Chapter 158

Chapter 158: How Much Helplessness Exists in This World (Part 2)

In the dim light of night, Feng Lan spotted a figure pacing anxiously before the Chao Feng Palace. He approached, 

and before he could even speak, the figure greeted him with a beaming smile.

“My lord, you’re finally back!” Qing Xu exclaimed urgently. “His Majesty has been waiting for you all 

afternoon.”

“Master?” Feng Lan hesitated for a moment, then hurried inside. He had gone to Huan Ao Palace upon returning 

to the palace but hadn’t found Si Cang Qing. He hadn’t expected him to be waiting for him here.

He suddenly stopped and turned back to ask, “Has His Majesty had dinner?”

“Replying to my lord, His Majesty has remained in the side hall all afternoon.”

The palace servants knew Si Cang Qing’s habits; they were not allowed to disturb him without his permission. 

Therefore, since he hadn’t ordered dinner, they dared not make the decision on their own.

Frowning slightly, Feng Lan instructed, "Bring dinner to the side hall!"

Upon entering, he sensed the room's quiet and desolate atmosphere. Feng Lan paused for a moment, then walked 

through the main hall into the inner room. There he saw Si Cang Qing sitting alone at the table, one hand 

supporting his forehead, his eyes closed.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating his face.

His heart ached instantly. Feng Lan quietly approached him… These past few days, he must have been exhausted! 

Thinking this, he bent down to pick up the book that had fallen to the floor. Just as he was about to straighten up, 

his arm was grabbed and he was pulled away.

Slumping into Si Cang Qing's arms, Feng Lan smiled faintly, "Did I disturb your rest?" He gently traced the light 

blue circles under Feng Lan's eyes, his heart aching even more. He sighed, "Master, if you're tired, go lie down in 

bed..."

"It's nothing," Si Cang Qing replied softly, gently pulling Feng Lan into his arms and sniffing his neck.

"I'm sorry, Master."

"Hmm?"

Raising his hand to stroke the back of Feng Lan's head, Feng Lan whispered, "I shouldn't...have put you in such a 

difficult position." He had felt a tightness in his chest, but seeing Si Cang Qing so exhausted, he was suddenly 

filled with guilt and remorse. This man was so capable, handling everything himself...but even he felt tired.

Si Cang Qing had ignored their feelings regarding Mo Qing Jue's matter; conversely, they hadn't considered his 

feelings either, only forcing him to choose between them. They knew Si Cang Qing well enough to know what

kind of person he was. If he hadn't truly been unable to part with Mo Qing Jue, he wouldn't have insisted on 

keeping that person alive, disregarding his own safety and their feelings.

In the end, they were all at fault…

“You’re not wrong,” Si Cang Qing raised his head, kissed Feng Lan’s eyes, and pressed his forehead against the 

other’s, saying softly, “I was inconsiderate.” Before they were by his side, he never considered other people’s 

feelings or emotions, nor did he really understand those complex emotions. Now that he had kept those people 

by his side, he should consider their thoughts and feelings. But… he had overlooked too much.

“Then, Master, you’re not angry with me, are you?” Feng Lan asked softly, leaning on his shoulder.

He couldn’t bring himself to vent his anger on Si Cang Qing like Tian Yang and Qi Shuangran had, and he 

couldn’t bear to leave this person… yet he couldn’t suppress his anger, so he distanced himself from him, leaving 

the palace early to try and forget everything by keeping busy.

Thinking back on it now, he felt that this behavior was willful… Si Cang Qing must have sensed it too!

His arm encircled Feng Lan’s shoulder, his fingers brushing against the other’s cheek, and Si Cang Qing gently 

replied, “No.” He would never be angry with this person.

Hearing this, Feng Lan nestled quietly in Si Cang Qing's arms.

"What's wrong?" While they were having dinner, Feng Lan noticed Si Cang Qing's brow furrow after taking a 

bite of an onion. His eyes darted around, and he smiled, "So, Master doesn't like these onions... These were 

brought back from a very far place by the Qiu Ji caravan, crossing the Heavenly Road and the Desert."

