Chapter 64: From the Flower Reflects a Picture – Part 20

“WHAT!!!???” Ming ChangYan cried out in alarm. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was acupunctured, his entire person would’ve bounced up by now.

Huai Yu frowned.

Ming ChangYan’s shock was overwhelming, his first reaction was, “Huai Yu! So you did lie to me!”

Huai Yu said, “If you keep making noise, I’m going to tap your yaxue point*.”

(TN: 哑穴; located at the back of the neck, from my knowledge of acupuncture I think this is the one that makes you mute.)

Ming ChangYan couldn’t even care, promptly asking Aunt LingZhi, “Auntie, when was the Immortal Grass stolen?”

Aunt LingZhi looked at Huai Yu, Huai Yu nodded, “If he asks, answer.”

Aunt LingZhi said, “Three days ago when her Majesty went to check on the Immortal Grass under the Phoenix seal, it had disappeared. But when it comes to it, her Majesty does not check every day, so her Majesty isn’t sure the exact day it was stolen. This matter is very confidential, besides me and her Majesty, there is not a single other person in Yongxian Palace that knows about this. It was only today when I came to retrieve the medicine that I’ve told the Young Prime Minister.”

Huai Yu contemplated for a moment.

Ming ChangYan yelled, “Huai Yu, undo my acupuncture points!”

The second those words came out, Aunt LingZhi’s expression became even stranger.

Huai Yu said, “Don’t pay attention to him. Let the empress know that I will come visit her.”

Aunt LingZhi let out an ‘ai’, and gave Ming ChangYan an unfathomable look before leaving.

Even someone as powerful as Ming shaoxia was played by a fish, he was both sad and angry.

Huai Yu sat beside him as if absorbed in thought. Ming ChangYan opened his mouth, “You undo my acupuncture points and I won’t leave, I want to talk to you properly!”

Huai Yu faintly glanced at him.

Ming ChangYan said, “So you really did have the Immortal Grass, why did you lie to me?”

Huai Yu tapped his left and right shoulder, Ming ChangYan’s body softened and fell back on the bed. He quickly sat up and asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Huai Yu said, “The Immortal Grass has already been stolen, what’s the use of knowing now.”

Ming ChangYan stated, “That’s just false reasoning.”

He walked towards the window, Huai Yu quickly grabbed him, “What are you doing?”

Ming ChangYan, “Why is your grip so tight?”

Then, he suddenly realized, “I won’t jump, don’t worry. Since I’m already here, it’d be too much of a bother to go back. Of course, there’s still the pressing matter with the Immortal Grass, I just wanted to let Lady Hua know that she doesn’t have to keep waiting for me.”

Huai Yu thought about it then said, “I wanted you to come to the Ninety-Ninth Palace because it’s convenient for you to recuperate. If there’s something wrong with your body, I would know immediately.”

Ming ChangYan beamed, “In that case, I’d have to thank the Young Prime Minister for his consideration!”

Huai Yu snorted.

Ming ChangYan raised his forefingers, brought them up to his mouth, and let out a whistle. Finally, after a repeated four to five whistles, from outside the Ninety-Ninth Palace flew in a fat pigeon.

It was shaky and unsteady in its flying, just from this figure he could tell it was Little Eight.

Little Eight’s never flown this high before, upon landing on the window frame, he almost couldn’t take another breath, if not this bird would’ve already passed on.

Ming ChangYan took some papers and pens and wrote a note informing Hua YunChang that he wouldn’t be back as of late and will be staying at the Ninety-Ninth Palace for the time being.

After receiving his assignment, Little Eight took off and flew towards Hua YunChang’s residence.

Ming ChangYan said, “I had thought that after my death, TianQing would become a complete mess and Little Eight would probably be captured and roasted by one of the sects. I didn’t expect to find him living a pretty good life at Lady Hua’s, he’s even two lumps fatter than before. Just that now all of his wives are gone.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ming ChangYan turned back around, but suddenly saw that behind the screen across from them—seemed to reflect the shadow of a person.

He didn’t even notice?

When did this person come in?

“There’s a person in this room.”

Huai Yu said, “Of course there are people in this room.”

