OL CH10

Bai Su felt a wave of despondency. No matter how deeply he pined for King Ning, what qualifications did he possess to make such a man pause his steps for him?

The image of a pitch-black Xuan Iron Token flashed through his mind. The young man lowered his eyes, rubbing his fingertips together; that was the final trump card his grandfather had left him.

Could it be that King Ning had somehow learned the Iron Xuan Guards were in his hands, which was why he was suddenly treating him with such painstaking devotion?

Other than that, he truly could not fathom what other advantage his current self possessed that would earn Situ Chenye’s special favor.

Bai Su had never been a fool. Often, he could sense that the man opposite him was constantly conveying cherishment and deep affection. Yet without some underlying condition or hidden agenda, he simply dared not believe it. After all, over the years, he had encountered many similar overtures of goodwill—not a single one free of ulterior motives.

As Bai Su pondered, a burst of clamor suddenly drifted in from outside.

Chen Tian looked out the window and noticed scholars entering the pavilion in pairs and trios, only then recalling that some sort of literary gathering was apparently being held at Zhuangyuan Pavilion today.

He held not the slightest interest in literary gatherings. He had come here merely because the lotus leaf chicken was said to be delicious—fragrant, tender, and a perfect complement to the peach blossom wine he had brought.

After casually glancing at the bustle twice, Chen Tian resumed attentively serving dishes to Bai Su, sharing amusing stories to coax a smile out of him.

What was so great about watching a spectacle? How could watching lively gossip compare to the paramount task of chasing his wife!

By the time he and Bai Su leisurely finished their meal, more than an hour had passed. Neither cared how the literary gathering outside was progressing; exiting the private room, they headed straight downstairs.

Who would have guessed that just as they reached the main entrance, a melodious female voice called out: “Heir Bai!”

Chen Tian turned his head to see a dainty and charming maiden walking over with graceful, swaying steps. And beside her was Bai Feizhang, whose appearance had fully recovered to normal after many days.

Seeing the newcomer, Bai Su gave a flat nod in greeting: “Miss Yan.”

Surprised to see Bai Feizhang appear here, Chen Tian swept a glance over Zhuangyuan Pavilion and understood immediately. It seemed Bai Feizhang still hadn’t given up, trying every possible avenue to boost his reputation. He just hadn’t expected the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s estate to be with him.

At this moment, Chen Tian was still standing just inside the entrance, obscured by the shadow cast by the storefront signboard. People outside couldn’t see him clearly, so neither Bai Feizhang nor Yan Qingying had noticed his presence.

Seeing Bai Su look over, Bai Feizhang glanced at Yan Qingying beside him, an arrogant, smug grin instantly spreading across his face as he laughed: “Why is Elder Brother here? Could it be that you’ve come to join the literary gathering at Zhuangyuan Pavilion? Oh! Right, I forgot again—Elder Brother has never cared for wielding ink and brush.”

Bai Su couldn’t be bothered to entertain a petty scoundrel like Bai Feizhang. However, Yan Qingying stepped closer to him, asking gently, “It has been so long since I last saw the Heir. I wonder how you have been faring of late?”

Her tone was laced with considerable sincerity and warmth.

“All is well. Thank you for your concern, Miss Yan,” Bai Su replied casually.

Seeing Yan Qingying’s attention focused entirely on Bai Su, Bai Feizhang felt bitter jealousy flare up. Sneering sarcastically, he said: “Elder Brother, Miss Yan and I arranged to meet here today. Would you care to join us and have a look? Even if you aren’t gifted in literary talent like Miss Yan and me, you can still mingle with the scholars!”

The same pretentious tune yet again. Chen Tian truly couldn’t fathom how Bai Feizhang could be so proud when his supposed literary fame was stolen entirely from master poets of the world he had transmigrated from—no different from a common thief.

Hearing this, Yan Qingying cast a slightly blushing glance at the man beside her, revealing the maidenly bashfulness of a young girl. Afterwards, she turned to look at Bai Su with expectant eyes, seemingly hoping very much that he would come along.

Watching the woman gaze lovingly at his lover, the two of them clearly possessing some prior history, Chen Tian’s face darkened completely. He hastily asked the little fledgling in his sea of consciousness: 009, what is the deal with this Yan Qingying?!

Hearing his boss’s clearly exasperated and furious tone, 009 hurriedly gathered the hidden plot points of this minor world.

After a moment, it answered: Boss, this Yan Qingying is a well-known talented maiden in the capital. Back when the Heir was defending the borders alongside the Old Marquis and his fame resounded far and wide, Yan Qingying publicly expressed her admiration for an outstanding hero like Young General Bai.

Rumor has it that Prime Minister Yan even considered marrying his daughter to Heir Bai to form an alliance. However, after Old Marquis Bai passed away and the Heir suffered his accident, the matter fell through.

Host, rest assured! Neither the Heir nor the Old Marquis ever gave any response to it.

No wonder Bai Feizhang had been so insufferably smug just now. It wasn’t just to pick a fight; he was deliberately flaunting Yan Qingying!

Did Bai Feizhang honestly believe that seeing a maiden who once admired him now hanging out with an estranged half-brother would send Bai Su into a humiliated rage? Or did he think he could ride Yan Qingying’s coattails to latch onto the Yan family!

Hmph!

Chen Tian sneered inwardly. Glancing at Yan Qingying and Bai Feizhang not far away, he instructed 009: 009, compile a complete compendium of poetry and prose from the world Bai Feizhang transmigrated from. Age them to look like ancient texts, make several copies, and leave them in conspicuous corners of major bookshops.

