Chapter 663 – Fresh Chickens Pecking at Each Other
Wei Ci received a hint from Yang Si, and as he carefully recalled what he had said earlier, the color drained from his cheeks.
It seemed… he had said something he shouldn’t have.
He tried to open his mouth to change the subject, but his lips moved for a while without producing a sound, as if some invisible hand was squeezing his throat, forcing him to swallow the words back down. A strange, indescribable feeling spread from his toes, rushing straight to his brain.
Jiang Pengji crossed her arms, leaning against the porch post, her gaze towards Wei Ci sharp and scrutinizing.
Yang Si keenly sensed the shift in atmosphere and nervously swallowed, feeling that something about the energy between the two was a bit off.
Logically, when Wei Ci expressed his loyalty and the Lord heard it by chance, shouldn’t she be pleased?
Similarly, when Wei Ci expressed his loyalty right in front of her, wasn’t it odd if he was feeling anything less than fear?
But what was the outcome?
Yang Si felt he could probably sniff out something unusual.
Jiang Pengji retracted her gaze, addressing Wei Ci, “I just happened to walk by; you two carry on with your conversation.”
With that, she swiftly turned around.
Only then did Wei Ci notice that Jiang Pengji was wearing straw sandals instead of wooden clogs, which explained why she moved with such grace—making no sound at all.
It wasn’t until Jiang Pengji’s figure disappeared from view that Wei Ci slouched his shoulders, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
With a weak voice, he said to Yang Si, “Lean on me for a moment.”
Yang Si almost wanted to let Wei Ci fall flat but held back.
“What happened between you and the Lord?” Yang Si pondered for a moment, knitting his brows. “It feels like something’s off between you two.”
To say “off” was quite a mild expression; to put it bluntly, were these two having an affair behind the scenes?
A cat in his heart was scratching away, making him itch to know.
Wei Ci rubbed his temples in frustration, shooting him a glare. “What’s so off about it?”
Yang Si pinched his chin, glancing at Wei Ci from time to time. “Could it be that my previous guess was right? Do you have something unspeakable for your Lord? Or is your Lord perhaps feeling the same way about you? Though, considering they say male relationships are all the rage nowadays and society isn’t too bothered by it, you know you’re six years apart and in a lord-servant relationship. This whole matter… doesn’t handle well…”
As he spoke, Yang Si rubbed his hands together.
Wei Ci was infuriated, feeling like his head was about to smoke, and Yang Si was still throwing out worse ideas.
“Otherwise, Zixiao, you should find someone to marry. If you’re worried about your fate, a concubine would do; at least you’d have a woman by your side. Yin and Yang need to be balanced; walking on a dry road instead of a water path… And even though you’re older than the Lord, and there’s a distinction in rank, you can’t surpass her; that’d be disrespectful. If it really needs to be forced, wouldn’t you be at a disadvantage… Ouch!” Yang Si was cut off mid-sentence when Wei Ci delivered a casual but firm elbow poke, causing Yang Si to flinch, his expression a mix of surprise and pain. “Sneaky attack, no shame!”
Wei Ci chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
“Care for a round at the training grounds?”
What kind of dry-road logic was this? This guy was making suggestive comments without a hint of restraint, even more so than Feng Zhen the ruffian.
Don’t let appearances fool you; Yang Si might be a twenty-nine-year-old single man, but his personal life was anything but dull.
Yang Si inhaled sharply, baring his teeth.
“I was trying to be nice by advising you, and you’re ungrateful enough to turn it back on me…”
Today, he was determined to teach Wei Ci a lesson!
Once they arrived at the training grounds, Yang Si rolled up his sleeves and drew his sword at Wei Ci, who returned the gesture.
Not long after, Jiang Pengji received word that the two strategists were brawling at the training grounds.
Not only was Jiang Pengji left speechless, but the audience in the live stream was utterly baffled.
【Orange-Flavored Duck Wings】: Wait… Did I hear that wrong? How did Yang Si and Wei Ci end up fighting? Aren’t they scholars?
【Spicy Rabbit Legs】: #Nose-Picking, who told you that scholars can’t fight? Do you think in this era, scholars are all like those ones after the Song Dynasty in Huaguo, who can’t carry a shoulder or lift a hand? Gentlemen learn the Six Arts, and skills in riding, archery, and fencing are all required courses!
【Sauce-Flavored Chicken Feet】: I think you all have a misunderstanding about scholars? Historically, scholars were usually well-rounded, like my idol Li Bai, a genuine swordsmanship master and Martial Arts Supreme! Think about it; ancient society was chaotic. Anyone who could openly ridicule would have gotten themselves killed otherwise, right? So, it’s completely normal for the likes of Ci Meiren to fight.
【Country Bumpkin】: Shivering, please don’t mention Li Bai. Whenever I hear that name, I remember the fear of having my life ruled by his Green Lotus Sword. Back in the day, every time it was three parallel swords; bang, and a whole crowd vaporized. Li Bai cleared 25 opponents without even catching his breath.
【Three Parallel Swords】: Wait, have you all gone off-topic? Did Ci Meiren and Yang Si really clash? Are they going to be okay?
At this moment, the audience finally remembered the focal point of the situation, urging Jiang Pengji to step in and resolve the conflict before it escalated.
Jiang Pengji, sporting a lazy expression, leaned her head on her hand.
“Two fresh chickens pecking at each other, what could possibly happen?”
One hundred fifty thousand viewers: “…”
Ouch, Lord!
Fresh chickens…
Wait, hold on! Wei Ci and Yang Si exchanged dozens of moves, and Yang Si barely managed to edge out a half-step victory.
He loved eating rather than moving, so his sword skills were obviously rusty.
Even as Wei Ci went easy on him like letting a floodgate loose, he was still sweating buckets.
After the tussle, he was panting like a dog.
In contrast, Wei Ci remained unfazed, not a hint of flush—wait, who’s the one unwell here?
“Zixiao, be honest; what’s going on between you and the Lord?”
Wei Ci sheathed his sword, casually replying, “What could possibly be between us?”
“You’re just being stubborn; do you really think I’m just watching with my two eyes? You’re not the only smart one in this world; others are being observant too.” As Yang Si caught his breath, he suddenly remembered his earlier conversation with Jiang Pengji, speaking earnestly, “Nothing is best; the Lord is young and her temperament isn’t set yet. If she becomes curious and dabbles in male relationships, your sin could be great. But I heard from the Lord that there seems to be someone she likes.”
Upon hearing this, Wei Ci froze in place, as if his feet were nailed to the ground, unable to budge even an inch.
Someone she likes?
Yang Si rambled on, recounting what Jiang Pengji had said that day, hoping to extinguish any potential hazards that might arise.
Whether from the perspective of the Lord or Wei Ci, should these two develop a relationship beyond their roles, it could end up dangerously.
First, Wei Ci was six years older. Society would only blame the Lord for being young and naive and accuse Wei Ci of shamelessly flirting with a minor, falling from grace. They could have a lifetime of lord-servant bond, becoming a celebrated tale, so why carry the burden of eternal shame?
Second, the Lord already had someone in her heart, and if Wei Ci couldn’t halt his advances, he would lose everything, even their lord-servant relationship.
Out of concern for his friend, Yang Si believed that regardless of whether the sparks were real or not, nipping it in the bud was the best course of action.
But… why did it seem ineffective?
Initially, Wei Ci’s face had some color, but as Yang Si continued on, it gradually transformed into a mix of shame and irritation, flushed with a faint blush.
Yang Si: “…”
Something feels off here.