Ming ChangYan pulled him over, “It’s not just you and me.”

He cautiously took a look behind the screen, and there stood a man. For this man to enter this room without Ming ChangYan’s knowing, it’s clear that this man’s cultivation was high.

But, upon taking a closer look at their appearance, Ming ChangYan’s nervousness disappeared.

He was both startled and surprised, “Master!”

The man that had been standing there was Chang Xu.

“When did you come in?”

Chang Xu didn’t look at him and slowly said, “I was here before you came.”

Ming ChangYan was suddenly hit with a guilty conscience. So wouldn’t that mean, the conversation he and Huai Yu had when they first came in, about snatching civilian women and making them their wives, were all heard by Chang Xu?

Chang Xu was holding a book in his hand, and the ground behind the screen was also a huge mess, it looked like he had been looking for information. Seeing how Ming ChangYan had spotted him, he closed the book, sighed in a pretentious manner, and said something that made Ming ChangYan feel even more embarrassed, “It seems that this master can’t come in here casually anymore, the little apprentices have grown up and got themselves private spaces, sigh.”

Huai Yu ignored it and questioned, “Weren’t you going down south, why are you back so soon?”

“So heartless, I’m your master, aren’t I allowed to come into this Ninety-Ninth Palace? I used to regard this place as my home, what, now that you have a shixiong, you’re giving your master the cold-shoulder?” Chang Xu was very self-confident in his convictions, beginning to blame Huai Yu.

Huai Yu, on the other hand, didn’t hold the appearance of being an apprentice at all, disinclined to really bother with Chang Xu.

Ming ChangYan was already used to kissing up to people, quickly asking, “Master, do you need me for something?”

Chang Xu shot him a glance, but replied, “No I didn’t come here looking for you, I came here looking for a little ingrate. Yun Qing, let me ask you, what did you do to your shixiong?”

Ming ChangYan thought: Huai Yu has a little shixiong? Where’d he get a shixiong from?

But then he thought, Chang Xu only had two disciples, that little shixiong, if it wasn’t him then who would it be!

Ming ChangYan came back to his senses, “What did he do to me?”

And then, looking a little dazed, Ming shaoxia’s mind began rushing towards indescribable thoughts.

If he and Huai Yu had done any sort of ‘shady’ things that could be mentioned so seriously by Chang Xu, then there’d only be that kiss that wasn’t technically a kiss.

Although he’s always respected Chang Xu, he knows this person is very mysterious. He knows of astronomy and geology, both omniscient and omnipotent, but…..he didn’t expect him to know about this too??

It can’t be?

Was Chang Xu present at that time, but he just didn’t notice? What is going on?

Shameful….

Really too shameful!!

Ming ChangYan’s ears turned red, he was both nervous and afraid of getting found out. Laughing, he tried to explain himself in a few words, but he stuttered, “No, it’s not….I what, we actually, we have, haven’t…..”

Chang Xu was puzzled as to why he was so nervous, he was unable to fathom why Ming ChangYan was stuttering so much.

“I didn’t ask you, I asked him. ChangYan, the tattoo on your back, take it off and show it to me.”

Huai Yu’s expression changed.

Ming ChangYan reached out and touched his back, “Tattoo?”

This tattoo was something Chang Xu had helped him grain on his back years ago. It depicts all the 4 different phases of the moon in orbit, led by it were a string of Tokhara scripts leading all the way down his back before ending at his back dimples.

Chang Xu approached Ming ChangYan, fanning his fan and asking, “You still don’t know, that there’s a strange smell on yourself?”

Ming ChangYan was quick to lift up his sleeves to take a sniff, “Smell? There’s nothing, master, I bathe very diligently.”

Chang Xu said, “I’m not saying you smell bad, I mean a sweet fragrance!”

Ming ChangYan was doubtful, “I don’t wear perfume, where’s this fragrance coming from?”

Chang Xu snorted and said, “Of course you can’t smell it, only Yun Qing can distinguish the scent from your body.”

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan was mystified.

During this, Chang Xu had already asked Huai Yu, “When did you use the needle on him, is this how you choose to use the skills I taught you?”

