Ch94 - Turn back

With Qingping Sword in hand, Xie Zhiwei rushed back to the capital. But after hopping off the sword, he didn’t know what to do. The entire royal residence was under patrol. When he circled around the courtyard walls, he could still see several shadow guards shuttling in the sky, making the place airtight.

It seemed that his escape from the manor last time had already startled the snake in the grass. The King of Nine Provinces pursued them at the same time he prevented the daoist sect from counterattacking. A petty man's heart speculates a gentleman's intentions. Even if he turned back, it didn’t mean he was here to hurt anyone. Xie Zhiwei rolled his eyes and ducked behind the shadow of a wall, his crow-gray robes blending into the night. The King of Nine Provinces was a man concerned with appearances, so his manor was built in the most prosperous part of the capital city. However, he wanted to show off a different kind of nobility, so he had a man-made river flowing through the center of the residence. At this time, the street lamps were just starting to be lit beneath the shimmering stars, looking rather lively. They illuminated the king’s manor and made the river water hazy, resembling a fairyland.

Everything matched the description in the novel. Xie Zhiwei had been fascinated by the king’s manor because of this, but now he was in no mood to appreciate the sights. There had to be a way to sneak in. But thanks to the increased guards, even the perimeter was precisely watched, to say nothing of the Shizi’s compound. He studied the sky over the center of the residence but couldn’t see anything past the layers of buildings. It felt like a cat was scratching at his heart—although he’d vowed to give the hero the cold shoulder, his actions were now a slap in the face.

That youngster spat out two mouthfuls of blood early last night. He’s also weak to illusions, so his mental strength must be really poor right now. Mu He had left in a sorry state. Could his glass heart take it if the King of Nine Provinces decided to scold him on top of that?

Even if I’m going to give him the cold shoulder, I should wait until he’s a bit better.

The sound of a carriage drew closer and with it a sizable crowd. Xie Zhiwei held his breath to listen closely. The hoofbeats were chaotic, interspersed with a noisy young girl’s voice.

“Father, am I dressed pretty today?”

The other replied, “My precious daughter looks beautiful in anything.”

“So shallow. Mu He gege says a bunch of nice things when he praises me.”

“Yes, yes, yes, your Mu He gege is the best. Let him compliment you thoroughly when he sees you.”

“Hmph.”

Xie Zhiwei recognized the voice and bolstered his spirits. Here’s my chance!

Very soon, a row of carriages appeared on the bridge. The guard saw them and shouted at the gates, “King Yin has arrived, report it quickly.”

Soon enough, the alerts reached the center of the king’s manor. A guard pressed a switch and the bridge was illuminated with lights. The most luxurious carriage in front lifted its curtains as a jade-like blossom of a girl looked outside, her face half-illuminated by light. She was currently pursing her lips unhappily.

“Even father admits that Mu He gege is better than you, so why not learn from him?”

“Alright, father will definitely ask him for lessons. Don’t be angry.” The speaker was Yin Wushuang’s father and one of Mu He’s original father-in-laws: Yin Cangshan (尹苍山), the highest ranked king with a different surname  in the imperial court today. He had a deep friendship with the King of Nine Provinces from the start, so the two households had many exchanges. In the original novel, he also helped Mu He dominate the world.

Xie Zhiwei silently shook his head. He’s supposed to be a man skilled in civil and military matters, but why did his daughter end up so unreasonable and vexing? If Yin Wushuang wasn’t Yin Cangshan’s daughter, people would hate her to death. Her father yielded to her in everything. If this was still the original novel, the hero would’ve smoothed out her personality by now.

Looks like no one can quell that sister in the future. She’ll be capricious for the rest of her life.

Inside the carriage, Yin Cangshan couldn’t stop coaxing. “Still unhappy? You haven’t been here for days. Is this how you’re going to see your Mu He gege?”

Yin Wushuang turned away as her expression worsened. “Mu He gege wouldn’t dislike me!”

The gates to the king’s manor slowly opened, but the guards blocked off the carriage. “King Yin, apologies for the offense, but please allow me to check the carriage.”

Yin Wushuang was already angry, so she lifted the curtains to rebuke him. “Usually we just go in directly. What’s wrong with you?”

The guards bowed and said, “Forgive us, commandery princess. My king has personally ordered that everyone must be searched without exception before entering the estate.”

Yin Wushuang glared at him and raised her voice. “No one has dared to stop this commandery princess’s carriage. Turn around, let’s just go home!”

