What an Audacious and Sly Servant! Chapter 79

Sorry for the late second chapter.

So, what should be done to wake Mei Qian Deng up?

Chapter 79 – Operation Solve the Mystery

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator's hard work. Don't think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

In the imperial court, Chu Xun had a paralysed face as he sat properly.

It was a weird atmosphere inside there.

All the officials stood inside the court felt the morning court today was missing something.

What was missing?

Oh! Lord Grand Chancellor was the first one to respond. It lacked the opening speech: "Report if there's anything to say, retreat if there's nothing——"

He raised his head and looked around for Jing gonggong's figure yet he was not around.

Chu Xun pursed up his lips as if he too had notice this part. He broke the silence himself, "All aiqing, although zhen had exert myself to make the country prosperous since ascending to the throne three years ago, zhen is still unwise compared to the late Emperor to the extent that our national treasury is in critical state. However, thankfully there are many chivalrous and kind merchants in this land. The wealthiest person around, Qian Wan San had helped us generously with money and temporarily solved the problem."

When Chu Xun said this, he fiercely glared at Zhao Mo Ran.

Zhao Mo Ran instead was calm and acted as usual as if he had never wrong anyone and didn't fear the knock in the night.

"But this is not a long-term plan. Zhen doesn't want to raise the taxes. All of them are earned from the hard works of the commoners. Yet, to strengthen our armies, the country must be wealthy and the citizens must be strong. Everyone here are specially selected talents among ten thousand people. With high salary, all of you are invited here to help solve zhen's problems. Don't know if there is any smart idea?"

The officials looked at each other. There were whispers in the hall yet no one dared to stand up to say any idea.

"Lord Grand Chancellor, what do you think?"

The Grand Chancellor muttered to himself. The question was too sudden. This young Emperor liked to do things unconventionally. He was already at this age so he couldn't catch up a bit to the youngsters' mind. To be truthful, the Grand Chancellor always believed the late Emperor's doctrine of the mean was very good. He couldn't say it in words in time yet it was not good to embarrass himself in front of the crowd. Hence, he played the using four liang to move a thousand jin[1] card.

The Grand Chancellor said, "Laochen remembers that when the Founding Emperor had just owned the land, there were many things still to do and the emergency of the national treasury was one of the difficult problems. At that time, someone suggested to let the Emperor sell a limited amount of land at high price to let the citizens self-operate, as long as it's within the principle, they wouldn't have to be under the control of the local authorities. After solving the financial issue of the national treasury, those people who bought the lands wanted to earn back the money so they managed their own place which also saved us the need of finding local authorities. That was indeed a generation of talents……"

"Later on, those land owners became more unbridled. A number of them actually wanted to proclaim themselves as the Emperor. All of them were slowly eliminated by zhen's grandfather, great grandfather, great-great grandfather and the lands were taken back. Oh, the most obedient one was the Mei family. You all know their ending too."

The imperial court suddenly turned death silent.

The Grand Chancellor regretted until his heart turned green. He wished he could slap himself twice. Of all things he could mention, he just to mention that issue. Why did he forget Mei family was one of the land owners?!

"Zhen is very curious. Do all aiqing know what happened to the person who suggested that later?"

No one dared to say, they didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

They had thought Chu Xun was releasing all the pent up frustration he had in these few days onto the officials. Seeing no one answered, he was merciless as he turned his head towards the clerk who was writing furiously on a small table at the corner, "Historian, you should be clear of the history. Do you know?"

The little historian raised his head with both his eyes teary. He didn't understand how he who was writing the minutes, who was of insignificant presence would be implicated. The little historian with teary voice, "Please pardon me, Your Majesty. Chen doesn't know. After retreating from the court, chen will immediately take extra lesson at home!"

"Since the whole court of officials can't answer zhen's question and can't think of a good idea, say, what's the point zhen raise you all?!" Chu Xun turned haughty as he terrorised all of them.

Chu Xun stood up from the dragon throne and angrily said, "Those who think they can't should just resign this instant and return home. Send the resigning letter directly to zhen. Those who think they still want to be an official, starting from this month, the salary will be deducted in accordance to the rank. Everyone will be deducted one fifth. The deducted amount will be given to the commoners to spend! Zhen has no salary so all the expenses in the palace will be deducted one fifth too!"

Everyone had never thought, the Emperor didn't return to the palace for so long yet the moment he returned he dealt a heavy blow to everyone.

If they knew this earlier, they wouldn't pester the Emperor to return.

"Today if there is no one who can think of a good plan, then don't blame zhen for not letting all aiqing to spend the year happily. Not even one wen of year-end bonus will be given. Starting next year, the salary will be deducted by half! End of the court!"

