Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly
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Everyone was excited to see Xiao Bao and stood up to greet him with clasped hands, “Young Master Jin, long time no see!”bVzQewKmabtQvBWyGWPQcCQerqYNDq

Xiao Bao quickly returned the greeting and looked at Young Master Liu in confusion, “What’s all this about?”dHYfaeiKTOofuJhKdyKSiEOohAFQAl

Young Master Liu grinned, “Young Master Jin, you’ve become quite the busy man lately. We haven’t seen you for over a month. A few days ago, a new courtesan arrived at Yicui Pavilion, incredibly beautiful. We were all wondering if Young Master Jin would again spend a fortune to win her first night, but it seems like you’ve vanished, nowhere to be found in any of the pleasure spots.”FMDsiCgGLRVLBssmQXeOseXVANJvGT

Next to him, Young Master Sun chimed in, “Yes, indeed, Young Master Jin. I’ve missed you terribly. Going out for fun without you just isn’t the same. What have you been busy with lately?”PxMtGKOEtZnWxbesqriRPJzIrnIDdc

Someone pretended to be mysterious and said, “I heard that Young Master Jin has hidden away a peerless beauty at home, living a life of pleasure every day, not even bothering to step out. It seems the rumors are true.”QKpXLihtKwOdxPyOIhqNAJUIsfgHtu

Xiao Bao laughed along with everyone, but he felt very embarrassed inside. Was this really what he used to do all the time?jCimbnqhtpttwGvuBxmzapEkBibvBZ

Among the group, Young Master Chen, who was quite close to him, came up and took his arm, feigning seriousness, “Young Master Jin, you can’t forget all about us just because you have a beauty at home.”RdugEJiYLjTxqVkYNCoWuKgCCKkWGo

“Yes, a beauty may be wonderful, but after all, there is only one. How can she compare to the myriad charms of the beauties in the world? But, Young Master Jin, just how beautiful is this person you’ve hidden away at home? To make someone as discerning as you, who has seen countless beauties, so infatuated—are you planning to marry her with a grand ceremony? When will we have the honor of seeing her?”DKlYAXehmnLVuxWExbRdQlUDBHIMHG

Everyone echoed in agreement.YDTrYhMALYSbRAShZlqxhEYoJnJtqN

Xiao Bao felt a chill down his back. If they found out that the person he had hidden at home was actually a man and that he was the one being dominated, his twenty years of a dashing reputation would be ruined. How could he show his face in Suzhou or even the Jiangnan provinces after that?fzlcLYLaJqZhJVkDUegFiNUbcTHsKM

Xiao Bao had to deflect, saying it was too soon to discuss such things and that he needed his father’s consent, managing to eventually make them drop the subject.FlGUwwCSuoUKncwDwicqfmHqoTHpEU

Afterward, led by Young Master Chen, they began to coax Xiao Bao into joining them for a drink and a good gathering.coGyAavlVRXRHEppCTpQIGxQWVUFPe

Xiao Bao had often hung out with these people before and knew that a drink inevitably meant going to a pleasure house. At present, he was worried about his father’s health and really didn’t want to go. Even if he had no worries, he no longer missed those days of indulgence. Though it’s common for men to play around, thinking of going to a brothel made him feel that no matter the excuse, he would be betraying Huai En. If Huai En found out, who knows what the consequences would be.yCAZrkfEVLSqczEVerQjjOeUBBXMha

Xiao Bao quickly made excuses about having other matters to attend to, resolving not to mingle with this group anymore.AkVmVbrvsUqpvesFEiJLLqxbSRhPiN

Young Master Liu handed him a delicate wooden box, “Look, Young Master Jin. My father knew you were coming for the recipe, so he prepared it early on. Today, I sent him out on an errand; otherwise, he would have welcomed you personally. I also prepared many herbs that are not available in the south, just in case you couldn’t gather them for Master Jin’s meals. Everything is ready, so you just need to have your servants take it back. It won’t delay your matters.”ZeXYdynIrJqjJgESZGAgdgZbzOUsEl

