DIHBSG chapter 22

Even if the Semi-Truck young master didn’t recognize this face, he definitely recognized the clothing he was wearing.

It was someone from the Tiancha Division.

“You… you you you… you…”

Song Jian walked a few steps forward. “You what you? Want to see my fist the size of a sandbag?”

The Semi-Truck young master was so scared he stepped back.

The scene of the Tiancha Division’s raid on the Qin residence in the fourth year of Chengqian was still vivid. Even his father always told him not to get too involved with people from the Tiancha Division.

He retreated a few steps, then suddenly turned toward the dirty person: “This young master is in a good mood today, so I won’t bother with you. Get lost! Disgusting!”

Song Jian raised his fist again at him. “Say that again?!”

The Semi-Truck young master hurriedly ran off with his followers.

With no more excitement to watch, the crowd quickly dispersed as well. Song Jian was about to go ask the victim, but saw the other party frantically covering his face and quickly fleeing into a nearby hidden alley.

Song Jian found it a bit strange, but didn’t chase him.

—

At night, after the hour of Hai.

Yanning Palace.

Song Jian was sitting cross-legged on the beam. Xiao Wuzi secretly called him and said Danluo was at the door. He patted his butt and jumped down and slipped out.

“Lord Song! Lord Song! Over here!” Danluo lowered her voice and waved him over from the corner.

Song Jian walked quickly over. “What’s wrong?”

Danluo took out a paper oil-wrapped package from behind her. “This is pastries just made tonight from our small kitchen. They’re very delicious. The princess said you’ve worked hard on night duty, so she asked me to bring you some.”

Song Jian: “!!!”

He took the pastries. “Please thank the princess for me!”

Danluo smiled. “Alright, Lord Song.”

Xiao Yinghuai had just returned to Yanning Palace and immediately noticed the movement in the corner. He glanced over and asked Gong Defu, “Who is over there?”

Gong Defu was startled and quickly looked over. After seeing clearly, he relaxed. “Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s Danluo from the Eldest Princess’s side. She has been here once before. She should be looking for Lord Song.”

Xiao Yinghuai frowned slightly, his steps faltering.

The emperor’s displeasure was obvious, and Gong Defu froze in fear: “?”

What’s going on??

He looked at the man in front, then at the corner where Song Jian and the palace maid were smiling happily.

This, this this this…

Xiao Yinghuai withdrew his gaze and walked forward. “I am tired. Let’s go.”

Gong Defu couldn’t understand the emperor’s meaning, but didn’t dare say more and quickly followed.

On the other side, Song Jian knew nothing about it. Before going in, he ate several pieces of pastry outside and even enthusiastically shared some with Xiao Wuzi and other eunuchs.

The little eunuchs panicked. “Thank you, Lord Song, for the reward.”

Song Jian waved his hand. “No need, no need. These were sent by the princess.”

After eating, he strolled back in and was about to climb back onto the beam when a deep voice suddenly came from behind the golden carved dragon screen.

“Come here.”

Hm?

Song Jian paused. He tilted his head. “What’s up, Your Majesty?”

Behind the screen, warm steam lingered. The man should be bathing, but after Song Jian called out, there was no response.

He had no choice but to walk around the screen and call out again. “Your Majesty?”

The moment he peeked in, Song Jian met direct eye contact with the man sitting in the bath.

“……”

Xiao Yinghuai’s arm rested on the edge. The lines of his exposed shoulders and neck were smooth and well-defined. After removing his crown, his long black hair spread like ink.

Song Jian’s face suddenly flushed red.

Damn it, how could he let another man see such a scene?!

He quickly pulled his head back, his whole body radiating obvious guilty.

Xiao Yinghuai: “Why are you hiding? I have something to ask you.”

Song Jian: “(。· _ · 。)”

He shuffled over slowly, standing beside the man, carefully following the principle of “don’t look if you shouldn’t,” his face red as he stared forward, until the man spoke again.

“Do you think you’ve reached the age where you should be discussing marriage?”

Song Jian stared blankly. “Ah?”

“How long has it been?”

Song Jian: “?”

Bro, what are you saying??

The air fell silent for a long moment.

Xiao Yinghuai glanced at him from the side.

“You don’t want to say it, that’s fine. I won’t ask for now.”

“Considering you still don’t understand rules very well, I will not pursue past matters. But I do not want to see a second time.”

Song Jian’s alarm bells immediately rang. He quickly recalled everything he had done recently and locked onto one thing—

Definitely sneaking out of the palace!!

Without the slightest attempt to defend himself, Song Jian immediately admitted defeat at the top of his lungs. “I know I was wrong, Your Majesty! I swear I’ll never do it again!”

Xiao Yinghuai: “……”

After a long silence: “You agreed so quickly I thought you’d at least argue.”

Song Jian: “How could I, Your Majesty?!”

He put on his sincerest expression, holding his hands together in front of him as though presenting a bouquet. “This subordinate is Your Majesty’s personal guard. I listen only to Your Majesty and carry out only Your Majesty’s orders. Whatever Your Majesty says, this subordinate will obey. If Your Majesty says there won’t be a next time, then there won’t be a next time.”

“East is east, west is west, I bite whoever you tell me to bite, and I will absolutely not rebel.”

“I swear on my life!”

There it was again.

Xiao Yinghuai gave a cold laugh and looked at him sideways. “Is this a script written by Xiao Da?”

