Since Bai Lu actively requested to take the back door, Chu Ya couldn’t refuse. Symbolically accepting some “compensation” from him, he prepared to arrange for Bai Lu to work in his study, handling some leisurely clerical tasks. There wasn’t much work to do normally, just organizing books and memorials, adding ink to pens. In modern terms, it was akin to a retirement job.
However, Bai Lu wasn’t pleased. He found it boring and didn’t want to spend his working hours following Chu Ya around. Moreover, being alone with Chu Ya in a quiet study made him feel unsafe.
Bai Lu remembered the last time he visited Geng Qing’s quarters and found the environment quite nice. Plus, he had been eyeing the guard uniform with narrow sleeves, embroidered with a wolf totem, and a black knife at the waist for a long time. He always thought that uniform looked handsome, while the clothes he wore now felt a bit girly.
Bai Lu, in his past life, was, to put it bluntly, a delinquent who participated in illegal fights. Now that he had the opportunity, he naturally wanted to abandon the darkness and join the light, trying out being a “police officer.”
“I don’t want to stay in the study. Can you arrange for me to become a guard? The kind with a knife.”
Chu Ya hesitated, scrutinizing him up and down with concern. “Your current physique might not be suitable; it would be very tiring.”
Bai Lu didn’t like hearing this and immediately retorted, “What’s wrong with my current physique? I’ve fought eight people alone before. Why wouldn’t it be suitable now?”
Chu Ya ruthlessly debunked him, “But you lost, didn’t you?”
“Shut up!”
Bai Lu thought for a moment and found a counterexample to justify himself, “Besides, Geng Qing is not as strong as I am, yet he became the head guard with thirty subordinates. I envy him!”
Chu Ya sighed, “He indeed lacks martial skills, but he’s a genius in strategy and tactics. Can you do that?”
Bai Lu was speechless and stuttered for a while. Finally, he lay down on the bed, stretched out his limbs, and began acting petulant, “I don’t care. If you don’t let me be a guard, I’ll stay here and refuse to leave!”
“But you already live here.”
Bai Lu sat up woodenly, “Then should I leave?”
Let you guard an empty room, letting you, the emperor, experience the feeling of guarding a cold palace by yourself.
Chu Ya raised his hand to stop him, sighed softly, and compromised, “Alright, stop making a fuss. I’ll arrange it for you.”
The next day, after lunch, the Imperial Wardrobe sent Xiao Yue and another palace maid to deliver a navy blue guard uniform. The clothes were made according to Bai Lu’s measurements, making him look tall and slender, with beautiful shoulder lines. The narrow waist was cinched with a deer leather belt, seemingly graspable with just one hand.
With the wolf totem on the lapel, black bands on the wrists, and neatly tied-up hair, he looked heroic and elegant, as if emitting a radiant glow that made it hard for people to look away.
Chu Ya couldn’t help but stare at him, his gaze falling on Bai Lu’s back, sliding down to his pert backside. He thought it was an unexpected bonus; Bai Lu looked much better in this outfit than his usual clothes, and he seemed sexier.
Meanwhile, Bai Lu had no idea he was being ogled by someone. In his mind, he was already stripped naked, layer by layer, even though he wasn’t actually naked. He was just casually playing with his dagger.
—The guard’s dagger was similar to a Tang sword, with a thin and straight blade. Both the handle and scabbard were pure black, and the blade was very sharp. Bai Lu flicked the blade with his fingernail, producing a crisp sound, indicating excellent material, hard yet flexible, not easy to break. No wonder Ling Feng was able to chop off the eunuch’s neck with a single blow.
Turning the dagger over, Bai Lu saw a ‘Bai’ character carved near the handle, probably his surname.
He casually waved the dagger around; it felt comfortable in his hand. However, he might still be more used to unarmed combat, but having a knife would be more convenient for protecting Chu Ya.
Chu Ya considered it thoughtfully and arranged for Bai Lu to be the deputy head guard under Geng Qing’s team, with the same salary and treatment as a first-class guard.
Although he was a bit unhappy with the “deputy” title, having acquaintances among his colleagues was still nice. In the afternoon, Bai Lu went to the guard’s office to find Geng Qing, getting a preliminary understanding of the working environment.
However, after entering the barracks, the gatekeeper informed him that Captain Geng was out on patrol and kindly brought him a plate of snacks to eat while waiting.
Bai Lu took the plate of pastries and thanked him but didn’t sit down. Instead, he wandered around the barracks.
As he walked, he suddenly heard the sound of chopping wood coming from a courtyard. Curious, he walked to the courtyard gate and peeked inside, only to see a tall and strong man chopping firewood.
Well, chopping firewood might not be accurate. The strong man held a thick branch at the wrist and effortlessly broke it into several pieces, tossing them aside. A pile of firewood had accumulated at his feet, all broken by hand.
Bai Lu was stunned. Could a normal human have this kind of strength? Breaking such a thick stick effortlessly, it was like snapping a chopstick, with no preparatory action, one piece after another without pause.
