Clouds Drunk, Moon Slightly Sleeping

Chapter 16

Erlinzi's face immediately turned red. I found myself enjoying teasing Erlinzi more and more. Every time I talked about him and the dragon fox, the kid would blush. Hahaha, it's so funny, even the great general is blushing.

"What...what nonsense are you spouting now?" Erlinzi looked like he wanted to pinch me but didn't dare.

"Don't worry, Erlinzi. I know you and Big Brother are very close. As your brother, I would never be a third party. Besides, I don't have any homosexual tendencies."

Before I could finish speaking, Erlinzi jumped up from his seat, pointed at me with a trembling hand, and shouted, "Who said I like Big Brother? Do you even have a brain?"

This was the first time I'd ever seen Erlinzi yell at me so angrily. I was a little taken aback and confused: "Second...Second Brother, why are you so agitated? I told you I wouldn't look down on you because of this, we'll still be good brothers."

"Yun Qianzui, I don't like Big Brother. If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense to me!" Erlinzi's eyes seemed to be spitting fire, and there was also a hint of helplessness and embarrassment that I didn't understand.

"Huh? Second Brother has someone else? What about Eldest Brother?" I was momentarily stunned. I racked my brains three times but couldn't find Er Linzi's lover. Er Linzi was always inseparable from the fox, how could he have time to develop another relationship? Unless that person was hiding in his Mu Mansion, then he would still have time to date at night. But what about Dragon Fox? Wouldn't that fox be heartbroken? I turned to look at Dragon Fox, and sure enough, he looked at me with a helpless expression. Such a beautiful child, so heartlessly abandoned. I saw the fox reach out his hands, as if to pull me into his arms again. This child needs comfort so much right now. I felt a pang of sympathy for him, so I reached out and hugged him, gently patting his back a few times, comforting him, "Don't be sad, Eldest Brother. Although Second Brother doesn't want you anymore, there will be men more handsome and better than Second Brother who will love you in the future, and you will always be my Eldest Brother."

I gently held the dragon fox, feeling him stiffen slightly after hearing my words, then bury his head in my neck, his body trembling involuntarily. My heart softened; the fox must have been crying sadly. Although I didn't feel any wetness on my neck, his silent, tearless weeping was all the more heartbreaking.

After a long while, the fox gently released me and looked up, his expression returning to normal. Erlinzi, on the other hand, looked at me with an expression that said I was an idiot and a monster. Of course, I ignored him. I was indignant on the fox's behalf for how he treated it.

"So what does the third brother want as a reward from his elder brother?" the fox suddenly brought the topic back to the beginning.

"Huh? You can just give me a get-out-of-jail-free card!" If the fox is still thinking of me when he's so sad, then I can't really take advantage of him. I'll just find one that's most useful to me, so that I can save my life if I'm found out later that I'm disguised as a man and serving in place of my brother. Hahaha.

Clouds Drunk and Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful, Yet Initially Doubtful

Chapter word count: 2453 Update time: 08-12-20 15:52

Initial suspicion

"A get-out-of-jail-free card?" Seeing the bewildered looks on Fox and Erlinzi's faces, it seemed that Dragon Yao Kingdom hadn't produced such cards in hundreds of years. Wow, what were all those deceased ministers doing while they were alive? No wonder they all rushed off to heaven one after another; they hadn't found themselves a protective charm! Uh, if you all died of old age, sickness, and death, then never mind, hehe!

"It's like having a royal gold plaque with the words 'immunity from death' written on it, which is then personally bestowed upon someone in front of all the officials. If that person ever commits a capital crime in the future, they can use the gold plaque to pay for it." I think that's how it works.

"The gold medal is too big and heavy for you to carry around. How about I give you a pardon? It'll have the same effect, and it'll be more convenient for you to carry it." The fox's eyes were full of calculation and thought, but finally calmed down, and he suggested with a grin.

