The Empress’s Gigolo

Ren Baqian swiftly took two steps back, “If someone comes to find you for revenge, please don’t tell them that I gave you the stun baton.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Ren. They have asked me, and I already told them that is a secret treasure of yours.” Caretaker Shi laughed heartily.

Ren Baqian facepalmed.

Caretaker Shi was such a fool.

You took along the stun baton to stir up trouble and still had the audacity to betray me.

You were able to fight eight people on your own.

Eight of me would not even be sufficient to fight one of them.

Ren Baqian tried to weep but failed to shed a single tear. “Whom exactly did you beat up?”

“Shi Guo from Gang City’s public order bureau, imperial guards Shi Kai and Shi Da, Left Army’s Shi Qing and Shi Zhen, Artillery Bureau’s Shi Meng. Also, the General of Left Army, Shi Feng. This bunch of people always looked down on me, teasing that I was only a caretaker of the beast park. This time round, let’s see who gets the final say.” Caretaker Shi was complacent. The more Ren Baqian listened to Caretaker Shi, the darker his face turned.

Just by holding a stun baton, you managed to beat up so many people of different positions.

If you were given a gun, wouldn’t you even try to fly?

They were your members of the same Shi clan, yet you beat them up.

Ren Baqian truly regretted that the stun baton landed in Caretaker Shi’s hands.

“The battery is flat, I’ll see if there’s any chance to charge it.” Ren Baqian walked in the opposite direction listlessly and drooped his head. Caretaker Shi on the other hand, was full of smiles and bragging non-stop about how he punched the public order bureau official and kicked the imperial guards. If it was not for his badly battered face, Ren Baqian might have believed his words.

“Where is Shi Wanshan? Get him outside.”

They heard a loud commotion ahead even before heading back to wait.

This bunch of people was so efficient, how is it that they came knocking on our doors so quickly?

Ren Baqian’s heart pounded as he looked at Caretaker Shi.

The answer was clear. You got yourself into this mess. You have got to settle it on your own.

“Bring out two more secret treasures. I alone can defeat the eight of them,” Caretaker Shi proclaimed as he let out a mischievous laugh.

Ren Baqian was speechless. He dug out a stun baton from his waist and threw it to Caretaker Shi. “There’s only one of this, you have to find a way to handle these guys. Settle your problem on your own.”

Caretaker Shi sniggered and walked towards the direction where the noise came from in a majestic manner.

“Shi Wanshan this bastard, you better come out.”

The cursing over there continued, and furthermore, a few voices could be heard. Ren Baqian guessed that either the victims held a meeting and decided to seek for revenge together, or they came individually to redress their grievances and ran into one another at the doorway.

Ren Baqian shook his head.

This time, the other party was guarded against Caretaker Shi, yet he still wanted to fight against the eight of them?

Dream on.

If we approach them, we would definitely not come back in one piece.

It would be better for me to find a place and avoid them.

And not let them follow the clues and track me down.

After roaming outside for a while, Ren Baqian estimated that it was lunch time and decided to return.

Ren Baqian just got back and saw Caretaker Shi’s entire face was filthy with grime. He couldn’t even recognize Caretaker Shi.

“Brother Ren, they have no shame at all. Eight of them beat me up in one go.” Caretaker Shi held onto Ren Baqian’s hand and poured out his grievances.

“Previously, you still said that you beat the eight of them up.” Ren Baqian couldn’t help but to ridicule him.

“I beat them up individually. Throughout my entire journey, I beat up a total of eight of them. How could it be the same as eight of them joining forces and beating me up together?” Caretaker Shi sighed.

“Why is the battery used up so quickly?” Ren Baqian had no choice but to console him.

“Your secret treasure….”

“No more, that was the last one. The other stun baton’s battery was drained by you.” Ren Baqian went to scoop his rice and left Caretaker Shi at one side after he finished his sentence.

I don’t even need to think to know that the stun baton had landed in other people’s hands.

Ren Baqian ignored Caretaker Shi who had a bloody nose and a swollen face. The rest of the people also did not pay attention to such a familiar sight. This kind of situation was too common among the Dayao men so much so that they even poked fun at Caretaker Shi.”

