Hong Xu irritably tossed aside the Memorial he was reading. It was full of flowery, empty words! All they did was take their official’s salaries and spout nonsense! It seemed it was time to thoroughly reform the laws and discipline of the Imperial court!
Lin De cautiously pushed the door open and came in. Seeing Hong Xu’s obviously bad mood, he hesitated before reporting in a low voice, “Your Majesty, an Imperial guard reported that His Highness JinYu has left the palace!”
Hong Xu raised his head. “Did he take any Imperial bodyguards with him?”
“No, he did not!”
“Such a troublemaker!” Hong Xu’s expression darkened, and he said in a low voice, “It seems We truly have been too indulgent with him!”
“Please, Your Majesty, quell your anger. This servant will immediately have the guards……”
“There is no need. Help Us get dressed!”
“Your Majesty, you are going personally?” Hong Xu shot Lin De a sharp look, startling him so badly that he immediately lowered his head and said tremblingly, “Yes, this servant will prepare Your Majesty’s robes at once!”
***
The bustling streets of the Capital were always as lively as a market day, with a dazzling array of goods, throngs of people, thrilling street performances, and the constant chatter of vendors and laughter of children. However, the lively atmosphere did nothing to lift ZiLi’s low spirits.Thinking about how Hong Xu had angrily stormed off a few days ago made ZiLi’s chest feel tight. It was clearly Hong Xu’s fault, so why was he feeling so uneasy? Was it because Hong Xu had not come to see him in days? Or was it because of the complex emotions that flashed in the other’s eyes when he mentioned wanting to take a wife and have children?
ZiLi wandered aimlessly down the street, occasionally flipping through calligraphy and paintings at a small stall before dismissively snorting at them, or picking up trinkets only to throw them back with a disdainful look. Looking left and right as if deliberately trying to find fault, he managed to offend every vendor along the entire street.
Passing by a stall selling masks, he casually tossed down a few copper coins, picked up a monkey mask, put it on, and leisurely continued walking.
***
“Tea coming through, please make way, careful it’s hot――”Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 100 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“A private room is available. Esteemed guest, please head upstairs――”The restaurant was bustling with customers, and the waiters were busy running around. However, no matter how busy they were, whenever a new customer stepped through the door, the well-trained waiters would always hurry forward at once to greet them.
“Welcome to our Eight Treasures Pavilion, esteemed guest. Are you dining alone or still waiting for a friend? Would you prefer a private room or a regular table?”
“A regular seat, by the window,” the guest with the monkey mask replied indifferently.
“Right away. Esteemed guest, please follow me upstairs!” Although he was extremely curious about this strange customer, professional restraint kept the waiter from showing it. Pretending as if he had seen this so often that it did not seem strange at all, the waiter calmly led the guest up to the second floor.
After seating him, the waiter poured a cup of tea and asked with a broad smile, “What would you like to order, esteemed guest? We have a new dish called Fragrant Jade Chicken Feet, and Heaven’s Crispy Spring Rolls. Pair these with our freshly opened ten-year-old Nü’er Hong wine
女儿红
Nǚ'ér Hóng
A traditional Shaoxing rice wine that was historically brewed when a daughter was born and buried to age, then opened years later to celebrate her wedding.
1 , and the taste will be unforgettable. Of course, our signature Eight Treasure Chicken is a must-try. A young chicken roasted until the skin is crisp and the meat tender, sealed with our house secret recipe and slowly cooked over a gentle fire. One bite and the rich juices burst out at once, leaving a lingering taste. Would the esteemed guest like to try a few dishes?” The waiter kept grinning as he waited for quite a while, yet the other party did not respond. He only saw the man push up his monkey mask, revealing a smooth chin and two lips that inevitably called to mind dew-kissed Begonia blossoms. Then a hand that clearly had never done rough work reached out to hold the teacup, the five fingers slender and pale, even more pleasing to the eye than the fine white jade porcelain cup itself.
Nǚ'ér Hóng
A traditional Shaoxing rice wine that was historically brewed when a daughter was born and buried to age, then opened years later to celebrate her wedding.
The waiter was entranced, staring at the cup pressed to those soft lips. Watching the clear green tea slowly flow into that fragrant mouth, the slight tilt of the neck, the rhythmic movement of swallowing along the neck’s lines, and the small Adam’s apple bobbing up and down made the waiter swallow his own saliva in thirst.
