The Constable Booked the Assassin Every Night novel · Chapter 8 of 24
Chapter 8: The Guard
A bodyguard's work is mostly standing behind a chair and being looked through.
The Prefect's study had a south window, a carved screen, and four doors, and Shouzhi counted them twice.
Ding sat at a desk the size of a bed, sorting memorials into piles, with a paper bag of candied plums at his elbow.
Behind his chair stood two guardsmen.
Behind them, with the sun in his eyes and his cuffs at his belt, stood Shouzhi.
"You don't have to stare at my neck, Tan," Ding said, without looking up. "I'm quite certain it's there."
"Yes, Prefect."
"I hear you've moved the pipa player into your lodging."
"Rule Four, Prefect."
"How domestic." Ding turned a page. "Do try not to let him bleed on the Doors' blankets. Linen is so dear."
The guardsmen snickered.
Shouzhi looked at the wall.
An hour into the morning, a servant boy came in with a tray.
He was perhaps twelve, thin as a rake, in a gray tunic two sizes too large.
He carried the Prefect's tea in both hands.
He set the cup down.
His fingers shook, and a little tea slopped over the rim onto a memorial.
The room went very still.
Ding looked at the spill.
Then he got up from his chair, quite slowly, and struck the boy across the face with the back of his soft pink hand.
The sound was loud.
The boy went down on one knee with his palm against his cheek, and the tray rattled across the floor.
"Do you know," Ding said pleasantly, "what that was?"
"I'm sorry, Prefect..."
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of The Constable Booked the Assassin Every Night are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
← Chapter 7 · All chapters · Chapter 9 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend