Chapter 120: You Are My Business

At this moment, everyone in the room shifted their gaze to Yue Nu, who quickly bowed his head.

“I-I don’t know how to.”

Shen Huan pulled him over, “No problem, it’s really easy. And he’ll have to have his dressing changed twice daily, until the wound is completely healed. It looks like the other servants in the manor are all pretty busy, so it would be best to give you the duty of changing his dressing from now on.”

After she finished speaking, she glanced at Wu Quan, as if to ask for his opinion.

Wu Quan nodded. The General’s Manor was indeed lacking in manpower at the moment, and someone needed to stay at the general’s side and attend to him. But they were all careless soldiers who were completely unfit for the job compared to Yue Nu, who had been attending to people since he was young.

And also, Wu Quan had already sent someone to look into Yue Nu’s background. The child was sold to a family in the Imperial City when he was young. Later, he was sold again several times, and lived a life of danger and instability for over ten years. That was until the caravan he was travelling with was robbed, and he came to the General’s Manor.

Zhao Litang had been leaning against the headboard this entire time and hadn’t said a word. He allowed Yue Nu to change his dressing.

Shen Huan stood at the side and instructed him. Yue Nu was quick and efficient, and he was also very gentle; he changed the dressing in just a few moments.

After a long day of work, it was getting late.

Shen Huan yawned, “Then, General Zhao, you have a good rest. We’ll be leaving now.”

She gave Yue Nu a look: stay here and take good care of him.

Yue Nu nodded.

Everyone else left one by one. Shen Shijiu trailed behind Shen Huan, and he disappeared through the door.

Only Zhao Litang and Yue Nu remained in the room, but Zhao Litang’s eyes were still pinned on the door.

Yue Nu went to soak a handkerchief in hot water and returned to wipe Zhao Litang’s hands.

Zhao Litang’s forehead creased slightly. It seemed that he was thinking about something, and didn’t brush Yue Nu off.

“Who were they?”

Yue Nu thought for a moment. The only people Zhao Litang didn’t know were Shen Huan and Shen Shijiu.

“Master Shen, he’s a doctor Imperial Physician Jiang brought over from the Prime Minister’s Manor. His knowledge of medicine is excellent. Master Shen was the one who detoxified the poison for you.”

Upon hearing the three words ‘Prime Minister’s Manor’, Zhao Litang’s expression became a bit strange.

“Then, is the other one also from the Prime Minister’s Manor?”

Yue Nu said, “General, are you talking about Young Master Shen? Young Master Shen is Master Shen’s disciple, he also came from the Prime Minister’s Manor.”

“Young Master Shen?”

“Yes, Young Master Shen’s name is Shen Shijiu. He’s also well-versed in medicine.”

During these past few days, Yue Nu had spent a lot of time with Shen Shijiu. When he was with Shen Shijiu, he felt incredibly relaxed, so he really liked that small man who was as bright and cheery as the sun.

Zhao Litang didn’t inquire further.

“You can leave now.”

Yue Nu’s hands paused, “General, please let Yue Nu stay and care for you. You’ve just woken up, so it isn’t convenient for you to do anything, you need someone to watch over you…”

“I’m fine. Go back and rest.”

After he finished speaking, Zhao Litang leaned against the bed and closed his eyes; he looked as though he didn’t want to continue the conversation.

Yue Nu also didn’t want to disturb him, and replied softly, “Yes.”, before he silently bowed his head and walked out.

He walked up to the door. Just as he was about to close it, Zhao Litang caught a glimpse of his sad little face, and suddenly said, “Thank you.”

Then, he lifted his bandaged arm.

Yue Nu smiled, “This is all Yue Nu’s duty. General, rest well, Yue Nu will be leaving now.”

The door closed.

Zhao Litang’s brain was still in chaos.

Why would people from the Prime Minister’s Manor come to save him? And just who was that Shen Shijiu? Was Pei Zheng hiding something from him?

It seemed that he would have to discuss this with Pei Zheng himself.

After Yue Nu came out of Zhao Litang’s room, his footsteps were unusually light. When he thought back to the general thanking him earlier, he couldn’t stop a stupid smile from coming to his face.

The general really was a good man. Not only did he save his life, he even thanked him in such a kind manner.

In the past, no one had ever treated him like this. His previous masters had all used him like they would a mule. There had never been anyone to care about his feelings.

But the general was different. He had an army under his command, and was such a powerful figure, yet he was still so nice to a little slave like him. He would definitely have to treat the general even better in the future, so he could repay the general’s kindness.

Night had long since fallen. As Yue Nu was walking back to the courtyard he was staying in, he saw that there was still a little figure standing in the garden.

Shen Shijiu was staring up at the night sky. The bright moon was hanging above his head, and the river of stars quietly shone in the darkness. He was pointing upward and muttering to himself.

“Fifty stars, fifty-one stars, fifty-two stars…”

“Young Master Shen,” Yue Nu called out, before he walked toward him, “It’s so late, why haven’t you gone to bed yet?”

Shen Shijiu’s attempt to complete the daunting task of counting the stars was interrupted. He pouted, and looked toward the person who had come.

“A-Yue, it’s you. Don’t call me Young Master Shen, we already agreed on this. I’ll call you A-Yue, you’ll call me Shi.”

Yue Nu hesitated for a moment, “But, you’re a guest, and I’m a servant, this wouldn’t be very proper…”

Shen Shijiu took a step closer, and grabbed his hand, “What’s improper about it, I think it’s very proper. Also, shifu told me that I’m a year older than you, so you should call me your big brother. Why don’t you call me Brother Shi?”

Shen Shijiu had never had any younger siblings, so he had never been called a big brother before. His eyes flashed in excitement.

