What An Audacious And Sly Servant! Chapter 51

More details on Xiao Jian's supposed family. And, Mei Qian Deng had already learnt to play pity face with Chu Xun.

Edit: I did some changes to the previous chapters (again). Prime Minister -> Grand Chancellor. Memorials (how the heck it took me this long to notice I use the wrong term) -> Memorandums

Chapter 51 – The Undercurrent Surge

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator's hard work. Don't think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

Chu Xun had yet to share his thought with Mei Qian Deng.

He was afraid of Mei Qian Deng would worry.

In the past, he would see distorted sight when looking at Mei Qian Deng. Misty and couldn't be seen clearly. But now, he had finally understood. Although Mei Qian Deng had a loose mouth, she was kind-hearted. If she knew Xiao Jian was an orphan, she would treasure him even further, putting more feelings on Xiao Jian's body.

Chu Xun was the Crown Prince, born in the imperial family. Flowing in his blood was some sort of indifferent. He could clearly see the dangers and unknowns from this child. If the truth was one day revealed, Xiao Jian's ident.i.ty or maybe his existence could threaten Mei Qian Deng's safety and even the imperial family. Then, he would choose to protect Mei Qian Deng and the imperial family. This would inevitably create conflict between the two of them.

At this moment, Chu Xun only hoped that the implications behind this child's back, the less they were, the better.

The best would be he was merely an orphan but got taken by some chivalrous heroes and then unwittingly sent him into the imperial palace to let this child live a good life.

"Crown Prince?"

The currently dazing Chu Xun suddenly met Mei Qian Deng's clear black eyes. His face instantly redden and nearly fell to the ground. He stabilised her heart in a rush. He wanted to shout at her but he quickly endured it. Cannot! He wanted to redeem his figure. Hence, he swallowed a mouth of air and took a sedate and composed posture. "What's wrong?"

"Young Master Zhao invited me to have a meal at his house tonight. Xiao Jian is coughing a bit so I will not be bringing him out. Crown Prince, can you help me take care of Xiao Jian for a while?"

Chu Xun instantly turned unhappy. Zhao Mo Ran invited only you to have a meal? It's fine that he didn't invite this Crown Prince too. You even want this Crown Prince to help you take care a child? Mei Qian Deng, why don't you ascend to the sky instead?

However, he restrained his sulk and only kept a straight face, "There are so many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. He won't go missing."

"I can't be at ease."

"Then, isn't it fine if you don't go have a meal at Zhao Mo Ran's house."

Mei Qian Deng blinked her eyes. Now, she had already learnt how to pretend innocent. The moment Chu Xun saw her delicate and charming face, his heart softened. "Fine, fine, fine. Just go if you want to. This Crown Prince will help you take care of him."

Mei Qian Deng voiced a thanks. She squeezed Xiao Jian into Chu Xun's chest and in a flash, she had ran.

Chu Xun lowered his head to look at Xiao Jian while Xiao Jian raised his head to stare at Chu Xun.

"Mei Qian Deng had go to play alone without bring us. There's no use looking at me."

Xiao Jian suddenly smiled and threw himself in Chu Xun's arms, letting out "gegege" laughing sound as if he really liked to spend time alone with Chu Xun.

Chu Xun rolled his eyes, "Don't think that I don't know, you're actually a sn.o.b. Seeing that this Crown Prince can cover you with my high status and large influence, just like this group of lackeys. You're so young yet already calculative. When you grow up, eight parts you will be a calamity. Let me tell you, if you dare to harm Mei Qian Deng, I will absolutely never let go of you……"

"Dada, dada!" Xiao Jian couldn't understand anything, he only twisted around in Chu Xun's arms.

"Hey, say, what Mei Qian Deng want to do secretly with Zhao Mo Ran that guy? For no apparent reason, why Zhao Mo Ran want to invite her to his house to have a meal?" Chu Xun hugged Xiao Jian and pondered around. "You're coughing? Is your throat itchy? Cough two times for me to hear. I see you're quite healthy though."

Speaking of Mei Qian Deng's side, she had followed Zhao Mo Ran to another courtyard. Throughout the walk, she didn't say anything.

It was still Zhao Mo Ran who started talking with a slight smile, "You don't have any urgent matter to ask me?"

Previously, Zhao Mo Ran secretly told Mei Qian Deng that he had already found some clues regarding Xiao Jian's ident.i.ty but he didn't want to let that person in the palace to know. So, he invited only Mei Qian Deng to come out and have a talk. Although Mei Qian Deng's thought was simple, her brain was not stupid. Without batting her eyelids, she concealed from Chu Xun and prepared to first listen what Zhao Mo Ran say.

"Then, Brother Zhao, please speak directly."

Zhao Mo Ran was a bit disappointed. However, Mei Qian Deng's personality had always been like this. Shaking his head and sighed, he went straight to the subject, "Do you know the Yue family from the Lu Ming Mountain[1]?"