"Great! Great!" Whether it's a gold medal, a silver medal, an imperial edict, or just a draft, as long as I'm spared death, that's all that matters. Ah, the fox is truly clever; it even came up with such a practical idea.

Having received the fox's verbal promise, I was overjoyed; it seemed my life was spared. So I picked up my chopsticks again and began to devour the delicious food before me. What a rare day off! After working for half a month, this was finally my turn, and I'd unexpectedly received such a useful pardon. I should really indulge myself and have a good meal.

It was already evening when I returned to the Yun residence. Suddenly, I thought of Yun Feng. Lately, I've been busy with my three friends, the fox and the two forest spirits, and have neglected my real brother. Thinking of this, I immediately ran to the South Bamboo Garden. Yun Feng was still the same as before, lying sickly in bed with a pale face. He should have looked like a beautiful woman, but he still looked handsome and refined. Coupled with his gentle temperament, I always felt relaxed whenever I was alone with him.

"Moon, what are you thinking about again?" Yunfeng asked with a look of helplessness and doting affection.

"It's nothing, brother, hehe." After arriving here, some people call me Yue'er, some call me Gongzi, some call me Yunfeng, some call me Yunxiang, some call me Qianzui, and occasionally some people call me Qianqian. Hehe, I've actually gotten used to all these nicknames and can react immediately when others call me. I'm quite impressed with myself for that.

"Moon, I heard that your prime ministership is very popular. I am very happy. I didn't expect you to be so talented. I underestimated you when I was so worried about you." Yun Feng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, with a faint but warm smile on his face.

"Brother, don't listen to Hong'er and Cui'er's nonsense. And brother, what kind of strange illness do you have? Why haven't you gotten better despite taking so much medicine and seeing so many doctors?" I asked casually. It was really strange. Yunfeng was lucid, and actually quite energetic. Aside from seemingly being too weak to get out of bed or do anything, I didn't see any other symptoms, such as drowsiness, pain, fainting, or coughing up blood. Coughing up blood? Pshaw, children's words are innocent. A sudden thought flashed through my mind, and I felt a chill run down my spine. Could it be...?

"Brother, you...you've been poisoned, haven't you?" I saw the surprise and panic in Yunfeng's eyes vanish in an instant, as quickly as if it had never happened, but I knew I wasn't mistaken. Heavens, it's not that I'm overly sensitive, not that I have a vivid imagination, not that I'm addicted to martial arts novels, Yunfeng really is...

"Young Master, Master requests your presence in the study." Zhang De's voice rang out from outside the door, timely interrupting my inquiry and Yun Feng's reply.

"Brother, I'll be going now." I smiled gently at Yunfeng and saw that Yunfeng's lips moved almost imperceptibly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. I glanced at Zhang De standing outside the door, didn't say anything more, and turned to leave the room.

I followed Zhang De toward Old Man Yun's study. This was the second time Old Man Yun had summoned me in four months. The last time was when I had just arrived two days prior. Thinking back to his strange behavior then, did he want to see me this time to say something he hadn't mentioned last time? Also, if Yun Feng really was poisoned, was the poison related to Old Man Yun?

"If you don't care about your own health, you should at least take care of your older brother!" Old Man Yun's words still echoed in my ears. Could it be that Old Man Yun, as Yun Feng's father, personally administered the poison? If so, why?

"The poison that killed the young master wasn't administered by the master." Zhang De's voice suddenly came from the front, soft but clear enough for me to hear.

"Ah?" I was startled. Zhang De... he overheard my conversation with Yun Feng and sensed my doubts? But if Yun Feng's poison wasn't administered by Old Man Yun, then how could it be? Old Man Yun's busy schedule, Yun Feng's poison, Zhang De's masterful understanding of the political situation, and my ability to impersonate Yun Feng and attend court for four months without a single word slipping out—the entire Yun family seemed far more complex than I had imagined. Oh well, things will work themselves out. I'll go see my cold-blooded father first.

