ISWTDB Ch70

Chapter 70: The Secret Guard Is Mentally Ill (5, 6)

At this moment, seeing that the situation was irreversible, the Marquis of Anping no longer concealed the truth. He said coldly to the Princess: “Indeed, this is the rule for marriages. However, since our Marquis Manor is taking in a son-in-law, the ceremony must naturally be held at our manor. Otherwise, how could Ziyang, as the heir of the Anping Marquis Manor, be respected by others?”

Hearing this, the Princess was greatly shocked, her face paling. She hadn’t expected that the Marquis of Anping would actually say that the manor was taking in a son-in-law. If it were a son-in-law situation, then Ying Ziyang’s position as the heir would be secured.

In this way, all her meticulous schemes would be in vain. But looking at the guests coming and going, and the Marquis of Anping rising and leaving without hesitation, the Princess knew she was powerless to change the situation now.

She hadn’t expected that her usually obedient husband would play such a trick on her. The Princess was so angry she nearly ground her silver teeth to pieces, cursing the Marquis of Anping for his bias in her heart.

Clearly, they were both his sons, so why couldn’t Ying Ning be the heir of the Marquis Manor? No matter how resentful she felt, the Princess had to greet the guests with a smile. After all, she couldn’t afford to be seen as a stepmother who mistreated the legitimate son.

Since the manor was taking in a son-in-law and he was a man, Ying Zhao did not have to wait in the room for his husband like an ordinary woman. Instead, he could greet guests outside with Lu San.

Lu San was somewhat foolish but knew how to disguise it. He just stood there with a stern face, like a statue, not knowing how to greet others with a smile.

In contrast, Ying Zhao remained courteous and polite in his every move, looking more like a groom. But Ying Zhao did not expect that Huangfu Zhaohong would appear at his wedding banquet.

After all, previously, Huangfu Zhaohong had always been rejected by the original owner with harsh words. The last time they met, the original owner had angrily scolded Huangfu Zhaohong, who then left with a cruel remark. Who would have thought that the next time they met, it would be at a wedding, and by then, Ying Ziyang had become Ying Zhao.

Seeing Ying Zhao, Huangfu Zhaohong’s face was full of sighs, looking heartbroken. Ying Zhao felt disgusted by the way the other was looking at him, finding it deeply repulsive.

He didn’t even glance at the Second Prince, Huangfu Zhaohong, and continued to exchange pleasantries with other guests. Although most of the people attending the banquet at the Marquis Manor were there to watch the spectacle, Ying Zhao didn’t mind.

After all, today was a great day for him and his lover, and no one else’s actions or thoughts could affect his mood. After being busy all morning, Ying Zhao felt a bit tired and took a breath in a secluded corner.

Looking at the bustling crowd outside, he thought that every wedding in every world was exhausting, but the joy in his heart was genuine.

Then he saw Lu San, who had been silent all this time, approaching him. Naturally, Lu San didn’t know that Ying Zhao truly loved him and thought they were only husbands in name.

Moreover, to Lu San, Ying Zhao was his master, so he was always respectful towards him. Ying Zhao didn’t know what Lu San was up to as he approached.

After Lu San stopped, he dug into his pocket and took out a greasy package from his red wedding robe, which contained five or six sesame cakes.

Lu San handed them to Ying Zhao and said softly, “Master, you haven’t eaten anything since this morning, right? Lu Yi told me that on the wedding day, there would be many people watching, so you couldn’t eat. But I sneaked some food and brought you cakes. Master, I’ll keep watch for you, so hurry up and eat!”

Seeing Lu San’s innocent expression, Ying Zhao felt his lover was so warm-hearted in every world. Even in this world, where his mind wasn’t very sharp, he still instinctively protected him.

Ying Zhao couldn’t deny feeling touched, so he took a cake from the greasy package without being pretentious. Taking a big bite, he found the sesame and brown sugar filling incredibly sweet.

He leaned over and said gently to Lu San, “Lu San, thank you. I haven’t eaten since morning. Thanks to your thoughtfulness. One is enough for me; you eat the rest.”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, Lu San’s face turned red. Although he worried that Ying Zhao hadn’t eaten enough, he didn’t insist when Ying Zhao declined after one more persuasion.

He remembered his brothers teasing him about his large appetite, which most people couldn’t match. So he nodded to Ying Zhao and quickly ate the remaining cakes.

