CH 49
Thousand Miles of Heaven
Ch 49 âIs crown prince brother really drunk?â
Afternoon, the crown prince carriage went out of the palace in a low-profile manner. Out of the city, they first traveled north for a while, and then turned to the south side of the city.
It was said that they were low-key, but they brought more than 20 guards, as well as a group of servants.
Early in the morning, Xie Chaoling had been working with Emperor Qianmingâs gang to deal with political affairs, and later had lunch with his Royal Father, in which he mentioned that he was going out of the palace. Burn incense inside, for peace of mind. The reason he gave was that he had come back from the dead, and wanted to go to the imperial temple on the outskirts of the city to burn incense and seek peace of mind.
The emperor didnât get suspicious, he just told him to bring more people and be more careful outside, so he let him out.
Xie Fengzhen was also there at the time, and when Xie Chaoling talked about this with his Royal Father, he glanced at him and did not expose him.
Later, when they came out together, seeing that Xie Chaoling was still calm, but could not suppress the joy in his brows, Xie Fengzhen stopped him and asked him, âCrown Prince, are you going to see King Ke?â
The smile on the corner of Xie Chaolingâs mouth froze for a moment, and then he said: âRoyal Uncle is worrying too much, of course not.â
He just wanted to save someone, Xie Chaoling thought.
After leaving the city, the road became more and more uneven as he travelled south. Xie Chaoling sat in the carriage with his eyes closed and rested, no longer thinking about those complicated things, and his mind gradually calmed down. When the carriage stopped, Liao Zhi reminded him in a low voice outside: âYour Highness, we are here.â
The carriage door opened, Xie Chaoling was helped down, and it was the steward of the village who came out to greet him, but Xie Chaoyuan was not seen.
Liao Zhi raised his eyebrows and asked, âWhere is His Royal Highness King Ke? Why didnât he come out to meet him in person?â
The steward who was kneeling on the ground trembled and said, âHis Highness said that Your Highness the Crown Prince came here incognito, so there is no need to engage in such a big battle, so he will not come out to meet you, and told these subordinates to welcome His Royal Highness to enter.â
Liao Zhi was very dissatisfied when he heard the words, and he wanted to say more, but was stopped by Xie Chaoling. He told the person on the ground: âGet up and lead the way.â
The steward led all the servants in the villa to get up, and led Xie Chaoling into the yard that he had lived in for two months.
Xie Chaolingâs people were stopped outside the gate of the courtyard, a group of guards drew their swords immediately, and Xie Chaoyuanâs people also drew their swords out of their sheaths. The two confronted each other, refusing to give in to each other. Xie Chaoling frowned, and the steward lowered his head while trembling and insisted: âYour Highness, please go in alone.â
After a moment of silence, Xie Chaoling ordered: âYou wait here.â
Liao Zhi said worriedly: âYour Highness, at least let this slave go in with you.â
âItâs nothing, you can wait here too.â
Xie Chaoling stepped into the door, and the courtyard door closed behind him.
He paused a bit, looked up, the flowers that had been planted in the courtyard were already in full bloom, and Xie Chaoyuan was standing alone in the porch, staring at something intently, as if admiring the flowers but not at all.
It was evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun enveloped his figure, outlining the sharpness of his profile. Xie Chaoling looked at him for a while, and inexplicably thought that this kid really didnât look like a young man who was not yet seventeen.
Itâs really not pleasant at all.
Xie Chaoling didnât approach until the manâs eyes turned to him.
âWhy didnât crown prince brother come over?â Xie Chaoyuan spoke first.
Seeing that Xie Chaoling was still standing still, Xie Chaoyuan pulled the corner of his mouth: âYou donât dare to come over? Why? Did I scare the crown prince with the gift I sent to the East Palace?â
âSixth brotherâs nonsense should also have a limit,â Xie Chaoling finally stepped forward and taught the other in a stern elder brotherâs way of teaching, âOnce or twice, I just treated it as you being young and ignorant. If you continue to be so crazyâ¦â
âSo?â Xie Chaoyuan said, cutting off his words.
