ATSBTBMACP 2

Chapter 2

The citizens of the Great Zhou imperial city all knew that today was a momentous occasion—the Crown Prince was taking a consort!

Speaking of His Highness, it would take three days and three nights to recount all his virtues! He was as handsome as a jade tree, with a graceful and elegant demeanor, skilled in both literary and martial arts, comparable to a god descended from heaven.

At seventeen, he had already been on the battlefield, a brilliant military strategist and a fearsome warrior. Legend had it that the Iron-Blooded Asura, clad in armor cold as steel, could intimidate enemies from a thousand miles away just by standing with his spear!

He was truly the dream lover of all the women in the Nine Continents and the revered god of all the men.

However, at the age of twenty-three, His Highness had not yet taken a wife or concubine. There was much speculation among the people about what kind of celestial being could catch the Crown Prince’s eye and be worthy of his heroic stature.

And now, the fourth prince of Zhao, sent for a marriage alliance, had arrived. Several luxurious carriages slowly entered the capital city amidst the falling snow. The streets were crowded with people, all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the fourth prince’s beauty.

“They say Zhao produces beautiful people. I wonder what this man looks like?” Someone in the crowd started the discussion.

“I heard that in Zhao, it’s common to marry men as consorts and take men as concubines, but it’s not the same in our Great Zhou! In my opinion, this marriage alliance is forced, and it won’t last!”

“Exactly! Our Crown Prince didn’t even fancy the stunningly beautiful Princess of Yun, let alone a stiff man!”

“I say, he’ll be kicked out within three days…”

Just then, the window of a carriage was lifted, revealing a crack. The young man inside glanced outside indifferently.

This single glance silenced the noisy crowd, their eyes fixed on the carriage until it was out of sight.

“Was that… the Fourth Prince of Zhao?” Someone in the crowd finally regained their senses.

“Heavens! I’ve never seen such a beautiful person!”

“Such beauty and temperament are indeed worthy of our Crown Prince.”

“I think this is a calamity! What if His Highness can’t control himself, becomes obsessed with love, and neglects his duties?!”

…

The carriage swayed along, finally stopping outside the Crown Prince’s residence.

“My Lord, we’ve arrived.” The voice of a servant boy came from outside, sounding remarkably like Jiang Ran. Song Beiyao knew that this wasn’t his friend, but Ling Feng, the spy who had infiltrated the Crown Prince’s residence with him.

In the original novel, this character was only mentioned in passing. Song Beiyao only knew that Ling Feng was highly skilled in martial arts, hailed from a professional assassin organization, and wasn’t close to the original Song Beiyao. They simply shared the same goal: to overthrow Pei Ji.

It seemed that the position of Crown Prince was indeed extremely dangerous, no wonder Pei Ji was more ruthless than ordinary people.

Song Beiyao coughed lightly and stepped out of the carriage.

A brazier was placed in front of the carriage. As he stepped over it, he stumbled and nearly fell.

Ling Feng immediately steadied him, secretly exerting force. Seeing that Song Beiyao’s face was much paler than in previous days and his body much weaker, he couldn’t help but ask, “My Lord, what’s wrong?”

With outsiders present, Ling Feng pretended to be his servant. However, when no one was around, this person would become a dangerous factor.

Song Beiyao lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at him, and said gently with a smile, “I’m worried that Pei Ji will become suspicious if he knows I have martial arts skills, so I took medicine to suppress them in the carriage. There are some side effects, but it’s nothing serious.”

Ling Feng was slightly taken aback. He had always known about Song Beiyao’s beauty, but it was a beauty without a soul, like a wooden puppet, stiff and reserved.

However, that glance just now seemed to inject a soul into him, his eyes sparkling with life. Even the mole at the corner of his eye was mesmerizing.

This person was acting very strangely today.

“Your Highness, the Fourth Prince.” At this moment, a man in his forties or fifties approached from the front of the Crown Prince’s residence. “This old servant is Steward Zhang, the head steward of the Crown Prince’s residence. Please follow me inside, Your Highness.”

Steward Zhang didn’t have many scenes in the book, but he appeared frequently. As a veteran who had served the Crown Prince for over ten years, Pei Ji trusted him greatly.

Usually, when Pei Ji was in his study, in a bad mood, or encountered some issue, Steward Zhang would bring him a bowl of hot tea, acting as a confidant and listener. He was one of the few people whose words carried weight with Pei Ji.

Song Beiyao took a silk pouch from his sleeve. Inside was a piece of exquisite, valuable white jade he had just found in a wedding gift box inside the carriage.

He pressed the pouch into Steward Zhang’s hands, his eyes filled with respect and warmth. “It’s the middle of winter, freezing cold, and Steward Zhang has been waiting outside for a long time. You must be tired.”

