TL: Hua
Chapter 80: Gaining Control – Xiao Pei’s Escape Record (2)
If the person outside the door was an ordinary customer, it wouldn’t matter whether he opened the door or not. But if it was someone who had been following him, not opening the door would only make him appear guilty and arouse suspicion.
Haozi stood at the door, adjusting his breathing, then reached out and opened the door.
The “guests” stood outside, three in total. The leader was clearly the master, dressed in a dark-patterned black robe with flying cranes, his long hair tied with a crown, looking as noble as a jade sword. Haozi met his gaze; a pair of phoenix eyes, sharp and restrained, sent chills down his spine. Without a doubt, this person had an extraordinary background.
Haozi hurriedly cupped his hands and said, “My lord, how may I help you?”
Zong Suiyang said nothing. Instead the guard behind him spoke, “My master has a business deal to discuss with you. Due to the urgency of the matter, we had to trouble you. Please forgive us.”
The words were polite, but they left no room for refusal. Haozi smiled and said, “You are too kind, my lord. I’m idle anyway, so there’s no disturbance. But may I ask what business you wish to discuss?”
Zong Suiyang looked into Haozi’s eyes and said, “Why don’t we discuss it inside?”
For some reason, as soon as Haozi met those eyes, his heart pounded. Heaven knew how those eyes were born—so beautiful, yet so dangerous. He sighed inwardly, secretly praying to the heavens for protection, asking that even if those two living Buddhas were to be taken, a path of escape be left for him!
“What’s wrong?” Haozi hesitated for just a moment. Zong Suiyang’s eyelids lowered slightly, and he said ambiguously, “Is it inconvenient?”
“How could it be inconvenient? I’m a bachelor, and there are no women in my shop, so what inconvenience could there be? It’s just that seeing your noble status, I was afraid the old wooden chairs in my small shop would soil your robe,” Haozi said, inviting the “guests” inside with an eager smile.
One guard followed Zong Suiyang in, while the other remained standing at the shop entrance, his right hand on his saber hilt. Although there was no hint of malice, there was no trace of goodwill either. Haozi averted his gaze, turned, picked up the teapot, and poured Zong Suiyang a cup of tea. His Lordship would not touch it, but Haozi didn’t mind; he simply considered it a matter of hospitality.
Haozi put down the teapot and said, “May I ask what business you wish to discuss with me?”
“Someone from my household has gone missing and is currently within Enzhou territory. I troubled the owner to help me find him,” Zong Suiyang said.
The secret room was not completely soundproof. Yuan Fang, with his keen hearing, immediately made a fist gesture to Pei Xiting as soon as he heard Zong Suiyang’s voice.
Pei Xiting lay on the bed, utterly resigned. It had only been half a day, and that surnamed Zong had already tracked them down here?
Yu Shaoyun had already been here. He didn’t think Zong Suiyang’s presence at this time was truly for business; he likely had his sights set on Haozi and had come to investigate in person.
No matter how cunning Haozi was, how could he escape the tiger’s mouth and dragon’s teeth?
Pei Xiting pulled up the thin quilt, covering his face, his expression serene. But in an instant, he flipped over like a flopping fish, limping to the entrance of the secret room, clutching his bottom, and grimacing as he pressed against the wall to eavesdrop.
Inside the shop, Haozi scratched his head and said, “To be honest, my lord, you are the second person today to ask for my help in finding someone. Strictly speaking, I shouldn’t ask too many questions, for fear of offending your esteemed household’s privacy. However, seeing your extraordinary status, I suspect that anyone you personally seek must be no ordinary person. Could they be a heinous villain?”
He rubbed his hands, offering a placating smile. “My small business is just that, small, and I only have one life. I can’t afford such a dangerous venture.”
“You worry too much. The missing person is not a heinous villain,” Zong Suiyang paused slightly, then said, “He is my younger brother from my household.”
