What an Audacious and Sly Servant! - Chapter 65

Chapter 65 – The Promised Place

The years since the world existed, the amount of Emperors who travelled incognito had been countless. For the official historians, an Emperor going out of the palace was actually not a huge matter. The other officials also thought so.

Chu Xun ordered the Grand Chancellor and Senior Official Song to remain at the capital city and take care of the overall situation while he travelled incognito to the Qi Yang City. Throughout the journey he was extremely plain and low-keyed. On the surface, he only took Xiao Jing Zi as a simple page to serve him and not even a single bodyguard was brought along. The commoners absolutely never thought he would do so. However, secretly, the shadow guards in the palace and the martial arts experts under Zhao Mo Ran’s command worked together, protecting Chu Xun tightly.

Every night, there would be urgent memorandums sent over from the palace. They were brought by a black clothes man with strong martial arts and like a wind, put on Chu Xun’s working table. There were one or two people among the curious Qi Yang City citizens who would secretly climbed up the southern mountain slope and hid behind the big stone. They wanted to see the appearance of the immortal and how he would stop the demon. In the end, they didn’t see the rumoured immortal. They only felt that that tree shadow was dancing, flickering in the wind were strands of killing intent and they vaguely kept seeing numerous moving shadows yet when they rubbed their eyes it was like their eyes were blurred. It was extremely shivering. They finally couldn’t hold the terror in their heart as they immediately escaped.

After several days of such occurrences, spreading in the various streets of Qi Yang City was the demon at the southern mountain slope was haunting around. Only then no more people dared to climb up there to peek.

Chu Xun was glad of the peace. The sunlight at the southern mountain slope was just nice. He sat at the courtyard, drinking tea while enjoying the plums. Only Xiao Jing Zi was chattering annoyingly at his side, “Young Master, we had left the palace for many days already. Do you want to stay at here forever? The capital city, urging nonstop and daily……”

Chu Xun hooked his finger at him, Xiao Jing Zi bent his body over, “What order does Young Master have?”

He had yet to receive Chu Xun’s reply when his body suddenly turned stiff and numb. He couldn’t move at all. Chu Xun pulled back his finger and stood up. “I’m going to do proper business now. The acupoint will release by itself an hour later. You don’t need to look for me.”

Chu Xun actually came to Qi Yang City for two matters.

One of them was due to his many years wish. That year, Chu Xun had promised Mei Qian Deng a house. Mei Qian Deng asked Chu Xun to prepare one big house at Qi Yang City. The whole big family would be there enjoying the plum flowers together during vacation. It would be very satisfying and merry. These few years had passed yet Chu Xun still remembered this promise. Now, the big house had been brought but where was that person now?

The second one was to solve the extremely urgent national treasury problem.  Although the world belonged to the Chu family, not much of the money in the world entered the national treasury. Instead, they were taken into the wealthy merchants’ pockets. To be able to make the Emperor put down the Son of Heaven’s status and personally left the palace to seek him, other than those otherworldly genius at Zhuge Kongming[1]’s level, probably there was no other people. But, Chu Xun just had to be a flexible Emperor. When he was keen on saving his own face, he always said he was the nation’s most handsome man. When he turned shameless, he was far inferior compared to the roadside weeds. He had decided, to borrow some money from the nation’s wealthiest family, Qian family’s Qian Wan San[2].

The aforementioned Qian Wan San was indeed wealthy. Half of the shops in the empire belonged to Qian family. Having a different reason but similar result with the rumour of the thousand years old plum tree turning into a demon, the commoners spread stories that Qian family had a treasure bowl which was the God of Prosperity’s treasured item that accidentally fell to the mortal world. The ancestor of Qian family picked it up and enshrined it at their ancestral hall. It would vomit out numerous amount of gold, silver, treasures and jewels every day.

Chu Xun had sent people to check it out. On Qian Wan San’s body, there was no treasure bowl. He had a weird temper instead. Firstly, this person was very stingy. This couldn’t be counted as much. Most wealthy people were stingy or else they couldn’t gather their wealth. Secondly, this person didn’t do business with the officials since he believed it was not worth becoming the imperial merchant. Right, he was this wilful. With just these two reasons, this Chu Xun’s idea to borrow money from Qian Wan San, appeared to have not even a bit of hope and victory. Thankfully, the Heaven never sealed off all the exits. Qian Wan San also had a fondness for——beauty-con[3].

