Look what I found

The three had crossed paths in the woods, but instead of competing over prey, they were still chatting as game brazenly slipped past them.

Zhang Lanhe always took the initiative to speak to others. Many passersby were curious about what they were discussing, but none dared approach because of his fearsome reputation.

Those who wanted to know what they were saying were maddeningly curious, wishing they could plant their ears on them.

"Since I'm already here, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life if I missed the drama?"

As a shipper, Xie Huizhou would never miss a chance to watch the leads' romantic scenes up close.

This was shipping candy!

He had to take a bite and see how sweet it was.

Although he could not hear them, he was good at filling in the blanks. Comparing the scene with the original plot, he watched with just as much relish.

At this point in the original novel, the villainous Imperial Preceptor, Zhang Lanhe, fell in love with Zhou Yanqing at first sight in the hunting grounds, taking an interest in this rather courageous scholar who had ventured inside.

Zhang Lanhe always did everything he could to get what he wanted, and the bottom lead was no exception.

Zhou Yanqing did not want this. He only wanted to pass the imperial examinations and accomplish something at court, and his wishes ran directly counter to Zhang Lanhe's.

Fang Yuanke got into an argument with Zhang Lanhe to protect him. Faced with the overbearing villain, Fang Yuanke felt that he, too, had to grow stronger to protect the person he wanted to protect.

This romantic showdown was rather delicious.

It was also from this moment on that Fang Yuanke began to realize his feelings for Zhou Yanqing were not those of pure friendship.

He did not want to be Zhou Yanqing's closest friend, but his lover. From then on, he embarked on a covert campaign to win himself a wife.

So sweet!

Xie Huizhou thought, They must be talking about all that right now. I can recite those lines about tangled love and hate by heart. What a pity I'm not close enough to hear the whole thing.

The three were indeed discussing an emotional entanglement, but it was not the old-fashioned love triangle Xie Huizhou imagined.

"Imperial Preceptor, Young Master Zhou is not the person you're looking for. Please stop harassing him." The young marquis, Fang Yuanke, shielded Zhou Yanqing behind him, gripping his sword as he considered his chances of killing the Imperial Preceptor. "You have the wrong person. Young Master Zhou was with me that entire night. I can say with absolute certainty that he is not the one you're looking for."

Fang Yuanke was growing agitated. Why was everyone setting their sights on Zhou Yanqing?

First the Eighth Prince, Xie Tingchun, and now the Imperial Preceptor.

Fang Yuanke guarded against the Imperial Preceptor as he would a thief, keeping Zhou Yanqing behind him as protectively as if he were his own eyes, afraid the Imperial Preceptor would suddenly turn hostile and abduct him.

Zhang Lanhe's expression was cold. He only wanted a lead. "You were both there that day. Did you see anyone who was so drunk he was out of his senses? Or, rather, someone who had drunk drugged wine."

Zhang Lanhe had also drunk drugged wine that day. He suspected the youth was avoiding him because he, too, had drunk wine that was not what it seemed.

These two had both happened to be there that day. Zhang Lanhe had merely run into them and asked a few extra questions.

Zhou Yanqing suddenly remembered.

The Eighth Prince had worn an ill-intentioned smile when he tried to make him drink that day. There seemed to have been something wrong with that cup of wine. He had not dared drink it, but could not refuse, either.

Before he could drink it, Xie Huizhou had stopped him and drunk every drop himself.

Zhou Yanqing remembered that Xie Huizhou's face had been flushed when he left, and something had seemed off. He had assumed Xie Huizhou could not hold his liquor, but thinking back now, something seemed wrong.

After all, rumors of Xie Huizhou's debauchery had spread after that day, but such things were hardly a major issue among the powerful, so the matter had simply faded away.

The more he thought about it now, the more terrifying it became.

Could it be?!

In a flash, Zhou Yanqing recalled certain details he had forgotten. The possibility struck him as almost unbelievable.

