Chapter 4

I'll call Qianfan as Wan Shen from now on.

Chapter 4

As they stroll around the palace, he can't seem to ignore those judging eyes following his movements. They're maybe wondering why a shameful low range concubine is strolling freely as if he didn't do anything. Well, he really didn't. He's wrongfully accused!

Wan Shen ignored it. He finally accepted it and embraced that he is Wan Shen from now on. This is his new life and body. He's not Qianfan from his previous life anymore. Though the way he thinks is still the same as only his soul transferred.

They didn't mind the whispers from the servants and maids they encountered. He doesn't really care. He'll leave this place soon.

Wan Shen draws the exits they've been to and on how many guards guard the gates. Thankfully, Yu Yan knows the rotation of the guards and where some of the hidden guards are guarding. The palace is heavily equipped with those big scary-looking men. They really need to be careful and also to throw caution to the wind. Yu Yan said that the shadow guards are the most dangerous in the palace as they're the first in ranking and the highest. They're known for their skills in martial arts and silent attacks. They're the ones who guard the emperor and mostly like to be hired as a spy or assassins.

The place is quite humongous. He cannot believe that he's seeing it in person. He only saw them on television. Wan Shen always dreamt of visiting them someday, but look at him now. He's not only seeing it but living in it also. Unfortunately, he needs to leave this place soon.

There are a lot of places and rooms he's not allowed to enter as he's not legally married to the emperor and is only a concubine. He also noticed most of the concubines and consorts have their own small manor and Lixue has the biggest courtyard in the harem.

Ha! Talk about fairness.

Now that he's Wan Shen, he can feel the unfair treatment of what Wan Shen (from the book) felt in the story. All he did was to chase the emperor—aside from drugging him—which he didn't do. And the fact that both he and the Wan Shen from the book like the emperor is a slap for the two of them that they're blinded by his appearance and intelligence. He's an asshole! His attitude sucks! Wan Shen still can't forgive him for not visiting and giving his adorable Baozi a name. He needs to move on from the emperor.

They turned left to go back to their room since it was already afternoon but it was unforeseen that they'll encounter the noble consort—An Lixue. Smiling brightly, Lixue halted when he saw Wan Shen. The people around them can tell the awkward atmosphere and uncomfortable situation they're in. Lixue didn't know what to do. The person who's in front of him is the same person who gave birth to His majesty's first son. It made a distance in the relationship between him and the emperor.

On the other hand, Wan Shen was mesmerized by Lixue's beauty. The book describes him as the most gorgeous ger in the empire and the book didn't lie. He really is gorgeous! Half of his long light brown hair was tied in a bun with beautiful clips hanging on it. With the sun shining on his hair, it looks majestic. And his physical features? It's so out of this world!

He has this gentle and cherubic appearance that makes everyone want to protect him. He has pale skin, almost snow white, that when you touch him, a pinkish undertone will flash. His eyes shape is kind of a chinky roundish-hooded eye, a perfect nose, and an alluring small pink lips! He looks like a living doll! No wonder the emperor was bewitched by him. Lixue can literally capture both women's and men's hearts!

"Master....." Yu Yan whispered. Wan Shen snapped from dazing. "G-greetings to the noble consort An Lixue." he bowed as he greets him. Yu Yan followed him. Lixue was recognized by the majority in the harem as the mistress of the palace as he has the highest position among them.

Lixue smiled compassionately. "How are you?" he asked. Though it might sound like he's acting like he's worried but he isn't. The sincerity of his voice proved it.

"I'm handling it well, don't worry." Wan Shen reassured. He wants to leave immediately because he can't handle the stuffy ambiance surrounding him.

He doesn't know but maybe the Heavens are playing with him. Huan Mei Lin entered the scene with a cunning look and a smirk was plastered on her red lips.

"What a nice view I have here. Hmmm." she said as she walked near them. Wan Shen silently scowled. Of all the characters in the book, Mei Lin is the one he doesn't want to encounter at all, even in the same place or the same air she's breathing, he doesn't want it.

She's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Mei Lin likes to make trouble especially if she doesn't like you. She'll pass all the blame to her target and make herself innocent. She gets what she wants as she is from a noble family and is the daughter of an imperial scholar.

Wan Shen even thought that she was the one who framed him for drugging the emperor but he doesn't have evidence to prove it. It will only make everything worse.

