PC Chapter 2

Su Cen followed the figure of the attendant upstairs with his eyes. The upper floor was filled with private rooms, and the attendant entered a small room near the railing. A thin veil hung in the doorway, and although it was difficult to see clearly, the vague silhouettes behind the curtain suggested there were people inside. Despite the obscurity, Su Cen felt as if a pair of eyes were fixed on him from behind the veil.

 

“Second Young Master…” Ah Fu cautiously called out.

 

The Second Young Master hadn’t taken his eyes off the attendant for a moment. Could it be that… seeing how fixated the Second Young Master was, Ah Fu feared that the chances of him passing the exams this year were slim. If he were to start keeping a male companion in Chang’an… If the master back home found out, Ah Fu would need to start saving money for his own coffin.

 

Su Cen turned back and smiled, asking, “What do you think of him?”

 

“?!” Just as I thought!

 

Ah Fu swallowed hard and said with difficulty, “Second Young Master, if I’ve neglected you in any way during our journey, please, you can hit me or scold me as you see fit. I’ve served the Su family since I was ten and have never dared to slack off. I promise to serve you with all my heart in the future. Please spare my life!”

 

By the end of his plea, Ah Fu was in tears.

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

What on earth are you talking about?

 

Suddenly, there was a loud crash from upstairs. A cup fell to the ground. Su Cen barely had time to turn his head before he saw the attendant being shoved off the upper floor. The crowd below gasped as the attendant plummeted downward, but just as he was about to hit the ground, he twisted his body and landed gracefully.

 

Immediately after, someone from upstairs leaped down, heading straight for the attendant.

 

The attendant sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the powerful strike, and then eerily slipped behind the attacker. But the pursuer was no amateur; in a flash, he drew his blade. The hilt of the sword struck the attendant’s waist with a heavy thud.

 

The attendant winced in pain but reacted swiftly, retreating just as the blade swept towards him. Realizing he was no match for his opponent, he glanced around and then darted behind Su Cen.

 

In the next instant, Su Cen felt a cold blade press against his neck.

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

“Move aside!” the swordsman commanded coldly.

 

Of course, Su Cen wanted to move aside—if not for the dagger pressed against his waist as well.

 

He regretted not checking the almanac before leaving home today. If he had, he’d probably be at home, cleansing himself and fasting.

 

Behind him, the attendant, still in his pitiful act, pleaded in a soft voice, “Please, my lord, save me!”

 

Su Cen glanced at the blade near his neck and cautiously pushed it away a few inches with his fingertip. He finally got a good look at the person in front of him—tall, at least eight feet, with light, amber-colored eyes, dressed in the garb of a guard, and exuding a stern aura that made Su Cen swallow nervously. Carefully, he said, “My good sir, let’s talk this out. There’s no need to hurt any innocent bystanders.”

 

Ah Fu, having finally recovered from the shock, took a step forward, intending to intervene, but was quickly frightened back by a single glare from the guard.

 

The guard coldly said, “This person attempted to assassinate my master. Hand him over.”

 

The attendant peeked out from behind Su Cen and argued, “It was clearly your master who tried to take advantage of me in broad daylight. When I resisted, he got angry and tried to kill me to cover it up. Everyone, judge for yourselves! Is there still any justice left in Chang’an?”

 

Considering that the attendant had made quite a show downstairs earlier, his good looks and figure were evident to everyone. The crowd, though not daring to speak loudly, began whispering and secretly pointing fingers at the guard.

 

The attendant, leaning slightly past Su Cen, raised an eyebrow and gave the guard a coquettish smile, but all he received in return was a cold glare.

 

Seizing the moment, Su Cen glanced upstairs again. The figure behind the veil remained still, holding a cup, seemingly unfazed. Although Su Cen couldn’t see clearly, he had the distinct impression that the person was watching him, even sensing a faintly amused smile.

 

An inexplicable anger welled up within him. Initially, Su Cen only wanted to extricate himself from the situation, but suddenly, he straightened his back and took a step forward. “You claim he attempted to assassinate your master, while he claims you tried to assault him. Until the truth is clear, I won’t hand him over to you.”

 

The attendant was momentarily stunned and quietly withdrew the hidden dagger in his hand.

 

Ah Fu, on the other hand, panicked inwardly. The Eastern Market area was close to the “Three Grand Palaces” near the Imperial City, where many high-ranking officials resided. Even a loose tile from a roof could hit several officials, let alone this person, who clearly wasn’t ordinary. The figure upstairs was likely someone of great importance. Ah Fu quickly tugged at Su Cen’s sleeve, only for Su Cen to shake him off.

 

Su Cen continued, “You say he tried to assassinate your master. What grudge does he bear? Was it poison or a direct attack? Where is the weapon? Do you have any evidence?”

 

“The weapon was a steel needle, about an inch long. It lodged in the roof and vanished. As for the grudge,” the guard narrowed his eyes, “bring him back, and we’ll find out through interrogation.”

 

“So, you have no evidence,” Su Cen said with a slight smile. “If we let you take him, how do we know you won’t mistreat him and force a confession? Who will he appeal to then if he’s wronged?”

