Chapter 73

Chapter 73

When the three returned to the inn, Xiao Yang had already gone to sleep, so they spoke in hushed voices in Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan's room.

"That old bastard Hu Shoulian will stick his nose into anything." Pei Dinglan sneered. "Like he's got a death wish."

Xie Zhiwei said, "The gu worm is a grave threat. And Hu Shoulian plans to hand it over to Luo Chonggao—there's gotta be some big scheme behind this. I think we should get the gu worm back."

Pei Dinglan agreed: "I'm with Zhiwei. How about Young Master Luo takes a trip?"

Luo Qiyan was of the same mind: "Alright, I'll go now."

"Hold on." Xie Zhiwei held Luo Qiyan back. "There's something I'd like to ask you, Young Master."

Luo Qiyan: "Young Master Xie, please speak."

Xie Zhiwei said, "Once Hu Shoulian finds out the gu worm is missing, it'll throw off their original plans. I'm wondering if you could use a similar-looking gu worm to swap out the one Hu Shoulian has?"

Pei Dinglan clapped softly: "Zhiwei's a real genius. This way we won't tip off the enemy, and we can still see what Luo Chonggao intends to do with the gu worm."

Xie Zhiwei looked at Luo Qiyan: "Young Master Luo, you think it'll work?"

Luo Qiyan nodded: "A lot of gu worms look alike. Only a Luqiren could tell them apart."

And that settled it. Luo Qiyan would sneak into Hu Shoulian's residence and pull a switcheroo.

While Luo Qiyan went to get the gu worm, Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan waited for him at the inn.

"You think he can pull it off?" Xie Zhiwei rested his chin on his hand. "That's Hu Shoulian's bedchamber, right under his nose."

"He can." Pei Dinglan reached over and gently ruffled Xie Zhiwei's hair—it was loose and easy to tousle. "That guy's just as skilled as I am, and with all those Luoqi tricks up his sleeve, he'll be fine."

Xie Zhiwei grunted in acknowledgment, then sighed: "What do you think Luo Chonggao wants the gu worm for?"

Pei Dinglan shook his head: "It's not like he's gonna use it to make wine."

Xie Zhiwei didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. Just as he was about to say something, the door gave a soft click.

They both turned to see Luo Qiyan back, holding a small wooden box in his hand—identical to the one they'd seen at Hu Shoulian's residence.

"All swapped out?" Xie Zhiwei's gaze fell on the wooden box.

Luo Qiyan nodded, set the box on the table, and pushed it forward: "This is the stolen gu worm."

Xie Zhiwei declined: "You hold onto it. I don't wanna look."

He didn't like bugs, and a dangerous gu worm like this—he wanted it as far from him as possible.

"Hu Shoulian didn't notice anything?" Pei Dinglan asked.

Luo Qiyan: "I used a little sleeping powder. He's out cold."

Xie Zhiwei rubbed his arms. He wouldn't dare mess with a Luqiren—they had too many tricks up their sleeves.

"The one you swapped in—does it look like this one?" Xie Zhiwei asked again. "Hu Shoulian won't notice it's been swapped?"

Luo Qiyan nodded: "They look the same. Only a Luqiren could tell the difference. And I put the replacement into a dormant state, just like this one. Even if Hu Shoulian opens the box to check, he won't be able to tell the difference."

Pei Dinglan's gaze swept over Luo Qiyan's face, then pulled back, his eyes full of calculation.

The room went quiet for a moment. Luo Qiyan felt a little awkward and was about to leave when Xie Zhiwei called out to him.

"Young Master Luo."

Luo Qiyan: "Young Master Xie, please speak."

"About the gu worm—anything you haven't told us?" Xie Zhiwei asked.

Luo Qiyan was puzzled: "What?"

Xie Zhiwei said slowly: "Whether it's the love gu or this gu worm that can control people, neither is something a regular person could get in Luoqi. I'm guessing you're pretty high up in Luoqi."

Luo Qiyan didn't deny it, but he didn't confirm it either—he just looked at Xie Zhiwei.

Xie Zhiwei: "So are you the Holy Sovereign of Luoqi, or the Holy Son?"

The candle flame flickered, casting a small dancing light in Luo Qiyan's eyes.

Luo Qiyan pulled his collar aside, showing a patch of skin. On it was a faint marking—something like a totem, or maybe some kind of script—shimmering silver in the candlelight.

"The Holy Son." Luo Qiyan said.

Pei Dinglan yanked Luo Qiyan's clothes back together: "Don't you know the rule? Don't look at what you shouldn't see."

Xie Zhiwei: "."

Luo Qiyan: "..."

It got a little awkward.

Luo Qiyan stated his identity: "I am the Holy Son of Luoqi, Luo Qiyan, sent to the Great Zhou on orders to find the missing gu worm."

Pei Dinglan casually pulled his hand back, the faint curve at the corner of his mouth unreadable—whether it was a smile or something else.