After Chu Xun was done with the first problem, he lifted his clothes and hastily returned to Ming Jue Palace.

Following his buttocks were a group of senior officials, all of them had a strong body as they chased after the Emperor while shouting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Chen still have something to report! Please wait!" If Xiao Jing Zi was around, naturally Xiao Jing Zi would be holding them off.

Because the noisy shouts never end, Chu Xun suddenly remembered Xiao Jing Zi had disappeared. With his personal eunuch not around to serve him, Chu Xun felt a bit unused to it. He could only stopped moving, "Whatever things you all have, say them tomorrow. Don't you see zhen still have other things to do?"

"The Board of Public Works has an urgent report!"

"The Board of Civil Office too has a matter!"

"Your Majesty, the Board of War's issue is more urgent!"

"Your Majesty, where the money from the wealthiest person will be used first?"

Chu Xun, "……"

Chu Xun's whole handsome face collapsed. The one side where Imperial Uncle slapped him was still throbbing with pain.

In the end, the Emperor was kidnapped away by this group of officials. From halfway to the Ming Jue Palace, he was forcefully pulled to the Imperial Study to discuss on the national affairs.

When he was leaving, Chu Xun seemed to have seen Zhao Mo Ran and Di Mu Yang came over from afar. It was as if he saw a saviour. Chu Xun was agitated uncontrollably as he violently waved his hand, "Hey, hey, hey!"

Di Mu Yang was thinking of something with his head lowered so he didn't notice. The Young Master of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader had an exceptional martial ability so naturally his hearing sense and vision was not bad. He pushed Di Mu Yang, "Little General, I suddenly remembered. That adopted son of the Grand Princess that Qian Deng likes the most, I'm not that acquainted with the Grand Princess' family. Can I trouble Little General to run once? It's possible Qian Deng will wake up from happiness!"

Little General Di was a simple person. Being reminded by Zhao Mo Ran, he instantly agreed, "Right, right, right. It's still Brother Zhao who can think of it! I will go to the Grand Princess' place right now to invite the little prince!"

"Go now, go now. Thanks for your effort."

The little general turned his body around and had ran far away.

Zhao Mo Ran talked to himself, "The sky is so blue. The wind blows so comfortably. As expected, the spring season is here already." And then he closed his eyes while enjoying the season.

Until he couldn't see that figure in gold clothes.

Inside the Ming Jue Palace.

Zhu Li saw Zhao Mo Ran returned alone so she was puzzled, "Where is His Majesty?" Zhu Li was the palace maid. According to the rules, only the eunuch could accompany the Emperor to attend the court.

Zhao Mo Ran was very natural, "His Majesty? He had just returned to the palace so he must have many matters to handle. He had went to the Imperial Study with the ministers already."

"Oh, oh, oh." Zhu Li didn't suspect at all. His Majesty was originally busy to death yet those ministers were still this unreasonable.

"How is Qian Deng?"

Zhu Li glanced at that door. "Divine Physician Xie and Eldest Young Master Mei are guarding inside. There is no activity. Divine Physician Xie is very interested with Young Miss Qian Deng's weird illness. This whole morning she had already used more than ten methods to try wake up Young Miss Qian Deng yet they are fruitless."

Zhao Mo Ran nodded his head. "I'll go inside to have a look."

Opening the door, what entered his sight was a floor of chicken feathers and weird medical smell. Looking further inside, Xie Yun was barefooted as she squatted on Mei Qian Deng's bed. In her hand was a silver, shiny and cold needle. Eldest Young Master Mei was currently trying to stop her, "Ah Yun, stop playing. Later when Qian Deng wakes up, she will settle the score with you. You can't win against her."

"You just don't have to tell her!"

"Even if I don't tell her, how do you know she has no awareness? Qian Deng's eyes are closed but it's possible her ears can still hear it and her touch sense doesn't disappear?" Eldest Young Master Mei was just speaking randomly.

Yet he never thought it would give Xie Yun an inspiration as she gave an acupuncture treatment for Mei Qian Deng without any hesitation. Then, she crawled up from the bed with a grin, "Husband, I never thought that usually you're quite stupid yet at critical moment you're still quite useful." She then turned around and seriously told Mei Qian Deng, "Little Seventh, if you don't wake up soon, Eldest Sister-in-Law will strip you. I will strip you into a white radish. Later when the Emperor enters, he will not know so the moment he pull away your quilt, will you immediately wake up?"

Zhao Mo Ran's forehead throbbed. He coughed twice to show he was listening, "Eldest Sister-in-Law……"

"Yi, Young Master Zhao is here."

"Eldest Sister-in-Law, just what are you trying to do here?"

Xie Yun didn't think she was bullying Mei Qian Deng at all. "I'm using love call to try wake up Little Seventh."