That person was the Ninth Prince, Xie Huizhou!

The thought that Xie Huizhou had suffered all this because he had stepped forward for him filled Zhou Yanqing with even greater tenderness toward the Ninth Prince.

His Highness the Ninth Prince is truly an upright man, noble and unblemished, asking for nothing in return. A true gentleman.

A debt of kindness is hard to repay.

Zhou Yanqing eagerly awaited the imperial examinations. He wanted to repay that kindness at court.

Xie Huizhou had kept silent about the matter all this time. Clearly, he was unwilling to bring it up and wanted it buried forever.

Zhou Yanqing quickly understood how it all fit together.

He would not betray his benefactor. Keeping silent about this, Zhou Yanqing offered false information. "There are plenty of drunks in a tavern. If that's what you're asking about, Imperial Preceptor, there are many. Zhang Mazi, Liu Agou, and Wang Dali are all drunkards..."

Go investigate them if you want, Imperial Preceptor. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Ninth Prince.

"Oh? Are you covering for him?" Zhang Lanhe was not easily fooled. The young Zhou Yanqing's expression concealed nothing from an old fox like him. "Do you know who he is? If you won't talk, I have plenty of ways to pry your mouth open."

Zhang Lanhe's first thought was to have him thrown into prison and tortured until he gave him what he wanted.

His subordinates excelled at making even the most unyielding people talk.

Cold sweat broke out on Zhou Yanqing. His integrity as a scholar would not allow him to betray his benefactor, and he steeled himself to deny it.

"This commoner truly does not know."

Even if the highest authority in heaven came, I still wouldn't know.

"Imperial Preceptor! Don't go too far! Young Master Zhou knows nothing. How can you slaughter the innocent like this? Where is the law?" Fang Yuanke drew his sword. "I will not back down! If you want to kill him, you'll have to step over my corpse."

Zhou Yanqing thought that Fang Yuanke truly lived up to being his closest friend, standing so firm even against the Imperial Preceptor.

He had known he was not wrong about him.

Still, confronting the Imperial Preceptor for his sake was not a wise choice.

Zhang Lanhe frowned. "I am the law. You're a real nuisance."

He was getting in the way of his search.

Xie Huizhou was dumbstruck when he saw them suddenly draw weapons on each other, his eyes clouding with confusion.

The original novel never mentioned them coming to blows.

They wouldn't get slaughtered by Zhang Lanhe on the spot, would they?

Frantic with worry, Xie Huizhou accidentally stepped on a twig. The sound was faint, but Zhang Lanhe heard it perfectly.

He stopped questioning them. Glancing toward Xie Huizhou's hiding place out of the corner of his eye, he curved his lips slightly and signaled for the two of them not to disturb him.

"Shh. There's a little fox lying in ambush nearby. It's time to hunt."

Zhang Lanhe picked up his bow and arrow, drew the bow into a crescent, and abruptly fired toward Xie Huizhou. One careless moment could easily mean instant death!

Whoosh-

Seeing the arrow tear through the air toward him to claim his life, Xie Huizhou sensed the killing intent. His pupils contracted, and he twisted sideways, narrowly dodging it.

Xie Huizhou drew a sharp breath at the sight of the arrow piercing the tree trunk. "How ruthless. Straight for the kill without even asking."

The Imperial Preceptor did not care who it was. He struck mercilessly at anyone he deemed a threat, aiming to eliminate them with a single fatal blow.

Fortunately, Xie Huizhou had practiced martial arts to strengthen his frail body and live to a ripe old age, and he could run fast. That was how he managed to dodge it.

Anyone else would have died beneath that arrow.

Shaken, Xie Huizhou cursed inwardly. With such a vicious nature, isn't Zhang Lanhe destined to end up all alone?

He had only just dodged when Zhang Lanhe's sinister voice came from behind him, its killing intent impossible to suppress.

"Look what I found. A little fox in hiding. What are you sneaking around for?"