I think all of you will love this part and I expect to hear high pitch squeals for most parts. Just so you know, I usually translate XJX-SM parts first and will translate the irritating 1st and 2nd households last.
FYI The edited releases of Chapter 156 are up 😀
Chapter 158: Holding Hands (Part 2)"Wait." Shen Miao shouted at him.
Xie Jing Xing said, "What?"
"Why ask if you already know?" Shen Miao said with gritted teeth. When facing Xie Jing Xing, she was unable to present a calm and magnanimous appearance because this person was just too weird. Thinking about it, her action by the window was rather deliberate and most likely Xie Jing Xing had arranged people in the Shen mansion thus it would not be strange for them to inform him with her action today. It's just that Xie Jing Xing clearly knew about it but it was just to evil to deliberately point it out.
"I was waiting for you and there is something that requires your help." She took a deep breath before speaking.
"Speak then." Xie Jing Xing pull out a chair and sat opposite of Shen Miao. He seemed to be in a good mood that his pair of bright and beautiful peach blossoms eyes were more intoxicating than usual.
"You should have a lot of talented subordinates and definitely have a large number of high level martial skill master like Guard Mo." Shen Miao probe.
"That can also be considered as high level?" XIe Jing Xing laughed, "Why not I gift you a few real masters?"
"Loan a few to me to use." Shen Miao said, "I will pay money."
Xie Jing Xing swept her a look and frowned slightly before asking, "What do you want to do?"
Shen Miao thought that since Xie Jing Xing already knew about the matter of Cang Zai Qing's husband and son, there was no need to hid matters from him, "The husband and son that Cang Zai Qing had in Zhou province have been received in Ding capital and arranged to stay in the Eastern part of the city. One fear that there is not enough people at my side to use."
"You want to use my people?"
Shen Miao said, "I will pay money."
Xie Jing Xing asked, "Do I look like I am short of money?"
Shen Miao was silent. It was indeed that Xie Jing Xing did not looked like he was short of money and instead seemed to have too much money that one cannot spend it all and could even save everyone under the Heavens. Even the richest in Ming Qi would not spend like him. She simply asked, "Then what do you want before you agree?"
Xie Jing Xing's eyes narrowed, "You have such attitude when you are requesting help?"
Shen Miao was finally annoyed, "Fine. That it as though as I have never asked about the mater. The skies are already dark, may Your Highness Prince Rui please." Once she was angry she would call Xie Jing Xing as 'Your Highness Prince Ding' and it sounded very distant. Sure enough, Xie Jing Xing raised his brows and did not look very happy about it.
"I did not say that I will not let you use." Xie Jing Xing stopped her, "What's the rush?"
Shen Miao return back to sit as Xie Jing Xing's beautiful eyes stared at her. His eyes flashed and he said, "When one call you stupid, you are really stupid. Why is there a need to request from far when there is one near?"
"What does that mean?"
"This Prince is in a good mood today." Xie Jing Xing said slowly, "One will personally accompany you."
In the middle of the night, the moon had disappeared and only a few stars were still hanging in the skies. Before it was winter, the weather was especially cold and the floors had a thin layer of ice that when one step on it, there would be a rustling sound. Due to the need of welcoming the New Year, every household was hanging red lanterns and the red lanterns with the white snow painted an interesting painting.
At this moment, there was two persons standing under roof.
The tall youth was bending slightly at the moment to tie a mask for the other person. Both people were very close with one another and if one got closer, one was able to hear the shorter Young Lady complaining, "Why do I need to wear this?"
"Oh?" The youth whispered by her ear, "You can just take it as one fear that your peerless face would cause trouble if someone sees it. Don't ask anymore."
Shen Miao laughed coldly, "Peerless face. Then you should cover yourself first."
"I do not need." The youth was handsome and beautiful and it seemed that he did not notice the sarcastic words of the other person, "My power covers Heavens, no one dare to give me trouble."
Shen Miao, "…"
Shen Miao had never thought that after telling Xie Jing Xing about the father and son of Liu Province, Xie Jing Xing would personally accompany her, which was what was happening now. In the middle of the night, one fear that the father and son would had gone to bed but Xie Jing Xing insisted on this timing. Xie Jing Xing's logic was that there were lesser people at night and even if there were people accompanying during the day, what would happen when others discover it?
