Chapter 18: Gentleman on a Roof Beam – Part 2
Translated by: Ritpoppy
Edited: Also by Ritpoppy
After a while, Huai Yu wore a cold face as he applied medicine for Ming ChangYan.
"Huai Yu ge-ge, I was wrong." Zhao XiaoLan sat upright and proper on the floor, not waiting for Huai Yu to cause trouble for him, he gained the initiative by deciding to strike first, hastily apologizing, "I'm truly wrong, I shouldn't have come to the Ninety-Ninth Temple late at night, and I shouldn't have been able to withstand Ming ShaoXia's charms. Yan jie-jie promised me, as long as I bring her to the academy, she'll give me Ming ShaoXia's own handwritten works!"
"Ow ow ow!!" Ming ChangYan suddenly trembled, "What are you suddenly putting force on it for."
Huai Yu, "Shut up."
Zhao XiaoLan said, "Huai Yu ge-ge, I'm so sorry!"
Huai Yu gave him a quick glance, Zhao XiaoLan shivered, touching his nose and said, "Yan jie-jie wanted to go the academy, I couldn't bring her there myself, so I could only come up with this plan."
Huai Yu said, "What are you going to the academy for."
Zhao XiaoLan had always been a little afraid of him, so he immediately began to narrate in specific detail without exception, "Yan jie-jie said she wants to go see a man."
"Ouch! What are you pinching me again for!" Ming ChangYan suddenly withdrew his feet, "Okay, okay, okay, okay already, I'll do it myself, if it wasn't broken before it's going to be broken by your kneading."
Huai Yu suddenly used his hand strength, Ming ChangYan's leg was grabbed and pulled over to him, the latter let out a quick burst of swear words, fumming, "My legs going to break!"
Zhao XiaoLan secretly glanced at Huai Yu, then glanced at Ming ChangYan, cleverly smiling as he said, "Huai Yu ge-ge, Yan jie-jie, how about, we go to the academy together."
Huai Yu applied force onto Ming ShaoXia's leg, fetching some ice cubes and bandages, wrapping his legs into a bundle. Ming ChangYan took the ice cubes, pressing it on his leg.
Zhao XiaoLan continued to talk to himself, "If Huai Yu ge-ge comes together with us, then we can directly leave the palace! You're used to being able to freely enter and exit the palace, the 13 Guardians don't dare to block your way….."
His voice gradually softened.
Huai Yu's face was cold as he said, "I won't go."
Zhao XiaoLan said, "Then…if you don't want to go then you don't want to go…then could you lend your jade pendant to me for a while, I'll quickly return it to you…."
He eventually didn't dare to utter another word.
Ming ChangYan felt guilty, and therefore didn't say anything either. The atmosphere was silent for a short period of time before Huai Yu said, "Get out."
Ming ChangYan looked up, and saw that Huai Yu had crossed both of his hands, looking down upon him. He let out a dry cough, remaining calm and collected as he stroked the sandalwood box. The box was in a square shape, its weight by no means light, if he wanted to secretly carry it away, it would be difficult.
Huai Yu repeated, "Get out."
Ming ChangYan stood up, opening his mouth and said, "Okay, okay, okay, we'll get out immediately. Don't be angry, meeting together between friends is normal, this time I came to your house to play, next time you can come to Xian – The Small Lotus Terrace, I'll definitely welcome you with tasty food and drinks."
As he was talking, he wanted to link his arms around Huai Yu's shoulders. But when Huai Yu coldly glanced at him, Ming ChangYan's hand turned around midway, naturally landing on his chest, as he laughed out loud, "If you don't want me to lean on you, then I won't lean on you, what are you throwing a tantrum for, how old are you?"
Huai Yu kicked the books that had fallen beside his feet, turned his back around and began to walk back to his bed. Seeing this situation, Zhao XiaoLan promptly whispered, "Yan jie-jie, let's go, Huai Yu ge-ge has always had a bad temper when he wakes up, it's been like this since he was young, let's stop provoking him!"
Ming ChangYan waved his hands around, merely treating the other's words like it was simply a gust of wind. He took a step forward, and tugged on Huai Yu's sleeves. The other party turned his hand over and shook him off, lifting the quilt, he burrowed himself in. He pulled the quilt over to cover his head, completing these actions all in one go. Ming ChangYan rubbed his hand, sitting beside the bed, he grinned, "Are you angry?"
"Ai, okay. Although me coming in here in the middle of the night to steal is very wrong, I know I made a mistake, hey, I said I know that I made a mistake."
Ming ChangYan pulled at his quilt, eventually failing, thinking: After not meeting each other for two years, this little brat's temper has actually become worse, it's getting more and more difficult to coax him. Whatever, whatever.