âLet him go,â Xie Chaoling said, âHe didnât provoke you, why are you so aggressive?â
âWhy does the prince think he didnât provoke me?â
Xie Chaoyuan disagreed, âHe provoked me more than once or twice, I wanted to teach him a lesson, if crown prince hadnât protected him, why wait until today.â
Xie Chaoling suppressed his impatience and said: âEven if he did something to make you unhappy, what you did is too much. He is from the Li family. For the sake of myself, let him go. â
âFor the sake of the Crown Prince Brother,â Xie Chaoyuan repeated this sentence, as if he had heard something very funny, he was smiling, but the smile couldnât reach his eyes, âThatâs not what the Crown Prince Brother said the day before yesterday. Didnât you thank me for helping you teach him a lesson? Did I teach him too much ?â
âYou went overboard,â Xie Chaoling frowned, âWhat on earth do you want?â
Xie Chaoyuan looked at him and sneered, âArenât you tired, Crown Prince Brother? There isnât even a servant here, how long are you going to pretend like this with me?â
âI donât understand what youâre talking about,â Xie Chaoling remained unmoved, âIf you let him go, I will persuade him not to report you in front of the emperor, otherwise this matter will be ruined. I wonât be kind anymore.â
Xie Chaoyuan sneered, and suddenly asked him: âCrown Prince Brother leaving the palace at this time, what excuse did you tell His Majesty? After all, you will never honestly say you came hereâ¦.â
Xie Chaoling didnât say a word.
Xie Chaoyuan smiled, and the sarcasm in his words became even more serious: âKing Xun has just been gossiping in front of His Majesty, slandering the relationship between the Crown Prince Brother and this king, and ruining the reputation of the Crown Prince Brother; His Majestyâs doubts must not have been resolved. â
âI donât need Sixth Brother to worry about this.â Xie Chaoling said.
âSo Crown Prince Brother came here specifically to find me to ask for someone?â
Xie Chaoling said coldly, âYes, itâs been three days, and youâve done enough, let him go.â
But Xie Chaoyuan didnât answer: âCrown Prince Brother came at this hour, it would be too late to rush back to the palace. Could it be that Crown Prince Brother was prepared not to return to the palace, and specially chose this time to come?â
Xie Chaoling said calmly: âThis is my business, there is no need to explain it to sixth brother. After sixth brother has let him go, I will not stay here to chatter with sixth brother.â
Xie Chaoyuan seemed not to have heard what he said: âSince crown prince brother is here, how can you leave without even drinking a cup of tea, otherwise you will spread the word to tell people that I donât understand the way of hospitality. This is perfect as I just told the servants to serve dinner, please join Crown Prince Brother.â
Xie Chaoling didnât move. Xie Chaoyuan looked at him: âIs Crown Prince Brother unwilling to give me this face?â
Xie Chaoling understood what he meant from his eyes.
If he doesnât sit down to eat this meal today, Xie Chaoyuan wonât let him take him away.
Xie Chaoyuan not only had the meal prepared, but also wine.
The wine was good, but very strong, Xie Chaoling glanced at it, smelled the strong aroma of the wine, and did not stop Xie Chaoyuan when he poured the wine for himself.
Xie Chaoyuan picked up the wine glass: âThat day I suddenly saw Crown Prince Brother appearing at royal fatherâs place, which really surprised me. Then I heard Crown Prince Brother talk about the dangerous experience outside the past few months, I was so worried about Crown Prince Brother, I forgot to congratulate crown prince brother. Now that Crown Prince Brother is finally back safe and sound, after this experience, I think there will be good luck in surviving a catastrophe.â
The words that this little beast said were like words mocking themselves. Xie Chaoling was very upset when he heard this, but he still had a smile on his face: âThen I will take Sixth brotherâs good words.â
But he didnât raise his glass, and Liao Zhi stepped forward behind him, holding a silver needle in his hand. The food and wine were checked in the same way.
Xie Chaoyuan looked at his movements coldly. Just now he said that they would have dinner, so Xie Chaolingâs people were let in. This eunuch, the chief eunuch of the East Palace, had always been honest and never concealed things with him, and today it was even worse. Two young eunuchs tasted it, and brought a cat to try it, when they couldnât find any faults, they reluctantly returned them.
Xie Chaoyuan smiled contemptuously: âCrown Prince Brother is so cautious, do you know that there are some things that cannot be tested with silver needles?â
Xie Chaoling did not think, and sent the wine into his mouth.
A Gu canât be tested with ordinary silver needles, but his needle was given by the wandering sorcerer, who can test Gu insects; he had to guard against this little beast giving him those messy Guâs again.
