ISWTDB Ch71

Chapter 71: The Secret Guard is Mentally Ill (7,8)

Once the Marquis of Anping realized that both he and Lu San had taken the antidote, he no longer worried. After the Marquis left, Ying Zhao turned to Lu San and gave him a helpless smile.

Seeing the smile on Ying Zhao’s face, Lu San’s cheeks couldn’t help but flush. His eyes couldn’t resist stealing glances at Ying Zhao. He remembered that Lu Yi and the Marquis had told him a few days ago that the heir would be his master, and he should obey whatever the heir said.

Although both the Marquis and the heir were his masters, Lu San felt that the most important master was definitely the heir. So he decided to listen to the heir’s words.

Lu Yi had specifically reminded him to speak less when in the same room as the heir, not to overstep, and not to do anything to upset the heir.

But what exactly would upset the heir? Lu San couldn’t figure it out, so he specifically asked Lu Yi. Lu Yi remembered how Lu San had stared at Ying Zhao foolishly, upsetting the Marquis, so he told Lu San not to keep staring at the heir.

Lu San agreed, but once he was really in the same room with the heir, he found it hard to resist. The heir was too good-looking, and he smiled so gently at him.

Seeing Lu San staring blankly at him, Ying Zhao reached out and tapped his nose. Lu San’s eyes began to follow Ying Zhao’s finger.

Ying Zhao then felt playful and placed his finger in the middle of Lu San’s nose. Unexpectedly, Lu San’s eyes focused entirely on the finger, making him look cross-eyed, which made Ying Zhao laugh heartily.

Lu San didn’t understand why Ying Zhao was laughing; he just remembered the heir’s finger touching his nose. He didn’t know why, but after being touched, his entire face felt like it was burning.

It turned out the heir’s face wasn’t just handsome; his hands were also beautiful. The slender, white fingers were as delicate as peeled scallions, strikingly pretty. Unlike his own hands, which were large and rough, covered with calluses from years of wielding a sword.

His eyes couldn’t help but follow the finger, and the master was laughing, so joyfully. Lu San didn’t understand why the master was laughing, but seeing Ying Zhao so happy made him happy too.

Thinking this, he grinned foolishly. Ying Zhao, having laughed enough, turned to look at Lu San. Seeing him smile so purely and carefree made Ying Zhao feel that this life with his lover was quite good, at least simple and without worries. With him around, he wasn’t worried about Lu San having any issues.

Unexpectedly, the wedding with his lover had happened so quickly. Ying Zhao, feeling joyful, held Lu San’s hand. Lu San looked at their joined hands, momentarily unsure of how to react.

Yet, remembering Lu Yi’s advice not to touch the master’s body casually, Lu San hesitated. However, since the master initiated the contact, Lu San was unsure.

Especially with the cool, soft hand holding his, Lu San felt comfortable and happy. He was reluctant to let go of Ying Zhao’s hand, and his conflicted feelings showed on his face.

Seeing Lu San’s expression, Ying Zhao leaned in and asked with a smile, “What’s wrong? Are you unhappy that I’m holding your hand?”

Lu San immediately shook his head vigorously and said, “No, I’m very happy! I like it when the master holds my hand! But Lu Yi told me that I shouldn’t touch the master’s body, as it would be disrespectful.”

Ying Zhao blinked and nodded, saying, “Lu Yi is not wrong, but he should have told you that I am your master now. Since you are to stay by my side, I am actually your only master. So, you should follow my orders. Understand?”

In reality, Lu Yi hadn’t said “only,” but Ying Zhao intentionally confused Lu San’s understanding. Sure enough, Lu San nodded. Seeing Lu San’s obedient look, Ying Zhao patted his cheek and said with a smile:

“So, you should listen to me. If the master wants to hold your hand, it’s me touching you. Whatever the master wants you to do, you should do it. Listening to the master is not disrespectful. Moreover, from now on, you are mine, and as my person, you should listen to me entirely. Whatever happens between us doesn’t need to be shared with others. Do you understand?”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Lu San nodded again, feeling happy to be able to hold hands with the master without restraint, his eyes showing joy.

Ying Zhao, satisfied, couldn’t help but think his man was incredibly cute. Then, he gave Lu San a strong kiss on the cheek and praised, “So good!”

After being kissed by Ying Zhao, Lu San was stunned. Even though he was somewhat simple-minded, he understood that kisses weren’t something given easily.

But seeing how happy the master seemed, and recalling that he had seen people on the street kiss children or pets they loved, Lu San thought that since the master said he was his person, the master must like him!

