Chapter Ch168.2 - Hehe, He Finally Found Out (2)
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina
11. Hehe, He Finally Found Out (2)
Xie He bid farewell to Mrs. Zhao and went down the mountain the next morning. Song Heng had a small courtyard in the Capital and only a few servants— just a page and an elderly female servant.
Xie He explained what had happened to Song Heng in simple terms, leaving out Prince Su as well as the feud between Prince Su and the Crown Prince. Although Song Heng acted like he did not care, Xie He was still worried that he would bring trouble to Song Heng’s door. Therefore, he never left the residence. He only stayed with him, acting like a gentle wife. He would wash the clothes, cook, and see his ‘husband’ off every morning before work. He would also wait for his ‘husband’ to come home. The only difference between himself and a real wife was that they did not share a bed.
Song Heng was worried that it would only bring up bad memories for Xie He. Meanwhile, because Xie He was ashamed of his body, he did not take the initiative either.
Today, when Song Heng came home from work, he saw Xie He waiting for him outside at the gate, walking stick in hand. When he saw the small smile on Xie He’s face, Song Heng’s chest felt so warm. He finally had the person he loved.
After dinner, Song Heng went to read and practice writing in his study. Xie He accompanied him.
Their days passed by like this, peaceful and sound.
Song Heng wrote for a long time before he couldn’t help but look at Xie He, who was concentrating on helping Song Heng grind ink. Song Heng’s eyes filled with a gentle yearning. He felt like, as long as he had Xie He in his life, he would be satisfied.
【Ding, Song Heng’s Favourability Value +5. The current Favourability Value is 95.】
Xie He seemed to feel his eyes on him. He turned to look at Song Heng, eyes curving into a smile. “What are you looking at, Daren? Is there something on Nu’s face?”
Song Heng held Xie He’s hand and said, “From now on, don’t refer to yourself as Nu.”
Xie He shook his head. “How can Nu do that?”
Song Heng looked at him very earnestly. “Xiao Ning, in my eyes, you were never of lowly status. Therefore, I do not wish to hear you refer to yourself like that.”
Xie He felt his eyes heat up. He choked up with emotion and could not speak.
Since he had fallen to the lowest rungs of society, he had never uttered the word ‘I’ again. He was the lowliest of servants. He ranked below even the servants of rich families. Everyone was more noble than him. Anyone could humiliate him…. Only Song Heng remembered that he was also human.
Only he still remembered his original name. Only he remembered how he used to be…. And only he remembered everything that even Xie He himself had forgotten.
………………………………
In a blink of an eye, a month passed. Xie He was currently sitting inside his room, listening to 444’s report.
【444：Host dada, Xiao Yan and the Crown Prince’s fight has become really intense. Gong Min has decided to side with Xiao Yan. What are your plans? 】
&#k3010;Xie He&#kUU1J;It’s almost time to head back. Smile.JPG&#k3011;
&#k3010;444&#kUU1J;(&#k2299;o&#k2299;) Oh, and here I thought you’ve been having so much fun you forgot about work.&#k3011;
&#k3010;Xie He&#kUU1J;Baby, does it look like I’m having fun?&#k3011;
&#k3010;444&#kUU1J;&#k2026;&#k2026;&#k3011;
【Xie He：Xiao Song is way too poor. He’s got a three-room house and two servants. He’s also a very upright fellow. Having to live off of his measly official salary…just looking at him makes me feel sad. What’s more important is that I get no sex here. If it wasn’t because I had to increase his Favourability Value, he would never get any of my love. Smile.JPG】
&#k3010;444&#kUU1J;&#k2026;&#k2026;&#k3011;
&#k3010;Xie He&#kUU1J;There’s a common saying that goes like this: I’d rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bike. It’s a very good saying.&#k3011;
【Xie He：I’d rather live a life of luxury and cry in His Highness’ embrace as a servant than stay here and work as a housekeeper for free. I miss the wangfu’s kitchen. 🙂 】
【444：O(∩_∩)O~】He’s always felt like there was something a little off about Host dada’s values…._(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：Baby, I thought that you would definitely understand me.】
【444：What?】
【Xie He：Do you want me or do you want a kind host that won’t give you even one experience point in allowance?】
【444：……】
【444：\\(≧▽≦)/ I want you, I love you, I will always love you! No one can ever replace you in my heart! 】Morals? He doesn’t want them. Let Host dada’s venomous tongue lash out at him even harder!
【Xie He：Hehe.】
【Xie He：Show me what Miss Shui Rong has been up to lately. 🙂 】
Song Heng’s elderly female servant had taken some time off. With nothing happening after so long, Xie He thought that the wangfu must have forgotten about him. He would occasionally go out and buy groceries with a hat on. But he never strayed far from home. He only walked around the neighbourhood.
Today, Shui Rong had left the wangfu to place an order of jewelry for Bai Qiuchi. When she passed an alleyway, she caught sight of a familiar silhouette. As the Crown Prince’s spy, she was very cautious. She followed after the silhouette and watched Xie He enter a residence.
Shui Rong’s expression changed to shock. Xie He wasn’t dead?! Why was he still alive?
