Chapter 30: I’m Going to Rip Your Mouth Apart!
Huangfu Chang’an had met both the First Prince and the Fourth Prince. One was steady and grave, the other frivolous and arrogant. As the saying goes, the dragon has nine sons, each unique; Huangfu Chang’an couldn’t deduce the Second Prince’s character from the other two. Moreover, people in the palace rarely mentioned the Second Prince, making him a rather low-key existence.
Huangfu Chang’an originally had no interest in him, but since Bai Su mentioned just now that she used to be afraid of him, she couldn’t help but feel curious.
They say he’s serious? Could he be more serious than the Godfather, that eternal iceberg?
They say he’s fierce? Could he be fiercer than Youying, who could make children cry just by widening his eyes slightly?
Following behind the little eunuch, Huangfu Chang’an swayed her way to the garden entrance and peeked inside. In the garden full of pear trees stood a pavilion with cornices and upturned eaves. Two people sat facing each other inside, fully absorbed in a game of chess.
One had a white beard and a red hairpin, with white hair yet a youthful complexion. He looked like a transcendent being with the bones of a Daoist and the air of an immortal. This must undoubtedly be the rumored and somewhat renowned old Daoist priest, Chen Yueshi.
The young man sitting opposite the old Daoist appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen. He wore a simple pale green robe without any embellishments or gaudiness. It was clean and clear, flowing down from his shoulders like the distant blue-green mountains or drifting smoke. Yet, amidst that haziness, it outlined his handsome figure in a way that tugged at one’s heartstrings.
His long hair, black as ink and mist, resembled the finest silk. It flowed softly and lustrously, with a strand hanging before his chest, obscuring his face and making it impossible to see his features or expression clearly.
A gentle breeze brushed past, blowing down dozens of pure white pear blossom petals. They swirled and danced in mid-air; two or three landed on his raven hair, another two or three on his shoulder. A few more petals lingered affectionately around his long, well-defined fingers as he held a black piece and placed it onto the chessboard made of jasper.
Holy. Shit. He. Is. Stunned. Beautiful. Okay?!
Where the hell is he fierce?! Where is he serious?!
Her Second Imperial Brother is clearly a peerless beauty, unparalleled in the world! Good heavens, she’s been transmigrated for so long and only seeing him now? It’s a huge loss, a loss so great her little heart aches!
Seeing Huangfu Chang’an with her mouth slightly agape, wearing a look of shocked infatuation, Bai Su couldn’t help but cover her face and turn her head away… She knew this guy would go boy-crazy again. Damn it, she doesn’t know this person!
The little eunuch ran forward, bowing before Huangfu Yanzhen to report, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince has arrived.”
Huangfu Yanzhen acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He slowly and leisurely picked up the white pieces on the board whose life he had cut off—one, two, three… He gathered them in his palm, then slowly dropped them into the chess jar.
Having served his master for a long time, the little eunuch knew his habits well. He waited until the hand was withdrawn before speaking again to remind him, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince…”
This time, without waiting for him to finish, Huangfu Yanzhen interrupted him coldly and indifferently. He turned his face sideways to glance at the entrance of the garden, articulating every word clearly enough to pierce the ears.
“Where is the Crown Prince? I only see a ball.”
Holy shit! Damn it! Bastard! Bitch! I’m going to kill you!
After hearing exactly what he said, Huangfu Chang’an’s face changed instantly. Fury attacked her heart; she rolled up her sleeves, ready to rush over, her teeth itching with hatred.
Seeing the situation turn bad, Bai Su quickly held her back. Good heavens, she hadn’t seen this kind of scene either. The Second Prince’s mouth was simply too toxic; one sentence carried the destructive power of an entire regiment!
Huangfu Chang’an couldn’t bear it anymore, roaring on the verge of going berserk—
“Damn it, don’t stop me! I’m going to rip his mouth apart!”
Huangfu Yanzhen still acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. He didn’t even turn his face to look directly at Huangfu Chang’an. He merely gathered his sleeves, stood up, and bowed with clasped hands to the old Daoist priest. “Since there is a visitor, I will take my leave first. We shall continue this game another day.”
The old Daoist stroked his white beard that reached his chest and laughed heartily twice.
“Please suit yourself, Second Highness.”
Watching Huangfu Yanzhen turn and leave with grace like the floating clouds, his pale green silhouette gradually disappearing beneath the drifting, snow-like pear blossoms, Huangfu Chang’an stomped her feet in rage. “Bastard, don’t leave if you have the guts! Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you ran away now! The monk can run, but the temple can’t; I will definitely settle the score with you when we return to the palace! Damn it! I’m furious! I will definitely rip your mouth apart! I will! I swear!”
