After Pretending to be an Idiot, I Was Targeted by the Cold-Blooded Zhangyin - Chapter 15

Gu Feiyi stood up and spoke to someone outside. Immediately, Feng Wang brought in a basin of water and a bar of soap, placing them on a stand by the door.

Xie Changsheng splashed his face twice with water and reached for the soap. As he rubbed it between his hands, he caught a scent of cold plum blossoms—it was nearly identical to the scent on Gu Feiyi’s body.

Gu Feiyi stood to the side, watching Xie Changsheng’s movements. He found it quite novel. After all, the former Xie Changsheng required two or three palace maids just to wash his face. He used to apply various creams and ointments daily, ensuring he was polished from the tips of his hair to his fingernails.

How could he have ever been like this? Needing no service, bending over, and scrubbing his face with soap with such clumsy, heavy-handed force. For the umpteenth time, Gu Feiyi felt that Xie Changsheng was truly different from before.

However…

Gu Feiyi’s gaze landed on a patch of skin on the left side of Xie Changsheng’s mouth. A small speck of mud had splashed there; it wasn’t large, but it was perfectly round. From the moment Xie Changsheng entered the room, this mud spot had drawn Gu Feiyi’s attention. No matter how he looked at it, it was an eyesore.

He tried to endure it, but he failed.

Seeing Xie Changsheng wash his face, Gu Feiyi’s anxious heart finally began to settle. But the moment Xie Changsheng looked up, Gu Feiyi’s hope died—Xie Changsheng had failed to wash the mud spot away.

Wetted by the water, the spot had turned a lighter shade. Thin streaks of muddy water followed the moisture remaining on Xie Changsheng’s face, flowing slowly across his skin, which was as smooth as congealed fat.

“Little Highness.”

Gu Feiyi called out to him. Once Xie Changsheng looked over, Gu Feiyi used his fingertip to tap the same spot on the left side of his own mouth as a reminder.

Xie Changsheng, however, failed to understand. He looked at Gu Feiyi with a mix of daze and shock, shook his head violently, and stammered, “N-no… no, no… n-not kissing!”

Gu Feiyi froze. Even someone as brilliant as he needed a moment to process. Only then did he realize that Xie Changsheng had misinterpreted his gesture as an invitation for a kiss…

How did he even come up with that? What kind of chaotic nonsense is stuffed inside this brat’s head?

Xie Changsheng saw Gu Feiyi knit his brows. Those narrow eyes widened slightly, as if he had heard something utterly unbelievable.

But soon, a thin, mocking smile resurfaced on Gu Feiyi’s face. He stood up without a word, leisurely smoothing the sleeves of his robe. Once the fabric was flat, he looked up at Xie Changsheng.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Gu Feiyi’s boots made soft tapping sounds against the floor. This face—fair as an immortal’s—became increasingly aggressive and oppressive as it drew closer. Especially now, with eyes that were half-smiling and lips curved ever so slightly, he exuded an overwhelming aura of malice.

Xie Changsheng couldn’t tell if Gu Feiyi was happy or angry, or if listening to his nonsense for so long had finally caused a “qualitative change”—meaning he had finally snapped.

Xie Changsheng felt his scalp tingle. His hands clenched inside his wide sleeves to suppress the urge to retreat, but on the surface, he maintained his dazed, foolish look. “Huh?”

Gu Feiyi didn’t answer, stepping closer until he was directly in front of him. A plum fragrance—sharper and colder than the soap—enveloped Xie Changsheng entirely.

Gu Feiyi stood still, looking down at Xie Changsheng in silence for a long time. Suddenly, he raised his hand.

Xie Changsheng squeezed his eyes shut. At the same time, he felt a cold sensation at the corner of his mouth. An icy finger rubbed firmly against his skin.

Xie Changsheng opened his eyes in bewilderment. Gu Feiyi withdrew his hand and showed Xie Changsheng the smudge on his index finger.

“How old is the Little Highness? You can’t even wash your own face clean.”

Gu Feiyi pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his finger clean, bit by bit. Then, the corners of his mouth curled into a mocking arc as he asked with a sneer, “The Little Highness closed his eyes just now. Why?”

“Did you think this servant was going to strike you again?”

Gu Feiyi’s dark eyes flickered with a dangerous glint, locking onto Xie Changsheng’s eyes like a predator onto its prey.