As a servant, Steward Zhang rarely received such considerate treatment from a master. Although touched, he still declined.

Song Beiyao held his hand. “This jade would make a fine jade pendant or earrings for a young lady. If Steward Zhang has a daughter, she would surely like it.”

Steward Zhang thought of his daughter who was soon to be married, and accepted the pouch without further refusal. He then led Song Beiyao into the Crown Prince’s residence.

The Crown Prince’s residence was magnificent, but not as lively as outside. Only a few red silk balls hung from the eaves. There was no banquet, no fireworks, and not even Pei Ji himself was present.

This was consistent with the plot of the book. Pei Ji didn’t want this political marriage, but he couldn’t disobey the imperial decree. Once the royal family member arrived for the marriage, he would simply leave them to be neglected.

Steward Zhang led the way, turning back to say to Song Beiyao, “Consort, His Highness the Crown Prince is currently discussing matters in the study. Please follow me to the Yan Nuan Pavilion.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard coughing from behind.

Turning around, he saw a young man in red robes standing in the snow. His black hair was tied high, strands fluttering in the wind and brushing against his jade-like face. His pale complexion added a touch of fragility, stunningly beautiful.

Steward Zhang had seen countless beauties inside and outside the palace, but he had never seen anyone so ethereal. Seeing the young man covering his lips in pain, coughing incessantly, with blood seeping through his fingers, he hurried forward to ask, “Consort, are you ill?”

Song Beiyao leaned slightly on Ling Feng, giving a pale smile. “Ever since my father told me I would be marrying the Crown Prince of Da Zhou, I have been looking forward to it day and night, my heart filled with excitement. But I also worried that His Highness, a dragon among men, would look down on me. I’ve been overthinking, and that’s why I fell ill.”

He coughed a few times, and said weakly, “Steward Zhang, do you think I can see His Highness today?”

Steward Zhang didn’t know how to answer. The Crown Prince had already given instructions to send the Consort to the Yan Nuan Pavilion upon arrival. Given the Crown Prince’s temperament, let alone today, he might not even see the Consort for several days.

But looking at the young man’s expectant expression, his eyes like snow-melt, so moist, looking at him like that, made it impossible to refuse.

Moreover, he had just accepted that pouch.

“Consort, I will inform His Highness,” Steward Zhang replied. “Let me first call a physician for you.”

Song Beiyao weakly lowered his head and curved his lips slightly. “Alright, thank you, Steward Zhang.”

—

Evening, dining hall.

A tall, handsome man sat down at the table, the only one eating at a table full of dishes.

Pei Ji didn’t like servants around when he dined, so only Steward Zhang was present to attend to him.

Steward Zhang stood respectfully, occasionally glancing at his master. The Crown Prince was not one to show his emotions, but today he seemed different, a hint of darkness in his eyes.

When the Crown Prince had almost finished eating, Steward Zhang asked, “Did Your Highness encounter something troubling today? You seem a little uneasy.”

Pei Ji put down his chopsticks and rubbed his temples. “Have a painter come to the residence tomorrow.”

He didn’t want to delay. The person in his dreams had an outstanding appearance. It shouldn’t be difficult to draw a portrait and then search for them.

“Yes.” Steward Zhang didn’t ask why, but looked at the Crown Prince a few more times.

“Is there something else, Steward Zhang?” Pei Ji noticed his actions.

Steward Zhang bowed his head. “The Consort arrived today.”

“Who is the Consort?”

“The Fourth Prince of Zhao, the one His Majesty bestowed upon you in marriage.” Steward Zhang reminded him.

Pei Ji remembered. Today was the day the Crown Prince’s Consort entered the residence. It wasn’t something he cared about. He simply replied, “Understood,” and stood up, intending to leave.

“Your Highness,” Steward Zhang spoke again, “The Consort has travelled a long way and fell ill upon arrival. He should be awake now. Wouldn’t Your Highness go and see him?”

Pei Ji paused for a moment, his eyes turning cold. “I believe I said that there’s no need to report his matters to me. Did he send you?”

“This… this is not the case.” Steward Zhang lowered his head, somewhat guilty. “I just thought that the Consort had just arrived and fallen ill. It would be appropriate for Your Highness to visit him, lest the Zhao Kingdom take offense.”

It was just after dinner, and a walk to aid digestion wouldn’t hurt. Pei Ji started walking. “Fine, let’s go and see him.”

Inside the Yan Nuan Pavilion.

Ling Feng helped Song Beiyao sit up from the bed and brought over a bowl of dark, thick medicinal soup, saying dryly, “Drink your medicine.”

The medicine looked extremely bitter and difficult to swallow.

Song Beiyao glanced at it briefly before quickly looking away, towards the face that looked exactly like his old friend.

