Chapter 61: From the Flower Reflects a Picture – Part 17

 

 

Ming ChangYan’s expression changed.

The one who had arrived was monk Dao Zhen from XiaoHan Temple. He had the pleasure of meeting him before, where the other had seen his true appearance. They recently had a face-to-face meeting a few days ago, just that Ming ChangYan had seen him, but he hadn’t seen Ming ChangYan.

Ming shaoxia was lucky he hadn’t spotted him before, but this time, he wasn’t so lucky.

For a split second monk Dao Zhen and his eyes met, the other blurted out, “You…..”

Ming ChangYan whispered a “not good” and with the wind blowing behind him, he booked it.

He turned around and began running in the direction of an avenue, but somehow collided with Zhao XiaoLan who had been hurrying in his direction. Zhao XiaoLan cried out as Ming ChangYan hugged him by the shoulders, his face flushed up and jumped away at the speed of light, “Yan-jiejie!!”

Ming ChangYan said, “What are you so nervous for?” Having said that, he took a quick glance behind him before grabbing Zhao XiaoLan and sprinting away.

Zhao XiaoLan had actually come to put out the fire, but now that he was being pulled away by Ming ChangYan, he was dazed.

“Yan-jiejie! Slow down! Yan-jiejie!!!”

Ming ChangYan exclaimed, “Slow! Slow what down! I’m being chased!”

Zhao XiaoLan looked behind them and sure enough, closely following behind Ming ChangYan were XiaoHan Temple monks.

He screamed, “But!! But what am I running for!!!”

Ming ChangYan, “If you don’t want to run, then stop.”

Zhao XiaoLan stood still for a moment before immediately shouting, “Nope, Nope!! They’re chasing me!! Yan-jiejie!! Why are you being chased by XiaoHan Temple monks?!!”

Ming ChangYan shamelessly said, “Because I’m beautiful!”

Zhao XiaoLan wanted to cry but had no tears. Turning around the corner, he yelled, “It’s Huai Yu-gege!”

Ming ChangYan’s eyes lit up, in a few quick steps he went and hid behind Huai Yu. Zhao XiaoLan had run out of breath, he leaned against a wall as he took in large breathfuls of air.

A-Jun noticed the two were a complete mess, and couldn’t help but ask in bewilderment, “What happened to you guys?”

Ming ChangYan let out a sigh of relief. Looking around, he saw that both A-Jun and the third prince were here, but Zhu Rong was gone.

He asked, “Huai Yu, why are you here? Where’s Zhu Rong? Weren’t you keeping an eye on him?”

Huai Yu said, “XiaoHan Temple caught on fire, I came looking for you.”

Ming ChangYan repeated, “Looking for me?” He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “What’s so good-looking about me, what could I do, run straight into the fire?”

After saying this, Ming ChangYan seemed to have suddenly realized something and teased, “Were you worried about me?”

Huai Yu humphed.

Ming ChangYan was still laughing when the XiaoHan Temple monks arrived.

Among them, a monk with a pointed head roared, “Where’s Ming ChangYan!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao XiaoLan said, “Ming shaoxia? What Ming shaoxia?”

As the fire raged on, the country magistrate’s brows were beaded with sweat while commanding officers and men to put out the fire. At this point, no one cared about how much damage had been inflicted upon XiaoHan Temple’s newly built temple. Among the dozens of lives that were in the temple, none survived. After the fire continued to burn for a while, the front door collapsed with a loud bang. A few scorched corpses were stuck on the door and rolled out along with it. The people who were putting out the fire covered their mouths to stop themselves from vomiting.

When monk Dao Zhen saw this, it was as if he’d been struck by a bolt of lightning. A moment later, the monk with the pointy head’s eyes filled with tears as he cried out, “Needles…..it’s needles! There are needles all over my fellow apprentice’s necks!”

Although the bodies had been burned beyond recognition and the throats scorched to dense white bones with strips of flesh still connected to it, pierced through them were needles that had been burned black by the fire, under the light they seemed even more sinister.

Monk Dao Zhen screamed, “MING CHANGYAN!!”