Huai Yu turned his head, picked up a teacup from the table, and made a gesture to drink it, but instead just used it to cover half his face, he replied, “He was the one who started it.”

Ming ChangYan, “What?”

Chang Xu said, “What do you mean ‘he started it’, I’ve never taught him this, don’t tell me he came up to you and begged you to use this on him?”

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan said in surprise, “Master, you did hide things from me! So there really were other things you didn’t teach me!”

Chang Xu said, “That’s not the problem right now, I’m interrogating this little rascal. Why don’t you ask him, why he can find you wherever you go.”

Ming ChangYan faintly raised his eyebrows, looking towards Huai Yu.

Huai Yu moved his gaze unnaturally from left to right and softly humphed, not forgetting his habit.

Chang Xu said, “Since he refuses to say, then I’ll say it. Let me ask you, is there a faint, muddled fragrance on Yun Qing?”

Ming ChangYan nodded.

Chang Xu continued, “Are you the only one who can smell it, while others can’t?”

Ming ChangYan felt uncertain, only he could smell it?

It then occurred to him that when he first entered the palace, he had asked Fu Ling and Peony whether they smelled a faint fragrance and they had said no.

He promptly asked, “Why’s that.”

Chang Xu answered, “It’s because many years ago I discovered a certain method. This method uses a special kind of tattoo dye. If this dye were to penetrate the skin, it could resist minor illnesses and some toxins. In fact, it can be refined into medicine, and is a very precious dye.”

“This is precisely the dye I used to tattoo you years ago, including the ones on Yun Qing’s body.”

Ming ChangYan was completely taken back.

“But the tattoos by themselves are only disease and poison resistant, if acupuncture is applied to acupoints and plant juice is infused, it can allow the tattoo to emit a peculiar fragrance. Apart from people who have been subjected to this method, others are unable to smell this hidden fragrance.”

“This was something I picked up during my travels to a remote tribe. This method was mainly used among tribal warriors, in order to find moles from other countries, this hidden fragrance helped distinguish them from the others.” He paused, “Secondly…..” Chang Xu subtly glanced at the two, “There’s also a section of nobility, who use it to prove the truth of husband and wife. If two people have identical tattoos, it represents they are willing to tie their bonds as husband and wife and to never part.”

He finished speaking and glanced at Huai Yu.

Ming ChangYan was shocked, “Is that so?!”

Chang Xu nodded.

Ming ChangYan sighed, “That’s a pity, if this method was improved, it could become invincible for tracking!”

The atmosphere froze for nearly a quarter of an hour.

Chang Xu opened his mouth, “You don’t have any other thoughts?”

Ming ChangYan said, “How do I use this, teach me, I guarantee that in less than a month I can think of a better method that is easier than tattooing!”

All in all, knowing that Chang Xu didn’t know what happened that day, already had Ming ChangYan sighing in relief.

It had been on his nerves for a long time!

Chang Xu exclaimed, “Then why were you so shocked!”

Isn’t he shocked because of the couple thing?

But Ming ChangYan was completely unaware, saying, “Master it’s all your fault. If you had told me about this, would there be as many unjust cases in marital circles, I could’ve caught those people even if they’d been a thousand miles away! Why did you only teach him, but not me?”

He spoke assertively, and it appeared to be vaguely accusing Chang Xu in between phrases.

In fact, Chang Xu could only be labeled as Ming ChangYan’s master by name, he had never really taught him anything. During most of the time Chang Xu was in Tokahara he had swindled food and drinks from the palace, he would offhandedly mention a few things to him and got familiar with this little demon. It was his mother who really taught him.

Chang Xu stroked his beard and snorted, “You were a child that could not be taught!”

Ming ChangYan suddenly changed the topic and asked Huai Yu, “They put it on moles, and you put it on me? Little Huai Yu, I haven’t done anything to be sorry for, right?”

Chang Xu, “Pardon me, you guys can talk about your matters later. Yun Qing, you must have a reason for calling me here.”

Ming ChangYan looked towards Huai Yu.

Huai Yu sat down and said, “The emperor has set up a military campaign against a small country north of Nanping. These past few days, he’s written up a document to fix a date for attack.”

