It was completely dark, the surrounding trees looked thin and withered, and from time to time ‘caw’ sounds of startled crows could be heard as they flew off. Walking in this dark and sinister forest where countless demons and ghosts seemed to be lurking was for ZiLi, who had been afraid of the dark and ghosts since childhood and had not overcome this problem even when he was older, an absolutely terrifying psychology test! He held the bundle of belongings tightly in his arms, trying to calm his hairs that stood on end, his chattering teeth, and weak legs. “Calm down, calm down. I will be there soon―” ZiLi said, comforting himself as he stumbled forward.
*Snap* The sudden sound of deadwood snapping behind him was particularly present in this quiet place.
Hearing the sound, ZiLi immediately hid behind a tree next to him. With a cold sweat, he stared at the thick forest shrouded in dense coldness behind him. But despite his fear, ZiLi would in no way be stupid enough to ask such a ghost provoking question as, ‘Who is there?’ What if something really did answer, ‘It’s me!’? What would happen then? After standing nervously for a while, he found that there were no abnormal movements, and his heart that was in his mouth relaxed a little. He had barely turned around when suddenly a dark figure rushed towards him.
“Ah――” ZiLi screamed in terror and fell to the ground, his hands flailing haphazardly at the dark figure that was attacking him.
*Scratch* The thing left a scratch on the back of ZiLi’s hand, flapped its wings in satisfaction and flew away.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 39 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
ZiLi sat on the ground, panting heavily, and touched the burning and painful scratch on the back of his hand, which was wet and sticky. It was bleeding!
“That damn bird!” ZiLi cursed furiously.
*Snap* Again a snapping sound was heard that sounded like feet trampling on deadwood.
This penetrating sound immediately made ZiLi, who was full of anger, tremble with fear. When he turned his head abruptly, he saw two disheveled ghosts emerging from the dense bushes beside him.
“Ah―― Ghosts, ah――” ZiLi could not stand it any longer, so in a panic he grabbed the bundle with his belongings and made a run for it.
“Don’t chase me, ah― Save me, ah――” ZiLi, who was cutting a sorry figure, shouted in panic.
The things behind him had no intention of giving up. They were pursuing him relentlessly, their breath getting closer and closer. ZiLi was so startled that his feet slipped, and he could not help but stumble and fall to the ground. Before he could calm down, he felt two weights press against his body.
“Ah, don’t eat me―― hmmn――” One of the ghosts stretched out its smelly hand to cover ZiLi’s mouth, its head with disheveled hair moved closer to ZiLi’s ear and said in a low voice, “Stop screaming, or you will attract the guards!”
The other ghost held ZiLi’s legs, which were struggling to break free, and asked, “What should we do now?”
The ghost covering ZiLi’s mouth pondered for a while, then leaned over and said to ZiLi, “We will let you go, but you must not scream again, understood?”
ZiLi nodded with all his might and when he regained his freedom, he immediately jumped to the side and vigorously wiped his mouth with his sleeve. It f•cking stinks! So damn filthy! After taking a closer look, he realized that these two individuals were no taller than his chin.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 39 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“You two are human!”
“You don’t say! If we were not human, then what are we, ghosts? It was only you who was screaming, who looked like a ghost.” the brat, who had just held his leg, retorted furiously as he jumped up.
Hearing this, ZiLi immediately became furious. He knocked the clamoring brat down, sat on his stomach, grabbed him by the neck and cursed, “Damn you, since you’re human, why are you running through this forest in the dead of night pretending to be ghosts! I’ll strangle you to death.”
“You― What are you doing! Let go of my little brother 1 !” The other brat rushed forward and tried with all his might to pull ZiLi’s hands apart to rescue his younger brother.
*Cough, cough* “You― Do you really want to strangle me to death?”
“Oh hell, if I could, I would have cut you all down in one fell swoop!” ZiLi roared, while his anger had not dissipated yet. Just now he had become so frightened by them that it made him call out for his father and mother and almost piss his pants. It was one thing that they did not even utter a word of apology, but how could their attitude be so aggressive as well?
