Chapter 83
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Chu Lishu woke up to find himself not in the medical hall they had initially arrived at. Immediately alarmed, he observed his surroundings, searching for a familiar figure but found no sign of Lin Qingyang.
“Master!”
The disguised duo of Lu Yi and Lu Shi entered promptly and knelt before Chu Lishu when they heard the movement.
“Where’s Lin Qingyang?” Chu Lishu urgently inquired.
Welu hurriedly responded, “Master, Young Master Lin is fine. The physician has stitched up his wound, and he is currently recuperating in the medical hall. You can visit him shortly. We are currently in an inn across from the medicine shop. Master, please forgive us, considering your condition… I privately deemed it inappropriate to let an unfamiliar physician examine you, so I brought you out. I and Lu Shi took turns channeling internal energy to you, supplemented with medicinal herbs. Your current physical condition is stable, but… you have no internal energy left. I…”
Without waiting for Lu Yi to finish, Chu Lishu had already rushed out to the medical hall across the street. Lu Yi and Lu Shi quickly followed.
As the physician opened the door, he saw the person who seemed on the brink of death the night before returning.
“Sigh, what’s the matter with you, this patient? You…”
“Where is he?”
The physician was intimidated by the trio’s aggressive demeanor and quickly pointed to the backyard.
Chu Lishu rushed over, and in a room at the back, he found Lin Qingyang.
At this moment, Lin Qingyang lay quietly on the bed, his face still pale but breathing steadily, covered by a blanket.
Chu Lishu approached, almost holding his breath. He gently lifted the blanket and saw Lin Qingyang’s upper body naked. White linen bandages were wrapped around his abdomen. There were faint traces of red blood seeping from the wound.
By now, the physician had been brought over by Lu Yi and Lu Shi.
The doctor, who had received a substantial amount of money from Lu Yi, quickly explained Lin Qingyang’s condition in detail to Chu Lishu.
Currently, Lin Qingyang had suffered from excessive blood loss, depleted vital energy, and the effects of medication. He would be in a temporary state of unconsciousness for a while but would wake up after some time.
The physician also kindly inquired if Chu Lishu needed medical attention, which was declined.
After the physician left and closed the door, Lu Yi and Lu Shi once again knelt before Chu Lishu.
Lu Yi, the leader of the Ten Shadow Wolves, was twenty-four years old, mature, stable, and displayed intricate thinking. His actions were most favored by Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu said, “You did the right thing. Indeed, my body should not be diagnosed by just any physician. The state of having no internal energy is my normal condition.”
If it weren’t for Lu Yi, the medical hall would have been cleared by now.
“Master, I deserve death! I failed to recognize you and even harmed you.” Lu Yi directly kowtowed.
Lu Shi, frightened, also banged his head on the ground, creating a loud thud, as if wishing to make a hole in the floor.
“Master, please give me death. I was the one who stabbed you. If it weren’t for Young Master Lin blocking the sword for you, I’m afraid…” Lu Shi, being younger, was only sixteen now. At the end of the great battle three years ago, he was just thirteen. He had always been the youngest and most favored among the Ten Shadow Wolves, especially since his master, Yuan Ran, treated his subordinates generously, treating him like a younger brother. Facing the mistake he made this time, Lu Shi truly regretted it deeply.
Even Lu Yi, who cared for him the most, dared not plead for Lu Shi at this moment.
Chu Lishu, by the bedside, remained silent. The air pressure in the room was so low that it was intimidating. Neither Lu Yi nor Lu Shi dared to raise their heads, feeling the surroundings getting colder.
In the past, for members of the Shadow Wolves who committed such mistakes, capital punishment was avoidable, but escaping a living punishment was difficult. They were the dead soldiers and secret guards, and this was expected.
But now, Chu Lishu needed their strength. He could only close his eyes, blocking the image of Lin Qingyang’s injury from his mind, suppressing the surging anger and fear.
He reached out and gently touched Lin Qingyang’s cheek. The warm feeling brought him back to his senses.
“Those who don’t know are not guilty. You were also hiding your whereabouts,” Chu Lishu naturally understood the reasons behind their assassination attempt. He only blamed himself for not confirming their identities earlier.
“Thank you, Master!”
Lu Yi and Lu Shi’s voices were hoarse as they knelt on the ground, kowtowing.
Soon, both sides exchanged information about the past three years.
During the Great War, the Shadow Wolves had always guarded Chu Lishu, but their location was exposed, leading to an ambush. Even formidable experts couldn’t easily escape from the traps and mechanisms.
