Chapter 24#

Kill That Emperor (24)#

Snowflakes were blown into the room by the wind. The visitor walked quickly and immediately entered the inner chamber, rounding the six-panel screen.

Murong Xiu was wearing a black cloak, with a thin layer of snow already accumulated on his shoulders.

The Regent Prince immediately sat up straight, first showing surprise at Murong Xiu’s appearance, then concealing it. With a cold face, he called out loudly, “What are you people doing? Can just anyone come in?”

The sound of someone kneeling came from outside the door.

“Forgive us, Your Highness. Your servants are useless and couldn’t stop His Majesty.”

The Regent Prince gave a light snort. “Then go receive your punishment. Go to the punishment hall now, thirty lashes each.”

No one outside dared to disobey and immediately went to receive their punishment.

Only after the Regent Prince had dealt with the people outside did he look back at Murong Xiu and say calmly, “Why have you come?”

Murong Xiu had been watching Shen Jue on the bed the whole time, and he naturally saw the long whip scar on his face, from the brow bone to the jaw. Murong Xiu clenched his teeth and turned to glare at the Regent Prince. “It seems if I had come any later, I would have been collecting his corpse.”

Hearing this, the Regent Prince raised his hand to wipe the blood flowing from his ear and said nonchalantly, “That’s right. If Your Majesty had come a little later, you wouldn’t have seen this dog slave’s final moments. Your Majesty’s timing is quite fortunate.”

“Ni Xinyan, what do you mean?” Murong Xiu looked at the Regent Prince with shock and uncertainty. “What else do you plan to do?”

The Regent Prince curled his lips at Murong Xiu. “I want to kill him, right in front of you.” Seeing Murong Xiu’s pupils contract, he felt both anger and fury, his hatred for Shen Jue deepening. “But I’ve changed my mind now. I want Your Majesty to kill him with your own hands. Otherwise, this realm should change masters.”

“Are you threatening me?” Murong Xiu said angrily.

The Regent Prince’s smile widened. “That’s right, I’m threatening you. The throne or his life—choose yourself. I was able to put you on that throne in the first place, so naturally I can make you roll off it.”

With that, the Regent Prince took a dagger from his sleeve and threw it to the ground. In a commanding tone, he said to Murong Xiu, “Pick it up. Kill him.”

Murong Xiu looked down at the dagger on the ground. He clenched his fists, his teeth slightly chattering. “Ni Xinyan, do you really have to do this?”

“Of course. I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of this dirty hedgehog staying by your side. I’ve had enough of your special treatment of him. Murong Xiu, do you even understand what my purpose was in elevating you to the throne? Do you really think you can be a wise ruler? That a mere Shi Jian’an can trip me up?” The Regent Prince laughed heartily. “This whole realm is mine. With a single command from me, your entire Murong clan can disappear from this world.”

The Regent Prince stood up and walked in front of Murong Xiu, his eyes full of deep sarcasm. “Stop pretending to be a chaste widow while playing the whore. Before I killed your second imperial brother, wasn’t it you who seduced me first? What? Trying to shake me off now? It’s not that simple.”

He had rarely spoken harsh words to Murong Xiu before, but these words now pierced his heart like daggers. Murong Xiu’s face turned pale, and his body trembled slightly.

“I did not,” Murong Xiu said through gritted teeth.

The Regent Prince gave another mocking smile. “Really not? You accepted my favors, yet you want to sever ties with me, and even seek my death. There’s no such good thing in this world. Murong Xiu, I’m telling you clearly today: kill him, and I guarantee you can sit on that throne until you’re old. Otherwise, just wait for my iron cavalry to trample your palace gates.”

“Now pick up the sword.” The Regent Prince’s voice was stern.

Murong Xiu pressed his lips into a straight line. Under another urging, he slowly bent down and picked up the dagger. He held the dagger gently in his hand, his gaze gradually deepening. Seeing Murong Xiu’s hand still trembling slightly as he held the dagger, the Regent Prince snorted and sneered again, “Truly useless.”

