Chapter 59: Poor Mother Li

In the Chief Historian’s residence, the “Hall of Washing Flowers”.

Li Yan sat by the desk, furrowing his brows as he stared at a secret letter he had just written, deep in thought about who he should send it with.

“Tap tap!”

Footsteps echoed, and the old steward of the residence hurriedly entered, looking flustered. “Master, it’s bad, something big has happened…!”

Li Yan glanced at him calmly. “What’s happened?”

The steward took a few steps forward, his voice trembling as he whispered in Li Yan’s ear, “Liu… Imperial Inspector Liu has escaped from the dungeon.”

“Mm??!”

Li Yan stared at him, shocked. “He escaped? How did he do it? Where is he now?”

“He’s at the usual place, knocking at the door. The servant informed me, and I’ve placed him in a side courtyard,” the steward said hastily. “As for… how he escaped, I don’t know.”

“…!”

Li Yan was taken aback. “This old man has some skills.”

“He wants to see you.”

“Mm, you go bring him here.” After a brief moment of thought, Li Yan added, “Make sure no one else notices.”

“Yes.” The steward quickly left.

“Did he escape on his own, or did someone help him?” Li Yan muttered as he turned and walked back to his desk, picking up the secret letter he had just written.

The letter contained information related to rescuing Imperial Inspector Liu, but now that the man had escaped and found him, there was no need to send it out.

“Snap!”

Li Yan lit the letter with a fire striker and let it burn. As it was almost reduced to ashes, he tossed it into the spittoon.

A moment later, the sound of footsteps approached again. The steward stood at the door, addressing the filthy Imperial Inspector Liu. “Master is inside, Lord Liu, please come in.”

“Hmph!”

Imperial Inspector Liu grunted disdainfully and stepped over the threshold into the study.

By the desk, the old fox Li Yan first froze, then a look of joy and near-tearful relief spread across his face as if he were seeing a long-lost father. He couldn’t help but shout, “Lord Liu! I’ve been thinking of you day and night, finally, you’re back! Do you know…?!”

At the door, Imperial Inspector Liu blinked his bloodshot eyes, his voice deliberate and forceful. “Li Yan, I’ll fuck your mother, I’m going to fucking castrate you and then fucking kill you!!”

In this Star Gate, everyone was a poet, and everyone rhymed.

Li Yan was stunned by the insults, his expression aggrieved. “Lord Liu, why such harsh words?”

“I’ll insult you, what’s the problem?!” Imperial Inspector Liu clenched his fists, turning into a Zuan warrior. “You’re dead tonight, I’ll @#%…!”

Li Yan awkwardly raised his arm. “Lord Liu, if you’re upset, we can talk it over. No need to insult my mother, she hasn’t offended you…”

“You told me to fly, I believed you; you told me to lead the coup, I did it… Let me ask you, when Prince Huai tried to kill me, why did you stick your head in your pants? Are you a transformer?!” Imperial Inspector Liu vented all his grievances into sharp words. “Ten days! I’ve been lying in the dungeon like a maggot, eating and defecating in the same spot. You didn’t save me, fine, but couldn’t you at least send a message?! Are you an animal?!”

“Lord Liu, please calm down. Let me explain what’s happened these past few days…” Li Yan began.

“Don’t start spouting words, are you trying to take the exam?” Imperial Inspector Liu looked at him sideways. “I’m not stupid, I know you’re a player.”

Li Yan swallowed. “Well, it’s like this…”

“I suspect you’re a traitor,” Imperial Inspector Liu angrily interrupted. “You’re scheming against me!”

Li Yan glanced at him helplessly. “If I were a traitor, you wouldn’t be here in this room now. You’d still be back there, being a maggot.”

After a pause, the two of them locked eyes, and Imperial Inspector Liu gritted his teeth. “I want food, wine, pig’s trotters, chicken…”

Li Yan asked, pausing briefly with his hands behind his back, “How did you manage to escape?”

Imperial Inspector Liu collapsed into a rattan chair but didn’t reveal the truth. “A wise man always has his ways!”