Pei Xiting vaguely heard this and instantly gritted his teeth. Who’s your brother! My ass has already been poked by you, and you still call me ‘brother’? Do you think this is some kind of orthopedic novel[mfn]Censored word for novel with ince$t relationship.[/mfn]? Zong Suiyang, you bastard, your mouth is harder than a turtle’s shell!
Yuan Fang squatted nearby, feeling as if the person beside him was a blazing fireball. Fearing that Pei Xiting might impulsively charge out, he couldn’t help but reach out and gently squeeze his shoulder.
Pei Xiting came back to his senses, made a circular gesture with his hand, as if gathering his strength, and let out a long breath, barely managing to suppress his anger.
“Younger brother?” Haozi thought to himself, the way you spoke just now didn’t sound like ordinary brothers. But if he had to describe that expression, he couldn’t pick a suitable word. He just felt that looking at one’s own brother with such a profound, almost lingering gaze might be a bit inappropriate?
In any case, the person in front of him and the person in the room had no resemblance whatsoever in their features. Haozi guessed that the “brother” claim was just a cover-up; “sworn brother” seemed more likely. Could it be that the two in the room were the adulterous apricot and the eagle who stole the branch, passionately flying to Enzhou, luring the legitimate man to catch them in adultery?
“We had some emotional issues, and he ran away from home today, hiding and refusing to see me. But I’m worried about him being out alone.” Zong Suiyang looked at Haozi. “The sooner I see him, the sooner I’ll be at ease.”
As his words fell, the guard behind Zong Suiyang unfastened the gold from his waist and placed it on the table with a dull thud, saying, “Please trouble this brother to put in some effort.”
Haozi looked at the bag of money, heavy in his hands, but the sound it made when hitting the table was like a death knell. He looked up into Zong Suiyang’s dark eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and said, “It’s too much. It’s not too late to accept payment after I find the person.”
Zong Suiyang smiled slightly and said, “What do you mean by that?”
At his smile, Haozi trembled even more, and he quickly said, “Enzhou isn’t small, and finding someone isn’t easy. Moreover, I suspect your younger brother is timid at heart and will definitely try every means to hide, which will make it even harder to find his traces. If I can’t find him, how can I accept so much money?”
“Timid?” Zong Suiyang shook his head slightly. “If he dared to run away from home, how could he be called timid?”
“It’s not contradictory to be fearless when doing something, then fearful afterward,” Haozi said, forcing a smile. “A younger brother naturally reveres his elder brother. If your younger brother ran away from home and knew his elder brother personally came to catch him, how could he not be scared? Even if you won’t do anything to your brother, family rules are strict after all.”
Zong Suiyang didn’t answer immediately. He simply rose from the chair, looked around, and moved to the nearest counter, inspecting it with his hands behind his back.
His posture was relaxed, like a casual customer browsing the shop, but Haozi’s heart began to pound with fear. He couldn’t help but quickly glance at the cabinet facing the door.
Separated by just a wall, Pei Xiting also held his breath, listening intently to the movements outside.
After a moment of silence, Zong Suiyang slowly said, “I’m not thinking of punishing him severely now. I just want to find him quickly.”
Right, right, then you’ll punish him to death once you find him, Pei Xiting pouted. He wouldn’t fall for that.
“Indeed, my lord, you dote on your younger brother. How could you truly harm him? At most, a few words of reprimand will suffice,” Haozi said.
Zong Suiyang raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, glancing at him with a half-smile. Haozi’s throat tightened, and he quickly said, “My lord, rest assured, I will do my best to find him for you.”
Zong Suiyang, however, said, “I must see him within two days. Today counts as the first day.”
Haozi’s eyes widened. “What?!”
Pei Xiting, inside, also widened his eyes. How did it suddenly change from three days to two? Putting that aside, the surnamed Zong has ill intentions; he’s truly set his sights on Haozi.
“I’m not an unreasonable person, but my mood is truly bad right now, and I’m not in the mood to be reasonable.” Zong Suiyang walked up to Haozi, looking down on him. “Your reputation precedes you. If it turns out to be undeserved, I’ll smash your signboard. That would also serve as a guide for others, wouldn’t you agree?”