Zhao Mo Ran was the one who was the best in deceit and pretending like a fox. He looked around with a solemn face, "For Eldest Sister-in-Law to be worried of Little Seventh, the people on our side understand. But it doesn't mean His Majesty will surely understand. His Majesty had already retreated from the court. Later when he returns and sees this room filled with mess and with Little Seventh on the bed……" He shot a quick glance. Even though Mei Qian Deng was unconscious, she could clearly feel the mess on the bed. "What if His Majesty turns unhappy and blame us? Recently His Majesty has quite a lot of troubles so his temper is not really good."

Xie Yun blinked her eyes. She carefully pushed off the melon seeds on the bed onto the floor and fixed the quilt.

She was a proud one so she made a laugh, "Ah! Zhu Li, I forgot to tell you. You have to take notice of Young Miss Mei's hygiene! I have to trouble you to prepare some maids to help her take a bath. You should let more air into the room. It's bad for the person when the room is closed."

Zhu Li hastily entered. She too was first shocked by the mess on the floor. However, she was the number one palace maid beside the Emperor. She had seen many things so she instantly promised. "I will personally bring Young Miss Mei to take a bath. I can't be at peace letting others do it. This room needs to be cleaned up. Everyone, why not change to another place to have a chat?"

Xie Yun tucked her tail as she slipped away, "Good, good, good!"

Returning to Chu Xun's side, he had finally done facing off the group of ministers. His steps were almost flying as he went towards the Ming Jue Palace.

En route, he passed by Prince Chen's Cold Palace.

He stopped his steps and stared at the entrance of the Cold Palace for a moment.

In the end, he decided to enter first and chat again with Prince Chen.

Mei Qian Deng's accident happened too bizarre. He might still be able to find some breakthroughs from Prince Chen.

Prince Chen was not inside the palace. He asked the bodyguards in charge of there. So he had actually went to the pond at the back to feed the goldfish. Chu Xun hastily went to the backyard to find him. From afar, he saw Prince Chen stood alone beside the pond. Around him, there were some willow trees which were already growing green buds. The soft buds hanging on the branches were far cuter than the luxuriant form during the height of summer.

Prince Chen stood there while slowly threw the fish food into the water. A light smile could be seen on his face.

Such a free and calm Prince Chen made Chu Xun felt a bit confused.

Does Imperial Uncle really let go of it already?

"Xun er?" Prince Chen noticed his peeping nephew. He threw all the remaining fish food and slowly walked to him.

"Imperial Uncle."

"Recently Xun er is very diligent. What's wrong? Are you here for that slap?"

It was fine not mentioning it. When mentioned, Chu Xun felt one side of his face hurt. He gritted his teeth, "Zhen is not such a petty person."

"Don't know if Xun er is someone who will change after knowing his wrongs?"

Chu Xun's forehead started to hurt too. He suddenly didn't know how to say the main issue. He had turned his head away and about to leave in a pique. Prince Chen was like a worm in Chu Xun's stomach as he said in his stead, "For you to come here, is it to ask this Prince about the assassination?"

Chu Xun turned his head back. "It's really not your remnants?"

"It's really not uncle. This Prince is only left with a few old servants watching the door."

"Then, who else?!"

Prince Chen shrugged. His face was brimming with enjoyment of his misfortune, "They came to kill you, how should this Prince know?"

"Then, let zhen ask you. Who had you offended in these few years?"

Prince Chen seriously thought for a while before answering, "It should be quite a number of people this Prince had offended, such as Nan Bai Cheng."

"It's impossible to be him!"

"There is nothing absolute in this world. Your Majesty must not be too self-confident."

Chu Xun had thought before, on the surface this assassination was undoubtedly to avenge for Prince Chen, taking the advantage the rare chance the Emperor went out of the palace to do it. If it wasn't Prince Chen, then the most possible scenario was someone was trying to shift the blame to Prince Chen. At the same time, it would bring chaos to the imperial family. With this, that person could hit two birds with one stone.

However, the only unexplainable part in this possibility was the one Mei Qian Deng was inflicted with, that poison on the dagger.

That weird poison, compared to direct killing made others felt it was just a prank. If it was just a prank, then those assassins' movement would be unreadable. There were too many contradictions between these two.

It was too weird. Chu Xun really couldn't understand it.

He had no choice but to ask for help from Prince Chen, "Zhen can't remember."

"This culprit is hostile towards the two of us. It is said that a foe's enemy is a friend. Up to now, both of us are enemies to each other yet this person doesn't stand on any side. Plus, he is quite skilled to be able to make so many people tried to assassinate you. Such a special person shouldn't be a nameless person. It's possible you just can't remember it right now." Prince Chen voiced out a critical point.

