Chapter 14#
Kill That Emperor (14)#
The people who entered upon hearing the order were all stunned and didn’t know what to do.
The leader hesitated and called out, “Your Highness?”
The Regent was already in a foul mood, and hearing this voice, he exploded, “Get out!”
Those people immediately obeyed and retreated.
“Murong Xiu, you protect him today, but you will regret it in the future.”
The Regent dropped these words and turned to leave.
As soon as he left, Murong Xiu put down the dagger and quickly turned to check on Shen Jue behind him.
“Shen Jue, how are you?”
Shen Jue gave him a weak smile. “Your Majesty, how could you use such a dangerous thing as a dagger? Please don’t threaten the Regent with that again.”
Seeing Shen Jue’s collar stained with blood yet still worrying about him, Murong Xiu frowned. “You’re still worried about me? Better worry about yourself first.”
Murong Xiu immediately summoned Imperial Physician Xu to examine Shen Jue. After the examination, Murong Xiu asked eagerly, “How is he?”
Imperial Physician Xu lowered his head, pondered for a moment, then said, “Lord Shen’s injuries have affected his heart and lungs. I will prescribe medicine shortly and have an apprentice prepare it daily for him.” He paused, then added, “However, if Lord Shen continues to sustain injuries like this, I’m afraid he will live no more than three to five years.”
Murong Xiu’s pupils contracted. “You’re saying he can only live three to five more years?”
Imperial Physician Xu said, “If he doesn’t get injured and takes his medicine on time, there shouldn’t be much problem in prolonging his life. But Lord Shen’s body has never fully recovered. He keeps getting injured repeatedly—old wounds unhealed, new ones added. Over time, it will certainly be unsustainable.”
Hearing this, Murong Xiu turned and silently looked at Shen Jue lying on the couch.
Shen Jue had fainted from pain before Imperial Physician Xu arrived and still hadn’t woken up.
All of Shen Jue’s injuries were because of him.
Shen Jue always claimed to be afraid of death, yet every time, he stood in front of Murong Xiu and blocked the Regent. Even as children, when Murong Xiu did something wrong, Shen Jue, as his servant, took the punishment for him. Shen Jue never once complained of pain in front of him.
Only now did Murong Xiu realize that Shen Jue had suffered so many injuries for him—so many that he might not live much longer.
Thinking back, the person who had accompanied him the longest in his life was Shen Jue. Shen Jue had been by his side since he was a few years old, stumbling and unsteady on his feet, chasing after him shouting “Your Highness.” Murong Xiu was a few years older, and although they grew up together, he had always treated Shen Jue as nothing more than a servant, never being particularly kind to him.
Yet Shen Jue had nearly given his life for him.
Murong Xiu knew all too well that even though he was now the Emperor, if there were a different emperor, the people serving him now would just as easily serve the next one. Those who had been so respectful to his father were now scrambling to flatter the Regent, weren’t they?
People were all selfish, living for themselves.
Only Shen Jue was different.
“Do your best to treat him. I won’t let him get hurt again.” Murong Xiu spoke each word deliberately, as if making a promise.
Hearing this, Imperial Physician Xu secretly frowned. He was actually more worried about Murong Xiu, but he couldn’t say it. Never mind. As long as it was what Murong Xiu wanted, he would do his best.
…
Shen Jue’s living quarters had been burned down. Liang Rong despised Shen Jue and refused to arrange another place for him. However, this didn’t affect Shen Jue much, because Murong Xiu directly let Shen Jue stay in his own bedchamber. After Murong Xiu bathed, Shen Jue could even use Murong Xiu’s bath. Such favoritism was unprecedented.
At night, Shen Jue slept on the footstool. Now he didn’t have to wait for Murong Xiu to fall asleep before lying down.
Because Murong Xiu had said he needed to rest and heal and couldn’t stay up late.
The pain made it hard for Shen Jue to sleep. He could only lie there with his eyes open, staring at the quietly burning candle.
The flame flickered, now thin, now thick, occasionally tilting sideways.
Murong Xiu couldn’t sleep either. After lying in bed for a while, he sat up and swept aside the bright yellow bed curtain. “Shen Jue, come sleep up here.”
Shen Jue was stunned and turned his head to look at Murong Xiu. “Your Majesty?”
In the dark, the scar on Murong Xiu’s face didn’t seem as prominent, faintly revealing his originally delicate and beautiful features. His captivating eyes fixed firmly on Shen Jue. “Your wound hurts. Sleeping there is uncomfortable. My bed is big enough for two people.”
Shen Jue shook his head. “Your servant is lowly. How could I sleep on Your Majesty’s dragon couch?”
Murong Xiu frowned upon hearing this. He patted the empty space beside him. “I told you to sleep up here, so sleep up here. I have to get up early tomorrow. Do you want to argue about this with me until dawn?”
Shen Jue still said, “Your Majesty, this—”
“Get up here!” Murong Xiu cut him off directly, ignoring the discomfort on Shen Jue’s face, and urged again, “Hurry up.”
Seeing this, Shen Jue had no choice but to climb onto Murong Xiu’s bed. He only sat at the edge, his face full of unease and hesitation. Murong Xiu moved inward, signaling Shen Jue to come further inside. Shen Jue bit his lip and whispered, “Your Majesty, this servant is fine sleeping here.”
“Sleep there and fall off in the middle of the night, then wake me up again?” Murong Xiu said coldly. “Either move further inside, or we’ll switch places—I’ll sleep on the outside.”
