Chapter 2: 2

 Su Cen followed the figure of the waiter and looked upstairs. On upper floors were private rooms. The shop assistant went up straight to the second floor and entered a small room near the handrail. There was a veiled curtain hanging down, and the human figure covered by it was vaguely visible. Although the situation inside was not clear, he always felt that there was a pair of eyes facing him from behind the curtain.

 

 "Second Young Master..." A-Fu called very carefully.

 

 The Second Young Master's attentive stare didn't leave this waiter even for a moment. It shouldn't be... Looking at the situation of the Second Young Master, the chances of being able to pass brilliantly this year are not high. At that time he will keep a little lover in Chang'an City... If this is known by the Old Master, he should consider saving money to buy a coffin for himself.

 

 Su Cen turned around and asked with a smile, "What do you think of him?"

 

 "?!" Sure enough!

 

 A-Fu swallowed his saliva and said with difficulty: "Second Young Master, if there is anything I didn't take care of on the road, you can beat me and scold me. A-Fu entered Su Family at the age of ten. I didn't dare to be lazy even for a day. In the future I will definitely concentrate my thoughts and efforts on wholeheartedly serving you. I beg the Second Young Master to spare my life! "

 

 At the end of his words he was already overflowing with tears. 

 

 Su Cen: "..."

 

 What's that all have to do with it??

 

 Suddenly, a burst of crisp sound echoed from the floor, the cup fell to the ground. Just when Su Cen turned his head, he saw this shop assistant being pushed down from the upstairs by someone's palm. The people downstairs exclaimed in alarm and surprise and saw that the waiter was falling straight to the ground. But when he was close to the floor, his figure turned strangely and quickly, and unexpectedly he landed steadily. 

 

 Looking again, a person from upstairs flew down and quickly went straight to the little waiter.

 

 The shop assistant turned sideways, dodging a powerful blow. He pressed his fist and flashed strangely, arriving behind the man. But the man who was chasing wasn't to be trifled with. (1) The sharp blade was unsheathed like if it was between the electric light and flint. The hilt of the sword moved backwards, and it was heavily pressed against the waist of the little waiter. 

 

 The shop assistant frowned in pain, but fortunately, his reaction was still as rapid as before. When the edge of the sword approached, he hurriedly retreated. In his heart he knew that he wasn't his opponent. After taking a glance, he moved sideways, flashed and appeared behind Su Cen.

 

 Right in the middle of sipping his tea wholeheartedly, Su Cen's neck cooled down in an instant the edge of the sharp blade was pressed against his skin. 

 

 Su Cen: "..."

 

 "Get out of the way!" The sword holder said coldly.

 

 Of course he would get out of the way, if it wasn't for a secret arrow pressing against his waist. 

 

 He certainly didn't read the almanac when he went out today, otherwise he should stay at home, take a bath, burn incense and fast for a day.

 

 He saw that the little shop assistant behind him even looked lovely and pitifully while saying softly, "Young Master, save me!"

 

 Su Cen glanced sideways at the sharp blade that was clinging to his neck, and carefully pushed it away a few inches with his fingertips. Only then did he take a closer look at the person in front of him. He was eight feet tall and his eyes were flashing with color and luster of a light amber. He was dressed as a bodyguard and Su Cen couldn't help swallowing his saliva because of the awe-inspiring aura on his body. He said carefully, "This Xiongtai (2), if you have something to say just say it. It's not good to hurt an innocent person with a knife or whatever."

 

 Only then did A-Fu come back to his senses. He took a step forward to wait for solution. But he was frightened by this person's expression and retreated. 

 

 The Imperial Guard said coldly, "This man assassinated my Master. Hand him over."

 

 The little shop assistant pointed out from behind Su Cen and argued, "It's obviously your Master who wants to do bad things to others in broad daylight. He even wants to kill people out of rage to prevent them from divulging a secret. Let's judge between right and wrong. Is there any law in this city of Chang'an?"

 

 Considering that this little waiter had just come downstairs because of misfortune, and anyone with eyes could see his face and figure, everyone believed the shop assistant's words. They didn't dare to speak out loud, but they whispered and gesticulated at the Imperial Guard in private.

 

 The little waiter crossed Su Cen and raised an eyebrow at the Imperial Guard with a smile. But those unspeakable amorous feelings were only exchanged for an vicious, sword-like look.

