Chapter 47 - 3#

Only he didn’t expect that soon after leaving the Imperial Kitchen, he would actually see the person.

Although he didn’t turn back, Jingzhe knew it was him.

…This person appeared and disappeared so mysteriously. Sometimes, Jingzhe really wanted to know if his subordinates wouldn’t protest. Doing a good job, and then the person just disappears.

Wait, if that’s the case, then Mingyu’s words were even more reliable. Rong Jiu wouldn’t really be warned for dereliction of duty, right… But who would warn someone using a famous horse like Wuti… That’s not worth the money…

Could it be that Emperor Jingyuan likes Rong Jiu so much that he would go to such lengths to redeem him… Jingzhe slapped his own face.

“What am I thinking?”

Jingzhe murmured, slapping away all these messy thoughts.

He wanted to see Rong Jiu to ask clearly about Wuti. But strangely, when Rong Jiu actually appeared, Jingzhe didn’t dare to turn back.

He was a little scared.

This indescribable feeling was the most uncomfortable.

He frowned, paused for a moment before turning around, but there was no one behind him at all.

Jingzhe: “…Where is he?”

It was around dusk; surely he hadn’t seen a ghost.

He subconsciously took two steps back, and without paying attention, his heel hit something hard, and he bumped into a familiar embrace.

Jingzhe smelled the orchid scent that had become familiar recently and decided to muster his courage.

“What is going on with Wuti?”

“You don’t like Wuti?”

These two sentences were spoken almost simultaneously.

Jingzhe narrowed his eyes.

…Okay, so Wuti really does have something to do with you!

Jingzhe turned around in Rong Jiu’s embrace and looked up at him, “Is Wuti’s matter your doing?”

Rong Jiu: “How can you say it’s my doing?”

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly never expecting to hear such a term from Jingzhe’s mouth.

Jingzhe gritted his teeth: “If it was sent properly, of course it would be a surprise, but taking an unusual path, that is mischief.” Did Rong Jiu know that as soon as he came back, he was called over and told that His Majesty had a reward, which was terrifying?

What had he done to deserve such a shock? Moreover, why would Emperor Jingyuan reward him?

He didn’t think the Emperor would still remember the Cen family’s affairs.

Emperor Jingyuan had so many government affairs to deal with every day. If he remembered everything, how good must his memory be?

The Cen family was just a speck of dust in the complicated affairs.

But if not for the Cen family, then for what? Rong Jiu? Did Rong Jiu have such a big face in front of Emperor Jingyuan? Giving away such a precious horse just like that?

Or was it really as Mingyu said, a warning?

Jingzhe felt something was wrong. He struggled free, took a few steps back, and said suspiciously: “Are you really just an imperial guard?”

Everything Rong Jiu had shown was completely unlike an ordinary guard, whether it was his speech and behavior, or his mysterious whereabouts, there was always an extraordinary weirdness.

Jingzhe was not completely unaware of the strangeness of some things.

He just didn’t want to doubt Rong Jiu.

Rong Jiu’s voice carried a faint chill. The autumn sunset only made the dark red blood color more prominent, without any remaining warmth.

“Jingzhe, what are you thinking?”

Since he had already seen the person, Jingzhe naturally wouldn’t hide anything. Even if there were big conflicts, if he only whimpered and couldn’t say anything, that would be the biggest obstacle.

Jingzhe didn’t want such difficulties to stand between him and Rong Jiu.

Jingzhe said frankly: “Rong Jiu, what exactly is going on with Wuti?”

Rong Jiu: “You like horses.”

Jingzhe frowned. He didn’t… well, if just judging from that night, Jingzhe did quite like the black horse big brother.

Its temper was a bit violent, but it had character.

The way it acted cowardly at the end was also cute.

Rong Jiu: “You also like riding horses.”

Jingzhe: “…I was chafed and you still say I like it…”

Rong Jiu said gloomily: “If you didn’t like it, would you refuse to get off even when chafed?”

Jingzhe shut up. Fine, maybe perhaps, he liked it a little bit.

Rong Jiu: “Then what’s inappropriate about Wuti?”

…This is too much of a leap!

What is the connection between the first two sentences and the last one?

Jingzhe understood Rong Jiu’s words.

Jingzhe liked horses and riding, so he got Wuti.

“But why was it a reward from His Majesty?”

