Chapter 17: 17

Gao Tan concealed it very well. Most people would likely not realize that this loyal but somewhat silly servant was actually a martial arts master.

Perhaps out of intuition, Yan Mingting just felt that this kid was a little unusual.

First of all, Zhao Yelan was too relaxed knowing that someone might come to seek revenge at any time, usually only taking a servant with him when he went out. However, when he went out twice yesterday, Gao Tan didn’t accompany him due to having something to do.

Secondly, Zhao Yelan had picky tastes, and every day he would ask Gao Tan to go make purchases himself when these things could obviously be handed over to other servants. But as long as Gao Tan went, he himself would stay in the mansion during that time and never go out. As for the abnormality of going out to shop, Yan Mingting had not figured it out yet. He had only taken cherries from the basket twice, and they were not unusual.

Furthermore, the sound of Gao Tan’s footsteps were sometimes light and sometimes heavy, making them difficult to distinguish. If one did not observe carefully, it was difficult to detect his martial arts. And he didn’t have thick calluses like soldiers, so Yan Mingting concluded that he was a qinggong[1] expert and was able to escape yesterday by virtue of these skills.

If these were all coincidences, there was another piece of evidence to prove Yan Mingting’s guess correct.

The smell.

Because he attended Zhao Yelan personally, he usually had to burn incense, and there was a trace of the fragrance on his body.

When fighting yesterday, he could faintly smell a scent. After returning home, he casually approached and smelled the same scent on Gao Tan.

Since it was a trap designed by Zhao Yelan, he might as well see what he wanted to do. It wasn’t until Zhao Yelan reminded him to inform the Emperor about this last night that he figured out the key points.

“Since he’s using us, why should we protect him?” He Cuizhang asked.

“Because getting rid of the spies does no harm to us,” Yan Mingting said.

If he wanted to investigate the cause of his father’s death in depth, the fewer people who knew about it, the better. What’s more, this group of spies were not necessarily just to protect Zhao Yelan, otherwise Zhao Yelan would not want to get rid of them. Then it must be that this group of people would also monitor the movement in the General’s Mansion, which was of no benefit to him. He would simply use his plan to get rid of this group by pretending to be confused, killing as many as they came, and returning the General’s Mansion to a clean place.

“So troublesome.” He Cuizhang rubbed his head. “This is much more complicated than our war!”

“That’s right, these calculations and conspiracies are not as straightforward as plots on the battlefield,” Zhong Yuehong echoed.

Yan Mingting sighed. He didn’t want to get involved if he didn’t have to, but as long as the border was peaceful and his army was in command, he would be targeted in Beijing.

Zhao Yelan was demoted first. Perhaps it would be his turn soon.

But he still needed to investigate the cause of his father’s death, so he couldn’t hand over the power easily. The case had been going on for many years, and……He glanced at the lieutenants who were each as overwhelmed as the other, and got a headache.

This group of people followed him bravely and invincibly on the battlefield, but they were only suitable for obeying orders, not using their brains.

He himself couldn’t be regarded as Zhuge[2] in terms of conspiracies and tricks. At most, he discovered some clues because he was close to Zhao Yelan frequently.

It seemed that if he wanted to find the truth as soon as possible, he would have to find a “military advisor.”

After Yan Mingting explained these things to them, he rode back to the house. It was already past time for breakfast, but when the servants saw him return, they rushed to prepare the dishes.

“Where is Zhao Yelan? Has he eaten yet?” Yan Mingting asked.

Housekeeper Qin replied: “He hasn’t woken up yet. I went to knock on the door half an hour ago, but Xiao Gao stood guard by the door and said that he was very tired and would not have breakfast.”

“It isn’t good to skip breakfast.” Yan Mingting finished eating first, and then went to the bedroom with porridge and steamed buns.

Gao Tan had disappeared at this time, most likely to go shopping.

He pushed open the door and called: “Get up.”

The person on the bed didn’t move.

He put the food on the table and then walked to the bed, looking at the person sleeping curled up under the blanket. Only half of his face was exposed, and a few strands of hair covered his cheeks. Yan Mingting stretched out his hand and touched the delicate skin, which was as smooth as a freshly peeled egg. He couldn’t help but pinch it, and then pinch it again: “My Zhao-daren, it’s time for you to get up.”

Zhao Yelan slapped his hand away half asleep and turned over.

“Slacker, you big slacker, ah.” Yan Mingting patted him through the blanket.

“You’re pressing my hair!” Zhao abruptly opened his eyes and roared.

“Oh, sorry.” Yan Mingting quickly withdrew his hand, watched him sit up angrily, and asked humbly and flatteringly, “What do you want to eat today?”

Zhao Yelan gave him a look, put his hair all on the other side, and got out of bed without saying a word, walking to the door and ordering people to fetch hot water for washing.

“I heard from Uncle Qin that after I went to court, you got up?” Yan Mingting walked to the washbasin and watched him wipe his face with a hot towel. He didn’t know whether it was from anger or from rubbing his face with a towel, but there was a trace of a blush on his face. The egg had turned into a red egg. He looked at it and laughed inwardly.

