His Highness Wants to Become a Widower Every Day - Chapter 4

With two loud splashes, water violently surged at the center of the lake.

A group of young masters was currently playing drinking games in a private room on the first floor. Hearing the commotion, the men nearest to the edge pushed open the window. Seeing two figures underwater “embracing and clinging to each other in passion” while rolling in the waves, they could not help but be filled with absolute admiration. One of them called out loudly: “With the rain as a blanket and the cold lake as a pillow, indulging in a spring night’s drunken reverie, like mandarin ducks playing in the water! You really know how to have a good time. Which family’s young master is this? Let’s hang out another day, and please teach me a trick or two!”

“Wait, something’s not right!” The person beside him realized what was happening, poked his head out, and shouted upstairs toward the pavilion, “Lady Yurui, come quickly! Some darling in your pavilion has broken the rules and plunged into the lake to sleep with a guest!”

Yurui was currently knocked out quite peacefully and could not answer for the time being.

The shouting and clamor seeped through the water’s surface, bubbling into muffled sounds beside their ears.

Shen Quebai had just opened his eyes. Before he even had a chance to reach out and pull up his trousers, which were hanging around his ankles, he felt a sudden rush of water behind him. In the next instant, his backside along with the “Little Quebai” in between met with a sudden, sharp pain—he had been kicked squarely by Zhu Hexing!

It hurts so much!

Shen Quebai bared his teeth in pain and choked on a mouthful of water. When he was seven years old, he had nearly died in a lake. After being rescued, he had trained hard in swimming and considered his aquatic skills to be top-tier. He had never expected that Zhu Hexing would also behave like a turtle returning to its ancestral home—incredibly proficient!

In his mind, Shen Quebai cursed Zhu Hexing’s ancestors back eighteen generations, but his ankle was suddenly gripped tightly by a hand. That hand twisted hard, forcing him to roll over. Simultaneously, Zhu Hexing used the momentum to dart forward three feet, swimming right above him.

Their eyes met unexpectedly, but even with their martial arts training, it was difficult to see each other clearly in the dark water. However, Shen Quebai could feel Zhu Hexing pressing down on him like the weight of the lake itself.

They were too close.

Shen Quebai abruptly opened his hand and clawed at Zhu Hexing’s face, using his other hand to throw a punch into Zhu Hexing’s abdomen. Zhu Hexing let out a string of bubbles, but he seemed to be shielded by a turtle shell; feeling no pain at all, he immediately delivered a palm strike toward Shen Quebai’s chest!

Shen Quebai raised his arm to block. The impact sent him sinking a short distance, and by then, Zhu Hexing had already swum away. He hurriedly gave chase, simply kicking off his trousers along the way as they were hindering his movements.

Compared to Zhu Hexing, who had traveled a thousand miles as a guest, Shen Quebai was clearly intimately familiar with this lake. Estimating that they were nearing the shore, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Zhu Hexing’s right leg. Taking advantage of the leverage, he kicked off. As they crossed paths, he snatched at Zhu Hexing’s waistband. Unfortunately, Zhu Hexing dodged incredibly fast; Shen Quebai only managed to tear away the two-finger-wide, snow-white ribbon at his waist.

Zhu Hexing: “…”

Great. This was a classic case of “the older sister makes the shoes, and the younger sister copies the pattern.”

Splash!

Shen Quebai grabbed the shore with one hand and was the first to break the surface. Before he could even catch his breath, he kicked out with his leg!

His shoulder was kicked so hard he nearly lost all strength, but Zhu Hexing took the blow head-on. Wrapping a single arm around that waist, he used the leverage to float up. He draped himself over Shen Quebai’s back, pressing the youth down toward the ground.

Dense moonlight poured down, mostly blocked by Zhu Hexing’s back.

Shen Quebai was completely drenched. His dark, shiny hair was tangled into several wet strands, resting messily against his porcelain-white neck, exuding an innocent charm.

Zhu Hexing’s hand slid upward, forcefully turning Shen Quebai’s face to the side. Staring at the small red mole, he praised in a low voice: “Your skin is so white. You would look wonderful made into a human-skin lantern. I would definitely cherish it.”

