36

On the second day of New Year, the mansion of the Second Prince's mansion was bustling with guests. He had not only invited his own brothers but also several cousins. However, due to the Emperor's illness, the mansion wasn't extravagantly decorated with fancy and luxury. Yuhong Xuan was garnering the welcome of all the guests. He was pleased and greeted his brothers and cousins with courtesy. The arrival of Yuhong Xuan with Lee Da walk into the mansion, he is welcomed by everyone. At this moment, Yuhong Xun approached, followed by a young boy in teal clothes. Lee Da was secretly surprised. The once handsome face of Zhou Chuyu was now marred by two obvious scars, indicating that the assailant intended to completely ruin his appearance. What astonished Lee Da and Yuhong Xuan more the coldness of Zhou Chuyu's expression, resembling that of a lifeless person. His eyes emitted a lifeless aura and his slender figure lacked the former roundness. The complexion was unusually pale and he followed Yuhong Xun stiffly. However, when he saw Yuhong Xuan and Lee Da, a hint of emotion flickered in his eyes. Yet, it was so fleeting that Yuhong Xuan began to doubt whether he had actually seen it. Zhou Chuyu's arrival naturally drew the attention of the guests as rumors about this young man in the capital had been increasing. 

Yuhong Xun said:

"My eldest brother, your presence truly brightens this humble abode."

Yuhong Xuan replied:

"My younger brother, you flatter me. I came uninvited and troubled you. As for your sister-in-law, you know she has difficulty moving so she couldn't come. Let me apologize on the behalf."

"No need for such politeness, my eldest brother. I don't have congratulated you properly yet. Once my little nephew arrives, let's have a drink together for celebration. Come, let me introduce you to my eldest brother." With that, Yuhong Xun turned to Zhou Chuyu and said, "Xuan, this is my favorite boy, Zhou Chuyu."

Zhou Chuyu mechanically bowed deeply to Yuhong Xuan, who nodded with a hint of distress.

Everyone took their seats for the meal with a female attendant serving and arranging dishes for each person. Only by Yuhong Xun's side was Zhou Chuyu, serving him. Zhou Chuyu remained expressionless, simply bowing his head and gracefully pouring wine for Yuhong Xun. Yuhong Xuan noticed Yuhong Xun occasionally glancing at Zhou Chuyu, even caressing his cheek. However, Zhou Chuyu showed no reaction, neither avoiding nor accommodating. Yuhong Xuan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking: "This boy is ruined." At one point, Yuhong Xun picked up a morsel of food and tried to feed it to Zhou Chuyu. However, Zhou Chuyu seemed to panic, setting down the wine jug and kneeling on the ground. Yuhong Xun shot him a resentful glance, then ate the food himself, saying:

"Go away!"

Zhou Chuyu calmly stood up, bowed deeply and left the room, Seizing the opportunity, Yuhong Xuan also excused himself from the table and followed Zhou Chuyu, seeing him in white fox fur cloak. Yuhong Xuan shouted:

"Mr. Zhou! Mr. Zhou!"

Zhou Chuyu glanced back at him, continued walking, turned a few small corners and reached a secluded spot where he finally stopped. He bowed to Yuhong Xuan but remained silent. Yuhong Xuan spoke:

"You are indeed here. How are you holding up?"

Zhou Chuyu replied, still expressionless:

"Just a walking corpse." 

Hearing this, Yuhong Xuan couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. He said:

"Do you know that Mr. Nie searched for you throughout the entire country?"

Zhou Chuyu couldn't help but lower his head at the mention but he soon raised it again, looking at Yuhong Xuan expressionlessly. Yuhong Xuan could see the tears in his eyes so he continued:

"Mr. Nie asks me to rescue you and I have promised you to help you if you need."

Zhou Chuyu said:

"Forget it! He is your brother and now he holds significant power. And please thank Mr. Nie for me."

Yuhong Xuan sighed and suggested:

"Under the current situation, I may not be able to openly take you away but I can do it discreetly. Mr. Nie is currently living in my mansion. If you leave here, you can stay there as well. No one would dare to investigate me."

"There is no necessary to save a dead man so don't make trouble for Your Highness."

"Don't be pessimistic. If I get you out, you can go somewhere else, for example Liangzhou. No one would dare to touch you there. Mr. Nie is waiting for you now."

"Wangshi is already dead. Zhou Chuyu is just a walking corpse. It doesn't matter where I go. Saving me is useless."