 

The crowd murmured in agreement, and the attendant quickly nodded behind Su Cen.

 

The guard’s cold gaze swept over them, silencing everyone instantly. In a low voice, he said, “He likely still has the device used to fire the weapon on him. Strip him, and we’ll see.”

 

Su Cen was taken aback and turned to look at the attendant, who now appeared pitiful, wiping nonexistent tears with his sleeve. “Everyone, look! This man is trying to strip me in broad daylight. I may not be a virgin bride, but there’s no way I can allow such an insult!”

 

The guard remained unmoved. “Either strip him, or I take him with me.”

 

The attendant looked at Su Cen pleadingly.

 

Su Cen sighed inwardly. The attendant undoubtedly still had the weapon on him. If it were found, he’d be in serious trouble. Realizing he was already in too deep, Su Cen reluctantly turned and said, “I’ve already checked him earlier; he has nothing on him.” He then looked around at the crowd. “If you don’t trust me, plenty of people here can vouch for it. Those who were getting handsy earlier, please step forward and confirm—did any of you feel anything suspicious on him?”

 

A few people shook their heads, but then, realizing that admitting it would mark them as scoundrels, they quickly remained still.

 

However, those few who had already spoken were enough. Su Cen smiled and said, “See? We’ve all said there’s nothing on him. If you still insist on stripping him, people might start to think you’re just letting everyone have a peek because your master didn’t get his way earlier.”

 

The guard’s brows furrowed in anger. “How dare you!”

 

“Qi Lin.”

 

A deep voice came from upstairs, like a jar of aged wine spilling into the dark night.

 

Su Cen looked up towards the voice and saw a man descending the stairs with his hands behind his back, dressed in a brocade robe with subtle patterns that shimmered in the light. His steps were steady, exuding an undeniable aura. No wonder he had commanded attention even through the veil earlier.

 

The guard immediately stepped back with a respectful bow.

 

Su Cen felt his neck stiffen, his heart suddenly racing. The pressure he’d felt from the guard earlier was nothing compared to the overwhelming presence of this man. With just two words, the entire area fell silent, his innate authority silencing any response Su Cen might have had.

 

Thankfully, the man only glanced at Su Cen briefly and said, “Let’s go,” before turning to leave, leaving the stunned crowd in his wake.

 

Su Cen quickly turned to look, noticing that the man paused at the doorway, casting a casual glance back at him. Those eyes were unfathomably deep, yet Su Cen caught a hint of mockery in them.

 

It was the kind of disdainful sneer one would give a frog in a well, arrogantly flaunting its knowledge.

 

Su Cen stood frozen for a moment before regaining his senses, suddenly feeling inexplicably irritated.

 

He grabbed the now cold tea from the table, downed it in one gulp, tossed a few copper coins on the table, and turned to leave. Ah Fu hurried after him, and after they had walked a dozen steps, they noticed that the attendant had followed them out as well.

 

Su Cen stopped and frowned, “Why are you following me?”

 

The attendant smiled with a meaningful curl of his lips. “You helped me; shouldn’t I come out to thank you?”

 

Su Cen continued walking as he replied, “I didn’t help you. I just couldn’t stand the person upstairs.”

 

“Oh?” The attendant raised an eyebrow.

 

“Coming to a tea house for tea but insisting on choosing a private room upstairs—if he wanted peace and quiet, why not stay at home? Judging by his attire, he doesn’t seem like someone who’d be short of a few ounces of tea.”

 

“Do you know who he is?”

 

“I don’t know who he is,” Su Cen suddenly narrowed his eyes, “but I do know that you did attempt to assassinate him.”

 

The attendant was taken aback.

 

“You’re not really a waiter at the tea house. If you were, when I mentioned that the tea house was passing off Mingqian longjing tea as Yuqian longjing tea, you wouldn’t have remained indifferent. Moreover, that was indeed Mingqian longjing tea. If you were truly a waiter, you would have defended your establishment. This only proves that you were there with another purpose. Also, when you were downstairs, although you flirted with others, you deliberately avoided using your right hand to hold the teapot. I suspect the mechanism is hidden in your right sleeve.”

 

Instinctively, the attendant touched his right sleeve, where indeed a wrist arrow capable of firing steel needles was hidden. His gaze grew more intrigued. “Then why did you still help me?”

 

“I told you, I didn’t help you. I just couldn’t stand that person.” The thought of that gaze made Su Cen inexplicably irritable again. He quickened his pace, but then turned back and said, “I advise you to stop following me. Just because he didn’t catch you in the tea house doesn’t mean he’ll let you go. You should use your time to escape.”

 

“If he couldn’t catch me in the tea house, he’ll never catch me after,” the attendant chuckled. “My name is Qu Ling’er. Regardless, I still thank you today, and one more thing…”

 

Qu Ling’er suddenly leaned in close to whisper in Su Cen’s ear, “That man really does like men.”

 

Su Cen was momentarily stunned. When he turned back again, the evening had settled in, and Qu Ling’er had vanished without a trace. Su Cen touched his ear, the tingly sensation still there. Was that last sentence…just his imagination?

 

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