Yet he also felt that a bird this fierce should not be made to be quiet and docile; if it were, it would lose some of its beauty and charm. It ought to peck someone until they were drenched in blood, and then immediately look at its master, proudly flaunting its achievement.

The summer night wind carried a chill after being touched by water. Shen Quebai was sensitive to the cold and shivered. He looked at Zhu Hexing, feeling that this drenched man resembled a startled, beautiful ghost, and could not help but say: “Brother Zhu, you have such an exquisite face. Why not feed yourself instead of begging for food from others?”

Gazing at his profile, Zhu Hexing said with amusement, “Sharp-tongued.”

Shen Quebai once again put on that pure and innocent expression. “Savage and shameless.”

Zhu Hexing liked this novel evaluation, one he had never heard before. He slid his hand downward, pressing his palm firmly against that small, delicate Adam’s apple, forcing Shen Quebai to tilt his head up and meet his gaze. “With such a sweet mouth, it would be a pity if you could never speak again.”

Shen Quebai panted slightly.

Listening to his breaths, Zhu Hexing applied more pressure with his fingers, yet his tone remained incredibly gentle: “Come back to Xuandu with this brother. We will play… slowly… alright?”

His throat bone aching, Shen Quebai still put on a dramatic, coquettish act: “I am not an easy person. If brother wants me, there must be a marriage contract, an imperial seal, and ten miles of red dowry.”

Hearing this, Zhu Hexing tilted his head slightly. His nose was high and straight, and his eyes were long and narrow. From this angle, his expression looked somewhat dark, making his beautiful features appear even sharper. Shen Quebai stared at him, and amidst Zhu Hexing’s warm breath, he felt as if he were a piece of prey being held in the teeth of a fierce bird of prey, having its weight measured.

“But what a pity, beautiful one.” Shen Quebai knit his brows, his tone full of disappointment. “It seems we are not fated for that in this lifetime.”

Just as Zhu Hexing was about to speak, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed. A shadow flashed in the corner of his eye.

Taking advantage of this split second, Shen Quebai delivered a fierce backward elbow strike. As Zhu Hexing turned his body to dodge, Shen Quebai twisted his waist, and the two of them instantly pressed flat against each other.

With their robes completely soaked, everything became much more prominent.

Shen Quebai pursed his lips, raised his knee to shove Zhu Hexing away, rolled onto the ground to stand up, and turned to kick him back into the water. His legs were completely bare, and there was a fresh red mark on his right ankle. This kick was fast and fierce, like a bamboo switch slicing through the moonlight on the water.

Water splashed everywhere, scattering like jade beads. Zhu Hexing sat in the water, looking up at Shen Quebai. A droplet of water fell from his chin, sliding all the way into his collar.

Shen Quebai could not read the meaning in Zhu Hexing’s eyes. This feeling of complete ignorance and unpredictability made him wary. Under such a gaze, he even felt an urge to break eye contact. But he would not surrender easily, least of all to a mere look.

Shen Quebai raised an eyebrow, maintaining his fierce, bristling posture, and said, “What are you looking at? This costs money!”

Before Zhu Hexing could speak, a “small ball” accurately intercepted them, crashing between them and exploding into a thick white mist. He raised his hand to cover his nose and mouth. A moment later, the white mist thinned, revealing only the weeping willows by the shore—the little sparrow had already flown far away.

In the distance, Zuiyun Pavilion stood dazzlingly bright at the center of the lake, the faint strumming of a pipa echoing. Zhu Hexing remained sitting in the water. The nine-gemmed jade string wrapped around his wrist was covered in a wet, cold sheen, its tassel dripping wet—a miserable state.

After a long while, he raised his hand, his fingertip lightly touching the corner of his left eye. A laugh slipped from his throat, its mood hard to discern. “So… it was actually you.”

Wutong Academy was hidden deep within the peach forest in the west of the city. The private school classroom was located in the main courtyard, behind which lay a small cliff connected by a wooden walkway. Beyond the cliff was the backyard where Master Xuan lived, a place students were not permitted to enter.

