How to Survive As a Villain

Chapter 30: After too much effort, I’ve learned a lot.

Xiao Yuan’s wounds lasted for several days, and only after the strangled bruises faded away, did he dared to go outside.

On the second day, he dealt with the affairs of the state, and because he was worried that someone would make things difficult for Yan Heqing, Xiao Yuan got distracted while looking at the palace memorials*. He simply piled the memorials and went straight to Jing Yang Palace.

(T/N: 奏摺 zòu zhé. A memorial to the throne (章表 zhāngbiǎo) was an official communication to the Emperor of China. They were generally careful essays in Classical Chinese and their presentation was a formal affair directed by government officials. In the Qing Dynasty, because the bureaucracy might interrupt, conceal, or lose information important to their rulers, the Kangxi Emperor developed a supplemental system of “Palace Memorials” (奏摺 zòu zhé) in the late 17th century. This system delivered local officials’ memorials to him directly. A “Folding Memorial”, for instance, was to be written on pages small enough for the emperor to hold them in his hand and read without being observed.)

Hong Xiu wanted to stop him, but Xiao Yuan ignored her.

The year was going to dawn, and the time is fainting. The wind was cold and the clouds were heavy. The snowflakes fell one after another, floating amicably, covering the white ground. The snow in the Northern Kingdom seemed to be falling forever.

Xiao Yuan tightened his robe, patted the snow off his shoulders, and reached to knock on Yan Heqing’s door.

Following Xiao Yuan with diligence, Yang Liuan clenched his fists and said: “Your Majesty, Weichen will wait for you outside the door.”

Xiao Yuan refused: “It’s too cold, go back.”

Yang Liuan insisted: “Weichen doesn’t feel cold.”

Xiao Yuan grabbed a Snowball and stuffed it into Yang Liuan’s clothes: “Is it cold or not?”

Yang Liuan shivered: “… No, no, no, I’m not, I’m not cold.”

You’re shivering and yet you say you’re not cold!

Xiao Yuan didn’t know wherever to laugh or cry: “Go find a warm place to dry your clothes, and then, come back in an hour.”

Although Yang Liuan was still hesitant, he had to obey his Majesty’s order under Xiao Yuan’s insistence.

The North wind was howling, and his clothes were wet because of the snow. Yang Liuan stealthily finds a small courtyard were willows trees were planted inside the Jing Yang Palace. When he sees no one around, he knocks gently at the door.

“Who is it?” A doubtful voice came from behind the door, not long after, the door was slightly opened.

Yang Liuan looked at Xiao Fengyue, who was extremely joyful, and smiled sweetly: “It’s me.”

“You, you’re all wet, come in quickly.” Xiao Fengyue hurriedly pulled him inside the room, heated the charcoal basin, puts it in front of him, and went to find some dry clothes. “Quick, remove your wet clothes first, and put these on.”

“Yes.” Yang Liuan took off his robe and handed it to Xiao Fengyue.

“Let’s change your inner garments too, it’s all wet. Be careful with the wind and the cold.” Xiao Fengyue said worriedly, his eyes full of distress.

Yang Liuan’s face showed a blush that was hard to see: “The inner garments, i-it doesn’t matter, don’t worry.”

Xiao Fengyue suddenly realized what was going on. He lowered his head to make his expression unclear, but his earlobes were already painted red. Xiao Fengyue kowtowed and said: “Y-you go change your clothes, I’ll go to the yard to sweep the snow, go change.”

“Don’t, don’t go outside, it’s too cold.” Yang Liuan reached out and held Xiao Fengyue’s hand.

Xiao Fengyue’s tone was worried: “No, if you stay in your wet clothes you will get cold.”

Yang Liuan holds his hand tighter: “I’ll change, I’ll go change my clothes, just don’t go outside.”

With that said, Yang Liuan quickly untied his undergarments and hurriedly changed into a set of dry clothes. Xiao Fengyue took the wet clothes and put them to dry by the charcoal fire: “What happened today? Don’t you have to guard his Majesty?”

Yang Liuan replied: “His Majesty came to Jing Yang Palace, looking for Yan Heqing.”

Hearing this, Xiao Fengyue suddenly sighed.

Yang Liuan was curious: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Fengyue explained: “Earlier, I heard some rumors about chasing the wind and clutching at shadows*, saying that his Majesty was favoring only one person recently, but I didn’t expect it to be the prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom.”

(T/N: *捕風捉影 bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng (idiom); groundless accusations / to act without evidence)

Yang Liuan nervously covers Xiao Fengyue’s hand and holds it carefully: “Are you feeling homesick?”

Xiao Fengyue felt like a spring breeze inside his heart, and he smiled gently at Yang Liuan: “Although the Southern Yan Kingdom is my hometown, I was alone in the world, I don’t have much to miss from there, but now…”

These days, feeling lovesick, exquisite red beans, it can’t be a home without you.