“Wushuang, don’t be stubborn.” Yin Cangshan soothed and turned to the guard. “Since this is the king’s wish, then have a look. The king’s manor is in a downtown area, so it’s good to keep a tight watch.”

Yin Wushuang was unhappy. “Father! You’re too easy to bully!”

Yin Cangshan just laughed. “Father wants you to see Mu He gege sooner too.”

“When I see Mu He gege, I’ll definitely make him punish these people, hmph!” Yin Wushuang sulkily sat down and continued to pout.

The guards exchanged blank looks. Although it was easy to speak with King Yin, he was good friends with the King of Nine Provinces so they couldn’t go overboard. They just checked inside the carriage briefly before letting them pass. The carriage rolled through the heavily shadowed gates, which closed behind them. Xie Zhiwei was clinging to the bottom, his heart finally settling in his chest. It took a lot of effort, but he finally found a pass in purely by coincidence. Now he didn’t even have to worry about finding the way inside.

The carriage went along an avenue bordered by beautiful greenery for the length it took to drink half a cup of tea before Yin Cangshan called for a stop. He said to Yin Wushuang, “Daughter, will you accompany father to meet with the king?”

Yin Wushuang looked slightly better now and simply replied awkwardly, “Father, you can go by yourself. I want to find Mu He gege.”

This matched Xie Zhiwei’s intentions exactly.

But he still had to scoff at the girl. She wasn’t stubborn; she simply had no upbringing at all. According to the original novel, the King of Nine Provinces was supposed to be her future father-in-law. Was it really okay to treat him so rudely?

Good thing the hero bent. Otherwise, the King of Nine Provinces will die from anger with a daughter-in-law like that.

…pah, what do I mean, “good thing the hero bent.”

If there was any chance to salvage the situation, he’d rather have a dozen daughter-in-laws like Yin Wushuang than see the protagonist bent, ah. He’d carry the pot for any consequences that’d follow.

At last the carriage stopped at a courtyard, but it wasn’t Mu He’s residence. Yin Wushuang got down and wondered at the guard leading the way, “What’s Mu He gege doing in a tiny place like this?”

The guard shook his head. “This subordinate doesn’t know.”

Yin Wushuang pursed her lips before staring at a flower garden far behind with excitement. “Although I’m not familiar with this place, the hibiscus flowers in the back are very pretty. You, help me pick some big ones.”

Indeed, this was the most unseeming courtyard in the king’s manor, but Xie Zhiwei was very familiar with it. He was living here before and Yin Wushuang was headed straight for his quarters. Inside the building, weak candle light fluttered quietly.

Xie Zhiwei’s heart clenched.

Directly afterwards, he heard a voice speak from inside, “Hurry and invite the commandery princess inside.”

That was Mu He’s voice, all right. But his breath was like wandering silk, dry and raspy as if he was dying. Xie Zhiwei was frightened. He’s so sick, but he still has the stamina to meet girls?

Yin Wushuang was surprised as well. She quickly rushed to the door and cried, “Mu He gege, are you feeling unwell?”

As the guard had gone to pick flowers, Xie Zhiwei took the chance to slip onto the corridor and hide behind a pillar on the edge when the maids opened the doors to the room. He desperately wanted to see the situation inside, but he was too far away to make out anything but blurry silhouettes. Mu He seemed to be lying on the bed and rose slightly.

“I am a little unwell, but it’s fine. Come in.”

“All right!” Yin Wushuang entered happily. The doors pinged shut behind her and the maids exchanged knowing looks before withdrawing from the scene.

Xie Zhiwei was here to save the hero. His goal was clearcut: finish the rescue and go away, don’t linger.

But now he was so angry he could laugh.

What is all this?

He’d been worried about the protagonist’s injuries and ran back and forth like a dog, even hiding beneath a carriage to sneak in and treat him. Instead, this youngster was acting like nothing was the matter and chatting up a girl behind closed doors. Technically it was no big deal. Meeting more girls was good for him and exactly what Xie Zhiwei wanted. But you should take care of your body too ah, youngster.

Mu He had claimed he was “fine” to her, but refused to show his face to him. What was that supposed to mean?

Xie Zhiwei took a deep breath and stared at the tightly shut doors. There seemed to be low conversation coming from inside, as well as a girl’s charming laugh.

…if I go back to the daoist sect now, I should still make it in time to eat Cheese’s midnight snacks, right?

He turned and prepared to take off on Qingping Sword when Yin Wushuang cried out in alarm from inside.

“Mu He gege, what’s wrong?!”

—

Translator’s Note: In the end, Teacher Xie’s still softhearted, huh…

The Chinese commenters: