The Emperor, for all his whims, seemed to have a special fondness for the Mingzhu Court. Though small in size, it was astonishingly well appointed, there was even an artificial hot spring built within the courtyard.
After exchanging a few polite words with the steward, Lu Xiao gathered his clean clothes and made his way toward the bathhouse.
The hot spring was quiet, the air filled only with the faint rustling of Lu Xiao removing his layers. The people of this era were far too particular about their dress, so many layers, even in the height of summer.
It was stifling, and Lu Xiao, who had grown up in the modern world, could hardly stand it.
A soft mist rose from the pool, blurring the edges of the lantern light. Lu Xiao dipped one foot into the water, testing the temperature.
It was neither too hot nor too cool, exactly how he liked it. Satisfied, he lowered himself in, the warmth enveloping him completely.
Water surged over the stone edges, spilling in glittering streams. Lu Xiao watched with boyish delight, smiling as the ripples spread and overflowed. He had only ever seen such scenes in anime or dramas back home, and now he was living inside one.
With a sudden impulse, he sank his face beneath the surface, puffing out bubbles through his nose and mouth, pretending he was a fish. For a few precious moments, he allowed himself to forget everything, to wash away the weight of the past few days.
He had lived through more in this short week than he had in years. The exhaustion went beyond the physical; his mind had been strained to its limit. No wonder he had reacted so violently to that cursed painting.
Running a hand along his thigh, he traced the faint scar that stretched across his skin. It was an old wound, long healed, said to have been there even before he had been “found.” The mark had faded over time, and in its hidden place few would ever notice it.
But now, with the Emperor’s youthful face lingering in his memory and Li Xianguan’s grim words echoing from earlier, the truth seemed obvious enough. Lu Xiao had no doubt who had given him that scar.
By his reckoning, the current Emperor would have already been on the throne when the wound was made.
As a student of history, Lu Xiao knew the records well, though the dynasty he now found himself in was one of those semi-mythical periods never confirmed by archaeologists, its legends still lingered in old texts.
Those obscure accounts mentioned an eleventh prince, the posthumous son of the late emperor. By the timeline, that prince would be about his age. It was not difficult to guess, then, that the man now known as Lu Xiao was once that very child.
How he had been smuggled out of the palace, and how he came to be “found” by General Li, was a mystery he might never solve. Perhaps the tale of being found was just a cover story. After all, General Li’s younger sister had been the eleventh prince’s mother.
She had been the old emperor’s favorite in his final years, a young consort elevated quickly to the rank of Noble Consort. When the emperor died, she had supposedly followed him in death, said by later generations to be a tragic act of devotion.
But Lu Xiao did not believe in that sort of romance. Stories written in history books were one thing; truth was another. Whatever had happened, he was certain of one thing, she had loved her child deeply. Deeply enough to risk everything to ensure that he survived.
The thought made his chest ache. Perhaps it was the heat, or perhaps it was the swirl of memories and suspicion, but his head began to spin. He stepped out of the bath, dried himself hastily, and returned to his room. Sleep took him almost immediately.
It was the first full night’s rest he’d had in days.
“Up so early, Lu Xiao? What’s this, can’t wait to have breakfast with me?” Li Xianguan greeted him with a grin that was entirely too smug for the morning hour. He looked well rested, his mood light.
Lu Xiao gave him a long-suffering look and sat down, waiting for the steward to arrange the morning meal.
For a man who had lived alone for years, he found it strange how quickly he’d grown used to the company of others. Without these two constantly orbiting around him, the quiet felt almost unbearable.
He ate slowly, savoring the food. A few moments later, Chen Yue’er arrived, yawning behind her hand. She looked utterly exhausted.
Lu Xiao had slept like the dead the previous night and hadn’t heard a thing, but the steward quietly filled him in, Consort Xian had summoned Chen Yue’er to the palace at midnight to tend to the ailing prince.
Lu Xiao sighed inwardly. As long as that man remained Emperor, the poor child would never recover. He felt a pang of sympathy for Chen Yue’er. A healer’s heart could endure many things, but how could one bear knowing that a patient had been condemned to die from the start?
“Yue’er, Lu Xiao and I will head to the Qian estate later today,” Li Xianguan said gently, setting a small dish of pickled vegetables near her hand. “You should rest a while longer here in the courtyard. Work can wait. Your health is more important, we’ll be worried otherwise.”
He turned to the steward. “Make sure her room is well cooled before she returns. Have the ice brought in early.”
Too tired to argue, Chen Yue’er simply nodded. She ate a few spoonfuls of porridge and some light side dishes before excusing herself.
Lu Xiao and Li Xianguan helped the steward clear the table, refusing his polite protests. None of them could say how long this mission to the Qian estate would take, or whether they would return at all. In Lu Xiao’s heart, an uneasy heaviness lingered.
Their luggage had already been packed in advance. When everything was ready, the two men left a brief note for Chen Yue’er, thanking her and promising to return safely, though neither of them truly believed it.
Lu Xiao climbed into the carriage and, as it started to move, lifted the curtain to take one last look at the gate of the Mingzhu Court. Though he had only lived there a short while, it had given him a fleeting illusion of home.
A quiet thought stirred in his chest: perhaps he would never come back. The investigation concerned an ancient god, and Lu Xiao could not guarantee that he would remain sane.
Yet he had to go, whether it was guilt toward the body’s original owner or simply his own stubborn curiosity, he could not tell. He only knew he needed to see this through.
The carriage wheels rolled across the cobbled streets, blending into the bustle of the marketplace. The noise of the crowd, the calls of merchants, and the creak of wooden carts formed a symphony of life.
Lu Xiao peered out through the window, taking in the sight. The last time he had gone out had been to the Eastern Market, a place of refinement and high prices, elegant but subdued. The Western Market, however, was alive in a way that thrilled him.
He had never been much of an outdoorsman. His studies had been niche, his friends few, his pleasures small, running tabletop games, reading, nothing more.
Crowds had never appealed to him. But this was different. There was something infectious about the laughter and chatter, something that tugged at his sense of wonder.
The locals were equally curious about them. The Western Market was the realm of commoners; rarely did nobles or ministers pass through. Carriages like theirs were almost never seen, and people craned their necks for a glimpse inside.
Lu Xiao leaned forward, tempted to peek back, but Li Xianguan cleared his throat loudly. The sound was enough to send the curious onlookers retreating a few steps, pretending to busy themselves with their stalls.
“You’re supposed to be an adult,” Li Xianguan said, half amused, half exasperated. “Stop acting like a child. Even little Yue’er worries about you every day.”
Lu Xiao only smiled faintly, pretending not to hear. He turned his gaze back to the window, eyes bright with quiet curiosity.
Li Xianguan sighed and let him be. He’d have enough to occupy him once they reached the Qian estate.
Soon the bustling streets faded behind them, replaced by empty stretches of road and silent fields. The noise of the market gave way to the whisper of the wind through dry grass.
“The master of the Qian family must have peculiar tastes,” Li Xianguan muttered, glancing out at the barren landscape. “A merchant with wealth enough to rival dukes, yet he builds his residence out here where not even the birds care to fly.”
Lu Xiao looked out at the lonely horizon, the faint outline of the Qian estate barely visible ahead. For a long moment, he said nothing. The air outside was still, heavy with the promise of something they could not yet name.
Lu Xiao grew a little bored during the long journey and dozed off inside the carriage. He did not know how much time had passed when the uneven jolting of the wheels and the noise of people outside finally pulled him out of his sleep.
Li Xianguan noticed he was awake and handed him an invitation letter.
“The rest of the way, the Qian family’s envoy will escort you. I’ll stay here at the inn and wait for Yue’er. You go ahead first,” Li Xianguan said, giving him a list of minor instructions about what to do once he arrived.
Lu Xiao nodded to each one, obedient as ever, mostly because his head was still foggy with sleep.
When the envoy from the Qian residence arrived, he covered Lu Xiao’s eyes with a piece of cloth and led him toward another carriage. Lu Xiao was startled at first but followed without resistance.
As the wheels began to turn again and the hours stretched on, his drowsiness faded, replaced by growing curiosity. What sort of strange habit was this? What kind of master required his guests to be blindfolded before visiting?
The journey felt endless. When at last the envoy removed the blindfold, Lu Xiao let out a long sigh of relief, feeling like a prisoner who had just been released.
The sight before him nearly made him forget to breathe. The Qian estate stood tall and resplendent, radiant in the sun, shining as though each brick were carved from gold. If the imperial palace embodied majesty, then this place radiated wealth, pure, unabashed opulence. Everything seemed to say, Look how rich I am.