In the hellish slaughter, the members of the Ten Shadow Wolves fell one by one. Lu Yi and Lu Shi were separated, severely injured, and eventually fell into a coma. They were buried under a large number of corpses, escaping the subsequent cleanup by the army. At that time, Chu Lishu had already taken medicine, and amidst the chaos, he was mistaken for a slave and taken away, escaping the pursuit.
Later, someone had been constantly searching for their traces at the border, but the newcomers were hostile. Anyone suspected would be assassinated, so they knew they had to hide.
Chu Lishu had been hiding for three years, and Lu Yi and Lu Shi had been searching for three years.
Finally, the master and servants were reunited.
“Master, it’s unfortunate that you have to use this identity. Master, whatever orders you have, just say it, and we will help you regain control of this world,” Lu Yi spoke.
Lu Shi, in a hurry, said, “Master, why not let the boss and me infiltrate the palace directly and kill the emperor?”
“The palace is full of formidable experts. If you go, it’s suicide. Moreover, it will alert the enemy. Besides, those forces are deeply rooted. Killing one emperor won’t solve anything. What I want is for all those who harmed me to pay the price. I want the souls of those who have experienced bloodshed in the war to find peace,” Chu Lishu said indifferently, his gaze fixed on Lin Qingyang’s face.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yi and Lu Shi trembled with excitement, vividly recalling the tragic situation from years ago. They declared in unison, “We swear to follow your orders to the death!”
“Master, is this Young Master Lin, whom you’ve subdued, now your subordinate?” Lu Yi had long noticed their master’s unusual attention to Lin Qingyang. Apart from the late emperor and the late empress, there had never been anyone that their master cared about so much.
But this man was supposed to be just a fake cousin with a false identity, someone to be used for connections.
“No, he isn’t,” Chu Lishu said calmly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. “He doesn’t know my true identity.”
“He’s not even aware of the master’s true identity, yet he’s so protective. It seems he’s a good person, truly cherishing the bond between siblings and displaying the demeanor of an older brother,” Lu Shi instinctively praised, attempting to compensate for his earlier mistake.
“Brotherly affection?” Chu Lishu suddenly remarked.
Sensing the disapproval in his tone, Lu Shi quickly added, “Master is the Dragon’s son. Naturally, this person doesn’t deserve to be called the master’s brother. It’s just…”
“He doesn’t consider me a brother; he is…” Chu Lishu trailed off, shaking his head. “Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”
Lu Yi and Lu Shi exchanged puzzled glances.
Afterward, Chu Lishu instructed Lu Shi to disguise himself as a servant, go to the imperial tomb, and deliver a message stating that someone from their residence would come to pick them up. This way, they could leave in advance, avoiding any sudden disappearances that might attract unnecessary attention.
Lu Shi had left the capital at the age of thirteen and was now sixteen. His appearance had changed significantly, and with a bit of disguise, even those who had seen the Shadow Wolves might not recognize him.
Lu Shi promptly carried out the orders, while Chu Lishu instructed Lu Yi to keep a vigilant watch on the surroundings. Everything from the previous night had been too hurried, and they needed to ensure they hadn’t left any traces that could be tracked.
Chu Lishu remained by Lin Qingyang’s side, watching the slight furrow of his brows. Thoughts of what Lu Shi had said echoed in his mind.
What kind of relationship would make someone willingly sacrifice their own life for another? The answer seemed to have been laid out before him.
Had he misunderstood earlier? Was Lin Qingyang not infatuated with someone else?
Did Lin Qingyang still prefer him over anyone else?
Chu Lishu pondered these questions until Lin Qingyang slowly woke up, but Chu Lishu was still lost in thought.
Now Lin Qingyang’s mind was filled with only one word: “toolman.”
How pathetic.
Looking weakly to the side, he saw Chu Lishu immediately approaching. “Awake? How are you feeling? Is there any discomfort?”
Lin Qingyang stared at Chu Lishu for a while, his expression truly one of deep grievance.
However, Chu Lishu thought he was in pain and spoke gently, “Still hurting, huh?”
Seeing Chu Lishu’s caring attitude, Lin Qingyang couldn’t summon the energy to express his frustration.
Well, well, the mission is completed anyway. He should thank the male lead for helping to save his life.
“I’m fine… don’t worry about me,” Lin Qingyang said hoarsely.
Facing the awakened Lin Qingyang, Chu Lishu was a bit nervous for a moment. His eyes flickered, and in the end, he spoke seriously, “Why… did you risk your safety to save me? You knew there was a sword coming, yet you still rushed over. What if the opponent had missed, and you would have died?”
