The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 107

While the attendants were clearing the area, several guests left their seats.

However, most remained in their places, waiting to exchange even a word more with Yingbi and Prince Zhou.

Nangong Jinxuan was personally escorted away by people from the Namgung Family.

Yet they left Namgung Bin behind, so in the end he was dragged away as if being escorted by the Jingyiwei.

Were they planning to confine him in the basement?

Though not quite a palace prisoner, it seemed they intended to treat him as a criminal, but from what I could tell, they would likely provide him treatment.

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“Or not?”

​

Empress Dowager Jiayulan was surrounded by eunuchs and court officials, listening to various whispered reports.

Xie Baowei, who was blankly observing the situation, didn’t notice, but her gaze had turned toward him several times.

That’s why the attendants and physicians didn’t dare approach and had been circling around him.

Then when Xie Baowei stood up to leave, she suddenly spoke to him.

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“…I am wholly my own.”

“Hoho. How amusing. In this nation, if it’s not the Crown Prince’s, then it belongs to His Majesty the Emperor. There is nothing that is yours. So put away such nonsense. Well, it was quite a cute answer though.”

“…Then I belong to my wife.”

“That was cute too. But it’s not the answer.”

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Yingbi smiled faintly as she rose from her seat.

Her silk robes swept across the blood-stained floor. She didn’t care in the slightest.

Though her face was still delicate and youthful, since only her people were present and she wasn’t smiling, she looked rather cold.

A sudden question arose. Was there truly anywhere in the Imperial Court where only one’s own people were present?

Xie Baowei kept his head bowed and pursed his lips.

What a tiresome place this was.

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“Raise your head.”

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Though her voice was gentle, it carried an irresistible force.

As Xie Baowei pulled in his lips and slowly raised his head, Yingbi’s cold eyes became visible between the jewels of her crown.

She gazed for a moment at Xie Baowei’s tattered shoulder and blood-caked hands, then parted her lips.

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“I hear His Highness the Crown Prince cherishes you.”

“…He cherishes me as a cat cherishes a mouse.”

“Oh my.”

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When Xie Baowei spoke in a sullen voice, Yingbi’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.

Then her beauty bloomed brilliantly, possessing a power that was both delicate like a single flower yet impossible to look away from.

Was this why the Emperor was constantly anxious to prevent that flower from being broken?

Though she seemed like she would snap if touched, why exactly was there such appeal in sickly beauty?

For Xie Baowei, it was completely incomprehensible…

Whatever her inner thoughts might be.

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“Hoho. That’s an answer worthy of the Crown Prince’s affection.”

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Yingbi laughed as if delighted.

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“You’ve really hit the nail on the head. Indeed, that’s exactly right. Seeing how he stripped you of your Imperial Guards position but didn’t take away your Feiyu robe or Xiuchun dao, it’s no different from keeping you as a plaything. What truly worthless affection.”

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The Feiyu robe with its winged fish pattern and the Xiuchun dao with its ornately crafted sheath and handle were symbols of the Jingyiwei, and there was no one who dared not bow their head upon seeing that sword and clothing.

After laughing brightly for a while, Yingbi abruptly stopped and asked secretly.

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“Even so, has your heart found its center?”

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When the heart finds its center , it becomes loyalty .

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“…I am merely a humble woodcutter who once grazed grass at the foot of Mount Tai.”

“A former guard who was discharged with the rank of Senior Grand Master?”

“A warrior whose only dream in life is to build a family…”

“A warrior from the Xiao Qi Battalion who received the position of Imperial Guard Captain under the Crown Prince.”

“…I only wish to live an ordinary life.”

“The Hwangbo are famous as both a military family and a martial family, aren’t they?”

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Yingbi’s toe lightly touched a fragment of Xie Baowei’s shattered rosewood staff.

Crack.

The staff that had been damaged by Nangong Jinxuan’s internal energy crumbled at even the slightest touch.

