Step Down, Let Me Come!

Chapter 33: Mister Chu

The sound of motorcycle bells gradually traveled near.

Shen Tang came back after her inquiry. She feigned mysteriousness: “Yuanliang, why are you not asking me anything? Are you not curious?”

Qi Shan kept his composure, he flatly said some infuriating words: “Youli, you’re not someone who can refrain from talking”. 

Shen Tang: “…”

Like on every normal day, Shen Tang once again wanted to see what was hidden inside Qi Shan’s head.

“It's really rare to have such a big mouth and still live in peace”. Shen Tang ridiculed him. However, Qi Shan didn’t even wrinkle his brows. She had to say: “According to what butcher said, that person was a ‘celebrity’ in a nearby district and his family surname should be “Chu”.

Qi Shan asked: “Which one?”

There were a lot of family surnames that sounded exactly the same. 

Shen Tang specifically asked the butcher a few more questions. She answered: “It should be the Chu from “take the clothes, then wear them”, Chu from attire” (褚). 

After hearing which one it was, Qi Shan frowned imperceptibly. Shen Tang, who walked 2 steps behind him, didn't sense it.

“Chu… that family name is uncommon in the Xin and Geng kingdom”. 

Shen Tang asked: “Where is it popular?”

Qi Shan shook his head and remained silent. He changed the topic: “Besides family name, did you ask about other things?”

Shen Tang said: “Butcher also said that Mister Chu was a cheaply bought slave who was sent to the market five years ago. At that time, more than 30 slaves were sent with him. I also heard that there were more than 200 slaves originally, and they were going to be sold elsewhere, but the plague broke out on the way, and only a few of them remained, so they sold the remaining slaves in Xiao city that was nearby. Because of the plague, the price of slaves was also remarkably low…”

Qi Shan asked: “5 years ago? Definitely?”

Shen Tang carefully recalled butcher’s words: “Butcher also didn’t remember much, so it could also be more than 5 years ago… Mister Chu was then bought as an extra by Moonlight Building and taken away. I also especially asked about Moonlight Building…” 

She didn’t finish her words yet, when Qi Shan said: “It’s a brothel with male prostitutes”.

Shen Tang stopped and looked at Qi Shan’s silhouette weirdly. She muttered: “How are you so clear about that?”

What kind of place was a brothel with male prostitutes?

It was a place for both men and women, created for pleasure. 

Qi Shan didn’t answer directly at all. He tilted his head and spoke like he wanted to warn a child: “Youli, you’re too young to understand this”.

Shen Tang: “…”

She gave him a middle finger in her heart.

I, your older sister, had become an adult 800 years earlier than you, thank you!

Qi Shan: “What is he doing in the Moonlight Building?”

Shen Tang was baffled: “He is certainly doing some odd jobs in the kitchen. With Mister Chu’s age, he has no energy, so he shouldn’t do any heavy work. At most, he is helping with miscellaneous chores like washing plates and bowls or delivering food. In his age, say, what can he do more?”

Qi Shan: “…”

He would bet 3 coins that Young master Shen was wrong.

Other than that - 

Qi Shan flatly said: “This people are somewhat weird, they have too many contradictions. After talking with him, I discovered that his attainments in literature, speech, and spirituality are not low, at least not inferior to mine. Xiao city is truly a place with hidden talents. It’s so interesting”.

Shen Tang was flabbergasted: “Not inferior?” 

“Maybe, even better”. 

Shen Tang was puzzled: “With this kind of talent, even if you were in dire straits, then bought by the brothel, it’s unlikely that you would have to do many chores in the back kitchen, right? If he wants to live a better life, it shouldn't be too difficult, but it doesn't look like that from the way he is dressed”.

Even if he was a slave, he should have so much proficiency as a slave.

Qi Shan dropped his gaze and laughed.

“Who knows what he’s thinking? But, “Chu” family name, actually let me recall some old court case”. 

After hearing it, Shen Tang’s gossipy soul woke up. She immediately felt more spirited – according to the regular pattern, the so-called “old case” in all likelihood was linked with mister Qi in countless ways. 

Even if he wasn’t involved directly, he should at least be a relative of the person involved.

It was a pattern!

“What old case?”

Qi Shan smiled: “Many kingdoms choose to connect by marriage, so in-laws are everywhere. A few years ago, Xin kingdom was rich and powerful, so the small neighboring countries decided to follow it blindly, and they didn’t hesitate to respectfully offer princesses to be concubines in Xin kingdom. Among them, there was one with a surname 'Chu'”.

“Oh, then?”

Qi Shan continued with the story: “When the girl from another country with a surname “Chu” just joined the concubines in Xin, she was really doted on by the king, but the winds changed, when Zheng Qiao started to avoid the favored “beloved concubine”. It was said that this favored concubine was well-read in poetry and books, tolerant and kind. She also became pregnant soon, and had great potential to enter the middle palace. As a result, she had a miscarriage in May and died suddenly”. 

Shen Tang listened carefully, afraid to miss important points.

“I can bet that this matter is not so simple”. 

Qi Shan nodded and said: “Naturally, it’s not so simple. There are numerous rumors in the marketplace. Some say that the favorite concubine was discovered to have an improper relationship with an imperial guard, and some say that her child was actually Zheng Qiao’s. And shortly after Zheng Qiao returned, Xin kingdom send troops to annihilate the home kingdom of that favored concubine. It is said that when he destroyed it, Xin kingdom also send an order in secret to massacre everyone and torment the aristocrats with good merits… Seeing the attitude of the king of Xin, it could be said that this rumors had some truth in it. Of course, it was also possible that Zheng Qiao cheated and framed the beloved concubine in order to return home smoothly”.

Shen Tang: “…”

Could it be, like in that legendary sentence, “fortunes rise and fall?”

Xin kingdom also destroyed and massacred other kingdoms. They also harassed royals and treated prisoners without dignity. Now it was Zheng Qiao’s turn to destroy Xin. He not only imitated them, but also did a lot more, like forcing the [naked] princess to surrounded for her kingdom.

It could be called “student surpasses the master”. 

Shen Tang guessed: “Yuanliang, you mean that that mister Chu could be a member of a royal family from that small kingdom?”

“It’s hard to say. It is possible, but it could be wrong”. The most popular surname in that small country that was destroyed was “Chu”. The scope is too large, so his identity is uncertain, but he must have enmity with Xin kingdom.

Qi Shan let out a breath of turbid air slowly, and temporarily suppressed the complicated emotions churning in his chest: “Let's not talk about this, young master Shen, let's settle down first, and think about the rest slowly”.

They’ll have to spend this period of time in the Xiao city.

Shen Tang shrugged indifferently: “Everything is up to Yuanliang”.

Being a stranger in a strange land, you could only hope for “guide NPC”. 

Qi Shan led Shen Tang to a remote, small hut.

Although the house was small, it was fully equipped, and the owner's elaborate thoughts could be seen in every place of this house. The owners were an elderly peasant couple, about fifty years old. As soon as the two appeared, the old lady came up to them with a smile and led Shen Tang to her room.

The room was close to the courtyard. Shen Tang could see the patio in the courtyard after opening the wooden door. Qi Shan lived next door. After the old couple left, she asked, “Yuanliang, you know these two?” 

The old couple was very familiar with Qi Shan, as if they were old acquaintances. 

Qi Shan said: “I have known them for five or six years…” 

Shen Tang frowned.

She didn't know if she was just too suspicious, but she especially took notice of “five or six years” Qi Shan talked about.