Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Luo Qianyu was too disgusted to listen further, yet his hand was firmly held, and weakened by the incense, he was too limp to even lift his arm.

Earlier, when those people had left, they had tactfully closed the door behind them. The lamps and candles in the room had all been extinguished, leaving only a single one burning.

Just then, a loud *bang* sounded.

A dark figure crashed through the window, shattering the carved window lattice!

The intruder moved too fast to react. Lou Xian's mind hadn't fully processed the situation, but his body's instincts overrode his drunkenness. His eyes sharpened, and he drew his sword, rising to his feet.

In the brief moment of their clash, Lou Xian realized this black-clad figure wasn't targeting him!

He instinctively turned his head, but before he could counter, the shadowy figure had already seized Luo Qianyu, darted across the room, and leaped out through the window.

Lou Xian's pupils constricted, confusion flickering in his gaze, yet a remnant of rationality made him halt his steps.

Although he didn't consider this courtesan particularly important—her being kidnapped was of little consequence—witnessing this scene, his heart inexplicably felt as if pierced by a blazing sword. A hollow feeling filled his chest, spreading a scorching, unbearable ache through his internal organs, leaving him trembling uncontrollably.

The torn window paper flapped noisily in the strong wind. Lou Xian tightened his grip on his sword hilt and swiftly rushed to the window, only to see the black figure, carrying the red-clad courtesan, already leaping onto another painted pleasure boat.

With light taps of his toes on the boat's eaves, the figure vanished into the night after a few leaps.

-

The night wind whistled past his ears. Luo Qianyu was held at the waist by the black-clad man. Below, the lake's surface, dense forests, and the lights of pleasure boats flashed by rapidly as they moved as if they owned the place.

The black-clad man muttered to himself with satisfaction, "Round and round we go, and you still end up back in my hands!"

The person in his arms didn't respond. He couldn't help but look down and found the little beauty was already awake, frowning and glaring at him, seemingly unable to speak. Now dressed differently, he looked more and more like a courtesan of the pleasure boats. He must have suffered quite a bit during the time he was lost.

Sensing something amiss, the black-clad man scrutinized him for a moment, and a wave of pity for this delicate beauty arose in him. He freed one hand to undo the other's mute acupoint.

Unexpectedly, after a light cough and catching his breath, the other's first words were: "You fool, you've kidnapped the wrong person!"

The black-clad man was stunned, as if he couldn't bear to hear this. He angrily retorted, "You disrespectful lot! One after another calling me a fool, that's beyond the pale!"

Huh? Who was the one being carried right now? And who was immobilized by the incense?

Who was the disrespectful one here? Who was going too far!

Luo Qianyu was furious but quickly calmed down. Getting bogged down in a war of words was clearly useless. This was the moment to reveal who he was. He opened his lips and declared, "Listen, no matter who sent you on this errand, their target is definitely not me! I am the son of Anbei Marquis Luo Zhenchuan and the eldest daughter of the Duke of Weiguo's household, Lady Sun Shi—the heir of the Luo family, Luo Qianyu!"

"If you harm even a hair on my head today, you will be making enemies of two major noble families. Before you report back to your master, consider whether you have the life to spare."

"While your head is still attached to your neck, think carefully! Don't act foolishly! Did your master give you clear instructions before you left? Was the person you were supposed to kidnap truly the famously flamboyant Young Marquis?" Luo Qianyu blurted it all out in one go.

Yet, a strange feeling stirred within him. Since transmigrating into this book, the prestigious, privileged identity of the original host seemed to be truly useful for the first time.

The black-clad man was dumbfounded by his words, but after only a brief pause, he burst into loud, derisive laughter.

"You're the Young Marquis? Then I'm the Emperor of Da Xi!"

He then taunted, "Do you intend to take my head? Wouldn't that be akin to the crime of treason and regicide?"

"..." The Young Marquis suddenly fell silent.

There was no use saying more. This man was an idiot.

Having heard this, the black-clad man wasn't completely unmoved. He pulled a black square cloth from his sleeve, covered the Young Marquis's eyes, and tied a knot at the back of his head.

He thought to himself, this little beauty was truly clever, thinking up all sorts of schemes to escape. If he were allowed to secretly memorize the route and find an opportunity to flee, all this effort would be wasted.

-

Luo Qianyu felt the wind by his ears cease.