Mei Qian Deng's heart felt heavy.

At the peak of the Lu Ming Mountain, there was once a hundred years prominent old family. Highly skilled in casting swords, it had once shaken the jianghu. Lots of people went to Lu Ming Mountain to request for sword. However, it was said that that family's patriarch had an extremely weird personality. He immersed himself in casting swords to obsession level. For the sake of casting swords, he even killed his own son and threw his body into the sword casting furnace. If he saw anyone pleasing to his eyes, it was even possible for him to freely gift a good treasure sword. But, if it was someone not pleasing to his eyes, even if there was a sword hanging before his neck, he wouldn't even sell it. Hence, he had offended quite a number of jianghu personages.

Approximately two years ago, the Yue family was ma.s.sacred completely overnight, leaving no survivors. Zhao Mo Ran's father was the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. When this matter occurred, it was inevitable to investigate. Hence, Zhao Mo Ran had a deep impression of the Yue family's case. In jianghu, they fought and killed people. Although their blades had tasted blood and they didn't afraid of death, they still cherish lives. To be able to kill off Yue family completely like this, normal hoodlums wouldn't be able to do it. Those with strong martial arts were very conceited, most of them killed others for fame. Alliance Leader Zhao had only simply the after-scene once before calling others to cremate and bury the dead. The investigation for this matter was extremely low-keyed.

"Xiao Jian is an orphan from the Yue family?" Mei Qian Deng couldn't believe it completely.

"That hidden sword on his body, it's the work of the Yue family."

"Are you sure?"

Zhao Mo Ran raised his eyebrow. "I can only say that child may have a connection with the Yue family."

Mei Qian Deng nodded. She seemed to be lost in thoughts. Zhao Mo Ran silently watched her. After hesitating for a moment, he opened his mouth, "The whole Yue family being ma.s.sacred, do you know whose work was it?"

Mei Qian Deng turned silent. In a jiffy, she answered, "It's not like vengeance killing from jianghu, more like by the people in the imperial court……"

Zhao Mo Ran was slightly stunned. In these few days he had contact with Mei Qian Deng, he felt she seemed to be an innocent one and knew she actually had a clear heart, see everything thoroughly. Yet, when he heard her answer, his heart still quivered. Zhao Mo Ran instead wished Mei Qian Deng would be more stupid, only focused in studying martial arts and didn't busy herself with other matters.

"Since you had already guessed it, I will not say other words anymore. Qian Deng, you're not suitable with the life in the palace. Search for a chance to resign as soon as possible, at least you can still retreat in whole. If you need, I can help you." While he was speaking, his hands unconsciously grabbed female warrior Mei's arms, shortening a lot the distance between them.

His Highness Crown Prince who was absolutely ignorant of Zhao Mo Ran's seduction attempt was marching in circles when Mei Qian Deng had yet to return despite his waiting. Fidgety in his heart, he was just about to call Xiao Jing Zi to go out of the palace and urge her to return when Xiao Jing Zi knocked the door and entered.

"Your Highness, secret report." He revealed a new yellow paper.

Chu Xun pa.s.sed Xiao Jian to Xiao Jing Zi while he carefully looked at that yellow paper.

The contents on that paper was about the Yue family from the Lu Ming Mountain too. However, it was far more detailed than Mei Qian Deng's. For instance, at that time when Madam Yue was killed, she had just delivered a child but the baby's corpse was not found. However, it was said that the child was threw into the sword casting furnace by Patriarch Yue upon birth for the sake of casting an unparalleled sword. That sword had been completed but its location was not known. The murderer might do it to seize that treasured sword. Then, for example about the murderer, the report had mentioned of it.

The more Chu Xun read, the more grave his face turned. At the last part when he saw the mentioned murderer, Chu Xun frowned tightly and his eyes were burning with anger.

"Your Highness?"

'Pa!' Chu Xun suddenly struck the table in anger and stood up. He first burned that yellow paper and ordered Xiao Jing Zi to take good care of Xiao Jian. Then, he alone went towards the Emperor's residence.

Chang Xiao Gonggong told Chu Xun, the Emperor was currently in the Imperial Study, discussing with high ranking ministers. He invited Chu Xun to rest for a while at the side hall. How could Chu Xun remain still? Pa.s.sing through the group of servants, he ran to the entrance of the Imperial Study and waited there. He wanted the opportunity to instantly see his father after the discussion ended. Actually, the Emperor was having a headache from those old ministers arguing. When he heard from Xiao Gonggong informing the Crown Prince was waiting outside, he waved his hand and chased them out. "Zhen is tired now, let's discuss again tomorrow."

The moment Chu Xun entered, he saw his father sitting there while ma.s.saging his forehead. He had a matter tucked in his heart. He was really afraid he would annoy his father again. Hence, he became timid to say it out loud.

"For Xun er to find zhen at this late time, what's the matter?"

