ISWTDB Ch72

Chapter 72: The Secret Guard is Mentally Ill (9,10)

Otherwise, with the Princess’s character, how could she not say a few polite words? She directly criticized him. Ying Zhao raised an eyebrow, smiling at the Princess, and said:

“On the wedding day, being a bit sleepy is indeed my fault. Of course, Mother, you always understand etiquette best; this is something everyone in the Marquis’s residence knows.”

The Princess felt something odd in her heart upon hearing Ying Zhao’s words. Before she could say anything, Ying Zhao continued, “In a few days will be the anniversary of my birth mother’s death. Mother, as the father’s second wife, you naturally understand etiquette. You will certainly follow the rules to offer incense and kneel to pray for your sister, won’t you?”

Hearing Ying Zhao’s words, the Princess’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected that the usually inarticulate Ying Ziyang would suddenly become so eloquent.

According to ancestral rules, it was indeed the case. Even though she was a Princess and of royal blood, once married, she couldn’t avoid it. Although she was elevated to the position of a principal wife upon entering the residence, the mistress of the Marquis’s residence was still the Marquis’s first wife. She had to respectfully refer to her as elder sister.

Only after the Marquis’s first wife passed away could she, as the second wife, fully be established. However, the Princess had always harbored resentment toward Ying Ziyang’s birth mother and had never properly worshipped her.

She had always been perfunctory, never seriously paying respects. Now, when she tried to use etiquette to suppress Ying Zhao, he turned it around on her. He even required her to kneel and offer incense for that woman and pray for her!

The Princess was unwilling to comply, but when she turned to see the Marquis of Anping glaring at her, she could not bring herself to curse or refuse.

Her face changed several times before she gritted her teeth and said to Ying Zhao, “Naturally, according to etiquette, I will offer incense and pray for my elder sister.”

Ying Zhao nodded in satisfaction and then, with Lu San, offered tea to the Princess and the Marquis. Offering tea was a trivial matter to Ying Zhao.

Because she had not gained an advantage from Ying Zhao earlier, the Princess was even more displeased and unwilling to see Ying Zhao’s face. After drinking the tea, the Princess, having lost interest in her lengthy lecture, said a few casual words and waved them away.

Ying Zhao did not know that his recent actions had actually earned him some peace and quiet. After leaving, he and Lu San wandered in the Marquis’s garden.

Ying Zhao enjoyed the good weather and the fresh morning breeze and thought of strolling a bit longer with Lu San. But noticing that Lu San kept touching his stomach, he realized that Lu San was hungry.

They had been called up early to offer tea and had not yet had breakfast. So, Ying Zhao led Lu San to a pavilion in the garden and had the servants bring a hearty breakfast. He thought they could enjoy the meal in the pavilion with the beautiful scenery.

Lu San, naturally, did not notice the scenery. In his eyes, only Ying Zhao, the beauty, mattered. To him, no scenery could compare to the person in front of him. So, he took a bite of the delicious food and then looked at Ying Zhao.

Lu San found the meal particularly delicious, and Ying Zhao, seeing Lu San eat a large mouthful while looking at him, couldn’t help but smile. He lightly tapped Lu San’s forehead and said, “Why do you keep looking at me? Am I your side dish?”

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Lu San seriously nodded in agreement. Ying Zhao displayed a radiant smile, finding his lover truly adorable.

After Lu San had eaten enough, Ying Zhao pinched his chin, looked into Lu San’s eyes, and gently asked, “Do you think I’m too sharp and harsh?”

Lu San, upon hearing Ying Zhao’s question, shook his head vigorously. In his heart, his master was the best, and how could he be sharp or harsh!

Ying Zhao smiled slightly and said softly, “But I lost my temper early this morning and had that old maid sold off. Just now, I also confronted the Princess. Although she’s not my biological mother, she is considered a mother by status. This is indeed a form of disrespect to elders.”

Unexpectedly, Lu San immediately denied Ying Zhao’s words, “No, Young Master did nothing wrong! They were the ones who made things difficult for you! I, I’m not good with words and not very bright. But if someone spoke to me like that, I’d want to hit them, so you did nothing wrong.”

Hearing Lu San’s words, Ying Zhao’s gaze became even more gentle. He touched Lu San’s cheek, leaned in, and kissed his forehead. As expected, Lu San’s face turned red, looking like a cooked shrimp.

