” The waiter slapped his thigh. “I’m glad I asked! Otherwise, these two Gongzis would have missed out! But this place, ah, it’s not suitable to mention in the open. How about this? I’ll show you the way, and in the evening, the two Gongzis can go out for a stroll. You’ll understand once you get there!”

Qi Ci was still confused, while Bian Zhonghua had already roughly guessed what kind of ‘place’ this waiter was talking about. At this, Bian Zhonghua couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

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“We may never have the chance to come here again. Shall we go for a stroll?” Bian Zhonghua said after talking to the waiter.

Qi Ci originally thought that perhaps he and Bian Zhonghua had the same idea in mind. However, Bian Zhonghua then saw that Qi Ci hesitated to reply. At that moment, Qi Ci considered that maybe it wasn’t what he was thinking and simply nodded.

In the end, this town wasn’t like the Capital, and it was a bit deserted at night. As they walked down the streets and saw that the stores began to close, Qi Ci couldn’t help but think: ‘The night is so dark that I can’t even see my hand nor the supposed interesting scenery. What place is worth visiting here?’

As Qi Ci wondered, the two of them finally arrived at the indicated place.

After turning at an alley, the light outside and inside the alley was shockingly different. The first thing to come into view was a big mansion, with red lanterns hanging on both sides of the eaves. The red doors, entwined with red silk, were wide open, and the dazzling candlelight dispelled the darkness of the night.

Apparently, it was a luxurious mansion surrounded by the tranquil atmosphere of the Yangtze River1.

However, there was a whimsical sound of laughter and playful sounds coming from the mansion. Looking through the door, you could see many gentlemen surrounded by beautiful women half-exposing their tender shoulders, drinking wine, and crossing their legs, looking like they were having fun.

Qi Ci helplessly bit his lip, looked at Bian Zhonghua, and said: “So it was a place like this. Let’s go back….”

Unexpectedly, Bian Zhonghua was looking up, at the top floors, without saying a word. It was as if he hadn’t heard what Qi Ci had said.

Qi Ci followed Bian Zhonghua’s gaze, only to see that at the corridor leading to the second floor, there was a woman dressed in a dark reddish-purple robe, and a plain veil covering her face, playing a Zither2. That woman also noticed that someone was looking at her, and when she looked down, her gaze collided with Bian Zhonghua’s. As the woman smiled softly, she removed the veil.

Vermilion lips and pearly white teeth, wrists as white as snow. Indeed, this woman’s appearance was overwhelmingly beautiful.

On the other hand, a woman inside the mansion noticed that there were two men standing at the door, and when she saw how handsome Qi Ci and Bian Zhonghua were, she couldn’t help but feel moved. Thus, she walked out of the mansion to pull at the two men: “Gongzis, don’t stand there in a daze. Come on in!”

Qi Ci retreated and avoided being pulled by the woman as he said politely: “I’m sorry, it seems I forgot to bring silver. No chance today.”

Bian Zhonghua, who was still staring at the woman in a dark reddish-purple dress, was caught off guard when a woman soliciting customers took his arm, pulling him back to his senses.

The woman soliciting customers was also stunningly beautiful, with charming eyebrows and a soft flirtatious pout: “The two Gongzis can enjoy a little wine with our maidens, that’s enough of a blessing for us. Don’t worry about the money.”

Still, Qi Ci declined politely, dodging her again and again.

Bian Zhonghua quietly took his arm from the woman’s embrace, and without moving, he asked with a smile: “You don’t need any silver?”

“That’s because we’re not accompanied by any guests right now.” A gentle voice, as clear as a mountain stream in Spring, was heard. When the three people raised their eyes, they saw the woman dressed in a dark reddish-purple dress, the same one who was on the second floor and had already walked down with graceful steps. As she looked at Bian Zhonghua, she saluted and replied with a smile: “Gongzi, please come in and take a seat.”

“Alright, it’s hard to refuse such hospitality, so let’s go and have a seat.” Bian Zhonghua smiled and intended to follow the woman in dark reddish-purple into the mansion.

Qi Ci’s eyes widened for a moment as he stared at Bian Zhonghua. Qi Ci couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but then he realized that he wasn’t qualified to interfere with Bian Zhonghua’s affairs at all. As he lowered his eyes filled with fear, he dropped his arms at his sides and slightly clenched his fists. After slowly releasing the tension from his hands, he turned around ready to leave. In an extremely soft voice, he said: “I will not go in. I’ll wait for you at the inn.”

“Hey, Gongzi, I’m not going to charge you anything. If you really want to leave, you have to give me a good reason! Otherwise, it will hurt my heart.” The woman pretended to wipe her tears, imitating a pitiful expression.

Bian Zhonghua turned around, tugged Qi Ci’s wrist, and gave him a look: “Just sit down.”

The woman standing aside took advantage of the heat and followed Bian Zhonghua’s words: “That’s right! Just sit down! Why is this Gongzi always declining me so politely? Is it because our wine is not fragrant enough? Or is it because I’m not pretty enough?”

Qi Ci looked at Bian Zhonghua and remained silent for a long time. Then, he suddenly took a deep breath and said to the girl: “The wine smells really good and all the girls are all beautiful, but….but I already have someone I like so-hiss….”

For some reason, Bian Zhonghua pulled Qi Ci’s hand with a sudden force, crushing Qi Ci’s wrist almost to the point of leaving bruises.