Chapter 34: Eating One's Own Gossip?

After settling this matter capable of shaking the imperial court, Zhao Yi felt an immediate sense of relief, followed by that familiar, hollow feeling of having nothing to do.

The work was done; he needed some amusement.

Go to the Baile Pavilion to listen to music?

The thought had barely crossed his mind before he snuffed it out.

No.

Having just tangled with that sharp-tongued Empress in his dreams, the idea of listening to some demure courtesan sing ditties felt utterly insipid and uninspiring.

Then... go find Sister Ying'er to tell her stories?

Once this thought took root, it grew like wild grass.

He changed direction, hands tucked into his sleeves, humming a little tune as he sauntered toward the Duke of Anguo’s estate.

Liu Sanwang, the gatekeeper of the Duke’s estate, recognized Zhao Yi’s face immediately. He didn't even bother to announce him, his face breaking into a warm, welcoming smile as he ushered him right in.

"Master Zhao, you've arrived! The young lady is in the back courtyard."

Zhao Yi walked in with the familiarity of a regular. He passed through the front hall and wound around the corridors, only to find the back courtyard eerily quiet, with not a soul in sight.

There wasn't even a maid to point the way.

He didn't mind. With his hands behind his back, he strolled along as if he were wandering through his own private garden.

As he walked, his ears pricked up. He faintly heard the sound of water, mingled with a few soft, tuneless hums.

It was Ying'er’s voice.

Following the sound, he passed through a bamboo grove and arrived before an elegant courtyard.

Mist swirled in the yard, and a wave of humid, warm air washed over him, carrying the faint scent of flower petals.

The sound was coming from behind that tightly shut door.

Oh my.

This little girl was bathing inside.

Zhao Yi’s feet froze in place.

Inside his mind, two little figures seemed to be fighting.

The one in white robes with a halo above his head scolded righteously, "Do not look at what is improper! Leave at once! You are a man of honor!"

The other, sporting horns and holding a steel pitchfork, smirked and egged him on, "What are you afraid of? Looking won't cost you a limb! What if the door isn't locked?"

Zhao Yi’s heart began to thump wildly.

To look, or not to look?

This was the ultimate question of character and dignity.

He stood there vacillating for a full half-cup of tea’s time.

Finally, gritting his teeth, he decided that a man must have principles.

He was just about to turn and slip away when—

*Creak—*

The door opened.

Chu Yanran was wrapped in a loose bathrobe, her long, raven-black hair draped wetly over her shoulders. Her pretty face was flushed pink from the steam, like a ripe peach, radiating an astonishing allure.

She was walking out while drying her hair with a towel, completely unaware that someone was standing at the door.

Until she collided with a wall of flesh.

"Oh!"

Chu Yanran let out a soft cry and looked up, meeting Zhao Yi’s stunned expression, which clearly read, "Who am I, where am I, and what should I do?"

She froze.

Zhao Yi froze too.

The two stared at each other, the air seemingly congealed.

Zhao Yi’s brain had completely short-circuited. Looking at her charming, post-bath appearance, he subconsciously blurted out, "Are... are you not bathing?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to slap himself.

What kind of stupid nonsense was that!

Sure enough, Chu Yanran’s flushed face went from blankness to shame and anger, until finally, it turned a shade of red so deep it looked as though it might bleed.

"Zhao Yi!"

She shrieked, her voice filled with the indignation and shame of being violated.

"You scoundrel!"

She raised her hand and, accompanied by a waft of fragrance, swung it hard toward Zhao Yi’s face.

Zhao Yi dodged backward in a hurry.

Chu Yanran’s slap missed. Her footing was already unsteady, and with wooden clogs on her feet, she slipped on the mossy ground. With a cry of alarm, she fell backward.

Everything happened in a flash.

Zhao Yi’s reactions were lightning-fast. Without a second thought, he stepped forward, reached out his long arms, and caught her soft, delicate body steadily in his embrace.

A fragrant, soft treasure was held firmly in his arms.

That unique scent of a young maiden, mixed with flower petals and the lingering warmth of her bath, surged into his nostrils.

The body in his arms was impossibly soft. Through the thin layer of the bathrobe, he could even feel her astonishing elasticity and warmth.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Zhao Yi’s heart was pounding more violently than ever before.

Chu Yanran was even more rigid, her face buried in his chest, having forgotten even how to breathe.

After a long while, a muffled, trembling voice came from within his arms.

"Are... are you not planning to let go of me?"

"You're... you're holding me too tight..."

Zhao Yi finally snapped out of his daze, hurriedly released her, and took two steps back.

He looked at Chu Yanran, only to see her head bowed, not daring to meet his eyes, her ears and neck stained with a intoxicating crimson.