Yuhong Xuan explained:

"Doing this will make Mr. Nie very distressed. He searched for you everywhere, almost going mad. These past few months, he's been traveling across the country just to find any trace of you. When we speculated that you might be here, he begged me, even offering to sell himself to me, just to implore me to save you at any cost."

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Zhou Chuyu's eyes. He had to control himself and struggled to speak:

"He shouldn't have done that. Please, Your Highness, tell him to forget about me. I'm not worth his efforts anymore. Wangshi is dead."

"Why? Are you willingly staying here? Or is it because of your ..." Yuhong Xuan suddenly thought of something and asked, "Is it about your family?"

Zhou Chuyu remained silent. After a while, as if recovering from some emotion, he said:

"Your Highness, can you really save some person? And how?"

Yuhong Xuan reassured:

"I can steal a person out of here. Once you are in my mansion, no one will be able to find you."

Zhou Chuyu said:

"Alright, after I return from offering incense at Yuhuang Temple on the fifteenth day of New Year, I'll have lunch at Fenglou restaurant. I'll inform you there. However, I am being watched, so please send someone I know. But please, don't tell Mr. Nie anything including I'm here." Then he bowed deeply to Yuhong Xuan and added, "Mr. Nie is a good person with no family. I dare not ask Your Highness to treat him as a brother but please be kind to him. Zhou Chuyu here begs Your Highness's favor and I thank Your Highness sincerely."

With that, he turned and quickly left.

Lee Da emerged from the shadows and commented:

"He left in tears, Your Highness. This is truly a tragedy. I always thought that the Second Prince was a kind and amiable person. I never expected this. If Huanzhang finds out this, he will be pain to death."

Yuhong Xuan advised:

"Don't tell him about this. Just say that we didn't see this person today. If Mr. Nie learns about Zhou Chuyu's current state, he might act recklessly to kill someone. It seems Zhou Chuyu wants us to save his family. Let's not let Nie Huanzhang do anything foolish. In case, he will destroy Zhou Chuyu's plan."

Lee Da remarked:

"I see. I wonder who could have caused those injuries for his face. It's truly heartless. So cruel!"

Yuhong Xuan said:

"It is probably someone jealous of him. Xun has more than one boy like Zhou Chuyu. It's possible that someone, out of jealousy, ruined his face. If Xun does like Zhou Chuyu more, I believe the person who destroyed his face wouldn't have survived. I've heard many boys lost their lives. It is normal for these boys killed or disappeared in Xun's mansion. By the way, you go to Fenglou restaurant on fifteenth this month but be cautious! There are people around him. Don't cause trouble for him. Let's go and we've been out long enough."

"Got it." Lee Da sighed and continued, "Mr. Zhou was so adorable and lively before. But now..."

Finally he fell silent.

On their way back, they encountered a young eunuch walking towards them. Upon seeing them, he said:

"Your Highness, my master has been worrying about you being out for so long. He asked me to come and check."

Yuhong Xuan explained:

"Oh, sorry for making your master worry. I came out for a walk because I felt a bit warm from drinking. Just getting some fresh air."

"Oh, Your Highness, be careful! It is too cold today. Don't catch a cold in this cold weather."

When Nie Huanzhang heard that Zhou Chuyu was not seen at the mansion of the Second Prince's, he felt even more anxious and uneasy. Where on earth is Wangshi? He had no idea where else to look for him now and frustration overwhelmed him. Yuhong Xuan comforted him, saying:

"Don't worry! We just got back a few days ago. Let us continue to find any trace. Jingdu is a big city and we might receive more information soon."

Yu Weiwei, who was unaware of the situation, also comforted Nie Huanzhang, spoke:

"I think it is better that Chuyu isn't in the mansion of the Second Prince's. Relax, my brother, let us find him for sure." then he turned to Yuhong Xuan, "Mr Xu has arrived in Jingdu but he's also missing."

Yuhong Xuan exclaimed, standing up in surprised:

"What did you say?"

Yu Weiwei said:

"Your Highness, please calm down. This is a letter from Mr. Xu."

Yuhong Xuan took the letter and, upon reading it, saw no signature but recognized the handwriting as that of his teacher:

"I'm fine and don't worry. I allowed myself to be kidnapped by our Emperor."

Yuhong Xuan smiled and said:

"It seems that my father isn't in danger."

However, when Yu Weiwei heard about Zhou Chuyu's situation, he couldn't help but worry for Nie Huanzhang. He was concerned about how Nie Huanzhang would react upon learning the news. At the same time he felt pity for Zhou Chuyu and harbored disdain for Yuhong Xun.