Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Morning in the Duanmu household was as chaotic as ever.
It began when Fusheng Duan stood beside the well in thought. Little Siran Ming sprinted over and tried unsuccessfully to shove him in, ending up awkwardly hanging from Fusheng’s leg.
Fortunately, the passing good citizen, Miss Zhou, stopped Fusheng from grabbing little Siran by the neck and throwing him down the well. She shouted for Weiqing Song, who stood nearby enjoying the spectacle, to hurry over and help, preventing the tragedy of the mighty Yong emperor becoming a well ghost.
But that was merely the beginning.
After breakfast, little Siran “accidentally” threw a cup of hot tea at Fusheng. Prepared in advance, Fusheng dodged–and happened to move behind Weiqing.
Thus, the outcome in which only Weiqing suffered was finally achieved.
Looking at the water dripping from Weiqing’s chin, Shengsheng Zhou wiped his face and consoled him. “It’s all right, Imperial Brother. A dead pig doesn’t fear boiling water.”
Weiqing finally exploded.
Consequently, Qingbai, who had finally reached the house, entered to find a chaotic battle underway.
Pardon the interruption. Wrong house.
—Here comes the divider—
Fusheng untied the little bottle fastened to Qingbai’s leg, stroked its head, and said, “You’ve worked hard.” Only then did he remove the stopper and look inside.
A voice emerged from the bottle. “Give it to me after we arrive. Hold on to it for now.”
Qingbai: “…”
At the thought that the bottle contained human blood–the blood of the phoenix’s bride, no less–Fusheng’s stomach began cramping, and he fought the urge to vomit.
He had also told Shengsheng about the treasure.
Yet Shengsheng, who usually valued wealth as much as life itself, seemed completely indifferent and merely nodded.
That surprised Fusheng.
He had no idea that while he explained it, Shengsheng was lost in her imagined romantic drama and had not understood a word.
As a result, halfway through their errand, Fusheng and Weiqing happened to catch Shengsheng following them with a parrot perched on her head, curious about what they were doing.
“We don’t know what dangers await. Go back,” Weiqing ordered sternly.
Fusheng said nothing. After all, Weiqing had never witnessed her supernatural ability to shoot green-furred zombies with golden beams from her eyes.
Fusheng truly had been on the verge of fainting then, but Shengsheng’s roar of “This lady makes her dazzling entrance!” shocked him awake for an instant.
It allowed him to witness her heroic bearing perfectly clearly.
“Imperial Brother, both of you are injured. How could I possibly rest easy?” Shengsheng asked with a face full of concern.
Weiqing spun around once. “Where am I injured?”
Shengsheng shook her head with an expression that said she understood, then struck her own chest with a fist. “Your wound is here.”
Afraid he would not understand, she even mimed the giant clam blossoming.
Weiqing: “…” If Imperial Father someday loses a daughter, it absolutely will not be my doing.
While Weiqing stormed ahead alone, Shengsheng secretly held Fusheng’s hand behind him, wrapped an arm around his neck, and stole a kiss from his lips.
But whenever Weiqing looked back, he invariably saw the two maintaining a clear distance, looking like gentlemen whose friendship was as mild as water.
Eventually, even Weiqing sensed something wrong. He forcibly inserted himself between them and walked abreast.
Seeing Weiqing’s guarded expression, Fusheng remarked flatly, “It’s rather bright today.”
Weiqing Song looked baffled. “Of course. When am I ever not dazzling?”
Shengsheng Zhou could not help laughing beside him.
*Don’t worry, Imperial Brother. If anyone calls you stupid in the future, I’ll be the first to punch them and sternly demand how they could say such a thing. The fact that Imperial Brother is an idiot should be announced by this princess personally!*
Weiqing: “…” No need. Such great kindness could never be repaid.
Their destination was underground once again.
The cave entrance lay among the roots of a tree so enormous that ten adults holding hands could barely encircle it.
When Fusheng Duan came last time, he would never have noticed anything unusual about the tree if a rabbit had not accidentally fallen inside.
Shengsheng: “…”
Why did that story sound so familiar? Had the rabbit been holding a pocket watch?
Watching Duan-lise expertly order Weiqing to pull aside the countless thick vines tangled together, Shengsheng peered down.
Mm. The bottom could not be seen.
Weiqing the laborer asked suspiciously, “You cleared them away last time. Why can’t you do it now?”
Looking at the filthy vines and dust drifting from the cave, Fusheng stepped back, covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief, and handed Shengsheng one as well.
“I didn’t clear them last time either.” His voice sounded muffled behind the cloth.
Weiqing raised a brow.
Fusheng casually beckoned. A fierce wind suddenly swept past, followed by a clear, piercing birdcall.
When Shengsheng and Weiqing looked up, they saw a dense flock perched among the lush branches overhead. The largest bird, trailing long tail feathers, lowered its head and watched them.
He was presumably the flock’s leader and the source of the earlier cry.
As expected of the King of All Birds.
Shengsheng applauded.
Fusheng smiled modestly.
Weiqing: “…” Destroy the world already.
Weiqing descended first. Fusheng told him the opening was shallow and he could simply jump.
Only after her imperial brother disappeared did Shengsheng tug Fusheng’s sleeve. “Why aren’t you using the handkerchief I embroidered for you?”
Fusheng glanced at the pure white, unembroidered cloth in her hand and answered flatly, “I’ve almost used them all.”
He could not bear to use the few that remained.
Shengsheng pressed her lips together, tugged his sleeve, and kissed the lips he obligingly lowered. “I’ll embroider more. One every day, no two alike.”
Amusement filled Fusheng’s eyes. “All right.”
Immersed in their cloying atmosphere, neither noticed that besides the birds in the tree, a parrot was also watching.
Its glossy black eyes held no light, so dark that not a trace of emotion could be seen.
“Hey! Are you two coming down or not?”
Weiqing’s echoing voice suddenly rose from the cave.
Fusheng kissed her hair. “I’ll go down and catch you.”
Shengsheng nodded.
She watched Fusheng disappear.
Touching her lips, Shengsheng told Xiaosui as he flew over, *See how good my life is now? You should start preparing for your mission too. Once you retire, you can live as comfortably as I do.*
Xiaosui nodded with incomplete understanding. His tone was agreeable yet faintly strange. *Senior is right. I should also… begin preparing.*
As soon as he finished, Shengsheng stroked his wing, leaped, and plunged into the cave.