“Am I not allowed?” Zhao Yelan threw the towel into the basin, then went to change clothes and tie his hair up, but took some time to pick out the sachet.

“Of course it’s fine, but I thought……you were reluctant to part with me and wanted to send me to morning court.” Yan Mingting walked to his side with a smile, looking at the various sachets. They were quite fresh. He picked one up to smell it, and felt a little refreshed. “You still have so many good-smelling sachets, ah.”

“Don’t touch.” Zhao Yelan snatched the sachet back from his hand in displeasure. After picking and choosing, he took a blue patterned cloth bag and put it in front of him. Yan Mingting immediately sneezed.

Zhao Yelan immediately selected it, pinning it on his waist with a swagger.

“……”

Yan Mingting backed away, standing at the door, and then raised his voice to ask: “What’s in it?”

“Sweetgrass.” Zhao Yelan sat down at the table calmly and began to eat.

“Tsk, I say, which wife is like you?” Yan Mingting leaned against the door, pointing out, “That Kan Chuan, who is so upright and bold to remonstrate his superior, was officially appointed by the Emperor as the Minister of the Ministry of Officials today. Not only is he a proud official, but his love life is even the envy of others. I heard people say that he and his wife are loving and sweet, and every day when he goes to court, his wife will escort him to the door and give him a few words of advice.”

Zhao Yelan put down the bowl, smiled slightly, and walked towards him: “You think you want something like that?”

Yan Mingting looked at the sachet dangling at his waist and stepped back again and again, retreating into the courtyard, saying: “Going, going, can’t I leave?”

When Gao Tan came back, he happened to see Yan Mingting fleeing in a hurry. He walked up to Zhao Yelan curiously and was taken aback for a moment: “My lord, were you smiling just now?”

Zhao Yelan paused: “No.”

“But……”

“Come inside and talk.” Zhao Yelan returned to the room and took his basket, and Gao Tan obediently guarded the door.

Today’s basket contained some flower petals which were suitable for making sachets or for bathing. He dug inside and took out a piece of paper that had been placed in the basket. There was no writing on it.

He observed it for a moment and then placed the paper into the water, and writing gradually appeared.

– – Everything is going according to plan, don’t worry, take care of your (crossed out) and take care of your body with peace of mind.

Zhao Yelan squeezed the paper into a tight ball and threw it into the charcoal basin, rubbing the space between his eyebrows: “Really becoming more and more undisciplined.”

Gao Tan looked at him uncertainly, thinking he was talking about him, and asked aggrievedly: “My lord, what did I do wrong?”

“It’s nothing to do with you.” Zhao Yelan waved his hand, thought of something, and called to him again, whispering a few words.

Gao Tan looked at him in astonishment and didn’t ask for a reason. In any case, even if he asked, he wouldn’t be able to figure it out, so he just obeyed.

In the morning, people from the tailor shop came to deliver the clothes. They made three new sets, all of which were sewn with the silk received on the wedding day.

When Zhao Yelan arrived at the hall, it happened that the doctor had come to change Yan Mingting’s bandages, so the two sat on one side, each doing their own thing.

The shopkeeper unfolded the clothes and explained in depth the details of the stitches and the uniqueness of the patterns. 

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Zhao Yelan kept silent. When he finally finished his spiel, Gao Tan accepted it and gave some rewards, and the shopkeeper led his people away with a smile.

“You are so generous?” Yan Mingting was shocked by his extravagant spending. He had casually given away what would pay a servant for a year.

“Much silver was spent, and the service was attentive and satisfactory. Otherwise, what would I do with so much money? Should I leave it for descendants or spend it on you?” Zhao Yelang looked sideways at him.

Yan Mingting was dumbfounded, and suggested after a while: “Then should we go to adopt a descendent?”

Zhao Yelan almost spit out the tea in his mouth. Setting the teacup down, he casually grabbed one of the snacks on the table and threw it at his face: “What nonsense are you talking about!”

“I’m just talking.” Yan Mingting laughed and was held down by the doctor’s arm.

“General, don’t move.”

Zhao Yelan turned his head and saw Gao Tan holding a plate. There was still some money left from the reward that was given just now, so he summoned all the servants, whether they were from the General’s Mansion or Zhao Mansion. They all stood neatly in the courtyard.

Zhao Yelan rewarded everyone with a silver ingot.

The people in Zhao Mansion were accustomed to this, but the people in the General’s Mansion seemed to have gotten a windfall from heaven, holding it in their hands as if afraid it was a dream. Looking at the expression in Zhao Yelan’s eyes again, he instantly changed from a hot-tempered master into a parent reborn!

Yan Mingting looked at his group of servants who had quickly defected, sighing helplessly. His hand hurt slightly all of a sudden, and he looked at the doctor.

Seeing this scene, the doctor who was bandaging him was greedy, and accidentally used too much strength. He quickly let go to apologize.

Zhao Yelan smiled at Yan Mingting, proud of himself, and tossed a silver ingot in front of the doctor: “Bandage him well and this one is yours.”

The doctor’s eyes lit up.

“……” Yan Mingting clearly felt that he was more meticulous and patient.

