Chapter 134: Around the Clock, Unending

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

While a spring breeze was gradually rising on Dye Workshop Street, autumn arrived early in the deep alley of Heavenly Water Bridge.

The lights in the courtyard of the deep residence had long been turned off, leaving only a lamp still burning in the back residence. The words of two women came from the window.

“You! Usually, i think you’re outstanding and quite good at being the sect master. But why are you so disappointing today? Jingtang already came to your door and was just short of taking you to bed. You actually really let him go…”

“Jingtang was drugged…”

So what if he’s drugged? Isn’t that perfect? When he wakes up tomorrow, won’t he be completely devoted to you?”

“Sigh, they’ve already left…”

“That shrewish girl is probably making love with Jingtang. After she says some sweet words, Jingtang might dote on her even more…”

“I know. I’m going back to my room…”

Squeak!

The door opened and closed.

Pei Xiangjun held the door with both hands and pondered for a long time. Then she turned around and walked out of the eaves. She looked at the silver moon in the sky that wisps of clouds were blocking. “Sigh…”

She had lived in this house for many years. Ever since her eldest brother passed away, there had only been a heavy burden on her shoulders, making her feel suffocated.

She had focused on practicing martial arts, hoping that the heavens would give her a chance to prop up the crumbling Pei family and the Red Flower Pavilion again. She had still been full of confidence at first. But as a woman, no matter how good her martial arts skills were, no matter how tough her methods were, she could only watch as this deep residence courtyard withered day by day in the end.

On that day in early April, a group of escorts from afar entered Heavenly Water Bridge. The black-robed young master in the lead also entered her sight that day.

From that day onward, the burden on her shoulders seemed to have disappeared. The clouds parted, and the sun appeared, shining sunlight on the gloomy courtyard again. Every flower was full of vitality and exuded a different beauty than before.

The Red Flower Pavilion and the Pei family needed Jingtang. Pei Xiangjun had always thought so in her heart, and her kindness toward him seemed to be based on the situation and benefits.

But after being scolded by the cult mistress today and seeing Jingtang leaving, she guessed what the two of them were doing now. Why did her heart feel so sour…

If she hadn’t allowed Jingtang to leave just now, she would feel much better now. And the person who should be feeling sad alone should be the cult mistress…

Jingtang didn’t enter because he didn’t want to offend her. She could already tell. How could she get cold feet at the last minute…

Pei Xiangjun looked at the moonlight in the sky and stood alone for an unknown period of time. She wanted to go to Dye Workshop Street to take a look, but in the end, she returned to her courtyard and sat alone in front of the elegant bed. She looked at the empty room and sighed faintly…

Meanwhile, on East Center Street…

The lights were on in the cloth store that had encountered a calamity. Some store workers were cleaning up the broken wood and rubble on the street.

At the entrance of the street, there was a luxurious carriage.

The big fluffy bird lay paralyzed in the carriage with its wings spread and claws facing the sky, looking like it was on the verge of death. A maid brought a freshly cut strip of meat to its mouth, but it didn’t want to move at all.

More than ten chief constables of the Black Office were standing quietly in front of the carriage with ashamed expressions and their heads lowered.

Dongfang Dumdum, who was aloof from worldly affairs, was standing outside the carriage in her silver python robe, holding a black bar mace in her hand with a dignified expression and summarizing today’s work. “Ye Jingtang found the murderer and even lent you his bird to find the murderer’s hideout. 1 led the team personally, and you twenty-plus people only had to capture three people. But from the beginning to the end, you couldn’t even find a trace of them. In the end, Ye Jingtang, who was recovering from his injuries, intercepted them on his way home. Tell me, how am 1 going to see Ye Jingtang tomorrow? When you bump into him in the office, won’t you be embarrassed to talk to him?”

She Long knew that the Prince of Jing, who had personally led the expedition but had failed to accomplish anything, was furious. He said in shame, “Young Master Ye’s methods are indeed domineering. We were at a disadvantage because we didn’t understand the snow eagle’s signals…”

“Even without the eagle leading the way, don’t you know how to chase after people? You said that Xu Bailin is powerful. What is this?”