Ming ChangYan thought: Hold up! It always points to me when needles show up! They just can’t seem to differentiate right and wrong, over here falsely accusing good people!

Monk Dao Zhen’s eyes were completely bloodshot as he looked towards Zhao XiaoLan, “Where’s Ming ChangYan!”

Zhao XiaoLan said, “You’re asking me? I, I…..him, how am I supposed to know! Ming shaoxia, hasn’t Ming shaoxia already been killed by you guys!”

The monk with the pointy head shouted, “He never died in the first place! He’s still alive! If not…..then how do you explain this fire!”

Ming ChangYan had already become accustomed to getting berated, but Zhao XiaoLan’s neck stiffened as his face turned red from anger. Every time Ming ChangYan was mentioned in a conversation, Zhao XiaoLan would turn into a completely different person, and would always try and compete with the other party.

“Old monk! I’ll give you some face since you’re a senior in your sect, but if you say another bad word about Ming shaoxia, I’m afraid you’re going to get more than you bargained for!”

The pointy-headed monk fumed, “And who are you, Ming ChangYan has killed tens of my XiaoHan Temple’s disciples, a blood debt must be paid in blood!”

Zhao XiaoLan, “Hilarious! The person who forced Ming shaoxia to his death was the leader of your XiaoHan Temple! Who didn’t see him fall into the Yanbo River, what, you slander him for killing people when he was alive, and you plan on slandering him even after his death?! I want to hear for myself what kind of ridiculous reasons you old monks have for me!”

Pointy-headed monk, “Who else is there beside him!”

Zhao XiaoLan said, “What a joke! There are so many people in this world that use needles, and yet you blame it all on a dead man! It’s just because you XiaoHan Temple see him in a bad light, it’s priceless, even at death he never really paid that much attention towards you, and here’s you, hurrying to declare him an enemy! You all are literally the most inexplicably fragile sect I’ve ever seen! Why don’t you go ahead and say that it’s because you angered the Zhuang family’s spirits by building your temple here! Still the same fire! I’m warning you!”

The pointy-headed monk, “You!”

The third prince proclaimed, “Stop!”

It was only then that monk Dao Zhen discovered the third prince was here.

He woefully said, “Your highness the third prince……a great calamity has befallen our sect, I ask the third prince to look at this with your insight, and make a decision for us.”

Upon hearing this, Ming ChangYan burst out into laughter. He stood behind Huai Yu and said coldly, “You old XiaoHan Temple donkeys refused to find evidence for this case, and now you’re even trying to shamelessly conspire together with the court.”

Huai Yu said, “You better start worrying about yourself first.”

Ming ChangYan said, “Me? Why should I worry about myself.” His eyes curved as he playfully smiled, “Huai Yu-gege, you promised to cover for me.”

Huai Yu calmly turned his head, “Hmph.”

Ming ChangYan tugged on his sleeve, “Hey, where did Zhu Rong go?”

Huai Yu shook his head, “He took advantage of the disturbance and ran away, so I brought Zhao XiaoLan over here.”

Ming ChangYan, “He may have expected me catching up on him, so he set XiaoHan Temple on fire to draw our attention away from him. It’s because he ran away that XiaoHan Temple is now putting all the blame for this one on me.”

At that moment, the third prince asked, “Dao Zhen-fangzhang, how are you certain that this XiaoHan Temple fire was caused by Ming ChangYan?”

Zhao XiaoLan exclaimed, “Exactly! Ming shaoxia didn’t even have a peaceful death, while you old monks are running off to brothels every day instead of practicing your cultivation or studying! Always staring at someone better than you, why don’t you take a closer look at your own moral integrity!”

The third prince, “XiaoLan, calm down.”

Zhao XiaoLan gnashed his teeth, crossed his arms, turned his head, and closed his eyes, so angry he refused to speak.

The third prince began, “Fangzhang, it was you explained back then that Ming ChangYan had already died, for you to now push these things onto his head, this……”

The pointy-headed monk shouted, “He didn’t die! Master saw him just now! Master Dao Zhen, you explain–master is the only person who’s seen Ming ChangYan’s real appearance. Just now, he saw Ming ChangYan! We all saw him there, Ming ChangYan ran the moment he saw master!”