【444：Host dada, what are you doing? @[email protected]】
【Xie He：As long as Shui Rong recognizes me, she will report back to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince knows that I’m still alive, he’ll think that he’s been played the whole time.】
【444：Ah, you’re trying to dig a pit for Xiao Yan?】
【Xie He：No. I’ve long since finished preparations for XiaoXiao. Even if my existence is revealed, it won’t affect him much. Recently, the Crown Prince has been cornered tightly, to the point that he may try something out of desperation. He can’t do anything to Xiao Yan, so he’ll definitely try to vent his rage on Song Heng. He’ll think that Song Heng was hiding me because he’s already sided with Xiao Yan.】
【444：……】He feels a little sorry for Song Heng, what to do…?
【Xie He：But it’ll be fine. With how much I love Song Heng, what’s a little sacrifice? As long as I’m willing to appear, XiaoXiao will very happily support Song Heng. He won’t let the Crown Prince do anything to him. 】
【444：O(∩_∩)O~】Forget it, he’ll just keep smiling….
………………………………
Xiao Yan stayed in the wangfu. His fight with the Crown Prince had gotten very fierce. It had already been a very long time since he had a good night’s rest.
The worst part was that he would occasionally think of Xie He. He had no idea how the other was faring outside. He had no time to pay attention to him these days…. He wondered whether he should take Xie He when he was done with the Crown Prince.
Qi Qing returned to the wangfu and told Xiao Yan that Gong Min wanted an audience with him. Xiao Yan smiled. This old fellow could not sit still. He said, “I will go see him.”
It was a critical moment. For safety reasons, Xiao Yan donned a mask that would change his face and pretended to be Qi Qing’s servant. He then entered with the other.
Gong Min was currently sitting in the teahouse, worried and uneasy. He thought that the Crown Prince could no longer tolerate him. With the Crown Prince’s personality, he would certainly eliminate them all when he became Emperor. He might as well side with Xiao Yan as a last ditch attempt to fight. Xiao Yan was magnanimous. With what Gong Min could offer, the other would likely not get rid of him once he had served his purpose. He would at least enjoy a good end.
He had waited for just over one shichen when he saw Qi Qing come in with a man. He fretfully asked, “Where’s His Highness?”
Qi Qing took off his hood and took a deferential step back. “His Highness is here.”
Gong Min looked at Xiao Yan, expression quizzical.
Xiao Yan smiled. “Whatever Gong daren has to say, please say it.”
Gong Min recognized Xiao Yan’s voice and was relieved. It seems that His Highness has disguised himself. He greeted Xiao Yan with a respectful bow. He then flashed a bitter and lamenting expression. “Chen has pondered over this matter for many nights and has been unable to sleep. Chen has decided that Chen can no longer continue to help this villain. There is something Your Highness must know. Your Highness, please help serve justice.”
Xiao Yan sneered inwardly. If it wasn’t because the Crown Prince forced you, you would quite happily continue to help him commit evil deeds. However, he could not reveal this so he simplt said, “Speak.”
Gong Min was prepared. He cautiously placed a chest onto the table. There were several thin account books inside. There were also several letters. He said, “This is evidence that the Crown Prince has taken bribes. There is also evidence that he had incited myself and others to also take bribes and bend the law. I have carefully collected all of this.”
Gong Min was putting everything at stake. In order to gain Xiao Yan’s trust, he had made ample preparations. He revealed everything the Crown Prince had him do, as well as everything he knew. In the end, he talked about the Jiangzhou corruption case that occurred three years ago. He said, “Back then, the taels had been appropriated by the Crown Prince. Most of it had ended up in the Crown Prince’s hands. Cui Shao had refused to follow his bad example and was therefore rejected by our circles everywhere. Later on, you came to investigate the case. The Crown Prince had panicked. By chance, he had found out that Cui Shao had sided with you so he killed him and had him take the blame.
Xiao Yan’s eyebrows furrowed. In a low voice, he said, “Cui Shao had not sided with Benwang.”
Gong Min was startled. He grabbed his beard and asked, “He did not side with you? That’s impossible…. He would rather die than partake in corruption. Furthermore, his son Cui Ning had your jade pendant. Back then, the Crown Prince’s eunuch recognized it…. That was why the Crown Prince ordered Cui Shao to be killed in a fit of anger. His murder would allow him to escape the blame as well as attack you.”
Xiao Yan stood up at once. Because he was too agitated, he overturned the teacups in front of him. He asked in a chilly voice, “Cui Ning had Benwang’s jade pendant?”
Gong Min was startled into a shudder when he saw Xiao Yan’s frightful appearance. He didn’t know what he had said wrong. At once, he said, “Chen dares not lie to Your Highness! Chen remembers this very clearly. Cui Ning had your pendant at the time.”
Xiao Yan stared at Gong Min, spitting one word out at a time. “Do you remember what the pendant looked like?”
Gong Min thought about it for a moment and then said, “Chen remembers the general appearance.”
Xiao Yan sucked in a breath, eyes dark. In a cold voice, he said, “Describe it for Benwang.”
Gong Min didn’t know why Xiao Yan wasn’t asking about the bigger issues at hand and was instead so hung over this jade pendant. However, he didn’t dare tarry. He furrowed his eyebrows in thought and then dipped his finger in the tea, drawing it out on the table.
Something seemed to rumble inside his head as Xiao Yan watched Gong Min draw the jade pendant. His hands clenched tightly and began to shake slightly.
How was this possible…? This was the pendant he had given Bai Qiuchi. Why did Cui Ning have it…?
How was this possible?!
The author has something to say:
Heeheehee.
Eve: Heeheehee. Suffer.
sere: Heeheehee. Suffer +1