Haozi forced a bitter, dry laugh. He couldn’t laugh.
Pei Xiting also couldn’t laugh. He finally understood. Surnamed Zong wasn’t just targeting Haozi; he had already determined that Haozi knew their whereabouts. These words were meant for him.
Come back obediently by tomorrow night, or he’ll hold Haozi accountable for harboring a fugitive.
Furthermore, these words were also for Haozi, a mix of threats and inducements: if Haozi handed them over, he would not only be pardoned but also heavily rewarded. Otherwise, he would be implicated. What’s more, they were “brothers,” so they wouldn’t truly bring harm to each other, but Haozi, the kindhearted outsider, would face unpredictable consequences.
So, if Haozi wasn’t an idiot, he’d know who to make this deal with!
This old, cunning, ruthless, and heartless flower-destroyer, Pei Xiting, fumed inwardly, wishing he could charge out and bite the surnamed Zong to death. Fortunately, he still had a sliver of sense. If he charged out now, he would at most get one bite out of him, but he would definitely be beaten so badly that his ancestors wouldn’t recognize him!
Surnamed Zong’s tone was normal, and he even had the presence of mind to chat with Haozi, but the more he did, the more Pei Xiting’s heart pounded, filled with four ominous words: A storm is approaching.
Should he just go out and “surrender” now? He was still injured; surnamed Zong shouldn’t torment and violate him again, right? If worse comes to worst, he would just hold Zong Suiyang’s leg and cry his eyes out. A wise man knows when to yield; it’s not shameful.
But Pei Xiting reconsidered. If he went back like that, not only would all his efforts be in vain, but his morale would also drop a notch. How could he possibly compete with Surnamed Zong then? What would be the point of him struggling to climb from the bed to Yuan Fang’s back this morning? Would it just prove his knees were strong?! Damn it!
Pei Xiting was scratching his ears and cheeks inside, caught between a rock and a hard place. Haozi was doing the same outside, angry but daring not to speak, only begging with his eyes.
Zong Suiyang glanced at him indifferently, said nothing more, and turned to leave.
Haozi: “…”
After walking a few steps outside, Zong Suiyang didn’t stop, saying, “Keep a close watch on the shop. There’s no need to alarm Haozi when he goes out to buy medicine or food.”
The guard responded, not daring to ask why His Highness wasn’t arresting Pei-wenshu since he was certain he was hiding in the shop, especially when he was so anxious to see him.
Zong Suiyang was indeed anxious, but he also understood that his emotions were currently volatile and he wasn’t calm. If he saw Pei Xiting immediately, that wicked fellow loved to provoke people. What if he accidentally fell into the trap and lost control, hurting Pei Xiting? What a disaster that would be?
In any case, it was only a matter of one night. He would calm down first, then go to arrest him tomorrow.
Zong Suiyang made his plan, but unexpectedly, that very night he received news from his watchmen: Haozi had rushed to the pharmacy to buy fever medicine, and it was a strong dose. He wondered how badly the person who needed the medicine was burning up.
“Your Highness couldn’t control yourself last night, so you must have hurt Pei-wenshu, and besides…” The matters of the bedroom were private. Su Chongyan couldn’t say too much in front of so many people, only vaguely hinting, “It’s better to bring him back soon so I can examine him and carefully clean and apply medicine.”
Yu Shaoyun put a cloak on Zong Suiyang. As Zong Suiyang left, someone by his side asked, “Should we have Corridor Master Fu accompany us? That way, we wouldn’t have to exert ourselves with Yuan Fang.”
Yu Shaoyun glanced at Zong Suiyang upon hearing this, initially thinking that His Highness would definitely not leave any more “hidden dangers” this time, but unexpectedly, it was still the same “we’ll see.”
The group hurried towards the toy shop.
—
Pei Xiting was kneeling on a mat, applying makeup to himself.
Yuan Fang held a mirror beside him, commenting, “You look like a ghost.”
“You don’t understand.” Pei Xiting turned his head, blinking his bruised eyes, and declared seriously, “This is called a sickly look.”