And the reason why Wan Shen didn't hate her in the book is that she didn't do anything to the emperor or Lixue. Maybe because Lixue is the son of the head of the department of state affairs and his brother is the general in the military, and their family status is higher than theirs or she just simply scheming something, especially after his death. He doesn't know. After all, Mei Lin hates Wan Shen as he is determined to pursue the emperor, chasing him everywhere which makes Mei Lin annoyed.

"Greetings to the imperial consort Mei Lin." Wan Shen greeted. Mei Lin snickered adverting her attention to Lixue and ignoring Wan Shen.

"How are you, Lixue gege? It must be hard for you knowing that SOME PEST is trying to ruin your relationship with His majesty." she empathized while her words aiming at Wan Shen. It takes one to know one. Wan Shen can see her fakeness under those innocent acts. Her voice might sound in worry but Wan Shen can tell that she's enjoying it and celebrating.

Wan Shen secretly formed his hand in a fist, trying to suppress his emotions. He needs to get out of here before he strangles Mei Lin.

"No one wants what's happening right now. Let's not stir things up and wait for the final edict." Lixue retorted to Mei Lin's words. Mei Lin internally scoffed and faked a smile. That was quite a humiliation for her.

Wan Shen showed a little sardonic smile after seeing Mei Lin's face. "I'm sorry but I need to go now. My son..." he looked at Mei Lin's eye to eye. "His majesty's first child—first son is waiting for me." Wan Shen slightly smirked implying that he was the first one to sleep with the emperor and he was the emperor's first since Kai Hui never slept with his consorts and concubines. The emperor never bothered to visit the harem once or even look at it.

Mei Lin was furious, slightly digging her long nails in her palms when they formed into fists while gritting her teeth. Wan Shen exited himself with a triumphant smile. He will never encounter them anymore once he leaves the palace.

Upon arriving at his room, he heard Baozi's loud cries. He immediately rushed inside and saw Li Yen struggling to pacify his son.

"Master Wan Shen...." Li Yen sighed in relief when she saw Wan Shen. She cannot stop the young master from crying.

Wan Shen took Baozi from Li Yen and as soon as Wan Shen carried his son, the little one stopped crying when he felt the warmth from his mother.

"Seems like the young master is very clingy towards you, master. He'll never stop crying unless he feels your presence." Yu Yan commented. Wan Shen smiled while humming a lullaby. He wiped his son's tears and kissed his chubby cheeks. It was so red from crying.

"You may leave, Li Yen. Thank you." Wan Shen uttered and Yu Yan gave him a drawstring pouch filled with coins in colour silver and copper and a 5 gold yuanbaos. It's to show their gratitude for looking after his son.

Li Yen kowtowed. "Thank you for this, master." She replied.

When Li Yen had already left, Wan Shen faced his servant. "We will leave tomorrow evening. We need to pack the important things we need to bring." he ordered. Yu Yan who felt a little scared about their escape followed. Wan Shen played a little with his son to make him sleepy so that he could help Yu Yan in packing.

After an hour, baby Baozi dozed off and Wan Shen helped to pack while Yu Yan went to the imperial kitchen. When he finished packing the things they needed, Wan Shen grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a letter for the emperor if ever they scanned his room.

Yu Yan entered the room with a meal. It's already afternoon and his master needs to eat his lunch as he didn't eat anything after he woke up from fainting.

When Wan Shen smelled the food his stomach growled. He only felt hungry after Yu Yan brought a meal. He was too busy being shocked that he transmigrated and too focused to plan for their escape to notice his hunger.

He sat while Yu Yan prepared his food on the table and after that, he hungrily munched his food as he had never eaten for a whole month. The food from this era is such a fire and brimstone. It was a roasted lamb and vegetable soup. Sadly, he can't taste the foods from his previous life anymore such as steak, creamy carbonara, hamburger, pizzas, fries, etc! Wan Shen's mouth watered as he thought about those foods. He'll miss them for sure.

"How long do you think we'll get in the Li empire?" He asked Yu Yan. They decided to go to the Li empire as it is the farthest empire from the Wang empire.

"8 days if we ride, master. But if we walk it will take probably 2 weeks." Yu Yan answered. Wan Shen almost choked on his food. THAT FAR?!!

Wan Shen kept quiet for a while to think about what kind of transportation they should use and who can help them to get them out from the gates.

"Do you know someone that can help us to get out of the gates?" Wan Shen asked Yu Yan.

"Yes, master. I know someone. He's a merchant. He goes out when it's time to trade his furniture and silk to the Xu empire. Once we get out of the palace, we'll talk to him." Yu Yan suggested.

Wan Shen nodded as a response. "Do we still have enough money?" he asked.