Murong Xiu stood up with the dagger. He suddenly smiled at the Regent Prince. “Yes, I am useless. But I won’t be manipulated by you forever. At least not now.” He pulled off the sheath and thrust the dagger fiercely at the Regent Prince. But the Regent Prince was already prepared and directly knocked Murong Xiu away with a palm strike.

Shen Jue on the bed saw this and urgently cried out, “Your Majesty!”

Murong Xiu crashed into the six-panel screen, coughed up blood, and slowly slid down.

The Regent Prince smiled contemptuously, stepped forward, and bent down to grab Murong Xiu by the collar. “Worthless. Can’t even kill a man.”

Murong Xiu’s mouth was full of blood. He forced a smile at the Regent Prince, his white teeth stained red. “Kill me, then. I won’t kill him. At worst, I’ll die with him.”

The Regent Prince’s expression turned extremely ugly. He tightened his grip on Murong Xiu’s collar and said angrily, “Murong Xiu, what kind of lovesick fool are you playing? You’re willing to die with that dirty hedgehog? Did you ask him? Do you know why he came to my mansion tonight?” He laughed harshly. “He came for that eunuch. As soon as he saw that eunuch’s personal belonging, he came running eagerly. Do you think you’re any different from me? No difference. You don’t like me, and he doesn’t like you either. Neither of us is destined to have our love requited.”

The two who should have loved each other were now hurling harsh words at one another. The Regent Prince’s words, in particular, were like knives stabbing into Murong Xiu’s heart, yet those knives were forged from his own blood and tears.

Hearing this, Murong Xiu instinctively wanted to look at Shen Jue, but the Regent Prince blocked his view. After struggling and realizing it was futile, he gave up and said in a low voice, “I don’t care! I don’t care!” He repeated the same words twice, as if hypnotizing himself or trying to defend himself.

Seeing Murong Xiu like this, the Regent Prince suddenly felt a wave of powerlessness. He shook his head and released Murong Xiu. “I really overestimated you. So you’re just as pitiful.”

He decided to kill Shen Jue himself.

That man alive was truly a scourge. Even he had almost been unable to bring himself to do it just now.

The Regent Prince turned around, preparing to kill Shen Jue, but as soon as he turned, his heart ached, and his whole body went weak, causing him to collapse to the ground. Seeing this, Murong Xiu quickly crawled up and picked up the dagger from the floor again. Shen Jue had long ago told Murong Xiu the recipe for that colorless, odorless poison and its antidote. Before coming, Murong Xiu had deliberately taken the antidote first and then sprinkled the poison on his clothes.

Murong Xiu slowly walked over to the Regent Prince. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression icy as he looked down at the man on the ground. “Who would have thought that the mighty Regent Prince could be defeated by a mere poison?”

The Regent Prince’s eyes nearly split with rage, looking at Murong Xiu with both surprise and fury. “You dare?” He turned his head and shouted outward, “Guards! Guards!”

But the people who had been guarding outside had already gone to the punishment hall to receive their lashes, so no one could hear his cries.

Seeing no one come in, the Regent Prince could only look back at Murong Xiu. He felt his limbs growing stiffer and the pain in his chest intensifying, so he said to Murong Xiu, “If you kill me, my troops will not let you off. Murong Xiu, give me the antidote. I won’t kill Shen Jue anymore. Do you hear me? I won’t kill Shen Jue.” By the end, he was almost shouting.

Murong Xiu crouched down. He raised the dagger high, his beautiful lips moving slightly as he uttered two words, “Too late.”

The dagger plunged down.

The color of blood stained Murong Xiu’s eyes.

He pulled it out and stabbed it into the man’s chest again.

After a long while, Murong Xiu threw the dagger aside. He lowered his head and laughed, but as he laughed, his eyes reddened, his face filled with the relief of liberation.

He had finally broken free from the Regent Prince—that man who had been threatening him at every turn.

The Regent Prince was his nightmare, and now he had personally killed that nightmare.

Shen Jue, lying on the bed, watched this scene quietly, his face showing neither surprise nor joy.