Xiao Bao took the wooden box, thanked him, but still didn’t want to go drinking, saying he wanted to go back and prepare other ingredients as soon as possible.bQoVVAydvCgiRJOqtiIthiAZkCxQuS

Young Master Liu continued to persuade, “Young Master Jin, these things don’t need your personal attention. Leave it to the servants. Most of the dishes are just home-cooked meals and don’t require much preparation. Come have a drink with us, and we can catch up. You might even make it back home for dinner. We haven’t gathered in a long time; you wouldn’t be so heartless, would you?”ZrxDAzGXddhVCcAthSgYRgsCQRpGlP

Young Master Liu’s face showed some displeasure, though he tried not to show it. Xiao Bao noticed it anyway. They had prepared everything, invited so many people, and sincerely wanted to see him. It would be inappropriate to keep refusing. They used to have good relationships, with frequent interactions, and their fathers had business dealings. There was no need to create unnecessary tension. But he really didn’t want to go. Thinking of Huai En made him even more reluctant.kzNujQuHXAPyrTzqgpkjoumQuhhpsS

Someone teased, “I think Young Master Jin not only has a beauty hidden at home but is also already under her thumb, even before she’s officially married. This woman must be something extraordinary.”uvowtwidgTPbnxwKGZYlqOMxaoGoCo

The people around him jeered, making Xiao Bao feel very embarrassed. Any man would hate being called afraid of his wife in public. It’s one thing behind closed doors, but to have it known by everyone would be utterly humiliating. Xiao Bao had always valued his face and dignity. Although he could be shameless in private, he rarely had his pride hurt in public. His self-esteem was strong, and hearing these remarks, he couldn’t take it.bpOorbLRyhLmqkXKoYhAchBfDpXkbb

Xiao Bao vehemently denied it, saying that even his parents had to respect him at home, so how could a woman possibly dominate him?JPqifhYhJvSBkCcCkNZuMtiHDsZbAO

Seeing Xiao Bao wavering, the group continued to egg him on. Xiao Bao couldn’t stand being provoked and, in his confusion, agreed. Moreover, he remembered that he needed to raise funds for Su Yin. It would be easier to get money from these young masters than from their shrewd fathers. Today was the perfect opportunity. If he offended them, his plan would fail. Xiao Bao found a good reason for himself and reluctantly went along with them.wLfFpKEHtjuqacoWcjJCxwnvGcHTDr

Zhao Cai accompanied him, while Jin Bao took the recipe back to the Jin mansion. Xiao Bao thought he could have a few drinks, handle his business, and be back before dinner, without Huai En finding out. Unfortunately, he forgot that Jin Bao was a straightforward person with limited sense. Without clear instructions, things could easily go wrong.gjZCCWuxjLAqxuArmcjtvYVvfjxXSp

Young Master Jin, surrounded by a crowd, headed to the brothel, while Jin Bao, holding the recipe, returned to the Jin mansion.lzhgrDpGfTbkoDnyVBTsEwYVpdMOoi

As Jin Bao was about to deliver the recipe to his master, he ran into Huai En.cevPfFTRvtzWvMIkAIEwZQKgGQzRMB

Jin Bao, younger than Zhao Cai by a year and just seventeen years old, was naive about many things. He had a vague understanding of the relationship between his young master and Huai En. Zhao Cai disliked Huai En, so Jin Bao followed suit. Seeing Huai En, he turned his head away and walked on without acknowledging him.OnlanYTWrLszVWUoxGunjpvbNuUUiw