The otherworldly handsome Emperor Chu Xun thought, it was time for him to sell off his sexual charms!

Recently Qian Wan San was at Qi Yang City too to enjoy the plum flowers. He stayed at the city’s best inn, Qian Lai Inn[4].

Chu Xun lightly clapped his hand. Mo Biao immediately appeared from above, “Young Master?”

“Where is Qian Wan San right now?”

“Replying to Young Master, he’s in the inn reconciling the accounts with his steward.”

“Prepare the carriage, go to Qian Lai Inn.”

“Yes!” After saying so, young miss Mo Biao disappeared instantly.

After that, Chu Xun fished out a small mirror from his chest and looked at his reflection from all angles. En, very good, perfect!

Mo Biao’s efficiency was remarkably high. Chu Xun had just put back the mirror when she reappeared suddenly. The carriage was already waiting outside the gate. Chu Xun nodded. With an elegant and smart bearing he left the house.

Not so long after this brother left, Xiao Jing Zi was still stuck at the same place, unable to move. Xiao Jing Zi was swearing in his heart: So many shadow guards saw he got hit by His Majesty. No matter what, they’re still people who are serving His Majesty together, they’re colleagues yet none of them have the sympathy to help him to release the acupoint.

Under the sun, it was not really cold. But the empty courtyard, the shadow guards must had already followed Chu Xun to the city. Xiao Jing Zi originally was timid. His eyes which were the only ones could move turned around with tears at the corner of his eyes.

He seemed to be afraid of something appearing. A moment ago, the sunshine was still good when in the next moment, a big cloud covered the sun. Xiao Jing Zi’s head turned dim and the winds whistled. In an instant, it turned cold by several degrees. The weather on the mountain changed easily. It was a natural phenomenon yet Xiao Jing Zi became more afraid the more he thought. He crazily recited soundlessly: Amitābha, amitābha, amitābha!

Suddenly, pususu[5]——the plum flower were like dandruff as it drifted down. It was as if there was a pair of invisible hands in the air wrecking the branch for it to drift down unnaturally.

Then, hula[6]——Xiao Jing Zi heard something flying around in the air. He instinctively felt there was something behind him. However, his acupoint had been hit. He couldn’t turn his head around. This was the place which scared others the most. Various possibilities instantly appeared in Xiao Jing Zi’s mind. Bird? No, no, no! With that movement, it should be an ostrich at least. A colleague’s practical joke? No, no, no! Those shadows guards were inflexible. The clothes hanging on the bamboo pole got blew down by the wind? No, no, no, the clothes were drying at the courtyard in front, how could it run to his back……

Xiao Jing Zi difficultly gulped. It must be him thinking too much. Stay calm, stay calm!

“Hehehe……” A girl’s tender laughter was transmitted from a very far place. “Hehehe……” In the next moment, he already heard it right beside his ear. Xiao Jing Zi’s fine hairs stood upright at once and he had goose bumps all over his body. He inhaled the chilly air and held it all inside his lungs. He forgot to exhale. His mind was a big mess.

Mummy!!!!!

It couldn’t be that the rumour was true. There was really a plum flower demon eating human?

Xiao Jing Zi had followed Chu Xun since the former was young. He might have been infected with some of his temperaments such as being smug. He closed his eyes and silently called his ancestor for protection. Then he cried, Great Immortal please spare my life. This lowly one indeed looks quite beautiful and healthy, although this lowly one really want to serve you too, this lowly one is a eunuch! You better go other place.

After a long time, even Xiao Jing Zi’s acupoint had been released before he slowly returned to his sense. He slowly moved his body. In this courtyard, other than him, there was no other weird thing. The big cloud passed, the sun revealed itself again and shone upon his body warmly.

Xiao Jing Zi scratched his head with one hand while the other hand pulled out the crotch of his trousers. To think he got scared of his own imagination until wetted himself a bit.

Chu Xun rode the carriage to the entrance of the Qian Lai Inn. The carriage driver pushed away the curtain. The moment his peerless handsome revealed, he immediately drew the attention of the masses around. Although Qi Yang City was where the wealthy people gathered, they had never seen any young masters more handsome than his. Adding with that temperament all over his body, it was simply a shiny gem which glittered and dazzling to the eyes.

“This patron, stopping for a rest or staying at the inn?” A waiter warmly welcomed him. Working at this place where people moved about, the waiter had learnt a pair of sharp eyes and could distinguish a wealthy person the most.