…

The Regent Prince was dead.

Murong Xiu slumped to the ground. He panted a few times before gathering his strength and standing up. He quickly stripped off his outer robe and rushed to the bedside. He forced a smile at Shen Jue on the bed. “Don’t be afraid. He’s dead.”

Before Shen Jue could speak, Murong Xiu had already started to untie the ropes binding Shen Jue’s hands and feet. Shen Jue didn’t know how long he had been tied up, but there were already bruises and marks on his wrists and ankles from the ropes. After untying him, Murong Xiu couldn’t help but look at Shen Jue’s injured face and the wound three inches below his abdomen. The injuries there were truly gruesome. Murong Xiu didn’t even know if he should help Shen Jue up.

“Your Majesty, this servant is fine.” Shen Jue smiled at Murong Xiu. He glanced at the Regent Prince, who had died tragically beside the bed, and a look of concern flashed in his eyes. “Your Majesty should leave quickly. The Regent Prince’s men will probably be back soon. They cannot find out that Your Majesty killed him.”

After speaking, he struggled to get up. With weak hands and feet, he climbed off the bed and grasped the murder weapon that Murong Xiu had used to kill the Regent Prince. It still had the Regent Prince’s blood on it. Holding the dagger, Shen Jue couldn’t help but touch the blood on its tip with his fingers—warm, sticky.

Seeing Shen Jue holding the dagger, Murong Xiu immediately walked over and said sternly, “No. You can’t stay here either. You have to leave with me.”

Shen Jue looked up at Murong Xiu and smiled. Even though his face looked terrifying and hideous due to the wounds, his eyes were exceptionally clear and gentle, like the spring breeze in March, carrying the faint scent of flowers, calming one’s heart and making everything seem like it wasn’t such a big deal.

“Your Majesty, this servant is willing to die for Your Majesty,” Shen Jue said softly. “Anyway, this broken body of mine won’t last much longer. It’s just a pity that I can’t see Your Majesty’s grand wedding.”

Murong Xiu crouched down, reached out, and grasped Shen Jue’s shoulders. “I won’t have a grand wedding. I only want you, Shen Jue. Do you hear me? I want you to live. Imperial Physician Xu will heal your wounds. Really, things aren’t that bad yet.” He paused. “There are Shi Jian’an’s men outside. Come with me now. We’ll take the carriage back to the palace.”

Shen Jue looked at Murong Xiu’s hand on his shoulder, pursed his lips, and smiled shyly. “Your Majesty being able to coax this servant like this truly makes me very happy. But Your Majesty should leave quickly. With me here, I can buy Your Majesty some time. However, Your Majesty…” He looked up at Murong Xiu’s scar-covered face, slowly raising his free hand. “This servant has always wanted to tell Your Majesty something, but I was afraid you’d be angry. But now I’m not afraid anymore, because Your Majesty has been good to me. Actually, the person this servant likes is only Your Majesty.”

“The person this servant likes is only Your Majesty.”

Murong Xiu’s long eyelashes trembled. He looked at the shyly smiling Shen Jue and felt only sorrow. He blinked rapidly to hold back the tears in his eyes, then grabbed Shen Jue’s hand in return. “Actually, I like you too, Shen Jue.”

He no longer used the imperial “I.”

Shen Jue’s smile deepened, his eyes nearly forming crescents. “Wonderful. I never thought I’d be coaxed like this by Your Majesty before I die. In that case, even death would be sweet. As long as Your Majesty remembers me, I ask for nothing more. I only hope that in your leisure moments, you might think of me.”

Murong Xiu quickly shook his head. “No. I’m not coaxing you, Shen Jue. Everything I said is true. Neither of us is going to die. Get up with me. Let’s go out first.”

With that, he tried to pull Shen Jue up.

Shen Jue stood up with Murong Xiu’s help and was assisted out. Outside, it was indeed snowing heavily. In just a few hours, a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground. Murong Xiu supported Shen Jue as they walked out unsteadily, leaving footprints one after another on the pristine snow. Shen Jue looked up slightly at the sky. Snowflakes the size of goose feathers were still falling, as if trying to wash away all the filth of the world.

