Chapter 74: I Like the Regent King
“Xiaowan is so sleepy. Xiaowan is drunk. Xiaowan seems to have drunk something he shouldn’t have. Xiaowan has a very regular schedule. Therefore—Xiaowan wants to lie down for a while.”
He didn’t allow the Regent King to finish his question.
After drinking the diluted truth serum, Wei Wanlan, babbling honestly, stated his desire.
He was already very obedient, having draped his fur cloak on the roof, his cheeks flushed, and transformed into a cuddly bear.
“Fu Jun.”
“Fu Jun.”
“You must come back after delivering the wine.”
He was anxious to go downstairs and meet with Xiao Ji. Hearing him call “Husband” again and again, the Regent King’s heart softened and melted. He clutched the wine bottle and disappeared into the night.
The Regent King gave the liquor to Xiao Ji.
The two met. Xiao Ji, his face made up, his eyes darting, his toes curling.
The Regent King certainly didn’t want to see him like this. He felt his eye ailment flaring up.
The Great Wei Chief Secretary and the Great Wei Regent King were both embarrassed.
If either revealed their true identity at this moment, they would become the laughingstock of the other for the rest of their lives, let alone that they had known each other since childhood, and their families had known each other for generations. They wouldn’t be able to explain themselves even in the underworld.
Therefore, even though the conversation was short, both were concealing things, making it feel very long.
Xiao Ji: “What is this?”
Regent King: “Instant truth serum.”
“You lead all his martial artists away. I’ll get straight to the point.”
“Okay.”
“Does Su Yan know you’re taking advantage of the young emperor?”
“You have rouge smeared on your face.”
“You—”
Neither engaged with the other’s statement.
The Regent King and Xiao Ji exchanged glances. The conversation couldn’t continue.
Then Xiao Ji entered the room with the wine pot. Six martial artists were still standing outside the room. Seeing Xiao Ji return, they, who were mocking Bai Lianrong, now turned their attention to the two of them.
Their language became even more vulgar:
“Oh, the pretty boy is bringing aphrodisiac? Master Bai is no good!”
“Hahahaha…”
Coldly observing the crab, let’s see how long you can be arrogant.
Xiao She counted down in his heart for these ruffians. Although he had never seen Fu Jun make a move, based on the fact that he was Su Yan’s lackey (and Xiao Ji knew Su Yan – he wouldn’t keep useless people), Fu Jun’s dealing with these people outside was a complete waste of talent.
Sure enough, as soon as he thought this.
Crash—
A distant sound of a table overturning and dishes shattering. Then came the screams of the guests.
The sounds of fighting and the roars of the martial artists approached the private room.
Someone outside shouted:
“Master is in danger! Protect Master!”
Next to the dining table in the private room.
Bai Lianrong’s frail body trembled violently. He was very familiar with this situation. Because of Yuan Gong’s trust, the people of Luoyang hated him, and assassination attempts were frequent.
Bai Lianrong took a deep breath, sweat dripping from his forehead.
The jade bottle poured out the truth serum. Xiao Ji slowly poured it, saying:
“It’s just a few troublemakers. They won’t make waves. Why doesn’t the official send these ruffians outside to deal with them?”
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
Xiao Ji held the cup, approaching Bai Lianrong, his jade-like fingers gently lifted the cup, the liquor at the rim flowing down Bai Lianrong’s throat as he was frightened, filling the room with the sweet scent of wine.
The truth serum took effect.
Bai Lianrong’s face instantly turned the color of oxblood, his mouth and eyes wide open, showing complete unguardedness.
Xiao Ji’s smile became more elegant and charming: “You feed them for a thousand days, and use them in a single day. Shouldn’t they go out?”
“Should! Should!”
“Following me around like flies all day. Get out! Don’t bother me! Get out there and fight…”
“Get out—”
Bai Lianrong overturned the entire plate of peanuts.
The peanuts bounced on the ground, the broken porcelain flying everywhere.
Several martial artists’ faces turned green with anger. They wanted to beat Bai Lianrong.
But the fighting outside didn’t allow them to have an internal conflict first. Six martial artists called out: “Those inside, hurry up and come out! We’re about to subdue the assassin. Come and help!”
“Coming, coming…”
The six martial artists in the room each grabbed their weapons and rushed out.
The private room gradually became quiet; the battle moved outside. The sounds of fighting, seemed to fade into the distance.
Bai Lianrong let out a long sigh of relief: “Excellent.”
Thanks to Xiao Ji’s assistance, he had temporarily gotten rid of the martial artists who had been monitoring him for so long.
Bai Lianrong felt relieved, and found Xiao Ji even more attractive. The truth serum was working perfectly.
Master Bai spoke frankly:
“Xiao Xiao, you are my darling, come to bed quickly, let’s hurry up, let me pamper you~”
Xiao She didn’t even blink.
Since the eavesdroppers and watchers had all left, the Great Wei Chief Secretary got straight to the point:
“Where are Yuan Xizai’s account books?”
How skilled was the Regent King?
Using a combination of luring the enemy in and encircling them, the six martial artists who arrived later exhibited classic “葫芦娃救爷爷” (Huluwa saving Grandpa – a reference to a children’s cartoon where one brother after another tries to save their grandfather) behavior, being captured one by one by the Regent King, their sleeping points being struck, and then kicked into a corner.
Twelve strong men snored like thunder.
These thugs were important witnesses to Yuan Xizai’s crimes and couldn’t be killed for now.
The Regent King fired a signal flare.
Heaven Sword Manor disciples would soon receive the intelligence and come to arrest these witnesses and hold them at the branch temple.
The twelve snoring men held no appeal for him.