Before long, those scholars will treat the volumes like priceless relics and circulate them widely. I’d love to see how he shamelessly claims those poems as his own original creations then!

As for Yan Qingying… Chen Tian swept a glance over the woman in the yellow silk dress.

It’s nothing more than idle gossip. Her taste isn’t bad, but unfortunately for her, Bai Su can only belong to me! Since it’s in the past and was merely the Yan family’s wishful thinking, I can’t be bothered to hold a grudge.

009: Boss, if your face weren’t as black as the bottom of a wok right now, I might have actually believed you.

Having ruthlessly plotted Bai Feizhang’s downfall, Chen Tian felt slightly better. He took a bold step forward, positioning himself directly before the woman and cutting off her view of Bai Su.

Only then did he turn, draping an arm around his sweetheart’s shoulder with exaggerated intimacy, and murmured tenderly, “Zisu, didn’t we agree to go boating on the lake? Let us hurry along!”

Only now did the two of them notice Chen Tian, who hadn’t stepped out from the doorway until now.

“Greetings to King Ning!”

“Greetings, Your Highness King Ning.”

Bai Feizhang and Yan Qingying hurriedly bowed to Chen Tian. Bai Feizhang was terrified of Chen Tian, worried the man would find fault with him and beat him black and blue again. While Yan Qingying was surprised, her voice betrayed a distinct flutter of joy.

Yan Qingying hadn’t expected such great luck today: first crossing paths with the poetically refined Bai Feizhang, then meeting the heroic Young General Bai, and now the peerlessly handsome King Ning.

What a pity Young General Bai had fallen on hard times, yet Bai Su’s former valor hadn’t diminished in the slightest in Yan Qingying’s heart. She still considered him a staunch, unyielding hero who guarded the realm.

She could only sigh at the heavens’ cruelty and the fickleness of fate.

Having reached marriageable age, suddenly encountering three exceptional men at once made her heart flutter like a startled fawn; it was truly so difficult to choose!

Especially since she had overheard her father and elder brother discussing a few days ago that the Emperor seemed inclined to match her with King Ning.

At this thought, Yan Qingying stole a bashful glance at Chen Tian, unable to conceal the blush rising to her cheeks.

Her maidservant, Cuizhu, standing beside her, couldn’t help facepalming inwardly. It’s over, it’s over! Miss’s old habit is acting up again!

Chen Tian looked in bewilderment at the woman who had gone silent for half a day, only to discover she was now gazing at him with identical starry-eyed affection. He suddenly found the situation hard to describe in words…

Unwilling to pay the two any more mind, Chen Tian exerted a rare show of forcefulness in front of Bai Su. Grasping his wrist, he led him directly toward the carriage waiting nearby.

He personally helped Bai Su up into the carriage with utmost care, tucked the blanket over him, and ordered the driver to whip the horses into a gallop, kicking up dust as they sped away.

Silence settled over the carriage for a moment.

Bai Su only felt the skin around his wrist where King Ning had touched him burning hot. Seeing the man’s expressionless face, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Chenye was angry.

He felt anxious, yet had no idea what to do, nor did he understand why the man was upset. For the first time, he resented his own clumsy, uneloquent tongue.

“Zisu, are you very familiar with Miss Yan?”

Chen Tian’s sudden question dragged Bai Su out of his disordered thoughts. Raising his head to stare blankly at the man before him, he hastily shook his head: “We have only met a few times.”

“Only a few times? Why did this Prince think Miss Yan looked deeply in love with you!”

Hearing the other man refer to himself as “this Prince,” Bai Su knew he was truly angry.

Bai Su looked at Chen Tian with furrowed brows. Seeing that while the words sounded teasing, there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes, an inexplicable surge of panic and grievance washed over him.

At that time, he had clearly noticed Yan Qingying gazing most intently at King Ning—why was this man turning around to place the blame on him? Thinking of how well-matched the man and Yan Qingying looked standing together, an overwhelming bitterness flooded his heart.

After a long silence, as if expending a tremendous amount of energy, he rasped out: “The way Miss Yan looked at Your Highness held far more affection than the way she looked at this humble one.”

The young man opposite him looked indescribably desolate, leaning against the carriage partition with downcast eyes. He looked as if he were being swallowed whole by loneliness, causing an unprovoked pang of sharp pain in Chen Tian’s heart.

He had originally intended to probe, wanting to see Bai Su act jealous. But right now, he felt that his reckless words had made him an absolute bastard.

Regardless of why his sweetheart was downcast, Chen Tian felt it was entirely his own fault!

“This Prince doesn’t give a damn about some irrelevant woman! Zisu, I misspoke!” Chen Tian hastily sought to remedy the situation. Rising, he sat down beside Bai Su and gazed at him with unwavering focus.

Being in such close proximity set Bai Su’s heart hammering frantically against his ribs, not daring to meet those fiery, ardent eyes.

“Zisu!”

Seeing that Bai Su didn’t respond for ages, Chen Tian couldn’t help calling out again. In his desperation, he simply seized his hand and pleaded pitifully: “Don’t ignore me, Zisu. I was wrong!”

And Bai Su, whose hand had just been caught, stiffened entirely on the spot.

__

Author’s Note:

Miss Yan: I’m not a flirt; I just want to give every exceptional big brother under the heavens a warm home! (^▽^) 

Cuizhu: Miss, wake up from your daydream. You’re just a cannon fodder wingwoman! →_→ 

Miss Yan: QAQ