His Second Imperial Majesty Saves the Beauty (xi)
Edited: 04.07.2024
Ruan Qing’s head was groggy, and he vaguely felt the Green Uniform Guards carrying him into a dark and humid area. The tips of the tree branches scratched his face, making him feel ticklish, and he couldn’t help but open his eyes.
In an instant, boundless darkness hit him. Ruan Qing opened his eyes wide and adjusted for a while before realizing that it was a very wide cave. The water droplets from the top of the cave hit the ground and splashed on his clothes and there was a person sitting vaguely on the stone bench in the distance. Before he could take a closer look, the person spoke: “Mr. Ruan, long time no see. How are you?”
It was the Eldest Imperial Prince!
The green-clothed guard put him down but still refused to loosen his bonds. Ruan Qing suddenly realized something was wrong and said with a flattering smile: “I wonder why Your First Imperial Majesty is looking for me?”
Xiao Ziming snorted coldly, stepped forward, and grabbed his chin. Ruan Qing cried out in pain and tears immediately fell from his face. The two bright lines looked particularly pitiful in the dark night.
Xiao Ziming’s breath was stagnant and he pushed him away with a shout: “You sure have the guts, Ruan Qing. How dare you try to play tricks behind my back while in front of me, are you trying to make a fool out of this Prince?”
Ruan Qing knew what he was talking about and quickly explained: “Your First Imperial Majesty, the lives of my whole family are in your hands, how would I dare play tricks behind your back?!”
Hearing this, Xiao Ziming became even more angry and sneered: “Is that so? Then why did you ask Xiao Ziheng to keep a close watch on the residence so that the Green Uniform Guards can’t even get close? This Prince asked you to report Xiao Ziheng’s situation in time, but what have you done these days? Have you ever contacted me? Why do you think this Prince made such a desperate move to send Yu Jie’er into the residence?”
As he spoke through gritted teeth, Ruan Qing couldn’t help but freeze and asked tentatively: “Yu Jie’er, he is……”
A trace of anger flashed in Xiao Ziming’s eyes and he squeezed the armrests of the wooden chair, “He doesn’t matter anymore, he was just a toy for me to have some fun with from the Sanggong Brothel. It’s just that this Prince hates betrayal by others the most and also hates having my own things tainted by others!”
Hearing him say this about Yu Shu, Ruan Qing was very angry. For a moment, his fear dissipated and he frowned: “Your First Imperial Majesty, actually, I have known for a long time that Yu Shu was sent in by you. I have even asked him to relay information to the brothel owners so I believe Your First Imperial Majesty should know everything about the situation in the governor’s residence these days.”
Xiao Ziming was slightly startled and his tone had a hint of ridicule: “Yu Shu? You even changed his name. This Prince already knows the truth, so it seems you do have some insight. Otherwise, do you think this Prince would be talking to you right now?”
Ruan Qing sighed helplessly and rubbed his aching wrist: “Then what is it that Your First Imperial Majesty kidnapped me for?”
Xiao Ziming pondered for a long time. He then walked towards him slowly, squatted down, and looked down at him. The strong oppressive force made Ruan Qing feel breathless.
“This Prince wants you to use this epidemic to kill Xiao Ziheng.” Xiao Ziming said word for word.
Ruan Qing was extremely shocked. Murdering a member of the Imperial family was a serious crime and the Dayan Dynasty had always believed that everyone should be held to the same standards—Imperial family and citizens alike—which would make Xiao Ziming’s act an unforgivable crime.
“Doesn’t Your First Imperial Majesty know that this is a capital crime? If something happens, not only will I die without a burial place, but my mother and sister will also be implicated.”
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Xiao Ziming smiled and spread open his fan: “Of course this Prince knows, but how can you catch the tiger’s cub if you don’t enter the tiger’s den? If you help me this time, this Prince will welcome you into the manor. From then on, you wouldn’t need to be a slave or a servant and you will be promised a lifetime of glory and wealth, isn’t it worth a try?”
After that, he reached out his hand and touched Ruan Qing’s face very frivolously, causing the latter to step back in disgust. However, Xiao Ziming was not annoyed and laughed happily.
