Chapter 126
Zhong Yao led the man to a side courtyard of his manor. He picked up a clean sweat towel and wiped his face, gently peeling off the human-skin mask covering it.
A refined, elegant face appeared—the face of his beloved disciple, Zhong’er.
The man looked around and asked, “Where is that child?”
Zhong Yao shook his head. “I didn’t officially recognize him yet.”
The man paused. “Why? Didn’t you want to bring him back with all your heart?”
Zhong Yao sighed. “Given my status, I can’t formally give him a legitimate identity. Now he is the disciple of Great Zhao’s Fourth Prince, Yuwen Min. If I acknowledge him now, wouldn’t that ruin his promising future? He has a family, his own people. I shouldn’t just appear and tell him some so-called truth. Perhaps when he grows older, I can tell him—it will be better then.”
The man stepped forward and gently touched his cheek. “I’m sorry, Zhong’er. It’s all my fault. If not for me, you wouldn’t have endured so many hardships. If not for me, Ah Yao would never have been lost.”
Zhong Yao shook his head. “What are you saying? If it weren’t for you taking me in, how could I have survived until now?”
The man smiled bitterly. “So, what are your plans now? Stay here, or come back with me to Yan Nan Village?”
Zhong Yao was silent for a moment, then said, “Of course I’ll stay here. I want to watch Ah Yao grow. Even if I can’t raise him personally, at least I want to see how he grows.”
The young master of the Lu family had treated him well. Now, as Prince An’s Wang Fei, he treated Ah Yao as his own son.
He provided books, martial training, and everything else—clothing, food, education—equal to the heir’s.
Zhong Yao, an illegitimate son with no status, considered it a blessing that his child had such a future.
He lived freely. Though he didn’t agree with some behavior of the wealthy children in the capital, he had a certain admiration for the young master of the Lu family.
If it weren’t for Ah Yao, he would have stayed in Yan Nan Village with his master, living a simple, carefree life.
He would have guarded his senior brother’s grave and lived quietly for a lifetime.
But since he had a child, he had to be responsible for him for life—at least until he reached adulthood, married, and had children of his own.
The man he called Master looked into his determined eyes and said, “Then I’ll stay here a few days and meet Ah Yao.”
Zhong Yao nodded. “Yes, Master. I’ll prepare the bed for you.”
It was clear that having his Master visit made Zhong Yao very happy.
Usually expressionless toward outsiders, his eyes now shone brightly at the sight of his Master.
While arranging the bedding, he asked, “Master, is Senior Brother really dead?”
The man shook his head. “Probably. If not, maybe one day we’ll find him. If he is dead, then the memorial we’ve raised these years gives him peace in the afterlife.”
Zhong Yao smiled. “He’s not the type to care about life and death. Senior Brother is in my heart, that’s enough.”
The middle-aged man’s eyes were filled with affection as he asked, “You really like your senior brother that much?”
Zhong Yao said, “Master already knows, doesn’t he? If I didn’t care for him, why would I have given birth to Ah Yao?”
The middle-aged man wanted to say something but ultimately stayed silent.
The capital was truly a den of wolves; he really shouldn’t have come back, and certainly shouldn’t stay here all the time.
But as for Ah Yao… he just couldn’t let go.
At Prince An’s residence, Xiao Liuzi wielded a heavy sword in his hands, swinging it with powerful, precise strokes.
Ah Chan and Ah Shu sat by the edge of the training ground, propping their chins on their hands as they watched. The heavy sword landed with a metallic clang, embedding itself half a foot into the ground.
Ah Chan and Ah Shu clapped enthusiastically in admiration. Ah Chan even ran forward to meet Xiao Liuzi while clapping.
Over the past six months, Xiao Liuzi had grown nearly a head taller.
He was stronger and sturdier, and his muscles had grown more capable.
He stepped forward and lifted Ah Chan up, saying, “Junior Brother, stay away from the training ground. What if you get hurt?”
Ah Chan grinned broadly and reached out to touch Xiao Liuzi’s face.
Though taller now, Xiao Liuzi was still slender. Swinging such a heavy sword was challenging for him.
But he had vowed to fully inherit his master’s teachings.
He studied both the literary and martial arts, not to achieve fame or serve the country, but simply to protect Ah Chan.
His foster mother, Ah Man, was called a loyal servant, and he, in turn, was just a servant of a servant—ultimately, a house slave for Ah Chan.
Now, because the young master of the Lu family took pity on him, he could even call the young prince “Junior Brother.”
The young master told him to rid himself of all those foul thoughts in his head, saying that in this world, everyone is a human being; where are the “slaves”?
But Xiao Liuzi had no grand ambitions. All he wanted was to be Ah Chan’s servant.
As long as he could protect him, that was his greatest wish in life.
Ah Chan smiled at Xiao Liuzi and said teasingly, “Brother…”
Xiao Liuzi asked seriously, “Hmm? Do you want some milk, or a snack?”
Ah Chan said, “Giddy up! Giddy up! Giddy up!”
Xiao Liuzi looked a little troubled. “Uh… Junior Brother wants to ride the horse?”
Ah Chan nodded and laughed, “Daddy!! Giddy up!!”
Xiao Liuzi looked even more troubled. “Master and Shi Die have gone to the Western Frontier; they can’t take you riding. How about Senior Brother take you instead?”
Ah Chan nodded, so Xiao Liuzi lifted him high and placed him on his shoulders.
