Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Having spoken, the Young Marquis shot a subtle glance at Wen Yu's expression.

...

His motivation for saying these words was simple, though he had realized it too late.

Didn't Wen Yu want to see him?

Then let him see. Once seen, the Mysterious Guest would no longer be "mysterious," and Wen Yu could completely put an end to his longing.

He had it figured out. People were like that—the more unattainable something was, the more obsessed they got. The reason Wen Yu was so fixated on him was precisely because he never showed his face, never gave the protagonist a chance, so Wen Yu never had the opportunity to thank him in person.

Meeting once would allow everything to be clarified, dispel Wen Yu's obsession, and free him from constantly hiding and being on guard. A win-win-win situation.

All he needed to do was keep the secret that "the Mysterious Guest was impersonated by the Young Marquis."

And the three conditions he proposed were not spur-of-the-moment ideas.

In the original text, Wen Yu shared a common trait among male protagonists—

That was the quirk of "speaking the truth when drunk."

This attribute, in the readers' eyes, was pure catnip. Many of the pursuing male leads racked their brains to get the protagonist drunk, either coaxing him to drink or setting up schemes to lure him, all wanting to know what their beloved truly felt for them and how deep those feelings ran.

Yet, upon learning the answer, that restless excitement often turned into silent fury, making the ensuing non-consensual intimacy all the more justified.

As one of the suitors, the Young Marquis had no such intentions.

He wanted to get Wen Yu drunk, but not to learn anything from the great beauty.

It was simple—he wanted him drunk to dull his senses. Otherwise, with Wen Yu's keen, perceptive sharpness, if he were clear-headed and in such close proximity, the slightest misstep could reveal the truth.

As for blinding him, that went without saying.

However, with so many conditions, he lacked confidence and was muttering to himself, worried that Wen Yu might not make such sacrifices just to see the Mysterious Guest. But then he heard the protagonist's voice speak:

"Are there more?"

Luo Qianyu: "...?"

He thought he had misheard.

So these three demands weren't excessive for Wen Yu? Instead, he was asking if there were other conditions? It seemed the protagonist truly wanted to see the Mysterious Guest; he might have underestimated Wen Yu's obsession.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Young Marquis's eyes shifted. He had no intention of wasting this opportunity and immediately said, "There was one more..."

He pondered for a moment before speaking: "Teach me archery."

"Among the six arts of a gentleman, my skill in archery is the weakest. If I go out alone in the future, not only might I be laughed at, but I wouldn't be able to get by." After speaking, he looked up. The Young Marquis thought for a moment and cautiously added, "I'm not asking for much... Teach me all that you know. As for how much I learn or comprehend, that depends on my own aptitude. You just have to teach me everything you know."

Wen Yu agreed readily: "Fine."

It seemed his demands weren't a condition or punishment but rather a shortcut for Wen Yu to meet the Mysterious Guest.

To go to such lengths for the Mysterious Guest, yet in daily life, he was meticulous and calculating with him, had to control everything... When displeased, he even dared to offend his superior, constantly provoking his anger all day long.

The Young Marquis fell silent for a moment, snorted coldly, whirled his cloak around and strode off.

He didn't return directly to Jinlin Courtyard but went to Luo Shifu's residence.

When he took the wooden box from his sleeve and placed it on the table, Luo Shifu had just bathed, changed into casual clothes, and sat down by the desk.

The Young Marquis was not polite. Having not bathed that evening, he sprawled casually on Luo Shifu's bed, legs crossed, tossing his pouch into the air and catching it. "Take a look and tell me what these three pills are."

He didn't trust Prince Chen. After all, the medicine sounded quite precious—who would offer such a favor for no reason? Regardless of its effects, he didn't want to give Wen Yu medicine of unknown origin.

Luo Shifu opened it but said, "Elder Brother, there are only two."

The Young Marquis was startled and sat up abruptly. "What?"

"There are only two inside?"

"Yes."

From the palace banquet until now, only four or five hours had passed. How could one of the aphrodisiac pills be missing?