From the first time he met Ruan Qing, he felt that this little guy was delicate and cute. With his snowy skin and those peach blossom eyes that were neither angry nor smiling, he was indeed a rare beauty. Later, when he heard that he was also proficient in medical skills, he became interested in having him marry into the manor. However, Xiao Ziheng wasn’t a good person, so he definitely wouldn’t agree to it.
But ever since he was a child, he always got what he wanted. Not to mention a little doctor of a low status.
Ruan Qing’s anger and blood surged, and he wished he could bite those stupid hands to death, but he was restrained by others and could only avoid the sharp edge for the time being. He deliberately showed a panicked and shy look: “Really? Ruan Qing has admired Your First Imperial Majesty for a long time. If you are willing to take pity on me, I will be very grateful, but what does Your First Imperial Majesty need me to do for you?”
Xiao Ziming was very pleased to hear that he admired him, and motioned to the Green Uniform Guards to loosen his bonds. Ruan Qing struggled to stand up and was led to a deep pit by Xiao Ziming, where he hesitantly looked inside.
This sight almost scared Ruan Qing out of his wits. The entire deep pit was densely packed with black snakes from the store that day. They were mixed together and twisted together, making a scalp-numbing hissing sound. Their purple-red eyes were staring at Ruan Qing and it felt like he would be eaten alive if he got a single step closer.
Xiao Ziming looked at the group of black snakes with great satisfaction: “This method was developed by a southern Xinjiang warlock beside me. It uses poisonous snakes to cultivate diseases that are ten times more severe than ordinary ones. Only this Prince and he knows how to produce the cure. These are still undiluted, as long as a person dabbles in a little, within half a day, they will immediately die of poison.”
Ruan Qing nodded with lingering fear. When he glanced around, he found some lush pink-purple plants growing around the snake pit. The wide leaves swayed in the wind, which was very strange. Ruan Qing stared blankly for a couple of moments and suddenly rejoiced in his heart: ‘There’s an antidote for every poison in the world within five paces.’ Maybe, these were the antidotes that could restrain the black snakes.
He secretly glanced at Xiao Ziming, who was completely immersed in his brilliant plan and completely unaware of Ruan Qing’s little thoughts. Taking advantage of his unpreparedness, Ruan Qing took out the realgar he had prepared for self-defense before going up the mountain this morning and poured it into the pit.
“Hiss——”
The group of snakes immediately rioted. The realgar was very powerful and the black snakes were in agony. They rushed towards the pit entrance like a mountain. Xiao Ziming was startled and reacted immediately, shouting angrily: “Ruan Qing!”
Ruan Qing didn’t bother answering him. Holding his head, he wanted to rush out but unfortunately, the Green Uniform Guards quickly blocked his way with their swords. Just as he was getting anxious, there were sudden noises from the entrance of the cave, and a familiar figure appeared; it was Xiao Ziheng!
“Second Imperial Majesty, save me!” Ruan Qing shouted to him while avoiding the double swords swung by the green-clothed guards.
Xiao Ziheng looked stern and immediately drew his bow to kill two of the guards. A gap suddenly appeared in the Green Uniform Guards’ siege, allowing Ruan Qing to take advantage of the situation and escape with a tumble. Xiao Ziming shouted angrily from behind and soon the Green Uniform Guards gathered forward again. Xiao Ziheng protected the panting Ruan Qing behind him and whispered: “Quickly, Wang Qian is waiting outside.”
Ruan Qing ran away after hearing this. He was very self-aware and wouldn’t be like the heroines in TV series who said “Ah, I won’t leave you by yourself,” or “If you’re going to die, then we’ll die together.” If someone was useless, they should just run away quickly so that they don’t drag the others down.
Xiao Ziheng drew his sword and the guards behind him also stepped forward to protect him. For a moment, the two sides were at war with each other. At the same time, the black snakes from behind swarmed up in dense numbers, spitting out their red tongues and exposing their fangs.
Just as Xiao Ziheng was thinking about how to deal with them, a weird flute sound suddenly rang out from inside the cave.
☽ ⋆ℍalf 𝕄oon 𝕋ranslations⋆ ☾ 
It isn’t an end yet! QAQ
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