He turned his gaze around, landing on sandalwood case lying on the ground. Ming ChangYan wasn't able to coax him, his attempts rebuffed, yet he didn't have any thoughts about losing hope with the Immortal Grass. He stooped down and seized it, but this time to his surprise, his arm was grabbed by Huai Yu.
Ming ChangYan let go of his grip, smiling, "It looked pretty, so I wanted to bring it up to study it for a bit, haha."
Huai Yu sat up, "Weren't you afraid of having an affair with me, you said it so sanctimoniously, how come you've decided to crawl into my bed now?"
Ming ChangYan said, "Young Prime Minister's words are wrong, I'm not crawling into your bed, I'm sitting on your bed, sitting."
He continued, "I'll leave right now, I won't bother you anymore."
Huai Yu snorted, and said, "Coming and going as you please, do you think this place is your home."
Ming ChangYan understood that his words had hidden meanings to them, and was afraid that this person is going to throw a tantrum again. In the early years, he's witnessed Huai Yu's little brat temper, when he gets riled up it was enough for him to drink several pots of it. The Ninety-Ninth Temple was cold and lonesome, its decorations tasteless and gloomy, white muslin fluttering around, making it look like a funeral hall. Just by looking at it, Ming ShaoXia thought: If he's always lived in such a place, it really is too miserable. His short temper is pardonable, what am I doing lowering myself to argue with a child.
"It's because our relationship is so good, that I think of this place as my home. You can also think of the Small Lotus Terrace as your home! I don't mind!"
Ming ChangYan took a few steps back, feeling towards the doorway. Zhao XiaoLan was carrying a massive night pearl, not knowing what to do.
Ming ChangYan said, "What are you standing there for, go!"
Zhao XiaoLan was scared witless, "Are we really leaving, I think that Huai Yu ge-ge looks quite angry."
"When is he not angry, this little brat," Ming ChangYan muttered, right afterward he raised his voice, "Young Prime Minister! Disturbing you tonight was my fault, I apologize! I promise, I won't come disturb you anymore, if I come again…if I come again I'll write my name backwards!"
Zhao XiaoLan tugged on his sleeves, "You should stop talking, I feel like he's gotten angrier."
Ming ChangYan said, "Don't bother with him, him getting angry is his business, I'll say what I want to say. Help support me, my leg hurts."
After taking two steps, Zhao XiaoLan asked, "But we didn't get to steal the jade pendant this time, are you really going to stop disturbing him?"
Ming ChangYan flicked his forehead, "Of course I was lying to him!"
Zhao XiaoLan said, "Lying isn't good, Ming ShaoXia said…."
Ming ChangYan took a white steamed bun out from his chest, and blocked up his mouth. He said, "Ming ShaoXia said, shut up."
On his trip to the Ninety-Ninth Temple, he didn't obtain the jade pendant, but managed to steal a wooden case. At this moment, the case was situated upright in the middle of a table, Fu Ling pushed open the door to come in and saw that Ming ChangYan's eyes were a hair’s breadth away from the box, his gaze fixated on it.
Fu Ling said, "You've been staring at this herb for hours now, has your staring produced some kind of trick yet?"
This was translated by , any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work I’m going to make you bleed from the 5 orifices of your body.
Ming ChangYan said, "As of now, no."
A few days ago, he thought that this herb had been the Immortal Grass, bringing it back with him to his residence. After studying it for a while, he didn't dare come to a conclusion. No one on this earth has ever seen the appearance of the Immortal Grass before; he's been thinking, but couldn't confirm it, so he said, "Fu Ling, is there anywhere within the imperial palace that bears books?"
Fu Ling said, "There are no books in the imperial palace, but there are books at Egret Academy."
Ming ChangYan clicked his tongue, it was because he couldn't leave the palace, that he asked if the imperial palace had a library. In the end, he still has to pay a visit to Egret Academy.
While talking, Peony hurriedly rushed in, Fu Ling said, "What are you panting for, running around so urgently, is there a ghost chasing after you?"
Peony said, "The imperial bodyguards stationed beside the Eldest Prince has died."
During these days, there were a lot of people dying in the palace, Fu Ling was already used to seeing these strange sights, calmly saying, "Dead?"
Peony nodded her head, "It's the same method of death. The Eldest Prince is getting more and more convinced at the days go on, that it was that something gentleman's ghost wanting to take his life. This time they even asked the Young Prime Minister to come to the Eastern Palace."
Ming ChangYan originally wanted to take a look to see how his own ghost is killing people, but as soon as he heard that Huai Yu was there, it was like his legs were filled with lead, not wanting to move.
He threw himself back onto the bed, "I'm not going, I'm not going! What's there to see!"
Peony said, "It's better if ShaoShi doesn't go see, all the deaths are nauseating to look at, when Xiao WanZi saw them, he was unable to eat for days. He's always hating on the fact that he was born in the Imperial City, from the way I see it, even if he was born in Lin'an he wouldn't be able to become a cultivator."