Zhao Yi felt his own face burning, though his heart was busy savoring that thrilling tactile sensation.

So fragrant.

So soft.

This figure was quite something.

An awkward atmosphere spread between them.

In the end, it was Zhao Yi’s thick-skinned nature that broke the silence.

He coughed twice, stepped forward, and quite naturally—albeit somewhat dominantly—gently took Chu Yanran’s hand.

Her hand trembled slightly, and she wanted to pull it back, but she didn't break free.

"Let’s go."

Zhao Yi led her to a nearby water pavilion.

The two sat opposite each other, and for a moment, neither knew what to say.

It was Zhao Yi again who broke the ice. Looking at Chu Yanran, who looked as if she wanted to bury herself in the ground, he smiled.

"Do you want to know what happened to Shali?"

"I'll continue the story of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit."

At the mention of the story, Chu Yanran’s attention was indeed drawn away, and the awkwardness dissipated significantly.

Zhao Yi cleared his throat and continued to recount the legend of the Seven Heroes in his highly infectious tone.

When the story ended, it was already late.

Zhao Yi went to pay his respects to the Duke of Anguo one more time, preparing to take his leave.

"Zhao Yi."

Chu Feng called out to him.

The old Duke, usually stern and humorless, now had a gaze that held a hint of complexity and solemnity.

"In the future, be good to Ying'er."

"This child has had a hard life; her parents died early, and she has a cold, aloof temperament with few friends."

The playful, cynical look on Zhao Yi’s face vanished completely.

He turned around and bowed deeply and solemnly to Chu Feng.

"Rest assured, Duke, I understand."

In that instant, the roguish air about him disappeared, replaced by a composure and sense of responsibility that could not be ignored.

Chu Feng looked at him, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a trace of faint, imperceptible approval.

He nodded and waved his hand, signaling that Zhao Yi could leave.

After leaving the Duke’s estate, Zhao Yi intended to go straight home.

But halfway there, he suddenly slapped his forehead.

Damn it, he had forgotten to tell Tian Yi to spread the rumors.

This was the most critical part of the plan; he needed to build momentum and set the mood in advance.

He immediately changed direction and headed toward a secluded secret base in the city.

The base was bustling with activity.

Zhao Yi navigated the back courtyard with ease. Just as he was about to find Tian Yi, he heard voices coming from inside Tian Yi's room.

It was Di Er’s voice, filled with irrepressible mirth.

"For real? Boss, you saw it with your own eyes?"

Immediately following was the voice of Tian Yi, usually as cold as ice, but now laced with an indescribable, vivid flair.

"Of course it's real! Let me tell you, the situation was like this..."

"That young lady from the Duke’s estate, she just—'WHAM'—ran right into the Master’s arms!"

"The Master took the opportunity to grab her! That posture, tsk tsk, let me demonstrate for you: one hand around the waist, the other supporting the back—held her so tight!"

"And then, Di Er, guess what? The Master even leaned down and took a sniff! Yes! Exactly that move!"

Di Er laughed wildly, sounding like a crowing rooster.

"Hahahaha! Boss, this intel is even more explosive than what we pay for!"

Outside the door, Zhao Yi’s face had turned completely black.

Blacker than ink.

The veins on his forehead bulged, and his teeth ground together, making a "click-clack" sound.

Very well.

This is just fucking great!

I spend hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to support you, and this is how you repay me—by gossiping about me?!

'WHAM' my ass?

And leaned down to sniff?

I’ll sniff your grandmother’s leg!

*BANG!*

Zhao Yi kicked the door open and strode in, radiating killing intent.

Inside the room, Tian Yi, who was in the middle of a lively demonstration, and Di Er, who was laughing with his head thrown back, froze instantly.

The two turned their heads slowly, frame by frame.

When they saw that face as dark as the bottom of a pot at the door, their expressions solidified.

It's over.

This was the only thought that crossed both their minds at the same time.

"M-Master..." Tian Yi’s lips were trembling.

Zhao Yi walked up to them expressionlessly, his face unreadable.

He slowly patted them both on the shoulder.

"Good storytelling."

"Very vivid."

"Keep going, why did you stop?"

Tian Yi and Di Er were so scared their souls nearly left their bodies. With a "thud," they both knelt on the ground, heads buried deep, not daring to even breathe hard.

Zhao Yi looked at these two cowards, his anger finally boiling over.

He raised his foot and planted a kick on each of their backsides.

"Fuck!"

"Is this what I pay you for?!"

"I don't know how the intelligence network is coming along, but my gossip travels pretty fast, doesn't it!"

He pointed at their noses, his face dark with rage.

"You two, your pay for this month, next month, and the four months after that—it's all gone, goddammit!"