Zhang De closed the door again and left. I looked at the man sitting behind the desk. The study was slightly dark, but the window behind him was open, and the setting sun cast a halo of light behind him. His face was backlit and hidden in shadow, making it difficult to see clearly. Yet, this man made me feel that he was incredibly noble and had an astonishing aura.

I shook my head inwardly, trying to shake off this absurd thought. Then I stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Father!"

The man raised his head, and I still couldn't see his facial features clearly, but I could clearly feel his scrutinizing gaze for a long time.

"Moon, I never knew you were so outstanding. I never noticed before."

I couldn't tell whether his words were praise or criticism, sincerity or sarcasm. As I've said before, I had no good feelings towards this person from the first time I heard about him, and even felt some hostility towards him. Even though Zhang De said that he didn't poison Yun Feng, I was certain that he was involved. So, I laughed, a cold laugh, and my voice was even colder than my smile: "If Yue'er weren't outstanding, the Yun family would probably have been wiped out long ago. The environment forced Yue'er to grow up, and Father was busy with business, so naturally he didn't notice."

The man behind the desk was clearly angered by my words, for I could clearly feel the rage emanating from him, and a fleeting hint of murderous intent. But I couldn't control myself. Ever since I was certain that Yunfeng wasn't ill but poisoned, I almost simultaneously became certain that the so-called act of taking his brother's place in office wasn't simply a matter of greed for wealth and status; the whole thing was a conspiracy, and I was a pawn in this conspiracy, manipulated at every dangerous step, unable to control my own path, caught in the game but unaware of the players' intentions. This realization made me feel as if I had fallen into hell for a moment, and I instinctively felt a surge of hatred and hostility towards the undisputed mastermind before me.

"Ah, my moon is much better than the wind. The wind only knows how to run away, but my moon is not only so outstanding, it also knows how to fight back." I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I felt that there was a hint of praise in his words.

"Father, you flatter me. If Yue'er could learn even a fraction of what you can, Father wouldn't have to worry so much, and Uncle De wouldn't have to work so hard on both ends." Although you're too busy to take care of me, your informant Zhang De is still very dedicated. Perhaps there's more than just Zhang De as an informant; maybe the entire Yun family is full of your confidants and informants.

“My Yue’er,” in a flash, the person behind the desk was standing in front of me. “Father never expected my Yue’er to be so interesting. Perhaps Yue’er can really help Father fulfill his wish. In the future, with Yue’er inheriting everything from Father, Father can rest assured.”

Clouds Drunk and the Moon Slightly Sleeping (Revised Edition) Volume One: When We Met, We Were All Joyful - Han Shi

Chapter word count: 2949 Update time: 08-12-20 15:52

Han

With a "snap," another memorial flew to my feet.

I snorted inwardly, but with a look of fear on my face, I picked up the memorial. "You fox, you've really gotten into throwing things around! But as you keep throwing them, I've gone from intense anger and discomfort to numbness. It's just bending over, who's really going to get tired of that?"

"My dear minister, tell me, what should I do about this memorial?" The fox is getting lazier and lazier; he can't even be bothered to say the word "cloud" before "my dear minister." How can you expect him to use his brain when he's this lazy? Sigh!

I glanced at the memorial casually. To be honest, because of what happened with Old Man Yun yesterday, my mood has been fluctuating between gloomy and partly cloudy all day. Huh? It's a memorial criticizing Han Xuanqi's faction. Look, the signature is Erlinzi! Hey, Little Mu, when did you, a soldier, get involved in this kind of thing? No wonder you were so busy lately; you were investigating Comrade Han. Hmm, this memorial is even better than that old man Gu Wenxiu's. Looks like you have all the evidence. Good for you, Little Mu.

"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. I am foolish, but Your Majesty is wise. We leave it entirely to Your Majesty's decision." I pursed my lips, deliberately emphasizing "foolish" and downplaying "wise." Fox, you and Little Mu have been planning this for a long time. The evidence is conclusive. You must have had this planned in advance. Why bother using me? I'm in a bad mood right now and don't want to deal with you.