After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 54

There was a faint birthmark on Zhou Xun’s ankle.

 

The birthmark was small, appearing from a distance like a slender strip. Back when Zhou Xun was still in the palace, the Emperor had once caught a glimpse of it and exclaimed in surprise, “A barcode?!”

 

Although Zhou Xun didn’t know what a barcode was, he was currently pretending to be a mute woman, so he naturally had to avoid any behavior that might reveal his identity. However, the Emperor ignored his resistance and stubbornly held him down, rendering him unable to struggle.

 

—This was also the first time Zhou Xun realized that if the Emperor wanted to… his strength was quite formidable.

 

“You’re already swollen… Stop moving! Let me see!” The Emperor’s voice was loud, carrying an undeniable anger.

 

So, Zhou Xun stopped struggling.

 

The Emperor inspected his ankle closely, poking a certain spot before asking Zhou Xun, “Does it hurt?”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor: …

 

Damn it, Zhou Xun’s damned pride… At a time like this, he’s still pretending!

 

The Emperor fumed inwardly, but fortunately, when he touched that spot earlier, Zhou Xun’s calf muscles didn’t react strongly, indicating the problem wasn’t severe. After another careful check, the Emperor sighed in relief, “It’s not bad, the bone is fine, just some soft tissue bruising. It should heal in a few days.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He softly uttered an “mm,” his voice weak and small. The Emperor then said, “We should find a place to apply some ointment, but there are so many people around now, and it’s not convenient for you to walk…”

 

As he spoke, he looked up at a nearby restaurant, his eyes lighting up: “Let’s go there!”

 

It was a four-story wooden building, brightly lit inside and bustling with activity. Several scholars and ladies stood on the balcony, watching the flower parade below.

 

Zhou Xun: !

 

Zhou Xun glanced at the elegant, lively scene inside, shaking his head even more vigorously, his entire demeanor screaming refusal. This time, the Emperor didn’t indulge him. He squatted down, turning his back to Zhou Xun: “Get on.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

His face, hidden beneath the mask, was almost turning red from holding back, unable to say a word. The Emperor said, “Climb on my back, I’ll carry you over.”

 

Meanwhile, a hidden guard, watching Zhou Xun and the Emperor safely reach the shadow of a tree, breathed a sigh of relief.

 

When the Emperor entered the crowd earlier to find someone, all the guards accompanying him had been on high alert, fearing something might happen to the Emperor. Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t disappoint them; he quickly found Lord Zhou and brought him out of the throng.

 

The guard signaled to the others nearby, and the leader of the hidden guards led his men to hide in the darkness, watching the scene unfold.

 

“Boss,” the first hidden guard to spot them reported, “His Majesty has emerged with Lord Zhou. They’re under the tree over there.”

 

The leader nodded. One of the guards following him asked, “Boss, what should we do next? Escort His Majesty back to the palace, or… does His Majesty have other plans?”

 

Other plans?

 

The guard didn’t clarify, but the men knew what he meant. They were in the capital’s finest red-light district, where most of the women were either entertainers or courtesans, renowned for their beauty and grace. As the saying goes, since they’re already here…

 

Moreover, they weren’t here on an ordinary day; it was the day of the new Heavenly Maiden’s parade. They had caught a glimpse of the maiden’s appearance while in the crowd earlier. Contrary to their expectations, she wasn’t the overly flirtatious beauty one might expect in such a place but rather cold and otherworldly. One of the guards had almost been entranced by her, earning a hard knock on the head from the leader!

 

“Perhaps His Majesty wants to visit one of the buildings here.” The leader of the hidden guards pondered, “Lord Zhou’s carriage had an issue. Ling Qi, go check on the carriage and horses, so if His Majesty decides to return to the palace, we can ensure he can leave at any time.”

 

The guard called Ling Qi accepted the order and left. He was a very ordinary-looking man, dressed in drab gray clothes, easily forgettable. Once he entered the crowd, it was like a drop in the ocean.

 

Next, the leader of the hidden guards said, “Ling Si, His Majesty is talking with Lord Zhou under the tree. Go listen and find out what His Majesty plans to do next. If he wants to enter any of the buildings, we need to arrange personnel to infiltrate it immediately.”

 

“Understood!”

 

Ling Si obeyed and stealthily listened to their conversation from the shadows.

 

He saw the Emperor first grab Lord Zhou’s ankle, seemingly inspecting something. Then the Emperor said a few words, but Lord Zhou remained silent.

 

Suddenly, the Emperor squatted down and turned his back to Zhou Xun!

 

Ling Si: ?

 

The Emperor seemed to say something, and Lord Zhou appeared very reluctant and resistant. However, the Emperor seemed quite insistent, speaking several more sentences, growing more impatient.

 

Ling Si focused and soon heard the Emperor’s voice drifting into his ears.

 

“Stop being so stubborn, just make up your mind.” The Emperor sounded both displeased and urgent, “Are you getting on or not?”

 

Ling Si: ?!

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Zhou Xun looked like he was too scared, which only made the Emperor more anxious.

 

The Emperor: “Hurry up, get on.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor: “Stop hesitating, it’s going to happen sooner or later. If you don’t do it now, you’ll have to do it later.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor: “This place should be fine. At least we can find some proper ointment here…”

 

Ling Si: ?!