Song Jian shook his head hard.

Xiao Yinghuai studied him for a moment, then closed his eyes again. After a while, he said softly, “Idiot.”

Song Jian sniffed, blanking out.

After an unknown amount of time—

“Song Jian.” Xiao Yinghuai spoke.

Song Jian snapped back. “Here, Your Majesty!”

Only after answering did he realize something was wrong.

What did he just call him???

“Help me change clothes.”

Song Jian froze completely.

His hands trembled as he took the clothes. When he came back, he couldn’t help asking, “Your Majesty… just now… what did you call me?”

Xiao Yinghuai’s fingers resting on the edge paused slightly. In an instant he knew this fool had forgotten what happened when he was drunk that night.

He said slowly, “Song Jian.”

“The Jian in diligence and frugality.”

“……”

Damn!

Waking up to find your identity completely exposed—his alt account gone!

So… so…

Song Jian: “(tearful kitten jpg.)”

He asked fearfully, “Then… will you kill me?”

Xiao Yinghuai said lightly, “I only kill those who have committed crimes. Have you committed any?”

Song Jian thought for a moment. “No!! I haven’t!!”

Xiao Yinghuai: “Then why would I kill you?”

Song Jian immediately beamed. “Your Majesty is wise!! Your Majesty is wise!!”

—

After realizing his “underpants” were already completely gone, Song Jian became much less nervous. Although Xiao Yinghuai was sometimes strict, he was still a rare wise ruler.

That day Song Jian was again sunbathing on the wall of the Tiancha Division. A jujube tree outside stretched its branches over the bricks, forming a natural backrest.

This was his ultimate slacking spot after long observation.

Chang Ying stood below and tossed him a pear. “My Lord, catch!”

Song Jian reached out stylishly. “Chua—”

Thud.

The pear landed on his stomach.

Song Jian looked down: “.”

He calmly picked it up and took a bite.

Good, good, good!

After eating, he dozed off a bit. When he opened his eyes again, people were talking below the wall. He listened and caught a key name.

Qi Jingzhi.

He rubbed his eyes and asked, “Is Qi Jingzhi in the Ministry of Rites?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

After listening a bit more, he finally understood. Qi Jingzhi had recently been invited to the Ministry of Rites to draw illustrations for newly compiled historical records, and would probably stay in the palace for a while.

He yawned and thought of Xiao Yongning liking Qi Jingzhi’s illustrated books.

Perfect. Xiao Yongning was always gave him pastries and snacks anyway—he still hadn’t figured out what to give her in return.

He could get Qi Jingzhi’s autograph for her!

Song Jian flipped down from the wall and asked Chang Ying, “Do we have any folding fans in the Tiancha Division? Preferably with a large blank area.”

Chang Ying thought for a moment. “I think we do. I’ll go look.”

Soon Chang Ying came out holding a pink fan. “This is the only one I found. Will it work, My Lord?”

Song Jian glanced at it casually. “OK. No problem.”

With the fan in hand, he headed to the Ministry of Rites.

After entering, he asked someone, “Where is Minister Xu?”

Because Song Jian had heard Qi Jingzhi was usually with Xu Xian, and people in the Ministry of Rites were more familiar with Xu Xian—asking Xu Xian directly would be faster.

The person pointed. “In Dongling Pavilion.”

Song Jian cupped his hands. “Three thanks!”

He opened the fan and walked toward Dongling Pavilion.

Walk, walk—

Walk—

Suddenly, “Holy sh—!”

Bang!

The man he had just spoken to turned at the sound, his eyes widening in alarm: “Where’s Lord Song?”

At this moment, Song Jian was lying in a muddy pit beside the stone steps, covered in dirt.

“Lord Song! Are you alright?!”

Xu Xian was in Dongling Pavilion. Hearing the commotion, he hurried outside. Spotting Song Jian at once, he rushed over to help him up.

Seeing blood on his palm, his expression turned serious. “Go call someone.”

The junior official behind him nodded and ran off as fast as he could.

Halfway there, he ran into a young eunuch.

Waving from afar, he shouted, “Eunuch Xiao Fengzi! Eunuch Xiao Fengzi!”

Xiao Fengzi stopped.

“Oh my, Lord Song came to the Ministry of Rites with a pink fan, wanted to find Minister Xu, then fell down. Minister Xu’s expression was really scary!”

Xiao Fengzi: “I’ll go call someone!”

He ran again and bumped into Xiao Guizi.

Xiao Guizi: “What’s wrong? Why are you running so fast?”

Xiao Fengzi: “Lord Song went to the Ministry of Rites to give Minister Xu a fan, but fell before he could hand it over. Minister Xu is beside him now, and his expression looks terrible!”

Xiao Guizi: “??!”

He rushed to the Imperial Study.

Xiao Wuzi: “What’s going on?!”

Xiao Guizi: “Lord Song went to the Ministry of Rites to confess his feelings to Minister Xu, but was rejected and was pushed down! Minister Xu is still keeping him there!”

Gong Defu: “??!!”

He ran into the Golden Throne Hall.

“Your Majesty!! Something terrible has happened!!”

“Lord Song went to the Ministry of Rites to flirt with Minister Xu, and now he’s been detained by him!!!”

Xiao Yinghuai slowly raised his head.

“…?”

You’re not allowed to be friendly with palace maids, so you go find men instead?

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