"His Holiness the Holy Son." Pei Dinglan drawled. "My respects."

He said "my respects," but there wasn't much respect in his tone.

Pei Dinglan was still worried Luo Qiyan might whisk Xiao Yang back to Luoqi.

Luo Qiyan, for his part, didn't seem to care. He straightened his collar, covering the silver marking, and looked at Xie Zhiwei: "I've been honest with you. Shouldn't Young Master Xie let me know who you really are?"

"Your Holiness the Holy Son." Xie Zhiwei rose and gave a formal bow. "I'm Xie Guan, Attendant Censor of the Great Zhou, appointed by His Majesty as Southwest Inspector. I have come to the southwest on His Majesty's orders to investigate a case."

"Pei Dinglan." Pei Dinglan said directly. "Marquis Jin'an of the Great Zhou, commanding the Right Guard Gate Guard."

Luo Qiyan's eyelashes trembled slightly, but his face showed little surprise—as if he'd already guessed as much.

Xie Zhiwei said, "The case I'm investigating will start with Hu Shoulian, and the gu worm stolen from Luoqi has fallen into his hands. I believe this is connected to my case. If possible, I'd like to ask Your Holiness the Holy Son to help uncover the mastermind behind it all—not just for the Great Zhou, but for Luoqi as well."

"So you were never here to do business from the start." Luo Qiyan said.

Xie Zhiwei nodded: "Correct."

Luo Qiyan was silent for a moment, then asked: "And the young master... what is he to you?"

Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan exchanged a glance. This question would have to be faced sooner or later. The male gu worm inside Luo Qiyan would sense the female gu worm inside Xiao Yang. Xiao Yang's identity could be hidden for a time, but not forever.

"He is the Prince of Jin." Xie Zhiwei spoke frankly. "The younger brother of the Son of Heaven."

Luo Qiyan's fingers curled slightly.

"I can help." Luo Qiyan said, whether for the mother gu's sake or Xiao Yang's, "As long as you need me, you can find me anytime."

Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan thanked him sincerely: "Thank you for your help, Holy Son."

"The gu worm has been retrieved. What are your plans next?" Luo Qiyan asked.

Xie Zhiwei said, "Wait."

Luo Qiyan: "Wait for what?"

"Wait for Luo Chonggao to come to Linyuan." Xie Zhiwei tapped the table twice, "Hu Shoulian is just a pawn; Luo Chonggao is the key player. What he wants the gu worm for, and whether there's a larger force behind him—all of that can only be figured out once he arrives."

Luo Qiyan: "What do you need me to do?"

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Xie Zhiwei's mouth: "The Holy Son has already helped a great deal. Great Zhou's customs are quite different from Luoqi's. Why not look around Great Zhou, Holy Son?"

"Sounds good." Luo Qiyan rose, "It's already late, and I shouldn't disturb you two any further. I'll take my leave."

Pei Dinglan watched him walk to the door, then spoke up: "Holy Son."

Luo Qiyan stopped and turned around: "Marquis Jin'an, what is it?"

"About Xiao Yang—" Pei Dinglan's tone was unusually free of his usual sharpness, "Don't say anything to him."

Luo Qiyan's eyes lingered for a moment, then he nodded gently and pushed the door open to leave.

After Luo Qiyan returned to his inn, Xie Zhiwei and Pei Dinglan took off their outer garments and lay down on the bed, though neither felt sleepy.

Pei Dinglan held Xie Zhiwei, gently patting his back: "Can't sleep?"

"I keep thinking about who's really behind Hu Shoulian and Luo Chonggao." Xie Zhiwei rested his head on Pei Dinglan's arm, fiddling with Pei Dinglan's hair.

Hu Shoulian hands the gu worm to Luo Chonggao, and who will Luo Chonggao hand it to next? Who's the person behind this trying to control with the gu worm?

A high-ranking minister, or...

The emperor on the dragon throne?

"You're overthinking things." Pei Dinglan's voice came from above, "You're too wound up. Don't worry."

"I'm really afraid the gu worm will end up in the Empress Dowager's hands." Xie Zhiwei murmured, "She might be crazy enough to do it."

"What would the Empress Dowager even want with a gu worm?" Pei Dinglan thought for a moment, then scoffed, "Control my brother with it? If she could control him, she'd have hauled the throne to Qingsi Hall and sat on it herself long ago, instead of bickering with him every day. Besides, my brother's a sly old fox—sharper than anyone. Who could control him? Before the gu worm even got within three feet of him, he'd probably have it steeping in wine."

Xie Zhiwei's lips twitched at Pei Dinglan's words, and even his anxiety faded a little.

"Steeping it in wine." Xie Zhiwei laughed, his shoulders shaking, "Why are you always so fixated on steeping things in wine? Last time you said Luo Chonggao wanted the gu worm to steep in wine, and now you say His Majesty wants it to steep in wine. What did the gu worm ever do to you?"