Like him…

Thinking about how the master liked him, Lu San felt his heart warm as if it had been immersed in hot water.

He blushed as he looked at Ying Zhao’s rosy lips, recalling the soft touch on his cheek, and felt so joyful he could almost fly.

Then Ying Zhao chatted with Lu San for a while, asking about Lu San’s childhood. Even though he already knew Lu San’s past from the plot, hearing it from Lu San himself felt different.

During their conversation, Ying Zhao held Lu San’s hand the whole time. He noticed a crescent-shaped birthmark on the back of Lu San’s hand and rubbed it. Lu San’s face turned even redder.

Ying Zhao smiled and asked, “Is this birthmark something you’ve had since you were little?”

Lu San nodded and was about to say something when his stomach suddenly made a growling noise. This caused Ying Zhao to laugh out loud.

He remembered that Lu San had secretly handed him some cakes at the banquet, but Lu San had told him that he had already eaten. Ying Zhao had only taken one cake, and the rest had ended up in Lu San’s stomach. Now, Lu San’s stomach was growling again.

Seeing Lu San’s embarrassed expression, Ying Zhao decided not to tease him and directly led him to the dining table. There wasn’t any fine wine or dishes on the table, only some fancy fruits and pastries, with a large plate of apples.

Ying Zhao pushed everything toward Lu San and said, “Eat something to fill your stomach.”

Lu San nodded but looked at Ying Zhao with some concern and asked, “Master, aren’t you going to eat?”

Ying Zhao picked up two pieces of osmanthus cake and shook his head with a smile. “I’m not very hungry; two pieces are enough for me. Also, don’t call me ‘master’ in the future. If someone hears it, it will give us away. Just call me by my name.”

Lu San felt a bit awkward but also a bit eager when he heard Ying Zhao ask him to call his name. He remembered Ying Zhao had previously said he should listen to him completely, so after some hesitation, he tentatively said, “Ying Ziyang.”

Ying Zhao smiled and nodded, saying, “Try calling my name without the surname.”

Lu San pressed his lips together, eyes shining with excitement, and called out, “Ziyang!”

“Ah!” Ying Zhao’s eyebrows curved in delight, clearly pleased with how Lu San addressed him.

Lu San grinned, took a big bite of an apple from the plate. The apple was crisp, sweet, and very filling. There were also many pastries on the table. While eating, Lu San kept glancing at the smiling Ying Zhao, feeling happier than he had ever been.

After clearing all the food on the table, Lu San patted his somewhat full stomach and sighed with relief.

Ying Zhao saw Lu San’s state and knew he probably hadn’t eaten enough. However, it was already evening, and since people thought they had drunk the wine of harmony, it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring in more food.

Moreover, eating too much at night isn’t good, so Ying Zhao decided it was better to get some rest early. He patted Lu San’s head and smiled, saying, “Alright, Lu San, it’s getting late. Let’s rest early.”

Lu San nodded, then conscientiously made the bed for Ying Zhao. He also took out another blanket from the cupboard and spread it on the floor, preparing to lie down.

Seeing Lu San’s actions, Ying Zhao held his arm and looked at the very large marriage bed, asking, “Why are you sleeping on the floor instead of the bed?”

Lu San turned and looked at Ying Zhao with a pure expression, saying, “But you’re the master; I should sleep on the floor. As a secret guard, it’s fine to sleep on the beams.”

Ying Zhao frowned. He knew this was indeed the routine for secret guards. They were trained to stay alert and had very short sleep times, usually only one or two hours of light sleep each day.

But for some reason, seeing it applied to his own man made Ying Zhao feel distressed. He shook his head firmly, saying, “No! From now on, you will sleep on this bed with me. No sleeping on the floor. You need to listen to me; you are mine, understand?”

Lu San nodded in agreement and obediently picked up the blanket from the floor and placed it back on the bed. After Ying Zhao lay down, Lu San climbed onto the bed and settled at the edge.

It wasn’t until Ying Zhao tugged at his arm that he moved further into the bed. This was the first time Lu San experienced such a feeling of embarrassment.

Lying on the same bed with Ying Zhao made him feel a bit stiff. Once he heard Ying Zhao’s breathing become steady, Lu San dared to turn his head and looked at Ying Zhao with bright eyes.

He felt that his master was incredibly good-looking and carried an indescribable cool fragrance. This scent enveloped him, making Lu San feel light and secure, and he soon fell into a deep, sweet sleep.