Hearing this, Shen Jue could only shift inward a little. However, there was only one quilt on the bed, which Murong Xiu was currently using. Shen Jue had his own quilt, but it was usually placed on the footstool. Bringing it up would probably dirty Murong Xiu’s bed.
While Shen Jue was hesitating, Murong Xiu took the initiative to share half of the quilt with him.
It was already late autumn, and the warm blanket instantly covered Shen Jue’s body, making him feel dazed.
“Don’t just stand there like a fool. Do you want to get sick without a blanket?” Murong Xiu’s voice sounded beside Shen Jue’s ear. “You’re a grown man—can’t you take care of yourself?”
Shen Jue secretly touched the soft quilt with his hand, his dazed expression gradually fading. He said in a low voice, “Why is Your Majesty so good to your servant?”
After sharing the quilt, Murong Xiu lay down himself. This was the first time he had shared a bed with someone.
Truth be told, he didn’t quite understand why he had suddenly asked Shen Jue to sleep up here tonight. Maybe it was because he kept hearing Shen Jue toss and turn, knowing the other was kept awake by pain. Maybe it was because he was too lonely, sleeping alone night after night, and wanted someone to share the burden.
Whatever the reason, after Shen Jue came up, he felt the warmth of another person in the blanket, and it didn’t bother him.
Shen Jue had no unpleasant smell on him, only a faint scent of soap.
No matter how warmly his quilt was heated, Murong Xiu would still feel cold in the middle of the night.
But having someone else sleep with him seemed to change things.
Murong Xiu bit his lip, feeling that he was acting strangely, but he couldn’t quite explain the feeling, so his tone turned harsh. “Don’t overthink it. I only let you sleep up here because you’re injured. Once you’re healed, you can go back to the floor.”
Shen Jue let out a soft laugh. “Your servant won’t overthink it.”
Murong Xiu glanced at him. “Good. Go to sleep.”
That night wasn’t as pleasant as Murong Xiu had imagined. Not long after he fell asleep, he woke up because Shen Jue was pressed too close.
When Shen Jue slept on the footstool, he was perfectly still, not moving an inch. But once on Murong Xiu’s bed—whether because the bed was too big or the blanket too comfortable—Shen Jue tossed and turned all night, never settling down.
One moment he was hugging Murong Xiu’s waist, the next pressing against his back—in short, all clingy and sticky.
Murong Xiu was incredibly annoyed and wanted to shove him awake, but seeing Shen Jue’s peacefully sleeping face, he hesitated.
Shen Jue was injured and had finally fallen into a deep sleep. If he woke him up, Shen Jue would probably have trouble falling asleep again, right?
And so, caught between hesitation and irritation, Murong Xiu made it to the time for the morning court.
Just before the morning court was to begin, Shen Jue suddenly woke up. He quickly withdrew his arm, which had been draped around Murong Xiu’s waist, and quietly got out of bed. Murong Xiu, who had barely slept all night, was resting with his eyes closed. Hearing Shen Jue’s movements, he couldn’t help but open one eye. Seeing the other sneak out of bed without any regard for having his arm around Murong Xiu’s waist, he let out a cold snort.
Shen Jue was standing by the bed, putting on his clothes, and froze at the sound.
But he only froze for a moment before continuing to dress.
Seeing that Shen Jue ignored him, Murong Xiu grew even angrier. Thinking about how his terrible night’s sleep was all because of Shen Jue, yet Shen Jue showed no acknowledgment, he sat up directly and said indignantly, “Shen Jue, you have quite the nerve.”
Shen Jue had no choice but to stop halfway through dressing and kneel down.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
Murong Xiu raised an eyebrow at him. “Forgive you? Do you know what crime you’ve committed?”
Shen Jue opened his mouth, then closed it again. After a moment, he slowly shook his head.
Murong Xiu moved to sit on the edge of the bed, bent down slightly, and pinched Shen Jue’s cheek. “You used me as a pillow all night and made me lose a whole night’s sleep. If I fall asleep during the morning court today, I’ll make sure to punish you when I return. Get up and dress me.”
He applied a bit of force, and Shen Jue winced in pain but didn’t dare to cover his face.
Seeing that he had pinched Shen Jue’s cheek red, Murong Xiu felt considerably relieved.
However, this good mood didn’t last long. The big headache at today’s morning court was the imperial examination scheduled for half a month later. The original chief examiner was supposed to be Deputy Minister of Rites, Xu, but last night, Minister Xu had fallen and cracked his head on the doorstep of his own mansion. He was carried into court this morning and was utterly incapable of serving as chief examiner in half a month.
Thus, a replacement was needed.
Minister Xu, lying on a wooden board, groaned, “Your Majesty, I believe that having the Regent take on this role would be the best choice. His Highness is gifted in literature and was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination. With His Highness presiding over the examinations, we will surely select a great number of talented individuals for our country.”
Murong Xiu certainly didn’t want the Regent to be the chief examiner, so he said coldly, “The Regent is busy with many affairs. How could he have the time to oversee the imperial examinations? In my opinion, we should choose someone else. Does any minister have another candidate?”
The Regent lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced back at the officials standing behind him. Seeing this, they all lowered their heads.
Murong Xiu noticed this scene and his expression turned considerably worse. His gaze swept over the officials and suddenly stopped on a thin, weak-looking man.
That man was the one Shen Jue had mentioned.
Murong Xiu hesitated for a moment, then finally called out his name.
“Shi Jian’an, what is your opinion?”