After Being Mistakenly Taken for a Fellow Traveler by Emperor Long Aotian - Chapter 62

Xie Zhengqing, midway through his reflection, realized he had said too much when he saw Zhou Xun’s face.

 

After all, Zhou Xun and Zhou Cai, as well as Zhou’s younger brother, were blood relatives. What if Zhou Xun intended to plead for his brother?

 

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xun simply nodded and said, “It’s quite unfortunate.”

 

Xie Zhengqing added, “So it’s not that I don’t want to help the Zhou family. Zhou’s younger brother should face consequences for his actions. Now, the merchant survived by luck. Zhou’s younger brother may escape the death penalty, but he cannot avoid punishment. If we don’t punish him this time and he becomes more audacious in the future, what will the Zhou family do then?”

 

Xie Zhengqing had prepared many arguments to persuade Zhou Xun, but Zhou Xun merely smiled and said, “Master Xie, you’re overthinking it. When it comes to pleading for the Zhou family… I might be the last person in the world who would do so.”

 

Xie Zhengqing: !!

 

Zhou Xun’s words were cold, yet Xie Zhengqing was touched.

 

Zhou Xun truly was the principled, sensible man he had imagined, strict with his family!

 

A gentleman, indeed!

 

He felt as if the light of righteousness was shining upon them. Xie Zhengqing then said, “If you think that way, I can be even more reassured.”

 

Zhou Xun: …?

 

He felt that Xie Zhengqing’s expression was inexplicably moved.

 

After Xie Zhengqing finished his self-satisfied moment, he and Zhou Xun continued walking toward the garden’s exit. Just halfway through, someone ran up to them.

 

The person was waving a fan and seemed to be looking for Xie Zhengqing. Seeing his friend, he closed the fan and smiled from afar, “Brother Xie, how was last night’s spring night…”

 

Xie Zhengqing felt a stomachache upon seeing him and almost wanted to run back into the cycle of the Five Grains. He said with a pained expression, “Don’t mention it. Last night, it wasn’t just a spring night; I almost…”

 

“Oh,” the friend looked at Xie Zhengqing. Despite his neatly dressed appearance, he had a slightly disheveled waist, not looking like someone who had engaged in anything the night before. “A beauty like that didn’t stir your heart? Brother Xie, you truly are unmoved by temptation. Or… was that courtesan merely a name with no real skill?”

 

“Miss Qingruo is a pitiable woman. Don’t use such words to describe her,” Xie Zhengqing frowned. “Besides, I have more important matters…”

 

Friend: “More important matters?”

 

Xie Zhengqing: “The cycle of the Five Grains.”

 

Friend: …

 

“You went to the restroom in the palace last time, and now you go to the restroom after seeing a courtesan. I heard you could stay on horseback for two days and nights during the border battles. Now that you’re back in the capital, you’re taking advantage of being light and clearing out all your past troubles?” The friend lamented.

 

Xie Zhengqing blushed, “Brother Wei, don’t be so vulgar!”

 

Zhou Xun had been walking from behind. As the two were separated by a flower shadow, the friend hadn’t noticed him. Upon seeing Zhou Xun, Brother Wei was taken aback and asked, “Who is this…”

 

“This is…”

 

Xie Zhengqing was in a difficult spot. He knew Brother Wei was a close ally of Zhou Cai and had once admired Zhou Cai for a long period. Whenever he mentioned Zhou Cai’s younger brother, he would defend Zhou Cai for a long time. Revealing Zhou Xun’s true name in front of him was…

 

But before he could speak, Brother Wei sneered. He clapped his fan onto his palm and said, “It’s you.”

 

Zhou Xun simply raised his eyelids and remained silent.

 

“What, are you feeling guilty seeing me? Not even daring to speak?” Wei Yuanzhou said with an angry laugh. “I know you’re guilty, doing so many shameful things. If I were you, I’d be hiding at home, refusing to come out!”

 

Zhou Xun initially wanted to leave, but with his hand outstretched to stop him, he didn’t even look up and said, “You’re thinking too much.”

 

Wei Yuanzhou: …

 

“You don’t remember who I am? But I remember who you are. From Prince Wu to the Emperor, you’ve been seizing everything of Cai’s to rise to prominence. Isn’t it enough? I heard the Emperor dotes on you now, yet you’re running to the brothel early in the morning. Are you sneaking out to have an affair behind the Emperor’s back? Does the Emperor know you’re here?”

 

Zhou Xun: … Not only does he know, but he’s the one who brought me here.