On the other side, the Second Prince Huangfu Zhaohong, who had returned from the banquet, was feeling extremely dejected.

He had always felt a deep love for Ying Ziyang. To him, Ying Ziyang was different from other lovers and could be considered the white moonlight in his heart.

Even though he repeatedly pursued Ying Ziyang without success and Ying Ziyang had always refused him, Huangfu Zhaohong believed that Ying Ziyang actually had feelings for him. The previous rejections were just a form of flirtation, which Huangfu Zhaohong took as part of the game.

Unexpectedly, after his father fell seriously ill, an imperial decree was issued. The words of the Astronomical Office led to his beloved marrying someone else and becoming another’s consort. This made Huangfu Zhaohong very unwilling to accept.

The treasure he had never touched first became someone else’s, which truly enraged Huangfu Zhaohong. So after returning from the banquet, he drank heavily alone.

When Ying Ning quietly slipped into the Second Prince’s residence, this was the scene he encountered. Ying Ning and Huangfu Zhaohong had been secretly communicating for a long time, so the people in Huangfu Zhaohong’s residence were used to his presence.

Huangfu Zhaohong had countless confidants, and Ying Ning, skilled in gentle affection, was one of Huangfu Zhaohong’s most favored lovers. Moreover, his appearance was somewhat similar to Ying Ziyang’s, which made Huangfu Zhaohong even fonder of him.

Seeing Huangfu Zhaohong drunk, Ying Ning quickly went to his side and softly said, “Your Highness, Second Prince, why have you drunk so much?”

At this moment, Huangfu Zhaohong was already quite drunk. When he saw Ying Ning arrive, he smiled and said, “Ning’er, you’re here. Come, come have a drink with me!”

Seeing Huangfu Zhaohong in such high spirits, Ying Ning didn’t refuse. The two of them began drinking together with the dishes on the table. Huangfu Zhaohong, already heavily intoxicated, became unable to recognize people after a few more drinks.

In his drunken state, he started to drag Ying Ning into an indiscreet act. Ying Ning, naturally eager, responded with tenderness. But just as things were getting intense, he suddenly heard Huangfu Zhaohong holding him and calling out in a deep, affectionate voice, “Ziyang, my Ziyang!”

Ying Ning’s eyes widened instantly. He wanted to push Huangfu Zhaohong away, but his strength was so great that he couldn’t move. He could only endure being treated as a substitute for Ying Ziyang.

Although Ying Ning was willing to be cherished by Huangfu Zhaohong, he definitely did not want to be mistaken for someone else. He gritted his teeth, feeling as if his gums might bleed.

His eyes reddened as he looked at Huangfu Zhaohong, who was intoxicated and obsessed in front of him. He felt a deep hatred, wishing he could kill Ying Ziyang right then and there.

Afterward, Huangfu Zhaohong lay on the floor, completely drunk. Ying Ning cleaned himself up alone and dressed. Looking at the fallen Huangfu Zhaohong, he felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation spread throughout his body.

He gritted his teeth and silently vowed: Ying Ziyang, I will make sure you have a terrible death.

Meanwhile, things were not completely calm at Ying Zhao’s place. By midnight, an old maid quietly opened the door to Ying Zhao and Lu San’s room.

Lu San, always alert as a secret guard, instantly opened his eyes. His eyes flashed with intelligence, and he clenched his fists, ready to sit up, but was stopped by the person beside him.

Lu San turned to see that although Ying Zhao’s eyes were still closed, his expression was calm as he gently patted Lu San’s hand.

So Lu San remained still. The old maid noticed the two figures lying side by side on the bed and smirked. Seeing them sleeping in the same bed, it seemed the plan had succeeded. She quietly closed the door and happily went to report back to the Princess.

When the footsteps outside faded away, Lu San gently called out, “Young Master.”

Ying Zhao, soothingly squeezing Lu San’s palm, still kept his eyes closed. He whispered to him, “Alright, now sleep. We can finally rest easy.”

Lu San realized that the person beside him had not been asleep all along. He felt a surge of guilt, wondering if it was because of his own shortcomings that Ying Zhao was worried and unable to sleep properly.

Thinking of this, Lu San’s mood became a bit depressed. However, soon, his arm was tightly embraced by the person beside him. Ying Zhao naturally buried his head in Lu San’s embrace and murmured softly, “It’s so nice to have you here; it’s really warm at night.”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Lu San’s face flushed. Seeing the gentle smile on Ying Zhao’s face, his earlier gloom vanished.