“Heh, alright.”

Li Yan nodded. “I’ll have someone prepare food for you. Wait here for a while.”

“If I don’t make it, you’re the first person I’m taking down with me,” Imperial Inspector Liu weakly muttered, leaning back on the rattan chair.

“We’re brothers.” Li Yan threw this line over his shoulder as he strode out of the cottage.

On the rattan chair, Imperial Inspector Liu lay back, his thoughts churning.

Coming to find Li Yan was a decision born of desperation. After escaping the dungeon, he had become a fugitive, making it impossible to return to his residence. He had no choice but to hide here.

Secondly, the person who had just rescued him was part of the Opportunist Faction, and they had already agreed upon a signal to meet at the Princess’s Tomb.

This meant Imperial Inspector Liu now had a stable ally. If he could also resume collaboration with Li Yan, he would have sources of information from both the Court Faction and the Opportunist Faction.

The Opportunist Faction’s victory condition could be to achieve dominance independently or to join the Court Faction after entering the Princess’s Tomb. This was explicitly stated in Star Gate. Therefore, having connections in both factions gave him two viable choices, ensuring he could maneuver flexibly.

Despite his rough appearance, he was far from reckless.

He was, in fact, quite shrewd.

…

Outside the cottage.

Li Yan stood in the corridor with his hands behind his back, frowning deeply as he gave orders to the old steward. “Quickly prepare for a banquet after the hour of the Rooster (5-7 PM).¹ Make it grand.”

The steward looked confused. “Master, why are we suddenly hosting a banquet? And who are we inviting?”

“There are no invitations. Anyone within the prince’s residence, including the servants, may attend freely,” Li Yan replied, turning to face him. “Even those working under Prince Huai may join.”

“…Then there’s no way to estimate the number of guests.”

“I’ve already told you—do your best to prepare and make it extravagant.”

“Alright. But what’s the occasion for the banquet?” the steward asked again, bowing.

Li Yan pondered for a moment. “This morning, I passed by the animal pen in the residence and saw an old sow giving birth. We’ll use that as the pretext.”

“???”

The steward looked bewildered. “A… a sow banquet? Isn’t that a bit too absurd?!”

“Heh, tonight is destined to be an absurd night,” Li Yan replied with a cold chuckle. “Once the banquet starts, I’ll remain in the cottage. You may inform the guests that anyone wishing to speak with me privately can be escorted here.”

“As you command!” The steward cupped his fists and, seeing no further instructions, quickly departed.

Standing in the corridor, Li Yan pulled a token from his belt. It was the communication tool exclusive to players in the Court Faction—the Disc Command.

…

At Prince Huai’s Residence, the Princess Consort’s bedchamber

The maid Xue’er smiled as she addressed Ren Ye, “Your Highness, please!”

Ren Ye, dressed in a crimson robe, gave a slight nod before pushing open the door to Xu Qingzhao’s boudoir.

In a side hall, Tang Feng, who was waiting for Ren Ye, looked at the Second Fool with affectionate eyes, her demeanor captivating.

Second Fool felt uneasy under her gaze. “Why are you staring at me like that, court musician?”

Tang Feng tried to restrain herself but couldn’t help extending her hand, softly asking, “As a guard who’s constantly at Prince Huai’s side, don’t you ever feel lonely late at night…?”

Slap!

Without warning, Second Fool struck her across the face, a backhand that sent her seeing stars.

The slap came so unexpectedly that Tang Feng could only stare in shock.

“I swore I’d never fall for a woman’s charms again! I don’t know why the prince sent you here, but you, a mere maid, dare to flirt with me without knowing your place?!” Second Fool barked angrily, still rattled by his traumatic past. “Get out!”

Confusion and bewilderment…

Tang Feng took a long time to recover, her face flushed red with anger, and for once, she cursed out loud: “Utter idiot!”

Inside the chamber.

Xu Qingzhao was dressed in a robe embroidered with a Taiji diagram, reclining lazily on a chaise while reading an ancient book.

