ZiLi could not remember anymore, what had happened after that. The bloody scenes that lingered in his mind made ZiLi want to run far away and hide in a place where there was no one. See nothing and hear nothing!
Just recovering from shock, he walked unsteadily back to the bedroom in a daze, then closed the door tightly, and poured himself a cup of tea with trembling hands. Only when the ice-cold liquid slipped through his mouth and moistened his dry throat did his heart, which was pounding with fear, feel some relief. What a terrifying man!
Those eyes that seemed to know everything made ZiLi frightened and uneasy. Could it be― could it be that he already knew he wanted to escape and therefore deliberately showed him this torture scene to warn him? But he had not told anyone about his escape plan, so how could he know?
ZiLi anxiously and doubtfully tried to guess what Hong Xu’s intention was. He really was at a loss 1 as to what to do! Was he really going to yield to that tyrant’s warning and stay here obediently as a male pet?
No, that was out of the question He, Su ZiLi, had never been one to easily submit to anyone! How could he give up the freedom he longed for and cower in fear like a bird in a cage because of a threat, of unknown intent, that man once made?
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 33 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Thinking about it like that, ZiLi’s dazed and troubled eyes gradually became clear and determined!
“Your Highness, it is time to drink your medicine!” After this morning's torture scene, Ming Yue, Chun Lan, and the others, who still had lingering fears, did not laugh as casually as usual. They received Mo Shou outside the room in silence and then reported back to ZiLi who was inside.
After a while, the door of the room opened in front of them, and ZiLi stood in the doorway, swept a glance at them, and said, “I see, you do not have to serve me here, you may all leave!” Then he pulled Mo Shou inside and closed the door.
“How did it go? Did you get the medicine?” ZiLi asked eagerly as soon as he turned around.
“En,” Mo Shou nodded, then took out a packet of medicine powder from his sleeve, handed it to ZiLi and said, “Although Mo Shou does not know what big brother Su wants to do with it, Mo Shou wants to remind big brother Su that this medicine powder should absolutely not be mixed with water, otherwise it would not be an ordinary powder that causes itching, but rather a poison that causes things to rot when touched!”
“En, big brother Su understands! Thank you, Mo Shou! You’ve been a great help to big brother Su!” ZiLi said, patting him on the shoulder.
Mo Shou smiled shyly.
“Oh, big brother Su, please drink your medicine!”
“Fine,” ZiLi’s eyes moved to the abominable bowl of concoction and reluctantly took it.
What followed, as expected, was the inevitable old drama of retching that would repeat itself for a while. ZiLi, who had calmed down after drinking several cups of tea, looked at Mo Shou who was stroking his back and complained, “Can you explain to me why Imperial Physician Li can’t turn this concoction into a pill? Instead, he insists on making people drink this stinking abomination called medicine!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 33 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Uh, big brother Su what a coincidence that you say this, I actually discovered that Sir Li is making pills! But I don’t know if it’s for big brother Su!”
“Ugh, forget it. You, just go back quickly, or you will be scolded again for being late!”
“En, I will. Then Mo Shou will excuse himself.”
“Wait a minute, Mo Shou.”
“Eh? Big brother Su, what else can I do for you?”
“Nothing, big brother Su just wanted to take another look at you. Also, Mo Shou absolutely cannot tell other people that I am that big brother Su that you have such a close relation with. If someone asks about it, just say that you gave me medicine a few times, do you understand?”
“En, Mo Shou understands!”
“Good, you can leave now!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 33 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“I hope that your big brother Su, does not get you involved!” ZiLi murmured as he watched the door close again.
***
“Xiao Yu’er, I am really happy! I thought you would never talk to me again, but you actually took the initiative to ask me out today!” Hong Qing rested his chin on his hands and looked at ZiLi with a big smile. As soon as he gotten up this morning, someone had reported that His Highness of Bei Ling had sent someone to deliver a message. Hong Qing had run out to meet the visitor without even washing his face, and then had smugly run back to wash himself as quickly as possible. After that, he had stormed out of his residence 2 and rushed to the Imperial Palace.
Now they were having lunch in the elegant pavilion 3 of a famous restaurant in the capital, and the table was full of the restaurant’s signature culinary delicacies. But ZiLi, who had another goal, had no interest in eating anything. He just moved his chopsticks a few times, and then drunk the poured tea like a fish 4 .
“Xiao Yu’er, don’t just drink tea, you won’t be able to eat if your stomach is full of tea! Here, try this simmer-fried Lion’s Head 5 .”
ZiLi put down his cup, burped and said, “I am still thirsty! Waiter, please pour some more tea!”
“Here you are, Young Lord 6 .” The waiter immediately filled ZiLi’s cup with the finest Tieguanyin tea, then dutifully stood aside to await his next orders.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 33 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Thirsty? Then try this Sweet and Sour Pork 7 with Pickled Plum Juice, it’s delicious and will quench your thirst!” Hong Qing promptly picked up a piece of meat with Pickled Plum Juice and placed it in ZiLi’s bowl.
“Eh,” ZiLi burped with satisfaction and said, “I urgently need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me! Waiter, please show me the way.”
“Yes, this way please, Young Lord!” The waiter hurriedly walked ahead to lead the way.
ZiLi followed behind, pretended to be impatient and said, “Waiter, can you please hurry up? I can’t hold it anymore!”
“Yes, I will!”
ZiLi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, after they had quickly walked past the area where eyes could still see them and it was clear to him that no one was so perverted that those who had followed them were still watching them, as they went to the bathroom.
“Waiter.” As they walked to the corner, ZiLi quickly called the waiter in front of him.
“Young Lord, please hold on a little longer, we will be there soon!” The waiter thought, that ZiLi was urging him to go faster again, therefore he replied the same as before.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 33 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Wait, I want you to do something for me,” ZiLi took out a piece of silver and put it in his hand, “This is only half the reward, and the other half will be paid when the job is done, so how about it?”
The waiter saw that the reward ZiLi gave was equal to the value of two monthly salaries for him, so his attitude became more respectful and he said, “Young Lord, if you need any help from my humble self 8 , feel free to ask me, and I will do my best to get it done for the Young Lord!”
“Great!” ZiLi placed a folded piece of paper, which he had held in his hand the whole time, in the waiter’s palm and said, “After we leave, go buy me all the things written on this paper. Hold those things for me and reserve a room for me in your place. In three days, I will come back and if you give me the things I asked you for, I will pay you the other half of the reward! But you must absolutely not let anyone know about this!”
“Please rest assured, Young Lord. I will definitely keep it a secret.”
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Translator Notes
Sorry, a little later than usual (_ _|||)
I sometimes come across translators who are able to publish a chapter every day, which really makes me wonder how they are able to do that ヾ(_ _ヾ)
Translation Notes
六神无主 – Liù shénwú zhǔ. - All six vital organs fail to function. - Out of one's wits. 王府 – WángFǔ - Prince's mansion 雅阁 - YǎGé – This could be a name, if I encounter it in other chapters, I will change it accordingly. 牛饮 – NiúYǐn – Literally in English: Drink like a cow. – Binge drinking. 狮子头 – ShīZiTóu – Pork meatballs – It is called Lion’s Head, because the meatballs resemble a lion’s head, and the cabbage resembles the lion’s mane. – Something like this, I think:
公子 - GōngZǐ - Son of an official / Son of nobility 咕噜肉 – GūlūRòu – Something like this, I think:
小的 – XiǎoDe – ‘I’, used when talking to a superior.