Thinking about how the Young Master said it was good to have him and that he made things warmer, Lu San hurriedly hugged Ying Zhao tighter. He wasn’t concerned about propriety; he just wanted to make Ying Zhao warmer.

However, as he embraced Ying Zhao, he felt a sense of satisfaction in his chest. Lu San blinked, unable to understand what it was, and decided not to think about it further. He continued to hold Ying Zhao and soon fell asleep again.

They both slept very well, but the next morning, the door was knocked loudly. Ying Zhao frowned, opened his eyes, and looked at Lu San, who was already awake and watching him with clear eyes.

Ying Zhao, disturbed by the noise, said, “Come in.”

Then one of the old maids who had delivered the harmony wine yesterday entered the room, solemnly telling Ying Zhao, “Please get up, the two masters need to go and serve tea to the Princess and the Marquis.”

Ying Zhao squinted at the old maid, thinking that the reason for being called so early was likely because the Princess had learned that the Marquis had been invited to join the family, and since his position as Young Master had been secured, she was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him.

Ying Zhao understood this minor scheme but didn’t mind. He got up and naturally allowed the servants to help him and Lu San get dressed and washed.

Once they were almost ready, they reached the door. Ying Zhao turned to look at Lu San, who had changed into new clothes, and noticed that his crown seemed a bit loose. He adjusted it for him.

Unexpectedly, the old maid from the Princess’s side immediately spoke with an unfriendly tone, “Please, Young Master, be quicker. Don’t keep the Princess and Marquis waiting.”

Ying Zhao’s hand paused, and he turned his head, smiling at the old maid. Then he walked up to her and, without hesitation, slapped her twice.

The original owner’s physical condition was already quite good, and being an adult man, his strength was considerable. These two slaps knocked the old maid to the ground, with blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

She had never expected Ying Zhao would hit her. She was one of the Princess’s people, used to wielding power and authority. Even though she had spoken coldly in the past, the Young Master of the Marquis’s residence had never said much.

These servants, relying on their connection to the Princess, had always looked down on Ying Ziyang. But now, Ying Zhao was unwilling to tolerate their arrogance.

Having seen the original owner’s memories, Ying Zhao knew how these pretentious small people had humiliated the original owner and his mother behind their backs. Otherwise, why would the original owner’s mother have suffered from depression and died in childbirth?

After hitting the old maid, Ying Zhao, expressionless, walked to the washbasin and wiped his hands with a cloth as if he had touched something dirty.

He turned to the stunned servants in the room and said, “Sell this insubordinate maid. I don’t want to see her again.”

After Ying Zhao finished speaking, the servants below didn’t dare to act, considering they were from the Princess’s side.

Seeing that they didn’t move, Ying Zhao continued, “If you refuse to listen to me, then the next to be sold out of the estate will be you. Remember, this is the Marquis of Anping’s residence, and I am the Young Master of the Marquis of Anping’s residence. The residence does not keep disobedient servants.”

Ying Zhao’s gaze suddenly became sharp, making the servants in the room feel like they had fallen into an icehouse. They dared not delay any longer because Ying Zhao now gave them a very dangerous feeling; it seemed like if they didn’t listen to him, they would be the next to be sold out.

Thus, several strong young servants quickly came forward and dragged the old maid lying on the ground out of the room.

The old maid finally realized that Ying Zhao intended to sell her and immediately began to scream, “You can’t treat me like this! I’m from the Princess’s side!”

Her screams were very harsh and annoying, making Ying Zhao irritated. He signaled a nearby servant with his eyes. The servant, being quick-witted, hurriedly grabbed a cloth from the window that had just been used for cleaning and stuffed it into the old maid’s mouth to silence her.

When the courtyard was finally quiet again, Ying Zhao resumed his smile, appearing as gentle and warm as jade, as if the harsh and terrifying person from just moments ago had never existed.

Ying Zhao then leisurely went with Lu San to the Marquis’s main hall. When they arrived, it seemed that the Princess and the Marquis had been waiting for a long time.

The night before, the Marquis of Anping had returned to his room and heard from Lu Yi that the antidote had been handed over to Lu San in advance, which made him feel at ease.

However, when he saw the Princess, he still did not have a good expression. Unable to vent his anger on the Marquis of Anping, the Princess frowned unhappily when she saw Ying Zhao and Lu San arriving late.

She scolded Ying Zhao and Lu San, “How could you wake up so late? Do you even understand proper etiquette?”

Ying Zhao glanced at the visibly impatient Princess and then at the Marquis of Anping, who looked guilty. He thought that these two had finally fallen out in the open.