When the surroundings grew quiet, he was also set down, his back leaning against a corner of a wooden structure. He only heard the black-clad man report in a low voice, "My lord, the person has been brought."

With his sight blocked, even through the cloth, everything remained pitch black, as if he had been brought to a dimly lit place. Luo Qianyu's brow twitched slightly, confused yet alert, relying solely on his hearing.

Not far away, a deep, somewhat languid voice sounded, "Mm, you may withdraw."

Luo Qianyu was slightly taken aback.

This voice... sounded familiar.

He seemed to have heard it before, though not often, yet it left a deep impression. He just couldn't recall who it belonged to at the moment.

The young heir, dressed in red, his pearl curtain tinkling from the movement, had the black cloth intended to blindfold him covering most of his face. The vermillion red contrasted with the pale skin of his neck, perfectly complementing the dress and pearls, making his skin appear pale as snow.

He seemed to tilt his head slightly, quietly listening to the external sounds, yet completely unaware that the enemy's gaze was fixed directly upon him.

After just a short while, Luo Qianyu pursed his lips and spoke with near certainty:

"Lin Jingyan."

The man responded with a deep, faint "Mm," his powerful aura growing even more somber and cold. A short, drawn-out sigh escaped him before he spoke again, "You remember my voice?"

Remember? Of course he remembered. The original work had plenty of CP fans who staunchly supported him based on his voice alone. Moreover, the Young Marquis and the Prime Minister had a deep-seated grudge. Now that he had taken Wen Yu's place and come face-to-face with the main villain, it truly was a case of enemies crossing paths.

Luo Qianyu sighed inwardly—

So he really was one of the buy-stock gongs? Another one of those super popular villain stocks?

What the hell kind of mess was tonight?!

His mood instantly turned complicated. Not towards him, but towards Wen Yu.

Before, reading through the cold, lifeless pages of the book, he only felt that the undeserved calamities brought by the halo of being universally adored were quite tormenting. While readers howled with excitement, what he felt for Wen Yu was perhaps just a bit of detached sympathy.

But now, having personally experienced a part of it from Wen Yu's perspective, he realized the unimaginable hardships the little beauty had endured.

He could barely endure this brief moment, let alone imagine that this was the inevitable suffering and daily life Wen Yu had to face, the life the beauty shou struggled against but found difficult to escape.

This kind of predicament, where every step was a struggle, almost defined his entire life. What kind of incredibly strong heart would be needed to grow accustomed to this?

Fortunately, the black-clad man had covered his face with the cloth, leaving only his mouth and nose exposed. Lin Jingyan wouldn't be able to recognize who he truly was.

Or perhaps, when he discovered that the person he had been longing for wasn't the beauty of his dreams but the Young Marquis he wished he could eliminate, it would be another form of comeuppance.

"The Prime Minister is in quite a mood," the Young Marquis gave a cold laugh, his voice laced with mockery. "Taking a solitary pleasure boat ride and seeking the company of the Capital's First Beauty. If you can't find her, you kidnap her. If kidnapping fails, you use underhanded, despicable tricks to abduct her."

Instead of immediately revealing his identity, he decided to go along with the mistake. Using Wen Yu's identity, he seized the opportunity to wildly provoke and humiliate, aiming straight for the sore spot: "It's just that this commoner has never served a man before, especially one like the Prime Minister... with certain physical shortcomings. This commoner is somewhat concerned. It's often said that time is a merciless blade. Now that Lord Lin is past thirty, might his spirit be willing but his flesh weak?"

A thirty-two-year-old Prime Minister was considered exceptionally young and accomplished in the grand scheme of history. But the Young Marquis, relying on his own youth, kept implying the other was impotent—a highly effective method for striking a blow against a romantic rival.

"So this is how Qianyu views this Prime Minister." Lin Jingyan let out a low chuckle, showing no sign of anger, and slowly said, "However, from where does this conclusion of 'the spirit being willing but the flesh weak' come? This Prime Minister would like to hear the details."

Fuck.

He actually recognized him?

When did that accursed Chancellor begin acknowledging him?

That man’s laughter would surely make an ordinary person’s ears tingle—anyone with a discerning ear couldn’t withstand it. Yet to the Young Marquis, it was unmistakably the archvillain’s signature sound—a red alert in itself.

