Free Web NovelChapter 657: Chapter 657: Sikong Jian, You’re Not Human
The defenses were indeed weakest in the morning; within the National Master Mansion, the servants were busy cleaning the courtyard, wiping and washing, and the guards would not notice people passing by, assuming they were servants from the mansion.
Qin Yao stole two maid outfits hanging on the drying rod, dressing Liu Ji and herself up as servants, swaggering past a group of patrol guards.
Liu Ji’s heart was pounding in his throat, moving with synchronized limbs, yet none of the guards noticed anything amiss.
One of them might have found his gait strange, glanced over with a side-eye, stunned—such a pretty maid!
Avoiding one wave of guards, they came to the Pu Courtyard. Liu Ji immediately spat, disgusted: "Disgusting!"
Qin Yao: ???
Liu Ji reported grievance with a hint of pity, "My dear, he was staring at me, drooling nearly."
Qin Yao: "I know, next time we see him, I’ll get revenge for you."
Someone was immediately satisfied, nodding, and pointed to the small courtyard ahead, asking in a soft voice: "There are so many guards at the gate, how are we going to get in?"
Qin Yao curved a smile, handed the food box she swiped over to Liu Ji to hold, directing him to put the food they brought inside, giving him a composed look, the couple took a deep breath and went directly towards Pu Courtyard.
Yesterday, it was also two maids delivering meals here; today they could try it too.
If unfortunate enough to be recognized, they would just run away. freёweɓnovel.com
Qin Yao might have doubts about other things, but she was confident about running away.
Liu Ji was flabbergasted, but seeing Qin Yao had already moved ahead, he had to suppress his wildly beating heart and follow her.
The two walked up to the gate of the Pu Courtyard, and sure enough, were stopped by guards who wanted to inspect the food box.
They actually didn’t discover them! Liu Ji excitedly exchanged a glance with Qin Yao.
Qin Yao nodded slightly, signaling him to be confident.
Liu Ji opened the food box; inside was a pot of pig liver soup and a bowl of plain congee, served in ordinary ceramic dishes.
Qin Yao explained first: "Lord State Preceptor invited a new cook from the village outside the city today, made two dishes that are quite grounded, the teacher should like them."
The guard looked her over, seeing nothing amiss. After all, it wasn’t them guarding here yesterday, and since changing cooks and maids frequently was common in the mansion, because the person in the courtyard was quite difficult to serve, Lord State Preceptor would change things up to please him daily.
They only needed to check if the visitors carried any dangerous weapons or if there was any poison.
Upon examination, confirming the two posed no danger, the guard personally led them inside.
Upon seeing the courtyard almost identical to the Lotus Courtyard, Liu Ji was deeply shocked, more than when he saw the Peacock Garden.
These powerful people truly had hands and eyes everywhere!
There is nothing they want that they cannot obtain.
Once the door opened, a decaying smell mixed with bitter herbal scents instantly tightened the heart inexplicably.
Liu Ji secretly took several deep breaths; the teacher was in there. He was about to see him, not knowing what he looked like now.
The servants inside came to collect the food box; Qin Yao signaled Liu Ji to hand over the box to them but didn’t leave immediately.
Instead, she turned to the guard and said: "Manager Sun Jiang specifically instructed me to stay until I see the teacher have breakfast, to see if today’s meal satisfies him so he could report back to Lord State Preceptor."
The guard’s eyes trembled upon hearing Sun Jiang’s name; it’s uncertain what kind of shadow Sun Jiang left on these guards and servants of National Master Mansion, making them so afraid.
However, the name was influential, and the guard had no doubt, nodding to let the two stay for now.
The guard did not leave, accompanying them inside, watching closely.
Managing to get inside was already a pleasant surprise. Qin Yao gave Liu Ji a secretive glance, urging him to seize the opportunity; she was there to mislead and assist.
Though Qin Yao was not good at chit-chatting, she was adept at interrogation, relying on Sun Jiang’s intimidation, seriously inquiring the two servants and the guard about Gongliang Liao’s situation, saying she had to report to Sun Jiang.
Whilst speaking, she deliberately hinted at her ambiguous relationship with Sun Jiang, making the three despise her more, yet they dared not conceal any facts.
Liu Ji placed the congee and soup on the small table by the bed, not daring to lift his head the entire time until he heard the guards and two servants answering Qin Yao’s questions outside the screen. Only then, at the bedside, did he slowly look up.
Upon first sight of the frail old man lying on the bed, even though mentally prepared, Liu Ji couldn’t help but gasp.
The reaction startled the person on the bed who was resting with closed eyes; Gongliang Liao slowly opened his eyes, displeased as he glanced towards the bed edge.
His movements were sluggish; even a side glance seemed to expend all his strength, his breath quickened with the action, producing a rasping noise in his throat.
The two locked eyes, both frozen.
Liu Ji quickly collected himself, suppressing the urge to cry, grabbed ahold of the icy cold hand draped over the bed’s edge.
Unable to hold back anymore, the mentor-student duo were tearfully overwhelmed, almost embracing in sorrow.
Gongliang Liao: San’er!
Liu Ji: Teacher!!
Right, eating, let’s eat first.
Liu Ji squeezed his excited, trembling hand, motioning him to keep quiet, quickly took the still warm pig liver soup, supporting the teacher up against the soft pillow, lowered his voice saying:
"I simmered it all morning, teacher, you should drink more while it’s hot."
"And there’s Ah Wang’s congee, your favorite plain congee, it’s exceptionally thick and fragrant."
Upon hearing him, Gongliang Liao sniffed, the air had a scent of rice he was familiar with!
Gongliang Liao’s gaze was eager; the master-student bond ran deep, one gulp of soup followed by a mouthful of congee, Gongliang Liao seemed starved for eternities, making Liu Ji heartbroken, sobbing, what kind of life was teacher living!
Even plain congee was so relished!
Sikong Jian, you are heartless!
"Eat slowly, after eating tomorrow I’ll bring more, don’t worry about going hungry." Liu Ji wiped tears from his eye corner, sympathetically comforting.
Gongliang Liao completely ignored him, out of nowhere gathered strength, felt Liu Ji’s scoops were too ineffective, slapped away Liu Ji’s hand, picked up the pot, directly downing a bowl of pig liver soup.
He wasn’t drinking soup; he was drinking beautiful memories, the air of freedom, the life he longed for!
"Wine, tomorrow you bring wine." After finishing the soup pot, Gongliang Liao leaned back on the soft pillow contentedly, rejecting Liu Ji’s offer to bring more soup tomorrow.
Such a rare opportunity, what’s the point in soup, he wants to drink wine!
Liu Ji took away the soup pot, waggling his finger: "That can’t be, my dear will kill me if she knew."
Gongliang Liao glared at him, though weak in breath, said with an excited tone: "How did I end up with a useless disciple like you... can’t you sneak it, sneak it through?"
Then, glanced at his maid attire, uttered a sigh, male or female, what a hideous sight.
Only then did Liu Ji remember himself in drag, faced his teacher’s overwhelmingly complex gaze, arrogantly raised an eyebrow: "Just now, a guard was staring at me, drooling." Impressive, huh~
Gongliang Liao: "..."
If not for the lack of strength, he would really want to smack this shameless rascal!
Yet, no matter how hard thoughts were, his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.
