Qiu Yutong stared, wide-eyed, at the person in front of him
It’s so late, why was Lu Xiao here?
Wasn’t Pure Frosted Jade* courtyard sealed?
[T/N: So I just noticed but the words for Jade (玉桂) also has the word Osmanthus inside it. I’ll be keeping it as the current name as Pure Frosted Jade Osmanthus is too clunky…]
Why had he come here?
“We are asking you a question,” Lu Xiao ruthlessly pinched his wrist with his iron grip, and enunciated each word clearly, “Your sword-play, where exactly did you learn it?”
Being watched intently by that pair of pitch-black eyes, Qiu Yutong couldn’t help blurting out the truth, “I comprehended* it myself.”
[T/N: In cultivating, you need to comprehend certain heavenly truths in order to advance or to learn and construct your own swordsmanship.]
Just as the words were uttered, he wanted to ruthlessly slap himself in the face.
Lu Xiao knew the《Nine Questions Sword Tehcniques》!
The sword moves just now were all varied from《Nine Questions Sword Tehcniques》, even though one was agile and elegant and the other was desolate and harsh, but they were similar to some extent. Wouldn’t answering this way expose him!
“You comprehended it yourself?” Lu Xiao slowly narrowed his eyes.
Qiu Yutong was so nervous his throat felt a little dry. He inwardly scolded himself as useless, as he muddleheadedly tried to make anything up, “Eh, actually, coming up with a sword technique is not very difficult, really.”
… Oh heavenly laws above, what is he making up, exactly what nonsense is he saying!
Lu Xiao silently stared at him, his ice-cold pupils were devoid of emotion.
Being stared at by such a heavy gaze made Qiu Yutong’s scalp feel numb. If this went on, he probably couldn’t maintain his tea kungfu* before he would have to take the initiative to confess.
[T/N: Probably a reference to actual Kungfu tea. It just means something that is not real I think in this context since Kungfu tea is a type of tea, not a martial art.]
Just as he was about to confess, Lu Xiao finally indifferently opened his mouth, “Shameless boasting. It’s a pity, it’s nothing more than drawing a tiger like a dog*, fancy yet impractical, nothing much.”
[T/N: Basically means making a fool of yourself through excessive ambition. You wanted to draw a tiger, yet could only draw a dog.]
As a genius sword cultivator, Qiu Yutong had never suffered such an insult. He simply wanted to fly into a rage out of humiliation —— even though the sword movements just now didn’t have much destructive power, but in this broken body that was lacking in spiritual energy, with thin arms thin legs and gasping for three steps after just taking one, it was already not bad to be able to render a broken branch to this form!
“We know, that a North Sea sword sect’s cultivator is living in Lu Yande’s manor. Did Lu Yande allow him to teach you such flowery movements?”
Qiu Yutong stared at Lu Xiao.
The cultivator this youngster mentioned… Tu Wuwei?
Looks like Lu Xiao is monitoring Prince Jin’s manor’s every move, did he want to take action against Prince Jin?
Wait, right now it Prince Jin’s manor isn’t the problem. The problem right now is that with Tu Wuwei’s violent and inelegant lousy sword technique, how could he (TWW) teach him (QYT)?
Refute, and he could possible embarrass himself and reveal his identity.
Admittance… How is that possible? Does Tu Wuwei deserve it?!
Lu Xiao said lightly, “Answer Us. Yes, or no?”
Qiu Yutong stifled himself for a long time before choking out a short phrase, “No.”
He’d rather reveal his identity than allow Tu Wuwei to become his shizun so conveniently!
“Really?” Lu Xiao sneered lightly. He leaned down and leaned towards his ear, softening his voice, “We have already investigated, Lu Yande wracked his brained to find you from a low-grade brothel and taught you in all aspects for over half a year, to let you put on such an act in front of Us… It’s a pity that you’re not made to lie.”
Qiu Yutong felt the warm breath exhaling against his ear and felt goosebumps rise. He braced himself to remain motionless and quickly used his brain.
What did Lu Xiao mean?
He felt that “Xue Rong” was lying?