Yue Nu felt rather embarrassed upon seeing how excited his gaze was. Those eyes were too sincere and enthusiastic, so he had no way to refuse.

“Brother… Shi…”

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“Ai1!

Shen Shijiu eyes curved. He grabbed Yue Nu’s arm and shook it, extremely delighted.

Yue Nu saw that he wasn’t wearing much. The nights were chilly and humid; he was a bit worried that Shen Shijiu would be cold later.

“Shi, are you waiting for someone here?”

Yue Nu looked around as he asked, but their surroundings were very quiet; there wasn’t anyone around.

Shen Shijiu averted his gaze, “N-no, I’m not, I’m not waiting for anyone. I’m… counting the stars…”

As he spoke, he lifted his head to look up at the night sky.

Yue Nu also raised his head, and he snuck a glance at Shen Shijiu. In truth, his guilt was written all over his face, yet he still stupidly thought that he had hidden it well.

Yue Nu secretly smiled, before he said in a serious voice, “Then I’ll get you some more clothes, then you can count for as long as you want, okay? It’s cold at night, it wouldn’t be good if you froze.”

“Okay.” Shen Shijiu nodded.

Yue Nu saw how cute and obedient he was, and patted the back of his hand, “Then wait for me here.”

After he finished speaking, he hurriedly ran into the room to grab an outer robe for Shen Shijiu. He attended to Shen Shijiu so carefully; he was the one who acted more akin to an older brother.

Yue Nu retrieved the robe and came out, but there was no sign of the small man.

“Shi? Shi? Young Master Shen?”

Yue Nu called for him several times, but there was no response. With the outer robe in hand, he returned to his own room and closed the door.

In truth, Shen Shijiu was still in the garden. It was just that there was someone covering his mouth, so he had no way to speak.

A few moments ago, when he was standing in the garden waiting for Yue Nu, he saw someone suddenly jump off the roof. Shen Shijiu found that this person’s silhouette looked very familiar, when he was pulled behind a nearby rockery.

The faint fragrance of sandalwood swirled into his nose. Shen Shijiu grabbed the lapel of the man in front of him, and made a few muffled noised, blinking his eyes to signal that he wanted to speak.

Pei Zheng was so close that his breaths tickled Shen Shijiu’s ear.

“Be good, don’t make a sound.”

Shen Shijiu immediately quieted down.

At this moment, he heard Yue Nu calling for him, and Shen Shijiu became a bit nervous again. Fortunately, Yue Nu only yelled a few times before he left. Only then did Shen Shijiu relax slightly.

Pei Zheng loosened his grip on the small man, and lowered his head to look at him.

The moonlight was shining brightly, its jade-white light spilling onto Shen Shijiu’s little face. Although it was concealed underneath a mask, his eyes and brilliant red lips were left uncovered.

There was also the warmth of his body, as well as its soft, fragrant scent; it really made one want to take a bite out of him.

Pei Zheng gripped that slender waist with one hand. Then, he pulled the small man closer, pressing him deep into his embrace.

Shen Shijiu’s little head rested on Pei Zheng’s shoulder. Only the tips of his toes touched the ground, and most of his body was pressed against Pei Zheng’s. The hands on his back and waist held him up, but his grip was so tight that Shen Shijiu felt as though he was about to suffocate.

But this feeling of being embraced was just too safe and sentimental. Shen Shijiu’s little hands slowly hugged Pei Zheng’s waist as well.

“Did you miss me?”

Pei Zheng asked in a low voice. He even kissed Shen Shijiu’s small, delicate ear, and watched as his fair skin gradually turned pink.

“I did.” Shen Shijiu’s voice was soft and sweet.

“Do you know why I haven’t come to see you these past few days?”

“I know, A-Feng told me that His Majesty needed something from my Lord, and that my Lord is busy taking care of business.”

Pei Zheng stroked the little head that was leaning against his chest.

“You are my business.”

In truth, the Emperor summoned Pei Zheng in order to discuss the matter of the barbarian tribe. As for why he didn’t allow Pei Zheng to immediately return to court, it was simply because he didn’t want the other ministers to gossip about it.

After a few more days, naturally, the Emperor would return Pei Zheng’s rightful power and status.

He hadn’t seen the small man during these past few days; even while he was discussing important matters with the Emperor, Pei Zheng still found himself losing concentration.

But every time he returned from the palace, it was already late at night, and the huge Prime Minister’s Manor was empty and cold.

Pei Zheng’s heart and mind were restless, which was why he sent Cheng Feng to deliver a message on his behalf in the morning.

If he couldn’t see him again soon, Pei Zheng felt that he wouldn’t be able to bear it any longer.

At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded in the garden, along with several urgent, hushed voices.

“Earlier, the sentries said that they saw someone enter the manor. We must hurry and search through every courtyard. You all, check this side. You all, check that side. Be quiet, you mustn’t disturb the general’s rest! Quickly!”

“Yes sir!”

Several groups of guards spread out and began to search the General’s Manor.

There were a few guards that were about to enter the courtyard. They would definitely discover that the person who had broken into the General’s Manor in the middle of the night was the dignified Lord Prime Minister.

Shen Shijiu was a bit anxious. He looked at Pei Zheng in panic and said, “My Lord, someone’s coming, what do we do, they’ll find you!”

Unexpectedly, Pei Zheng didn’t look anxious at all. He grabbed Shen Shijiu and simply walked into a random room.

 

Notes

At this point, we know more about what Shen Shijiu smells like than what Zhao Litang looks like.

Thanks for reading~

1.This is a sound to signify a reply to someone who’s calling your name.

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