 

Ling Si watched in stunned silence as Zhou Xun finally seemed to make up his mind, hesitantly and carefully climbing onto the Emperor’s back. He hooked his arms around the Emperor’s neck, burying his face in the crook of the Emperor’s neck. His long, jet-black hair either hung behind him or fell softly in front, draping over the Emperor’s chest.

 

The Emperor hooked his hands under Zhou Xun’s knees, securing him on his back. He seemed quite pleased, even humming a tune as he carried Zhou Xun into…

 

Ling Si’s eyes widened.

 

Into that… building called Zhao Ying Pavilion?!

 

‘Stop hesitating, it’s going to happen sooner or later. If you don’t do it now, you’ll have to do it later.’

 

‘This place should be fine. At least we can find some proper ointment here…’

 

Ling Si suddenly had a terrifying and bold thought.

 

Could it be that the relationship between the Emperor and Lord Zhou… their dynamic… was extraordinary?!

 

The leader of the hidden guards waited for a long time, watching the Emperor carry Lord Zhou into the building before waving his hand, instructing his men to infiltrate the building to ensure their protection.

 

Then, he saw Ling Si walking toward him in a daze and asked, “Is His Majesty planning to stay at Zhao Ying Pavilion tonight with Lord Zhou?”

 

Ling Si didn’t know whether to nod or shake his head. In the end, he nodded firmly.

 

“If that’s the case…” The leader of the hidden guards mused, “Go investigate the background of this Zhao Ying Pavilion, especially the identities of the courtesans—especially the most famous one. Ling Jiu, you go check.”

 

Ling Si and Ling Qi were both men, but Ling Jiu was a woman. She had a slightly delicate appearance but was also one of those faces that would be lost in a crowd.

 

Ling Jiu left, and Ling Liu, who knew a bit about the red-light district, said, “Zhao Ying Pavilion is one of the most famous brothels in this area. The women here are all skilled in arts and literature. Earlier, I heard that the current Heavenly Maiden is the courtesan of Zhao Ying Pavilion.”

 

“Is that so?” The leader of the hidden guards asked. “What’s her name?”

 

“Qing Ruo,” Ling Liu recalled, “I believe that’s her name.”

 

The leader nodded, “If His Majesty fancies her, find a way to negotiate with the owner of Zhao Ying Pavilion…”

 

Before he could finish, Ling Si interjected with a strange tone, “Perhaps there’s no need to go to such trouble today. His Majesty… likely won’t be interested in any of the women in Zhao Ying Pavilion tonight.”

 

The leader turned around, noticing Ling Si’s hesitant expression. “When I sent you under the tree earlier, did you hear anything? Could it be…”

 

He paused, then suddenly understood, “I see, if that’s the case, once His Majesty and Lord Zhou enter the room, have a few of you stand by nearby in case anything happens.”

 

Since the founding of Jing, there had been instances of emperors having affairs with women from the common folk. When the emperor did this outside the palace, it was customary for the hidden guards to stay outside the room, monitoring the sounds inside and standing by…

 

“Boss,” Ling Si finally spoke, “Perhaps this time, after we check the room for any lethal objects and ensure no one can enter after the door is locked, we don’t need to stay too close.”

 

The leader: ?

 

Ling Si’s words were cryptic, and the leader eyed him suspiciously.

 

Ling Si: …

 

He felt like he was burdened with a great secret, but the code of the hidden guards was loyalty to the Emperor—even in front of his superior, his primary duty was to protect the Emperor’s secrets.

 

The leader’s gaze was sharp, as if cutting through Ling Si with a blade. Ling Si focused inwardly, resolutely refusing to say another word.

 

His loyalty to the Emperor was unwavering!

 

“Is that so,” the leader of the hidden guards finally said after a long pause, thoughtfully. “You’re right. The Emperor’s possessiveness towards Lord Zhou is indeed extraordinary…”

 

Ling Si: ?

 

The leader of the hidden guards: “Very well, we’ll proceed as you suggest.”

 

The two hidden guards, despite having entirely different trains of thought, somehow arrived at the same conclusion on how to handle the situation.

 

As they approached Zhao Ying Pavilion, Zhou Xun had already curled up tightly against the Emperor’s back, pressing his face firmly into the Emperor’s shoulder to avoid being recognized as a man by those inside.

 

As soon as they stepped into Zhao Ying Pavilion, a group of courtesans, all charming and eager, swarmed around them. They noticed the Emperor’s distinguished bearing and opulent attire, clearly marking him as someone of great wealth and status. They were about to lavish attention on him, but…

 

Upon seeing that the Emperor had someone on his back, they exchanged bewildered glances and subtly stepped aside.

 

“This gentleman,” the madam of the establishment, dressed in gold and red robes, came forward to greet them. She eyed the person on the Emperor’s back, uncertain of the situation, but maintained her professional demeanor. “Are you looking to…”

 

“I need your best room,” the Emperor said flatly, not sparing a glance at anyone around him.

 

“This… sir…” The madam hesitated, finally saying, “Our establishment doesn’t allow outside alcohol…”