At this moment, the main courtyard was shrouded in darkness, and only the eastern room of the backyard still held a light.

A four-wheeled carriage rolled across the landscape-patterned carpet, making muffled thuds. Xuan Zhen stopped in front of the door, raising his hand to knock. When the person inside did not answer, he said, “If you don’t drink your medicine now, you’ll turn into a runny-nosed ghost tomorrow.”

Bam! The door swung open, revealing a face full of spite and resentment.

Shen Quebai had changed into clean, black inner robes. He stood at the door, locking eyes with Xuan Zhen for a moment, before suddenly bending forward to let out a loud sneeze, the end of his voice trailing upward.

Xuan Zhen turned his head away in disgust.

Shen Quebai rubbed his nose, stepped forward to push Xuan Zhen inside, and kicked the door shut behind him.

Nearing the round table, Xuan Zhen handed over the medicine bowl. While Shen Quebai tilted his head back to gulp it down, Xuan Zhen swept his eyes over him weakness in the left arm, unsteady footsteps, an awkward stride, but his breathing was normal. It seemed there were no internal injuries; perhaps he had taken some blows, and the red mark on his neck had been choked out.

But if it were only this, Shen Quebai would not be so furious as to look like he wanted to dig up someone’s ancestral graves.

Sensing Xuan Zhen’s gaze, Shen Quebai slammed the empty bowl onto the table and said, “I am taking this secret to my grave! Anyone who asks me about it is going to get a piece of my mind!”

When the little rascal got anxious, he really would bite. Xuan Zhen did not plan to provoke him further, stating, “You underestimated Zhu Hexing as well.”

Shen Quebai’s mouth tasted of bitter medicine, and he remained silent.

Xuan Zhen’s face, though past forty, was still exceptionally handsome. In his youth, he must have been an exquisite young lord who had fruit thrown at his carriage by admirers. However, his eyes seemed veiled in a thin mist, carrying a trace of weariness. Usually, when he bickered with Shen Quebai, he remained highly refined, making Shen Quebai look like a furious monkey. At this moment, his voice was as gentle as a breeze.

“Zhu Hexing was born to Princess Changjia and the late Prince Jin. He is the grandnephew of the Empress Dowager and was raised beside Emperor Jing’an since childhood; he is of true royal blood. At seventeen, he was appointed ‘Commander of the Xuan-Yi Guards,’ and upon reaching adulthood, he was meant to inherit the title of ‘Prince Jin.’ Instead, Emperor Jing’an bestowed upon him the title of ‘Mingxuan,’ showcasing the immense royal favor he enjoys. Emperor Jing’an was not born of the Empress Dowager, so he and Zhu Hexing are not biological uncle and nephew, but rumors say his affection for Zhu Hexing surpasses that for his own imperial sons.”

His little backside still smarting, Shen Quebai did not want to sit on a stool. He grabbed two soft cushions and knelt beside Xuan Zhen’s legs, sneering: “So that’s how they pampered such a savage, shameless turtle!”

“Zhu Hexing only obeys imperial decrees. His methods are brutal, and he is known as the ‘Living Yama.’ The high nobility keep their distance from him firstly because of his high status and favor, and secondly because of his unpredictable temperament. Since taking office, he has displayed a sharp edge that kills the moment it is drawn, yet he has never shown any political scheming. Over time, people have come to view him merely as a sharp blade that acts on orders.”

Xuan Zhen paused before shifting his tone.

“But the Xuan-Yi Guards report directly to the Emperor. Used well, they are a divine weapon; used poorly, they can harm the Emperor’s own life. If Zhu Hexing were merely a gloomy, pampered noble, could he truly wield this blade? Emperor Jing’an is neither foolish nor incompetent; would he really place such heavy reliance on Zhu Hexing solely due to favoritism?”

Shen Quebai pursed his lips and shook his head.

“The foot of the Emperor’s throne is a place of perilous peaks and deep chasms. Those who can secure a place at the top are neither innocent rabbits nor weaklings.” Xuan Zhen looked at him. “Once you return to Xuandu, you must remember this.”