Fu Ling, "You should stop saying so much. ShaoShi, the weather today is nice, Princess Yu Ning has invited the ShaoShi's to the Small Totus Terrace to fly kites. Why don't we take this opportunity to go out, and get some fresh air to clear our minds."
Ming ChangYan, "The Small Totus Terrace? Isn't the Small Lotus Terrace right here?"
Fu Ling said, "The Small Totus Terrace is large, ShaoShi is currently residing in the Listening Lotus Tower on the western side, there's also a large garden on it's eastern side where the best and most colorful lotus flowers bloom. Whenever Princess Yu Ning comes out to play, she is bound to always call Young Master XiaoLan with her. ShaoShi has a good relationship with Young Master XiaoLan, so I see no harm in you going out."
Ming ChangYan was concerned with his matters with Egert Academy, so he got up and walked in the direction of the Small Lotus Terrace's garden."
After a quarter of an hour, he didn't even see the person yet when he heard their voice. The sounding transmitting through his ears was the voice of a young maiden.
"Fly higher! Even higher! Duan Duan, come over here, I can't see anymore, come lift me up!"
Closely following, were the voices of a few people, "Princess you mustn't, such an act is dangerous, what if Young Master Duan can't hold onto you."
The young maiden said, "Are you old wet nurses calling me fat!"
Those old wet nurses promptly kneeled down, kowtowing a few times. Ming ChangYan thought: Which princess is this.
Across the rock garden, he was met with a crowd of girls, delicate maidens with matchless beauty. Their style of dress were all original, nothing like what palace maids would wear. The person in the center of the entire group was precisely that young maiden that had spoken earlier, she appeared no more than fifteen years old. She was currently sitting on the shoulders of a pale-skinned, stern-faced young man; in her hand was the string of the kite as she excitedly swayed her legs back and forth.
Zhao XiaoLan saw that he had arrived, immediately walking out of the crowd of imperial concubines, waving his hand, "Yan jie-jie!"
Ming ChangYan greeted, "XiaoLan-xiong, what a coincidence, we meet again!"
Zhao XiaoLan said, "It's not a coincidence, I was just talking to Jun about you!"
It seemed like Jun was that young maiden's name.
"Zhao XiaoLan! The little imperial concubine that you said knows martial arts, is it her? Her appearance isn't too bad, unfortunately, she looks delicate and sweet, not at all like someone who can fight people!"
Ming ChangYan cupped his hands together and smiled, "Nice to meet you Jun. Are you XiaoLan's friend?"
Zhao XiaoLan said, "She's Princess Yu Ning, my younger cousin."
Fu Ling reminded, "ShaoShi, you mustn't follow after Young Master XiaoLan and call the princess Jun, that's the princess's childhood name, you must address her as princess."
Jun hopped off of the shoulder of the stern-faced young man, patting her hands, she raised her voice, "Come over here, let me take a closer look. What kind of martial arts do you know, let this princess see!"
Ming ChangYan said, "If the princess wants to see, then I naturally have no objections. But I don't have a sword, without a sword, how do I show you my martial arts!"
Jun said, "Duan Duan, give her your sword to use!"
Hearing this, Fu Ling's complexion changed, kneeling down and said, "Princess, you absolutely cannot, sharp swords can injure people, my house's ShaoShi is still a woman, there is definitely no possible way that she can use this sword. Moreover, if ShaoShi's sword use is improper, it might be difficult to avoid harming others."
Jun thought to herself for a moment, then said, "Alright then! We won't use this sword for the time being, Cousin XiaoLan, let me borrow the wooden sword around your waist!"
When she finished talking, she proceeded to snatch the wooden sword from his waist, throwing it towards Ming ChangYan. The sword wasn't heavy, and from the looks of it, was modeled after The Common People's Order. Even though Ming ChangYan always had a sword strapped to his waist, he didn't often use The Common People's Order, and was still the best at using the needle and thread. But as he held the sword, he felt a familiarity in his heart.
Jun smiled, "Hurry up and try it!"
Deference is no substitute for obedience, so Ming ChangYan grabbed the sword and began to carry out his performance. His movements swift, graceful like a swimming dragon, his every move and style displayed that he was educated and exquisite in martial arts. Unfortunately, this sword dance – was way too slow!
It was like he was performing Tai Chi, no, Tai Chi doesn't even go as slow as him. Changing a movement took 4 to 5 seconds, at this rate, how are you even supposed to take someone's life. Jun yelled, "Ai! Why are you dancing so slow, those that know martial arts, aren't they all as fast as the wind!"
Ming ChangYan slowly lifted his hand, while slowly lowering his feet, and said, "That's other people, my sword techniques are special."
