ADENCPIFPM Chapter 10

The excitement of the Poetry Gathering was over.

But the real action on Changning Lake was only just beginning.

With a single gong strike, several dragon boats lined up across the water, all poised to set off. Chu Chen stood by the shore, jostled to and fro by the surging crowd. Mutou tried his best to shield him, but the throng was simply too dense.

After a quick scan of their surroundings, he pulled Chu Chen onto a pleasure boat.

Changning Lake was dotted with such vessels, each serving a different purpose: some for tea and wine, others for pleasure-seeking, and still others for scholars to compose poetry. In short, there was a boat for every imaginable fancy. The romantic and refined nature of the Great Chu literati only added to the boats’ elegant charm.

“Sir, you’ve arrived too late,” the boat’s attendant said to Mutou with an apologetic expression. “All the prime spots by the railing with a view of the dragon boats are already taken.”

Mutou took a piece of broken silver from his robes and handed it to the man. “We don’t need a prime spot. Just a place to stand is fine.”

“Right away, sirs. Follow me.” The attendant led them to the lower deck. It was still crowded, but the people were more spread out, and at least there was a place to sit.

“You seem quite familiar with this place,” Chu Chen said, turning to Mutou.

“Your Highness was known in the Capital City for your profligate ways,” Mutou replied. “By all rights, you should be more familiar with it than I am.”

Chu Chen froze, a flicker of guilt crossing his mind. He had the original owner’s memories and had been careful not to arouse suspicion since arriving in this world. Yet, whether Mutou meant it or not, his words seemed to carry a hidden edge.

“I’ve always had attendants to serve me,” Chu Chen retorted. “How could I possibly be familiar with such trivial matters?”

“It’s no matter,” Mutou said, his expression calm, his tone laced with a hint of indulgence and affection. “From now on, I will attend to you wherever you go. I will ensure Your Highness never has to trouble yourself.”

As Mutou spoke, Chu Chen looked up at him, feeling strangely as if he were the one being kept as a male concubine, rather than the other way around.

Chu Chen: …

He couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong.

“Guest, would you like to place a bet?” A waiter approached, carrying a wooden tray with slips of wood indicating the numbers of the dragon boats. Chu Chen glanced at the lake, where several dragon boats were already lined up, poised to start.

“I’ll bet on the one with the fewest wagers,” Chu Chen said, taking out a silver ingot and placing it beside the third wooden slip. “If it wins, I don’t want the money. Just clear out your best private room for this Lord.”

The waiter hesitated for a moment, but seeing the silver ingot Chu Chen had wagered—enough to book a private room for an entire month—he quickly nodded.

Mutou looked at Chu Chen and shook his head slightly, saying nothing.

A moment later, the gong sounded again, and several dragon boats shot out of the water.

Chu Chen watched the race with calm indifference, his heart completely undisturbed. He had only placed the bet to seize a rare opportunity to act like a profligate playboy; he wasn’t truly interested in gambling. Besides, the private rooms were already occupied. Even if he won, it wouldn’t be right to kick the guests out.

But things often took unexpected turns. The third dragon boat, the one no one had bet on, surged ahead of the others and pulled off a stunning upset, crossing the finish line first.

“See? Even the Heavens think it’s too cold outside. They pity this Prince for shivering in the wind,” Chu Chen said, standing up and tucking his hands into his sleeves as he turned to Mutou. “Follow this Prince, and you’ll never suffer from the cold or hardship.”

‘The unspoken meaning was: You are this Prince’s male favourite, and it is only right that I should be the one to pamper you.’

Before he could even finish speaking, Mutou’s gaze sharpened, and he looked past him.

Before Chu Chen could even turn around, a profligate voice came from behind, “Which Lord is this, bringing his little husband here to show off? I paid silver to book this private booth, yet someone still dares to make a move on it?”

“Young Master, please do not be angry. Let’s talk this through calmly,” the pleasure boat’s attendant hurriedly followed behind, smiling apologetically.

“Get lost!” The other man raised his hand and knocked the attendant to the ground, causing the crowd on the deck to scramble out of the way.

Chu Chen turned around to look at the man and was stunned to recognise him as

Yang Qin, a famous, wealthy scion of the Capital City. Yang Qin was the Noble Consort’s own nephew, making him the Fifth Prince’s cousin. The original owner of this body had met Yang Qin a few times before, but the man had always been a lecher and never got along with the original owner, so their relationship was far from close.

“So it’s the Sixth Prince,” Yang Qin smiled. “Looking at your back, I thought someone else had brought their little husband here.”

Chu Chen frowned, thinking to himself, ‘Why does he think I’m the little husband? The real little husband is standing right here!’ At this thought, Chu Chen glanced at Mutou, only to see Mutou standing beside him, his gaze fixed coldly on Yang Qin.

“This Prince merely placed a bet on a whim, never expecting it to actually win,”

Chu Chen said with a smile. “Since Brother Yang has reserved this private room, This Prince will not disturb you any longer.” With that, Chu Chen glanced at Mutou, intending to take him and leave this place of conflict.

To his surprise, Yang Qin reached out to stop him. “Sixth Prince, you’ve already come all this way. Why not stay for a few more drinks before you go?” As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Mutou, and with a lewd smile, he asked, “This Young Master looks unfamiliar. Is he Your Highness’s newly acquired plaything?”

“What business is that of yours?” Chu Chen asked.

“We’re all brothers here. Why not trade and play around a bit?” Yang Qin pulled the male courtesan beside him and tried to shove him into Chu Chen’s arms.