Lu San had actually already eaten seven or eight cakes before, and these were specially saved for Ying Zhao. The cakes were not big, so Ying Zhao quickly finished eating. Seeing Ying Zhao finish, Lu San fetched him a cup of tea and left only after watching him drink it.

Seeing Lu San’s slightly flushed face, Ying Zhao felt a sweet warmth in his heart, unable to hide his joy.

After Lu San left, the hidden story of Lu San’s past began to unfold before Ying Zhao. He still didn’t know who Lu San’s parents were.

He only knew that Lu San was separated from his family at a young age. Then the original owner’s grandfather, the old Marquis, happened to find the wandering Lu San, found him innocent and straightforward, and brought him back to the Marquis Manor.

Soon, the old Marquis discovered that Lu San indeed had some mental issues. He was sincere but didn’t understand social conventions, stubbornly sticking to what he believed and had almost no emotional intelligence. He couldn’t grasp others’ explanations but could distinguish between good and evil.

The old Marquis found Lu San’s nature commendable and kept him close, trying to teach him things. He was pleasantly surprised to find that despite Lu San’s simplicity, he had extraordinary talent.

He learned everything quickly, especially excelling in martial arts due to his superior physical abilities. Among the six secret guards, his martial skills were the best. Lu San also had an eidetic memory and could perfectly replicate anything, making his imitations indistinguishable from the original.

Although Lu San struggled with social interactions, he could flawlessly execute any well-defined task assigned to him, provided it didn’t require flexibility or improvisation.

This was why he had partnered with Lu Yi for so long. Lu San knew his mind differed from others’, so he often remained silent to avoid revealing his foolishness or inadvertently saying something that could ruin his master’s affairs.

Over the years, Lu San had endured much hardship to learn the skills of a secret guard, but Ying Zhao felt his lover’s childhood in this life wasn’t too bad.

He had learned real skills, and the other five secret guards genuinely treated him as a brother. The old Marquis, though strict, was also sincere.

No wonder Lu San relied on Lu Yi so much; his gaze was innocent and straightforward, without any shadows, which truly delighted Ying Zhao.

Now, with his lover by his side, Ying Zhao promised to treat Lu San even better, ensuring a happy and joyful life together.

While Ying Zhao was happily envisioning their married life, some annoying person always seemed to appear to spoil the sweet atmosphere.

The Second Prince, Huangfu Zhaohong, was evidently such a person. Shortly after Ying Zhao was alone, Huangfu Zhaohong approached him, looking deeply at him and saying, “Ziyang, this marriage is truly lamentable! What a pity for the affection between us. Who would have thought that when we met again, it would be under such circumstances and with such an outcome!”

Ying Zhao’s mouth twitched fiercely upon hearing Huangfu Zhaohong’s words, feeling that the other’s talk was so pretentious it made him want to vomit. He thought, having already avoided this scum, the original owner had rejected him so sternly before, yet here he was, still seeking him out.

Feeling somewhat impatient, Ying Zhao said to Huangfu Zhaohong, “Second Prince, you are exaggerating. We are merely friends of a gentlemanly nature; what affection are you talking about? Moreover, this is merely the fate of Ziyang.”

Unexpectedly, Huangfu Zhaohong, hearing Ying Zhao’s words, still maintained a look of infatuation and said to him, “Ziyang, you know that my feelings for you are more than this. Why do you persist in pretending not to know?”

Seeing Huangfu Zhaohong’s affectionate look, Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow. He originally wanted to mock the other a bit, but then noticed the figure hiding behind the trees not far away. It was none other than Ying Ning.

With this thought, a trace of mocking laughter appeared in Ying Zhao’s eyes. He lifted his head, and his expression towards Huangfu Zhaohong softened considerably as he said, “Alas! Your Highness, in the end, we are fated not to be together.”

Then Ying Zhao leaned in closer to Huangfu Zhaohong and whispered, “Second Prince, the Marquis of Anping’s residence has always been under scrutiny. You must have some idea why Ziyang is in this situation. I’m afraid the Princess and Ning Di will never accept me.”

Even though the Second Prince might be a fool, he still understood that there was something hidden in Ying Zhao’s words. He quickly turned his eyes and said, “Ziyang, do you mean that your current predicament is because of…”

But Ying Zhao suddenly raised a finger to hush him and said, “Second Prince, be careful. Walls have ears! Today is Ziyang’s great day. It is already a blessing to see you; I will take my leave now.”

With that, Ying Zhao turned and left, ignoring Huangfu Zhaohong’s attempts to retain him. He left the prince staring at his departing back, lost in thought. The Second Prince’s heart was filled with uncontainable resentment towards the Princess and Ying Ning.