Haozi squatted beside them, sighing, “Actually, you look more pitiful without makeup. Right now, you just make people want to punch you.”
“Am I that ugly?” Pei Xiting looked left and right. His face was white, his cheeks rosy, his eyes bruised, and his lips pale. He looked very sickly indeed.
Yuan Fang said, “Do you think His High… do you think your brother is blind? Can’t he see you’ve plastered your face?”
“That’s not my fault. It’s just that the cosmetics were poorly bought,” Pei Xiting firmly refused to blame his makeup skills and gave an example to prove it. “Look at the ‘Lotus Jade Face Makeup’ that Qing Lingling popularized in the capital. That’s what I did.”
Qing Lingling was fair-skinned and usually didn’t need powder. Pei Xiting merely used rouge to draw on his face. If he were to give him a full face of makeup, Qing Lingling would probably immediately fall from his position as the top courtesan, and if he walked around in a white dress at night, he’d scare quite a few ghosts to death.
Yuan Fang silently muttered to himself, not speaking aloud, lest he provoke Pei Xiting’s enraged beating. He only said, “So why are you getting up late at night to create this sickly look?”
“I couldn’t sleep. Just practicing beforehand,” Pei Xiting said while looking in the mirror. “When they come knocking, I definitely won’t be able to escape, but I need to buy you guys time to run. When the time comes, I’ll fall to the ground with this face on, and my brother will be held back by me, right?”
Haozi said with satisfaction, “That’s very loyal of you, still thinking about helping me escape.”
“Brother Haozi, don’t worry. At most, you’ll have to hide for a few days. Once I’ve pacified him, you can come back and do business,” Pei Xiting reassured him. “I won’t shortchange you a single penny.”
“I don’t even want money anymore. Just leave me my life.” Haozi sat down on the ground, sighing, “Your brother’s murderous intent is restrained. He must be a cold-blooded killer.”
Pei Xiting patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
Yuan Fang chuckled, and Pei Xiting punched him in the leg with a fist.
Pei Xiting then added, “Brother Haozi, you will be fine. Yuan Fang, you must turn and run when the time comes; don’t worry about me. Take your belongings and go out to eat delicious food for a few days, and wait for me to pick you up.”
In the past, Zong Suiyang was willing to stop Corridor Master Fu for him, but now it was different. Surnamed Zong would likely go with the flow and let Corridor Master Fu take Yuan Fang, the “scourge.” Pei Xiting originally planned not to ask Yuan Fang for help; he could slide down from the second floor with a bedsheet. But he was afraid that if he wasn’t there, Zong Suiyang would take his anger out on Yuan Fang, and Corridor Master Fu would seize the opportunity to take him away.
After much thought, he realized his provocation was too incomplete. Pei Xiting felt depressed, believing that besides his own poor judgment, Zong Suiyang was also to blame, as his mind was only slightly impaired before, but it was half-crippled by Zong Suiyang last night.
“Don’t worry about my affairs,” Yuan Fang said.
Pei Xiting had just taken medicine, and his head ached. When one is sick, they tend to be fragile and sensitive. Pei Xiting, being occasionally slow-witted, misunderstood Yuan Fang’s words as anger and turned his head to look at him, showing a hint of guilt.
Yuan Fang was startled by his expression and said, “I’m not being fierce with you, and you’re not allowed to cry.”
Pei Xiting pouted and remained silent. Yuan Fang reached out and wiped his face, saying, “I really meant don’t worry. Your brain is already burning up. If you worry more, the fire will burn even bigger. What if you really burn yourself stupid? When you gave me the look at Bai Mian Fang and asked me to buy shredded chicken porridge, I had already planned all the escape routes. I thought I would really have to take you on the run, but I didn’t expect you were just playing hard to get. But this is even better; with one less burden, I can run faster.”
Pei Xiting breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said, “Then what are your plans after you run? What will you do?”