She well knew that the head of the Namgung Family was a master who would be hard to find an equal for even here in the Imperial Palace.

He had blocked the sword that man threw with all his might using just this pathetic staff.

Yingbi’s eyes curved into circles.

She slowly lowered her head.

Her face drew closer.

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“You, could you die for His Highness the Crown Prince?”

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At the sudden question, Xie Baowei frowned.

His barely bandaged shoulder throbbed, but he steadied his voice.

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“How could such noble blood dare be protected by the life of someone like me. However, if such an opportunity arose, I would consider it the glory of three lifetimes and make every effort…”

“Hmm. You look like a wolf but act like a fox or rabbit.”

“Ugh.”

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Yingbi let out a small groan, then soon burst into light laughter.

Yes, yes. That’s how you must be to survive in the Imperial Palace.

Her eyes, muttering such things, weren’t smiling at all.

Soon she leaned close enough to touch Xie Baowei’s ear and whispered low.

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“His Highness the Crown Prince is truly blessed with fortune. After rolling around naked a few times, didn’t military authority in the north fall into his hands, and didn’t he win the people’s hearts even after burning half of Guizhou… Around him are loyal subjects who would jump into fire at a single word, and now he even has a sharp-tongued jester like you by his side. Our delicate Prince Zhou has only this inadequate mother to rely on.”

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It sounded like a lament, but therefore it was enticement, and because of that, it was a clear warning.

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“My son, Prince Zhou, finds you quite to his liking. Not only did he cherish that sword you blocked today, but he found you yourself interesting as well. Among wolves, a dog’s efforts wouldn’t even be noticed, but among dogs, you seem to be at a level that would stand out quite well. How about it? I’ll personally bestow the finest clothes and sword, so what about remaining by the Prince’s side?”

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Xie Baowei did not answer. No, he could not.

She was now blatantly proposing that Xie Baowei abandon the Crown Prince and side with Prince Zhou.

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“Consider the will of Heaven, the will of Heaven. His Majesty the Emperor is aged and the Prince is young. That youth is a weakness now, but three years? Four years? Hoho. By the time His Highness the Crown Prince returns from his campaigns, the Prince will show the qualities of a sovereign. Not because he’s a child I bore from my womb, but didn’t you see it too? The Prince’s benevolent heart?”

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Yingbi straightened her body again and smiled kindly.

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“What shall we do? I could petition His Majesty tomorrow to appoint you as Prince Zhou’s guard immediately.”

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Xie Baowei looked at the broken blade that had fallen to the floor.

A piece of metal that had turned black with his own blood.

He slowly opened his mouth.

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“Your Highness. This humble one was once a mere woodcutter, became a slave, served as arrow fodder on the northern frontier, and wandered thousands of miles as a guard, learning one thing.”

“What is that?”

“On the battlefield, the first to die are dogs with two masters, the second to die are dogs who betray their master, and the third to die are dogs who loyally follow their master. This humble one values only life itself and dreams merely of growing old with a lovely wife, so I humbly beseech you to withdraw your command.”

“…Ho.”

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Yingbi’s smile vanished instantly. The air in the banquet hall became cold as ice.

After glaring at Xie Baowei for a moment, she soon smiled gently again and swayed her phoenix crown.

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“The Crown Prince would indeed cherish you. Nothing is more desirable than what is difficult to obtain. But do not forget, I have obtained what I wanted.”

“…It seems noble ones share certain understandings.”

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Did you just say the exact same thing as His Highness the Crown Prince?

At this, Yingbi frowned slightly for the first time.

Then she shook her head lightly and answered.

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“I resemble that person in many ways. Even our desires are similar, which is why I suffer so. But watch and see. Who will truly obtain what they want.”

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Having said this, she soon chuckled as if something was amusing.

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“My, then you become a spoil of war? A rather trivial spoil for such a position. When that time comes, I may keep you or I may discard you.”

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Yingbi turned around without hesitation.