After downing a cup of Biluochun tea
碧螺春
Bìluóchūn
A type of green tea grown in the Dongting Mountain region near Lake Tai in Jiangsu.
2 , ZiLi let out a belch before finally speaking at a leisurely pace. “Whatever signature dishes you have here, anything that’s good, bring them all to me.”
Bìluóchūn
A type of green tea grown in the Dongting Mountain region near Lake Tai in Jiangsu.
“……Eh, oh, all right, please wait a moment, esteemed guest!” The waiter, still in a daze, did not come back to his senses until ZiLi impatiently tapped the teapot with his chopsticks. The waiter quickly bowed and hurried off. Before long, the table was gradually filled with a full spread of dishes.
ZiLi removed his mask, picked up his chopsticks, and began sampling the supposedly delicious dishes the waiter had boasted about, yet everything tasted like chewing wax.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 100 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
The food was already unpalatable, and the noisy chatter around him only made things worse. Why do you all have to eat while buzzing like flies? The talk in front was about the martial arts society in the Jianghu, next to him it was about WuQi attacking DongZhou, and behind him, in a private room, from inside came obscene words and bawdy laughter that made him feel thoroughly disgusted.Feeling both irritated and angry, ZiLi slapped his chopsticks down and was about to pay and leave when he suddenly perked up at the conversation behind him that involved him.
“Damn it, this Young Lord’s life was worse than a prisoner’s. My father kept me confined for two or three months. I was not allowed to leave the mansion, and to make it worse, a whole bunch of guards, hands on their swords, watched me eat, sleep, and even use the latrine. It was suffocating! Finally, with the pardon lifting my confinement, today, no matter what, you lot are going to celebrate properly with this Young Lord.”
“Of course, us few brothers already reserved Ji Bai from ZuiFeng House. That little thing will be yours tonight, Young Lord!”
“Oh, Ji Bai?”
“Heh heh, since the Young Lord has been staying in the mansion for so long, it is no surprise you have not heard of the new top courtesan that ZuiFeng House has been promoting! In terms of looks he is not exactly the very best. His temperament is not particularly seductive nor charming. As for talent, he is not skilled in the four arts of guqin, Go, calligraphy, and painting either. Yet somehow he sits firmly in that top courtesan position!”
“Now you have confused me. If this Ji Bai has no talent or charm, how did he manage to make a whole crowd of nobles and high officials flock to him with silver in hand?
“Heh, the reason is that face of his. He looks like someone!” The noble wastrel was still keeping the suspense.
The Young Lord grew impatient. “Spit it out, who does he look like?”
“He looks like the Emperor’s pet, the Third Prince of Bei Ling, An JinYu!”
“Looks like him? Hmph!” The Young Lord sneered. He would not have cared at all if it had not been mentioned, but once it was, he was furious. It turned out that this Young Lord was none other than WanQi DongMing, the only son of General WanQi, who had been caught by ZiLi that day while secretly indulging with a novice monk at the state temple. Back then
This happened in chapter 38.
3 , in the dark and panicked, he had not recognized ZiLi. Only later, upon reflection, did he realize what had happened, and naturally, he had kept that score in mind!
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 100 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Young Lord, you have no idea how much the Emperor dotes on him, simply treating him like a treasure. His Majesty allows An JinYu to call him by his given name, permits An JinYu to not bow during audiences, and even spends every night in An JinYu’s palace, ignoring all the other Imperial concubines in the harem! Recently, Grand Tutor Zhou denounced the Prince of Bei Ling in court, calling him a seductive enchantress, and His Majesty immediately issued an Imperial edict forcing the Grand Tutor into retirement in the countryside, scaring the other officials into silence. You tell me, who else could ever receive such exclusive favor from His Majesty? Naturally, everyone has been curious about what exactly this Prince of Bei Ling has to make the Emperor show so much special favor towards him. Could it be his skills in bed…… Of course, we cannot touch the Emperor’s property, so we will have to find a substitute to satisfy ourselves!” The noble wastrels exchanged lewd glances before breaking into lewd laughter. “Brilliant, brilliant!” Not only could they vent their anger verbally, but they could also indulge in the thrill of living like the Emperor. At the thought of pressing that person down and pounding that person until he cried for his father and mother, WanQi DongMing felt a surge of excitement. “That little wretch, this Young Lord really want to try it out on the real thing myself.”“Splash!”