Chu Xun couldn't stop from ridiculing, "Zhen think this person is quite a loser."

"Why say so?"

"We can't even remember we had offended this person. That person really has too weak presence."

At first Prince Chen was dumbfounded. Then he laughed loudly as he returned into the palace. The sun had already passed the noon time. The goldfish had been fed. This Prince too should have lunch now~

On that side, Zhu Li did her best giving Mei Qian Deng a princess hug as she brought her to the place Chu Xun usually took the bath.

It was a large, square pool with flower petals floating all over the water.

Mei Qian Deng was still unconscious, her whole body was soft. Zhu Li found out she had took quite a tiring job as she first removed Mei Qian Deng's clothes. Then, she removed her outer clothes, leaving only the inner clothes. Hugging Mei Qian Deng, she took a dip inside the pool too.

The pool had an inclined bed. One side was shallow while the other side was deep. The shallow side was where it was just below the neck when sitting in the pool. Zhu Li let Mei Qian Deng sat near the edge of the pool while she climbed back to unfasten female warrior Mei's hair and helped washing her hair.

"Young Miss Mei, I never thought when you're disguising as a man, you're so handsome and natural. When you return into a girl, you can be beautiful like a flower. This ability to change between female and male, Zhu Li is so in awe of you." Zhu Li started to be nosy again. While she applied the Chinese honey locust on Mei Qian Deng's hair, she looked at Mei Qian Deng.

A thin neck, the sexy collarbone, the slender shoulders and also the shoulder blades!

Zhu Li's head went down forward. "Possibly because the chest has been wrapped too long or else the development will be very nice. Of course, Young Miss's current figure is very good. Hahaha."

Probably because some of the liquid from washing her hair flowed to below her neck, female warrior Mei was initially sitting while leaning against the wall of the pool. Zhu Li put Mei Qian Deng's foamy hair beside her neck and stood up to find a bucket. "Young Miss Mei, please wait a moment. I need to find a bucket to wash your hair."

She had just turned around when Mei Qian Deng's head started to fell one side due to the influence of the wet hair's weight. Then, her back departed from the wall of the pool as she slowly, slowly started to sink one side. When Zhu Li returned with a small bucket in her hands, she instantly saw Mei Qian Deng's head about to enter the water.

"Young Miss Mei——!"

Zhu Li ran yet who would have thought the floor was slippery!

"Eiyo!"

Zhu Li fell forward. Just as she about to fall into the pool, during the imminent peril, Zhu Li used her martial arts. She had a sister who worked as the Emperor's shadow bodyguard so naturally her own martial arts were not too bad.

Zhu Li first flipped over. She had no other way. With the inertia of falling, she could only do her best to turn. It was unavoidable for her to enter the water. With her flip, both her hands were wide open and could reach Mei Qian Deng. Zhu Li was too focused about falling into the water, both her hands grabbed Mei Qian Deng's shoulders. Then, Zhu Li's legs turned into a bow as they spread widely while stepping at the bed. Both her arms exerted to the limit to put Mei Qian Deng on her top.

The female warrior Mei who narrowly drown successfully fell into her warm hug.

Why write it so detail? It's exactly because the freeze screen is at that final moment.

Zhu Li's bow stance[2] ** for three moments before finally she couldn't bear Mei Qian Deng's weight. Zhu Li hence fell backward. The unconscious Mei Qian Deng was still on top of her. It was not known how the position changed because the result was Zhu Li nervously hugged Mei Qian Deng, trying to pull her up. Female warrior Mei's head weakly fell forward and the wet lips landed right at Zhu Li's lips.

After that——

A miracle happened!

Mei Qian Deng's eyelashes trembled, trembled and trembled again.

Zhu Li had just finally put Mei Qian Deng back to sit where she was earlier.

"Young Miss Mei, are you alright? Eiyo, scares me to death!"

Zhu Li talked to herself while helped Mei Qian Deng to push her messy long hair like a female ghost back to behind her head. That wet hair was first divided into two by Zhu Li and then she pulled back……

"Splash!"

Someone fell into the water again.

Beside the water sound, there was Zhu Li's shout, "Oh! Heavens! Mother!"

Mei Qian Deng: "……"

"Y-Y-Young Miss Mei, w-w-why are you awake? M-M-M-My god!"

[1] An idiom. Both liang and jin are weight measurements. A jin is about 10 to 16 liang depending on the place (China, Hong Kong and Taiwan have different standard for them). Anyway, according to what I learnt, no one can actually move thousand jin with just four liang (it's like asking you to move an elephant by sheer pushing). You can however use a four liang rope to lead the heavy animal. Such an explanation and it probably makes no sense…. Well, it basically means to deflect skilfully.

[2] One of the various kung fu stances. You might seen it before from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Chapter end

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