He whispered eerily, “Rest assured, Little Highness. As long as you are obedient, then food, drink, toys… this servant will never treat you poorly.”

Xie Changsheng seemed to remember something and let out an “Ah!”

“Gu… Gu Feiyi,” Xie Changsheng pouted. “My puppy. You promised to give me a puppy.”

“Rest assured,” Gu Feiyi said. “What this servant promises, I shall certainly do.” After a pause, he added, “Now, can the Little Highness let go of me?”

Xie Changsheng blinked and followed Gu Feiyi’s gaze downward. Only then did he realize his hand had somehow grabbed Gu Feiyi’s sleeve. The cuff he had just smoothed out was wrinkled again.

Xie Changsheng let go and gave a silly grin. Gu Feiyi went back to straightening his sleeve, not looking up as he said, “The Little Highness may leave. I shall not see you out.”

After being tossed around like that, Xie Changsheng lost his mood for mud sculpting. He returned to Yuling Palace and fell straight asleep.

When he woke the next day, the feeling of his heart being in his throat had vanished. He was back to being a lively little fool. He excitedly began his breakfast, but after a bite of a crystal bun, he paused. “Today’s food… it tastes different.”

He felt it was sweeter than usual. It wasn’t bad, but as a “lovely and charming villain,” Xie Changsheng was highly sensitive and valued his life. He feared the food might be drugged.

Just as he was about to spit it out, Yang Luo said, “The Lord Palm Print sent this over early this morning.”

Xie Changsheng gave an “Oh” and was instantly no longer afraid. It was strange… Xie Changsheng knew clearly that Gu Feiyi was the person who hated him most. Yet, when the two stood on the same side, despite knowing that hatred hadn’t diminished, Xie Changsheng felt an indescribable sense of security.

Gu Feiyi was a massive ship in the eye of the storm. A ship built from blood, bone, and hatred. Countless people wanted to climb aboard to seek safe harbor. Xie Changsheng was one of them.

He thought for a moment and said to Yang Luo, “Then I want to send him things too!”

He dropped his chopsticks and ran to his table. Gemstone pendants, pearl hair ornaments, used handkerchiefs, face creams… he grabbed whatever he saw.

Yang Luo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Little Highness, this… this…”

But Xie Changsheng was insistent. Left with no choice, Yang Luo sent someone to deliver the items to Gu Feiyi.

After breakfast, bored, Xie Changsheng announced he wanted to see Xie Chengjing again. Yang Luo arranged the carriage and sent him to the Crown Prince’s estate.

Today’s estate was no different from yesterday’s—still packed with dignitaries visiting the sick. Seeing Xie Changsheng, people stepped forward with curiosity and flattery to strike up a conversation. Xie Changsheng ignored them all, focusing solely on talking to the koi in the water vat.

Suddenly, he smelled a heavy scent of alcohol mixed with perfume behind him. Xie Changsheng turned around with a look of pleasant surprise and opened his arms. “Second Brother!”

He was pushed away.

The youth’s face was cold. “Look closely before you hug. The Second Prince is over there.”

It was actually Fang Ling. He was dressed in martial attire today, looking exceptionally crisp among the crowd of long robes and wide sleeves. However, his expression was incredibly sour. Xie Changsheng couldn’t tell if Fang Ling was just naturally like that—disliking everyone—or if he was scowling specifically because he saw him.

Beside them, the drunken Xie Hemiao used his folding fan to tap the top of Xie Changsheng’s head. “You can’t even recognize your own Second Brother?”

Xie Changsheng gave a foolish grin. “Second Brother, you know him? Why did you come together?”

As soon as he spoke, the air in the room went silent. The dignitaries held their breath and perked up their ears.

Before Xie Changsheng became a fool, the court was divided into three factions: the Crown Prince’s faction, the Palm Print’s faction, and Xie Changsheng’s faction. After he became a fool, the situation became volatile. Those supporting the Crown Prince or the Palm Print didn’t have much to worry about, but those who had supported Xie Changsheng were now like headless flies, not knowing where to turn.

In particular, the crippled Xie Hemiao had begun moving frequently. And Fang Ling had returned to the capital. No one dared underestimate the young Marquis Fang—he held military power at the border and could command hundreds of thousands of troops. If such a person had ulterior motives… Was Xie Hemiao planning something?

Thinking further, a junior member of the Fang family had recently been dealt with by Gu Feiyi for embezzlement. Could it be…? But wasn’t it said that Fang Ling belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction?