Chang Xu’s face sank, “Why does he want to go to war again? Does he think it’s appropriate when the people’s lives are destitute?” Now, because of Ming ChangYan’s death three years ago, disorder has become rampant within the Central Plains. If one were to ask where things right now are in the most turmoil, it would be the Central Plains.

Huai Yu’s hand began to unknowingly play with a small gold bead as he said, “Help me delay it for half a year, after half a year, nothing will happen again.”

Chang Xu said, “How certain are you about this?”

Huai Yu, “Very.”

After a long time, Chang Xu thought of someone and sighed, “Alright, I got it. Is there anything else besides this?”

Huai Yu briefly thought for a moment, ultimately shaking his head.

After Chang Xu left, Ming ChangYan resumed the topic from earlier, saying, “Hey, Young Prime Minister, when did you prick a needle on me, how come I didn’t know?”

Huai Yu loosened his hand, but his expression was cold, “You asked for it.” He then seemed to feel a little angry and added, “You were drunk, you don’t remember.”

Ming ChangYan’s smile gradually disappeared, “I was drunk? When was I drunk? When did I do it?”

Having said that, Ming ChangYan abruptly paused and it suddenly dawned on him, “I know, it was that night.”

That night when Huai Yu bid goodbye to XianYue Mountain, he had taken a jar of liquor from the wine cellar and said he wanted to get him drunk. But unexpectedly, instead of Huai Yu getting drunk, he got himself intoxicated.

Ming ChangYan has never touched a drop of alcohol before, he occasionally liked to drink a bit of tea, and so he didn’t know what he was like drunk.

But looking at Huai Yu’s confident appearance, had he really gone and provoked him?

But why would he want Huai Yu to prick a needle on him for no good reason?

Speaking of which, since this hidden fragrance had been planted on him for a long time now, doesn’t that mean when he first entered the palace Huai Yu would’ve known it was him the instant he smelled it?

Recalling the act he had played in front of Huai Yu……had Ming ChangYan start blushing in shame, this little brat clearly knew who he was; how was he able to keep himself from laughing at his stupid self……

The more Ming ChangYan thought about it, the more muddle-headed he became, the more muddle-headed he became, the more out of control it was. He had been so worried about whether Chang Xu knew about that day’s kiss, it was only now that he finally came back to his senses.

What was it again? There was also something about husband and wife?

Although he used a needle on him, Huai Yu definitely didn’t mean it by that. And yet, Ming ChangYan had a guilty conscience and felt he should continue with this thought or his brain might start to rot. Thus, he promptly shifted the topic, “Ai, alright, I can’t remember it anyway, in any case, it smells pretty good, haha.”

He switched back to the original topic, “Little Huai Yu, where does this Immortal Grass actually come from? I asked you before, but why didn’t you just tell me?”

Then on second thought, how precious was the Immortal Grass? Why should the Young Prime Minister tell him the truth? He wasn’t anyone special to him. Besides, Huai Yu’s already helped him so much and has done almost everything for him. It’s normal for him to not tell him about this. He rubbed his nose and said, “Forget it, forget, I’m confused. I mean, why was the Immortal Grass with the empress, and then stolen? Why did the empress tell you?”

“The Immortal Grass was originally the empress’s.” Huai Yu calmly took a sip of tea, “However, the Immortal Grass that was with the empress wasn’t real.”

Ming ChangYan was still worrying, but upon hearing this, he was stunned, “What do you mean?”

Huai Yu said, “I said, the Immortal Grass that was stolen from the phoenix seal, was fake.”

Ming ChangYan looked grim, calming himself down he asked, “Then who would’ve been able to find the empress’s Immortal Grass that was hidden in the phoenix seal? Who could’ve known about it and stolen it?”

Huai Yu said, “That fake grass was an imitation, it’s only natural that I’ve done something to it. Its aroma is vastly different from the original, as long as that person appears in front of me, then I’d know who stole it.”

Ming ChangYan was slightly taken back, “You did this on purpose!”

He suddenly smiled, “Little Huai Yu, you’re really bad.” After thinking about it, he asked again, “What if they choose to eat the grass?”