The pointy-headed monk suddenly turned his gaze towards Zhao XiaoLan and stared him down, “It was him! He was the one who was grabbed by Ming ChangYan and pulled away!”

The third prince kindly asked, “Dao Zhen-fangzhang, did such a thing happen?”

Dao Zhen’s complexion changed, “This……”

He couldn’t be sure. Although born within XiaoHan Temple, Dao Zhen was different from the majority of those there. He was someone honest, a temperamental person who would listen to words of reasoning first and fairness second. Just now, he really felt that the person he’d seen was Ming ChangYan, but couldn’t conclude that it had definitely been Ming ChangYan.

After all, the Noble Gentleman died two years ago, that’s for sure. Everyone had watched as his body was fished up from the river. Although there were rumors going around Jianghu that he didn’t die, they were never mainstream. Moreover, Dao Zhen had only seen Ming ChangYan’s appearance once and that was many years ago, after such a long period of time, no matter how good his memory was, it wasn’t impossible for him to have seen wrong.

Monk Dao Zhen admitted, “This monk is not sure.”

Zhao XiaoLan said, “What do you mean by, ‘I’m not sure.’ A no’s a no! You should stop making malicious accusations! Do you really want me to tell you? Old monk, the person who pulled me away wasn’t Ming shaoxia, in fact, she’s not even a man!”

Ming ChangYan, “…”

Zhao XiaoLan was filled with righteous indignation, “She’s a woman!”

Pointy-headed monk was stunned for a moment, before rushing to say, “Pah! What woman! This kid must be blind, what kind of woman is that tall!”

Zhao XiaoLan retorted, “You’re the one who’s blind, what, you’re banning women to grow tall now! Stop with your conceited nonsense, do you know who she is?”

An alarm rose within Ming ChangYan, and as expected, Zhao XiaoLan paused for a bit before promptly saying, “She’s the wife of the Young Prime Minister!”

This time even monk Dao Zhen was shocked.

“Prime Minister’s wife?”

Zhao XiaoLan secretly thought: Sure enough, the ways of the world would only work if Huai Yu-gege’s reputation is brought up.

The third prince’s expression slightly changed.

Monk Dao Zhen inquired, “You mean that Immortal Yun Qing?”

Zhao XiaoLan said, “Yeah so what? Are you experiencing dementia to the point that you can’t even tell a woman apart from a man! How could this be made up? The third prince is right here, if you don’t believe me, then go ahead and try asking him.”

The third prince wore a face full of awkwardness, after being put on the spot by Zhao XiaoLan’s bold words, he could only take Ming ChangYan’s side and smile, “XiaoLan is right.”

Zhao XiaoLan was elated, he felt as if he had just won a battle, turning around he shouted, “Huai Yu-gege, aren’t I right!”

Ming ChangYan felt too ashamed to show his face, wanting to dig a hole and bury himself in it.

No, he didn’t need to dig a hole, he had been slowly digging a hole for himself this entire time, and now Zhao XiaoLan this little blockhead has pushed him in!

You’ve sinned me!

Ming shaoxia internally cried.

He hurriedly glanced at Huai Yu. Luckily, the other paid no attention towards Zhao XiaoLan’s blather. This allowed Ming ChangYan to feel both relieved yet a bit upset.

With Huai Yu here, the monks from XiaoHan Temple lost some of their arrogance and weren’t as aggressive as before. Monk Dao Zhen originally thought that the more he looked, the more this person looked like Ming ChangYan, but now with the third prince’s confirmation, he lost his confidence and began doubting whether his memory really was that bad.

However, the pointy-headed monk still refused to yield, questioning, “All in all, even if it wasn’t done by Ming ChangYan, it still had something to do with him. He didn’t do it, doesn’t mean that people from TianQing sect didn’t? In the years after his death, has there been any fewer sects that have been wiped out using needles? From the way I see it, it’s actually TianQing sect that’s been secretly behind it all!”