Dongfang Liren raised the seized Blue Steel Mace. “This is the Blue Steel Mace, the weapon that Xu Bailin carried with him for decades. It has broken the weapons of countless officials and constables. Now, it’s in my hand. Could Xu Bailin and Ye Jingtang have met in Jianghu, and he decided to give it to Ye Jingtang?”

Many chief constables of the Black Office were speechless. They lowered their heads and remained silent.

Dongfang Liren had sworn to Ye Jingtang that she would be in charge of the matter of the murderer. In the end, the numerous experts she had raised for many years with astonishing salaries had brought her out to walk around the city twice. Finally, Ye Jingtang had dealt with it. She was really furious.

In the eyes of Sir Tangtang, wasn’t she a stupid prince and just a pretty face?

After complaining outside the carriage for a while, Dongfang Liren slowly suppressed her emotions and got the chief constables to continue searching. She looked at She Long. “You said Ye Jingtang was injured?”

She Long replied respectfully, “The sleeves of his robe were torn, and both his arms were bruised. He probably injured his arms when using his saber. Uhm… His wife brought him home to recuperate.”

Dongfang Liren looked at the sky. It was already past midnight, so it didn’t seem right to disturb him again.

But in the head-on encounter with Xu Bailin, the battle scars on the street were so exaggerated.

If two mace strikes hit him, he will definitely suffer many minor injuries.

And the bird is still here…

Dongfang Liren hesitated for a moment before getting her carriage to go to Dye Workshop Street. Then she picked up the exhausted bird and got out of the carriage.

Dye Workshop Street was under construction, so the carriage couldn’t enter. It was already late at night, and Dongfang Liren was afraid of disturbing Ye Jingtang, who was already resting, so she had only brought her personal guard, Meng Jiao, along.

Dongfang Liren carefully walked through the potholed street while comforting the drowsy bird on her shoulder. “You performed well today. Tell me, what style of birdcage do you want? 1’11 get an artisan to customize it tomorrow.”

Coo?” The bird turned its head and looked at the street, ignoring the heartless fat-headed snake.

Dongfang Liren raised her hand to rub the bird. Just as she turned into the alley of Double Osmanthus Alley, the white-haired old woman behind her raised her hand to block her way. “Uh… Your Highness, it’s better to go back. I’m afraid it’s inconvenient for Young Master Ye.”

Dongfang Liren was stunned. Just as she was feeling puzzled, she suddenly heard the faint cry of a woman coming from the depths of the dark alley.

“Wuwu~ Wu~”

The bird raised its head and tilted it in confusion. Then it hurriedly wanted to run back to see if Sister Little Watermelons was being beaten up.

Dongfang Liren held the bird down, her heart filled with doubts.

Ye Jingtang lives in this place. Why is there a woman crying…

Could he be hitting a woman? That’s impossible…

Or is it that he can no longer be cured…

Dongfang Liren’s expression changed slightly when she thought of this.

The white-haired old woman could tell that the Prince of Jing had misunderstood, so she tactfully explained, “Your Highness, after the sun sets, it’s time for couples to improve their relationship—”

While she spoke, a clear voice came from the depths of the silent alley.

“Ahh!”

!!

Dongfang Liren stopped in her tracks. Her noble and dignified face instantly turned into a red apple. She held down the curious bird and turned around. “This pervert…”

The white-haired old woman advised helplessly, “Your Highness, please calm down. They’re at home, and this is just human nature. It is inappropriate to scold Young Master Ye.”

Dongfang Liren blinked and felt that it made sense. She had sneaked to Ye Jingtang’s house in the middle of the night to eavesdrop. It was she who offended him.

Dongfang Liren rubbed the bird and wanted to quickly leave, but she suddenly recalled Madam Wang’s words. Ordinary women couldn’t withstand it, and this girl obviously couldn’t…

Will she be killed?!