“I want to meet your Boss Qian to discuss a business.”

“Patron please wait inside.”

The waiter led him to sit at a table nearby the window. Soon, the manager came forward and asked Chu Xun, “This Young Lord, do you have a visiting card?”

Chu Xun shook his head, “This one surnames Song. Single-character given name is Long. I heard Boss Qian wants to do maritime business and specially came here to ask for a collaboration.”

“Asking Young Master Song to wait a moment. This lowly one will go report.”

The manager left for quite some time. Chu Xun let the waiter served a pot of tea. He drank tea while watching the scenery outside the window. Qi Yang City was a tourism city. Numerous individuality inns were opened along the street. As far as Chu Xun knew, the boss of the inns were courtesans. One person per shop. The inns were small yet exquisite, pursuing all categories of tasteful skills. They were especially attractive to those literates who thought too highly of themselves. Especially when the plum flowers bloom, the literates from various places rushed over to show off enjoying the plum flowers. The inns were mostly full.

Chu Xun was enjoying himself watching when the manager came down. He bent his body to greet Chu Xun, “Young Master Song, I’m very sorry. Our b0ss is not convenient to meet you. This pot of tea is free, boss said treating you a drink as a compensation.”

Qian Wan San didn’t want to meet him?

Chu Xun played with the teacup in his hand. Although this was within his calculation, he still was slightly disappointed. He lightly smiled, “To think Boss Qian is not available today. Wu, since it’s like this, then this one will come again tomorrow.”

The manager met Chu Xun’s eyes, he opened his mouth yet no words came out. The manager blinked his eyes forcefully. How could he indulge himself in a man’s beauty! All visitors were guests, the manager couldn’t bring himself to speak directly. Our boss actually doesn’t want to collaborate with you. It’s useless even if you come again tomorrow. He could only respectfully retreat, “Then, Young Master Song, do as you pleases.”

Ever since Xiao Jing Zi stayed alone in the house and got scared, he turned into a terribly suspicious person. When he saw Chu Xun returned, he was like a puppy as he rushed to his master, “Young Master~~~~~~”

Chu Xun frowned slightly and took half a step backward while glaring at him with a stern face. What is wrong with this kid today?

Xiao Jing Zi pulled Chu Xun’s sleeves and carefully said, “Young Master, when you’re not around, I think I had touched some dirty things in the house.”

“You’re not sick right?”

Xiao Jing Zi cried without tears as he shook his head nonstop.

“It can’t be I have yet to master hitting acupoints and accidentally ruined somewhere on your body due to the hit?”

“……”

Xiao Jing Zi hugged his face as he ran. But he really felt there was something wrong.

For example, when he went to the toilet at night. He was squatting on his heels while mulling over something when he suddenly saw a pair of white shoes walked past. In the big house, no one wore white shoes though! Plus, the shoes were obviously very small, they were girl’s legs. He pulled up his trousers as he ran to Chu Xun’s room. Chu Xun rolled his eyes at Xiao Jing Zi, “If it’s a girl ghost, how come she has legs?” Then, he called over Mo Biao and asked if there was any suspicious people entered the house. Mo Biao beat her chest as she assured them that even a fly couldn’t enter.

Another example, when Xiao Jing Zi was preparing food for Chu Xun in the morning, there was obviously ten pieces of tofu cakes. In the time of turning his head to make tea, when he looked back at the small plate two pieces of them were missing. He grabbed the small plate and complained tearfully to Chu Xun. He received an annoyed face of Chu Xun instead, “Your counting had been bad since you’re small.”

/(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

To let Xiao Jing Zi calm down, Chu Xun assigned a shadow guard for him. He specially ordered, “Not a moment of leaving Jing gonggong, at night you have to accompany Jing gonggong to sleep too.” Xiao Jing Zi didn’t want to see at all that shadow guard’s trying hard to contain his desire to kill himself expression.

[1] Courtesy name of Zhuge Liang, a military leader and prime minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.

[2] Literally, Money (Qian) Ten Thousand (Wan) Three (San).

[3] Something like siscon or brocon but this is towards anything that is beautiful. I don’t know how to put it in better words. Anyone who have any idea do share what other better term for this.

[4] Literally, Money Come Inn.

[5] Sound of something trickling down.

[6] Flapping sound.