Chapter 16
Chang Xingzhu had been startled by the laughter and hurried inside. Before he could even slip behind Cheng Yun for cover, the prince’s stern expression kept him at a distance of several feet.
He fetched a small stool and sat down far away. The crown prince’s voice was icy to the bone: “Speak. Why have you come?”
Chang Xingzhu lowered his head, momentarily at a loss for how to explain. He could sense Cheng Yun’s anger and felt utterly doomed… After eleven years apart, he no longer dared to banter as he had in childhood. Who knew if Cheng Yun’s pride had grown so fierce that he might even want to cut down his own cousin along with him…
“He should be like you,” a melodious voice rescued him from his predicament. Chang Xingzhu immediately grasped the point and hurriedly said, “Right, why are you here so late?”
Cheng Yun replied calmly, “I came to discuss his entry into the Thunderfire Camp.”
“Weren’t you here to help me dress my wound?”
“I would only help you if you agreed to join the Thunderfire Camp.”
“I never agreed to join the Thunderfire Camp.”
“Then I didn’t help you dress your wound!”
Wen Baisang raised his bandaged hand, wrapped like a dumpling, before the crown prince.
Chang Xingzhu burst out laughing.
Cheng Yun’s murderous gaze immediately fixed on him.
Chang Xingzhu quickly said, “I understand, I understand.”
“Get out!”
Feeling like his pants were on fire, Chang Xingzhu fled, winking at Wen Baisang as he left.
Cheng Yun turned his anger toward Wen Baisang.
Wen Baisang’s eyes were clear, his expression tinged with hesitant vigilance.
Cheng Yun suppressed his wrath and spoke slowly: “Do you want to leave?”
“Yes.”
“If I return your walnuts, will you go?”
Wen Baisang looked skeptical.
“When your leg heals, I will allow you to do as you please…”
Wen Baisang’s disbelief deepened, but doubt flickered in his eyes.
“If you need anything from me, I can provide help without compensation…”
Wen Baisang refused without hesitation: “I don’t need your help.”
“…”
Cheng Yun said, “If you agree to all three conditions, you will work for me in the Thunderfire Camp.”
“I only agree to the first two.”
“Either all three, or you stay here until you die.”
Wen Baisang’s expression was cold.
Cheng Yun stood firm. “If you agree, I will release you now.”
Wen Baisang pressed his lips together.
“All your wishes are granted now, and I promise to be your support in the future. What else could you be dissatisfied with?”
Wen Baisang was tempted by the prospect of freedom, but he neither wanted to join the Thunderfire Camp nor have anything to do with Gong Wuchang.
“Are you sure you will never need me?”
Wen Baisang suddenly paused, his head tilting silently toward the depths of the dungeon. “You will really help me with everything.”
“As long as you agree to join the Thunderfire Camp.”
“…”
Just agreeing doesn’t mean I can’t run away later.
Wen Baisang finally murmured his assent, then asked, “Will you really never go to the Thunderfire Camp?”
“I said I might go once every ten days or half a month.”
“Which is it, ten days or half a month?”
“…”
With that, Cheng Yun abruptly opened the door and stepped out.
The dungeon gate stood wide open. Wen Baisang immediately climbed down from the bed and stumbled after him.
The stairs were long and steep; he lifted his hems and followed closely, glancing back inside once more.
The dungeon’s stone door slowly closed behind them. Cheng Yun said, “What, reluctant to come out?”
Wen Baisang asked, “Who was that woman?”
“Ask fewer questions you shouldn’t,” Cheng Yun warned.
Wen Baisang staggered after him, then asked, “When my leg heals, will you really let me go?”
“I will let you do your own things.”
“You said last time my leg was healed. Can I leave now?”
“…”
It was late at night, no one around except guards and night patrols passing occasionally.
“When will I get the walnuts?”
“What, are you planning to blow up the prince’s mansion too?”
“…What about the blades?”
With a swift motion, Cheng Yun threw a blade into the air. It vanished instantly into a sturdy willow tree nearby.
The tree didn’t even tremble in the darkness.
Wen Baisang fell silent, now weaponless, cautious of every move.
Beyond the dungeon’s jurisdiction, the stone lamps of the prince’s mansion reappeared. Wen Baisang climbed the steps of the long corridor with him, his legs weak and staggering.
Cheng Yun instinctively reached out, but Wen Baisang steadied himself on the railing.
“Still claiming your leg is healed.”
“You said so.”
“…”
The corridor was long, the eastern palace vast.
Cheng Yun looked at his pale face and said, “As a reward for joining the Thunderfire Camp, I can carry you back.”
“No.”
“…”
Cheng Yun turned away, then suddenly turned back.
Wen Baisang’s body lifted into the air. Startled, he clutched the prince’s hem tightly.
Cheng Yun sneered, “Since when do I need your permission for what I do?”
Wen Baisang didn’t struggle.
Not because he didn’t want to, but because he dared not. He feared that any movement might cause him to be thrown down again.