The Young Marquis took it to look. The box was only so big; indeed, there were only two. Could it have fallen out when he was fleeing from Wen Yu earlier, lost in his frantic escape?

Luo Qianyu knew he had been to too many places; it was unlikely to be found now, so he stopped dwelling on it and urged the Battalion Commander, "Just examine them first."

Luo Shifu picked up one pill, just by smelling it, and his brow furrowed slightly. He grasped his wrist, his expression changing. "Where did Elder Brother get this medicine?"

After asking, he added, "Who is this medicine intended for?"

Sure enough, Luo Shifu was impressive, recognizing the medicine at a glance. Even with the Young Marquis's thick skin, he felt somewhat embarrassed and said shamefully, "What's it to a child like you? Just tell me what it is."

"Just tell me if this medicine is reliable. Is it toxic? Could it harm someone's health?"

But Luo Shifu remained stern: "If you won't tell me, I won't help you identify it."

This was blatant blackmail. When had Luo Shifu ever dared to act like this before? Previously, he was cautious and subservient, but now he even dared to threaten his elder brother.

Naturally, Luo Qianyu would not yield to his coercion. He raised an eyebrow, picked up the wooden box, and said, "Why should I tell you? If you won't help, someone else will..."

Before he could stand up, he suddenly felt his wrist gripped tighter, even to the point of pain. With the original body's constitution, this would surely leave red marks.

"Elder Brother, who is it for?"

Before the Young Marquis could lose his temper, his gaze inadvertently met the younger man's eyes. The youth's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes were inexplicably... frighteningly gloomy.

The Young Marquis averted his face, his throat tight. Forced by the circumstances, his lips moved, but he still didn't tell the truth: "For myself... for my own use! I have my heart set on the courtesan lady of Qiyue Tower, so I specifically sought out this medicine. Satisfied?"

...

Luo Shifu fell silent for a long moment, then took one of the pills, crushed a corner of it into powder, and placed it in his mouth.

Luo Qianyu was stunned: "You..."

The youth said, "It is an aphrodisiac. Non-toxic, harmless to the body."

Only then did Luo Qianyu realize he was tasting the medicine to test it. Perking up, he pressed, "So it's the real medicine. How effective is it?"

Luo Shifu's thin lips parted slightly, his expression still as calm as stagnant water, but his words seemed tempered with sparks, burning one's ears with heat. "If Elder Brother were under the influence of this medicine, mere self-relief would be like scratching an itch through a boot—ineffective. Without engaging in the real act with someone, the drug's effects would be difficult to dispel."

"If one stubbornly resists and suppresses the desire, allowing it to accumulate within the body, it will backlash and damage the blood vessels and health. By then, Elder Brother would be unable to satisfy the courtesan lady."

"..."

That was a pretty blunt thing to say.

What was even more unexpected was that it came from Luo Shifu's mouth. Even the Young Marquis couldn't help but pause, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise, and for a long moment, he was speechless.

He thought for a bit, then couldn't help but ask, "Then what should be done? But... you just tasted some too... will it kick in?"

Luo Shifu: "Perhaps."

Upon hearing this, the young man's scalp prickled and he jumped to his feet.

His heart was secretly burning with anxiety, and he was filled with deep regret.

He never should have come to ask Luo Shifu. If his fourth brother had a reaction, where could he find someone to help him out now? He couldn't just drag him to a brothel, could he? Besides, as the eldest son of the family, if the Old Marquis found out he had gotten his younger brother into such a state, wouldn't he skin him alive?

In contrast, Luo Shifu was the picture of calm.

The Battalion Commander lowered his gaze to wipe the medicinal residue from his fingertips, his voice as calm as a frosty blade being unsheathed: "However, the amount consumed was minimal. Taking care of it yourself should be enough to suppress it."

Luo Qianyu froze, his knuckles curling slightly, at a loss for words.

Luo Shifu met his gaze, his eyes dark and intense, "Does Brother want to watch here?"

"If you watch, perhaps it will be over faster."