The Regent King, disdainful, used his light skills to return to the roof. A sleeping little fool was still lying there.
When the Regent King saw Wei Wanlan, he unconsciously let out a sigh of relief:
“Xiaowan.”
“Fu Jun?” Wei Wanlan mumbled sleepily.
Xiao Ji should have gathered the information by now. They had agreed on a meeting point, meeting there after the success of their mission.
The Regent King bent down and carried Wei Wanlan on his back, covering him with his cloak.
The two floated down from the roof of Mianhua Lou, their movements like butterflies flitting among flowers.
The little fool was half-asleep, the effects of the truth serum hadn’t completely worn off. So he was Wei Wanlan, yet somehow not. He had no defenses, being completely honest, exactly as the Regent King desired:
“Fu Jun, your light skills are amazing. I’m flying! I love flying.”
“Mm.”
“Fu Jun, did you win?”
“Mm.”
“Then we succeeded?”
“Ask your subordinate. You’ll meet him later.”
“Great.” Wei Wanlan smiled, “But the scholar isn’t exactly a subordinate, he’s a good friend.”
“Hmph.”
The little fool hugged the Regent King’s neck, his legs wrapped around the Regent King’s waist, like an octopus. The Regent King smiled secretly.
Luoyang also had its red-light district.
They were currently in this red-light district.
The Regent King carried Wei Wanlan through the streets.
Everywhere, red curtains and lanterns, lanterns swaying in the wind, crowds of people under the lights.
It was a bustling scene.
But carrying Wei Wanlan made the Regent King feel an immeasurable sense of peace and joy.
However, the soundproofing in the brothels in the red-light district was poor.
Whispers of intimacy, soft moans, and occasional lewd phrases during intercourse could be heard.
The surface serenity was broken.
Xiaowan’s dangerous question:
“Fu Jun, Mianhua Lou also had noises like that tonight. Were they doing things that can make babies?”
The Regent King’s back stiffened.
He was stunned by the little fool’s question.
The little fool, not getting an answer, persisted, his thoughts unreserved due to the effects of the truth serum. Wei Wanlan spoke whatever came to mind:
“This is the first time I’ve heard people talk about making babies!”
“How exactly do you make babies?”
“So embarrassing! But I want to go in and see, I’m so curious!”
“Do the women here carry their babies for ten months?”
“Can men give birth to babies?”
“How many at a time?”
Stop talking…
The Regent King’s mind was racing.
Usually, he was the one teasing the little fool, making him flustered, his face blushing, and it wasn’t enough.
But this time, he was being asked so frankly, the Regent King dared not answer his nonsensical questions, and had to suppress his thoughts, explaining seriously, and giving good moral guidance:
“Those in the building were two men. They can do it, but they can’t get pregnant.”
“And you can’t come to this kind of place casually, seeking pleasure from intercourse. Before doing that, you need to be sure you like the person.”
“Oh.”
The little fool nodded softly in the evening breeze. Two strands of soft hair fell onto his forehead, tickling the Regent King’s neck.
The Regent King shook his head slightly.
Who knows how much the little drunkard understood?
The tipsy Wei Wanlan suddenly said, “Fu Jun, I said earlier, you’re like someone I know.”
The Regent King knew it was him.
The effects of the truth serum hadn’t completely worn off.
The Regent King held his breath, unwilling to miss this opportunity:
“What do you think of that person?”
“I like the Regent King—”
Su Jingzhi was stunned!
Who would have thought such a direct confession would make his blood boil, his pores explode, and his heart almost stop.
But before his emotions could settle.
Wei Wanlan took a deep breath, continuing in his drunken stupor: “…his scent.”
The Regent King froze.
He found that the direct ball had become a curveball, brushing past him.
Wei Wanlan murmured:
“I’ll tell you a secret, he’s like you, he smells so good, I feel sleepy when I smell him. So I’m afraid he’ll find out, get angry, so I secretly bury it.”
“And I’ll tell you another secret, I don’t mind him patting my back, his hands are so big, they can cover a large part of my back, so I feel very comfortable, but he can go crazy, get headaches, suddenly become fierce.”
“Fire-breathing dragon, Dragon, roar~”
“I have a little secret I never mention…”
Wei Wanlan hummed and muttered behind the Regent King’s back.
Then he started singing, changing the lyrics.
The Regent King repeatedly pondered these words.
He felt that Wei Wanlan was different from the original young emperor, and yet he didn’t seem to belong here.
But these doubts were overshadowed by relief. He felt full, his chest warm and itchy. He suddenly realized why the little fool felt so at ease sleeping in his arms.
“Fu Jun, I told you my secrets, so… do you have any secrets?”
But at that moment, the Regent King felt a wave of dizziness.
He closed his eyes, then opened them, the fighting had excited his blood, accelerating the poison. There were five or six persistent black spots in his vision.
Previously, he had been using acupuncture on his Yuyao points to slow the development of blindness. But it hadn’t been eradicated.
If the poison was triggered, he would still occasionally become blind. And this would gradually worsen, until he completely lost his sight.
The little fool was gently shaking his neck. Cool, slender fingers lightly covered his eyes:
“Tell me your secret.”
This King has many secrets, of course.
I’m not the Heaven Sword Manor Lord, nor a carriage driver; I am Su Jingzhi. I love you, but I cannot always be with you.
Wei Wanlan hummed a little tune expectantly.
The Regent King adjusted the little fool on his back, making him more secure, and told a different secret:
“My father used to hide his savings at the bottom of the wintersweet pot. He would take it out every two years and buy my mother a gold hairpin.”
“The gold hairpin is shaped like a yellow wintersweet branch.”
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