Pei Dinglan: "The most common way I've seen people deal with bugs is steeping them in wine."

When Xie Zhiwei finished laughing, he looked up at Pei Dinglan's silhouette in the dark. Though he couldn't see clearly, he felt Pei Dinglan's eyes on him must be gentle.

"Pei Sanlang." Xie Zhiwei called him.

Pei Dinglan: "Hmm?"

Xie Zhiwei snuggled deeper into Pei Dinglan's arms: "I love you."

Pei Dinglan tightened his arm around Xie Zhiwei's waist, pulling him closer, his chin resting on top of Xie Zhiwei's head, breathing steadily, warm breath ruffling Xie Zhiwei's hair.

"Zhiwei." Pei Dinglan drew out each word with a soft, trailing tone, "Do you know what you just said?"

Xie Zhiwei kept his face buried in Pei Dinglan's shoulder: "I know."

Pei Dinglan let out a laugh, the vibration in his chest traveling to Xie Zhiwei, making Xie Zhiwei's whole body tremble slightly.

"Then do you know what I'll do when you say that?" Pei Dinglan's tone was laced with danger.

At that, Xie Zhiwei gently tugged a strand of Pei Dinglan's hair: "What will you do?"

Pei Dinglan didn't answer, just eased Xie Zhiwei out of the crook of his shoulder, letting him rest on his arm, so they lay facing each other.

"Xie Zhiwei." Pei Dinglan called his full name, "Say it again."

Xie Zhiwei tried to shrink back under the covers, but Pei Dinglan pressed his shoulder down.

"Say it." Pei Dinglan was domineering.

"Pei Dinglan." Xie Zhiwei mimicked his way of calling the full name, "I love you."

Pei Dinglan's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Zhiwei." Pei Dinglan's body grew warm, "Can I stop being a gentleman?"

Xie Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat: "Then what do you want to be?"

Pei Dinglan tilted his head slightly and placed an extremely light, soft kiss on Xie Zhiwei's brow—like a feather brushing past, faint yet leaving a genuinely warm sensation.

Then from brow to nose bridge, moving downward, Xie Zhiwei closed his eyes but still trembled uncontrollably, his fingers unconsciously clutching the collar of Pei Dinglan's inner garment.

Pei Dinglan's lips paused at the tip of Xie Zhiwei's nose for a moment, then moved to the corner of his mouth, lingering there briefly, as if seeking permission.

"Hurry up." Xie Zhiwei urged, flustered and annoyed.

Pei Dinglan hesitated no longer and kissed him.

When their lips met, Xie Zhiwei felt as if his heart might leap out of his chest. Pei Dinglan's kissing skill had been honed to perfection—lips gently pressing and rubbing, unhurried, as if trying to stretch this moment into eternity.

Xie Zhiwei was kissed until he could barely breathe, and he pushed at Pei Dinglan's chest. Pei Dinglan pulled back slightly, leaving only a thread of space between their lips, their breaths intertwining, scorching hot.

"What's wrong?" Pei Dinglan smiled, "Not allowed to kiss?"

"You kiss too hard; I can't breathe." Xie Zhiwei said.

"This is nothing." Pei Dinglan's thumb brushed lightly over Xie Zhiwei's cheekbone, "There's more intense to come."

Xie Zhiwei's whole body flushed at those words, and he reached up to cover Pei Dinglan's mouth, but Pei Dinglan caught his wrist.

Pei Dinglan pressed Xie Zhiwei's hand against the pillow, interlacing their fingers, palm against palm.

"Zhiwei." Pei Dinglan called him again.

Xie Zhiwei: "Mm."

"Your hands are a little cold."

Before he could say anything more, Pei Dinglan lowered his head, brought Xie Zhiwei's hand to his lips, and kissed each finger one by one.

Xie Zhiwei: "!!!"

Not this again?!

This infuriating Pei Dinglan really knows exactly how to mess with him.

When Pei Dinglan finished kissing the last finger, he pressed Xie Zhiwei's hand against his own chest. Beneath the palm was a steady, powerful heartbeat—faster than usual.

"Feel that," Pei Dinglan said. "See how fast it's beating."

Xie Zhiwei, feeling dizzy, sensed the rhythm of Pei Dinglan's heartbeat, and his own started racing along with it, until he couldn't tell them apart.

"It's because of you," Pei Dinglan said with a hint of smugness. "The second you said you liked me, it started beating like this."

Xie Zhiwei lightly tapped Pei Dinglan's chest. "Then I won't say it at all."

"No way—you still have to say it." Pei Dinglan grabbed Xie Zhiwei's hand.

Xie Zhiwei: "Fine, this young master will reluctantly say I like you every day."

Pei Dinglan rubbed his cheek against Xie Zhiwei's. "Thank you, Zhiwei."