Jiang Huaichu traveled through the secret passage of the Miluo Manor, which led directly to the old master’s residence in the back courtyard. It was the core of Miluo Manor and could be reached without anyone noticing or encountering a single soul.
…
At the old master’s residence, the elder had just returned from gathering herbs, muddy from the journey. He was about to change clothes before seeing his great-grandson, when suddenly, a floorboard shifted beneath his feet.
He squatted down and lifted it, revealing Jiang Huaichu. Instantly, he grinned like a blooming chrysanthemum: “Chuchu, what brings you here on your own!”
He quickly reached down to pull Jiang Huaichu up. “Slowly now! Be careful with that precious great-great-grandchild!”
His eyes practically burned holes in Jiang Huaichu’s belly, itching to reach out and touch it. Jiang Huaichu’s face stiffened—that was exactly why he didn’t want to see the old master.
“No no no, don’t be upset! Just because I’m thrilled about the baby doesn’t mean I don’t care about you! You’re always number one!”
Jiang Huaichu: “…” He really hadn’t thought that much.
“Sit, sit, sit!”
The old master circled around Jiang Huaichu for a while, then suddenly stopped. “Wait, what was I doing again?”
He paused for quite a bit, then smacked his forehead: “Oh right! My great-grandson is here.”
Jiang Huaichu watched that forehead-smacking gesture—so similar to Xiao Yun’s—and couldn’t help thinking, the same family.
Jiang Huaichu asked, “Why is he here to see you?”
“No idea,” the old master replied gruffly. “That brat never shows up without a reason—it’s definitely nothing good.”
He gave Jiang Huaichu a side-eye, clearly suspecting he already knew something, and then patted his own chest with pride: “But don’t worry. I may be an old rascal, but I’m not unreasonable. A promise is a promise. What we agreed on still stands.”
Jiang Huaichu replied gently, “I’m worried he might do something to Nanruo. Can I listen in from the back?”
“Of course!” The old master beamed, eyes locked shamelessly on Jiang Huaichu’s belly, clearly barely restraining the urge to touch it. “Didn’t I already say? You call the shots here! I already gave you the military token, didn’t I? You can’t say I’m biased! I’ve got nothing to do with him anymore! You point east, and I’ll never go west—so, can I touch the little one now?”
“…” Jiang Huaichu’s face flushed red, turning away, but he let the old master fumble over his stomach like a farmer inspecting a watermelon, grinning with the exact same foolish smile as Xiao Yun.
…
The reception hall for meeting Xiao Yun was a lavish, ornate place—gilded railings, opulent décor. The maids were stunning, the attendants handsome.
Jiang Huaichu sat in the rear hall, separated by a single wall, listening with perfect clarity as Xiao Yun and the old master chatted in the front hall.
The rascal and the old rascal exchanged banter and dirty jokes, laughter echoing through the space. Despite calling him a good-for-nothing, the old master clearly doted on him.
Finally, the real topic emerged: “What brings you to Miluo?”
The servants were dismissed. Only the two of them remained. Xiao Yun lifted his wine cup and toasted the old master before speaking, unhurried: “I came to ask Great-Grandfather for help in finding someone.”
Jiang Huaichu’s hand froze mid-sip. Taifei next to him looked at him in stunned silence.
Xiao Yun sat with a casual flair, the hem of his robe parted, exuding the untouchable authority of the Emperor of Great Ning—arrogant, domineering, as if the world were beneath him.
The old master, thoroughly briefed by Jiang Huaichu beforehand, feigned confusion flawlessly:
“Looking for someone? You, with all your resources, can’t find someone on your own? Why drag this old man into it?”
Xiao Yun said: “I’m looking for Xie Caiqing.”
In the room behind the wall, Taifei gasped in shock. Jiang Huaichu’s face turned cold.
“Xie Caiqing?” The old master acted like he’d never heard the name.
“Yes. ‘Xie’ from the noble Xie clan, ‘Cai’ as in ‘gifted beyond measure’, and ‘Qing’ as in ‘beloved beauty’. From Nanruo.”
It was the first time Jiang Huaichu had heard Xiao Yun describe his other name like that. He held the teacup in silence, expression unreadable.
“Quite the name,” the old master snickered. “If you’ve come all the way to me, this person must be something special. A beautiful young lady?”
“No, a man,” Xiao Yun said, pausing before adding with a smirk, “but more beautiful than any woman.”
Jiang Huaichu’s face finally showed a trace of angry embarrassment.
Taifei glanced teasingly at the little Wangye.
And he says he didn’t come for the Wangye.
How romantic.
“What is he to you? Why are you looking for him?” the old master asked, very curious.
Jiang Huaichu lowered his eyes.
Xiao Yun coughed once, then chuckled: “There’s no one else here, so I won’t keep secrets from you, Great-Grandfather. Xie Caiqing is stunning beyond compare. I once shared several passionate nights with him. Ever since tasting that sweetness, I’ve been unable to forget him. We parted suddenly, and I’ve missed him dearly. I just want to find him again… for some pleasure and delight.”
Jiang Huaichu suddenly clenched the teacup. Taifei, startled, snatched it from his hand, fearing he might shatter it in a fit of rage and cut himself.
The old master let out an awkward cough, utterly embarrassed, wondering how the “top beam” wasn’t crooked, yet how did Xiao Yun end up so skewed?
Only a scoundrel like his great-grandson could do such things.