"Erchen……"

He stood in front of the imperial table. His eyes fleeted once. Suddenly, he saw the opened memorandums on that imperial table. His Highness Crown Prince had an excellent eyesight, with just a glance he instantly saw some certain terms——Mei Zi River Islet, retrieve, entire territory.

What the heck?!

Chu Xun was startled and anxiously asked, "Imperial Father plans to touch Mei family's territory?!"

The Emperor's expression could be said as calm as he replied, "That territory is originally the imperial land. During the founding of the empire, the national treasury was empty so someone gave such idea to the founding emperor. Now that the world is at peace and the national treasury is full, it's time to retrieve it."

Chu Xun's train of thought was astonis.h.i.+ng fast. Linking up various matters together, he instantly got the answer. He said, "At that time when Imperial Father decreed Mei Qian Deng to enter the palace as erchen's study partner, it was to deploy this trap."

His father didn't reply, which meant he admitted it.

"Imperial Father, that's Mei Qian Deng's home!"

"It's not like zhen is chasing them out. It's just taking back the authority of that land and make it into a land under the local authority's jurisdiction." Earlier, the Grand Chancellor and the others too were surrounding him about this Mei Zi River Islet matter. There were lots of harsh criticises but the Emperor had yet to agree with them. He took account of the Mei family's sensibility and that they had a relations.h.i.+p with the imperial family. Hence, he didn't want to trouble them too much. Letting Mei Qian Deng to enter the palace and be the Crown Prince's study partner had already revealed the Emperor's amiable stance. As long as Old Master Mei willing to return that land deed stamped with the founding emperor's seal to the imperial court, everything could be discuss properly.

Chu Xun had never thought of this. This was a new problem arising before the old one was solved. Currently, Xiao Jian's matter was thrown to the back of his mind as he focused on pulling his father to his side, "It's just a piece of land and Mei family didn't do any outrageous acts. They are just good citizens living in peace and work happily. Imperial Father can just think of it as leaving out a Land of Peach Blossoms[2] in this world and give some face for the founding emperor as well."

The Emperor's face turned nasty instantly. He effortlessly took a memorandum and threw it to Chu Xun's forehead.

"It seems zhen really shouldn't give you some face!"

"Imperial Father, please calm your anger." Chu Xun immediately knelt on the ground but his waist was straight. "Mei Qian Deng once saved erchen's life. We had a.s.sociated closely with each other in these few days and had a deep friends.h.i.+p. Earnestly request Imperial Father to revoke the decree."

His father coldly smirked, "Zhen had yet to decree to touch Mei family yet you had been this anxious to protect Mei Qian Deng. Tell truthfully to zhen, previously didn't you quite hate Mei Qian Deng that child? You even made a ruckus until nearly chased that person away. Why the sudden change? And even have a deep friends.h.i.+p?"

"That was because I……!" Chu Xun choked off. How was he supposed to describe a youth in p.u.b.erty's complex p.u.b.erty syndrome and those sudden throbbing in the depth of his soul in the middle of the night?

The old ginger was hotter than the new ginger.

The Emperor, "Zhen is just asking you, why is your face red instead?"

"Erchen doesn't."

"Actually, for what matter did you come this late to find zhen? If you don't say it, zhen will kick you out now."

Chu Xun temporarily couldn't out speak his father. He decided to postpone it for now and returned to first mention about Xiao Jian and the Yue family from the Lu Ming Mountain.

After finished listening, the Emperor coldly said, "If it's really done by him, he will be executed."

"Erchen doesn't dare to presumptuously declare as such. But all the clues are pointing at Imperial Uncle."

"Continue to investigate."

"Yes." Chu Xun gulped. "Imperial Father, then about Mei family's matter……"

"Xiao gonggong, send the Crown Prince back to the Ming Jue Palace."

[Mini Theatre]

The author invited Old Master Mei to drink tea at the backstage.

Author: "Let me tell you, the Crown Prince has already know Qian Deng is a girl."

Old Master Mei covered his mouth in terror: "How can it be?!!!"

"That night during the Mid-autumn Festival, when you were talking to yourself in your daughter's room, the Crown Prince was under the bed."

"(#‵M′) F*ck, why is that stinky brat under my daughter's bed? What was he trying to do?!"

That is not the main point though.

The author pinched her forehead: "Let me tell you, that son of Alliance Leader Zhao also know Qian Deng is a girl."

Old Master Mei jumped high: "How can this be!!!!!!!!!"

"During your fiftieth birthday banquet, when you pulled your daughter to have a talk at the backyard, that stinky brat from Zhao family was eavesdropping."

(⊙o⊙) Ah!

The author exploded, (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻ : Uncle Mei, you say——aren't you spilling it around!!!

[1] Literally, Mountain of Deer Cry

[2] Utopia, haven of peace, Shangri-La

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator's hard work. Don't think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)