"Not really, master. Do I have to ask the Head eunuch or the minister of revenue for money?" Yu Yan replied.

"Both of them, please. Tell them we need it for His majesty's son. Do not let them know that we both asked them for money." he ordered. "And make it big. Ask for a big amount. You know what to do." he added.

"Master, they might think you're taking advantage and using His majesty's son for money." Yu Yan reproached.

"Let them. This will be the last." he voiced.

"Will follow, master." Yu Yan kowtowed and headed to the Head eunuch first before the minister of revenue.

After Wan Shen got full from his lunch, he went out into the garden to unwind and walk a little to melt the food from his stomach. The garden looks so sad. It's gloomy. Why would the freaking emperor put him in this almost abandoned place?  His beauty and his baby don't suit this kind of place. His son deserves a warm and neat room and a beautiful garden. Once he bought a house in the Li empire, he'll make sure it is the house that his son deserves. A big space where his son and playmates can play.

He went near the pond to see it close. The water is in colour green like matcha. He leaned forward to throw a stone in the pond but he was startled when a frog leaped out from the water. He almost cursed out loud.

The frog just stared at him and Wan Shen got scared that it might jump on him. He turns around to leave.

You came back.

Wan Shen halted when he heard a voice. He looked back and saw nothing even the frog from earlier. Uhm.. o..kay. What was that?

What's weird is that the voice came from his head. His eyes roamed around but it looks like it was just all really in his head. He just shrugged and didn't mind it.

Yu Yan came back with the money. It was a three big drawstring pouch full of gold and silver coins and taels. It was Wan Shen's first time having lots of money in gold. He even learned that they have tons of jewellery they received when his son was born. His eyes were twinkling from joy!

With the remaining hours left before the sun set out, he didn't do anything. He was bored and Baozi slept all day. He wants some energetic music to ease the boredom he feels.

It was almost 7 in the evening when Yu Yan knocked. "Master, His majesty has arrived from trading. Do you wish to visit him?" he added.

And the fuck I care? "No. I want to rest early. You need to rest too. We need to save and have more energy for tomorrow. We're going to travel for days." Wan Shen stated.

"How about your dinner, master? Are you not going to eat?" Yu Yan replied. Wan Shen gets up immediately. "I'll eat!" he exclaimed. If it's about food, he's not going to skip it.

Yu Yan prepared his dinner but Baozi suddenly woke up and Wan Shen didn't have any choice but to carry him while eating.

"Do you want me to carry the young master, master?" Yu Yan suggested.

Wan Shen shakes his head. "No, thank you. You can also take your dinner." he said. His son would probably cry if Baozi couldn't feel his presence. He only wants Wan Shen to carry him.

While he's eating, he's entertaining his son also. That was a quite lively dinner. Wan Shen is not only full from the food but also from his son's giggles and adorable smiles.

After he finished his meal, he breastfed his son before putting him to sleep. He hopes Baozi will cooperate with them tomorrow while they escape.

He went to the bags with the things they packed. It is to prepare a sash and fabric for his son's babywearing for tomorrow. He wants to make sure that his son is well protected.

The night passed and morning came. Tonight is the time they need to execute their plan. It was such a nice day. The sun is up and brightening as usual, the skies are clear, showing the blue color like an ocean and the birds are happily singing. But Yu Yan's face said the opposite. He's fidgeting and getting nervous for later whereas Wan Shen is calm and happily playing with his son. They're out in the garden. Wan Shen wants his little one to feel the sun to get some vitamin D. That was what the mothers always said every time he walked out of their apartment. They always gathered in a small circle while holding their babies in their arms.

After that, Wan Shen decided to bathe his little one. While bathing Baozi, he scanned his son's body. He doesn't have a cinnabar mole. He's not a ger. Just a regular male. After bathing him, he breastfed while he was taking his breakfast. And for the whole afternoon, they did nothing but sleep. Just a casual day.

Hours passed and it was already 9 in the evening. Their escape is getting nearer and nearer. They planned to run away at 1 in the morning to make sure everyone is asleep. Yu Yan's hand is slightly trembling. His heartbeat is like the sound of a drum as it is loud and fast.

Wan Shen noticed his servant. He held his hand and gripped it tightly. "Hey, calm down. We will get through this. We will escape successfully, okay?" he consoled. "Breathe slowly. Inhale.... exhale....." he soothes. Yu Yan followed. He needs to collect himself, for his master and young master.

Then the time came.

AHSTHAN

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A/N: I'm getting frustrated with the app every time I post my chap. I have italicized sentences/words but once I published the chap, they're all gone.