[BL] Rebirth: Back to Zero - Chapter 22 Part1

     

Rebirth: Back to Zero 
Author: 祎庭沫瞳 (Yi Ting Mo Tong)

Chapter 22 Strategic Constraint (Part 1/3)

Mo Qingge pushed himself up shakingly and was about to get off the bed to greet the incoming prince. After all, among the people in the room, he was the only commoner. Even in Tranquility Pavilion, he never shared a room with these many royalties at the same time.

"Don't get up. Just lie down." Jun Liyuan stopped him. He turned and said to Jun Liche, "He's injured and is recuperating here in my house temporarily. It is inconvenient for him to move around. Don't mind it."

"No worries. I'm not an outsider. Qingge doesn't have to be so stiff and regimental." Jun Liche smiled. Mo Qingge was injured and ran to the Third Prince Mansion during his recuperation. Seeing Mo Qingge's tightly bandaged hands, Jun Liche brows furrowed slightly. His injuries were severe, and the injured parts were critical to Mo Qingge. That explained why Ling Qiyang and Jun Lixuan specially made a trip down today.

Jun Liyuan had a good impression of Mo Qingge, and Jun Liche knew that from before. However, Jun Liyuan never displayed this affection openly, and Jun Liche chose to not burst the bubble. He believed that feelings should be natural and took a bystander stance just like Jun Lixuan and Ling Qiyang did.

"Why did you come here before entering the palace?" Jun Liyuan asked. Logically, Jun Liche should have met Emperor Father before coming to visit his brothers.

"It's alright. I will go later. I can't pass by your place but not visit you, right? Besides, I'm still concerned about the abnormalities in your army. How is it? Has it been resolved?" Jun Liche asked. As his return was uncertain, there was no rush to report to the Emperor. However, Jun Liyuan's situation was much more worrying and urgent.

"Thanks to Qiyang, it has been resolved," Jun Liyuan replied smilingly.

"It seems I was right to tell Lixuan." Jun Liche smiled.

"I haven't had time to send someone to inform you about this. In fact, it was Emperor Father who sent Qiyang to the barracks." Jun Lixuan said.

"Emperor Father?" Jun Liche was taken aback. He had been busy at the border and did not stay updated regarding the Capital's happenings as long as they were not crucial. Initially, he sent the news to Jun Lixuan in hopes that he could secretly find an opportunity to bring Ling Qiyang in. Unexpectedly, Emperor Yanxi made the first move.

"Well..." Jun Lixuan reiterated the entire course to Jun Liche carefully. He also reported the results of the investigation, as well as the preparation of the medicine. However, the part regarding Mo Qingge was tactfully omitted. Evidently, it would be more appropriate for Jun Liyuan to disclose what happened with Mo Qingge himself. Not to mention, Jun Liyuan had much more on his hands to investigate more. This issue was not what Jun Lixuan should involve himself in. Similarly, if it was Ling Qiyang's matter, he would like to keep it himself. Even with they were his brothers, he would not disclose the issue to them.

As Jun Lixuan spoke, the ridges on Jun Liche's forehead deepened, “Speaking of the south, I learned one thing. Half a month ago, I got the news when I was still in the north. My subordinates reported that they saw a suspicious man visiting the Fifth Prince Manor regularly. Although that person was dressed like a local, his hair and nails were purple. Moreover, this person often shrouds himself up very tightly, keeping his appearance ambiguous and disguised."

"The way this person enters the Fifth Prince Mansion is also bizarre. He always jumps over the walls in and out, and never goes through the door. When I heard the news, I thought it was his retainers and didn't think much about it. In retrospect, that man is a bit suspicious." Jun Liche paused, then said, "My subordinates haven't seen this person again recently. Perhaps, they have hidden."

Jun Lixuan frowned and brooded over the situation. If Jun Liche's suspicion was right, then the parasites were definitely the Fifth Prince's handiwork.

"He jumped over the walls and were probably not seen by anyone else. Even if we informed Emperor Father and asked for a search warrant to investigate the mansion, Fifth Brother could easily feign ignorance. After all, we do not have evidence to prove their collusion. Presumably, the person chose to no walk through the main door for this reason. If we have no evidence, it won't be so easy to hold him accountable." Jun Liyuan said. Before the crime was proven, it was unwise to report it to the Emperor.

"Third Brother is right. If this thing is really done by Fifth Brother, the plan would definitely be foolproof." Jun Lixuan said, "We can only hold our horses and keep monitoring."

Jun Liche nodded affirmingly, "I will have eyes on him constantly."

Jun Liyuan glanced at Mo Qingge, hesitant to speak, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Mo Qingge's eyes fleeted about. With his lips pursed, he shook his head and said: "It's nothing, just a little tired from lying down all day."

"Shall we get up and sit for a while?" Jun Liyuan walked over and supported the person to sit on the couch.

Mo Qingge lowered his head, seemingly embarrassed.

"Qiyang, what do you think?" Jun Lixuan looked at him. Ling Qiyang had not spoken for some time, and Jun Lixuan wanted to hear his opinion.

Ling Qiyang looked around and said, "If the person's hair and nails are purple as Sixth Brother said, he should be the culprit behind the parasites."

"You sure?" Jun Lixuan did not doubt Ling Qiyang's judgment, but he wanted to know the reason behind the conclusion.

"There are many Parasites Masters in the south, and they are very mysterious. However, the more apt they are at breeding parasites, they will experience a correspondingly high amount of backlash. Most of the Parasite Masters are thin, and their eyes are lined with blood-red veins. As their abilities increase, the signs of poisoning would become more evident. If the man is as Sixth Brother described, he should be a high-level Parasite Master. At this stage, even the Parasite Master's body is highly poisonous. He has to wrap himself tightly. On the one hand, he would not want to be seen. On the other hand, this reduces the worry of hurting people by mistake and stirring trouble.” Ling Qiyang said, “This specific breed of Parasites can only be bred by advanced Parasite Masters, and such skilled Masters are rare. I'm certain that that person should be the culprit behind the parasite infestation in the army."

Ling Qiyang was confident about his judgement; his Master had taught him the ways a long time ago. The notes he requested had also supplemented his knowledge.

Jun Liyuan nodded, "Since we can't do anything now, let's put up the appropriate defences and preparations. As long as we know the whereabouts of this person, we don't need to fear the petty tricks that Fifth Brother may have up his sleeve."

"Can the medicine pill you gave me at the mass graves defend us?" Jun Lixuan looked at Ling Qiyang.

Ling Qiyang smiled and said, "Would you like to live with that smell?"

"As long as you made it, I can live with it." Jun Lixuan said earnestly without blushing.

Ling Qiyang lightly kicked the leg under Jun Lixuan's table and muttered as his cheeks flushed red, "Nonsense."

Jun Lixuan grabbed his hand and smiled without speaking.

Ling Qiyang, with his ears red, coughed lightly. With his best pretence at being calm, he continued, "I will go back and find a better way to guard ourselves."

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Translator's Notes:

Last chapter for the week! If you wish to read further ahead, do check out my Patreon! If you wish to sponsor a chapter for early translation, do so on Ko-Fi! Your support means a lot to me and really keeps me going:)

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