That is to say… he hadn’t been revealed?
Qiu Yutong’s heart relaxed slightly and looked down silently, looking like he tacitly agreed.
Lu Xiao coldly snorted, and swept a glance at Liu Bitao who was on the floor, “You two, how did you get in?”
Liu Bitao shivered and did his utmost to continuously kowtow, “Have mercy, Your Majesty, have mercy!”
Qiu Yutong saw that this child was extremely frightened and calmly said, “I brought him inside.”
“Oh? Your guts aren’t small,” Lu Xiao raised his eyebrows, “Intruding on the restricted Pure Frosted Jade courtyard, is a death penalty. Do you know your crime?”
“Death penalty?” Qiu Yutong stared blankly.
He couldn’t help mutter inwardly that for such a beaten and desolate courtyard, was it worth it?
Lu Xiao this brat, in those days, he was fair and reasonable, obedient and sensible, how did he become like this today?
Liu Bitao was painted white, his lips trembling, “Your, Your Majesty, it’s not like that. Actually, it was, it was me who brought him here… He, he, he wouldn’t be able to find this place…”
Lu Xiao was too lazy to even look at him. A pair of pitch-black eyes stared at Qiu Yutong, “However, We can give you a chance at life.”
Liu Bitao immediately said, “He’s the one who brought me here.”
Efficient without a single bit of sloppiness.
Qiu Yutong, “…”
Him feeling a bit touched was wasted.
Lu Xiao curved his lips as if he were laughing at their phoney brotherly relationship.
Qiu Yutong helplessly said, “What chance?”
“Go back and pack, then move to the west wing of Jingxin Palace.”
“Move into… Jingxin Palace?” Qiu Yutong hesitated, “This doesn’t seem to conform to the rules.”
What did Lu Xiao want to do?
This youngster was pure-minded with scant desire, like a monk, and was not fond of male homosexuality, could it be that he (LX) wanted to monitor himself (QYT)?
“In Daning Palace, every word that We say is the rules. Moreover, your master expended a lot of effort to send you into the palace, wasn’t it to let you get closer to Us? We will give you this opportunity,” Lu Xiao said lightly.
“It’s not…” Qiu Yutong didn’t have the ability to refute.
He simply couldn’t vocalise his suffering, but after thinking about it, after entering Jingxin Palace, even though that would expose him to danger, he was also closer to Night Rain.
Getting closer to Night Rain was also equivalent to getting closer to North Snow City!
Thinking till here, Qiu Yutong’s spirit was roused, and he refreshingly nodded, “I’ll move over tomorrow.”
Lu Xiao had long anticipated his answer and the corner of his mouth hooked up slightly, but his eyes were void of any smile, “This is right, there isn’t any need to put on an act.”
“I’m not act…” Qiu Yutong paused and his voice unconsciously became softer, “Not putting on an act.”
He suddenly felt guilty; it seemed like he was indeed putting on an act.
Even though his “acting” was different from the “acting” Lu Xiao mentioned, the performance was probably still harbouring an ulterior motive, conspiring errant thoughts.
Lu Xiao smiled, “This cheap trick of loosening the reins to grasp them better, ait’s unknown how many people have done it in front of Us… Since you were actually born in such a place and was taught by Prince Jin for over half a year, you’re naturally more familiar with it.”
Qiu Yutong, “…”
Forget it, he had no words, he should just shut his mouth.
“Actually, all these don’t matter to Us,” Lu Xiao lightly pinched Qiu Yutong’s chin, his tone gentle and deep, but with some kind of ice-cold implication, “But, wearing such a face, makes Us… feel extremely disgusted.”
After that, he let Qiu Yutong go, storming off without the slightest hesitation.
……
A golden yellow ginkgo leaf hit the jade, slowly landing beside Qiu Yutong’s legs.
“Ai,” Qiu Yutong sat on the doorstep, reaching out to pick up the leaf, and couldn’t help but sigh.
The weather was getting colder, the ginkgo leaves have yellowed, the amount of time he was reborn into this body was closing in on two months, but he still hadn’t gotten Night Rain.