 

 Su Cen took the opportunity to glance upstairs. The man was still hidden behind the curtain, as still as a mountain he was holding a small cup. Although he couldn't see the details, he still felt that the man was looking at him. He could even see full of interest and smiling expression of the shadowy and vague figure.

 

 A nameless fire raised for no reason and Su Cen retracted his gaze. Originally he was only thinking of getting out as soon as possible, but suddenly he moved his neck and took a step forward: "You said he wanted to assassinate your Master, but he said that you wanted to use violence against him. Before the matter is cleared, I won't hand him over to you."

 

 The little waiter was stunned for a moment, and quietly took away the secret arrow in his hand.

 

 However, Ah Fu secretly screamed 'Damn it' (3) Because this side of the East Market is adjacent to the "San Da Nei" (4) of the Imperial City, most of the high-ranking officials and dignitaries live there. A tile falling from the roof can crush to death several officials. Not to mention that at first glance one can see that they are not an ordinary people. This Master upstairs may even be some kind of a Lord. He was busy pulling Su Cen's sleeves behind him, but he was freed by a wave of his hand.

 

 Su Cen continued: "You said that he assassinated your Master. So what kind of hatred or resentment does he have against your Master? Is it poisoning or an attempt to murder? Where is the murder weapon? Is there any evidence?"

 

 "The murder weapon was an inch-long steel needle. It was shot into the roof and disappeared without a trace. As for the hatred," the Imperial Guard narrowed his eyes: "If you return him for investigation, you will naturally know."

 

 "That means you have no evidence," Su Cen raised his lips and smiled, "If someone asks you to bring a person back, how do we know whether you'll (*) end up insulting and obtaining confessions under torture or not. At that time right and wrong, black and white will depend on your mouth. Then to whom can he explain that he has suffered injustice?" 

 

 Everyone, one after another expressed their yes. The little waiter behind him nodded hurriedly.

 

 The Imperial Guard swept around with his cold eyes, and the surroundings were silent in an instant. He said solemnly: "This man should have a hidden shooting weapon on his body. Take off his clothes and you will know."

 

 Su Cen was stunned for a moment. He turned his head and then looked back at the shop assistant, only to see a provoking pity appearance. He wiped the non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes with the cuff of his sleeve, "Everyone look, this person actually wants to rip off other people's clothes in the broad daylight. Although I am not an unmarried girl, no matter what you definitely have no basis to insult me like that!  

 

 The Imperial Guard was unmoved: "Either take off your clothes, or let me take it away."

 

 The little waiter looked at Su Cen and requested for help.

 

 Su Cen sighed secretly. This person must still be carrying the thing, and if he was found out, he was afraid that he would not escape the disaster. He thought to himself that he was following a criminal, but without choice he turned back and said: "I already examined this person. He don't have nothing on his body." Then he swept a glance at the people around him: "If you don't believe me, many people here can testify for him. Those Xiongtais who have just done their touching, I will bother you to please come out and confirm. When you were stroking him, was there any weapon hidden on his body ?"

 

 A few people shook their heads. They thought that they would be admitting that they were hanging around him, and one after another stopped moving.

 

 But the few just now were enough, Su Cen said with a smile: "Look, we all said no, if you still don't believe it and insist on stripping people's clothes, it will be difficult to escape from wild and fanciful thoughts. Maybe it's because you think that your Master can't succeed. Why don't let people take a quick look first? "

 

 The Imperial Guard's sword eyebrows crossed: "Presumptuous!"

 

 "Qi Lin."

 

 A low voice came from upstairs, like a jar of strong, aged wine overturned in the night.

 

 Su Cen followed the voice and looked up, only to see a person wearing a suit of clothes embroidered with patterns of floating light and dark clouds walking downstairs with his hands clasped behind his back. His steps were firm and steady, and the presence of his whole body was indescribable. No wonder, just now it made it hard for people not to ignore him through a layers of curtain.

 

 The Imperial Guard reverently and respectfully cupped his hands in greeting and stepped aside.

 

 Su Cen felt that his neck was a little stiff, and his heart started beating a little faster for no reason. Just now, he already felt oppressed when facing the Imperial Guard. This person just spit out two words and the surroundings instantly became silent. He was born with a threatening aura. Su Cen felt his throat rolling, but he couldn't utter a word.

 

 Fortunately, this person only glanced at Su Cen and said, "Go away," the people who were left distracted, slowly left.

