After Pretending to be an Idiot, I Was Targeted by the Cold-Blooded Zhangyin - Chapter 17

Recalling the two pitch-black, twisted mud faces he saw upon opening his eyes last night and the sheer terror he felt, a trace of a smile flickered across Xie Chengjing’s face.

He patted the back of Xie Changsheng’s hand through his sleeve and laughed. “It wasn’t Third Brother’s fault. It was just that I am too cowardly.”

Xie Changsheng was incredibly moved.

What a wonderful person. He was scared into vomiting blood, yet he’s still so understanding.

Xie Changsheng silently tucked the two mud figurines in his sleeves deeper. These two today were even uglier than yesterday’s; he decided not to bring them out to scare Xie Chengjing.

Xie Hemiao noticed Xie Changsheng’s movements and clapped from behind. “Good, good! Such deep brotherly affection between our Crown Prince brother and the little fool. I am truly heartened.”

Every word out of Xie Hemiao’s mouth was as sarcastic as it could possibly be. He wasn’t finished: “Sigh, it makes a cripple like me quite envious.”

Xie Chengjing’s complexion, which had just regained some color, turned pale again. “Second Brother, do not speak like that.”

Xie Hemiao let out a “Heh.” “Why? Is it grating on the Crown Prince’s ears?”

Xie Chengjing looked pale while Xie Hemiao stared at him provocatively. Xie Changsheng looked left, then right, sensing the air in the room suddenly freeze. He blinked, suddenly threw his head back, and began to wail loudly.

He cried at the top of his lungs, his voice so loud and robust that it startled both Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao.

Xie Chengjing even forgot to cough as he patted Xie Changsheng’s back. “Third Brother, Third Brother, why are you crying?”

A flash of hesitation crossed Xie Hemiao’s face. After a moment of wavering, he stumbled forward and covered Xie Changsheng’s mouth. “Little fool, what are you crying for?”

Xie Changsheng’s tears came on command, dripping down his cheeks in large beads. “Big Brother and Second Brother are fighting! I’m scared!”

Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao were both stunned. They both had the same thought: I didn’t expect Xie Changsheng to be able to sense the tension in the air even though he’s clearly gone mad…

Seeing Xie Changsheng keep crying about being scared, both men were at a loss. Xie Chengjing stroked his back. “Third Brother, don’t cry, don’t cry… do you want some pastries? I’ll have them bring some…”

Xie Hemiao also tried to coax him: “Little fool, which eye of yours saw us fighting? Stop howling. You’re making me go deaf. If those people outside hear you, you’re the one who’ll be embarrassed.”

As if to prove Xie Hemiao’s point, hurried footsteps and concerned inquiries sounded from outside.

“Highness, is everything alright?” “Second Highness, what happened?” “Little Highness? Little Highness? What’s wrong?”

Xie Chengjing coughed. “…It is nothing. Withdraw.”

Xie Changsheng was completely undeterred and continued his wailing: “Once they start fighting, they get fierce! They lose their feelings! They lose their lives! Big Brother’s Big Brother is called Second Brother, Second Brother’s Big Brother is called Big Brother, Daddy’s Daddy is called Grandpa!”

“…What is all this nonsense?”

Xie Hemiao felt his head throbbing. He wasn’t sure if it was from the noise or because he had accidentally tried to find logic in what Xie Changsheng was saying. He tried to cover the boy’s mouth again. “Stop crying, stop crying, little fool.”

Before he could finish, Xie Changsheng bit his palm.

Xie Hemiao withdrew his hand with a hiss and instinctively looked at Xie Chengjing. Both saw the same helplessness and confusion in each other’s eyes.

Xie Hemiao took a breath. “Little fool, Second Brother won’t fight with Big Brother anymore. Stop crying.”

Xie Changsheng’s wailing quieted a bit. “Really?”

“Of course it’s true,” Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao said in unison.

With their promise, Xie Changsheng’s cries finally subsided. Both men breathed a sigh of relief. Xie Chengjing saw Xie Changsheng’s tear-stained face and wanted to wipe it with a handkerchief, but the boy dodged.

Xie Changsheng sobbed twice, looked at Xie Chengjing, then at Xie Hemiao, and asked, “You really, really won’t fight?”

“We won’t.” “Mm.”

“Then you… make up,” Xie Changsheng said. “Shake hands.”

Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao both stood frozen. Seeing this, Xie Changsheng pouted, and tears threatened to fall again.

Xie Chengjing quickly extended his hand.

The veins on Xie Hemiao’s forehead bulged. After hesitating for a long time, he eventually reached out and gave Xie Chengjing’s hand a quick shake before immediately letting go. He asked Xie Changsheng, “Is that enough?”

“Not enough,” Xie Changsheng said. “Big Brother and Second Brother repeat after me—we will never fight again.”

Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao exchanged a glance. Both saw the same thought: He’s a fool, just humor him so we can get this over with.

So they both said drily, “We will never fight again.”

Xie Changsheng seemed to be getting addicted to the game. “Then Second Brother, pick Big Brother up and spin him around!” “Big Brother, squat down and let Second Brother ride you like a horse!”

Xie Chengjing: “…” Xie Hemiao: “…”

Xie Hemiao’s lip twitched. He couldn’t resist hitting Xie Changsheng on the head with his fan. “Little fool, don’t push your luck!”

Xie Changsheng wiped his face and giggled. Xie Chengjing and Xie Hemiao were full of helplessness. Simultaneously, the same thought rose in their hearts—In the future… let’s not have children. Coaxing a child was simply too exhausting!