“Your Majesty,” Shen Jue called softly. “It’s already the new year, isn’t it?”

Murong Xiu nodded. “Mm.”

Shen Jue turned his head slightly to look at Murong Xiu, his gaze focused. Murong Xiu hadn’t paid it much attention at first, but when Shen Jue stared at him for too long, he couldn’t help but look back. When he saw the overly earnest look in Shen Jue’s eyes, he was startled. “What’s wrong?”

Shen Jue blinked tiredly. “I’m tired. So let’s end it here.” Before Murong Xiu could react, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen. His body jerked, and he looked down in disbelief at the dagger that had plunged into his abdomen.

This dagger had just killed the Regent Prince, and now it was stabbing into his own body.

Murong Xiu slowly raised his head to look at Shen Jue. His eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—shock, anger, confusion, and a trace of sorrow.

“Shen Jue… why…?” He found it hard to speak for the first time, stumbling over his words. How could someone who had just professed love for him turn around and drive a dagger into his body?

Shen Jue let go of his hand, his voice devoid of joy or sorrow. “No reason.”

Murong Xiu, who had been supporting Shen Jue, now tightly gripped the other’s hand. He stared stubbornly at Shen Jue and asked, “Why? Why, really? Tell me.” He looked back at the house they had come from. “Are you afraid the Regent Prince’s men will kill you? So you want to kill me to save your own life?”

“No,” Shen Jue said, seemingly indifferent to the pain, even though Murong Xiu was nearly crushing his wrist. He said calmly, “My killing you has nothing to do with him.”

“Then who is it for?” Murong Xiu cried out fiercely. Suddenly, a name came to mind. “Could it be for Feng Qingbao? Were all those words you just said just to deceive me? Shen Jue!”

His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had become a complete madman. He held Shen Jue tightly, desperately wanting an answer.

Snowflakes swirled down, landing on the hair and shoulders of Shen Jue and Murong Xiu. Blood dripped from the wound on Murong Xiu’s abdomen, falling onto the snow like glaring red plum blossoms. The blossoms multiplied, and Murong Xiu’s face grew paler and paler. He could barely hold onto Shen Jue, collapsing weakly to his knees. Even as he knelt on the ground, he kept muttering, “Why? Why?”

Looking at Murong Xiu like this, Shen Jue gave him a pitying glance, then raised his head to gaze at the dark sky. Snowflakes fell softly, landing on his face. Shen Jue smiled lightly as he watched the scene around him gradually dissolve.

The master of the realm had died, so naturally, this realm ceased to exist.

Shen Jue raised his hand to catch the snow, watching his fingers gradually turn transparent and then disappear.

He slowly closed his eyes, savoring this moment of peace. In the vast heaven and earth, it seemed he was the only one. In that instant, he could breathe, no longer needing to pretend to be anyone. He was just himself.

Just before losing consciousness, Shen Jue couldn’t help but wonder: After leaving this realm, what would the next one be? When would he regain his memories? But this thought only lasted a moment before he completely lost consciousness.

…

Shen Jue felt countless streams of water rushing into his mouth and nose. The sensation of impending death made him struggle incessantly, but it seemed as though someone was pressing down on his head from above, keeping him from moving.

His lungs felt like they were about to burst. His entire body was in agony. His hands, which had been flailing wildly at first, became limp and helpless in the water. Just as Shen Jue thought he would die like this, the hand pressing on his head suddenly let go. Shen Jue burst out of the water, but when he saw the person in front of him, he froze.

The person before him was actually a young Murong Xiu.

A teenage Murong Xiu was far more androgynous than his adult self, more like a beautiful young woman. His beautiful phoenix eyes were staring coldly at Shen Jue, the depths filled with intense murderous intent.

Seeing Murong Xiu, Shen Jue was stunned.

How could this be?

Hadn’t he already escaped Murong Xiu’s realm? Why was he back?