Luckily, Xiao Liuzi was trained in martial arts; otherwise, this solid little iron block would have crushed the barely fifty-pound boy.
Xiao Liuzi was gentle yet resilient. Having grown up in harsh conditions, he knew how to cherish what he had.
Ah Chan held the small wooden windmill that Ah Shu had made for him, riding on Xiao Liuzi’s shoulders, happily spinning around as Xiao Liuzi moved, cheering all the while.
Children’s happiness was always simple; for Ah Chan, this alone could keep him joyful all day.
Xiao Liuzi treated him like a human punching bag, practicing lightness skills while moving and turning.
Ah Shu followed behind, giggling foolishly. The laughter of the three echoed through the courtyard of Prince An’s residence.
In the Western Frontier, Lu Hanzhi finally received a clear reply from the Six Kingdom Alliance.
He planned to disguise himself as Yuwen Min’s attendant and accompany him to the negotiations.
Yuwen Min immediately said, “No. You must stay in the main camp.”
Lu Hanzhi’s presence in the Western Frontier was a secret. No outsiders could be allowed to know.
Yuwen Min ensured that all news of Lu Hanzhi’s arrival in the military camp was tightly controlled.
His personal guards and the Rong family troops would naturally keep silent. The only variable was Zack.
But Zack had already ingested the contaminated mud and sewage Lu Hanzhi had used, and had not yet taken the antidote—so he was safe for now.
Yuwen Min knew Lu Hanzhi wanted to go to protect them, but with a pregnancy involved, tomorrow’s battle would be too dangerous for him.
He had already traveled thousands of miles to the Western Frontier; he could not allow Lu Hanzhi to risk himself further.
But Lu Hanzhi was persistent. He insisted on going to the negotiation. Otherwise, what was the point of coming here at all?
Lu Hanzhi said, “If I waste a trip, it’s minor. But if my absence allows them to find a loophole, leaving only me in the camp, do you think I could handle them? Ah Min, Second Brother, I’m just a Xiao Langjun! My beauty is unmatched!”
Lu Xuzhi: …
Yuwen Min: …
Lu Hanzhi continued, “What if we lose the battle? If they capture me, have you thought about what they could do to me?”
Yuwen Min twitched at the corner of his mouth. “We won’t lose.”
Lu Hanzhi said, “What if someone uses poisons or mind attacks or sorcery? These are all unknowns! I must go—only I can defend against their mental attacks!”
He could be sure that Su Wan’ning had not followed them, but he could not guarantee there were no allies of hers here.
Yuwen Min wanted to say that no poison or mental attack could affect him, and nothing could defeat his deep feelings for Lu Hanzhi.
But he knew that whatever he said, Lu Hanzhi would still go.
And he knew that whatever danger he faced, Lu Hanzhi would protect him.
If that was the case, then he had to let him go.
Yuwen Min said, “Then stay right behind me, wear your mithril armor, and don’t leave my side.”
Lu Hanzhi said, “Don’t worry, don’t worry. I won’t leave your side. You protect me, okay?”
Yuwen Min had no choice but to send a messenger back, confirming that he would bring thirteen people to the negotiation.
After several confirmations, the location was set at the junction of three kingdoms.
There was an inn there, temporarily converted for military use.
The innkeeper was a strikingly beautiful woman, with a team of hired thugs under her command.
As soon as Lu Hanzhi entered the inn, he sensed that it was no ordinary place.
A woman had set up an inn at the junction of three kingdoms.
Although many merchants passed through, in such a remote location, it would have been impossible to run it without real skill.
The lead envoy handed the innkeeper a gold ingot; the inn was effectively booked for the day.
Lu Hanzhi rode a white horse, following behind Yuwen Min and Lu Xuzhi.
A full company of elite soldiers came with them, all lying in ambush around the area.
When Lu Hanzhi dismounted, Yuwen Min steadied him and whispered in his ear, “There are hidden troops around the inn.”
Lu Hanzhi widened his eyes. “How did you notice?”
Yuwen Min replied, “A martial artist’s instinct.”
Lu Hanzhi nodded thoughtfully. If it could be detected, that meant the ambush was in plain sight and not truly dangerous.
The three of them entered the inn, and immediately saw the envoys of the five kingdoms lined up. A young man was tied to the ground, glaring at the five envoys with a mixture of shame and anger.
Lu Hanzhi observed from behind. That young man on the ground must be the king of the Western Fan Kingdom.
Since they had decided to betray their own ally, they would surely stage everything meticulously, giving Great Zhao a “perfect” scene.
Yuwen Min spoke little. Someone brought him a chair, and he sat down at the table.
Similarly, Lu Xuzhi was invited to a seat. The five envoys of the Western Alliance bowed politely to them.
Yuwen Min and Lu Xuzhi returned the bow and then took their seats.
Leading the group was the special envoy of the Qiuci Kingdom. He rose and smiled politely at Yuwen Min and Lu Xuzhi. “Respected envoys of Great Zhao, since we have decided to sit down and negotiate, let us set aside past grievances. Why don’t we first enjoy a drink together? I have instructed our beautiful innkeeper Miss Meimei, to prepare roasted whole lamb and fine wine. Please, enjoy the delicacies we have carefully prepared.”
After saying this, he clapped his hands, and music with exotic melodies filled the room.
Several beautiful women from the Western Regions stepped to the rhythm, carrying trays of sumptuous food.
A roasted whole lamb was brought in, led by a strikingly elegant woman.
That leading woman was the innkeeper, named Zhangsun Meimei.
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