Chapter 25: A Secret Tryst in the Pleasure House

Seeing Ning Chen speak in such a manner, a flicker of imperceptible shock crossed the woman’s eyes.

She looked at Ning Chen, her expression one of unfamiliarity, and said, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? I am but a commoner..."

Ning Chen interrupted, "Cousin, I know you must hate me. Because of me, Grandfather was killed, and your entire family was implicated..."

The woman frowned. She set down her musical instrument, tucked her hands into her sleeves, and quietly gripped the dagger hidden within. In a low voice, she retorted, "Your Majesty has mistaken me for someone else. I am merely a courtesan!"

"If Your Majesty does not wish to hear the music, please take your leave..."

As she spoke, Ning Chen interrupted in a deep, steady tone: "Must you continue this charade, Cousin?"

"I have already revealed my identity. We do not have much time left!"

Ning Chen’s gaze was resolute. Although his cousin had changed significantly—so much so that he hadn't recognized her at first—it was Xiao Anzi, the loyal death-sworn retainer left behind by his grandfather, who had identified her. Now, however, the memories of the original host regarding his cousin had flooded back. He was certain that the woman before him was Zhou Suruo, the granddaughter of his grandfather!

A year ago, to assist the original Ning Chen in launching a coup, the entire household of his grandfather, Zhou Xianzu, had been executed. It appeared that his cousin had found a way to escape that catastrophe. Ning Chen did not wish to ask how she had survived, but seeing her hiding in a brothel, he could well imagine the hardships she had endured over the past year.

Ning Chen looked at Zhou Suruo and sighed, "If you truly hate me and refuse to acknowledge me, then use the dagger you were just acting with to kill me and avenge Grandfather and Uncle! After all, it was because of me that they were..."

Acting?

Zhou Suruo froze. She looked at the nine-year-old Ning Chen in disbelief, her eyes seemingly asking: *How do you know I was acting?*

She secretly hid the dagger away and scrutinized Ning Chen repeatedly before finally saying in a low voice, "Since you knew I was acting, why did you have Mister Wang kidnapped?"

Ning Chen sighed. "I was saving you!"

"Heaven has been merciful to let me find you here. From this day forward, you are the only family I have left in this world!"

"The reason I had that man surnamed Wang kidnapped was because I did not want to lose you again!"

Zhou Suruo was stunned. She sized him up again. "What do you mean?"

Ning Chen explained, "If I am not mistaken, you were acting earlier with the sole purpose of using that man surnamed Wang to provoke a conflict between him and Pan Yu, then leveraging the influence of the Marquis of Ning'an to deal with Pan Yu, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Suruo’s expression changed drastically. Her beautiful face was filled with shock, and she stared at Ning Chen, dumbfounded. Because that was exactly her plan. It was Pan Yu who had led the raid on her home, arrested her grandfather, and executed her father on the spot. Later, in the dungeon, Pan Yu had even ordered his men to attempt to defile her, her elder sister, and her mother. Her sister, unable to bear the humiliation, had dashed her head against the wall and died, and hundreds of her kin were subsequently beheaded. Had she not set aside her dignity, she would not have survived to this day. Her only reason for living was revenge.

She had never expected to see her little cousin Ning Chen again, nor had she expected him to interfere and ruin her plans. What surprised her most was that this nine-year-old boy seemed like a different person entirely. Not only did he see through her act, but he also dismantled her plan at a glance, all while projecting a level of maturity that completely belied his age.

***

As she pondered this, Ning Chen looked deeply at Zhou Suruo.

"Cousin, I do not know how you survived the ordeal, but I am well aware that your only goal now is vengeance!"

"Yet, doing this will not only fail to bring revenge but will also harm yourself. With the Empress Dowager’s current influence, even the Marquis of Ning'an would be forced to avoid her."

Zhou Suruo remained silent. She knew the chances were slim, but it was the only path to revenge she could conceive.

Ning Chen sighed again and said firmly, "This past year has been like living a second life for me. Now, like you, my only goal is revenge. Whether it is Pan Yu or the Empress Dowager, I will not let a single one of them go!"

Zhou Suruo scoffed, looking at him with disdain. "You? With your capabilities?"

"What a joke!"

"Stop putting on an act in front of me!"

"Have you forgotten that birthday poem you wrote?"

"It has spread throughout the entire capital. Who in the world doesn't know you are a filial son?"

Ning Chen frowned and took a deep breath. He knew his cousin held a deep misunderstanding of him. He looked at her sincerely and said, "Cousin, you have misunderstood me!"

"Do you know? I often dream of Grandfather being torn apart by chariots in front of me!"

