Eternal Night - Chapter 100
When the eldest prince, Prince You, visited his courtyard, word spread that his status had skyrocketed. At nineteen, he was still enjoying fame thanks to the prince's favor. Mo Yu, besides being overwhelmed with gratitude, could only obediently sit at the table and let Li Tianyou feed him.
Chef Chen's signature dish, prepared with care, melted in his mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance. Mo Yu, however, didn't find it delicious. His mind was preoccupied with Yongye in his room, and he had to deal with Li Tianyou, so he forced a smile and thanked him softly.
Li Tianyou smiled, stroked Mo Yu's face and said in a low voice, "I have always wanted to come and see Young Master Mo Yu, but I was afraid that there would be too much gossip in the court. Now that the Emperor is ill, I, as his son, have no choice but to prepare some delicious food to show my filial piety. This is how I have the opportunity to drink with you. Mo Yu, you must not let me down."
"Your Highness—" Mo Yu's voice trembled slightly, clearly deeply moved. She lowered her head as she spoke, and after a moment, whispered, "So Your Highness's feelings for Mo Yu are so profound..."
Li Tianyou glanced at Mo Yu, thinking to himself that if he didn't know Mo Yu's background, this expression would be enough to fool him.
Seeing that Mo Yu had summoned Yong Ye to serve him, but Yong Ye lingered outside for a long time without coming out, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. Taking advantage of the situation, he came to Mo Yu's courtyard, only to find that Mo Yu was the only one there. Li Tianyou glanced at the door, then suddenly picked up Mo Yu and said, "I heard that Young Master Mo Yu is the top courtesan at the Peony Courtyard, so he must have some outstanding qualities. How about coming with me?"
Mo Yu was shocked and tried to struggle. Li Tianyou held him, his hand already on his waist. Mo Yu instantly went limp, his face turning bright red: "Your Highness wants to redeem Mo Yu?"
"That's natural!"
"Then please redeem Moyu from her servitude, Your Highness, and then...and then..." He was extremely anxious, remembering that Yongye was in the room. How could Li Tianyou be so powerful! He wanted it so readily, and for a moment he was speechless with anxiety.
Li Tianyou was about to carry him into the room when the door suddenly opened, and Yongye, with his tanned face covered in freckles, appeared in the doorway. He was holding his belt with one hand, yawning and chuckling, "Why didn't you wake me up, young master? I didn't expect you to be so skilled in bed, hehe."
Li Tianyou and Moyu were petrified on the spot.
Yongye then realized something was wrong, looked up with his mouth agape at the two people being affectionate, and suddenly covered his face and burst into tears: "So what the young master said was just to coax Xiaomazi..." After saying that, he rushed out of the courtyard.
Li Tianyou released Mo Yu with a wry smile and shook his head, saying, "Young Master Mo Yu has rather unusual tastes; it turns out he likes pockmarked boys."
Mo Yu's face flushed red and then turned pale with anger. She didn't know when Yong Ye had woken up or when he had changed his appearance, yet she dared not argue. Standing at the doorway, she wished she could tear Yong Ye apart.
Li Tianyou sighed as he looked at Mo Yu and added, "Since Young Master Mo Yu already has someone he loves, the matter of redeeming himself is nothing but a fart to me. Let it go once it's over." He shook his head and left with his hands behind his back. As he walked out of the courtyard, he couldn't help but twitch his lips. He coughed twice, raised his fist, and shook his head as he looked towards the kitchen: "Xiao Ye, you're too naughty."
He immediately stiffened. It seemed that Mo Yu had subdued Yong Ye. How did she escape if she didn't know martial arts? Li Tianyou frowned, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as knives. After thinking for a moment, he actually smiled.
Meanwhile, Mo Yu was trembling with rage. Li Tianyou's mockery had only fueled his hatred for Yongye. He slammed his fist against the door. He strode to the table, picked up a glass of wine, downed it in one gulp, and turned to confront Yongye.
"You dare drink the wine I poured? How could Young Master Moyu be so careless!" Yongye's voice came with a smile.
Before he could finish speaking, Mo Yu lost all his strength and slumped into the chair, his eyes blazing with anger, all traces of his former gentleness gone: "You haven't been bewitched!"
Yongye swaggered in, touched his face, and laughed, "Are you stupid? I use this disguise technique every day. You can do it in a couple of blinks. I'm just afraid someone will wash it off for me. You're only comfortable leaving me alone after you've searched me thoroughly? The bewitching lamps, huh? These in the courtyard? Quite interesting. Sigh, I was hoping to witness Young Master Moyu's skills in bed, but instead, this spoilsport has arrived."