Suddenly, a basin of ice-cold water poured down from above, hitting WanQi DongMing squarely on the head and drenching him from head to toe. Though it was not the dead of winter, but in the yellow colored autumn, the shock of the cold water made WanQi DongMing shiver uncontrollably. What bothered him most was not the wet clothes, it was that he, a respectable Young Lord, had just been forced to drink chicken soup
灌鸡汤
Guàn jī tang
Here it means WanQi DongMing is being force-fed empty, overly sentimental or teasing words by his friends, meant to cheer him up but actually irritating him.
4 in front of all these people. How could he swallow this humiliation?
Guàn jī tang
Here it means WanQi DongMing is being force-fed empty, overly sentimental or teasing words by his friends, meant to cheer him up but actually irritating him.
“Motherfucker, which bastard wants to die?” WanQi DongMing’s face turned ashen with anger. He wiped the water from his face in one sweep, then suddenly kicked open the wooden screen of the private room and shouted.
A few of his rogue friends quickly shouted in agreement. The screen fell with a crash, and the flustered and exasperated noble wastrels saw someone standing on the table, dressed in a cream-colored silk robe, wearing a monkey mask, and holding a wooden basin, looking down at them arrogantly.
“You bastard, how dare you splash this Young Lord? Today, this Young Lord is going to cut you into pieces!” WanQi DongMing pointed at him and snarled.
“Cut me? Let’s see who cuts who! First, this great one will twist off your disgusting manhood, then I will cut off your filthy mouth, and finally, I will strip you naked and hang you at the city gate for everyone to see!” ZiLi, trembling with anger, cursed back.
“Get him! Cripple that bastard!”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 100 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
The restaurant immediately descended into chaos. Customers who did not want to get involved quickly hid, and the sounds of fighting on the upper floor made the owner sweat anxiously.ZiLi’s body might not be as strong as it used to be, but he was still nimble. He darted left and right, grabbing cups, plates, and bowls to throw at his attackers. The spoiled young masters were clearly untrained, and their attempts to dodge the flying porcelain were half a beat too slow. Before long, each of them had bruises or scratches decorating their foreheads.
“You idiots, why does he know how to throw plates, and you don’t?” As WanQi DongMing saw that they had not even touched ZiLi’s clothing and were already covered in cuts and bruises, he jumped up and down in fury.
Taking the hint, the few noble wastrels quickly grabbed bowls and plates and hurled them at ZiLi. Four against one, ZiLi soon could not keep up and had to back toward the staircase while holding the table as a shield. Just as he was about to dash away, he unexpectedly stepped on a stray chopstick, slipped, and fell flat on his back. Seeing this, they immediately pounced, pinning down his limbs and subduing him.
With a sinister smile, WanQi DongMing slowly walked over and ferociously stomped hard on ZiLi’s stomach, watching with satisfaction as ZiLi cried out in pain and tried to curl up but could not move.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 100 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Bastard, how do you want to die? This Young Lord will let you choose!”ZiLi, drenched in cold sweat from the pain, struggled to speak, “Choose your mother, my ass! If you know what’s good for you, you’d better let me go right now. I’m…… Ah――” He was cut off by another kick to the stomach, making his vision go black.
“This Young Lord does not care who you are, today, you are getting crippled!”
“Wait, Young Lord,” one of the noble wastrels at the side, who had impulsively lifted the monkey mask out of curiosity, quickly shouted to stop the other, “Stop, stop! This, this is the Third Prince of Bei Ling, An JinYu!”
There was a collective gasp, and WanQi DongMing quickly pulled back the foot he had been about to kick towards ZiLi’s face.
“What, what do we do?”
Crash! A flower vase smashed heavily onto the back of WanQi DongMing’s head. The four young masters looked in shock as WanQi DongMing’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the floor, revealing behind him two dirty children smiling innocently.
“Boss, we have come to save you!” Lin CunGong and Lin CunShou, who had learned some martial arts, quickly used chairs to subdue the four noble wastrels.
Dazed, ZiLi was helped out of Eight Treasures Pavilion by the two, one on each side. In his fading vision, the last image he saw was a face he knew all too well, showing an anxious and angry expression.
“Hong Xu……”
We made it to chapter 100 ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-
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