Zhao Yelan was about to go back to his room, and when he passed by him, he said quietly: “Compared to power and force, money earns people’s loyalty.”

Yan Mingting could not refute.

At noon, Yan Mingting looked at a table of rich and delicious food. The servants were scrambling to add food for Zhao Yelan, and he was almost squeezed under the table. He couldn’t help feeling that the power of money was indeed infinite.

According to Zhao Yelan’s habits, he would take a nap in the afternoon, and after dinner, he would lie in bed and read a book slowly. 

“You are rather leisurely.” Yan Mingting walked in with a plate of cherries. “Aren’t you afraid that Kan Chuan will trouble you?’

“I’ve been dismissed, so why would he trouble me?” Zhao Yelan stretched out his hand, but the other party set the plate directly on the table. His eyes narrowed, and he was about to get angry.

“You really need to get rid of your laziness. Come here to eat, so you don’t choke lying down.” Yan Mingting sat at the table, picked up two cherries to tempt him, and said, “He impeached Chen Haoyi in court today for colluding with you.”

“And then?”

“Chen Haoyi was also demoted.”

“Oh.”

“You’re not surprised at all.”

“Now that I have fallen, Kan Chuan and his ilk will definitely take the opportunity to pick out everyone associated with me.” Zhao Yelan stared at the plate, then got up angrily and sat opposite him, grabbing the plate in front of him and not allowing him to eat.

“Stingy.” Yan Mingting quickly grabbed a handful from the plate, put it all in his mouth in one go, and gave him a smug smile.

Zhao Yelan: “……” He had never seen such a childish person! Boor!

There was too much stuffed in his mouth, and after chewing a few times, it started to taste sour. Yan Mingting’s face wrinkled up, and he finished eating with a bitter expression.

The corner of Zhao Yelan’s mouth twitched: “You deserve it.”

Yan Mingting smiled awkwardly and ate another one in embarrassment. Forcibly changing the subject, he asked vaguely, “Did you take a nap?”

“You’re really five years old.” Zhao Yelan gave him a sidelong glance.

“I didn’t nap, and since you didn’t nap, why don’t we go for a walk?”

“How is that better? Who knows if anyone will be following me.” Zhao Yelan ate the cherries calmly.

“Exactly. How about we lure the snake out of the hole and wipe out this group of people all at once?”

“Are you sure you can take them all?” Zhao Yelan had exactly this intention. But looking at his arm, he said coolly, “I don’t want to fly into the sky again.”

“No problem, this time you just stay on the ground and I guarantee not a hair on your head will be harmed,” Yan Mingting solemnly promised.

Zhao Yelan was dubious. Seeing the hot sun outside, he wanted to go to bed for a while, but just as he was about to refuse, his wrist was suddenly grabbed and he was pulled away effortlessly.

“Xiao Gao, get the sedan chair ready, your lord is going out,” Yan Mingting said loudly.

“ ? ”

Zhao Yelan was taken to the sedan chair without any preparation, and after a while, he lifted the curtain to see Gao Tan. He turned to open the curtain on the other side, and saw Yan Mingting walking outside, saying gloomily: “If you dare to injure me even a little, I will kill all the chickens in the coop, fill in your fish pond, and slaughter your mansion……”

“Don’t worry, you won’t get hurt. This time we’re not getting attacked, but taking the initiative,” Yan Mingting said in a low voice. Seeing that his expression was very ugly, he reached out a hand to dig in his pocket, then took a bag of things out and tossed it inside. “If you hear any movement later, don’t poke your head out to look, understand?”

Zhao Yelan sat back and opened the bag. It contained some candied fruit. He scoffed coldly and picked up a piece, eating it in silence.

After about a stick of incense’s time, there was the sudden sound of fighting outside, and the sedan chair abruptly fell to the ground. He knocked into the sedan chair twice before he held onto the table. Unconsciously grasping the bag of candied fruit in his hand, he listened carefully to the clashing of swords outside.

After the sounds gradually stopped, he opened a corner to look out, then stepped out of the sedan chair and glanced around.

Surrounded by a bamboo forest, more than a dozen men in black were lying messily on the ground. Yan Mingting was crouching beside one of the corpses to check his breath.

“Where is Gao Tan?” Zhao Yelan asked suddenly.

Yan Mingting raised his head and looked left and right, slightly surprised: “Why didn’t you tell me that he could actually do martial arts? He just went to chase the fleeing people, nothing will happen, right?” 

Zhao Yelan’s expression tightened: “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t let me be hurt at all?”

“It’s true……you weren’t hurt, ah, aren’t you standing there securely? A man’s promise hasn’t been broken,” Yan Mingting said.

Zhao Yelan was furious, and threw the bag in his hand: “Hurry up and save him!”

“Okay!” Just as Yan Mingting ran away, he returned suddenly and stuffed a flare into his hand. “Pull this out if something happens, someone will come to rescue you.”

 

 

T/N: Happy New Year!!!

[1] Qinggong, or “light work” is basically being able to leap high, run fast, and appear to ignore gravity. You see this in a lot of wuxia novels and movies. ⮐

[2] Zhuge was a genius military strategist in “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ ⮐

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