She stared at Mo Yu, reached out and pinched his face, clicking her tongue in admiration at his smooth skin: "Why are you glaring at me? I at least protected your innocence. Tell me, what will the capital be like in the next ten days?"
Mo Yu snorted coldly, ignoring him. Suddenly, she asked, "How did you break the Bewitching Lamp?"
Yongye laughed: "Master Huihun keeps such lamps lit day and night in his room, doesn't he care about using up the lamp oil? Tell me, how could I possibly be bewitched? You tested me during the day, and then made me serve you alone at night. Even a fool would know you have ulterior motives." Her voice turned cold, "The last thing you should wear is this moon-white dress. You can never learn to imitate Yuepo."
"Now that you've shown yourself, how could we not catch you in the valley?"
"Didn't Li Yannian teach you? If you want to keep the secret, you have to leave no one alive!" Seeing that Mo Yu wouldn't speak, Yongye waved his sleeve blade and was about to strike.
A lamp in the courtyard suddenly broke, releasing a faint mist.
Yongye knew something was wrong after taking just one breath. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and retreated as fast as a shooting star.
Several figures emerged from the darkness, carrying away the simultaneously unconscious Mo Yu. Two others pursued Yong Ye closely, their movements revealing them to be those of first-rate experts.
The dizziness grew worse and worse, a drug that Yongye couldn't understand. She staggered out of the Peony Pavilion and saw servants leading guests' horses by the roadside. Without thinking twice, she jumped on a horse and rode away.
Yongye saw the panicked face of the horse handler and saw countless people chasing after her. She couldn't hear a word they were shouting; her head was buzzing, and she thought, "I'm doomed this time."
She had only one belief: she must not fall into the hands of Youligu. She clung tightly to the horse's neck with both hands. The horse neighed and charged out of Jihuafang.
Yongye ran towards the direction of Prince Duan's mansion, but only managed to keep going for a moment before he was on the verge of falling off his horse.
A gust of wind blew, and a figure leaped onto the horse's back, catching her securely. Yongye had no strength to turn around; she gave a bitter smile and then fainted.
He sold her.
A faint aroma wafted to my nose—the scent of barbecue. Mixed with the fragrance of flowers, it was indescribably enticing.
My eyelashes fluttered, and a familiar, gentle voice said in my ear, "Awake?"
Yongye yawned, her mind racing back to what had happened last night. Drugged, she rushed out of the Peony Courtyard, stole a horse, and then collapsed—he saved her? Would he kill her?
She slowly opened her eyes, remembering the throwing knife on her body. She moved slightly and felt the knife was still there.
Concealed weapons are, of course, weapons hidden in the shadows. Whether concealed on one's person or used to attack an enemy, they are always concealed, undetectable. The same applies to Yongye's concealed weapons. If you search her body, unless you strip her naked, you will never know where her throwing knives are hidden.
As long as Feng Yangxi can't see her blade, he won't know she's the assassin Xinghun. Is she confident she can kill him now? Yongye yawned, assessing the situation and the disparity in skill.
A fire was lit in the woods, with a rabbit roasting on top. Feng Yangxi, focused on roasting the rabbit, didn't even look up: "You're a servant from the Peony Courtyard, why did you suddenly go crazy and try to steal a horse?"
Yongye froze. He didn't recognize her? Remembering that the disguise on her face couldn't be washed off without powder, and that clothes make the man, and even dressed as a servant, she would look different from the splendidly dressed Marquis Yong'an. Yong'an's unease slowly subsided. She thought, with Feng Yangxi's reputation as a chivalrous hero, he wouldn't search her.
She breathed a sigh of relief, and the throwing knife disappeared from her palm. Yongye lowered his head and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm just a handyman, trying to make a living. I have no intention of selling myself..."
She seemed too sad to continue. Sometimes, saying half a sentence is better than saying the whole thing. What kind of place is Jihua Fang? What kind of place is Mudan Yuan? They stole a horse and ran away, and were even drugged. Yongye thought that the words left unsaid would allow Feng Yangxi to conjure up sufficiently erotic images.
Feng Yangxi looked at her with sympathy, tore the rabbit in half, and handed the larger piece to her.
Yongye didn't stand on ceremony and took the rabbit, eating it heartily.
Why did he end up at Jihua Fang and just happen to save me? Yongye wondered as he ate the rabbit.
After they finished eating the rabbit, Feng Yangxi tossed over a purse: "Here's some loose change."
Yongye took the purse, his mind racing, and choked with emotion, saying, "Thank you so much for saving my life, great hero. I, Xiao Mazi, have no way to repay you. I am willing to follow you and serve you like a slave..."
Feng Yangxi laughed and said, "It is the duty of a chivalrous person to help those in need. You are too kind. Take these pieces of silver and go home as soon as possible."