A Seductive Gentleman Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The God of the Yellow River takes a Wife – Part 1

Translated by: Ritpoppy

"So bitter! How long do I have to drink this medicine?"

Ming ChangYan lowered the bowl and exaggeratedly motioned throwing up. He had already been recuperating from his injury for about half a month.

Huai Yu took the bowl and turned around to set it on top of the table, ignoring the goblin beside him.

Ming ChangYan clutched his throat and sighed, "It's really bitter, I want to throw it up."

Huai Yu coldly said, "If you spit it out, it's going to only 10 percent."

Ming ChangYan closed his mouth and obediently sat down.

Previously, Huai Yu agreed to help him recuperate his health which he kept his word on. When they returned to Egret Academy that same day, he proceeded to bring all the previously prepared medical pills and herbs to the Academy and boiled medicine three times a day to pour into Ming ChangYan. Even though the medicine cleared his nostrils, Ming ChangYan seemed to have lost his sense of smell every time he finished drinking it. But it really did wonders. Recently his body hasn't been as weak as it was before, plus his heart and lungs stopped aching. Therefore, he didn't dare provoke Huai Yu too much. It's only at times when he's bored that he'd call him over to toy with him a little.

However, if he was simply eating medicine, then he wouldn't complain so much about the suffering. It's just that those medical baths are actually torture to mankind. Like a white radish, he would steep his body in there for an hour. After he soaked in there for a while, Ming ChangYan was sure that he had already acquired a flavor on him. As soon as he came out of the tub, his entire body would be bitter. Plus the entire room would smell like medicine.

Ming ChangYan laid on the bed for a while as half of his bones eased up. Suddenly, several books smashed onto the bed. Their covers were flashy and complicated, clearly vernacular folk stories bought from a vendor's stall. He abruptly sat up and glanced at Huai Yu with eyes full of expectation. The latter indifferently leaned his head to the side. Every novel was from different genres with each title having their own merits, for example:《In Ruthlessness Hides Infatuation》, 《The Scholar in White Trouser's Alluring Wife》,《Sentimental Bias Meets Heartless Anger》, etc.

"Is this enough, what's so good about these books?"

"Don't look down upon these books, they're very interesting! For example, look at this one," Ming ChangYan picked up《The Cold Nobleman and Merciless Concubine》and handed it to Huai Yu, "I like this one the best. It's seriously so touching, I almost cried when I first read it! If you don't believe me give it a try!"

Then, Ming ChangYan went and grabbed another book. He only got two pages in when his eyes glistened and held his belly as he erupted into laughter.

"Huai Yu! Huai Yu!"

Huai Yu glanced at him inexplicably.

Ming ChangYan held up the book and with a deadpan voice asked, "Little Huai Yu, do you know the contents of this book?"

Huai Yu replied, "I have no interest."

Ming ChangYan earnestly read out loud, "….Who would've imagined that after Immortal Yun Qing drank the wine, he still refused to leave. Sitting in front of this concubine, misty-eyed as he gazed intently at this concubine's body…."

Huai Yu's complexion changed at once, forcibly snatching the book away.

Ming ChangYan burst out into loud laughter.

The popular customs of the Central Plains were very receptive. Fabricated stories about government officials were no longer part of the minority. Huai Yu had a high position while also being the most popular ideal partner within the community of young girls in Kyoto. All the female writers here use him as their basis to make some money off of rich girls with money to spend, taking advantage of the powerful Huai Yu. In a single year, the number of scandalous novels written with the Young Prime Minister as the main character could count up to 800 copies.

When purchasing the books Huai Yu absent-mindedly grabbed a few, not aware that among them there was one pertaining to himself. Now that it had been discovered by Ming ChangYan, he was extremely embarrassed.

After Ming ChangYan had his laughs, he firmly said, "Alright, I'll stop laughing. Don't get angry, I'm not trying to make fun of you, I just think that it's amusing!"

He had a passion for reading these kinds of vulgar novels. He especially had a soft spot for those hopelessly muddled love stories preposterous beyond belief.

Ming ChangYan gathered up all the books and stopped teasing him. What he was most afraid of was Huai Yu getting angry, it's impossible to coax him with that little missy temper of his.

Sure enough, after Huai Yu put away all the books he let out a humph and left abruptly.

Ming ChangYan thought: This child!

Not even a moment passed by when he heard the creak of the door open. Ming ChangYan laid in bed flipping through the pages of his new book when he said, "I thought you were crying from anger and ran out, why did you come back?"

No one responded.

He let out a "huh?" and leaned his head to take a look. In the doorway a little snow-white deer peeked at him before promptly bouncing away.

Ming ChangYan took one glance at the little snow-white deer and identified it as that bad-tempered little brute of Huai Yu's. His enthusiasm immediately rose again as he jumped up and ran outside, catching it after two or three tries.

He hugged the snow-white deer's neck, conjuring up two flat bean cakes.

