Book 11: Chapter 135

Boss only had her babydoll between her and me. She still had sweat from my treatment sitting in her valley.

What did she just say? Big Brother? … Does she have the wrong person? … It’s not this monk, I mean, me! There’s no way I can convince anyone I’m innocent!”

“Aaaaah! They! You! What are you doing?!” Long Zaitian cried. “What are you doing in our presence?! Huh?! Huh?!”

Why are you the first one making a fuss?!

Long Zaitian’s protest brought everyone back to their senses. After all, nobody had ever seen Shen Yiren so meek, let alone imagining her confessing in public. Sixth had his mouth agape. Tie Hanyi gestured admiration with his head. Second’s smirk read, “I get it.” Tang Ye’s face read, “Thought so.” Su Xiao had “stupefied” written all over his face. His Majesty seemed happy, regretful, lonely, poignant and glad his daughter had grown up.

Did a dog bite you or something?

Song Ou pointed at me to begin firing off, only for Long Zaitian to shunt him and come forward, crying, “You Ming Feizhen! You would steal a man’s love?!”

Remind me again: why are you the one picking a fight with me?

“You, you, you, you, you animal! You court Miss Shen while I was busy loyally serving His Majesty and the people of our nation?! You dog! There are plenty of women for a worthy man to choose from. Why can’t you bear with a bit of loneliness? T-teach me a move or two, you bloody dirtbag!”

“Well, let’s spar someday, then?”

“Shut up! Why would I want to spar you?! As a cultured man, I don’t know how to curse you, you grandson of a donkey, son of a dog, mountain of crap that hurts my eyes!”

So much for cultured…

Long Zaitian finally spared Song Ou attention, picking up the latter. “Song Ou, she’s your fiancée. Don’t just watch from the sidelines. Go at him!”

Song Ou, scowling, brayed, “Ming Feizhen! Ming Feizhen! How dare you?! I’d like to see what you can do now! Let’s see who can shelter you now!”

I wanted to release my hold on Boss, but my heart refused to let me. “Huh? Shelter?”

Nobody dared to make eye contact with me as I swept my gaze around until.

“Hah.” Emperor Yuansheng pointed to himself with his thumb. “I can shelter her.”

“Your Majesty! H-how can you…”

“No, no, you misunderstand. That’s not what I meant. I was just going along with it. Tch! Ming Feizhen, let go of her already.”

I raised both hands. I was never holding up Boss. She was the one bear hugging me, so she smothered me as soon as I let go.

Song Ou rolled up his sleeves as he marched on me. Obviously, those who didn’t want to watch the world burn held him back – mainly my close allies. I winked at Moyan Luohou, prompting him to release his grip on his weapon.

“Calm down.”

Since Song Ou wouldn’t stop resisting, Long Zaitian slapped Song Ou so hard that stars orbited his head.

“I said stop and listen!”

Long Zaitian turned to me. “What?”

“Calm down… everyone. It’s as clear as day that Vice-Captain Shen has the wrong person in her dreamy state. Do you think that’s something she’d say? I heard she met a guy she fancied when she was a kid. She probably just has the wrong person.”

While everyone squinted, Long Zaitian exclaimed, “Fine, I believe you! Reasonable and substantiated. Done.”

Tie Hanyi softly expressed, “Ol’ Long, I fear th-”

Appearing to be on the verge of tears, Long Zaitian cried, “No! I refuse to believe anyone except Ming Feizhen! He’s been my brother for the last eighteen lives! He would never tell me a fib!”

Hey, hey, don’t go associating yourself with me.

“What… are you all doing…?” Shen Yiren released her hold to rub her eyes. “What is all the noise about?”

I checked Boss’ pulse forthwith. “Your Majesty, Vice-Captain Shen has recovered.”

Overcome with joy, Emperor Yuansheng sat down beside Boss. “Are you still feeling unwell or hurt somewhere? You love to front, don’t you? Earl Ming is adept at medicine. If there’s anything wrong, you must notify him.”

While I had forced the energy into her meridians, thereby quelling her fever, she didn’t feel 100% yet. Hence, she just bobbed her head.

Finally taking a note of Long Zaitian’s book, Song Ou sat down on the bed before anyone else could, forcing His Majesty aside. His Majesty gave up his spot for he could sympathise with Song Ou.

“Yiren, how are y-”

Blegh!

Boss Shen threw up on Song Ou.

My condolences…

“Boss, you hungry? Want a bite?”

Boss Shen was ghastly white because she was just regurgitating thin air. Once she finally had a moment to collect herself, she replied, “I don’t feel too well; I don’t have an appetite. Mm… are there any plums or something of the sort? I’d like some.”

“There are some. I’ll have someone fetch some. That said, I thought you didn’t like sour stuff.”

“True that. I don’t know why my taste has changed all of a sudden.”

“Mm, okay.”

The abrupt silence pervading the room compelled me to look back, where I saw squinted eyes on me.

Hmm? What’s with those looks?

Long Zaitian suddenly charged out crying. Song Ou passed out where he stood.

Emperor Yuansheng blustered, “How far have you gone behind my back?!”

Huh?! Vomit, a fondness for sour food, a change in taste… Hold up. Hold up.

I looked back at perplexed Boss Shen. Oblivious to what transpired before she came to, she just let a sweet smile bloom.

I, no, it’s not… Stop staring! It’s my turn to cry!

Glossary

Babydoll – We’re obviously talking about an archaic version. They are not that much different compared to the current era’s design, but the material varies.

“Let’s see who can save you” – There’s an omitted homophone here. Song Ou is so angry that he mispronounces the character for “defend”, turning it into the character for “hug”. The closest thing I could think of in that situation was “sheltering”, as in “sheltering you in my arms”. I hope the next few dialogues weren’t too confusing because it was built off that one joke. Erasing it altogether would be erasing quite a bit of the chapter, so…