The face was young and handsome, but the expression was twisted and awkward. He found it amusing, and said slowly, “Leave it there. I’ll drink it myself later.”

Ling Feng immediately relaxed. The medicine had been delivered; whether it was drunk or not was no longer his concern. He put down the bowl and turned to leave.

“Wait,” Song Beiyao called out to him.

“What?” Ling Feng turned back impatiently.

Song Beiyao smiled at him. “I’m afraid it’s bitter. Could you please bring me some candy?”

The person smiled harmlessly, leaning weakly against the bed, looking rather pitiful. Ling Feng wasn’t buying it. He snorted. “I’m not really a servant. Don’t order me around.” He turned and left without looking back.

Not long after, he whirled back into the room, a handful of candy in his hand, which he tossed onto the bed. “So troublesome! Just this once.” He ran out of the room again.

Song Beiyao collected the candies one by one, his smile widening. Whether it was Jiang Ran or Ling Feng, they were both quite fun to tease.

As he was smiling, he suddenly started coughing. In the bottom left corner of his vision, a gray number appeared: -199.

“It was -198 before, why did it decrease?” Song Beiyao asked the system.

 

Upon hearing this, the system felt a surge of regaining control, straightening its non-existent back. “Your current luck value is negative, so 2 points will be automatically deducted every day. When your luck value falls below -200, you will enter a near-death state.”

 

Are you scared? Are you terrified? Tremble, ignorant human!

 

“I see.” Song Beiyao tapped his chin with his index finger, his tone calm. “With daily deductions, it seems the collection progress will have to be slightly slower.”

 

System: “???” You must be pretending to be calm! You must be!

 

“Cough… cough, cough…” Song Beiyao clearly felt his condition worsen with each decrease in luck value. Leaning against the bed, he thought, I must see Pei Ji as soon as possible.

 

At that moment, Ling Feng rushed back into the room, his expression anxious, muttering softly, “Pei Ji is coming.”

 

As soon as Song Beiyao heard this, he saw a tall figure stride across the doorway and enter the room.

 

What timely arrival.

 

As the figure approached, the face described in flowery language in the original novel gradually came into view.

 

Very handsome, extremely good-looking, was Song Beiyao’s first impression. Even having seen so many handsome men in the entertainment industry, he couldn’t find anyone like Pei Ji.

 

Pei Ji’s face had excellent bone structure, with sharp, sculpted contours. Sword-like eyebrows slanted towards his temples, his eyes were deep, and his nose bridge was high. He was also very tall, no less than 1.9 meters by sight. A black brocade robe accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His aura was strong, his demeanor cold and hard, giving off a “do not approach” vibe.

 

Song Beiyao raised an eyebrow with interest.

 

Whether from the novel or in person, it was clear that this man was a tough nut to crack. Trying to get close to him to absorb his luck would take some effort.

 

While Song Beiyao was observing Pei Ji, Pei Ji was also observing him.

 

“Steward Zhang, is this the new Consort you mentioned?”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Pei Ji’s wolf-like eyes stared at the young man in red. That exceptionally beautiful face was identical to the person who killed him in his prophetic dream!

 

Heh, came right to my doorstep, saving me the trouble of searching.

 

“Someone!—” He gave an order, and several guards immediately entered from outside.

 

At the same time, Song Beiyao coughed as he got up from the bed and walked towards Pei Ji.

 

“Seize him!—”

 

Song Beiyao suddenly coughed up blood. His luck value was too low; if this continued, he might not last until tomorrow…

 

“Arrest him!—”

 

The world gradually blurred. Song Beiyao couldn’t hear what Pei Ji was saying, relying entirely on willpower to support himself. He gritted his teeth and lunged towards Pei Ji.

 

Only after embracing the man’s firm waist did he relax.

 

Pei Ji’s body stiffened instantly. He felt the young man’s fluffy head against his neck, the hair tickling him slightly.

 

Then the body began to slide down. Pei Ji made no move to support him.

 

The guards were stunned by this scene, unsure whether to arrest him or not.

 

“What are you waiting for? Take him to the dungeon,” Pei Ji said coldly.

 

At this moment, Ling Feng rushed forward and knelt down. “Your Highness, what are you doing? My master is the Fourth Prince of Zhao, how can you…”

 

“Whether he is the Fourth Prince of Zhao or not,” Pei Ji interrupted coldly, “I will only know after I interrogate him tomorrow.”

 

The guards immediately carried the unconscious young man away.

 

Steward Zhang didn’t understand his master’s intentions. Just as he was about to speak, he looked up and saw, for the first time, such cold killing intent in the master he had served for over ten years.

 

He closed his mouth, thinking to himself, I hope nothing bad happens.