 

 Su Cen immediately followed and also turned his head, only to see this man pause at the door and glance at him intentionally or unintentionally. Those eyes were bottomless, but Su Cen could still see that bit of mockery from them.

 

 This kind of disdaining ridicule and mockery resembled that when watching a person of limited outlook and experience (5) displaying his slight skill before an expert. 

 

 Su Cen was distracted for a long while before he came back to his senses. He suddenly felt irritated in his heart for no reason.

 

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 He grabbed the cold tea on the table and drain the cup in one gulp. He threw down a few copper coins and turned to leave. A-Fu followed closely behind him. After taking more than ten steps, he noticed that the shop assistant was actually following him. 

 

 Su Cen stopped his steps and frowned, "What are you following me for?"

 

 There was a meaningful smile on the little waiter's lips: "You helped me, shouldn't I come out and thank you?"

 

 Su Cen said as he walked, "I didn't want to help you, I just dislike this person upstairs."

 

 "Oh?" The shop assistant raised his eyebrows.

 

 "When he come to the teahouse to drink tea, he had to choose the elegant and peaceful private room upstairs. Can't he just go back to his own house to drink? The attire he is wearing also doesn't look like as if he would lack two taels for tea at home ."

 

 "Do you know who he is?"

 

 "I don't know who he is," Su Cen squinted his eyes suddenly, "But I know that you really went to assassinate him."

 

 The shop assistant was stunned.

 

 "You are not a teahouse waiter at all. Otherwise you would not be so unconcerned when in the teahouse you made Yuqian tea and pretended it to be Mingqian tea. Not to mention that it originally was Mingqian tea. If you would be a real teahouse worker you would not provide an explanation for not your store, it only means that you have other plans for going there. And when you walked downstairs, although you were taunting others intentionally or unintentionally, you were deliberately keeping away the right hand holding the copper pot. Probably that weapon was hidden in the right sleeve. "

 

 The waiter subconsciously touched the right sleeve. There was indeed a spring-loaded arrow weapon concealed in his sleeve that can fire a steel needle. His expression became more and more interested: "Then are you still helping me?"

 

 "I said that I'm not helping you. I just dislike that person," Su Cen couldn't help but get irritated again when he thought of that look. He took a few steps forward and turned back: "I advise you not to follow me. Just because he didn't catch you in the teahouse just now doesn't mean he will let you go. You should run for your life if you know Gong Fu (6)."

 

 "If he didn't capture me in the teahouse, in the future he won't even think about trying to catch me," the little waiter smiled, "My name is Qu Ling'er. Regardless of everything, thank you for today, and..."

 

 Qu Ling'er suddenly whispered in his ear, "That man really likes men."

 

 Su Cen was stunned for a moment, but when he turned around again, the evening was gradually approaching, and that Qu Linger had disappeared out of thin air. Su Cen touched his ears, it was still limp and numb. That sentence just now...  Was it an auditory hallucination? 

 

 

 

__________

Notes: 

 

 

(1)不是吃素的

-lit. 'not being a vegetarian'  lol

• not to be trifled with

• to be reckoned with

 

 

(2)兄台 Xiongtai

• Brother (polite)

-when talking to the person of the same age

 

 

____________

~[Terms such as Brother, Sister etc. I will keep in pinyin if the people talking are not related and I will translate them if the people are related, because it will be confusing.] 

________________

 

 

 (3)糟了

-it has also many other meanings:

• gosh!

• oh no!

• darn!

Etc. 

 

 

(4) 三大内  San Da Nei 

 

(I prefer to keep it in pinyin) 

 

-San = Three

-Da = Big

-Nei = Inside/Interior 

 

(San Nei + Da Nei) 

 

°San Nei are the names of the Three Royal Palaces iside the Imperial City in Chang'an. 

 

-Taiji Palace - Xi Nei 

(Western Palace) 

 

-Daming Palace - Dong Nei 

(Eastern Palace) 

 

-Xingqing Palace - Nan Nei

(Northern Palace) 

 

°The place where the Emperor lives is called

-Da Nei  大内

 

 

 

(*) In the first sentence of this paragraph were used:

你 you

我们 we

你们 you (plural) 

*It's a little confusing 

 

 

 

(5)井底之蛙

• the frog at the bottom of the well (idiom)

• fig. a person of limited outlook and experience 

 

 

(6) Gong Fu = Kung Fu

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