This logic was too reasonable that Shen Miao was unable to find any rebuttal. However she also did not expect that the going out that Xie Jing Xing spoke of was walking directly on the streets.
Although there seemed not to be anyone on the streets, one would inevitable feel uneasy.
"Scared of what? My people will be following and will warn if there is anything." Xie Jing Xing said it directly.
In the time that Shen Miao's mind wondered, Xie Jing Xing had already fasten the mask on her face and only a pair of eyes was revealed. Her eyes were round, clear and glistening. The black and white contrast was very clear and looked adorable when the dim light from the lantern shone. Xie Jing Xing helped her to put on the hat and raised his brows, "Not bad."
To avoid new problems from arising and complicating the matter, Shen Miao found a set of footboy clothes to wear and that hat was inappropriate as it would often cover her eyes. It was only when she came out she realised that she had forgotten to bring along a cloak. Xie Jing Xing scrutinise her before putting his cloak over Shen Miao and said, "Let's go."
"Just walk like that?" Shen Miao was amazed.
"The East of the city is not far away." Xie Jing Xing did not object, "It is good to walk a bit. You also have not seen the Ding capital at night."
Shen Miao was silent.
The night view that she had seen the most were all the four cornered skies within the Palace. There were times when she sat in the spacious Kun Ning Palace, thinking about the annoying trouble of the Inner Palace, for the entire night. There was also times where she sometimes stroll around the Imperial Gardens and would see Fu Xiu Yi chat and laugh with different beauties.
As the head of the Six Palaces, her view of the night was like ten years every night. It was lonely, without freedom, desolated and unnoticeable.
She had also regretted and envied the carefree life outside the Palace.
Xie Jing Xing said, "No one see you or recognise you here. Just do what you want to do."
Shen Miao looked at the other party's handsome brows and her heart gave birth to some envy.
Speaking about it, Xie Jing Xing had lived till now, no matter if he was the Little Marquis of the residence of the Marquis of Lin An or the younger blooded brother of Emperor Yong Le, Prince Rui, everyone could only see the glory on the surface but the number of things he had to bear was not lesser than Shen Miao. However the arrogance and proud temper of him had never changed. No matter what happened, nothing could change his powers, as if even though the days and moons passed and the stars circled, he still stood here irresistibly. Other could only look up upon.
Shen Miao admires people who had a formidable heart. She felt that she was not as strong as Xie Jing Xing because she occasionally thought of Wan Yu and Fu Ming and when she thought about the things that happened in her past life, she would be fatigued.
Xie Jing Xing's gaze was sharp as he held her chin and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Shen Miao struggled free from his hands and said upon turning her head, "Nothing." She did not want others to discover her emotions and walked two steps away However she was not used to wearing male shoes and because the road were slippery due to the ice, she almost fell down. Fortunately Xie Jing Xing held her arm and frowned, "Be careful." His hands under his sleeves however seized the opportunity to slide down and held Shen Miao's hand.
His slender hands were ice cold but it wrapped Shen Miao's hands in his palm. Shen Miao heart moved and at the next moment she wanted to struggle free from it but did not expect that Xie Jing Xing would grasp so tightly that she actually could not break away.
Xie Jing Xing said unenthusiastically, "I'll hold you so that you will not slip."
"I will be careful not to slip." Shen Miao said.
"Then I fear that I will slip so you hold me." He continued speaking without even furrowing his brows.
Shen Miao, "…"
The snow had covered the entire streets, as if the streets were all silvery white and when the lanterns reflected its light, it was lovely. Shen Miao constantly raised her head and looked towards the skies. The weather was good and skies was spacious, it was much better than looking at the four cornered skies. The streets were very quiet and no one would discover her. The unfulfilled wishes of her previous lifetime were satisfied in this lifetime at this moment. The palm of her hands that was covered by the youth was slightly damp but a smile gradually appeared on her face.
Shen Miao felt that the view of the night was good.
She however did not see that in the eyes of the handsome youth, there was a flash of a smile that was more moving than fireworks.
In a commoner house in the Eastern part of the city, there was a loud buzzing sound in a room at the moment. The entire room was filled with a pungent alcohol smell that pierced one's nose. There were a number of wine jars that were lying on the ground and a male was sleeping soundly on the bed.