He felt that Ying Ziyang had always been in a position to reject him while feigning affection, and if it weren’t for the Princess’s scheming, he wouldn’t have had to watch from afar, unable to get close.

Huangfu Zhaohong, though frustrated, didn’t notice Ying Ning hiding in the corner not far from him.

Ying Ning watched their interaction with a fiery resentment, almost burning with anger. Although he couldn’t hear their conversation clearly, Huangfu Zhaohong’s infatuated look as he gazed at Ying Zhao’s back drove him mad with jealousy.

He had admired Huangfu Zhaohong since he was a teenager, and after coming of age, he confessed his feelings to him.

The Second Prince had shown him affection, and they had exchanged tender feelings, practically living as a married couple.

However, unexpectedly, the Second Prince quickly shifted his attention to Ying Ziyang upon seeing him. Although Ying Ning knew Huangfu Zhaohong was fickle, he hadn’t considered his rivals significant.

But Ying Ziyang was different; he had always overshadowed him, excelling in every aspect. He never expected that even the man he liked would admire and openly pursue Ying Ziyang.

Ying Ning, who had served Huangfu Zhaohong in secret for so long, found it unbearable that the Second Prince showed so much respect to Ying Ziyang.

He had thought that by using schemes with his mother, he had resolved the issue with Ying Ziyang and could cut off the Second Prince’s desires. But now, the Second Prince still came to express his feelings on Ying Ziyang’s wedding day!

Ying Ning’s heart was filled with jealousy and hatred. He clenched his fists, looking at Huangfu Zhaohong’s dejected expression as he stared at Ying Zhao’s departing figure, feeling his teeth were about to break from anger, wishing he could tear Ying Zhao’s face apart.

But he regretted that he couldn’t act out or show his displeasure openly, knowing that Huangfu Zhaohong was a cold-hearted person.

To gain the Second Prince’s favor, he needed to maintain a gentle demeanor. If he showed his jealousy too overtly, Huangfu Zhaohong would surely abandon him.

Relying solely on the Princess’s status was not enough to keep Huangfu Zhaohong. He needed more leverage, like controlling the entire Marquis of Anping’s residence!

If he became the heir to the Marquis’s residence and had such power and his mother’s support, Huangfu Zhaohong would no longer be able to come and go as he pleased. His dream of becoming a male consort would no longer be out of reach.

In fact, Ying Zhao knew that even if he told the Second Prince the truth, the prince would not take action. After all, the male lead in this world was a selfish and indifferent person, and true love meant nothing to him.

However, it was still necessary to plant a seed in the Second Prince’s mind. He didn’t believe that with his words, the Second Prince could harbor no resentment towards Ying Ning.

The wedding banquet was grandly organized and lasted until evening, thanks to the old Marquis of Anping’s instructions.

Ying Zhao understood that the Marquis’s elaborate arrangements were actually due to his guilt, making such a grand celebration to give him face.

Ying Zhao appreciated this, knowing it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to marry his lover. He cherished it deeply, so even though he was a bit tired, he didn’t complain.

After everything was finished, Ying Zhao and Lu San finally arrived in the bridal chamber. Ying Zhao thought he could finally rest and enjoy some peace.

However, he was surprised to see two maidservants from the Princess’s side entering the room. One of the maidservants was holding a delicate porcelain wine jug and, without asking, poured them each a cup of wine.

With a stern expression, they looked at Ying Zhao and Lu San and said, “Please drink this cup of marriage wine together.”

Ying Zhao squinted his eyes, knowing that this was the Princess’s instruction. It seemed the Princess was still not completely at ease with Ying Zhao marrying someone else, so she specially sent this spiked wine to be consumed in front of the maidservants.

When the two of them drank the wine, they would undoubtedly consummate the marriage. It was truly shameless of them to press so hard, but Ying Zhao didn’t mind too much; after all, being with his lover was the final step.

As for whether the wine helped, Ying Zhao didn’t care. Seeing Lu San frowning beside him, Ying Zhao proactively picked up the two cups of wine and handed one to Lu San. They drank the wedding wine in front of the two maidservants.

The maidservants, seeing the empty cups, looked at Ying Zhao and Lu San before nodding in satisfaction and leaving the room, leaving the newlyweds alone.

With only Ying Zhao and Lu San left in the room, they stared at each other, which made Ying Zhao find the situation somewhat amusing.