“I need to go back to the Southwest first. Since I was caught by the Corridor Master, I can’t just run away quietly a second time; that would truly be courting death. I’ll go back first and ask him for forgiveness, then find an opportunity to run to Yejing to see you,” Yuan Fang said. “This was already planned; after all, I can’t not go home my whole life. So even if you hadn’t pulled this stunt, once we returned, I would have had to bid you farewell for a while.”
“But with the previous lesson, will Corridor Master Fu let you run a second time?” Pei Xiting worried. “Will he lock you up so we can never see each other again in this life?!”
“As long as he doesn’t break my legs, I can run, but he won’t break my legs,” Yuan Fang chuckled. “My legs are valuable.”
Pei Xiting breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and vowed, “Don’t worry, we’ll set a deadline of a month and a half. If I don’t see you by then, I’ll go to the Southwest to find you.”
The Immortal Corridor had never been precisely located since its establishment, but Xiao Pei, the clumsy one, spoke ambitiously. However, Yuan Fang didn’t pour cold water on his enthusiasm, nodding in agreement and saying, “Alright.”
The two continued to discuss their future arrangements, not realizing that Haozi had already slumped to the side, watching them with a look of utter despair.
The Southwest, Corridor Master… Could it be the Immortal Corridor? Yes, yes, no wonder this person wields a dagger so expertly, leaving no trace of blood, killing invisibly. This isn’t just any assassin; it’s a master from the Immortal Corridor!
Enzhou was under martial law, Longhe Guards appeared at the city gates, the “brother” who had just left was from Yejing and possessed such a dignified and noble demeanor. And these two “grand buddhas” in front of him hadn’t denied offending the Crown Prince…
“Ugh!” Haozi suddenly gasped, falling backward onto the ground.
The current Crown Prince has no younger brother! This living buddha is clearly the Crown Prince’s young lover! His Royal Highness has been cuckolded and has come all this way in pursuit, and he, Haozi, has actually taken in this audacious pair of wild mandarin ducks!
Haozi’s vision went blank. He saw Pei Xiting crawl a few steps and pounce on him, anxiously rubbing his chest. He couldn’t help but cough, saying weakly, “After I die, please leave a jar of yellow wine at my burial place. That way, my journey won’t be lonely or cold.”
Pei Xiting earnestly said, “Brother Haozi, don’t die, please don’t die!”
“Young Master Pei, in this life, you have wronged me. In the next life, please meet me in the mortal world and inexplicably bestow countless gold, silver, and jewels upon me as compensation for this karmic debt between us in this life.” Having managed to leave his last words, Haozi’s eyes snapped open, and with an “ugh,” he tilted his head and passed away.
Pei Xiting looked at Haozi in disbelief, then suddenly clutched his chest, tilted his head back, and cried silently, leaning over Haozi, weeping copiously.
Yuan Fang sat to the side, raising his hands to clap, and praised expressionlessly, “In this situation, you two still have the presence of mind to act. Your composure is truly something to learn from.”
Haozi’s eyes opened, and he “resurrected.” Pei Xiting sat up straight, both of them offering a restrained, prim smile.
Yuan Fang rolled his eyes, stood up, and brushed off his trousers, saying, “Stop messing around. Quickly wipe that ghostly face off and lie down on the bed.”
Pei Xiting said miserably, “Sleeping on my stomach is uncomfortable. I can’t sleep at all.”
“You took medicine earlier. Once it’s digested and the effects kick in, you’ll naturally fall asleep,” Yuan Fang said, then bent down and scooped Pei Xiting off the floor, instructing Haozi to pour some water.
Haozi said cheerily, “Alright, I’ll serve the young master.”
He shook his head and walked to the washbasin stand, picked up the previously boiled kettle, poured a small amount of water into the basin, mixed it with cold water, and tested the temperature with his finger. Once it was about right, he dipped a cloth into it.
Pei Xiting lay on the bed. When Haozi handed him the warm cloth, he revealed a row of white teeth in thanks.
Yuan Fang shook the cloth. Just as he was about to put it on Pei Xiting’s face, his ears twitched, and he suddenly sat up.