The two of them gazed at each other affectionately, creating a sense of peaceful contentment. However, they were so focused on each other that they did not notice Ying Ning, who was passing by the entrance to the garden, looking at them with shock.

Originally, Ying Ning thought that Ying Ziyang, being proud and high-spirited, must be suffering in his marriage to another man. Unexpectedly, not only had he managed to secure a position in the Marquis’s residence, but he also managed to captivate the notorious Huoyi. Seeing the so-called rogue looking so focused on Ying Zhao, Ying Ning felt a surge of anger.

Why, why do all these men bow down before him? Is Ying Ziyang truly so charming that I, Ying Ning, will forever be suppressed? 

Moreover, Ying Ning was surprised to see Ying Ziyang taking the initiative to kiss Huoyi. Yesterday, he heard from his mother that she specifically had servants bring some Hehuan wine for them, which indicated that their marriage was consummated.

Could it be that Huoyi is truly exceptional and has subdued Ying Ziyang with various methods? Looking at how Ying Ziyang seems to genuinely like Huoyi, Ying Ning thought that if Ying Ziyang had truly fallen for Huoyi, it might not be a bad thing. Considering the humiliation he suffered last night, if he could be with Huoyi, it would hit Ying Ziyang hard and let him taste the feeling of having his beloved taken away.

Ying Ning’s gaze shifted to Lu San, admiring his handsome face and robust physique. He thought that although he might not match Ying Ziyang in appearance, he considered himself to have more charm than the dull Ying Ziyang.

Currently, the second prince’s infatuation with his younger brother was merely due to the allure of the unattainable. If one truly got it, one would realize that such a person, lacking in interest, would not be to his liking.

Thinking this, Ying Ning stopped avoiding and walked straight toward Ying Zhao and Lu San.

When he saw Ying Zhao, Ying Ning put on a sweet smile and greeted him, “Brother, congratulations on your wedding.”

Ying Zhao, seeing Ying Ning approach, suppressed his smile and gave a faint nod.

Seeing Ying Zhao’s aloof demeanor, a flash of hatred crossed Ying Ning’s eyes. He turned to Lu San and, with a gentle smile, said, “This must be Brother’s husband. I didn’t have the chance to visit you when you came to the residence a few days ago. I saw you at the wedding, and indeed you are tall, strong, and handsome. I’ll offer a cup of tea to you instead of wine.”

Saying this, Ying Ning poured two cups of tea and offered them to Lu San. While presenting the tea, he deliberately showed his better side to Lu San, his eyes gleaming with flirtation, which made Ying Zhao feel disgusted.

Although Ying Ning’s talent and looks were not as good as Ying Ziyang’s, he was the Princess’s son and a legitimate child of the Marquis of Anping’s residence. To be so blatantly flirtatious with his just-married brother-in-law was shameless.

Lu San looked at the tea Ying Ning offered with a frown, feeling very uncomfortable. Ying Ning’s manner of speaking and his gaze made Lu San feel quite uneasy.

His eyes kept darting toward Lu San, which made him even more irritated. He thought to quickly drink the tea and have Ying Ning leave, so he nodded and took the tea from Ying Ning’s hand.

However, Ying Ning took the opportunity to touch Lu San’s palm. Lu San frowned, feeling displeased, and directly put the tea cup down on the table. He then rubbed his palm on his clothing and muttered, “If you’re offering tea, just offer it. Why are you scratching my hand?”

Ying Ning was taken aback by Lu San’s reaction. His face changed from red to white, but he quickly adopted a wronged expression and said, “Brother-in-law, how can you accuse me like this? When did I scratch your hand? It was just a slight touch while offering tea! Don’t make such false accusations; it’s damaging my reputation!”

Lu San glared at Ying Ning. He was sure of his own senses and abilities and could clearly tell whether it was intentional or not. But he worried that if his master thought he was not only dull-witted but also mistaken in his perceptions, it might affect his standing. So, he said to Ying Ning in an irritated tone, “You clearly did it on purpose. If you don’t admit it, you’re still saying others are wrong. If you have a problem with your eyes, go see a doctor. Your gaze keeps wandering. You really should get your eyes checked. It’s uncomfortable to have someone staring at you like this!”

Ying Ning was choked by Lu San’s words and felt deeply humiliated. Seeing Ying Zhao, who was suppressing a smile, he could no longer maintain his pretense of grace. He slammed the tea cup onto the table and angrily left with a flick of his sleeve.