After Xie Changsheng insisted on tucking Xie Chengjing in to sleep, he and Xie Hemiao stepped out of the room.

Fang Ling was still leaning against the wall. Seeing Xie Changsheng, he asked, “What was wrong with you? Did your tail get stepped on? Why were you crying so loudly?”

Xie Changsheng spun around to look at his rear. “Tail? Where’s my tail?”

Fang Ling: “…”

Xie Hemiao stretched. “Second Brother is going for a drink. Little fool, coming with me?”

Xie Changsheng thought about it and shook his head. “I took cephalosporin (antibiotics); I can’t drink.”

“Cephalosporin? What is that? More fool’s talk.” Xie Hemiao laughed, tapped Xie Changsheng’s head with his fan again, and slowly limped away.

Upon returning to Yuling Palace, Xie Changsheng saw the entire staff busy at work. He asked, “What’s going on?”

A maid answered, “In a few days, it will be the little princess’s hundred-day celebration. The Emperor wants a grand banquet, so every palace must be decorated in advance.”

Xie Changsheng gave an “Oh.” He knew the Old Emperor probably just wanted another excuse to throw a party. Having nothing else to do, he joined the servants, helping to hang lanterns and red silk until he was covered in sweat.

After dinner, Xie Changsheng began to bathe. Regarding baths, he wouldn’t let anyone near or watch him. Yang Luo was worried about his safety, but after a period of adjustment, they reached a compromise—Xie Changsheng would surround himself with layers of screens, and Yang Luo would wait far off by the door.

Xie Changsheng sat in the tub scrubbing his hair, grimacing with frustration and wishing he could just cut this heavy, long hair off, when he heard Yang Luo speak.

“By the way, today the Lord Palm Print sent over several pastries from a famous shop as a return gift for the Little Highness. Those pastries don’t keep well; do you want to eat them later, or save them for morning?”

Xie Changsheng gave an “Oh.” “I’ll eat them. Later, I’ll eat while I sleep.”

Yang Luo was dazed. “…Huh?”

She was about to ask how he planned to eat while sleeping when she suddenly heard soft footsteps behind her. She thought it was a servant, but she smelled a cold fragrance of white plum.

This scent…

Yang Luo’s whole body jolted. She turned around and, as expected, saw Gu Feiyi.

Gu Feiyi was half-smiling, his handsome face flickering in the dim candlelight. Yet for some reason, he radiated a chilling aura, like a life-taking ghost crawling out of hell.

Yang Luo’s heart nearly flew out of her throat. Her knees buckled as she prepared to greet him, but she saw Gu Feiyi raise his index finger to his lips in a “hush” gesture. He then signaled for her to stand up.

As she rose tremblingly, Gu Feiyi leaned down and whispered a sentence in her ear. Yang Luo was filled with confusion but didn’t dare ask; she only did as she was told.

She called out, “Li… Little Highness.”

Xie Changsheng’s muffled voice—the sound of him blowing bubbles in the water—rose from behind the screen. “Glub glub… What is it? …Glub glub…”

Following Gu Feiyi’s instructions, Yang Luo asked, “Little Highness, what do you think of the Lord Palm Print?”

There was a long silence from behind the screen. Just as Yang Luo thought he had fallen asleep and was about to call him again, Xie Changsheng finally moved.

“Who is the Palm Print?”

Yang Luo carefully looked back at Gu Feiyi. Gu Feiyi smiled and raised his hand. Only then did Yang Luo dare use his full name. “It’s the Lord Palm Print, Gu Feiyi.”

“Ah,” Xie Changsheng’s voice became light and bright. “You mean him.”

“Yes, the Lord Palm Print.” Yang Luo swallowed. “Little Highness, what do you think of him?”

This time, Xie Changsheng answered quickly and firmly: “He’s a man!”

Yang Luo heard Gu Feiyi let out a light chuckle behind her.

“A-and what else?” Yang Luo pressed.

“His hair is very long.” “Anything else?” “His skin is very white.” “Anything else?”

“And… and…” Xie Changsheng blew more bubbles for a while. “He’s good-looking, heh heh.”

Yang Luo heard Gu Feiyi chuckle again.

“Withdraw. This servant has words to say to the Little Highness in private.”

Yang Luo complied, looking back three times with every step as she withdrew in worry.

Behind the screen, Xie Changsheng had also heard Gu Feiyi’s voice. He realized then that Yang Luo’s strange questioning wasn’t her own, but prompted by Gu Feiyi.

Luckily I was careful to stay in character…

As he felt a sense of relief, his heart tightened again. Why did Gu Feiyi come here so late at night? And why were his footsteps getting closer and closer?

I’m not wearing any clothes!

As he was thinking, a tall silhouette stepped past the screen and stood directly in front of Xie Changsheng.

Xie Changsheng looked up and stared blankly at Gu Feiyi for a long time. Then, Xie Changsheng said: “Pervert.”

Despite it being an accusation, he said it with an expressionless face and a steady voice. Gu Feiyi even doubted if the boy knew what the word meant. He was almost amused, but remembering the reason for his visit, the chill around him deepened.

He suddenly reached out and squeezed Xie Changsheng’s wet face. It was like squeezing a lychee—Xie Changsheng’s mouth was forced open just like one.

Xie Changsheng tried to pull back, splashing water everywhere. But he soon found that the more he retreated, the harder Gu Feiyi squeezed. So, he stopped moving altogether.

He heard Gu Feiyi’s sinister voice: “Disobedient.”

“Little Highness, did you eat the things the Young Marquis gave you?”