Chapter 12#
Kill That Emperor (12)#
The regent king, after all, was a martial arts practitioner. Even after being knocked unconscious by the candlestick, he slowly regained consciousness.
He touched the back of his head, inhaled, and sat up, his expression extremely grim. The alcohol had mostly worn off due to the pain, but he still couldn’t remember who had struck him. He only recalled coming to Murong Xiu’s palace to invite him to watch the fireworks, but Murong Xiu’s words were too displeasing. It seemed he had laid hands on Murong Xiu…
Murong Xiu might have even cursed him.
Unable to recall further, the regent king stopped thinking and glanced at the person sitting nearby. But as soon as he looked, he froze.
“You… "
The person before him had a face covered in scratches, blood smearing it entirely, and the front of his robe was stained with blood. In his hand was a gold hairpin still dripping with blood.
If it weren’t for the familiar clothes he wore, the regent king would hardly have recognized the bloody figure as the ethereal and jade-like Murong Xiu. He immediately snatched the hairpin from the other’s hand and roared in fury, “Murong Xiu, have you gone mad?”
Murong Xiu’s eyes moved sluggishly before finally focusing on the regent king’s face.
“I haven’t gone mad,” he said hoarsely, as if forcing the words through clenched teeth.
The regent king was so angry he didn’t know what to say. He threw the hairpin violently to the ground. The gold hairpin broke into two pieces upon hitting the floor. Seeing this, Murong Xiu bit his lip, then grinned.
With his face covered in injuries, the smile was beyond terrifying.
Seeing this, the regent king felt both anxious and pained. He strode over, picked Murong Xiu up in his arms, and shouted loudly as he walked out, “Someone! Summon the imperial physician!”
As Murong Xiu was carried out of the palace, he turned to look back.
No one knew what he was looking at.
…
Murong Xiu was disfigured. Even though the regent king had nearly executed the entire Imperial Medical Bureau, Murong Xiu’s face could not be saved.
For the first time, the regent king tasted the feeling of helplessness. He looked at Murong Xiu before him and cursed in exasperation, “Murong Xiu, are you insane? Did you have to destroy your own face?”
Murong Xiu’s face was completely wrapped in bandages, leaving only his eyes exposed.
Those eyes were moist and autumn-like, with long feathery lashes—truly the eyes of a beauty. But now they were hazy and devoid of any luster.
“You forced me,” Murong Xiu said softly. “A descendant of the Murong family could never be a plaything.”
Upon hearing this, the regent king’s hand inside his sleeve trembled slightly.
Was Murong Xiu truly so repulsed by him that he would rather ruin his own face than accept him?
He closed his eyes, his emotions a tangled mess. Murong Xiu had become a piece of jade in his eyes, and now that jade was broken. The regent king tried to piece it together, but he could not erase the crack in the jade.
For the first time, the regent king tasted defeat at Murong Xiu’s hands.
Murong Xiu’s decisiveness stung him, making him afraid to approach again.
In the following two months while Murong Xiu recovered from his injuries, the regent king did not pay him any private visits. He only inquired daily about Murong Xiu’s condition from the imperial physician. The scars on Murong Xiu’s face could not be removed, but at least his life was saved. The regent king also ordered a skilled artisan to craft an exquisite mask. When the mask was delivered to Murong Xiu, he merely glanced at it and said flatly, “Why should I wear a mask?”
Liang Rong replied awkwardly, “Your Majesty, it was sent by the regent king. He said it was… a birthday gift for Your Majesty.”
Hearing this, Murong Xiu picked up the exquisite mask. It was golden and embroidered with dragon patterns. He placed it over his face and found that it fit perfectly. Seeing Murong Xiu try it on, Liang Rong quickly put on a flattering smile. “This mask is indeed beautiful, very suitable for Your Majesty.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Murong Xiu throw the mask viciously to the ground.
The mask didn’t break, so Murong Xiu stood up and stomped on it fiercely. When Liang Rong realized what was happening, he immediately threw himself forward. “Your Majesty, please calm down! This mask was painstakingly crafted, a great deal of effort was put into it.”
Shen Jue, who had been silently standing behind Murong Xiu, also spoke up. “Your Majesty, please stop stomping. Be careful not to hurt your foot. If you don’t like the mask, just have Head Steward Liang return it.”
Hearing Shen Jue’s words, Murong Xiu paused abruptly in his stomping. He moved his foot away and smiled. “You’re right.” His beautiful eyes turned and fixed firmly on Liang Rong. “Liang Rong, return this thing to the regent king. My birthday has already passed; there’s no need for him to send any gifts.”
Murong Xiu’s original face was impossible to look away from, but now his face was one people dared not look at.
Liang Rong was considered bold, but even he dared not look directly at Murong Xiu’s face. It could be said that Murong Xiu’s current face was no different from a demon’s.
“Yes, this servant understands.” Liang Rong glanced at Murong Xiu, then quickly lowered his head. He hastily picked up the mask from the floor and retreated from the palace.