However, the hehua (hibiscus) wine they had just drunk seemed to be quite potent. Ying Zhao soon felt a subtle, indescribable heat spreading through his body.

Turning to look at Lu San, he noticed that the other’s breathing seemed a bit unsteady as well. Ying Zhao blinked, thinking it was just some added spice between lovers.

After all, no matter what, he would be with the man, and he wasn’t concerned about the details of whether it happened sooner or later. Smiling with relief, Ying Zhao moved closer to Lu San, wanting to be nearer to him.

Just as he was about to say something to Lu San, he saw Lu San suddenly shove a pill into his mouth.

Ying Zhao was taken aback by the sudden dose and watched as Lu San swallowed another pill. After Lu San finished, he turned to Ying Zhao and urgently gestured for him to swallow the pill.

Understanding Lu San’s meaning, Ying Zhao swallowed the pill, confusedly asking, “What exactly did you just give me?”

Lu San replied nonchalantly, “This is an antidote given to me by Lu Yi. He said it was for antidote use, in case we were given some strange things before the wedding night. If you feel unwell, just take this medicine, and it will help.”

Hearing Lu San’s words, Ying Zhao couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. He felt that being foolish had its advantages; here was a benefit he had nearly missed out on.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yi had thought so thoroughly. As soon as the pill was swallowed, a cooling sensation spread through Ying Zhao’s body, dispelling the previous heat.

The atmosphere between Ying Zhao and Lu San in the room was quite pleasant. However, when the door was closed, the two maidservants hadn’t gone far before the Marquis of Anping arrived.

Even though he had made thorough preparations today and preserved Ying Zhao’s status as heir, he still felt uneasy.

So he decided to check their bridal chamber. To his surprise, he saw the two maidservants carrying a wine jug leaving Ying Zhao’s courtyard.

As for what was in the wine jug, the Marquis could easily guess. The fact that his legitimate son had to marry another man as a male spouse had already caused him great guilt. Now, drinking such wine, was it not making a pretense into reality?

In a moment of impulse, the Marquis threw the wine jug forcefully to the ground and shouted at the maidservants, “Get out!”

Then he quickly ran to the door, pressing his hand against it as if to push it open. But at that moment, the Princess arrived in the courtyard.

This was her plan. She felt resentful at being outwitted by the Marquis and Ying Zhao and naturally didn’t want Ying Zhao to get through this easily. She didn’t expect the Marquis to discover it so quickly.

Seeing the Marquis’s reaction, the Princess immediately spoke, “Lord Marquis, are you really disregarding the entire Marquis of Anping’s residence? This cheering-up ceremony isn’t just a formality. If others find out that their marriage is merely for show, it would be bad. If anything happens to the Emperor’s brother, the entire residence will be implicated. Lord Marquis, you should think this through!”

Hearing the Princess’s words, the Marquis of Anping reluctantly withdrew his hand. He clenched his fists and turned to stare at the Princess with a look of betrayal, feeling as if he had never truly known her.

Although marrying this woman was never his intention, he had always suspected and felt guilty about the death of his late wife. Despite his suspicions, he had no evidence, and the Princess had always acted virtuous in front of him, backed by the royal family. Thus, although he had no love for her, he had always shown her respect, hoping she would treat Ziyang better.

Yet, it turned out he was too naive. Now, the Princess was trying to harm his beloved son right in front of him. Truly, there is nothing more poisonous than a woman’s heart.

Seeing the Marquis’s expression, the Princess felt wronged and pained. She had loved him for so many years, and had gone to great lengths to become his wife.

Unexpectedly, he looked at her as if she were an enemy. All her sincere feelings seemed to have been wasted. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to hate the Marquis, but her resentment towards Ying Zhao grew stronger.

She never considered that she had forced the Marquis to marry her and even driven the Marquis’s most beloved person to death.

Such forceful acts and breaking up others’ marriages, stubbornly marrying someone who didn’t love her, could never bring true happiness.

The Marquis of Anping closed his eyes in pain, taking a deep breath. He knew everything was the Princess’s scheme. But if he charged in now to prevent the consummation, and if it were revealed, he wouldn’t be able to protect Ying Zhao. So he could only lower his head and leave with a heavy heart.

As for Ying Zhao and Lu San in the room, they naturally heard the commotion outside. However, Ying Zhao wasn’t worried. This act had to be performed thoroughly. The Marquis of Anping indeed couldn’t stop it. Ying Zhao knew that once the Marquis returned to his room, Lu Yi would certainly report the antidote to him.