"You secretly came here to ask me for food, right? Haha, your Ge won't feed you, so I'll leave some for you. How is it, aren't I good to you? Still going to kick me in the future?"

The little deer compliantly bumped him with his head and began to eat the flat bean cakes in his hand.

During this period while Ming ChangYan was staying in Egret Academy, he carried out a total of two big events.

The first one: He urged a group of students to dig a hole in the rear end of the mountain and captured Huai Yu's white deer.

The second: He made amends with this little brute and did a good job of developing a relationship.

Ming ChangYan sighed, he patted the deer's head, "If only I was like you; only engrossed in eating every day, after eating then sleeping, and not have to think about anything after waking up."

He played with the little deer's tail while he was lost in his thoughts, his movements weren't severe but he didn't pay attention and squeezed the deer's tail. The little deer's old temper came back at once as it began shaking its body with detest trying to get that hand to let go.

Ming ChangYan came back to reality and patted the little deer's butt, "You stupid deer, you dare to be disgusted by me!" He mumbled, "I'm number one in the world."

After thinking about it, he thought it was a bit improper and added another verse, "Even though it was in the past."

Ming ChangYan continued to touch the deer's butt, "There aren't many days left where you can be disgusted by me, the moment my condition improves, it's going to be even harder for you to see me. Tch, it's a pity that this shaoxia is so charming and unparalleled under heaven, yet nowadays gloomily converses with a deer about my sadness and loneliness."

Sighing he said, "I still have YuLou, YuLing, and YuMi. Those children must be waiting for me, and are surely missing me to death. I don't even know how their situation is going. Now that I think about it, contrarily Deer-xiong you're quite miserable. All you have for company is that ill-tempered little missy of a master. You and me, a deer and a human, yet we both are reduced to the same situation."

He happily groped the deer's butt a few more times, seemingly very attached to this plot of fur. Just when he was about to squeeze it again, the little white deer's ears twitched, letting out three more howls, it spread its hooves and ran East.

Ming ChangYan stood up, turning his head he smiled, "I thought you steamed off in anger because of me."

The one standing behind him was Huai Yu, he coldly snorted, "You're right, I'm an ill-tempered little missy."

Ming ChangYan laughed out loud, he slapped his hands together and humbly said, "Huai Yu, no, dear brother, I was wrong, I didn't do it on purpose."

The Noble Gentleman timely admitted his mistake but didn't repent no matter what. Just as he thought to diverge the subject, Huai Yu said, "I will be gone for a while, starting tomorrow you must remember to take your medicine on time."

Ming ChangYan asked, "Where are you going?"

"GuangLing," Huai Yu paused for a moment then added, "Don't even think about coming."

Ming ChangYan retorted, "I haven't said anything yet!"

Huai Yu said, "Your body's not completely healed yet. The carriage will be constantly on the move when we arrive at GuangLing you don't even need to get out of the carriage, we might as well just buy you a coffin and bury you."

Ming ChangYan said, "I think that my body is already good enough. Huai Yu, you're so amazing!"

Huai Yu ignored the flattery, pushing his waist back into the house, "Go back inside, no means no."

Ming ChangYan said, "Ok, ok, ok, don't push me, I'll walk by myself."

Just as the two entered the house, from outside came Liu Kuang's voice.

Ming ChangYan sat by the window and said, "I sit here all day long, even if I'm unable to do anything, I've heard a lot of information."

The little room he was recuperating in just so happened to face the back door of Liu Kuang's parlor. Ming ChangYan had superb hearing, plus Liu Kuang completely disregarded him. So just by secretly sitting near the window every morning, he'd be able to hear the context of the conversation.

However in the past few days, Ming ChangYan hasn't heard anything important. But he's heard plenty of fascinating affairs, for instance: A hole was found in an imperial concubine's skirt and she wore it for half a day without noticing; whoever's plack was flipped over by the emperor yesterday, whoever's unpleasant to the eye, whoever secretly planted poison. So-and-so prince is really stupid and couldn't even recite his text causing Teacher Liu to make him haul water as punishment.

Hearing about these trivial affairs made him drowsy.

He turned his head to receive his visitor, "There's no need for you to see me out Teacher Liu."

Liu Kuang said, "Then I won't bother."

Ming ChangYan gazed his way and saw a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of a government official hurriedly walked towards the academy with documents wedged between both his arms.

Huai Yu said, "It's the Ministry of Rite's succession ceremony."

Ming ChangYan commented, "Is it that XiaoCheng-daren*? I have an impression of him, Fu Ling mentioned him once, he's in charge of the tributes received from other countries. I originally suspected that he was the one who had the Immortal Grass. But what is the Ministry of Rite doing at Egret Academy?"

(TN: Title of respect towards seniors)

Huai Yu explained, "Cheng MingLi is here to pick up the Jianghu Daily."

Ming ChangYan, "Jianghu Daily?"

