Your Highness, Please Love Me Tender

34. A Sharp Sword in the Shadow

Translator: Flying Lines

The next day, Su Jie, along with Yu Jiang, got up early, intending to get out by stealth to avoid Zhou Zaiyue. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side. He bumped right into Zhou Zaiyue who happened to be teaching Xiao ShengNian Tai Ji in the yard.

“Elder Zhou, Your Highness, I’m going out.” This was the first time Su Jie greeted Zhou Zaiyue, who upon hearing that, paused his movement, hands behind his back, and cracked a loving smile.

Xiao ShengNian nodded nonchalantly. He had to go to the imperial palace later therefore couldn’t afford the time to go with Su Jie. “Come back early and don’t make trouble.” Then after a moment, he added, “If you do, tell them you’re a member of Prince Rui’s Mansion.”

Su Jie promised obediently, all smiles. He was in perfect mood, beaming the whole time, because he was about to meet Prince Qin in just a few hours. While Zhou Zaiyue and Xiao ShengNian took it that Su Jie was excited for finally having the chance to go out after these days in the mansion. Su Jie was after all a young boy, who naturally enjoyed hanging out.

Yu Jiang was even more overjoyed as he had only been out for like two or three times ever since young. His brother had to stay by Prince Rui’s side, too busy to take him out. Now being ordered by the prince to go out with Su Jie, he was literally over the moon.

“Childe, where are we going?” Yu Jiang, eyes too busy looking around out of curiosity, asked. He chirped like a bird ever since he stepped out of the mansion, Su Jie wasn’t a bit annoyed by his questions. He just listened, all smiles, which encouraged the footboy to be more talkative.

“We’ll find a place for some food. You must be thirsty after all the talking.”

“Yay!!!” Yu Jiang in high spirits pulled Su Jie to a roadside stall selling snacks and stood by the side obediently after Su Jie took his seat. Su Jie was his master, even now they were out of the mansion, he couldn’t sit at the same table with Su Jie, no matter how kind Su Jie was to him. This was the rule.

Su Jie, however, found it uncomfortable to be waited upon by a boy even younger than him. Letting the boy stand and watch while he himself enjoyed the food? No, that would cause indigestion. Yet Yu Jiang was a stubborn boy who wouldn’t listen no matter how hard Su Jie tried to persuade him. In the end, Su Jie lost his patience and pressed the boy straight down on the seat. End of the discussion.

Yu Jiang was on the verge of tears, either deeply moved or flustered. Yet he had no idea that Su Jie was planning to knock him out after the meal so he could go to meet Prince Qin in the House of Intoxicating Spring.

The House was one of the top brothels in the capital, one of the assets owned by Prince Qin. Su Jie, carrying the unconscious Yu Jiang on his shoulder, skillfully avoided pedestrians and came to the House of Intoxicating Spring through the back door.

He was wearing a mask to avoid being noticed. After placing Yu Jiang in a vacant room, he lit a soothing incense to prevent the footboy from waking up too early. After that, he double checked the surroundings before stepping into a room on the first floor.

Prince Qin wasn’t in the room yet, so he waited there patiently with the half mask on.

In about a quarter Prince Qin arrived, alone without any guards in his wake, because Su Jie’s true identity was still a secret to all, except Prince Qin and the Guqin Master. Others only knew Prince Qin had a Man of Sacrifice staying in the shadow, his look, age and other information unknown.

They called this man in the dark Prince Qin’s Sharp Sword, a sword once unsheathed would complete every mission impossible perfectly.