Jingzhe liked horses, so sending him a horse was worlds apart from the Emperor rewarding him with a horse.

These words ambiguously mixed certain dangerous things together.

Rong Jiu’s eyes looked somewhat terrifyingly gloomy in the twilight. He hooked the corner of his mouth into a cold smile, which held a twisted malice.

“The best horses in Shangyu Garden are not in the Emperor’s hands, so whose hands are they in? Did you want me to give you those inferior, useless things?”

Jingzhe was stunned by these words, “No… I don’t need such good things either. You know I’m still a beginner…”

Let’s not talk about the serious topic of whether he could ride a horse in the palace, what’s wrong with ordinary horses?

Jingzhe was also an ordinary person.

“Then might as well not give.” Rong Jiu walked towards Jingzhe. Seeing him subconsciously retreat, the man pursed his lips into a straight line. The tense pressure enveloped him, leaving almost nowhere to hide, “So, you are uneasy because of the Emperor’s reward?”

Jingzhe reached out to block Rong Jiu’s hard chest, not allowing him to get any closer.

“Rong Jiu, you can’t treat this as an ordinary matter just because you often walk in front of the palace.”

Jingzhe finished speaking, seeing Rong Jiu’s face was still very gloomy, so he spoke even more bluntly.

“Rong Jiu, did His Majesty find out that you took me out of the camp without permission that night? Was Wuti, rewarded by His Majesty, requested by you, or a warning to you? Was someone following us when we went out that night? Are you… in front of His Majesty, are you really just an ordinary guard?”

Once Jingzhe asked, he asked clearly. If he kept these many confusions hidden, who knew how long he would hold them in.

“Wuti is something I wanted to give you.” Rong Jiu said coldly, “Did you think just any cat or dog could occupy that title?”

…That’s the Emperor, the Emperor! What do you mean any cat or dog, that’s your master!

Rong Jiu’s harsh words made Jingzhe afraid that someone might hear. Looking at the deserted place, who could guarantee there was really no one?

Jingzhe had learned his lesson from this matter and wished he could cover Rong Jiu’s mouth.

“I took you out, naturally there were people following, just that you didn’t see them, so you thought they weren’t there.”

…What, really brought people?

Jingzhe felt a heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, as if he was being roasted on a fire, “You, I… No, you brought people, why didn’t you tell me?”

Rong Jiu looked at him with a strange expression and was silent for a while: “Forgot.”

You suspiciously paused just now, you didn’t really forget, right!

Jingzhe was annoyed: “If I knew someone was following you, I wouldn’t…”

“You wouldn’t have been so intimate, only putting up a facade of distancing yourself from me.” Rong Jiu interrupted Jingzhe coldly, “Is being with me that shameful?”

Interacting with Rong Jiu often left Jingzhe speechless, but today was the most speechless time.

Who is the shameful one?

Rong Jiu’s words were very unreasonable!

“I…”

Before he could defend himself, he heard Rong Jiu’s fierce and cold words.

“You don’t need to disguise yourself in front of anyone, and you are not allowed to distance yourself from me.” The man’s few words were filled with twisted malevolence, “If you don’t want them to see, dig out their eyes in the future.”

…Which unlucky person became his subordinate? What sin did they commit in their past life?

Jingzhe covered his face, feeling ashamed and helpless: “Being intimate in front of others, you might be used to it, but I can’t accept it.”

If he had known there were people following Rong Jiu in and out, he definitely wouldn’t have been so… with Rong Jiu in front of them. Anyway, he just wouldn’t.

“You dig out their eyes, but they still have ears to hear. You can’t cut off their ears too; what would that look like?” Jingzhe sighed deeply, “Stop tormenting those unlucky people.”

He looked up at Rong Jiu.

“Don’t know what sin they committed to work under you.”

Although he was complaining about Rong Jiu, his body’s unnatural stiffness seemed to relax a bit, not as tense as before.

For him, face-to-face conversation was always better than guessing.

“If they are unwilling, they can leave.” Rong Jiu said indifferently. He raised his hand, his bone-chillingly cold fingers making Jingzhe shrink back, his palm stopping on his cheek, “The things I give must be the best. Wuti is the most suitable, unrelated to anyone else. If not given in the Emperor’s name, it couldn’t follow you back to the palace.”

Jingzhe muttered: “…Chen Changming said that someone is responsible for all of Wuti’s supplies. Is it you?”