The Young Marquis was floored, his ears burning hot all of a sudden, a flush spreading even to his neck. He gritted his teeth and said, "...Preposterous."

"Do it yourself. I'm going back."

He snapped the box shut, took his things, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

Before leaving, a glance from the corner of his eye inadvertently caught Luo Shifu lowering his hand, his distinct knuckles pulling out a sachet pouch that looked exactly like the one he had lost... Perhaps he had just imagined it.

It was less like returning to his courtyard and more like fleeing in panic.

-

Wen Yu had said he would teach him archery, and true to his word, he began as soon as they returned to the Imperial College.

The archery field was a fair distance from the student dormitories. His own dorm was too small, as he shared it with two other classmates, so he still went to the upper residence.

He had thought that with Wen Yu teaching him archery, his focus would be split and his sword practice would be delayed. Unexpectedly, he still had to get up at the crack of dawn without fail, hauled out for morning training by his Personal Guard.

As the imperial examination date drew near, the coursework also became much more intensive. After all, it wouldn't be long before the holiday break when students would be sent home, which meant the Young Marquis's days of schooling were coming to an end.

The Young Marquis had a packed schedule, and he also had to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor. When he arrived, it happened to be when His Majesty was summoning his ministers for discussions.

The young man waited in the side hall. Drowsiness washed over him like a tide. Not wanting to disturb the discussions between the Emperor and his ministers inside the main hall, he strolled outside, walking to a round pavilion at the end of the corridor. He sat down, waiting and waiting, until his legs felt heavy. He simply leaned against a vermilion-lacquered pillar for a short rest.

Unexpectedly, before he knew it, he fell into a deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, he felt someone sitting beside him.

No, to be precise, not beside him, but beneath him. His head wasn't resting on the hard stone couch; it felt more like it was pillowed on something softer yet firm, and warm. Even as he slowly opened his eyes, he didn't see the sky because some bright yellow fabric was covering his eyes, faintly emitting a very subtle scent of ambergris.

It took Luo Qianyu a few seconds to realize where he was, what he was currently using as a pillow, and whose robe hem he was clutching in his hand.

The Young Marquis's entire body stiffened abruptly. He maintained this position for quite a while. Just as he was about to slowly sit up, he suddenly heard the Emperor speak, his voice deep, cold, and tinged with a hint of amusement: "Did We permit you to rise?"

"..." Luo Qianyu didn't speak. His neck, which he'd lifted, went slack, and he silently lay back down.

When had he laid his head on the Emperor's lap?

Earlier, he had only felt the stone couch was uncomfortable and hard against his head. Half-asleep, he'd found something soft that smelled nice, so he had pulled it over, found a comfortable position to rest his head, and then, feeling the sun was too bright, had tugged a corner over his face to shade it.

...

He had actually been sleeping with his head pillowed on the Emperor's lap!

And because of the sun, he had used the Emperor's dragon robe to cover his face!!

His mind was reeling, any thought of sleep gone. The young man's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he called out softly, "...Your Majesty."

"It's fine. Lie still."

The Emperor lowered his gaze, meeting his eyes. "We heard that in order to retrieve the Princess, you single-handedly pursued her all the way to the docks. Did you engage with those Ximo people?"

This had happened a month ago. Luo Qianyu had long known the Emperor would ask, so he was prepared to answer: "Indeed, Your Majesty. After rescuing that person, I feared further complications and did not prolong the fight."

"However, what Your Majesty may not know is that what the Ximo people abducted was not Her Highness the Princess, but my third sister from home. In my haste and anxiety, I rashly gave chase..."

Because the Young Marquis already knew that Luo Zhenchuan had truthfully reported the matter, and the Emperor was asking about things he hadn't disclosed himself, he could answer most of it. Even if it was half-truths, he could weave them together well, without even needing to involve Wen Yu, while also maintaining distance from the Princess.

"It seems your martial skills have improved. From whom did you learn?"

Luo Qianyu averted his gaze, deliberately avoiding Wen Yu's name, and silently pulled in a scapegoat: "In reply to Your Majesty, it was the son of Prince Yiyang, Guan Mingyang."