A few days ago, Liu Bitao dragged him to Pure Frosted Jade courtyard and in the end, they bumped into Lu Xiao head-on. The next day, he was forced to move into Jingxin Palace.
Saying he was forced was not completely true. After all, he was still hoping that after getting closer to Lu Xiao, he would have a chance to get into contact with Night Rain.
Who knew that even after moving here for so many days, forget Night Rain, even Lu Xiao’s shadow was nowhere to be seen!
This youngster’s work schedule was simply so severe, it has become abnormal!
Early morning at the end of yinshi*, regardless of circumstances, he would always get up and practice the sword. After two hours, he would go to court. After that, he would head to the Office of Military and Political Affairs and discuss official business with important ministers. Then, he’ll head back to the study room in Jingxin palace to work on the reports. All the way until zishi* before going to bed. Every day he would only sleep around four hours.
[T/N: Yinshi is the time. In this case, it’s the period between 3-5 am. Zishi is 11 pm – 1 am.]
Four hours!!
While Qiu Yutong’s natural disposition is indolent and easy-going, preferring to let nature take its course. When he was in North Snow City, all his shixiongs would indulge him so it had long become a habit. Now, this body was also extremely weak; he had to sleep the full eight hours every day or else he would be dizzy and his vision blur.
One slept late and woke early, another slept early and woke up late, so he was completely unable to see Lu Xiao.
What to do?
Why not stay up all night today or wake up early tomorrow, see if he can meet Lu Xiao? But after seeing Lu Xiao, what could he say?
“Your Majesty, troubling you to lend me that sword to use.”
He already knew what Lu Xiao would answer… No, he wouldn’t even give an answer; he would merely look as if he were gazing at a fool and coldly look at him.
Qiu Yutong sighed with a headache, breathing out a white mist in the cold air.
“Young, Young Master, is it cold?” Xiao Xizi was standing by the side, fiddling with an exquisite brass heater. As soon as he saw Qiu Yutong feeling cold, he quickly pushed the stove over.
Qiu Yutong let his hand roast on the stove, absent-mindedly saying, “This stove is pretty good.”
Xiao Xizi was radiant with delight and said, “Ex, exactly! This, this brass heater was specially sent over by the Imperial Household Department! Al, also, these silver silk charcoal, only the nobility may use them, this time, the Imperial Hosehold Department directly gave us fifty catties*! A full fifty catties! Ai, so good, this year’s winter is worry-free.”
[T/N: 1 catty = 500 g.]
From the start, Qiu Yutong couldn’ differentiate between golden silk charcoal or silver silk charcoal, not was he interested, so he casually made a noise of acknowledgement.
Xiao Xizi’s mouth had opened so it wasn’t so easy to close, “Young, Young Master, the cloth that this one brought back yesterday, has Young Master seen it? They are all top-grade cloud brocade, also a bolt of Liquid Red Suxiu embroidery, which contrasted against your skin well! Tomorrow, this one will head to the workshop and let Young Lady Sunxiu* make Young Master a few sets of clothes, dressing Young Master up prettily…”
[T/N: I don’t think this is her name, but rather a title since sunxiu is one of the four main types of traditional embroidery in China. Hopefully, this gets clarified…]
Qiu Yutong simply didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Xiao Xizi, are you thinking of putting make-up on me?”
Xiao Xizi was slightly distracted, “Young Master, how, how do you know about cosmetics and perfume? Do you want to try? Young Master you’re so good-looking, after, after putting on some make-up, when His Majesty sees, he will definitely…”
“Stop, stop, stop,” Qiu Yutong felt his goosebumps rising, “Lu… there isn’t even a shadow of His Majesty, aren’t you thinking too much?”
Xiao Xizi blinked, as if he hadn’t thought about this problem and fell silent.
After a moment, he tried to consolingly patted the back of Qiu Yutong’s hand, “Young, Young Master, don’t worry. This one heard that on the fifteenth of every month, His Majesty will always head back to Qin Palace* early, isn’t today the fifteenth? May, maybe, His Majesty will summon Young Master to serve Qin…”
[T/N: If y’all forgot, this is the back of Jingxin Palace.]