“Initially, I fought against the eight of them. I punched the public order bureau official and kicked the imperial guards. Afterwards, all eight of them joined forces to beat me up, and I was heavily outnumbered.” Caretaker Shi did not relent no matter what and insisted that he once fought against eight people. All the odd-job workers in the courtyard laughed their heads off.

In this world, the hierarchy between seniors and juniors was not that stringent at all. These odd-job workers were just like office workers and Caretaker Shi was like a manager. Both parties were able to make jokes out of another, and it was not a big deal at all. This point made Ren Baqian feel rather comfortable.

After finishing his lunch, Ren Baqian put half a bag worth of White Rabbit Creamy Candy in his clothes and entered the palace.

He was unoccupied on his journey and popped a candy into his mouth. The concentrated flavor of the milk fragrance was pretty good, and it was not surprising that it had been an unfailing product over the years.

Ren Baqian chewed on the candy as he arrived at Qingxin Palace Hall. He preferred chewing the candy instead of sucking it as he found it a chore to do so.

Lin Qiaole was seated, and this time, she finally heard the sound of Ren Baqian opening the door. She drowsily opened her eyes and upon seeing Ren Baqian, she yawned and prepared to continue sleeping.

“These are treats for you.” Ren Baqian took out three White Rabbit Creamy Candies and threw them on the table.

“What are these?” Lin Qiaole could finally open her eyes after hearing that it was food. It seemed that foodies not only existed on Earth and could be found in other worlds as well.

Upon seeing the three little things on the table, Lin Qiaole said coldly, “Hng, you think you can bribe me with these?”

“It’s for you, taste it. I’m certain that you have never eaten it before.” Ren Baqian took out another candy from the front of his clothes. He tore open the candy wrapper, and popped the candy into his mouth with a seductive look that seemed like he wanted to kidnap the little girl.

Lin Qiaole couldn’t care less. Her movement was actually quite fast. She imitated Ren Baqian in tearing open the candy wrapper and popped the candy into her mouth.

“Wow!” Lin Qiaole’s eyes became rounder and happiness from eating something tasty was shown on her face. She placed her claws on the table and wiped out the two candies in an instant.

Subsequently, she replied Ren Baqian inarticulately,” What do you want from me?”

“Teach me how to read.” Ren Baqian replied.

“I knew you wouldn’t have any good intentions. Bring me hundred pieces of this thing daily.” Lin Qiaole immediately fell into the trap of the White Rabbit Creamy Candy’s flavor. She revealed the two other candies in her hand and haggled with Ren Baqian.

“Ten pieces. This item is very rare, I’m sure you haven’t seen it in the past? How is it possible to offer you hundred pieces of such a premium milk candy daily?” Ren Baqian said. Even though one hundred candies weren’t a lot, it was roughly a bag and a half worth and would cost him forty yuan. It was definitely much cheaper than the price of hiring a teacher. But, he had to bring them over from Earth, and in addition to that, it would be troublesome to put a bag of sweets into his clothes whenever he entered the palace.

“Fifty pieces.” Lin Qiaole hesitated for a long time and stretched out her hand, diverging her five fingers.

Ren Baqian was gratified as she was indeed literate. At last, he met someone who knew how to count as well.

But he replied, “Fifteen pieces. I can’t give you too many as the manufacturing of the candy is really too troublesome.”

Finally, after a long period of haggling, they reached a deal of Ren Baqian providing twenty candies daily.

Following which, Ren Baqian felt a burst of happiness. He could finally learn how to read. “Let’s begin today.”

“Tomorrow it shall be, I want to sleep for a while more.” Lin Qiaole immediately closed her eyes and planted her head onto the table.

“Twenty pieces over here, do you want it?” Ren Baqian helplessly took out a bunch of White Rabbit Creamy Candies.

“I want it.” Lin Qiaole immediately opened her eyes widely.

“First, teach me how to read,” Ren Baqian negotiated.

“Give it to me first!” Lin Qiaole did not budge this time.

“I’ll give ten candies to you first. As for the remaining ten pieces, I’ll only give them to you after today’s lesson.” Ren Baqian behaved as if he was a hawker, haggling over a few candies with the other party.

“I’ll say first, I’m only in charge of teaching, whether you are able to master it or not, that’s your problem. If you dare not acknowledge…” Lin Qiaole revealed two of her sharp canine tooth. She thought for a while, felt that it was wrong and then extended her delicate fist at Ren Baqian.