Bai Lu had no doubt that if this man were serious, he could twist steel pipes barehanded, and naturally, he could twist someone’s neck too.
He silently observed the man’s back, estimating conservatively that he was about two meters tall, with extremely strong muscles, making his clothes bulge. The muscle lines on his arms were like small mountains.
After finishing chopping the firewood, the man stood still for a while, then turned around, only to notice someone had been watching him at the gate.
Bai Lu noticed that although the man had a physique comparable to the Hulk, his appearance wasn’t fierce. His features were quite handsome, with a hint of childishness, and his eyes were pure like a child’s, very innocent.
Is this the legendary Strongman Ken? Bai Lu’s mind flashed with an image of an animated character with a doll face and a muscular body.
The man, upon seeing Bai Lu, brightened up instantly, stepped forward, and stood directly in front of him, casting a shadow over Bai Lu.
Bai Lu’s throat moved nervously, and his right hand slowly gripped the dagger at his waist.
But to his surprise, the man didn’t intend to harm him. He didn’t speak either but stared intently at the plate of snacks in Bai Lu’s left hand.
Bai Lu hesitated for a moment, then tentatively handed the plate of snacks to the man and asked, “Do you want some?”
The man instantly smiled happily, took the plate, and with his thick fingers, picked up the delicate and exquisite red bean pastry, stuffing them into his mouth one by one.
He seemed unable to speak, and after finishing the pastries, he painstakingly picked up the remaining crumbs from the plate and stuffed them into his mouth. Then, he licked his lips contentedly and grinned.
Bai Lu felt that this person might have some intellectual problems, acting like a child. He didn’t know who placed him here and didn’t have anyone to take care of him.
Bai Lu turned to leave, intending to find someone to inquire about his situation. However, the big guy immediately followed him out, walking behind Bai Lu like a big tail, mimicking Bai Lu’s every move. When Bai Lu walked, he walked, and when Bai Lu stopped, he also stopped in place.
The two of them had vastly different heights and body sizes, creating a scene where a big brown bear cautiously followed a small wolf pup.
“Are you stuck with me?” Bai Lu looked up at him, feeling a headache and not knowing what to do with him. Suddenly, he heard Geng Qing’s surprised voice from behind, “Erhua, why did you come out?”
The big guy, upon hearing this, brightened up and turned to look at Bai Lu, calling out incoherently, “Big… Big Strong…”
Bai Lu was dumbfounded, looking at Geng Qing who was approaching quickly. “Is he calling you?”
Geng Qing’s face turned green, and he quickly pulled Bai Lu aside, saying painfully, “Brother, I’m begging you, forget about this matter.”
Bai Lu was about to laugh himself to death, enjoying it very much. “So your real name is Geng Da Zhuang? What kind of rustic name is this? It doesn’t match you at all. No wonder you changed your name.”
Geng Qing’s face had turned from green to black, even darker than the bottom of a pot.
The three of them entered the house and sat down in the main hall. Bai Lu listened as Geng Qing explained the situation, finally understanding.
This strong man was named Geng Erhua, Geng Qing’s twin brother.
For some reason, when these twins were born, they grew up completely differently. Erhua was twice as big as his brother, cried loudly, and had a unique strength in his arm movements.
Geng Qing, on the other hand, was born thin and weak, often ill, almost unable to survive. His parents named him Da Zhuang, probably hoping he would become stronger.
“Erhua has always been very strong, but when he was six years old, he suddenly had a high fever and his brain was damaged, leaving his mind stuck at the age of six, and he can’t even speak clearly.”
In order to take care of him conveniently, I let him live in the barracks, doing simple chores. Also, he has especially great strength.”
Bai Lu remembered the pile of firewood in the yard. “I’ve seen that.”
Although Erhua looked tough and not easy to mess with, his temper was quite good. After eating the orange, he squatted obediently on the steps at the door, watching the ants crawling on the ground.
Geng Qing took out the roster from the team and explained to Bai Lu the guard’s duties.
“First-class guards don’t need to stand guard in fixed places, but they have to patrol on time. I have thirty people under my command, six squads in total. You are the deputy head guard, so you also have to manage them during normal times, arrange their duties and rest.”
“Also, occasionally, you may need to lead people on night patrols…” Geng Qing hesitated, cautiously asking, “Will His Majesty have any objections?”
“He has no objections.” Bai Lu pretended to issue a decree on behalf of the emperor, “So I can definitely do night shifts.”
“Really?” Geng Qing stared at him suspiciously.
Bai Lu nodded confidently, “Really. Come to think of it, as a guard on night duty, do I still need to adhere to the curfew?”
“That’s true, but what do you want to do?”
Bai Lu smiled mysteriously, “I plan to go to the Concubine Mei’s Palace at night and smash their windows.”
Geng Qing: “??? Are you holding grudges too much!”
Looks like someone's gonna have a good night 😆