 

“Wei Yuanzhou!” Xie Zhengqing could no longer tolerate it and stopped his friend. “Your words are… too harsh! You sound like a country bumpkin!”

 

Wei Yuanzhou replied, “He should first not do disgraceful things.”

 

Xie Zhengqing said, “You don’t understand Zhou Xun and speak like this. If the reports turn out to be biased, you’re responsible, you know?”

 

Wei Yuanzhou was shocked that Xie Zhengqing was defending Zhou Xun. He became disheartened and said, “You’re actually yelling at me for his sake?”

 

… The two argued heatedly while Zhou Xun stood by, watching the commotion. As he looked at Wei Yuanzhou’s agitated face, he suddenly remembered who he was.

 

Oh, a friend of Zhou Cai.

 

He recalled last autumn when he was still in the Wang residence, he saw this person by the lake with Zhou Cai. This person, seeing him, argued with him over Zhou Cai, accusing him of moral corruption, while Zhou Cai stood by, tearfully supporting their pretense of reconciliation while secretly fueling the fire.

 

From afar, he heard that Prince Wu and his entourage seemed to be coming this way, with loud noises indicating someone was approaching. He saw Zhou Cai next to him seemingly intentionally staggering as if about to fall into the water.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

Still playing such an uncreative trick at this age?

 

Since Zhou Cai had pushed Zhou Xun into the lake when he was six, he seemed to have discovered the charm of the lake—pushing people he disliked into the water when no one was around, and pretending to fall into the water and accusing others of doing it when someone was coming.

 

Seeing that Zhou Cai was just a few inches away from falling into the water, Zhou Xun decided to take responsibility. He gave Zhou Cai a push, directly tossing him into the lake.

 

—A direct toss, not a push.

 

Zhou Cai’s expression was spectacular; he never expected his usually obedient younger brother to become a fearless lunatic. Without needing to fake a fall, Zhou Cai willingly cooperated with the performance.

 

The only drawback was that Zhou Cai didn’t cooperate well, making the scene less graceful, and he fell into the lake headfirst.

 

Zhou Cai fell into the chilly autumn water with a “splash,” without even letting the late-arriving prince see his tearful, pale face as he was pushed into the lake. Even if the prince had come, he would have seen him with a pale face like a drowned ghost, with hair like seaweed—if lucky, perhaps some fish as well.

 

Then Zhou Xun saw Zhou Cai’s friend standing by, staring at him in shock—probably not expecting that pushing someone into the water could be so violent and lacking in elegance.

 

So Zhou Xun gave him a cold glance and asked, “Do you want to join?”

 

Saying that, he didn’t hesitate and directly tossed Wei Yuanzhou into the water as well.

 

So when Prince Wu arrived, this is what he saw in shock: in the entire emerald-green autumn pond, Wei Yuanzhou and Zhou Cai were struggling and splashing in the water, trying to pull their heads above the surface. And on the shore, he saw Zhou Xun diving into the lake.

 

He… he actually jumped in too!

 

Zhou Xun jumped decisively, gracefully, and professionally, landing next to the other two. The scene was beyond Prince Wu’s comprehension; he couldn’t understand how, during his brief absence, all three of them ended up in the water.

 

When he questioned Zhou Xun, Zhou Xun looked coolly at him from the water and said:

 

“We’re just playing in the water.”

 

… No wonder Wei Yuanzhou looked like he had eaten gunpowder upon seeing him.

 

Wei Yuanzhou and Xie Zhengqing were still arguing when Zhou Xun yawned, said something to Wei Yuanzhou, and then left.

 

The thing he said was:

 

“Did the fish bite you in the pond?”

 

When Zhou Xun returned to the main hall, the Emperor had already finished taking over the brothel. He sat in a chair, looking at the beautiful landscape of the Mirror Pavilion as if envisioning his entertainment empire flourishing here in grand chunks.

 

“We’re just one shop now. Soon, after defeating the other shops, one will become two, two will become three… and eventually, the entire Flower Street and Smoke and Clouds District will become our territory.”

 

As soon as Zhou Xun entered the hall, he heard the Emperor’s grand declaration.

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

He felt like the Emperor was promoting some kind of multi-level marketing scheme.

 

However, looking around, all the courtesans and shopkeepers were listening intently. The Emperor continued, “When we’ve acquired the entire Smoke and Clouds District, we’ll rename it to…”

 

Shopkeeper: “Rename it to what?”

 

Courtesans: “Rename it to what?”

 

The Emperor cleared his throat and said, “We’ll rename it to—Hao Lai Wu.”