Just outside the main gates grew a so-called “Money Tree.” There was no figure of speech, every branch glittered with strings of real copper coins for leaves, blossoms fashioned from polished silver, and fruits made of perfectly round pearls.
Lu Xiao stared, stunned. The shimmering light reflecting off that tree was almost blinding. He had never seen such extravagance in his life.
“Fourth Brother! The master’s calling for you!” someone shouted from a distance.
The envoy who had accompanied him turned toward the voice, apologized to Lu Xiao for not being able to show him inside personally, and asked him to look around the courtyard on his own.
That suited Lu Xiao just fine.
He watched the envoy disappear down the marble path, then turned back toward the dazzling tree. He approached it like a child drawn to a glittering toy. Though he had not been poor in his previous life, and his days in the Mingzhu Courtyard were more than comfortable, this level of extravagance was beyond anything he could have imagined.
Up close, he realized even the tree trunk was no ordinary wood. It was forged entirely of gold, its surface inlaid with gems and mineral stones. The dense canopy of coin leaves shimmered in the light, hiding much of that brilliance unless one looked very closely.
Lu Xiao could not help but click his tongue in admiration, marveling aloud at the sheer absurdity of it. But before he could finish his thought, something heavy landed on the golden branches with a sharp thud.
Startled, he shut his eyes instinctively. When he opened them again, he saw a young man perched upon the tree, swinging one leg leisurely as if he had descended straight from the sky. For a moment, even the glittering tree seemed to lose its luster beside him.
The youth’s features were striking, beautiful in a dangerous, foxlike way. His eyes were narrow and gleamed like stars, his lips curved in a playful smirk. It was impossible to tell whether the sparkle in his gaze came from the reflection of the golden leaves or from his own radiant presence.
Lu Xiao found himself staring, unable to look away. In his previous life, he had long realized he wasn’t interested in women, but he had never met anyone who stirred him like this. He had never known what true beauty could do to a person until now.
The young man’s hair was as dark as midnight ink, his lake-blue robe embroidered with threads of gold that caught the light every time he moved.
“And who might you be, stranger?” the youth asked curiously. “Your face looks unfamiliar. You’ve come early, there’s no other guest here yet. Why not go inside instead of standing out here?”
His voice carried a lazy warmth, but his eyes remained sharp.
Lu Xiao blinked and hurried to gather his composure, tripping over his own words as he answered, “I am Lu Xiao from Mingzhu Courtyard, sir. May I ask for your esteemed name?”
The moment the words “Mingzhu Courtyard” left his lips, the young man’s expression cooled noticeably. But then something in his gaze softened again, as though he had changed his mind. He chuckled, lips curving into a teasing grin.
“Name’s Qian Jinye,” he said with a glint of mockery. “So you’re one of the emperor’s dogs, hmm? Coming to my family’s estate to investigate without even figuring out the situation first?”
With a fluid motion, Qian Jinye jumped down from the tree and landed right beside Lu Xiao. He circled him once, eyes sweeping him from head to toe with unrestrained amusement.
“Well, well. That pearl earring of yours is quite the fine piece. And look at your ear, it’s still red. Did you just have it pierced? Let me guess, you did it just for your visit to the Qian household?”
His tone was half teasing, half suggestive, and his body leaned just close enough to blur the line between provocation and intimacy.
Heat crept up Lu Xiao’s neck. This man was nothing like he had expected. Was this hostility purely because of the emperor’s involvement? Somehow, that thought only deepened his irritation toward the emperor himself.
Now, standing in front of him, Qian Jinye was like a bristling fox, all sharp edges and defiance, ready to pounce at the slightest provocation. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Lu Xiao found his outrage almost… endearing.
When Lu Xiao still did not answer, Qian Jinye grew impatient. His brother had told him that imperial lapdogs like this one would usually reveal their true colors after a few sharp words. Why was this one so calm? How was he supposed to throw him out now?
Annoyed, Qian Jinye ruffled his hair, then noticed Lu Xiao’s other ear, unpierced and unadorned. A sly idea crossed his mind.
He stepped closer, his breath brushing against Lu Xiao’s skin as he whispered in that unmarked ear, “Only one ear pierced? That’s rather bold of you, isn’t it, Young Master Lu? Quite the flirtatious touch.”
Lu Xiao’s eyes darkened, and the air between them shifted. They were both young, both proud, and the tension that had begun as hostility now simmered with a dangerous kind of heat.
“Is that so?” Lu Xiao said softly, his tone laced with mockery. “Then what if I told you I did it just to seduce you, Young Master Qian?”