“What else could I do? Watch you die?” Although Lin Qingyang didn’t know what psychological process he had gone through at that moment, since he had done it, he was going to make full use of the lifesaver role.
“What if it were someone else? Would you still do the same?” Chu Lishu suddenly asked.
“Of course not. It depends on the situation and the person,” Lin Qingyang replied. He wasn’t foolish; he valued his life.
“Depends on the person… What about Xu Wenze and Pei Jin?” Chu Lishu whispered.
Lin Qingyang choked for a moment. Why bring up these two again? Did the male lead still suspect him of liking them? How fickle did he seem in the eyes of the male lead? Was his unrequited love character breaking down?
Seeing Lin Qingyang wide-eyed without an answer, Chu Lishu felt impatience rising in him. He almost blurted out a question, demanding to know if Lin Qingyang liked him or not.
However, as the words reached his lips, they turned into, “Don’t you like both of them? Especially Pei Jin. He even managed to turn hostility into friendship, and he kindly warned you to beware of me. It seems your intention to win him over is quite obvious.”
Lin Qingyang immediately prepared himself for the upcoming challenge. He felt that this was a crucial moment to clear the aftermath of the previous incident. Whether he could reattach himself to the male lead’s thigh, the success or failure hinged on this moment. He had to demonstrate his loyalty and maintain the unrequited love character.
Lin Qingyang was ready to swear on his life, “Cousin, I swear with my life! I really don’t like them at all. Not even a bit! Xu Wenze is a thing of the past, I won’t bring it up. Now, I have an open and honest relationship with him, purely as friends. But with Pei Jin, we really have no connection. At most, we have some interactions, basically maintaining a live-and-let-live attitude!”
Although Chu Lishu wanted to ask about the issue of lying in his heart, he was afraid of hearing Lin Qingyang weave a story to smooth things over. So, he chose to give up on the inquiry and casually said, “In that case, cousin, it’s better not to get too close to Pei Jin in the future. After all, his stance behind the scenes may not necessarily align with your future stance. Choosing sides in advance is a risky business. Have you forgotten why Pei Jin targeted you before? It was because he suspected you had chosen the Fourth Prince.”
Feeling enlightened, Lin Qingyang suddenly understood the reason behind the male lead’s recent behavior. Although Lin Qingyang was confident that he would side with the male lead, the male lead didn’t know that! In the eyes of the male lead, liking someone equated to loyalty. If Lin Qingyang developed feelings for someone else, it would be seen as switching allegiances – betrayal.
The male lead was a straight person, fundamentally not caring whether Lin Qingyang truly harbored a secret crush, but rather about the loyalty concealed behind that unrequited love. Worried that showing friendliness to Pei Jin would lead to suspicion of allegiance to the Third Prince, that’s why the male lead had been distant recently.
It must be the case. Therefore, now was the time to express loyalty, even though Lin Qingyang couldn’t reveal the real reason.
“Cousin, you’re overthinking. I’ve actually considered the issue of choosing sides. Since we’ve come to this point in our conversation today, I won’t hide anything to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. I know I’m not very clever, but I know who to trust. So, I’ve long decided that whoever you choose, I’ll choose. I won’t side with anyone else; I’ll only stand by you!”
Male lead, see, I’m your most loyal little brother. Of course, I’m the kind of loyal little brother who doesn’t want to be sacrificed for the greater good. So, consider taking me in. I don’t want to be a tool.
Indeed, Lin Qingyang’s words had a remarkable impact, freezing the expression on Chu Lishu’s face.
“Stand by me? You choose whoever I choose? Do you truly understand the intricacies of choosing sides? This is not only about your future prospects but could also involve life and death.” Chu Lishu spoke slowly.
Lin Qingyang patted his abdominal wound, indicating that life and death meant nothing to him. However, Chu Lishu grabbed his wrist, preventing him from being reckless.
Looking at Chu Lishu’s changing expression, Lin Qingyang smiled and said, “Well, I can’t choose on my own. I don’t trust whoever I choose. Should I trust Lin Qingxu or father? Not everyone has the privilege to be as self-centered as Yue Chen and Huo Luo. Since I’m entering this torrent, I naturally want to choose to be with someone I trust, to be like grasshoppers on the same rope with you.”
Chu Lishu fell into silence, perhaps stunned by Lin Qingyang’s sudden display of loyalty.
Lin Qingyang grabbed Chu Lishu’s hand in return and said earnestly, “Outsiders are still outsiders. Regardless of how I interact with Xu Wenze or Pei Jin, it’s not as strong a bond as what we have. I know you have great wisdom and ideals. I don’t want to overthink this. So, I’m essentially entrusting my life and future to you. Whether it’s prosperity or a shroud, it’s up to you. In the future, whoever you say to stand with, I’ll stand with.”