Dongfang Liren was afraid that the ignorant Ye Jingtang might cause a disaster, so she stood where she was and listened carefully.

??

The white-haired old woman knew that the Prince of Jing was unmarried, so she was curious about this kind of thing. She stood where she was, helplessness filling her eyes.

There was only one house in the entire block, and it was late at night, so the slightest movement could be heard far away in the night.

Dongfang Liren covered the bird’s head while she pricked her ears and used the Heaven Equaling Saber’s technique to sense the slightest movement in the alley.

Needless to say, she could actually vaguely hear intermittent words.

“Sit on top…”

“It’s very simple…”

Dongfang Liren secretly heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that Ye Jingtang’s voice was very gentle.

At the same time, she recalled a scene and illustration from Tears of a Heroine…

This girl is so stupid. I still need to teach her for a long time…

The sounds inside made people blush. Dongfang Liren didn’t dare to stay for long. She suppressed her chaotic thoughts and tiptoed out of Dye Workshop Street…

Sizzle-

A match was ignited, and a red candle was lit. The dim yellow light illuminated the room again. The room was a little more charming than before.

The blue dress and tattered black robe had fallen to the floor. The small cotton-padded jacket that Dumdum had considerately given had been placed at the end of the bed. There was even a small undergarment with a full moon embroidered on it.

The moon-white blanket was spread out and covered the bed. Because it was a single bed, it wasn’t wide, so the two of them could only stick close to each other.

Ye Jingtang leaned on the pillow. The bruises on his arms had faded a lot. His sharp eyebrows and starry eyes were quite bright under the candlelight, reflecting the woman’s snow-white back and silky hair.

Luo Ning’s cold and otherworldly face was slightly red. She held the thin blanket with one hand and lit a candle. Then she leaned back on the bed and rested her head on Ye Jingtang’s shoulder. She folded a white handkerchief stained with a plum blossom mark and held it in her palm, looking at the tiles on the roof in silence.

Ye Jingtang placed his hand on Luo Ning’s waist and turned her over to face him. “What are you thinking?”

Luo Ning’s lips moved. She wanted to make an expression of grief and indignation like that of a ‘humiliated heroine’, but she was unable to do so. She looked away and said, “Forget about what happened today. Otherwise, if Xue Baijin finds out that I…”

?

Ye Jingtang smiled. “Why do you make me sound like I’m stealing someone’s wife?”

I’m supposed to be…” Luo Ning wanted to get up and draw a clear line with this little thief, but she hesitated and didn’t move. Instead, she used her hands under the thin blanket to search around his body. When she touched something, she shrank back as if she had been electrocuted.

A strange look appeared in Ye Jingtang’s eyes. “You can touch it if you want. I don’t mind.”

Luo Ning’s eyes were complicated as she whispered, “Don’t spout nonsense.

Why… why isn’t the medicine cured?”

When Ye Jingtang heard this, he turned around. “Heroine Luo, do you also feel this way?”

Luo Ning was fine just now. But after resting for less than half an hour, she found that her face was starting to burn again. She frowned and said, “It doesn’t make sense. I… 1 just…”

Her voice choked.

Ye Jingtang thought for a moment and explained, “Well… This should be something to liven things up. And… we still have energy, so we will naturally be excited…”

Luo Ning frowned and glanced at Ye Jingtang. “You mean, you want to torment me until you’re no longer energetic?”

Ye Jingtang knew that Heroine Luo had worked very hard. He thought for a moment and said, “I can endure it. I can rest now, but I don’t know if you will be in a bind.”

Luo Ning’s eyes flickered. “Little thief, I could have suppressed the effects of the medicine. Hmm… Since I’ve already helped you, 1 have to help you to the end. Since you feel uncomfortable…”

Ye Jingtang understood what she meant and nodded slightly. “It’s fine if you don’t say anything. But after you said it, I feel a little uncomfortable.”

Luo Ning bit her lower lip lightly.. Seeing Ye Jingtang come closer, she tried her best to look like she was being forced and humiliated and slowly let go of the thin blanket…