If he fell again, he didn’t know how long the pain would last.
Though his lips said no, his body was honest.
Cheng Yun sneered coldly in his heart.
Wen Baisang had no idea how strong Cheng Yun’s arms were, but being carried for nearly half an hour, he thought Gong Wuchang should be nearing exhaustion.
He shifted from clutching the prince’s clothes to wrapping his arms around his neck.
That way, if Gong Wuchang suddenly weakened, he could stabilize himself.
Cheng Yun’s footsteps halted.
Wen Baisang quickly said, “If you’re tired, you can put me down.”
“…” How considerate.
Cheng Yun pursed his lips and said coolly, “No need.”
He continued forward. Wen Baisang tightened his hold, as if he were a rabbit now perched on Cheng Yun’s shoulder.
Thanks to the fire bombs, he now carried the faint scent of sulfur mixed with a peculiar but pleasant milky sandalwood aroma.
Cheng Yun shifted his head awkwardly. “Loosen up.”
What was wrong with this demon? Moments ago, he was shouting no, but now he was teasing him.
Wen Baisang glanced at his flushed face and neck and his uneven breathing, then obediently loosened a bit.
If only he had a blade in hand, there was at least a fifty percent chance he could cut Cheng Yun’s throat before he could resist.
But strangling him with his bare hands was out of the question.
Walking back to the sleeping chamber, from afar they saw the lights on. Pang Qi was pacing anxiously.
Cheng Yun suddenly looked at Wen Baisang and whispered, “Tell them you agreed to join the Thunderfire Camp, understand?”
This was easy for Wen Baisang, who nodded.
Cheng Yun wanted to instruct him to say his leg was bitten by a rat, so he begged to be carried.
But seeing how tightly he clung to him, he swallowed the words.
He guessed the other might be embarrassed.
After all, the demon’s arms around his neck said everything.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, you’re finally back… Ah, Master Wen, this…” Pang Qi’s face lit up as he saw them clinging so closely. “Quick, go inside and rest. It’s nearly dawn after all this trouble.”
Carried inside, Wen Baisang said to Pang Qi, “I agreed to join the Thunderfire Camp.”
Pang Qi exclaimed, “Ah? Oh, very good, very good! It’s wonderful that the master can join the crown prince’s household!”
“He promised me many benefits.” Before Wen Baisang finished, a cold voice interrupted, “Enough. It’s so late already, disperse.”
“Ah.” Pang Qi rolled his eyes, then smiled brightly. “You’ve been in the dungeon so long; want a hot bath to relax?”
Cheng Yun glanced at Wen Baisang. “Want to?”
Wen Baisang sniffed his sleeve, then nodded. “Alright.”
Pang Qi immediately went joyfully to prepare the water.
Cheng Yun carried him back to the chamber, placed him on a small couch, and said coldly, “Stop thinking about useless things. The methods you use on me would be better spent on developing firearms.”
Wen Baisang looked at him after settling down, clearly puzzled.
Cheng Yun turned and entered the inner room.
Wen Baisang glanced around but found no weapon to defend himself.
He looked inside and knew the crown prince kept a sharp sword under his pillow, along with a finely crafted dagger.
Pang Qi soon brought hot water. Wen Baisang did not question why hot water was delivered to the prince’s chamber. He propped himself up and walked over as Pang Qi whispered, “Do you want someone to help you?”
Wen Baisang shook his head.
Pang Qi understood, beaming as he withdrew and closed the chamber door.
Wen Baisang walked alone behind the circular screen. Cheng Yun still sat in the inner room, watching through the hanging veil.
He felt this scene was familiar—when he first dreamed of this demon, he saw him bathing behind a veil.
Back then, he didn’t know who the other was, nor had he seen his face clearly, nor that in future dreams, he would be sent to run errands.
Expressionless, he leaned against the wooden step beside the bed and said, “Your hands can’t get wet, and with no one to help, how will you wash?”
“It’s alright.”
Cheng Yun tugged at his collar, stood, and went out to pour himself some tea.
So everything started from this moment…
He thought, if that were so, he must strive to change his future fate.
He would never lose himself like in the dream. But if the demon willingly served him, that wouldn’t be so bad…
The slightly cool tea eased the burning heat in his chest.
Suddenly, sounds came from outside. A palace maid exclaimed with joy, “It’s snowing! The first snow!”
“Really! Snow! Tomorrow the entire Shengjing City will be white!”
Pang Qi’s cheerful voice followed: “Good news, a great celebration—!”
Inside, Cheng Yun lifted the teapot, expressionless, and returned to the inner chamber, when Wen Baisang’s voice asked, “What is this for?”
“What?”
Cheng Yun tilted his head. Above the folded orchid screen, mist swirled and drifted. From his standing angle, he could only see some scattered wooden buckets steaming nearby.
“I don’t know. So many bottles and jars,” Wen Baisang said. “Which one is soapberry? I can’t tell.”
“…”
Are you trying to seduce me so obviously?