Xie Chaoyuan gave food to him, and all the dishes on the table were cooked according to Xie Chaolingâs preferences by the cooks specially recruited by Xie Chaoyuan, which he couldnât even eat in the East Palace.
âCrown Prince Brother, how do you think the food and drinks are compared to those in the East Palace?â
Xie Chaoling ate slowly, and answered him casually: âSixth brother enjoys himself well, the food is better than the ones in East Palace, which makes people envious.â
âIs that so?â Xie Chaoyuan said slowly, âBut some people just donât like it. Thatâs right, King Keâs mansion is small in size, how can it compare to the East Palace, where everyone flocks to it.â
âSince sixth brother knows that human nature is like this, why bother to talk too much.â Xie Chaoling said.
âCrown Prince Brother is always right.â
Xie Chaoyuan finished in a low voice, and continued to pour wine for him. Xie Chaoling didnât answer, and drank the wine as it was delivered, not restraining himself.
At the end of the Xu Shi, the food and drink stopped completely. Xie Chaoling supported his flush face with one hand, as if he was drunk, and he looked at Xie Chaoyuan: âItâs time for me to go back. Sixth brother, let the person go.â
Xie Chaoyuan asked him with a smile that was not a smile: âAt this time, not to mention the palace gates, even the city gates are closed. There are no people within ten miles of this villa, where does Crown Prince Brother plan to go?â
Xie Chaoling didnât care, âThis is not sixth brotherâs concern.â
Liao Zhi stepped forward to help the person, but Xie Chaoyuan took the first step to support Xie Chaoling.
Xie Chaoling might indeed be drunk, he subconsciously leaned towards Xie Chaoyuanâs side, and stuck to his arm. Xie Chaoyuan took him into his arms and motioned to Liao Zhi: âThe crown prince is drunk, so he will stay with me tonight. Liao Gonggong has worked hard today, so take the people outside to rest. The king will ask someone to arrange a place for you.â
Liao Zhi refused: âHis Highness is drunk, and this servant must stay to serve His Highness.â
There was a fleeting coldness in Xie Chaoyuanâs eyes: âDoes Liao Gonggong know how to serve His Royal Highness who is drunk?â
Liao Zhi choked for a moment.
Xie Chaoling had never been drunk before, and he really didnât know why their Royal Highness was drunk, obviously he didnât drink much.
âI canât leave, Your Highnessâ¦â
âLiao Gonggong is tired, Iâm afraid you wonât be able to serve His Highness the Crown Prince at night, so Iâd better invite Liao Gonggong to go down and rest.â Xie Chaoyuan ordered in a deep voice.
Wang Rang immediately brought someone up, almost dragging Liao Zhi down.
âWhat does His Highness King Ke mean by this? What do you want to do to His Highness?!â
Liao Zhi cast an anxious eye. Xie Chaoyuan ignored him, and lowered his head to ask Xie Chaoling who was leaning in his arms: âDo you want me to serve you at night, or do you want this castrate?â
Xie Chaolingâs eyes were not clear, as if he was confused, he nodded his head randomly, and replied: âYou.â
Liao Zhi: ââ¦â
Chasing away the person in the way, Xie Chaoyuan bent down and picked up Xie Chaoling, and went to the back room.
Throwing him on the bed, Xie Chaoyuan threw himself on him, and as before, tied Xie Chaolingâs wrist with silk cloth, tying him to the bedside post.
Xie Chaoling frowned, and muttered in a daze, âSixth brother, what are you doing?â
Xie Chaoyuan pinched his chin, stared at his eyes, and said hoarsely, âIs crown prince brother really drunk?â
Xie Chaolingâs eyelashes moved slowly, met Xie Chaoyuanâs gaze, and gave a soft âmmâ.
âThe other day before yesterday, crown prince brother passed by my side, and the Buddhist beads in his hand were scattered. Did crown prince brother do it on purpose?â
âWhat does crown prince brother want to do? Are you deliberately seducing me?â
âDoes crown prince brother believe in Buddhism? Did you know that it is disrespectful to the Bodhisattva?â
The more Xie Chaoyuan talked, the more Xie Chaoling shook his head indiscriminately, still in the same drunken and bewildered state: ââ¦I donât know what you are talking about, let go of myself.â
Xie Chaoyuan lowered his body, breathing hot air straight into Xie Chaolingâs ear: âIt doesnât matter if you donât admit it, you delivered yourself, donât even think about running away tonight.â