Seeing him leave, the smile on Murong Xiu’s face vanished completely. He turned to look at Shen Jue. “Shen Jue, am I very ugly now?”
Shen Jue stepped forward gently and smiled tenderly at Murong Xiu. “No matter what Your Majesty becomes, in this servant’s heart, Your Majesty is the true Son of Heaven. Why should a ruler care about appearance? Moreover, the regent king now dares not approach Your Majesty. This is a good thing.”
Thinking of the regent king, Murong Xiu nodded. “Indeed. The world is all vulgar, judging people only by appearance.”
Shen Jue continued, “But Your Majesty must not let down your guard now. This is an opportunity to cultivate your own power. Only without him can Your Majesty become a true Son of Heaven.”
Murong Xiu looked at him, a look of dejection in his eyes. “You know as well as I do that the court is now full of the regent king’s men. How easy do you think it is for me to cultivate my own power?”
“Your Majesty, the special imperial examination is coming up. Why not select some outstanding individuals from it? Moreover, the regent king is arrogant and tyrannical. Although there are sycophants in the court, there are also those of noble character. Those people will naturally serve Your Majesty,” Shen Jue said.
Murong Xiu’s tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed. “You’re right. The special imperial examination is coming soon. This is a good opportunity.”
…
Ever since Murong Xiu was disfigured, he had gradually changed. Previously, he hated it when others looked at him, especially those whose gazes seemed to stick to his face. Now, if someone dared not look at him, he felt they must be afraid of his appearance, which made him even angrier. Murong Xiu became increasingly moody, often punishing the palace attendants serving him.
Liang Rong, as his head eunuch, was punished the most. Murong Xiu now punished people by specifically targeting their faces. He ordered them to take bamboo strips soaked in water and strike their faces until they bled before stopping.
Liang Rong suffered terribly and could only secretly go to the regent king.
“Your Highness, save this servant! This servant fears he won’t live long,” Liang Rong cried, his tears and snot mingling with his swollen face, looking absolutely hideous. Because his cheeks were swollen from the beatings, his speech was slurred.
Seeing him cry with snot dripping onto his lips, the regent king frowned in disgust. “What’s wrong?”
Liang Rong sobbed piteously. “His Majesty now hates this servant. Ever since this servant delivered that mask to His Majesty, he has been punishing this servant at every turn. Sometimes this servant hasn’t even made a mistake, but His Majesty still wants to punish him. Although this servant is the head eunuch, he’s worse off than the newly arrived young eunuchs. Now everyone dares to step on him. But it doesn’t matter if this servant suffers—at least he is still Your Highness’s man. Now even Your Highness’s face is being disregarded.”
Hearing this, the regent king found it somewhat amusing. “Then what do you want me to do?”
Liang Rong forced an ugly smile. “This servant dares not hope for much, only begs Your Highness to save this dog’s life.”
“You know it’s a dog’s life,” the regent king sneered. “I never keep useless dogs by my side. If you’re so useless, you might as well go reincarnate early.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Xu immediately drew the saber from his waist.
Seeing this, Liang Rong quickly shouted, “Your Highness, spare me! This servant is useful! Useful!” He watched Yang Xu approach him, and many things flashed through his mind in an instant. When Yang Xu reached him, he suddenly cried out, “Your Highness, all of this must be related to Shen Jue!”
Hearing Shen Jue’s name, the regent king hummed softly.
Yang Xu stared coldly at Liang Rong, making it clear that if his next words were useless, he would cut him down.
Threatened by death, Liang Rong became much sharper than usual. “On the day His Majesty was injured, Shen Jue was attending His Majesty. But when the imperial physician arrived, Shen Jue was gone. This servant thought it strange at the time and specifically sent someone to find out where Shen Jue was, only to discover he wasn’t in his quarters. Moreover, now His Majesty listens to Shen Jue’s words completely, often keeping Shen Jue by his side and not allowing anyone else in. This servant believes His Majesty must have been bewitched by Shen Jue.”
“Shen Jue?” the regent king murmured the two words. “He was there that day?”
He had never been able to remember who had struck him on the head, but it didn’t seem to be Murong Xiu. Afterwards, when Murong Xiu was injured, the regent king’s mind was entirely on him, so he had overlooked this matter.
It seemed that night was not so simple.
The regent king curled his lips into a cold smile.
…
As soon as Shen Jue returned to his quarters, he saw Dao Zhan and Yang Xu.
Dao Zhan had no smile on his face today either, staring at Shen Jue coldly. Shen Jue’s gaze paused briefly, then he smiled. “Why have the two gentlemen come?”
Dao Zhan took an exquisite dagger from his sleeve, the blade’s gleam flashing in Shen Jue’s eyes.
“We have come on the regent king’s orders to ask you a few questions, young eunuch. We hope you will be forthcoming and spare nothing.”
He spoke slowly, then licked the blade with the tip of his tongue.
Hearing this, Shen Jue’s smile grew even deeper. “Alright.”
He had never expected that his actions could be hidden from the regent king.
Having him tracked down was only a matter of time, but it had come a bit too late.
It seemed the regent king was truly blinded by worry.