Xuandu was a gateway of life and also a gateway of death. The people Shen Quebai wanted to kill lived inside it; he would have to enter it at all costs. Shen Quebai kept his head lowered, a trace of gloom surfacing between his brows before vanishing in an instant—he had long learned how to restrain and conceal himself.

The room fell quiet. Xuan Zhen asked, “Why did you strike personally?”

Shen Quebai let out an “um” and said, “A chance encounter on the boat, a grand stroke of fate. Since he was going to Zuiyun Pavilion, I had to entertain him with care ah! Don’t hit my head, it will make me stupid!”

“Entertain?” Xuan Zhen retracted his hand, his tone full of wonder. “And you ended up entertaining yourself instead?”

Shen Quebai reached out, throwing a few wild punches into the air to vent his frustration, muttering without giving an answer.

Xuan Zhen treated it as a little pig throwing a tantrum in its pen, showing no pity as he continued to press: “The substance you put in the wine was merely a sleeping drug. Even if Zhu Hexing suspected it, he wouldn’t have been able to prove it at the time. If he didn’t bite, so be it; why did you have to start a fight?”

“If I hadn’t fought, you would be collecting my corpse right now. Zhu Hexing’s intuition for danger is too sharp. Besides, he laughed at the time. I can’t describe the feel of it, but it felt like laughing at a slaughter-bound pig, which really stung my heart.” Shen Quebai frowned, looking incredibly pitiful. “Uncle, you haven’t seen his eyes. They are so high and mighty.”

Xuan Zhen raised his hand.

“Don’t hit!” Shen Quebai quickly shielded his head, then adopted a proper attitude and reflected obediently, “This time I was a fish caught in a shallow puddle. Next time I will definitely be cautious and careful, and I won’t make you worry again.”

Xuan Zhen gave a cold “oh” and tapped the white porcelain jug on the table.

Shen Quebai immediately grabbed the jug, poured the liquid into a porcelain cup, and offered it with both hands, extremely respectful: “Chilled lychee brew, sweet and refreshing. Even before you entered the city, I felt your presence, so I specially prepared this for you.”

He wanted to drink some too, but Xuan Zhen glanced at the medicine bowl nearby. Left with no choice, he set the porcelain jug down and said, “I’ll just smell it!”

Xuan Zhen took a sip of the chilled brew; it was indeed sweet and refreshing. Stroking the gold-painted little magpie on the cup, he thought: This sparrow is obedient, unlike the living one in front of me, who is nothing but trouble.

Completely unaware, Shen Quebai was still eyeing the white porcelain jug, the cold, sweet fragrance already lingering on the tip of his tongue.

Holding the cup to cool his hands, Xuan Zhen said, “Once Zhu Hexing dies, the position of ‘Commander of the Xuan-Yi Guards’ will become vacant.”

What a highly coveted position that was; who wouldn’t want to snatch it? Once a struggle began, it would inevitably lead to conflict—fighting alongside families, alliances, and factions. Emperor Jing’an was bedridden but refused to name an heir. He wanted to wait, but his ambitious sons could not afford to wait. After all, by the time the Emperor passed away and an imperial decree was read, it would be too late.

Zhu Hexing held a position close to the Emperor and held the power of life and death, yet he had always remained neutral, his stance unclear. Coupled with his temperament, since he could not be won over, it was better to kill him. For the princes, whoever could have their own man succeed him as ‘Commander of the Xuan-Yi Guards’ would be one step closer to the throne. After all, this position could protect the Emperor, or it could assassinate him.

Occupying such a position, Zhu Hexing could not fail to see the situation or smell the danger. Yet he had still come taking carriages, boarding boats, viewing mountains, and playing by the waters, leisurely drifting all the way to Chaotian City.

Rumors claimed that Zhu Hexing was completely ruthless to his relatives, but at this moment, Xuan Zhen felt that Zhu Hexing was also utterly ruthless to himself. Such a person was difficult to deal with. Shen Quebai had shown his tail before him today, so there would be plenty of trouble ahead.

Shen Quebai glanced at Xuan Zhen twice and said, “Uncle, what are you pondering?”