Feng Lan took another bite and continued, "They're delicious."

Si Cang Qing still frowned. He had always hated onions; he hadn't known they'd become a rare delicacy in this 

timeline. Seeing Feng Lan's delighted expression, he pulled him close.

"Ah," Feng Lan chuckled, trying to push him away as he was being pulled closer, "Master, we're eating... um..." 

Before he could finish, his mouth was covered, and the onion slice slipped into his own mouth.

As soon as Feng Lan pulled away from Si Cang Qing's mouth, his face flushed crimson, and he said with a hint 

of displeasure, "Master... how could you be so wicked?"

He had already put the food in his mouth, but he forced it in because he didn't like it. It was truly, truly despicable!

Watching Si Cang Qing eat his meal without a trace of remorse, Feng Lan's words caught in his throat. His mouth 

was filled with the strong taste of scallions, and he couldn't help but find it amusing. So, a rare mischievous 

thought arose. With a mouthful of scallion in his mouth, he quickly turned and wrapped his arms around the 

man's neck, then kissed him, mimicking the man's earlier actions, using his tongue to feed Si Cang Qing a slice 

of scallion.

Before the man could react, Feng Lan pulled away and hurriedly got up to leave. "Master, I'm full. I'm going to 

take a bath."

His words carried a clear smile.

Watching the man's light figure disappear through the door, Si Cang Qing's eyes softened, and he involuntarily 

swallowed the scallion slice in his mouth.

…If Feng Lan is happy, then so be it.

“Master,” Feng Lan whispered, gently stroking Si Cang Qing’s bare chest, “Ping Tian and Tian Yang are both 

gone…I’m afraid it won’t be easy to get them back.”

Si Cang Qing gave a nonchalant hum, but in his mind, he was already planning which urgent matters to handle 

and how to make some arrangements so he could personally leave the palace to find the two.

Anyway, he still owed Qiu Ping Tian a favor. He'd promised to accompany him to visit his family during the 

southern campaign, but hadn't had the chance to fulfill that promise.

Thinking of this, Si Cang Qing softly asked, "Lan, in a few days, I'll accompany you to pay respects to your 

family!"

His fingers paused, and Feng Lan immediately understood the other's intention. He smiled understandingly, 

"Your Majesty, I was on business in Jiangdong a few days ago, and I took the opportunity to pay respects to my 

family… so, next year."

He knew that Si Cang Qing would definitely go to see Cheng Tian Yang and Qiu Ping Tian, and this departure 

would last at least another month. Someone had to stay in the palace to manage affairs. Thinking of this, 

Feng Lan couldn't help but sigh. He guessed the court officials must be having a headache… No emperor was 

like Si Cang Qing, constantly on the move.

The most helpless one was probably the earnest and upright Prime Minister. He wondered if he would clash 

with Si Cang Qing again.

“Master,” Feng Lan suddenly spoke again, hesitating for a long time before stammering, “Seventh Young Master… 

he, he’s at Cuichun Pavilion…”

Cuichun Pavilion? Si Cang Qing vaguely remembered it; it seemed to be a brothel. Recalling what happened 

at Qihonglou in Sishui City, his eyes turned cold.

Sensing Si Cang Qing’s displeasure, Feng Lan gently comforted him, “Seventh Young Master was probably just 

angry for a moment. He’s straightforward and sometimes doesn’t consider the consequences of his actions… 

Master, please don’t be angry.”

Si Cang Qing turned his head and kissed her forehead. “I’m fine.”

“Aren’t you going to find him, Master?” Seeing Si Cang Qing close his eyes as if about to fall asleep, Feng Lan 

asked again. That day, Ran Shuangran stormed out of the palace, disregarding her status, and had spent the last 

two days indulging in debauchery at Cuichun Pavilion. She must be out of her mind from anger, right?

Si Cang Qing replied calmly, "In a few days."

Feng Lan was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding his thoughts. Seeing that Si Cang Qing had no desire 

to explain, she sighed and closed her eyes. Was that arrogant and domineering Seventh Young Master lucky or 

unlucky to have met someone like his master?

