Chapter 25 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Inside the private room, Bai ger had been seated for a while, yet the two people opposite him showed no inclination to speak.

 

Confused, he wondered why they hadn't begun—after all, weren't they the ones who had called him here?

 

Just as he was about to speak up and inquire, one of them finally broke the silence. "Are you Bai ger?"

 

This startled Zhao Chengnan, who was listening outside the door. Why was his aunt* inside? He nearly lost his balance and almost stumbled into the room.

 

[T/N: And more precizely, 舅母 (jiùmǔ) stands for one's maternal uncle's wife.]

 

Then Wu Bai's voice came from within, calm and unruffled. "Yes, I am Bai ger."

 

"Then, are you aware of why we asked you here?" came the voice of Xiao Zimo's mother.

 

"I am not," Bai ger answered, shaking his head. Though he had his suspicions about their purpose, he certainly couldn't admit to that knowledge now.

 

"Very well, I'll speak plainly. We summoned you here to advise you to retreat gracefully. You and our Zimo are not suited for each other," Xiao Zimo's mother stated directly.

 

Wu Bai gave a soft laugh. "Madam Xiao, tell me, does Xiao Zimo know of this meeting between us today?"

 

Hearing this reply, Madam Xiao's face flushed with anger, and he slapped the table in frustration.

 

The slap was loud and forceful, startling Zhao Chengnan outside the door and causing him to stumble. Already unsteady, he toppled straight into the room.

 

Scrambling to his feet, Zhao Chengnan gave an awkward smile to the trio. Bowing respectfully to his aunt and uncle, he said, "Aunt, Uncle—I was just passing by. Ahaha, what a coincidence to find you all here, truly!"

 

Turning to Wu Bai, he added, "Sister-in-law, I was just looking for you! I have news about the investigation you asked me to do. I left the documents at home, though. Would you like to come with me to take a look?" He kept winking at Wu Bai, hoping he'd understand and take the chance to leave.

 

"Wait. What did you just call him?" Father Xiao narrowed his eyes and asked, as though he hadn't heard correctly.

 

Wu Bai: "..."

 

Zhao Chengnan, quick on his feet, replied, "Oh, nothing special. Just called him 'Bai ger.' Right, Bai ger? I really do have business with you. Let's go check it out!" Without waiting for more questions, he led Wu Bai out of the teahouse.

 

Once they were safely outside, Zhao Chengnan asked, "Sister-in-law, why were you meeting with my aunt and uncle?"

 

Wu Bai raised an eyebrow. "And you? Didn't you leave the teahouse already? Why did you come back and eavesdrop on us?"

 

"Well, I was worried about you," Zhao Chengnan replied sheepishly. "You were being so mysterious. If something happened to you, who would suffer for it but my cousin? I've got to look out for you on his behalf!"

 

Wu Bai decided not to argue, instead asking, "About the person you were investigating—the one from the Hanlin Academy. Did you really find any useful information?"

 

"Of course," Zhao Chengnan replied.

 

"Then let's go to your place and see it."

 

"No need for that," Zhao Chengnan admitted. "That was just an excuse to get us out. I've already memorized everything about him."

 

"Then just tell me."

 

"He's named Ji Wen, twenty years old, a junior official* in the Hanlin Academy—a rank seven official. His family background is straightforward, with only an elderly ger-mother. The kind that's easy to manipulate."

 

[T/N: In ancient China, a 检讨 (pronounced "jiǎn tǎo") was an official title in the Hanlin Academy. As a 检讨, this person would hold a relatively low but still prestigious rank within the academy, often responsible for conducting research, proofreading official documents, and assisting in the preparation of important texts, such as historical records or imperial decrees. Although not a high-ranking official, a 检讨 had the honor of working closely with the emperor's inner circle and often had opportunities for future advancement within the imperial bureaucracy.]

 

"Do you know where he lives?"

 

"Yes. He resides on Changning Street. It's a place where low-ranking officials without substantial incomes typically settle, as the rent is moderate. The next street over leads directly to the Patrol Division, so it's fairly safe."

 

As they walked and talked, focusing intently on Ji Wen's details, they missed the malicious gaze following them from a slowly passing carriage.

 

"Sister-in-law, do you intend to visit Ji Wen's home?" Zhao Chengnan inquired.

 

Wu Bai thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No need. Just find a way to pass on a word of advice—let him know he'd be wise not to marry this year."

 

Though Zhao Chengnan didn't understand Wu Bai's reasoning, he figured it was harmless enough and headed for Yongning Street to deliver the message in person.

 

Knock, knock, knock.

 

Hearing someone at the door, Ji Wen came over to open it and found a young man he didn't recognize. "May I ask who you're looking for?"

 

"I'm looking for Ji Wen."

 

"That's me."

 

"It's like this: someone asked me to relay a message to you."

 

"What message?"

 

"This year, it would be best for you not to marry," Zhao Chengnan conveyed. But as soon as he finished, Ji Wen slammed the door shut with a resounding thud.