Huai En asked, “Where is Xiao Bao?” He hadn’t seen Xiao Bao since waking up and didn’t know where he had gone. Although Suzhou was Jin Xiao Bao’s territory, Huai En was still uneasy about Xiao Bao going out alone. He feared actions from the Tong Sect or a move from Zong Zheng Lihan. Recently, he had overindulged and had secretly met with Li Gongxiang the night before. The back-and-forth journey, using lightness skill for nearly three hours, along with the mental strain of dealing with that cunning man, had exhausted him. He had collapsed into bed with Xiao Bao and slept until noon. Only then did he remember Xiao Bao mentioning an errand he had to run, which Huai En should have accompanied him on.shbGbuPKPsmSVudArNtkAZdGLJOJoi

Jin Bao raised his chin, “My young master went to Yicui Pavilion.” Feeling a bit smug, he thought to himself that Xiao Bao used to chase after Huai En, who barely acknowledged him. Now, with Xiao Bao not caring about him anymore, Huai En was getting his just deserts. To make sure Huai En understood where Yicui Pavilion was, he added, “The most famous brothel in Suzhou.”KXzBeknBBUtCxzROMHwskUvmGdMjwu

Jin Bao wanted to say more to provoke him, but he didn’t dare speak further. Huai En’s eyes suddenly widened, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in his pupils. His face darkened, his thin lips trembling as if restraining something. A powerful killing intent erupted from him, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. His long hair, stirred by his internal force, floated up. He looked like a demon from the underworld, freezing the air around him. Jin Bao felt his limbs go cold, his heart pounding like a drum. It was the first time he’d been so terrified by someone’s presence, nearly dropping the wooden box in his hands.IFOsouKwWTprDhVwaoKpAZtbZHfYYi

As soon as Huai En shot out like an arrow, disappearing in front of him, Jin Bao realized he might have said something wrong again.yvqeciSVJtGkWPHxPvmfTcGwrGvGht

The wind howled past his ears, making his head ache as if it were about to split open. He felt like his body was about to explode, with a surge of pent-up energy swelling inside him, making his internal organs churn and causing his heart to feel as if it were being violently squeezed. The fear and anger of approaching the breaking point made him want to destroy everything in sight, but he knew he had to get to Yicui Pavilion first. He grabbed onto a few moving figures—some people whose faces were blurry but shared uniformly terrified expressions. They pointed him in a direction, and he dashed that way. He heard someone calling him, calling him “Young Master.” He knew it was Zuo Ying’s voice, but at this moment, nothing mattered to him.cdvypBJPEKikYFXVbtmeFnulBWiSAG

Yicui Pavilion, a brothel. He knew what a brothel was—a place where men sought pleasure. His Xiao Bao was in that place, in that place!erdmOUizuuXCWVrqwuRKNGnGrbNrgw

He couldn’t calm his racing heart, couldn’t steady his wild breath. Images flooded his mind: Xiao Bao holding someone else, whispering sweet nothings, embracing, entwined with someone else, using all the words and gestures he had given Huai En to please another. If he saw those images, he would tear that person to pieces!zoLaqZCaWeelNTVhNvdsmclvwvJCAb

He had never been so furious, so furious that he completely lost control. His breath was chaotic, his steps unsteady, and his Qi was rampaging through his meridians. At this moment, if someone attacked him, he would be easily defeated.UfXDaDyIDRhdyHYjXtxtePquAxMofP

But he couldn’t suppress the storm inside him. He couldn’t imagine Xiao Bao, his Xiao Bao, the only thing he wanted to possess in this life, touching or being touched by someone else. Jin Xiao Bao had sworn he belonged only to him and would never go back on his word. He would not allow him to go back on it now!PIMGnnzrJSIeNVlWuwexGROzDfJXIp

Finally, the three gold-embellished characters of Yicui Pavilion appeared in his sight. Huai En swept in like a gust of wind. After a quick scan of the hall without finding the person he was looking for, he rushed upstairs, kicking open each tightly shut door one by one. The moment he saw Xiao Bao’s terrified face, it took all his strength to restrain himself from rushing over and snapping his neck like a bee’s abdomen.vKzmbmAAXNbgTmrxSZDdQVBZhuIjHx

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