Rong Jiu didn’t answer, but it was an obvious fact.

The imperial stable kept at least dozens of horses; this was the most precious batch among them.

Except for the royal family, there were also horses of several princes and ministers kept there. These were mostly famous horses bestowed as rewards, precious and delicate.

Owners possessed them and kept them in the imperial stable, considering it a great honor.

Like this time, besides Wuti, there were two other horses that came back from Shangyu Garden together.

The palace was divided into inner and outer parts; the stable was outside to have enough vast space.

As long as they were relatives of the Emperor, they could enter and leave, while important ministers had to have the Emperor’s permission.

Emperor Jingyuan had no children, so the stable was much more desolate, but occasionally relatives of the Emperor would enter to play for fun.

This was what Mingyu had explained to Jingzhe in detail just now; otherwise, he rarely understood matters of the Imperial Stable.

“Then His Majesty…”

Rong Jiu leaned down, a few traces of helplessness appearing on his always indifferent face. He pinched Jingzhe’s cheek: “Why do you have so many questions?”

Jingzhe: “I also really want to know why you are always extraordinarily… powerful.” Actually, he wanted to say troublesome, but seeing the man’s gloomy aura, he reluctantly changed his words.

Jingzhe was afraid that if he really said that, he would be strangled by Rong Jiu.

He looked like he had genuinely considered methods of death.

Jingzhe couldn’t give him the chance to try.

“The Emperor has no heir, so many things need to be planned early. Whether it’s Wei Haidong or Mao Zishi, these forces will be scattered in the future, so he needs more manpower.”

Jingzhe listened in a daze. Could such serious matters be told to him?

Is this why the Emperor relies on him?

Wei Haidong is currently the palace commander. If he leaves in the future, a successor will definitely be needed. Is Rong Jiu that successor?

Rong Jiu didn’t say it very clearly, but he almost answered Jingzhe’s question.

Jingzhe pondered, but didn’t notice that Rong Jiu’s shadow had completely covered him, completely swallowing even the shadows on the ground.

Rong Jiu: “Any other questions?” This tone even sounded somewhat gentle, without the previous irritability.

Jingzhe quietly wanted to retreat. Nothing else, he felt a gloomy chill.

Reminding him that if he didn’t run, it would be too late.

Jingzhe revealed an awkward smile: “…Probably, maybe, there shouldn’t be any more… right?”

“Very good.” Rong Jiu smiled, brilliantly, “Then next, it’s my turn.”

He had never smiled so brilliantly, his snow-white teeth revealed grimly, like a beast that had entered hunting mode.

“You… stop!”

The man’s voice carried a bloody cruelty, but how could Jingzhe stop.

At the first syllable, he turned and ran.

It’s over, it’s over. Just now he had touched the tiger’s bottom all over. Now the person is angry, and he’s still staying. Isn’t this a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth?

Jingzhe tried hard to comfort himself. He wasn’t running away; he was… cough, doing this so Rong Jiu could calm down!

With anger rising now, they definitely couldn’t talk properly. Wait until he calmed down, then talk—

A huge force at his waist stopped him, forcefully squeezing Jingzhe until he gave a low cry, almost thinking his waist was going to break.

Rong Jiu roughly pinched Jingzhe’s face and lifted it up, forcibly biting his lips. Even the embrace was incredibly cold.

The passionate actions couldn’t hide the violence and anger on him.

Jingzhe’s consciousness was a bit blurry because Rong Jiu rarely lost control like this. Whether it was the strength of the embrace or the bloody kiss, both carried a cruel coldness.

Jingzhe didn’t even know if they were being intimate or devouring each other.

He seemed to have bitten Rong Jiu’s lip too, and along with it, Jingzhe’s tongue, which had a cut, was also bitten by the man, as if it were some delicious delicacy.

Jingzhe smelled blood.

In their mutual biting actions.

Compared to humans, in a certain instant, they were more like two beasts.

“You… didn’t lie to me… right?”

Jingzhe’s voice was drowned in the bloody kiss, almost like a delirious murmur, barely audible.

“…No.”

That cold answer was mixed with a strange heat, easily stealing away one’s reason.

Like a heart-bewitching poison, blinding the eyes.

Author’s Note:

Jingzhe: Didn’t you say you wouldn’t lie to me?

Rong Jiu: Which sentence is false?

Jingzhe: …Not a single sentence is false, but every sentence is wrong!