A small imperial concubine said, "What's so special about it? It's especially slow!"
Ming ChangYan said, "No. This sword technique is called《To Moisten the Flowers and Beckon the Leaves*》, when using the sword technique, it's necessary to meet eye to eye with your opponent, and cast flirting glances at them so that you can lure them over! It hurts the body's soul, so the movements mustn't be quick."
(TN: "沾花惹草剑"; an idiom that means to womanize, sleeping around, to frequently enter brothels)
Ming ShaoXia thrust his sword forward, it's tip pointing at a lotus, "When you use your sword you must be able to virtually pluck a flower, and from the sword be able to smell the fragrance of a woman."
Finishing his words, he plucked a lotus flower, bringing it up to the tip of his nose to get a sniff, "So to enjoy the beautiful spring scenery*, you must show mercy in all respects, only like this can you truly capture the sword's essence.
(TN: "寻花问柳"; another idiom that means to frequently visit brothels)
As the crowd of women heard his nonsense, their faces flushed crimson. Jun knew that the other party was amusing themselves, her face immediately blushed red, "You! You're a young woman! Yet your way of talk is so, is so shameless!"
Zhao XiaoLan was originally content listening to it, and began to clap his hands and praise "Good swordplay, good swordplay", but when Jun glared at him, Zhao XiaoLan could only insipidly withdraw his hands, resting them on the side of his legs.
Hearing this, Ming ChangYan was completely innocent as he shouted, "No, it was Princess that ordered me to perform this sword-dance, I only know this one sword technique, why do you argue that it's shameless. This sword technique is performed this way, you don't believe me? If you don't believe me then why don't you give it a go? I, will reluctantly take you in as my half apprentice."
Jun was furious, "I want to see if you have the skill! Duan Duan, go and exchange a few blows with her!"
Ming ChangYan sheathed the wooden sword, secretly thinking that this little princess had an awfully bad temper, just like the Ninety-Ninth Temple's Young Prime Minister. Those who have a bad temper, all look so beautiful.
Duan Duan was precisely the gloomy and pale young man from earlier. Ming ChangYan cautiously looked at him, and could only think that this person wasn't angry, the splitting image of an ice-cold and delicate porcelain doll. The young man's face was expressionless, seeming to be in a bad mood. Ming ChangYan thought: I’m dressed up as a woman right now, he’s a big strong man, he wouldn’t go this far to cause trouble for me, right?
Unexpectedly, the longsword was unsheathed!
Ming ChangYan recoiled a step back on reflex, the entirely black longsword struck the spot a hair’s breadth away from where he was standing. A strand of hair on his forehead was cut off, Ming ChangYan lifted his sword to face the other, but the wooden sword broke upon contact. The young man didn't hit his mark in the first strike, in an instant, the second strike came down with a gale following after it, Ming ChangYan shook his sleeves, three needles promptly fell out.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
In three quick sounds, the needles shot out like a rainbow, resisting against the longsword's overbearing swings. Ming ChangYan was startled, with every strike he retreated backward, the two fighting hand to hand, he discovered that the other party wasn't an idiot raised in the imperial palace: This person's martial arts is brash and fierce, his moves deadly and cold as ice. Even in Lin'an, there wouldn't be necessarily anyone who would be able to face him. Ming ChangYan almost couldn't hold on for much longer.
Suddenly, his back abruptly bumped into someone, his shoulder was suddenly grabbed by them, a muddled fragrance assailed his nostrils. Ming ChangYan's right hand subconsciously moved back for support, his hand brushing against a sword's handle. This sword had a matchless familiarity towards him, and without even thinking, he unsheathed the sword.
In a split second, malicious energy vigorously rushed into his body. The sword was extremely overbearing, the sword was pulled out, colliding with the young man's longsword. Jun's complexion changed, yelling, "Duan Daun!"
Duan Duan jolted and took 4 to 5 steps back, Ming ChangYan had already vomited a mouthful of blood. At this moment, the back of his hand was grasped by an ice-cold hand, together he led his right hand and returned the sword back to its scabbard.
Zhao XiaoLan's pupils shrank, his lips quivering, he was in shock as he said, "She, she just now, pulled out The Common People's Order!!"
This was translated by , any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work I’m going to make you bleed from the 5 orifices of your body.
Alright, I was going to post it earlier, but I had something to do today that burned out all my energy.
There’s going to be another chapter coming out later today, that way you don’t have to end up on such an important cliffhanger. I just have to finish editing it so stay tuned~
Okay, but before I post the chapter what do you guys think will happen next (⊙ᗜ⊙)
If you see any grammatical/translation errors, please comment or notify me! I LOVE READING YOUR COMMENTS SO MUCH. LIKE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW.
Get enough rest and enjoy your weekend!