“ Big brother 2 , we were wrong just now. We didn’t want to scare you at all, but when we saw you suddenly running away, we were afraid we wouldn’t be able to find you again, so we had no choice but to run after you!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 39 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Bastards, I was just running, so what are you chasing me for like a ghost that is demanding my life?” ZiLi was hopping mad, it was really baffling. His braincells had been scared to death by them for no reason.
“W―we―― “
“Get lost and don’t block the way of this young master 3 . ZiLi decided not to foolishly argue with these two whose origins were unknown. After all, his time was very precious.
When they saw ZiLi leaving while swinging his arms resolutely, they panicked and quickly followed. Shortly afterwards, the three of them walked out of the forest and arrived at the official road.
“What are you two stinking brats following me for?” ZiLi could not help but exclaim in exasperation when he saw that they were still following him.
“W―we have a favor to ask!”
“I can’t even protect myself now, so what the hell is the point of begging me!”
“But, haven’t you visited ChangKun Temple? We clearly saw you coming out from inside.”
“What ‘s the deal with me visiting ChangKun Temple?”
“We heard that the Emperor has come to ChangKun Temple for the Purification Ceremony. All the people accompanying him are Civil and Military Officials. Big brother also came from the temple, which means that big brother is also an Official of the court. Since that is the case, you must have the opportunity to see the Emperor and that would mean you could help us!”
“If you want to see that perverted Emperor, just go ahead and see him. Why do you have to bother me?”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 39 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“But if no one will give referral to us, we cannot meet His Eminence, ah! We had sought out some Officials before, but we were all chased away by their servants 4 with sticks!” Although ZiLi could not see the other person’s expression, he could hear the sadness and sense of loss from his voice.
ZiLi stopped in his tracks, turned around and stared at him for a moment, then suddenly said in a minacious and deriding manner, “How could people not chase you two little beggars away?” He was taking revenge for the fright he had just received. Having said that, he left them and continued on his way. He had to get back to the capital before someone discovered that he had escaped. He could not waste any more time here!
“Oh, it’s you――” The brat who had been silent the whole time after being strangled, suddenly pointed at ZiLi and shouted loudly.
ZiLi was taken aback, and then the anger that had been subdued with great difficulty surfaced again, “Damn brat, what are you shouting for?”
“I recognize you!”
“Recognize, recognize from what?” ZiLi had become a little uneasy from his sudden outburst. What does this brat recognize me from?
“ Elder brother 5 , do you still remember that day when we were chased all over the streets 6 by that Ninth Prince, Hong Qing?”
“That, I think I remember! You almost wanted to tell him about us that day when you learned he was a Prince, but I wouldn’t let you for fear of revealing our identities on the street. I really regret it now, since an opportunity that is so hard to come by had just been wasted in vain.”
“Then, elder brother, do you also remember that there was another person with the Prince that day?”
He thought for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft cry as well, looked at ZiLi and said, “You are that Lord from that day! Great, you can definitely help us. Can you please take us to see the Emperor?”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 39 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“I wonder, why should I help you two? Get lost, get out of my way, ah! If I am caught and brought back, even if I become a ghost, I will not forgive you.”
The two brothers saw that ZiLi really had no intention of helping them. But how could they let the one person they had captured with great difficulty, and who could take them to the Emperor, go? Therefore, as if they could read each other’s mind, they simultaneously threw their arms around ZiLi’s thighs and cried, “Booohooo―― Your Highness, please help us, we will never forget your kindness and will do anything to repay you. Booohooo――”
One left and one right, both his thighs were firmly held by them. He could not walk away, nor could he shake them off. ZiLi was angry again and growing impatient but given the way those damn brats would not let him go, it looked like he would not be able to leave unless he agreed.
“Darn it, you two damn brats, this young master will agree to help you, all right!” he roared, not having a better choice, as he gritted his teeth in anger.
“Great, thank you, Your Highness! Thank you very much!” When their goal was achieved, the two brothers immediately stopped their tears, which they did not know they had shed, and smiled.
“All right, if you want to see the Emperor, you have to listen to me from now on!”
“Understood!”
“Very well, now then, follow me back to the Capital!”