As soon as Ying Ning turned around, he immediately heard Ying Zhao’s loud laughter from behind, which made Ying Ning so angry that he hurriedly ran out of the garden.

Ying Zhao clapped his thigh vigorously, feeling that his own man was simply a divine assistant, causing Ying Ning to be enraged with just a few words.

After laughing enough, wiping the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, he said to Lu San, “You’ve thoroughly offended him now.”

Lu San, hearing Ying Zhao’s words, didn’t care at all and said, “It has nothing to do with me how he thinks. Besides, I only spoke the truth. If you have a problem, you should go see a doctor.”

Seeing Lu San’s earnest response and his apparent concern for the other party, Ying Zhao was delighted and laughed again. Lu San, seeing Ying Zhao laughing so heartily, was puzzled, not knowing what exactly he had done to make his master so happy.

But as long as Ying Zhao was happy, Lu San was also happy. So, he sat beside Ying Zhao, smiling faintly as he looked at his beloved laughing joyfully.

Ying Zhao noticed Lu San staring at him and turned to ask, “Why are you staring at me? Do I look good?”

Without hesitation, Lu San nodded in response. Seeing Lu San’s reaction, Ying Zhao’s eyes softened immediately, thinking he adored his lover’s straightforwardness.

However, the marriage with his beloved was only the beginning. Ying Zhao, having some free time a few days ago, had inquired about the old emperor Huangfu Yu’s illness from Xiao Bai.

From Xiao Bai, he learned that the old emperor Huangfu Yu was indeed old, and his bodily functions were deteriorating. Therefore, regardless of whether Ying Ziyang would marry to bring good fortune, the old emperor’s life would not last more than a month.

Later, Ying Zhao asked Xiao Bai whether the system’s power could be used to extend the emperor’s life. Of course, he did not want to drastically change the fate of the world, only to make the old emperor regain consciousness.

According to Xiao Bai, with the system’s power, if it was solely for healing purposes and did not consume a large amount of energy, it was possible to extend Huangfu Yu’s life by a few months.

Ying Zhao was satisfied with this answer. A few extra months was enough. However, Ying Zhao would not do this for free and needed to make adequate preparations before treating Emperor Huangfu Yu.

That afternoon, Ying Zhao went to the Marquis of Anping’s study under the pretext of discussing old times with his father. Seeing Ying Zhao come to him with a serious expression, Marquis of Anping thought something was wrong.

He hurriedly walked up to Ying Zhao, observing him carefully, and said cautiously, “Ziyang, did you come to find me because something happened?”

Ying Zhao nodded, dismissed the servants in the room, and said to the Marquis of Anping, “Father, although I have married according to the decree, it is not a long-term solution. What’s most important now is to help the emperor regain consciousness as soon as possible. For many years, although the emperor favored the Princess, he has also held the Marquis of Anping’s residence in high regard. If the emperor could regain consciousness, he would definitely not agree to the heir of the Marquis of Anping’s residence marrying someone as a male wife.”

Overall, Emperor Huangfu Yu was still a wise ruler. If he were still awake, many of the subsequent matters would be guaranteed.

The Marquis of Anping frowned upon hearing this. He, of course, hoped that the emperor would wake up soon, but such things could not be achieved merely by wishing.

Seeing that Ying Zhao’s marriage had already taken place and the emperor’s condition remained unchanged, Ying Zhao, seeing the Marquis of Anping’s troubled expression, decided to be straightforward and said to him:

“Father, I’ve heard that there are famous doctors and secret medicines in the Western Regions. Although the news we have is quite vague and uncertain, it’s worth a try. I hope you can lend me two of your shadow guards to help me investigate this matter.”

The Marquis of Anping knew that the Western Regions were known for their strange people and events. If there was truly a secret medicine, it was worth exploring. Moreover, even though the matter seemed temporarily resolved, it was still not completely secure.

If Ying Zhao could find an opportunity and bring back something to restore the emperor’s health, it could turn the situation around and bring new hope.

Thus, he nodded without hesitation and said to Ying Zhao, “No problem. I will send Lu Er and Lu Wu with you. Don’t touch Lu Yi and Lu San. Lu San needs to maintain the appearance of being your husband in public. With Lu Yi here, Lu San’s situation will be more stable. Ziyang, remember to prioritize your own safety.”

Hearing this, Ying Zhao felt warmth in his heart and nodded to the Marquis of Anping. He then selected several capable individuals from the Marquis’s residence, had them prepare their belongings, and sent them off in groups towards the Western Regions.