 

“Hao Lai Wu, good and welcoming, a place people frequently visit,” the Emperor said. “From now on, I’ll be the tyrant of Hao Lai Wu!”

 

Zhou Xun: ………

 

He saw a subtle, strange, and cold smile reappear on the Emperor’s face.

 

Seeing Zhou Xun arrive, the Emperor waved goodbye to the brothel where “Hao Lai Wu” was about to start its rise, and took Zhou Xun into the carriage. As they rode, the Emperor said, “I haven’t forgotten what I promised you.”

 

Zhou Xun: ?

 

The Emperor continued, “I’ve sent people to Zhou’s house to move your mother’s things and your belongings. Nothing should be left behind. We’ll tour the capital during the day, and by night, when we return, all your things will be in the palace.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor added, “Oh, I was worried that the Yangxin Hall’s annex wouldn’t have enough space for your things, so I moved them to Changle Palace. Changle Palace is closest to Yangxin Hall, just a street away. You can stay wherever you like at night—annex or Changle Palace, your choice.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor said, “Changle Palace faces south, has a garden, a sunlit terrace, a study, a bar, a bedroom, and a ballroom for dancing. Pretty good. I’ll also send some palace servants to clean and take care of things.”

 

Zhou Xun smiled and said, “I don’t have much stuff at Zhou’s house. I only lived in a small courtyard in the capital, and I didn’t stay there long. There’s probably just some broken bricks and tiles now.”

 

The Emperor said, “Oh, that’s fine. So, there’s nothing you particularly want left in the courtyard?”

 

Zhou Xun shook his head.

 

The Emperor continued, “Really won’t regret it, even if it’s all gone?”

 

Zhou Xun replied, “Not at all.”

 

The Emperor said, “Oh, that’s good.”

 

He then signaled to a guard outside the carriage to come in. The guard poked his head in, and the Emperor said, “Tell the team going to Zhou’s house to be attentive. Make sure to take everything belonging to Young Master Zhou and his mother, not leaving a single thing behind.”

 

The guard nodded, and the Emperor added, “As for things that can’t be taken, demolish the houses Zhou Master lived in.”

 

Guard: ??? 

 

The Emperor said, “Remember, no daytime construction. All work must be done at night. Oil costs will be reimbursed, double wages plus bonuses. After the work is finished, you’ll get a two-week vacation with travel expenses covered.”

 

Guard: … Damn, why does this sound so enviable? I also want to participate in a demolition!

 

The Emperor said, “The slower and louder the demolition, the better. Got it?”

 

The guard nodded repeatedly and went off to handle it. The Emperor drew the curtain and said proudly to Zhou Xun, “Look, I’m taking revenge for you. From now on, they won’t be able to sleep at night!”

 

Zhou Xun: … Your Majesty, you seem a bit childish.

 

He thought to himself, both amused and pleased. The Emperor pondered for a moment and added, “By the way, how many siblings do you have in your family?”

 

Zhou Xun counted and said, “Including the illegitimate children, there should be eight.”

 

He suddenly realized that, apart from him, there were no illegitimate children from anyone other than Madam Zhou in the entire Zhou family.

 

He suddenly felt a chill on his back.

 

“Sounds good.” The Emperor said happily, pulling open the curtain. “Call back the messenger guards.”

 

The guards returned quickly, and the Emperor continued, “Take an eighth off the public facilities of Zhou’s family, such as the garden, kitchen, main hall, living room, study…”

 

The guard took notes one by one, and the Emperor added, “Take an eighth off each.”

 

Guard: ??

 

The Emperor said, “Just do it. These are all assets Young Master Xun should have.”

 

Guard: … Your Majesty, you’re somewhat creative, somewhat rebellious.

 

The guard left, and Zhou Xun tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve, asking somewhat speechlessly, “Your Majesty, isn’t this a bit excessive?”

 

The Emperor said, “Not excessive enough. I’m helping you get revenge, and you should praise me.”

 

Zhou Xun: …

 

The Emperor added, “And I am a tyrant, so what’s wrong with grandiose projects?”

 

Zhou Xun: … The grandiosity seems a bit small.

 

“Hao Lai Wu” (好莱坞) is the Chinese transliteration for “Hollywood,” the famous film industry hub in Los Angeles, California. The pinyin for 好莱坞 is **Hǎo Lái Wù**.

 

– **好** (Hǎo): good or well

– **莱** (Lái): come

– **坞** (Wù): dock or bay

 

Together, “Hao Lai Wu” specifically refers to Hollywood, and the characters were chosen more for their sound than their literal meaning.