[Prince Cheng's Manor]
The night was deep and quiet.
Prince Cheng's Manor held not a trace of New Year's atmosphere.
Dark and devoid of light, it was exceptionally eerie.
Ming Li, along with Night Owl and Xuanyue, easily scaled the manor's walls and began searching around.
Ming Li had practiced martial arts since childhood under Mo Yunxiao and, blessed with natural talent, could now hold his own against ten men.
"Shh." Ming Li stopped the two and hid in a corner.
Prince Cheng emerged from a room.
Unlike his usual amiable self, today his face was twisted with malice as he wiped blood from his hands with a white handkerchief.
"Guard this well,"
he said, glancing at the guards on either side.
"If the prisoner is lost, I'll have you chopped up and fed to the wolves."
The guards on both sides: "Yes, Master. Rest assured."
Prince Cheng threw the handkerchief to the ground, spat in disgust, and went back inside.
Ming Li and the other two waited for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn before stepping out. They quickly dealt with the door guards.
"Leave one to guard the door,"
Ming Li said, then pushed the door open and entered.
Night Owl and Xuanyue exchanged a glance; Xuanyue followed, while Night Owl stayed to guard the door.
The inner room was an ordinary guest chamber.
Ming Li , using candlelight, looked around but found no mechanisms for a secret passage. Suddenly, he looked up at a painting on the wall depicting children playing with carp. Hanging right in the center, though nothing special, Ming Li found it particularly displeasing. He stepped forward and tore it down.
A hidden compartment behind the painting was revealed, containing a small bronze qilin. Ming Li and Xuanyue looked at each other. Ming Li grasped the qilin and twisted it. With a click, two floor tiles behind them rumbled apart, revealing a dark, hidden passage.
Ming Li moved to go down, but Xuanyue stopped him. "Your Majesty, please allow this subordinate to go. Your precious person is vital to the millions of Qing; you cannot risk the slightest harm."
They had already lost track of Young Master Ming Xi; thankfully, their master said he was safe. But the Emperor must not come to harm.
Ming Li smiled at him. "With Prince Cheng's limited capabilities, he can't harm me. Don't worry, Uncle Yue."
With that, he took a lantern and descended into the dungeon.
The dungeon was dug deep, winding and turning. The two walked for half an incense stick's time before seeing torchlight.
Remembering the blood on Prince Cheng's hands, Ming Li 's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.
Reaching the end, they saw cages on both sides holding various women and ge'er.
Some were dressed brightly, with exquisite makeup, delicate eyebrows like distant mountains, powdered faces and peach-blush cheeks, full of vitality and charm. Those in ragged clothes, covered in wounds, however, were deathly pale, expressionless, their eyes dull, as if they had lost all perception of their surroundings, leaving only hollow shells.
Ming Li clenched his fists and sped up, leaning against the cages to look inside each one for the person he longed for.
Finally, at the very end of the dungeon.
Ning Huaiyu was imprisoned in a cell, multiple whip marks on his body, blood soaking through his clothes. His face was pale, the flower mark between his eyebrows strikingly red, his thin lips chapped. He leaned against the corner, eyes closed with difficulty.
"Huaiyu!" Ming Li called his name, his voice trembling.
The person in the cell opened his eyes. "Why are you here?"
His voice was faint, like a wisp of air.
Ming Li : "I've come to save you."
Ning Huaiyu: "I don't need you to save me. Cough, cough, cough. Go away!"
Ming Li : "Prince Cheng sent you to assassinate me. You failed the mission, so he punished you, right?"
"That day, why didn't you kill me?"
He had been unconscious; Huaiyu could have acted at any time, but instead, this person had cleaned his wounds and sent him to the Cao residence.
Ning Huaiyu was stunned: "You took an arrow for me. Saving you was repaying the debt."
Ming Li : "Liar!"
Ning Huaiyu turned his head away, silent.
"Master, the door is open," Xuanyue reminded them.
Talking through the bars like this—aren't you two tired? I find it tiring.
Ming Li walked to Ning Huaiyu's side, bent down, and gently picked him up.
"I like you. Please give me a chance, Huaiyu." Ming Li used "I" (我 - wǒ).
He felt using zhèn, (the imperial "I") with someone close created a distance of mountains and rivers.
He didn't want to be so formal with Ning Huaiyu.
His father had once said: If you like someone, pursue them boldly.
Being hesitant and shy only shows a lack of sincerity.
He had ended with a smug smile: That's how I won your daddy.
Ning Huaiyu in his arms looked up at him.
"With three thousand beauties in the harem, you aren't missing me."
Ming Li kissed his forehead lightly: "Not yet Madame Ming, but already jealous, hmm?"
"My father has only ever had my daddy as his husband. I won't have a second person either. Our Cao family has no tradition of three wives and four concubines."
"Besides, if I had three concubines and four wives, my father would definitely beat me to death."
The person in his arms chuckled softly. "So you're afraid of your father."
Ming Li: "No, no, no. The one I fear most is my daddy. He hits even harder."
Ning Huaiyu's pale face smiled. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell on you?"
Ming Li adjusted his hold, lifting him higher. "So you're willing to become Ming's husband now?"
Ning Huaiyu pouted: "That depends on your performance."
He reached out and wrapped his arms around Ming Li s neck.
Finally, he had finally come to save him.
He thought he would rot in this dungeon, never to see him again.
He was an assassin of Prince Cheng's manor, raised there since childhood.
He led other ge'er and women, using the Beauty Pavilion to gather information and handle affairs for Prince Cheng.
On the surface, the Beauty Pavilion engaged in the usual flesh trade, but behind it lay many unspeakable activities. Using this seemingly romantic venue, they mingled with high officials and nobles, extracting various secret intelligence.
Those pitiful ge'er and women were mostly abducted or tricked into Prince Cheng's service by various means. The slightest disobedience resulted in brutal beatings and abuse. They were forced to sink into this dark abyss, becoming tools for Prince Cheng to seek profit and consolidate power.
That day, he had received the order to assassinate Ming Li . But back then this person had stupidly stumbled into the Beauty Pavilion, he had spotted him at first glance. When asked to choose a beauty, this person had smiled and said he wanted to choose him. His heart had raced then, but after that, this person never appeared again.
He knew he shouldn't get involved, but he just wanted to see him. In a fit of pique, he had spread word that he was going to serve someone. This person indeed rushed over urgently, pressing him down domineeringly and saying,
"I forbid you to serve anyone else."
From then on, he lost his heart. But the one who stole his heart held a high position and immense power. A chasm of ten thousand gaps lay between them. Stepping across meant falling into an abyss, being shattered to pieces. He must not become involved with him again—that's what he thought then.
But seeing this person protect him and fall unconscious from an arrow wound, his heart ached terribly. In the end, the assassination mission failed. He let Ming Li go. When Prince Cheng found out, he imprisoned him in the dungeon and subjected him to endless torture.
"What, you like him?"
Prince Cheng had pinched his cheek and asked.
"Do you think he will hate you if he finds out you're the assassin I sent?"
"Ning Huaiyu, be good. Don't think about escaping," Prince Cheng had said, stroking his face.
......
"My father and daddy said to bring you home for New Year," Ming Li said, holding him tight, whispering in his ear.
Ning Huaiyu's ear tips turned slightly red. He buried his head in Ming Li's chest.
"I haven't agreed yet. I can't meet the in-laws."
Xuanyue: Could you two please flirt after we get out? We're still in Prince Cheng's dungeon.
Comments
Post a Comment