Ming ChangYan’s expression sank, “A bunch of nonsense.”

The third prince, “Dao Zhen-fangzhang, there’s something very fishy about this situation, but right now what’s important is to extinguish the fire first, after the fire is put out, then we can begin discussing this matter.”

He turned around, “A-Jun, it’s late. You’re not allowed to join in on this, have Duan Min take you back to sleep.”

A-Jun looked enthusiastic at first, but upon hearing the third prince’s words, she yawned and rubbed her eyes.

She was indeed a little sleepy, and usually, she would’ve already been in bed at around this time.

Therefore, at the third prince’s proposal, she nodded and stretched out her hands at Duan Min, “I’m tired, carry me back to sleep.”

The third prince frowned, “A-Jun, he doesn’t understand these things, but how can you too be so ignorant. You’re already at this age, and continue to interact with Duan Min like such. Father will be selecting a marriage partner for you in a few years, I know that you grew up beside him, but men and women are different. You can’t behave like this in the future.”

A-Jun was very upset by his words, “Sanhuang-xiong, you should mind your own business, humph! Duan Duan, I can’t walk anymore, I want to go to bed!”

Duan Min bent down, carried A-Jun in his arms, and lightly walked away.

Ming ChangYan also cupped his hands together and said, “Your highness the third prince, I will also be taking my leave. XiaoLan, come here, you’ll follow me tonight.”

After he finished, Zhao XiaoLan said, “Yan-jiejie, are you going back to sleep?”

Ming ChangYan answered, “Naturally.”

Zhao XiaoLan quickly strode over and stood in front of Huai Yu, “I still have one more thing I have to ask Huai Yu-gege.”

The three of them walked while listening to Zhao XiaoLan’s explanation.

He said, “Huai Yu-gege, do you have any medicine to treat scars, that after you apply it, the skin will look the same as before?”

Ming ChangYan inquired, “What do you want something like that for? Are you injured? Where, let me see.”

Zhao XiaoLan shook his head, “I’m not injured. It’s Maiden Li Li, she has a lot of scars on her hand, I wanted to ask Huai Yu-gege for an ointment.”

Huai Yu was very surprised, “Bai Jin?”

Ming ChangYan was also a bit surprised, “She has scars on her hand? I’d think that with her being the world’s number one beauty, she would be the best and most beautiful at everything.”

Zhao XiaoLan sighed, “According to Maiden Li Li, she accidentally broke a lantern and was cut by the falling glass pieces. It looked to me like it had been cut that way. No wonder Maiden Li Li stopped accepting invitations to dance a few years back, it was because of this. In short, an entire arm was covered in scars, it looked terrible. Li Li said herself that she couldn’t find a good ointment so that’s why I came to ask Huai Yu-gege for one.”

Huai Yu was taciturn for a long time, after a while of thinking, he finally said, “After we return to the capital, come to the Ninety-Nineth Palace to fetch it.”

Zhao XiaoLan beamed, “Thank you Huai Yu-gege!”

Ming ChangYan said, “Wait a minute. XiaoLan, come over here, I also have something to ask you. After you answer, I’ll have your Huai Yu-gege give you an extra ointment.”

Zhao XiaoLan glanced at Huai Yu, only after seeing Huai Yu nod in agreement did he ask, “What does Yan-jiejie want to ask me?”

Ming ChangYan said, “Your good friend, Zhu Rong!”

Zhao XiaoLan’s eyes widened, “Zhu-xiong?”

Ming ChangYan, “Yup, him. XiaoLan let me ask you, does Zhu Rong have any usually strange behaviors? Have you ever felt something off about his bells? Or has your body felt any discomfort when you’re beside him?”

Although Zhao XiaoLan didn’t know why Ming ChangYan was asking him these things, after thinking about it, he honestly answered, “Nope. Apart from Zhu-xiong’s bells sounding nice, there isn’t anything else.”

Ming ChangYan thought: Seems like he didn’t do anything to XiaoLan.