Seeing some Daoist priests in the courtyard running over to watch the commotion upon hearing the noise, Bai Su covered her face and reminded her with some despair, “Your Highness, stop shouting. He’s already far away… Shouting like this will only make you a laughingstock for nothing.”
“Hmph! Let them laugh! Am I afraid of people laughing?! Bastard! My lungs are going to explode from anger!”
The old Daoist priest watched cheerfully as Huangfu Chang’an stood at the garden entrance with hands on her hips, sulking. Although he had long heard her name like thunder in his ears, this was the first time he had seen her true face. She was indeed quite fat, but her temperament was not as tyrannical and unreasonable as the rumors suggested; instead, she was straightforward in a way that was somewhat cute.
Once Huangfu Chang’an’s anger had subsided, the old Daoist raised his sleeve and instructed his disciple, “Go and brew a pot of tea for His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Master.”
Huangfu Chang’an pouted, still feeling very unpleasant. But after all, this was someone else’s Daoist temple, and the person who offended her had patted his butt and left cleanly. She felt embarrassed to continue making a scene, so she had to walk over, sit at the stone table in the pavilion, and apologize to the old Daoist.
“This Palace was somewhat rude just now, making a joke of myself before the Daoist priest. I hope the Daoist priest will be magnanimous.”
The old Daoist had kind brows and benevolent eyes; he didn’t mind.
“It does not matter. His Highness the Crown Prince need not take it to heart.”
“Mmm…”
Huangfu Chang’an responded sullenly, inwardly cursing Huangfu Yanzhen from head to toe ten thousand times. What use is being beautiful? His mouth is cheap enough to kill!
Looking Huangfu Chang’an up and down, seeing her exhausted demeanor and rather disheveled appearance—with some fine dust sticking to her cheeks and a small piece of withered leaf caught in her hair—the old Daoist roughly guessed what had happened and couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised. “Did His Highness the Crown Prince climb up from the foot of the mountain along the mountain path to reach this Bai’an Mountain peak?”
It was fine not mentioning it, but once mentioned, Huangfu Chang’an felt a wave of bitterness.
“Otherwise? Is there another road to take? Speaking of which, you built this Daoist temple too high. This Palace doesn’t know lightness skills and almost collapsed from exhaustion. If it weren’t for an urgent matter, this Palace wouldn’t climb it a second time even if beaten to death.”
Hearing her say this, the little Daoist priest beside them couldn’t help but cover his mouth and chuckle twice. He felt that although this Crown Prince wasn’t good-looking, he was informal and put on no airs, not as unbearable as the rumors described. Moreover, he actually climbed up from the foot of the mountain… With that body shape, it was truly admirable.
“Eh? Does His Highness the Crown Prince not know that on the north side of Bai’an Mountain, there is a cableway that goes directly up the mountain?”
“What?!” Huangfu Chang’an shot up, almost knocking over the tea the little Daoist had just poured for her. She was so agitated she wanted to hack someone. “Bai Su! Didn’t you say there was only that one road up the mountain?!”
Bai Su instantly panicked, feeling a distinct melancholy. “This subordinate is ignorant and ill-informed… Please punish me, Your Highness!”
Huangfu Chang’an sneered coldly, insisting firmly, “You did it on purpose!”
Bai Su was about to cry. “This subordinate dares not…”
“Crown Prince, please quell your anger,” as the instigator, the old Daoist remained calm and composed, helping to explain the misunderstanding. “That cableway was only completed recently. It is reasonable that this young lady did not receive the news.”
Huangfu Chang’an was still very angry.
“If not for your slackness in work, this Palace would certainly not have had to suffer such hardship and fatigue. Doing something wrong requires accepting punishment, don’t you think?”
Bai Su was speechless. “Your Highness is right to lecture. This subordinate is willing to be punished.”
Huangfu Chang’an waved her hand. “Then go hang on that tree. You are not allowed to come down without this Palace’s permission.”
Bai Su was puzzled. “How… to hang?”
“Upside down, of course. Can’t you do it like a bat? Do you need this Palace to demonstrate it for you?”
Bai Su gritted her silver teeth. “This subordinate obeys!”
Damn it, making her hang upside down on a tree branch was worse than directly giving her twenty strokes of the plank! What exactly is inside His Highness the Crown Prince’s brain? How can it be so twisted and terrifying?!
Having punished Bai Su, Huangfu Chang’an’s stifled mood was slightly alleviated. Only then did she turn seriously to the old Daoist. “Daoist priest, may I have a word in private?”
The old Daoist nodded, stood up, and pointed to the side. “Crown Prince, this way please.”
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