 

Rubbing his nose, which had narrowly missed being hit, Zhao Chengnan was left thoroughly confused. He had merely conveyed a piece of advice, so why such a reaction?

 

Inside, however, Ji Wen was fuming. With his poor family background and a mother in frail health, even his modest salary as a junior official barely covered their daily needs and his mother's medicine. Marriage was out of the question. Matchmakers wouldn't even consider him, given his situation. Why else would he still be single at twenty?

 

Thus, Zhao Chengnan's so-called "advice" felt like a cruel joke. If not for Zhao Chengnan's expensive-looking attire and apparent status, Ji Wen might've been tempted to beat him up.

 

Outside, Zhao Chengnan realized he'd been brushed off and sighed in frustration. That person didn't take what he said seriously at all. Determined to fulfill his sister-in-law's request, he decided to assign one of his men to observe Ji Wen's every move, with instructions to report back regularly.

 

So, his man began watching Ji Wen, updating Zhao Chengnan daily on Ji Wen's activities. Over time, Zhao Chengnan came to see that Ji Wen was indeed a capable person, though unrecognized and underutilized in his role.

 

Years later, when Zhao Chengnan would ascend the throne and clean house among the officials, he would notice a vacant position that would suit Ji Wen perfectly and appoint him to it.

 

On that day, when Ji Wen would receive the imperial edict and enter the palace to offer his thanks, he would glance up and be so stunned that he would nearly faint. But that is a tale for another time.

 

...

 

Time passed swiftly, and it had already been a month and a half since Wu Bai and his party had arrived in the capital. Now, only half a month remained before Wu Kangan would take part in the autumn examinations.

 

This time, however, they were more at ease, as Xiao Zimo had arranged for a retired scholar from the Imperial Academy to mentor Wu Kangan.

 

From Wu Kangan's perspective, he might have disliked accepting favors from Xiao Zimo. But he knew that his own efforts alone would not secure him success in these exams. If he failed, the gap between the Wu and Xiao families would widen even further. Should Xiao Zimo mistreat Wu Bai in the future, he'd have even less power to protect his brother, so he grudgingly accepted Xiao Zimo's assistance.

 

Consequently, Wu Bai frequently followed Xiao Zimo out these days, and he could not say anything against it.

 

Then, one day, Wu Bai received another letter inviting him to a private room at a particular teahouse to discuss an important matter.

 

Assuming it was yet another summons from the Xiao family, he thought it best to stop avoiding them and went to the teahouse, entering the designated room.

 

This time, however, he seemed to have arrived early. Xiao Zimo's parents were nowhere in sight. After waiting a while and feeling somewhat thirsty, he poured himself a cup of tea from the pot on the table. Just as he was about to drink, Xiao Zimo entered.

 

"Are you alright, Bai ger?" Xiao Zimo asked as soon as he came in.

 

He had just been to the courtyard where the Wu family was staying to find Bai ger, only to learn from Wu Kangan that Bai ger had already gone out. After asking Wu Kangan for the address, Xiao Zimo had hurried over. He'd heard from Zhao Chengnan about his parents' last meeting with Wu Bai, so he worried they might be causing trouble again and rushed over as quickly as he could.

 

Glancing around and finding no sign of his parents, he frowned in confusion. "Why are you alone? Where are my parents?"

 

"I don't know. I've been waiting here a while, but no one has come. I was feeling a bit thirsty, so I was just about to drink some tea when you arrived," Wu Bai said, lifting his teacup.

 

Having grown up amid constant schemes, Xiao Zimo sensed immediately that something was off. Taking the cup from Wu Bai, he sniffed it. As soon as he did, his face darkened. "This tea isn't right; it's been laced with an aphrodisiac."

 

"What?" Wu Bai's face paled.

 

"My parents have become even more shameless, resorting to such lowly means against you," Xiao Zimo seethed.

 

"Well... it might not be them. There was no signature on the letter; I just assumed it was from them because of the last time they invited me out," Wu Bai suggested, trying to calm him.

 

"Wait, I think I hear footsteps approaching. Here's what we'll do: hide behind the screen, and I'll pretend to have fainted after drinking the tea. We'll see who would plan to make a move against me," Wu Bai instructed.

 

"Alright," Xiao Zimo agreed, slipping behind a screen covered with a dark cloth that matched the color of his clothing. Concealed in the shadows, he was nearly invisible.

 

Once Xiao Zimo was completely hidden, Wu Bai made a show of spilling his tea on the table, then patted his cheeks to give them a flushed look before slumping onto the table as though unconscious.

 

At that moment, the footsteps stopped outside the door.

 

The visitor lingered there for a moment, listening for any sounds within. Hearing nothing, they cautiously pushed open the door and stepped inside.

 

Upon seeing Wu Bai sprawled on the table, his face flushed, the intruder smiled with satisfaction.

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