“Chancellor, with only one hand, you must rely on others for everything. Isn’t that a classic case of the spirit being willing but the flesh weak?”

The Young Marquis dropped all pretense. Rather than beating around the bush, he struck straight at the heart of the matter, speaking bluntly: “Chancellor, your murderous intent is plain for all to see. That short arrow engraved with the character ‘Zhou’ is still spattered with my mount’s blood. Could you have forgotten so soon?”

Blindfolded, Luo Qianyu couldn’t see the man’s expression. He waited through a stretch of silence until the man spoke abruptly.

Only this time, the faint, elusive amusement in that voice had inexplicably vanished entirely—his tone now unreadable: “Your horse was struck by an arrow?”

The Young Marquis was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but marvel:

Chancellor Lin—you truly are something else.

“Yes—is the Chancellor surprised?” Luo Qianyu raised an eyebrow, speaking coolly: “Or perhaps… what truly surprises you is that the Young Marquis remains safe and sound—not only unharmed, but very much alive and well—not the broken, suffering wretch you’d hoped for?”

The man fell silent for a long while before slowly speaking: “You said the short arrow was engraved with the character ‘Zhou’?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps channeling the original owner’s defiant streak toward this Chancellor, Luo Qianyu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly beneath his blindfold. At that moment, all his anxiety melted away, leaving not a trace of fear: “You wish to incite factional strife—but I refuse to comply. Lin Jingyan, whatever you scheme to obtain, you will get nothing from me.”

“If your heart is filled with unrelenting resentment, you might as well finish me off here and now—and spare yourself the future headache. If you lack the courage, then henceforth, neither I nor the Marquis’s estate will yield you an inch.” The Young Marquis leaned back against the wooden couch, as if remembering something, and chuckled lightly: “And that dog you protect—Quan Songcheng, right? So what if he’s related to your late wife? Your sentimentality is no concern of mine.”

“If the Chancellor is determined to protect him, keep him on a short leash.”

“Otherwise, if one day he runs off and bites someone—causing trouble for no reason…” Luo Qianyu chuckled softly, lowering his voice: “This Young Master will thrash him every single time I lay eyes on him.”

“By then, I won’t care who his master is.”

…

No sooner had he spoken than a chaotic clatter of unfamiliar footsteps suddenly sounded from afar outside the room—followed immediately by the steely *shing* of blades being unsheathed, one after another in relentless succession. Someone’s voice abruptly changed, shouting loudly: “Intruders!”

“There’s an assassin!”

“Protect the Chancellor!”

Luo Qianyu started at the sound—his heart instantly tightened, then pounded uncontrollably.

At this moment—who could it be?

Could it be reinforcements from the Marquis’s estate?

Had someone found the unconscious Chun Sheng and raised the alarm? But how could they have discovered his peril so quickly—and sent people racing here with such pinpoint accuracy?

Unlikely… Could it be the tenacious Liu Cixue? Or Lou Xian?

Neither seemed plausible.

The key question was: who would dare barge onto the Chancellor’s ship!?

While pondering, Luo Qianyu heard the sound of a window shattering—right next to his ear.

Before he could react, he suddenly felt his center of gravity lighten—his body suspended mid-air, as if someone had scooped him up by the waist.

His heart raced wildly.

The person who lifted him said nothing—but the palm supporting him was steady and strong. Though unidentifiable, the Young Marquis’s brow furrowed slightly—an inexplicable surge of panic rising within him—as a faint, elusive fragrance drifted into his nostrils. His breath hitched; his pupils dilated involuntarily.

This familiar scent…

*It’s Wen Yu!*

*How could Wen Yu be here?!*

That person’s voice pressed close to his ear—terse and cool as jade—confirming his suspicion:

“I’m taking him.”

More guards, hearing the commotion, rushed onto the ship, charging into the room with swords drawn: “Chancellor!” Upon entering the elegant chamber, they found the room empty—their quarry gone.

Several highly skilled covert guards exchanged glances, having already sensed the uninvited guest was no longer aboard this painted pleasure barge. Their eyes sharpened—and they gave chase immediately.

Leaping across several pleasure boats, the wind whistled past his ears. Luo Qianyu felt that all the chase scenes he’d ever seen in films and TV shows were complete jokes in comparison.

This was real pursuit—nerves taut, adrenaline surging. What is true prowess? This was the captivating male beauty from the novels he loved!