Zhao XiaoLan suddenly began comforting Ming ChangYan, “Yan-jiejie, don’t take those old monk’s impudent remarks earlier to heart. It’s only because your voice is just slightly deeper than other women, that they wrangled you up as a man! I don’t believe it, I’ll never think you are bad, Yan-jiejie treats me well. I won’t let others say you’re not!”

When Ming ChangYan heard this, he didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, only saying, “Well, then thank you very much XiaoLan.”

He turned to Huai Yu and said, “I’m looking for another person.”

Huai Yu asked, “Who else are you looking for?”

Ming ChangYan grinned, “And he appears the moment I mention him.”

Huai Yu looked over and saw Baili with a squadron of imperial guards rush over. They seem to have come to check on the fire.

Ming ChangYan swiftly stopped him and said, “Baili, there’s already people tending to XiaoHan Temple right now, is it possible for me to take a moment of your time?”

Baili saw that Zhao XiaoLan and the Young Prime Minister were both here, so he couldn’t refuse. He looked at Huai Yu, his face full of hesitation as he nervously glanced the other’s way.

“This…..Madame*, this isn’t very appropriate.” In reality, no matter how hard Baili Deng looked, he couldn’t make out that Ming ChangYan was a woman. But since Zhao XiaoLan said so, Princess YuNing also said so, as a lackey, he had no other choice but to follow his master’s wishes.

(TN: “夫人”; this is also what they’ve been addressing MCY back when they called him the Prime Minister’s wife)

Ming shaoxia had already become so accustomed to hearing this title that he didn’t even feel like refuting him anymore, allowing Baili to call him whatever he wanted.

“What’s so inappropriate about this. I’m just going to ask you a few questions, I won’t eat you!” Seeing how he wasn’t willing to move forward, Ming ChangYan just went ahead and asked, “That day, the story you told Zhao XiaoLan about a man in black that used needles to exterminate an entire sect, could you tell me it again?”

Baili Deng was taken back, “Story? How does Madame know I told that story?”

Ming ChangYan froze.

He suddenly remembered that his current identity was the “Young Prime Minister’s wife”, back when he first heard this story he was still the “emperor’s wife.” He didn’t pay attention this time, so he just went ahead and asked. From Baili’s reaction, he probably didn’t recognize him. If one of the emperor’s personal guards found out that dear ol’ emperor was cheated on and that Huai Yu had abducted his wife, isn’t that a crime punishable by beheading!

Ming shaoxia was in a train of thought, his mind a complete mess. Yet he was still narcissistic enough to sorrowfully sigh: This shaoxia is truly a femme fatale, natural talent is hard to throw away!

He rarely got choked on by sentence, he looked towards Huai Yu, begging him with his eyes.

Huai Yu said, “I told him*.”

(TN: Huai Yu here uses the male form of ‘ta’, while the others all use the female form of ‘ta’. They both sound the same which is why it all comes down to text)

Baili Deng had a sudden revelation and smiled, “I see. The Young Prime Minister and his wife are very much in love for you to tell her everything, your relationship is very good.”

Ming ChangYan supported his forehead: This shaoxia’s lifelong, illustrious name has now been completely destroyed! Luckily Huai Yu this little brat doesn’t care about these things, otherwise, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t clear things out.

And yet, after a moment of silence, Huai Yu suddenly gave a considerate nod, “Mn.”

Ming ChangYan: …..Mn???

Huai Yu said, “It’s very good.”

 

The author has something to say: MN MN MN MN MN MN MN MN!!!! Although you two aren’t dating yet, every night I still frantically think of this and that!!

 

 

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work, I’ll chisel your head into a ⇧

 

 

 

Chapter 61!! One of my personal favorites.

Next chapter is kinda super long and I’m not prepared hahahaᕙ( ^ₒ^ c)

Do you guys prefer the tl notes or do you want me to just translate the English meaning down into the most readable text?

If you see any grammatical/translation mistakes please tell me! I don’t notice a lot of things, mostly grammar.

Okay, gonna go fangirl over how cute Guo Qilin is now, have an amazing day guys~~~

 

 

 

Chapter 60 : Table of Contents : Chapter 62