Her long hair was tied into a Daoist-style crown, and her slender figure exuded elegance. At that moment, she resembled a fairy inebriated, radiating an aura of laziness and comfort.

Rustle.

Soft footsteps echoed faintly. Xu Qingzhao’s eyes, fixed on her book, flickered for a moment, but she remained silent.

A sneaky figure crept closer to the chaise, grinning as he reached out to touch Xu Qingzhao’s slightly curled toes.

Thud!

Just as his hands were about to make contact, a heavy book slammed onto his head. “…Do you have a death wish?”

“I just wanted to give my beloved a foot massage,” Ren Ye replied with a sheepish grin, his face full of shameless adoration as he appeared in the princess’s line of sight.

Whoosh!

Xu Qingzhao sat upright, crossing her legs and setting the book down beside her. Her beautiful face remained composed as she asked, “Did you bathe and change?”

“I did, I did.” Ren Ye put on an exaggeratedly lecherous act, his eyes scanning Xu Qingzhao’s folded legs. Suddenly, he blurted, “Those legs… It’d be a pity if they weren’t dressed in Balenciaga.”

Hearing this, Ren Ye subtly observed Xu Qingzhao’s reaction out of the corner of his eye. Yet her serene expression showed no change, though her gaze bore a faint trace of menace.

She looked as though she might explode with anger from his teasing, but why didn’t her expression waver at all upon hearing his probing remarks?
Was she naturally Oscar-worthy?

“…I don’t need your cooperation to absorb your Heavenly Pardon Qi,” Xu Qingzhao said coldly, her eyes frosty as if she might strike him dead at any moment.

“I get it, I get it.”

Thump-thump-thump!

Xu Qingzhao raised her delicate hand and tapped the chaise quickly.

“Seems like my beloved has truly been starving these past few days,” Ren Ye quipped, sneaking a glance at her stunning profile. With practiced ease, he began removing his clothing, shoes, and socks before climbing onto the bed.

Whoosh!

Xu Qingzhao lifted her arm, and the bed’s canopy curtains fell automatically.

It was such a familiar sequence of events. Ren Ye looked up and saw that Xu Qingzhao had already closed her eyes slightly, preparing to activate the array. “Wait, beloved!”

As he spoke, Ren Ye suddenly grabbed her left hand. A smooth, cool, and soft sensation greeted him…

White, tender, smooth, and slightly plump on the back—soft to the touch. But before he could savor the feeling, the sensation vanished.

Xu Qingzhao retracted her hand as if shocked by electricity. Her previously composed face suddenly flushed, showing a rare hint of girlish shyness.

Her eyes widened in anger, barely concealing her fury. “You lecherous scoundrel… I…!”

“Hold on,” Ren Ye cut her off, locking onto her expression. “Don’t be rash, beloved!”

Whoosh!

His shout lingered as two slender fingers stopped just short of his throat.

By now, Xu Qingzhao was genuinely livid, having been teased one too many times.

“Don’t move, don’t act impulsively, beloved!” Ren Ye broke into a cold sweat. “Alright, fine, I’ll be straight with you.”

“?!”

A flicker of confusion crossed Xu Qingzhao’s eyes.

“I can’t test you anymore, so I’ll be direct. Are you planning to enter that tomb after midnight tonight?” Ren Ye dropped all pretense and asked outright.

Xu Qingzhao’s expression shifted briefly to one of disdain, but she didn’t respond immediately.

“I’m giving you two hours—just tell me the truth,” Ren Ye pressed.

After a moment of thought, Xu Qingzhao replied, “We’re merely using each other; we owe each other nothing. I’m not one of those maids waiting to warm your bed. If you dare flirt with me again, I’ll kill you.”

“Beloved, are you entering the tomb or not?” Ren Ye pursued.

“I will.” Xu Qingzhao didn’t hesitate any longer, answering plainly.

“Ah!”

Ren Ye let out a long breath, his body visibly relaxing. “If you’re a player, then why do you always talk to me in such an old-fashioned manner? Are you too deep into your role?!”

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Will release another 3 chapters later.