The words hung between them, heavy with challenge and something far more intoxicating
✦ ✧ ✦
Nycreth
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The coffee goblin has awakened. It wants tribute.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · The beginning of the tragedyChapter 2 · Don’t forgetChapter 3 · Look at it directlyChapter 4 · Whom are you trying to seduce?Chapter 5 · TeaseChapter 6 · Sleeping in the same bedChapter 7 · Internal locksChapter 8 · Tampering The rules…Chapter 9 · Black LotusChapter 10 · FledglingChapter 11 · There are no horses in the stable.Chapter 12 · Water-oil separationChapter 13 · The cost of backtrackingChapter 14 · It got biggerChapter 15 · Was it a mouse?Chapter 16 · Too fieryChapter 17 · Administer medicineChapter 18 · Tracing the PearlChapter 19 · A KissChapter 20 · Ge, Kiss meChapter 21 · Ten Thousand Deaths Without RegretChapter 22 · Endless CorridorChapter 23 · CowardChapter 24 · GoodbyeChapter 25 · Back toChapter 26 · It’s is me, Not MeChapter 27 · VictimChapter 28 · Crossed CupsChapter 29 · IntuitionChapter 30 · ChangeChapter 31 · DifferentChapter 32 · ErrorChapter 33 · Mind Your Own BusinessChapter 34 · WanderingChapter 35 · EmbraceChapter 36 · LoveChapter 37 · UnrestrainedChapter 38 · Asking Over a DrinkChapter 39 · As BeforeChapter 40 · SatiatedChapter 41 · A Change in the WindsChapter 42 · A’SuChapter 43 · Welcoming the BrideChapter 44 · GossipChapter 45 · WeaknessChapter 46 · Wedding NightChapter 47 · Brother QingChapter 48 · FadingChapter 49 · Lying LowChapter 50 · CaressChapter 51 · OnceChapter 52 · The Hidden PassageChapter 53 · MotherChapter 54 · FlawlessChapter 55 · ProphecyChapter 56 · EtherealChapter 57 · DecipheringChapter 58 · The TrapChapter 59 · Stone StatueChapter 60 · ChessChapter 61 · AssassinsChapter 62 · The National Preceptor?Chapter 63 · Please return my belongings to me.Chapter 64 · I’m not that desperate.Chapter 65 · No wayChapter 66 · No turning backChapter 67 · I told you, get out of the wayChapter 68 · Still became a monsterChapter 69 · Let’s end thisChapter 70 · Why do you look so much like him?Chapter 71 · One wanted to kill, two stopped himChapter 72 · Unless, the people at Mingzhu Academy are keeping it from himChapter 73 · FraudChapter 74 · Don’t look back, Lu XiaoChapter 75 · It’s coldChapter 76 · Kill MeChapter 77 · We are even marriedChapter 78 · Gege… I Love YouChapter 79 · “It” had arrivedChapter 80 · Wake Up!Chapter 81 · How Nostalgic….Chapter 82 · You already Promised meChapter 83 · Their TerritoryChapter 84 · Jokes were JokesChapter 85 · What you dream was realChapter 86 · Did you cry?Chapter 87 · What’s wrong, young Master?Chapter 88 · No, I only ever said it to youChapter 89 · Honey, Please let me go.Chapter 90 · What are you pretending to be, a gentleman?Chapter 91 · It’s just a shoddy trick to fool people, but I like it anywayChapter 92 · Ge, I did it voluntarily, it’s no useChapter 93 · You little BratChapter 94 · Gege~ please have mercyChapter 95 · Hearing Lu Xiao come in, he patted the seat next to himChapter 96 · Stop fooling around, let me kiss youChapter 97 · “I want…” “Want what?”Chapter 98 · Gege, watch closely how I get youChapter 99 · Little Eleven, how about we talk to ‘it’ first?Chapter 100 · Had it gone mad?Chapter 101 · I will make my decisionChapter 102 · Tsk, how indecentChapter 103 · You are the creator of my original worldChapter 104 · The world is not your toy, go back to where you came fromChapter 105 · He was a boy with snow-white hair and a handsome faceChapter 106 · Haven’t seen you for a long timeChapter 107 · TYRBL Extra: 1Chapter 108 · TYRBL Extra: 2Chapter 109 · TYRBL Extra: 3Chapter 110 · TYRBL Extra: 4