In the room opposite, there was a young child lying on the bed. This room was much smaller than the previous room. He lay for a while before getting up. Seemingly unable to sleep due to the buzzing sound, he got up and walked out of the house and into the courtyard that was surrounded by bamboo fences with his blanket wrapped around him.
This child was going to the toilet and was about to head back when he finished but in a blink of an eye he saw two persons standing in the courtyard. He was so shocked that he wanted to scream but the taller person of the other party took a stone and threw it at him. In an instance that child stood on the spot, unable to speak at all.
The two persons only then approached.
With the dimmed lanterns hanging, the two person's features gradually became clearer. One was petite in size, wearing a pageboy uniform but one was able to tell that it was a female who was wearing an oversized mismatched cloak. There was a mask covering her face that covers all the facial features below the eyes. However the pair of eyes were extremely clear that it make others want to take off the mask to see the beauty.
As for the male beside the petite person, the little boy was stunned as he looked at him. This person had a extremely tall and straight stature, clad in a purple brocade robe with gold clouds embroidery. The robes were somewhat large and the belt was black in colour and his facial features were beautifully handsome. When one see that pair of peach blossoms eyes at night, one would only feel as if the snow in the winter night was blossoming like spring flowers. Could it be that he was a fairy that descended from Heavens? Else how could each movement be so elegant that made one unable to tear one's eyes away? (Translator: This seems to be a description for a female than for a male.)
That petite person rolled one eyes at the purple clad male before softly asking, "What is your name?"
The child felt his throat relaxed and coughed twice before suddenly finding that he could speak. That person speaking had a female voice and it was very gentle, thus the child's heart was not so fearful. He said nervously, "I am called Huai Sheng."
"Huai Sheng." The female asked, "Your Mother's name is Cang Zai Qing?"
Huai Sheng was startled before his eyes become red. He looked at the female carefully and asked, "You know my Mother? Do you know where my Mother is? I did not see my Mother for a long time. They all say tha Mother will not come back. Some people brought me back here and said that I can see my Mother here but Mother is not here."
Shen Miao sighed in her heart. This child was around the same age as Su Ming Lang two years ago but at that time Su Ming Wang was innocent and what somewhat a foolish glutinous rice dumpling, whereas this child was much more pitiful. When Cang Zai Qing abandoned her husband and son, it was because her husband would gamble and drink all day and she could not go on living like that. But before she leave, she did not think of her young son and how would he be when he followed such an irresponsible father. Thus Cang Zai Qing did not deserve any pity or forgiveness. To become such a vicious mother, one was no longer worthy of being a 'Mother'.
"Don't be afraid." Shen Miao pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the child's tears. Huai Shen had felt somewhat surprised with the doting. This female's eyes was very beautiful and her appearance was not bad. Even though she was dress in the clothes of a pageboy, her hands were fair and tender. Huai Shen knew that this kind of hands was different from hands that did rough work and one could tell from a glance that she was from a rich and noble family. This female should be very wealthy ad noble and for such people to wipe off a poor person like him so gently, that even his own mother was not like that, Huai Shen was somewhat dazed.
A soft cough sounded from the purple robe man standing beside Shen Miao. He glared at Huai Sheng before saying coldy, "Go in."
Huai Sheng entire body had gotten cold with that glare. He did not know why but that extremely beautiful man did not do anything and with just one look, he could make one feel fear. When he recovered to his senses, he saw the female in front keeping her handkerchief with a gentle gaze in her eyes.
Shen Miao was thinking about her Fu Ming and Wan Yun. Fu Ming and Wan Yun had Fu Xiu Yi as a Father, so how could there not be difficult. Even though she did not run away, she was not able to save her children's end and was no better off than Cang Zai Qing.
Suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, "Huai Sheng, take us to meet with your Father."
Translator comment: I guess Tie Yi and the rest of the secret guards were very busy that night. XJX is having a 'date' so how would he allow anyone to 'disturb' him? And I don't believe that there is NO ONE on the streets at all. Tie Yi must be like telling his people to quickly relocate those people. I am imagining a scene of Tie Yi instructing the secret guards when XJX was 'dressing' SM up. "Master will be going for a 'walk'. Clear all paths. No mistakes." LOL