Chu Lishu was once again shocked by Lin Qingyang’s unreserved expression. If one were to be rational, Lin Qingyang’s straightforward expression seemed like that of a fool in Chu Lishu’s eyes. However, it was precisely this foolish statement that made his heart palpitate.
Did Lin Qingyang really believe in a cousin who was living in his house? Was he going crazy, or was it me?
Speaking of it, how could one convince others that there was no other emotional interference in his choices?
How much did he really like himself?
Could there be someone who genuinely liked another person to such a blind extent?
Thinking about it, a small flame seemed to ignite in Chu Lishu’s heart. At the same time, he felt fortunate that this fool now liked him, at least he wouldn’t deceive, use, or harm Lin Qingyang.
So naive and easily swayed by emotions, better keep an eye on him in the future. Don’t let him develop feelings for someone else, so as not to be devoured to the bone. As for… Chu Lishu instinctively refused to contemplate Lin Qingyang’s future.
He only knew that since Lin Qingyang had decided to be with him, he would protect Lin Qingyang as family, as a younger brother. Moreover, Lin Qingyang would be his only family. Wasn’t this enough to repay Lin Qingyang’s friendship?
Chu Lishu suddenly found it amusing. He had doubted Lin Qingyang before, but now that Lin Qingyang had made up his mind to follow him, even if he had his own little secrets, so what? It’s not like he wanted to harm him. Chu Lishu could learn to tolerate these little secrets.
As long as Lin Qingyang was here, physically and emotionally, that was enough.
Lin Qingyang had placed all his bets on Chu Lishu, and naturally, Chu Lishu wouldn’t let him lose. Lin Qingyang wanted wealth and prosperity, and when things succeeded, Chu Lishu would make Lin Qingyang the most honored person in the Great Zhou Dynasty. This was the deserved reward for Lin Qingyang.
So… Chu Lishu stubbornly thought: Keep liking me, even if I can’t respond to that kind of affection from a man, don’t like anyone else, just like me. I will give you everything you want.
Chu Lishu couldn’t help but admit that he enjoyed the feeling of being liked by Lin Qingyang, and he couldn’t tolerate Lin Qingyang sharing that affection with others.
“I’ve said so much, and you haven’t expressed anything?” Lin Qingyang, seeing the unpredictable changes in Chu Lishu’s expression, asked with some reluctance.
Chu Lishu spoke, but his voice abruptly became hoarse, and his deep eyes stared at Lin Qingyang.
“You trust people too easily. I don’t have such great abilities, but… I’ll definitely not let you end up wrapped in a burial shroud.”
Lin Qingyang smiled, “I trust you.”
Chu Lishu looked somewhat absent-mindedly at Lin Qingyang, feeling that something uncertain was gradually growing in his heart. When he saw Lin Qingyang laughing and causing pain to his abdominal wound, Chu Lishu sighed with some helplessness, “You’re laughing even though you’ve got a hole in your body?”
“Well… of course, I have a feeling that we’ve truly reconciled. Isn’t that enough reason for me to laugh? I really can’t stand when you give me the silent treatment,” Lin Qingyang said.
Chu Lishu reached out and rubbed Lin Qingyang’s head. All the suspicions in his heart had been buried in the joy of being liked, trusted, and relied upon. His eyes were now filled with undisguised indulgence. “Remember, as long as you fulfill what you said before, be my companion like a grasshopper on the same string, and I won’t give you the silent treatment.”
Lin Qingyang immediately blinked excitedly, the first step of clinging to the thigh successful! He quickly took advantage of the situation and said, “Can you help me enter the palace as a study companion?”
Chu Lishu was about to shake his head and refuse when Lin Qingyang, supporting his abdomen, suddenly cried out in pain, “Well, it seems like someone doesn’t care about the debt of saving a life.”
Even though he knew it was an act, Chu Lishu still hesitated.
“I really have your best interests at heart. Don’t make it difficult for me. Can’t it be something else? Besides this, what else do you want? I can promise you anything…” Chu Lishu said, but suddenly he paused, and an awkward daydream crossed his mind. How could he casually make such a promise? What if there were unreasonable requests… His face became flushed.
Lin Qingyang firmly stated, “I want to enter the palace.”
Chu Lishu: “…I’ll consider it.”
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FINALLY MY PARENTS HAVE MADE UP NO MORE LQ AHHAJAJKSMSMLALSSMMXKKSSKS KSEKNE
thank u for the translation 🙇♀️