It wasn't wrong to say so. After learning from Wen Yu, he would go practice with Guan Mingyang. Even his archery skills were like that, several times nearly provoking the Young Prince to draw his sword in anger.

The Emperor chuckled lightly: "We almost forgot, you have quite a few disreputable friends."

The Young Marquis choked, forcing out a sentence: "Your Majesty flatters me."

The Emperor: "..."

The Ximo incident hadn't been blown up publicly, but the tributary state's motives had been exposed, and they had been dealt with privately. As for his third sister, no matter how her identity was concealed and not discovered, the only one who recognized Luo Zhiheng wasn't the Young Marquis was the mad Princess. But after all, the essence of this matter was trespassing into the palace. If pursued, it would be a capital offense.

The Old Marquis had reported truthfully, and the Emperor's choice not to pursue the matter was already a great act of grace.

The Young Marquis weighed his words carefully, "Your Majesty... has no intention of facilitating a marriage alliance between our dynasty's princess and the Ximo?"

The Emperor sneered coldly: "They wish."

"She will not leave the capital in this lifetime."

Luo Qianyu pressed his lips together slightly, considering his reply: "Yes. Even if there were intentions for a marriage alliance, it should wait until Her Highness is lucid and wishes to go herself before..."

"No. Even if she wished, even if she weren't mad." The Emperor spoke lazily, his slow, drawn-out voice as cold and sharp as a blade, "She still could not leave."

...

The Young Marquis silently swallowed.

If he hadn't read the original book and known the person the Emperor desired was Wen Yu, he would have thought this mad Emperor harbored some unspeakable, hidden obsession with his own sister.

"Luo Qianyu, what are you thinking?"

The Young Marquis's eyelashes fluttered slightly as he replied: "Your subject wasn't thinking anything."

Seeing the Emperor remain silent, fearing the other might take an interest and turn his teasing onto him, he followed the Emperor's words: "Her Highness the Princess is unwell. Matters of marriage alliances should naturally be considered carefully over time. Your Majesty plans strategically. The deeper meaning behind this will surely be understood by all officials. That the Ximo dared to brazenly demand a member of the imperial family is nothing but wishful thinking."

The Emperor's tone lifted slightly at the end, spreading out with a hint of a smile: "Oh? Does Our beloved subject actually know what We are thinking?"

The use of "my dear minister" here was playful, as the Young Marquis currently held no official post or rank.

The Young Marquis thought for a moment and cautiously continued: "The Western Desert covets Her Highness the Princess's noble status, merely craving the prestige of the imperial lineage to coerce trade concessions. But to Your Majesty, the Princess is a cherished pearl in the palm, your own flesh-and-blood younger sister. Someone you genuinely wish to protect—how could her worth be measured by status or used as a bargaining chip? How could those uncivilized Western Desert barbarians ever understand? Even if a marriage alliance were formed, they certainly would not treasure Her Highness."

Luo Qianyu quietly laid the flattery on thick, heaping praise upon His Majesty. Yet, after hearing this, the Emperor truly fell silent for a long moment.

It was unclear which part had caused it.

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward. Just as the Young Marquis began to fear he had said something wrong—after all, the Emperor's moods were notoriously fickle—he felt a light touch against his knee.

"Those two pieces of fox-fur kneepads—you're not wearing them today?" the Emperor asked.

Luo Qianyu hadn't expected the topic to shift to this. His face burned. Suppressing his irritation, he replied, "No, I'm not wearing them. The only pair I had—didn't Your Majesty confiscate them?"

The Emperor's voice was laced with amusement. "Oh? This sounds like resentment, my dear minister. Could it be you blame me for seizing your belongings?"

The Young Marquis gritted his teeth inwardly, cursing the damn Emperor in his heart, while outwardly maintaining a cheerful smile. "How could that be? Your Majesty jests. Everything under heaven belongs to Your Majesty. Not to mention a mere pair of kneepads—even I, your humble servant, am wholly Your Majesty's."