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“Eunuch. Send medicine and a physician to this man, let him pay sufficiently for the good show he provided. Prince Zhou was quite pleased.”

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***

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A week later, Xie Baowei returned to Shandong.

The reason he went to the Huangbo Family instead of the Wulin Alliance was because he had realized something through the series of events.

Now they were no longer just ordinary guards belonging to the Wulin Alliance.

Especially Xie Baowei.

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He was not just a squad leader level guard of Cheongjukrim, but truly a master who had captured Tougui and made a thousand soldiers retreat single-handedly.

Moreover, after resolving all the major and minor incidents throughout Henan Province, he had not only earned concessions from Zhang Jing, called the Ascending Gorge of the Southern Dragon Alliance’s Wall Five Heroes, and Namgung Hong, the master of Tianjian Hall, but had also rescued Namgung Bin, called the Small Heaven Sword of the Namgung Family, from the thick fog of Wushan and the Demon Cult’s ambush, then conversely subdued that same Namgung Bin to prevent a bloodbath at Prince Zhou’s palace in Nanjing.

A talent who had accomplished in just a few months deeds that would be sufficient for admission to Jawunyeong with just a few of these achievements.

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Moreover, the Crown Prince favored him, Prince Zhou coveted him, the Huangbo Family protected him, the Dang Family wanted to serve him, the Namgung owed him a debt, and the Jegal trusted and employed him!

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He had become a very political and useful talent who could be used anywhere and could mediate wherever he was presented!

Boom.

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“Isn’t that usually called a disposable card?”

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Xie Baowei muttered.

Where could there be a better card to use freely and discard?

In the chaotic times of warlord struggles, pacifists friendly with everyone are the first to be devoured.

Xie Baowei shivered at the goosebumps that arose for no reason.

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“Hoho. That’s thanks to your exceptional abilities, my lord.”

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Hahee was in a similar yet slightly different position.

Wasn’t Hahee also used to the point of being called a slave of the alliance for that very reason?

At that time, the Huangbo Family had secluded themselves almost to the point of isolation, and Hahee had officially declared severance from Hwangbo.

Hwangbo Ok’s talent, said to rival the Eastern Alliance’s childhood, was truly a useful card from the Wulin Alliance’s perspective.

However, the reason he could operate without major problems for such a long time was not only due to the underlying strength of the Huangbo Family, which had only recently secluded itself despite being quiet, but also thanks to Jegal Seolhye’s unbelievable support from behind in various material and spiritual ways.

Even then, the latter’s influence was greater than the former’s work, such was the position of a sect caught between the struggles of major alliances.

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“…That means I felt like an outsider.”

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

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Xie Baowei was also a member of the Hwangbo Family Estate. Moreover, he was the son-in-law of their precious daughter.

However, no matter how much the Huangbo Family had reformed and cherished Xie Baowei, the perception of Xie Baowei in people’s minds was still stuck on him being someone who couldn’t endure the Hwangbo Family Estate’s harassment and fled in the night.

Therefore, they probably thought they could use him carelessly and treat him roughly, and he would just laugh it off.

Fortunately, things had somehow worked out well, so they came to view him favorably.

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“It’s alright. So, Hee-mae.”

​

If things continued this way, he didn’t know what kind of work he might end up handling between the Shu Alliance and the Southern Alliance, not to mention that fox-like Jegal Seolhye.

Xie Baowei pouted his lips slightly.

The same applied to him.

The reason others saw him that way was also because he himself had acted that way.

Did I truly consider the Huangbo Family as home? Could I confidently answer “yes” to that question?

Though he himself had never done so and felt awkward about it, sometimes family members could rely on each other after complaining and resenting one another.

So now he needed a place to rely on.

“Let’s go home.”

He had wanted to live comfortably, but neither here nor there would leave him alone.

After being tossed around here and there, he had no choice but to accept that the world inevitably favors those with power.

Most powerful people have backing, you see.

Huangbo Lüli smiled broadly.

“Yes.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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