Huai Yu, "News for the emperor has to be collected a day in advance."

Ming ChangYan pushed open the window and yelled, "Liu SanQing! Do you have any prints left, give me one!"

Liu Kuang asked, "What do you want the newspaper for?"

Ming ChangYan, "Don't be so stingy, it's not like I can use a newspaper to tear down your academy."

As he finished his sentence, from the opposite building a roll of newspaper flew in. Ming ChangYan reached out and grabbed it, unfolding it to take a look. Immediately he found the section regarding the epidemic in GuangLing in the corner. Ming ChangYan rapidly read through it, his brows tightly knit together.

Huai Yu slanted his head to take a look, noticing that today's Jianghu Daily was written once again by QinYue-Jun. This person who came from gossiping in a tea shop mixed themselves into political affairs. Moreover, QinYue-Jun's writing style was very distinct, often including strong personal subjectives, not at all suitable for composing works regarding the nation. Writing about the epidemic should be impartial and fair, under his hands, it became a tear-jerking tragedy.

Ming ChangYan said, "QinYue-Jun this person, their writing style is like someone playing the huqin in their trousers, a bunch of insipid nonsense."

Huai Yu inquired, "What did he write?"

Ming ChangYan, "A whole lot of nothing. This lengthy article full of nonsense can be summed up in three words: Ah, how tragic! Tell me, what do you think he wrote?"

He poured himself some tea, saying, "Seeing is believing, rather than sitting here and gossip, wouldn't it be better if I went to GuangLing to take a look myself? Huai Yu, thank you for taking care of me these past few days but I must go. I know the emperor asked you to help those in GuangLing with their epidemic so I won't need you to look after me. Just remember to give me a horse carriage and some food rations."

Huai Yu, "You can't go now."

Ming ChangYan, "I have always done things that no one else would do. I can't win against you if you decide to stop me, however, it's not like you're able to keep an eye on me all day long. If you care about the spec of friendship between us, then you're going to have to let me go to GuangLing."

Huai Yu pursed his lips. Ming ChangYan was iron-hearted and determined, unwilling to let this go until he achieved his goal. The two in the room were deadlocked for a while before Huai Yu exclaimed, "You're not allowed to go."

Ming ChangYan smiled softly, "That depends on whether or not you can stop me."

Huai Yu's complexion wasn't good, leaving he closed the door behind him and locked it. Ming ChangYan didn't object, however, Liu Kuang knocked on the door. Standing outside the entrance he commented, "I just saw Yun Qing storm out of here furious. What did you do to him?"

Ming ChangYan answered, "He had one of his little kid tantrums. He locked me in here and won't let me leave."

Liu Kuang laughed, "I've never heard of the Young Prime Minister throwing little kid tantrums to anyone, perhaps it's simply because you keep repeating the same old mistakes."

Ming ChangYan proclaimed, "How am I supposed to know? Why don't you go ask him why he's always so stubborn and arrogant when it comes to me? Don't tell me that you're going to blame me for spoiling him too much?"

Liu Kuang, "Lord Ming certainly has a good memory. Words that I've spoken many years ago, you seem to still grudgingly remember."

Liu Kuang's words refer to the very first time the two met. During those days, Ming ShaoXia had become famous from a fight. He had just taken over the duties in TianQing sect and YuBao had only been 2 to 3 years old. He still hadn't learned how to walk yet so he depended on Ming ChangYan. Ming ShaoXia was battling a thief at that time, on his left was a baby and on his right, he was fighting. After he settled the dispute in just a few moves he was still in the process of coaxing the little child. Because this was such an unusual sight, Liu Kuang laughed at him for overly indulging the child and that the child was bound to become someone arrogant and unreasonable in the future, bound to give him a headache.

Ming ChangYan paused for a moment before uttering, "Did he seem especially angry?"

Liu Kuang, "He obliterated the flock of chicks you were raising outside your door."

Those chicks were something that Ming ChangYan acquired from a peasant woman at the foot of the mountain and raised in his courtyard since he had nothing else to do. The chicks had hatched quite a while ago under his utmost care.

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan cried out in grief, "MY CHILDREN!"

He busted through the door.

Just as expected, the chicken coop was broken and in disorder. Clearly caused by a certain someone. A flock of young chicks was crowded in a corner, shivering and letting out mournful chirps.

Ming ChangYan felt very guilty so he scattered a little bit more feed, looking at the chicks with nothing to say.

After quite a while, he collapsed onto the lawn, feeling bleak.

This was translated by , any repost of this is stolen, and if you steal my work I will obliterate your chickens from the face of this Earth.

A pretty laid-back and funny chapter. I hope you enjoyed!

As some of you guys may notice, the format for the chapter title changed. We're starting a new adventure! WOOP WOOP!!

If you see any grammatical/translation errors, please notify me! Via email or comment.

Stay warm! The weather's starting to get chilly

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Chapter end