The crowd’s thoughts raced. Xie Hemiao and Fang Ling exchanged a subtle glance.

Xie Hemiao tapped his fan on Xie Changsheng’s head again and laughed. “I simply ran into the Young Marquis on the road and we came together.”

Xie Changsheng gave an “Oh” and turned back to look at the fish. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but the atmosphere in the room felt somewhat… scorched.

“The Second Prince and the Young Marquis?”

Gu Feiyi smiled. “I see.”

He wasn’t in the palace today; he was in the Western District. This area was filled with taverns, brothels, and music halls; the air was thick with the suffocating scent of rouge and powder. Gu Feiyi used a handkerchief to cover his nose and mouth as he followed Feng Wang to a shop.

It was a newly opened pastry shop. The owners, a husband and wife from Jiangnan, were highly skilled. Yesterday, an official had brought their pastries as a gift to the Emperor. After one bite, the Old Emperor laughed and said he could taste the “flavor of a beauty.” Interested, he questioned the official and learned that the shop owner’s wife was indeed a great beauty, with eyes like the waters of Jiangnan—shimmering and radiant.

The Old Emperor was instantly intrigued. Gu Feiyi’s mission today was to bring this beauty back to the palace for him.

A petite figure was busy outside the shop, not noticing Gu Feiyi’s approach. Sensing someone had stopped in front of her, she looked up with a warm smile. “Customer, would you like some pastries?”

She froze. The man before her was too beautiful—his face like an immortal’s, yet tinged with a hint of evil. It was impossible to look away.

“Tao Niang?” Gu Feiyi asked.

Tao Niang nodded blankly. The man’s way of speaking was different from anyone she had ever met. He dragged out the final syllables slightly, creating an ambiguous, lingering tone. It was very pleasant to the ear.

While her head was spinning, she heard Gu Feiyi say, “His Majesty ate your pastries and found them quite good.”

His Majesty? The Emperor?

Tao Niang had been so distracted by Gu Feiyi’s looks that she only now noticed his magnificent scarlet python robe and the ivory authority plaque at his waist. She immediately knew who he was. A eunuch who looked like this—who else could it be?

Tao Niang fell to her knees, thanking him repeatedly. From above, Gu Feiyi’s calm voice drifted down: “Follow this servant into the palace.”

Upon realizing the true meaning of those words, Tao Niang’s heart felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar. She crawled forward, trying to grab Gu Feiyi’s leg, but Feng Wang stepped between them.

She could only weep and kowtow over and over. “Lord Palm Print, Lord Palm Print… this common woman is already married… my husband and I have already wed… Lord Palm Print! Please spare me!!”

Gu Feiyi looked down at her. “Get up.”

Tao Niang kept crying and kowtowing. Gu Feiyi glanced back; Feng Wang immediately understood his intent, stepped forward, and hauled Tao Niang up with great force.

Gu Feiyi leaned his upper body forward, drawing close to Tao Niang.

“Run,” he said. “If you can run to the corner of the street within thirty breaths, this servant will let you go.”

Tao Niang looked at him, unable to process the words. It wasn’t until Feng Wang gave her a hard shove from behind that she snapped to. Ignoring all decorum, she scrambled like a madwoman, clutching her skirts, and bolted toward the corner.

The surrounding crowd exchanged glances. They all saw the same two words in each other’s eyes: “How fortunate!”

Fortunate! Fortunate that Gu Feiyi was sufficiently perverse.

He was always like this. He would follow the Emperor’s orders to seize people, yet he wasn’t truly seizing them. He perversely used the Emperor’s authority just to watch those women kneel and weep at his feet, or to watch them flee in pathetic desperation. People said eunuchs were abnormal, more twisted than ordinary men. This statement was certainly not wrong.

Watching Tao Niang reach the corner, Gu Feiyi curled his lips and withdrew his gaze.

In truth, the time was already up. But it didn’t matter. He never intended to actually catch her. He simply wanted to see the women run—running far away from him, and far away from the Old Emperor.

This was something his mother had been unable to do back then.

Gu Feiyi turned to leave. After a few steps, he stopped. “Feng Wang.”

“Master.”

“These pastries shall be the reward for my good deed today. Wrap a few up and send them to the Little Highness.” Gu Feiyi thought of something, and his narrow eyes curved into a small arc. “It serves as a proper return gift for the pile of junk he sent over this morning.”