Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Black Market
"Alright, I’ll have to rely on you for everything then." Xie Jiuxiao smiled slightly, but his tone was a bit absent-minded and perfunctory.
"Xie Jiuxiao, your words really lack sincerity!" Yu Nianzhao pouted and was unwilling to say more.
"Didn’t I ask you to call me Ziyin?" Xie Jiuxiao suddenly asked her.
"Sometimes I’m not used to it. Once I’m used to it, I’ll naturally call you that." Yu Nianzhao blinked innocently.
Xie Jiuxiao couldn’t do anything about her, so he just let it be.
Once they returned to the Prince Su Mansion, Yu Nianzhao couldn’t wait to go back to her room to rest.
Xie Jiuxiao resignedly let her pull him back into the room, as usual, letting her snuggle as they fell asleep together.
When Yu Nianzhao woke up again, the sky was already dark. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, only to find that Xie Jiuxiao was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?"
Yu Nianzhao muttered as she got up, searching inside and out but not finding a trace of Xie Jiuxiao.
"Zhaozhao, you’re awake? Come and have something to eat; you’ve slept all day! You must be hungry." Ms Jiang had already prepared dinner and called her for it.
While eating, Yu Nianzhao asked, "Where’s Xie Jiuxiao?"
"Mr Mu seems to have found some information, so while you were still asleep, the Prince quietly left the mansion to investigate the case."
"This guy is really reckless. He has scratches on his back and abdomen yet insists on pushing himself. It’s just..." Yu Nianzhao held her soup bowl and felt helpless about Xie Jiuxiao’s actions.
"Exactly, no matter what we say, the Prince wouldn’t listen unless Zhaozhao persuades him more." Ms Jiang’s eyes also showed worry. She watched Xie Jiuxiao grow up and naturally didn’t want him to get hurt.
"Ugh, he’s just a workaholic! What I say goes in one ear and out the other. The protective amulet I gave him turns pale once he’s entangled with evil spirits. When the effect wears off, all the evil spirits in Shangjing will target him."
Yu Nianzhao sighed, "I really need to make him a custom Buddhist rosary or something."
[Master, why not brand him like me?]
[That way, we’d be companions, and Jiu wouldn’t want to eat him all the time.]
[This human’s soul smells more fragrant than others.]
"That would be a soul contract, Jiu. He’s different from you."
[Isn’t it just that he’s not dead yet? Even if he’s dead, it would be the same.]
"If he’s dead, where would I find someone to extend my life?"
[...]
Jiu fell silent.
While Yu Nianzhao was still worrying, she caught sight of a familiar figure sneaking toward the door.
"Dongfang Chenyuan!" Yu Nianzhao shouted calmly.
Dongfang Chenyuan froze in place, looking at the doorstep just two steps away, cursing inwardly. He turned around with a sparkling smile, waving at her, "Princess Consort, what a coincidence, you’re here too? Having dinner, are you? Then I won’t disturb you, goodbye."
"Hold on!" Yu Nianzhao lazily approached him, "Where are you going?"
"Huh? I’m not going anywhere. I was just about to go for a stroll. The night outside looks pretty nice."
"Then take me with you, since Xie Jiuxiao isn’t around."
"That’s not appropriate, just the two of us, you’re the Princess Consort Su!"
"Tch, if we two walk together, no one would suspect anything improper between us. I’m not worried, so why are you?"
"I’m worried..."
"Alright, stop pretending. Aren’t you going to the Black Market?"
"??? Princess Consort, you knew and still asked me!"
"I was right beside you when Xie Jiuxiao instructed you. Did you think I was deaf?"
"Uh... I was stupid!"
"Good that you know you’re dumb, still not incurable. Enough talk, let’s go."
"We?"
"If you think it’s inappropriate for two people, I’ll bring another person."
Half an hour later, Song Jiling appeared at the city gate with a broad smile.
"Yu, where are you taking me to play?"
"Uh-huh, taking you to the Black Market."
"What? The Black Market?" Song Jiling was stunned, "As soon as my dad heard you were looking for me, he packed me up and sent me out. It turns out we’re going to the Black Market? If he finds out, he’d break my legs!"
"Relax, if you don’t say it and I don’t say it, who’s to know you went to the Black Market? By the way, have you been there?"
"Of course, I have!" Song Jiling touched his nose, embarrassed, "I tagged along with some people once when I was being mischievous, but I didn’t dare go too deep. It’s a mixed bag of tough folks living on the edge and you wouldn’t even know when you’ve been hit."
"Princess Consort, are you joking? Taking a greenhorn to the Black Market? You’d better not bring him."
Dongfang Chenyuan was stunned and immediately rejected the idea, "Even if he’s been to the Black Market, he probably just loitered at the entrance. He’s not suitable to come with us—he’d be a complete burden!"
Song Jiling wasn’t happy, "What do you mean, burden? I don’t need your protection, and that’s really an offensive thing to say!"
"Oh, is it? You’re not skilled, and looking at you, you don’t seem to have brains either."
"...You’re being too harsh!" Song Jiling puffed up his cheeks, "I study at the academy and train with generals. I’m a scholar and a warrior... maybe not a genius but definitely someone with talent!"
"Tch!" Dongfang Chenyuan didn’t reply, just a light ’tch’ which stoked Song Jiling’s anger.
"Stop arguing, I’m not just bringing one person." As soon as Yu Nianzhao spoke, both of them simultaneously looked around.
"Who else?"
"Wei Zhao!"
Yu Nianzhao’s casual words left them frozen, giving them goosebumps.
"Yu, you’re bringing a ghost along? Then I’d rather just go home and wash up for bed." Song Jiling was about to sneak away but was caught by Dongfang Chenyuan.
"Come on, since we’re here, we have to go together. Didn’t you just say you were quite capable?" Dongfang Chenyuan ruffled his hair with clenched teeth. Better to drag someone else into the mess than go to the Black Market with a princess consort and a ghost.
"Ah? No way!"
Dongfang Chenyuan gave Song Jiling no chance to refuse, pulling him into the carriage which bumped all the way to the Black Market.
"Is this the Black Market?"
The ominous gate above them had large ox heads and various skulls hanging on both sides. Their hollow eyes were all fixed on them, as if still watching after death.
"Yes, this is the Black Market. Don’t be fooled by the emptiness here; it’s bustling inside."
Song Jiling, having been here before, strutted in. A corpse-like thing hung from the gate with red glowing eyes staring intently at them.