"But I truly had no choice. I was merely a nine-year-old puppet, without soldiers or power. All I could do was lie in wait for the right moment!"

"But I have never forgotten the vengeance owed to Grandfather..."

Ning Chen poured out the truths he had kept hidden in his heart and the hardships he had faced. Although he was not the original host, the bloody images etched into the original host's memories haunted him constantly.

After listening to Ning Chen’s account, Zhou Suruo stood frozen. After a long while, she let out a long sigh. Whether it was the memory of her family’s tragic death or being moved by Ning Chen’s words, the tears she had suppressed for an entire year finally rolled down. The resentment she felt toward Ning Chen dissipated.

When she heard that Ning Chen had hosted the Empress Dowager’s birthday and written a congratulatory poem, she had branded him a heartless beast who recognized his enemy as his mother. When he disrupted her plans and demanded she perform for him, she had even contemplated killing him. But after this conversation, she understood his desperate situation and his hidden intentions. It turned out that even though her grandfather had failed and the entire Zhou family had been ruined, Ning Chen was not the incompetent fool he was rumored to be. On the contrary, this nine-year-old puppet emperor had been biding his time, plotting to avenge them all along!

She walked over to Ning Chen, reached out to pat the little cousin's head, and finally opened her heart: "Chen'er, you need not blame yourself. This is not your fault!"

"The true culprits are that old hag, the Empress Dowager, and Pan Yu!"

"But you are still too young. It is a miracle you are alive; you cannot handle the task of revenge..."

Ning Chen interrupted her again. "Who says I cannot?"

He detailed his plan. In his eyes, his cousin was the most trustworthy person in this world. Upon hearing his description, Zhou Suruo went rigid. She looked at Ning Chen in disbelief, unable to fathom how a nine-year-old child could devise such a meticulous strategy!

Is this really the same ignorant and naive Ning Chen from before?

A moment later, as if struck by a thought, she asked, "If that is the case, why did you reveal your identity publicly? Wouldn't that just give the Empress Dowager and her cronies leverage against you?"

Ning Chen smiled, his eyes full of confidence. "I want to give them leverage. Otherwise, how can I highlight my incompetence and show off the Empress Dowager's 'wisdom'?"

"If I do not do this, how else can I numb them into complacency?"

Hearing this, Zhou Suruo realized the truth. She gazed at Ning Chen, her heart filled with mixed emotions. With a cousin like this, perhaps... perhaps their great revenge could truly be achieved.

Seeing her stunned, Ning Chen spoke sternly: "Cousin, believe in me. It won't be long before I make Pan Yu pay the price!"

"As for the Empress Dowager, that day is not far off either!"

"But Cousin, I need your help..."

The night deepened. Ning Chen left the Lichun Pavilion in a drunken stupor.

As soon as he boarded the carriage, Xiao Anzi asked impatiently in a low voice, "Your Majesty, are you alright? Miss Zhou, she..."

Before he could finish, Ning Chen said in a low, cold voice, "Tell the people at the firm to look after the Lichun Pavilion from now on. You must protect my cousin well; ensure she is never in any danger!"

"By the way, when we return, the Empress Dowager will surely summon you for a report!"

With that, Ning Chen gestured for Xiao Anzi to lean in. "When that happens, say exactly this..."

After hearing Ning Chen’s instructions, Xiao Anzi nodded. Seeing the determined look in Ning Chen’s eyes, he asked no more, knowing that the young emperor had already achieved his purpose.

The carriage rolled slowly through the night toward the imperial palace. Ning Chen leaned back inside, feeling quite pleased. Not only because he had reunited with his cousin, but because the purpose of his visit to the brothel had been successfully fulfilled! His tour of the various brothels, eventually choosing one that was once prestigious but now struggling, had been for this very purpose. That he had encountered his cousin there was an unexpected joy. With her on his side, he felt more at ease than ever.

Just as he was thinking this, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.

Immediately after, the voice of a guard sounded from outside: "Audacious! Who goes there..."

However, before the words were finished, the sounds of fierce combat and screams erupted. Xiao Anzi’s face changed, and he poked his head out, only to see over a dozen men in black engaged in a struggle with the guards. In a short time, the guards were decimated.

"Oh no, Your Majesty! There are too many assassins; I must protect you..."

Unexpectedly, Ning Chen let out a cold laugh and interrupted, "No need. It is not yet time for you to reveal your true capabilities..."

At the same time, not far away, a guard looked at Pan Yu with concern. "General, are we not acting yet? The Empress Dowager ordered us to protect the little emperor. If we wait any longer, I fear he will truly be in danger..."

Pan Yu frowned. "No rush. Wait a little longer!"

Little did they know, his inner thoughts were: *It would be best if this little piece of trash died here...*