Xiao Fengyue stopped for a while, and looked down at the charcoal pot with little sparks coming out from the fire.

Yang Liuan didn’t notice the difference, and asked reluctantly, “Why are you sighing?”

Xiao Fengyue sorted out his thoughts and raised his head to answer: “I’m afraid that the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom will become the target of everyone here.”

Yang Liuan didn’t understand: “Huh? For what reason?”

Xiao Fengyue spread out carefully Yang Liuan’s wet clothes so it would dry better, and then replied: “It’s never a happy event to be the only one to have his imperial Majesty’s favor. In this Jing Yang Palace, there’s too much people doing painstakingly efforts to obtain accomplishments. It’s also full of clever people.”

Xiao Yuan was also worried about this issue: “Did anyone tried to harm you recently?”

Yan Heqing shook his head.

“How about Hong Xiu, did she do something?”

Yan Heqing shook his head.

“And the House of Internal Affairs? What about Eunuch Zhao?”

Yan Heqing still denied with his head.

Xiao Yuan patted his chest and let out a long breath.

It seems that the skills of the villains are cooling down.

Seeing Xiao Yuan carefree attitude, Yan Heqing frowned: “Why do you want to help me? Although you’re not the Emperor, you can still use this identity to call the wind and summon the rain*, and cover the sky with one hand**, right?”

(T/N *呼风唤雨 hū fēng huàn yǔ (idiom); to exercise magical powers / to stir up troubles. **一手遮天 yī shǒu zhē tiān; to hide the truth from the masses)

Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Does Yan Heqing believes him?

But how can I dare to call the wind and the rain, You’re the male lead you should be the one making the call. You can claim the Northern Kingdom, and make it disappear! Call it!

Xiao Yuan chuckled: “There’s no reason, I just want to be friends with you.”

Yan Heqing said: “Friend?”

Xiao Yuan said: “When a true man conducts himself in a society, he should become the hero of the whole world.”

Yan Heqing’s eyes went on alert, but remained silent.

Xiao Yuan was too lazy to explain it to him, so he moved the stool near the charcoal basin, looked out the window at the howling snow, and rubbed his hands turning his palms to warm himself.

Yan Heqing looked at his actions and said: “Are you … afraid of cold?”

Xiao Yuan got stunned at first, and then replied: “Ah? Uh huh. I was a Southerner in my past life, so I’m indeed afraid of the cold.”

Yan Heqing asked again: “What was your name during your past life?”

Xiao Yuan filled with water a porcelain cup and wrote with it his name on top of the round yellow table.

Yan Heqing murmured out, “Xiao, Yuan.”

“Yes, when there’s no one around, you can just call me by my name.” Xiao Yuan smiled slightly, and the red light of the charcoal basin illuminated his white porcelain face, his eyes were bright and shiny, very indistinct.

Yan Heqing wasn’t convinced, but after a long time watching him, he finally agreed: “Fine.”

An hour later, Yang Liuan’s clothes were finally dried. After he changed into his inner clothes, Xiao Fengyue carefully helped him put on his robe, fastened his belt and tidy up his lapel.

The two of them looked at each other for a long time, until Yang Liuan finally closed his eyes: “I’m going back to pick up the Emperor.”

Xiao Fengyue looked out of the window with anxiety: “The snow is so heavy, would you like an umbrella?”

Yang Liuan shook his head, got up and walked out of the door: “No, I’m worried that someone will get suspicious.”

Xiao Fengyue bite his lower lip and didn’t insist.

Yang Liuan just opened the door when the wind and snow suddenly blew inside. Xiao Fengyue then remembered something and he pulled Yang Liuan, took out a sachet from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

“This is?” Yang Liuan took the sachet with surprise.

Xiao Fengyue said: “You can’t take the umbrella to protect you, but you can always take this sachet and hide it close to you, right?”

Yang Liuan rubbed his head and smiled happily and embarrassedly: “Yes, thank you, I will protect it well.”

Xiao Fengyue lowered his head and said: “Go ahead, don’t let his Majesty waiting.”

Yang Liuan closed the door for Xiao Fengyue, carefully placed the sachet inside his inner clothing, and hurriedly walked away holding tight his robe.

The frozen wind was howling all around, the snow falling was so thick that it could cover the ears and make the eyes blind. The whole world seemed to be covered in white, and neither of them were able to see, that behind the willows trees planted in the courtyard, stood a person watching them secretly.

Qin Yu observed the silhouette of Yang Liuan hurrying away, and then took a look at the closed door of Xiao Fengyue. He murmured strange words, and then smiled mischievously, a trace of cunning shining in his eyes.