"Seventh Young Master..."

Watching the handsome young man happily surrounded by women, the madam mustered her courage to remind 

him, "Look, you've been here for five days already... drinking and making merry all day, it's not good for your 

health..."

Ran Shuangran glanced at her sideways and snorted, "Don't give me that, Cuihua, you've got some nerve, trying to 

kick me out? If I weren't in a good mood today, I wouldn't bother pursuing it..."

"Seventh Master, have another drink." The woman on her right, seeing the situation was getting out of hand, 

quickly brought over a wine cup.

The madam wore a bitter face; this devil was truly impossible to deal with! That grand wedding ceremony—

now, who in the capital doesn't know that Ran Shuangran is one of the most favored concubines in the palace? 

If he were seen openly soliciting a prostitute like this…

Thinking of this, the madam felt a chill run down her spine.

Glancing around the empty hall, the madam sighed deeply. To avoid being discovered by Ran Shuangran, she 

had reluctantly suspended business at Cuichun Pavilion for the past few days.

Beatles of laughter drifted from the Hibiscus Pavilion. The madam silently prayed, "That devil, please leave 

quickly!"

Just then, a servant rushed in, gasping for breath, pointing towards the door, crying, "N-nothing, something 

terrible has happened!"

"Ah Er, what's the rush? If the customers were here, they'd be terrified…"

"No, no!"

"No what?" The madam, still resentful, stood with her hands on her hips, ready to give Ah Er a good scolding, 

when she was startled to see a man stride in. Upon seeing the red lotus on his forehead, she prostrated herself on 

the ground with a thud, "This lowly commoner pays his respects..."

"Where is Ran Shuangran?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty..."

Si Cang Qing impatiently walked towards the second floor, following the occasional sounds of laughter to the 

Hibiscus Room. He pushed open the door and saw the man surrounded by a group of prostitutes, utterly 

disrespectful.

The madam quickly got up and followed him upstairs, but heard hurried footsteps behind her. Turning around, 

her face turned deathly pale. A large number of imperial guards rushed in. She hurriedly rushed towards the 

Hibiscus Room.

Inside the Hibiscus Room, there was a deathly silence.

Women knelt on the floor, but Ran Shuangran paid no attention, pouring herself a drink, ignoring the man beside 

her who exuded a chilling aura.

"Guards!" Si Cang Qing coldly ordered, "Seal off Cuichun Pavilion!"

"Your Majesty!" The madam trembled as she knelt before Si Cang Qing, "This lowly commoner begs Your 

Majesty..."

"All of you, step back!"

"Your Majesty, Cuichun Pavilion is actually..."

"Do you intend to disobey my words?"

The icy voice sent a chill down everyone's spine, and the madam and the women were led away by 

the Imperial Guards.

With a soft chuckle, Ran Shuangran, who had been wearing a cold expression, suddenly burst into laughter. 

He glanced sideways at the man standing there, staring at him, and said, "So you really sealed this place off?"

Si Cang Qing didn't answer. He simply walked up to him, snatched the wine cup, and grabbed him arm, pulling 

him up. "Come back to the palace with me!"

Shaking off his arm, Ran Shuangran snorted, "What if I don't want to?"

Si Cang Qing gazed silently into the man's arrogant eyes, suddenly pressing him finger against his acupoints. 

He then swept Ran Shuangran up in his arms and turned to leave.

"Si Cang Qing!" Ran Shuangran was furious, glaring at him. "You dare touch my acupoints again?!" 

Even more infuriating was that he had fallen for his trick again.

Si Cang Qing looked down at him, his voice unusually gentle. "How about I take you for a stroll in the suburbs 

today?"

"I don't want to go!"

He kissed his brow, then pulled away slightly, watching his wide-eyed expression, a slight smile playing on his 

lips. All the words caught in his throat, and Ran Shuangran stared blankly at the man's gentle smile.

"...I wish to go boating on the lake."

"Very well."

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