Huai Yu explained, “The Immortal Grass can only be eaten by people who are extremely weak. If it were to be eaten by someone in good health, the medicine would be too strong, their seven apertures would start to bleed and they’d die. If their purpose for stealing the Immortal Grass was to kill, they wouldn’t have taken the risk of stealing it from the empress, they would’ve just used some random poison. Therefore, the reason this person stole the medicine definitely isn’t for the purpose of murder.”

Ming ChangYan concluded, “So they’re either going to feed it to someone weak, or doing this to prevent a weak person from regaining their health.”

If that’s the case, then this attack was aimed at him.

Apart from him, who else desperately needed the Immortal Grass?

Huai Yu said, “Who do you believe stole the medicine?”

Ming ChangYan shook his head, seemingly at a loss. Huai Yu gazed at him profoundly, before looking away.

Ming ChangYan didn’t notice it, and said, “This Immortal Grass is a divine medicine that only exists in legend. The only reason I came to the palace was because this was my last hope of recovery. But who would’ve imagined that in the palace, I’d meet you, I really lucked out.”

He suddenly asked, “Huai Yu, how did you get the Immortal Grass?”

Huai Yu, “You don’t need to know about it.”

“Don’t tell me you stole it from the empress?”

At that, Huai Yu stood up and gave him a very contemptuous look.

Ming ChangYan also cheered up, rolling up his sleeves, he said, “That’s fine. If you don’t want to say, then I won’t ask. Now let’s go and catch that medicine stealing thief!”

However, Huai Yu suddenly held him down, “No. Don’t worry, eat the medicine first then take a medical bath. It’s with me, it’s not going to run away.”

Ming ChangYan laughed and quickly kissed up to him, “Whatever the Young Prime Minister says!”

Huai Yu began, “Didn’t you want to participate in the Great FengShan Feast? Stay here for a while, I can restore you to the level of participation.”

Ming ChangYan was pleasantly surprised, “Really?”

Huai Yu said, “Why would I lie to you.” After a short pause he then added, “In fact, no one can steal the Immortal Grass now because you’ve already eaten most of it.”

Just now he had still been thinking how he wouldn’t have been given such a precious item, but then to be told that he’d already eaten most of the said precious item, Ming ChangYan was utterly shocked.

“It was eaten by me?? When did I eat it, how come I didn’t know.”

Huai Yu gazed at him, then slightly hummed.

Understanding, Ming ChangYan suddenly felt a little ecstatic. Apart from being able to recover his body, there were also other things as well. He laid down on the bed and said, “Then alright. Starting today, I’m going to be living here!”

Inside the room, it was quiet for a while.

Then by surprise, Huai Yu started to say, “The reason I went to the Hundred Flower Abyss today, was to confirm something.”

Ming ChangYan had just found out that he could recover even better, and currently felt a little generous, saying, “Wasn’t it to take a look at the world’s number one beauty?”

As soon as those words exited his mouth, he thought ‘no good’, and felt ashamed: Why does that sound like a dissatisfied woman, no good, no good!

Ming shaoxia quickly corrected himself, “I meant, to deliver medicine for Li Li.”

Huai Yu shook his head, “No.”

Ming ChangYan paused for a bit, but couldn’t help but ask, “Then why?”

Huai Yu began, “I went there today, to confirm the identity of Ugly Guanyin.”

Ming ChangYan’s expression changed.

The author has something to say:

They’re going to be living together~~

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work, I will needle you and track you to your demise.

Do you like the fanart? I was actually trying to find this one artist on Weibo that drew a lot of fanart for this novel, but it turns out they actually deleted their account /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~

I’ll post the fanart that I had saved prior in later chapters. I actually promised to doodle a Huai Yu like two chapters back but again forgot to post it with my last post so I’m adding an extra fanart on this chapter, hope you like it? (´ж｀;)

okay I’m nervous, uuuhhh if you see any grammar/translation mistakes hit me an email or something! It’s in the information tab.

Okay, love ya’ll byeeeeee~~

Chapter 63 : Table of Contents : Chapter 65