Seeing this, Pei Xiting and Haozi simultaneously tensed. Haozi rolled over and hid by the bed. Pei Xiting climbed up and hid behind Yuan Fang, poking his shoulder with a finger.
“Someone’s picking the lock,” Yuan Fang said.
Pei Xiting frowned upon hearing this and said, “Surnamed Zong is too lazy to pick locks. He’d just have someone bash the door open.”
Surnamed Zong… Very good, very good. Zong is the imperial surname, isn’t it? Haozi smiled faintly, tiptoeing closer to the two and saying, “Could it be my enemies coming to kill me in the middle of the night?”
“Even if it is, I’ll deal with them for you, as thanks for sheltering us,” Yuan Fang said.
Haozi immediately clasped his hands, grateful to the master.
“Through the door, who can tell?” Pei Xiting whispered. “Maybe it’s just a thief coming to steal your money.”
That would be the best-case scenario, Haozi sighed.
The three remained still. Pei Xiting heard no more movement and stayed obediently hidden behind Yuan Fang.
Yuan Fang heard the sound of the door opening, reached down, and pulled out the dagger from between his legs. The moment the secret room door opened, he swiftly lunged forward, the blade aimed directly at the opponent’s throat.
Unexpectedly, the newcomer had anticipated this. He opened a fan to block the dagger, looking calmly at Yuan Fang, and said, “You haven’t regressed.”
Yuan Fang instinctively pulled back his strength, retreated three steps, and lowered his head, saying, “I apologize for offending Corridor Master.”
“Come with me,” Fu Wei said. Without waiting for Yuan Fang’s reply, he swiftly reached out and pressed Yuan Fang’s shoulder, abruptly pulling him out.
Yuan Fang was as slippery as an eel, dodging with a backhand, but Fu Wei grabbed him again and whispered into his ear, “Those two young lovers are having a spat. Why are you getting involved? Fuchuan is not good-natured. When he goes mad, there’s no limit. You might not be afraid of death, but think about your young master. Can he bear the burden of your life?”
Yuan Fang pursed his lips upon hearing this. In that brief moment of distraction, Fu Wei chopped him unconscious with a hand chop, then bent down and hoisted him onto his shoulder.
Fu Wei turned and smiled at Pei Xiting. Corridor Master Fu was handsome, and his smile was gentle and elegant, but his eyes were devoid of warmth; no matter how beautiful his smile, it couldn’t warm a person. Yet he wasn’t Zong Suiyang, so Pei Xiting was still a little timid, but it didn’t stop him from stubbornly saying, “If you dare to hit him, I will tell His Highness that you are waiting to watch the show and urging me to escape!”
“…” Fu Wei narrowed his eyes upon hearing this but said nothing, as getting the person away from the trouble was the most important thing right now. He turned and quickly left.
Pei Xiting couldn’t stop him and could only pound the bed. He turned to look at Haozi, only to see him already kneeling on the ground.
“…No, big brother,” he said carefully. “What are you doing?”
Haozi stammered, “Th-th-that was… that was the Immortal Corridor Master, wasn’t it?”
“Y-y-yes, it was,” Pei Xiting replied.
Haozi rolled his eyes and fainted again.
Pei Xiting wiped his face, reached out to help Haozi up, and said, “Brother Haozi, now it’s just you and me. It’s not safe here anymore. How about you quickly take me and run…” Before he finished speaking, Pei Xiting’s gaze suddenly trembled; as if he sensed something, he stiffly turned his head back.
A man appeared silently, dressed in a black robe, exuding coldness, like a vengeful ghost from the dark night, not only there to scare but also to claim a life. His tall figure nearly touched the doorframe, dominating Pei Xiting’s entire vision.
Zong Suiyang first surveyed the unseemly furnishings in the secret room, showing slight displeasure. Then, he lowered his gaze to Pei Xiting, who was kneeling on the bed, looking dazed. There wasn’t a hint of anger in his eyes; instead, he was smiling.
“Running?” He leaned against the doorframe, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Pei Xiting, curiously asking, “Where are you planning to run off to now?”
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