The sound of pursuit followed closely behind. The Chancellor’s men were no pushovers—they were formidable. Several coordinated decisively, moving swiftly, launching a multi-pronged encirclement—barely managing to corner the uninvited guest briefly on a small wooden boat.

The pursuers halted—seemingly having never encountered such a master. A glint of eager challenge flashed in their eyes. Their moves carried desperate, fight-to-the-death momentum—sword energy radiating, blades pressing relentlessly.

Simultaneously, during the exchange, they subtly detected the uninvited guest’s weakness: the top courtesan cradled in his arms!

Thus, several attacks targeted the person he was protecting. After a few rounds, they hadn’t even grazed the person he was shielding. Just then, one of them lost footing and fell into the water. With a final, full-force slash, the falling guard aimed directly at his side!

At that very moment—a creaking, cracking sound suddenly rang out.

It was the small boat—unable to bear the strain—splintering apart instantly!

Several people cried out in shock. The nearby boats had all sailed away—leaving no means to use Lightness Skill to evade danger. They all plunged into the water.

Along with them, Luo Qianyu also sank beneath the surface.

He knew Wen Yu’s Lightness Skill was exceptional—these several experts combined could hardly match him. Under such perilous circumstances, only by abandoning him and choosing self-preservation could Wen Yu possibly retreat unscathed—perhaps without even a drop of water on his clothes.

No wonder these men, fearing loss of face, didn’t hesitate to create such a scene. If Wen Yu possessed even a sliver of rationality, he’d realize rescue was impossible—and act swiftly… like seizing the chance to flee.

With so many experts encircling them, no one would take such a huge risk—stake their life to turn back and dive into the water.

Yet—even as he thought this—his vision instantly darkened by more than half.

Ethereal water sounds enveloped his ears.

The Young Marquis had held his breath beforehand—but due to the lingering effects of the drug, his strength faltered. He unexpectedly choked on a large mouthful of water.

Air was stolen away—consciousness fought back—but because his body couldn’t move, he was utterly incapable of swimming to shore to save himself.

Even the instinctive struggle for survival was forcibly stripped away. He could only sink helplessly—realizing no one would come to his rescue. The most desperate situation imaginable.

Unconsciously, his breathing grew sluggish—the sensation of drowning drew near—and genuine fear surged in his heart. The feeling of suffocation arrived faster than he imagined.

Beneath the lake’s surface—it was pitch black.

He was going to die.

Not on a battlefield—nor in the court—but in this place unknown to anyone—ending this brief and absurd life.

Luo Qianyu's vision darkened, too weak to struggle, feeling death inch closer by the moment, a great tide of panic spreading through his body.

Just before his consciousness faded, a hand suddenly grasped his wrist.

His half-closed eyelids fluttered, then a hand supported his back, his waist was pulled tight, lifting him away from the suffocating darkness.

As he made contact with the air, Luo Qianyu took a heavy breath but did not cough up water.

The distant lights from the ornate pleasure boats flooded his obscured vision, twinkling like stars. The chilly air seeped into him, making him shiver, followed by a familiar fragrance that drifted into his nostrils.

At that moment, a sudden, scalding heat pricked his eyes, nearly bringing tears to the young marquis.

He knew he was saved.

-

Wen Yu carried Luo Qianyu ashore.

The shoes and socks of the person in his arms were lost somewhere. Heavy water dripped from the pale, dangling toes, forming steady streams.

The young marquis had nearly drowned, his brows furrowed tightly, eyelashes trembling slightly. Subconsciously, he grasped the corner of Wen Yu's clothes, let out only a light cough, then fell still. The red hair ribbon on his foot was completely soaked.

Wen Yu held the person in his arms tighter, feeling the chill radiating from the other's body, the lips that had turned from red to pale. The red clothes were thoroughly drenched, the wet fabric clinging to Wen Yu's chest and pressing against his calves, dripping with continuous trickles of water.

Luo Qianyu was laid down on the shore, his weakened body finally resting on solid ground.

Wen Yu leaned down, reached out, and untied the red hair ribbon from the other's ankle. Channeling his inner energy to guide the water from the chest cavity, his other hand wrapped around Luo Qianyu's waist, pinched his chin, and gently parted his lips.

With a cool, damp touch, he lowered his head and kissed him.