“The mastermind behind the rumors has malicious intent, and those pushing them forward are not easy to deal with either. Right now, the mountains are on fire and smoke is blinding everyone’s eyes it is the perfect opportunity for dragons and tigers to fight.” Xuan Zhen was Shen Quebai’s teacher, and also the adoptive father who had saved his life and raised him. He held both duty and affection, yet he never stopped Shen Quebai from making any decision, and the same held true now.

He patted his paralyzed legs, listened to the wind, and murmured: “The storm has arrived, and the waves are rising high. You must choose a good position. There are many fish in the water; be careful not to let them squeeze you over.”

“Oh!” Walking with somewhat unnatural steps to the window, Shen Quebai pushed it open. Gazing at the moon as if in a daze, the sharp edge in his eyes was concealed by the thick night, leaving only a tiny hint visible. The wind tickled his neck. He raised his finger to touch the red mark, feeling that the suffocating force had not yet dissipated.

Zhu Hexing’s hand was still choking him.

This made Shen Quebai frustrated, excited, and even starting to look forward to what was to come.

“The turtles raised by the Emperor have thick shells. I want to see whether it will swallow the live fish whole or turn into a corpse floating amidst the tides.”

Early this morning, Xuan Zhen had been escorted by Shen Quebai to Lanzhou to celebrate an old friend’s birthday. He had planned to stay at his friend’s house for a few days and had even selected his menu, only to learn that Zhu Hexing, who was traveling alone, and Shen Quebai, who had returned to the city a step earlier, had both boarded the Fang family’s boat.

Shen Quebai was a restless soul; he was bound to cook up some mischief.

Worrying like an adoptive father, Xuan Zhen had rushed back, and by now he was physically and mentally exhausted. “Keep your eyes open and watch. I am old and can no longer stay up late.” Pushing his wheelchair outward, he did not forget to instruct, “Since you caught a cold, don’t drink cold things. Go to bed early.”

“Not sleeping.” Shen Quebai rubbed his fingers randomly, looking like a highly profound and mysterious fortuneteller. “Tonight, there is still a good show of chaotic blades hacking at a turtle.”

Xuan Zhen said, “The sky was dark during the day; it might rain tonight. Don’t forget to bring an umbrella when you go out to watch the show. Bring me a bowl of red bean paste dumplings when you return tomorrow morning. If you dare to forget, I will kick you out of the family.”

Shen Quebai dragged out his voice, “Got it”

Xuan Zhen left in satisfaction.

Once he had gone far, Shen Quebai lightly tapped on the table. The window opened a crack from the outside, and Huawu’s face appeared.

Shen Quebai lightly flicked his sleeve, and a silk pouch flew out of the window. “Deliver a small gift to His Highness on my behalf.”

The window closed once more.

“The people below found the corpse of the Nuo-masked ghost near the stinky ditch in the south of the city. He died by his own dagger.”

In the dim room, a man placed a flying letter into the lampshade, burning it. His right sleeve hung empty he was one-armed. At this moment, he raised his left hand to fan away the burnt smell.

The grey-skirted woman sitting by the table said, “Chaotian City is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. It won’t be easy to find out who did it. Our causing trouble on someone else’s territory has disrupted their peace; this is their return gift.”

The man frowned. “I suspect whether something went wrong that night in Jing Garden?”

“The master of Jing Garden died twelve years ago. That place is just an empty nest; what could go wrong?” The grey-skirted woman sneered and said, “The moment the Patrol Bureau returned to the Prefect’s estate that day, Li Shou, the Prefect of Yongzhou, immediately dressed in plain clothes and rode light horses to Xuandu. The night he entered the palace, Zhu Hexing left the capital for Chaotian City. The next morning, Emperor Jing’an summoned the Marquis of Yongding. After returning to his estate, the Marquis did not attend court for three days, causing discussions in the court. It seems Emperor Jing’an has already seen the silk pouch retrieved from Jing Garden and is currently making a decision.”

Hearing this, the man felt somewhat relieved and asked, “Are the people on this side ready?”

“Along the way, those who took action were merely the useless trash of other families.” The woman stroked the three small cicada round coins on her waistband, her tone turning fierce: “But tonight, Zhu Hexing will undoubtedly die.”