As dawn approached, Gu Yan arrived at the Empress’s bedchamber. At the door, Su Bi was tightly gripping a man’s hand, as though he had been waiting for some time. When he saw Gu Yan, he dragged the man forward and said, “Master, I caught this man sneaking around outside Her Majesty’s bedchamber.”
Gu Yan looked at the man. “It’s Young Master Ke.”
The man was none other than Ke Huai.
“Your Highness…” Ke Huai looked embarrassed, clearly uncomfortable. He tried to pull his hand free, but Su Bi, being a martial artist, easily overpowered the frail scholar.
Su Bi asked, “Master, do you know him?”
“This is Ke Huai, Young Master Ke. During Her Majesty’s military campaign, they traveled together for a time. Su Bi, release him.”
“Yes.” Su Bi let go of Ke Huai’s hand.
Gu Yan asked, “Young Master Ke, what brings you here?”
“Well…” Ke Huai hesitated before speaking. “The other day, after Your Highness gave me money and sent people to escort me away, I had nowhere to go. So I came back and happened to encounter the princess. She invited me to travel with her, and I agreed. Later, when I heard the news about Her Majesty’s predicament, I couldn’t just stand by. She once helped me escape the Ke family, so I thought I’d come to see if I could be of any assistance. Your Highness, please don’t misunderstand. I have no ulterior motives toward Her Majesty. I only wanted to repay her kindness…”
Su Bi sneered.
Ke Huai blushed slightly, aware of his inability to be of any real help. However, his mother had instilled in him from a young age the principle of repaying kindness. To him, the Empress had shown him great favor, so he had to act. This realization gave him the composure to ignore Su Bi’s mocking expression.
Gu Yan wasn’t worried about Ke Huai harboring feelings for Feng Guang. Even if he did, he lacked the capability to take her away. Gu Yan was confident in that.
“Young Master Ke, you needn’t worry. Her Majesty is fine now. I’m on my way to see her. Su Bi,” Gu Yan instructed, “see to it that Young Master Ke is treated well.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Young Master Ke, I’ll take my leave.” Gu Yan offered a polite but distant smile before turning and entering the bedchamber.
As Su Bi turned back, he noticed Ke Huai staring at him. Su Bi chuckled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“When Commander Qian’s forces clashed with General Lan’s troops, I was hiding nearby. I saw you with Commander Qian’s men… Why…” Ke Huai hesitated, unsure if he should ask, but then continued, “Why do you call Prince Qian your master?”
“Because I am one of Prince Qian’s men. Isn’t that obvious?” Su Bi gave him a look that said, How can you be so dense?
Ke Huai didn’t take offense. Having lived peacefully under the oppressive environment of the Ke family for years, he had learned to endure and stay composed.
He showed no anger, which puzzled Su Bi. “I just insulted you, and you’re not upset?”
“Nothing you said offended me,” Ke Huai replied with a broad smile. “I’ve heard far worse at home. Besides, what you said is true and without malice. Why should I be upset?”
Su Bi narrowed his eyes. In his world, survival was a matter of kill or be killed. He had no respect for people who radiated an aura of moral superiority, like Ke Huai. Such people wouldn’t survive three days in his circles—they’d be taken advantage of and discarded.
Scoffing, Su Bi remarked, “If someone hit you, would you just smile and say you didn’t mind?”
“I don’t cause trouble. Why would anyone want to hit me?”
“Even if you don’t cause trouble, what if someone just doesn’t like you and decides to hit you?”
“Su Bi, there’s no one like that…” Ke Huai started, but before he could finish, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and collapsed unconscious to the ground.
Su Bi withdrew his hand and said lazily, “Well, I’m that kind of person.”
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 34.1