Qiu Yutong dispiritedly said, “Xiao Xizi, take it as I’m begging you, can you not speak of this topic?”
Xiao Xizi urged, “Young, Young Master, don’t lose hope. What, what this one said is all true. His Majesty will definitely summon Young Master to serve…”
Qiu Yutong quickly lifted his hand to stop him from continuing such astonishing words, “Didn’t you send two sets of bedsheets to be washed a few days ago? They should be ready by now.”
Xiao Xizi cried out in alarm, “Right, right, I almost forgot! This one will go get them now!”
Qiu Yutong watched his hurriedly leaving silhouette and helplessly shook his head.
This child’s personality is pretty good, it’s just that sometimes, he was hard to tolerate.
He sat on the doorstep, bored to death, watching two sparrows peck at earthworms on the ground. He couldn’t help reaching out to tease when suddenly he paused, his nose flared —— he could smell the sweet fragrance of osmanthus cakes.
His stomach just happened to rumble.
That’s right, just now Xiao Xizi said that today was the fifteenth. On the fifteenth of every month, Lu Xiao would always head back to Jingxin Palace early and personally make a plate of osmanthus cakes.
So, Lu Xiao was currently in the kitchen making osmanthus cakes?
Qiu Yutong was suddenly curious. He didn’t know how this youngster looked going into the kitchen after he ascended the throne?
He was simply both hungry and bored. Hesitating for a split second, in the end, he stood up and surreptitiously slipped towards the kitchen.
The kitchen was in the southwest corner of Jingxin Palace. On his way there, the fragrance became stronger. He tiptoed to the kitchen window, licked his finger and lightly poked at the window lattice paper*.
[T/N: If you guys didn’t know, the window frame was usually covered in paper to block people looking through.]
A hole silently broke through the paper of the window lattice. Qiu Yutong put his eye against the hole and watched with rapt attention.
As expected, Lu Xiao was inside.
His slender figure was inclined towards the window, fiddling with the glutinous rice in the steamer. The glutinous rice was snow-white and plump, mixed with some honey-soaked osmanthus flowers, looking extremely alluring.
Qiu Yutong couldn’t help breathing in softly, the strong fragrance from just now should be coming from the steamed osmanthus glutinous rice.
Lu Xiao sprinkled some cooked sesame seeds on the chopping board and some crushed peanuts, then placed the osmanthus flower and glutinous rice mix on top. His slender fingers lightly patted and kneaded until the glutinous rice fully wrapped the cooked sesame seeds and crushed peanuts, becoming a rectangular glutinous rice and osmanthus flower cake. After that, he carefully cut up this alluring osmanthus glutinous rice cake into finger-sized pieces. Finally, he placed them on a snow-white plate.
He did it step-by-step, his expression extremely serious, simply comparable to evaluating military reports*; Qiu Yutong couldn’t help smiling inwardly.
[T/N: The raws actually state evaluating military memorials to the emperor.]
Lu Xiao, this youngster, being gluttonous in his teens was fine, but he was already the monarch of a country, actually hurriedly taking a break every month to make osmanthus cakes… tch tch.
After a moment, Lu Xiao had finally arranged the plate, but he didn’t move, staring dazedly at that plate of osmanthus cakes with a blank expression.
He watched for a while before softly muttering to himself, “This time’s osmanthus cakes I’ve added a few other things, different from the previous ones… really.”
Qiu Yutong was accustomed to eating his osmanthus cakes so naturally, he could see that this time’s osmanthus cakes used glutinous rice rather than glutinous rice flour. And even added cooked sesame seeds and crushed fried peanuts, looking extremely delicious.
After Lu Xiao murmured to himself, it was silent again for a moment.
Then, he suddenly, very softly, laughed mockingly, muttering, “I really am damned unbearable lowly*.”
{T/N: Okay so the word used here is 贱 (jian), which can mean a variety of things like sly, conniving, cheap, lowly and other more vulgar terms. I’ll be using what I think best fits the context, but do let me know if you have a better idea for the translation!]