However, to the outside world, he did not mention looking for anything specific but only said he wanted to find some treasures. He thought that the spices and fabrics from there were quite unique and might be a profitable business.

After all, there were many sordid affairs in the palace. If the emperor died, the second prince would succeed to the throne. If someone found out there was a hope to restore the old emperor’s health, Ying Zhao feared that the Empress Dowager might take action in the palace for her own benefit.

Ying Zhao’s grand display was merely to set up a coincidence for the future. As for the secret medicine, there was none. But with the system Xiao Bai, deceiving others was easy. Once the time was right, he could proceed with the next step.

So, in the recent days at the Marquis’s residence, Ying Zhao continued to enjoy his peaceful life with his beloved, spending every night together.

Lu San was indeed simple-minded. Whatever Ying Zhao asked him, he answered. He was always by Ying Zhao’s side, which made Ying Zhao very happy.

However, in Lu San’s heart, he liked being by Ying Zhao’s side not just because of the Marquis’s orders or because Ying Zhao was his master, but because Lu San felt happy just seeing this person.

Lu San liked to see Ying Zhao smile and enjoy the gentle way he spoke to him. Especially when Ying Zhao would sometimes kiss him, Lu San felt it was sweeter than honey.

So, Lu San behaved even more obediently in front of Ying Zhao. Whatever Ying Zhao asked him to do, he would do it. When he performed well, Ying Zhao would sometimes give him a kiss, and Lu San felt happier than he had in the past twenty years.

Every day, he slept beside his fragrant master, who always had the kitchen prepare many delicious dishes for him, never minding his large appetite.

Lu San wished he could spend his whole life like this with Ying Zhao. He liked watching his master and being with him.

As long as he saw Ying Zhao smile at him, Lu San felt his heart swell with warmth, and his chest felt hot. But when he couldn’t see Ying Zhao, he felt anxious and couldn’t bear it.

Lu San didn’t understand why he felt this way and was worried he might be ill, so he went to ask Lu Yi.

When Lu Yi heard Lu San’s words, his heart skipped a beat. His eyebrows furrowed, and he stared at Lu San with a serious expression for a while before asking, “Have you told the young master about this?”

Lu San shook his head. He wanted to tell his master and let him know his feelings, but Lu San couldn’t express himself and didn’t know how. That’s why he went to ask Lu Yi. However, Lu Yi shook his head and said:

“Lu San, you mustn’t let the young master know about your feelings. Otherwise, you’ll never see him again.”

Lu San was immediately alarmed by Lu Yi’s words. Lu Yi had always taken care of him and never lied. The old marquis had also said to listen to Lu Yi’s advice.

So, if Lu Yi said that revealing his feelings to his master would mean he would never see him again, it must be true.

But for some reason, Lu San felt a bit sour inside, even more so than eating sour fruit, because he couldn’t let his master know.

However, to be able to see his master every day, Lu San decided to endure it. He nodded to Lu Yi and left dejectedly.

Lu Yi, seeing Lu San like this, also felt troubled. Lu San had been with him since childhood; Lu Yi regarded Lu San as his own brother.

Although dark guards were not supposed to have personal feelings, Lu Yi had worked hard and even earned the position of head dark guard through his efforts. His main hope was to accumulate enough merit to secure a better future for Lu San.

Despite their skills, dark guards were still considered lowly and, to many masters, merely useful tools.

Lu Yi was always content with his own situation, having no interest in other things. They lived a perilous life, and if one day they lost their lives, it wouldn’t be surprising. As an orphan with no expectations for his own future, Lu Yi only hoped for Lu San to live well.

He had raised Lu San since he was young, and perhaps because of Lu San’s innocence or their daily companionship, Lu Yi had long considered Lu San his only family.

He didn’t care about his own well-being; he just hoped his brother could one day live a normal life. Even if it were as an ordinary farmer, working from dawn to dusk.

Perhaps he would remarry someone who wasn’t particularly beautiful but was virtuous, have a lovely child, and live a peaceful and joyful life—that was Lu Yi’s only wish.

If Lu San liked someone else, Lu Yi would try to help him. But Lu San had set his sights on the heir of the Marquis of Anping’s residence, their master.

Even though they were married now, it was a fake marriage. Lu Yi was genuinely worried that if the marquis found out Lu San’s feelings, he might punish him or even take his life. Sighing in helplessness, Lu Yi only hoped that Lu San would soon abandon his feelings.