And now Chu Chu was pregnant.
Feigning shock, the old master joked with Xiao Yun a bit longer, then looked at him meaningfully and casually asked, “So what is he to you?”
“A bed partner I’m deeply fond of, no less,” Xiao Yun said with a seemingly melancholy sigh, “Once you’ve tasted the sea, no other waters will do. A single day apart, and I can’t sleep alone. So please, great-grandfather, help Yun Er out.”
Taifei clutched Jiang Huaichu’s arm and whispered, “Calm down, calm down.”
Jiang Huaichu’s face was icy. “I’m not angry.”
Taifei was at a loss for words. Compared to the elder’s ability to provoke, the younger one’s antics were truly nothing.
The old master coughed for a while, thinking to himself that this scoundrel didn’t even treasure Chu Chu. He mustn’t let slip anything that could cause trouble for Chu Chu.
So he said, “You can’t have come all the way to Nanruo just for a bed partner, right?”
Xiao Yun smiled lazily. “Great-grandfather knows me well. Finding him is just a bonus—two birds with one stone. The real reason I’m here is to wage war on Nanruo.”
Taifei was both frightened and flustered, nervously glancing at the pale-faced young Wangye beside her, terrified he might faint again.
Jiang Huaichu rubbed his belly.
As if sensing how obnoxious its father was, the little one inside, afraid it might be blamed and end up suffering the consequences at the hands of the other father or an uncle, obediently quieted down—no movement at all.
Jiang Huaichu’s face shifted from green to black.
He wanted Xiao Yun’s child, but it had nothing to do with Xiao Yun anymore. He had already taken everything he needed.
Now, the vast intelligence network of the Miluo Manor was under his command. The old master had given him the military seal as well. Combined, Miluo and Nanruo had over half a million troops. Why should he fear Xiao Yun, who had neither the advantage of timing, terrain, nor popular support?
Besides, he was defending a city—much easier than attacking. Nanruo had only one gate. With 500,000 troops guarding it, the city was impregnable. Even if Xiao Yun brought a million troops, it would take months to break through. And with such a threat, other nations wouldn’t just sit by idly.
From Northern Ning to Nanruo was several thousand li. Transporting grain was a huge issue, and it took time for troops to march. If Xiao Yun wanted to attack, he’d better be ready to suffer heavy losses himself.
And that’s assuming he could even get there. Right now, he had only a few thousand cavalry. Whether he could even last long was in question. He might end up ambushed by other nations and have to flee in disgrace.
In the outer hall, the old master pretended to panic. “Why attack Nanruo all of a sudden? Weren’t things peaceful before? Nanruo is reclusive, militarily weak, and no threat to you…”
Xiao Yun replied lazily, “No need to beat around the bush. I’m not here to borrow troops—I know you wouldn’t lend them.”
The old manor lord gave an awkward chuckle.
Xiao Yun toyed with his wine cup and said indifferently, “Though you’re my great-grandfather, I won’t ask you to help me attack Nanruo. I just want you to remain neutral as before. Nanruo has 200,000 troops. Whether I win or lose, you’ll have done all you could for them. No guilt, and the people of Great Ning won’t accuse you of betrayal.”
The old master wiped his sweat. “… You sure are thoughtful on my behalf.”
“You only need to do two things: help me find Xie Caiqing and let me stay here for half a month. In Nanruo, you’re the only one I trust. If you do me this small favor,” Xiao Yun smiled meaningfully, “the ancestors of Great Ning will surely understand.”
“Oh, just those two small things…”
“So, will great-grandfather agree?”
The old master burst into laughter. “… Come, come, let’s drink!”
Xiao Yun laughed along and drank heartily with him, staggering back late at night, tipsy and grinning, pointing at Xie Zhe, “I’m gonna… gonna find out where Xie Caiqing is real soon.”
And then he passed out.
The next morning, Xiao Yun woke to violent jolts. He rubbed his eyes, turned over, and found himself face-to-face with the stony-faced Xie Zhe. He pressed a hand to his aching temples. “…Where am I?”
Xie Zhe stared at him, full of grievance.
Xiao Yun looked confused. “What’s wrong?”
Xie Zhe pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve and slapped it onto Xiao Yun’s loose collar with great offense.
Xiao Yun, head splitting, didn’t react right away. He grabbed the paper absentmindedly, glanced at it—and his dazed expression froze. His eyes widened, his features contorted, and after a few seconds he bolted upright, almost swearing out loud.
On the paper were just three massive, arrogant characters: “Deported From Country.”
“F**k! Where the h*ll am I?!”
Xiao Yun’s voice boomed like thunder.
Xie Zhe expressionlessly lifted the curtain. They had already left Miluo Mountain and were approaching the border of Nanruo.
Outside, the sounds of troops marching filled the air. The old master’s so-called “unavailable” private cavalry—hundreds, even thousands—were now “escorting” them out of Nanruo in an impressively grand convoy. Locals gathered to watch. It was lunchtime, and the people, eerily silent and staring at their carriage like it was cursed, looked ready to pelt them with eggs and vegetable leaves.
“How could this happen?!” Xiao Yun wiped his face, his stubble already sprouting after a night’s blackout. He looked utterly baffled.
Xie Zhe, increasingly aggrieved, said, “Your servant would also like to ask, why would they treat me this way—naked, thrown out in the middle of the night.”
“…”
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