“How dare you!” Chu Chen raised his hand and slapped Yang Qin across the face, roaring, “You dare covet This Prince’s man? You must be blind in both eyes!” Chu Chen had not originally intended to provoke this dissolute playboy, but since the man was hell-bent on causing trouble, he had nothing more to hold back.

He had already turned his back on the Noble Consort and the Fifth Prince; there was no reason to hold back for a mere Yang Qin!

Besides, Chu Chen was seething with rage and needed a place to vent… Anyone who crossed him today was simply out of luck!

His sudden strike startled not only Yang Qin but also Mutou, who stood behind him. Mutou never expected Chu Chen to speak up for him.

But then Mutou remembered the palace banquet. Back then, as the most unfavored prince, Chu Chen had dared to plead for him—a man who had drawn the public’s ire—only to earn a “bad” reputation among the Capital City’s scholars for not understanding national hatred and family grievances.

So, what was so strange about his actions today?

To face a pack of wolves while completely unarmed… his courage was truly commendable!

“You… You dare hit me?” Yang Qin, clearly used to running roughshod over others, had never suffered such a humiliation. He pointed at Chu Chen, clutching his face. “Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you’re a prince! The Noble Consort is my own biological aunt!”

“So what if I hit you?” Chu Chen rolled up his sleeve. “Even if your father showed up, this prince would still beat him senseless.”

“You little brat! How dare you!” Yang Qin covered his face and gestured to his men. “Seize him… Seize his ‘mian-shou’  for me! Today, I refuse to believe in this superstition. I’m going to take your man by force!”

Chu Chen: …

‘It seems this cousin of mine is a bit more clever than the Fifth Prince.’

‘Though he’s furious, he also knows he can’t easily lay a hand on an Imperial Prince. So, relying on his numerical advantage, he’s trying to snatch my man in broad daylight!’

Chu Chen grabbed a wooden chair, shielded Mutou behind him, and roared, “I’d like to see who dares!”

Who dares?

With Yang Qin backing them, his men feared nothing. Hearing his challenge, they swarmed Chu Chen all at once.

Chu Chen shut his eyes and swung the chair down at the first man who charged. But before the chair could even land, he felt his body grow light as someone scooped him up by the waist. A moment later, he heard several dull thuds, and several of the men were already kicked to the ground.

“Your Highness, it’s best if you don’t personally get involved in fights,” Mutou whispered in his ear. “Lest you lose your dignity.”

Chu Chen’s ears burned. He stole a glance at Mutou. He’d known Mutou was skilled, but not ‘this’ skilled.

“This Prince is merely borrowing your prestige,” Chu Chen said, completely shameless.

He knew the saying ‘a good man doesn’t suffer immediate loss,’ but if he hadn’t been relying on Mutou’s presence, he wouldn’t have been so brazen.

“I am honoured by Your Highness’s trust,” Mutou replied, his hand slipping quietly from Chu Chen’s waist, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

“Watch out!” Chu Chen warned, seeing two men scramble up from the ground and charge toward Mutou.

Mutou kicked off the railing behind him, launching himself into the air. With two swift kicks, he sent both attackers crashing back to the ground.

Yang Qin watched, dumbfounded. Just then, another of his men scrambled up, clutching his head. Seeing Chu Chen standing alone by the boat’s railing, he grabbed a wooden chair and hurled it. The chair flew too fast for Chu Chen to dodge. It struck him squarely, sending him stumbling back several steps. He grabbed the railing to steady himself.

Mutou turned, his brow furrowing as he rushed toward him.

Seeing Mutou’s expression, Chu Chen realised what was happening, but it was too late.

The railing, already loosened by Mutou’s earlier kick, snapped completely under his weight.

Chu Chen lost his balance and fell straight into Changning Lake.

Chu Chen: …

The waters of Changning Lake in February were still bone-chillingly cold!

Just as Chu Chen hit the water, Mutou leapt out and grabbed his wrist.

Simultaneously, Mutou threw a grappling hook from his own wrist, which caught the upper deck of the boat. With a deft pull and a tug, he hauled Chu Chen out of the water.

Mutou’s sequence of movements was as fluid as flowing water. He hadn’t even gotten a single drop of water on himself, moving with the grace of a swallow.

The rest of the people on the boat watched this scene unfold, collectively dumbfounded.

Chu Chen, of course, had seen it all clearly.

He subconsciously touched his wrist, which was still bruised from Mutou’s tight grip, and stared at him blankly.

“You…” Chu Chen reached out and covered Mutou’s eyes, the position of his hand exactly where the black cloth had been on the other man’s eyes that night.

The person who had been shrouded in darkness on the eve of the Lantern

Festival, whom he hadn’t managed to see clearly, was finally revealed to him now.

Chu Chen murmured, “The night before the Lantern Festival… you were the one who saved me?”

Mutou grasped Chu Chen’s hand that was covering his eyes and asked, “Does Your

Highness wish to repay the favour?”

A wave of warmth spread from Mutou’s grip on his hand, and only then did Chu Chen realise how cold he was. He leaned his head against Mutou’s shoulder and let out a sneeze that shook the heavens and the earth!

Chu Chen: “Who dares touch my man?”

Also Chu Chen five minutes later: falls into the lake 💀😂

Good thing Mutou was there, otherwise we’d be reading about a very COLD prince right now.

Anyway, buy your translator a coffee ☕ I deserve one after this chapter.