Chapter 28#

Kill That Emperor (28)#

Ni Xinyan immediately smiled. “It tastes good. Do you want a drink?”

Shen Jue lowered his eyes slightly, showing a look of disappointment. “But in the palace, servants are generally not allowed to drink unless it’s a gift from their master.”

“What’s so hard about that? I’ll secretly bring the wine into the palace, and then we’ll drink it secretly. If we don’t tell anyone, no one will know.” Ni Xinyan said.

Shen Jue thought for a moment and then nodded lightly.

Seeing this, Ni Xinyan asked again, “Do you have time tomorrow?” He looked around. There was a pavilion in the north corner of the flower garden. If they hid there to drink, it would be pretty good. This place had few people, and the scenery was nice.

Recently, Murong Xiu had been quite busy. Every afternoon, he had to go to Consort Jing’s palace to tutor the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Prince was mentally impaired and couldn’t attend the Imperial Academy normally, so Murong Xiu had taken over his daily lessons. As for why Murong Xiu was the tutor, it was because Consort Jing didn’t want others to see the Eighth Prince in his foolish state.

Consort Jing cared about face and refused to admit defeat in front of outsiders.

“Tomorrow at the Hour of the Shen, I should be free,” Shen Jue said quietly, as if afraid of being overheard.

Ni Xinyan cooperatively lowered his head and lowered his voice as well. “Then I’ll wait for you here tomorrow at the Hour of the Shen.”

Shen Jue looked at the handsome face so close and smiled. “This servant knows.”

Ni Xinyan laughed heartily. “By the way, you haven’t told me your name or which palace you’re from.”

Shen Jue only gave his name and refused to say which palace. Ni Xinyan didn’t press him.

After they made their appointment, Shen Jue quickly gathered enough flowers and returned to Qizhang Hall, to avoid being away too long and arousing suspicion. When he got back, Murong Xiu was still at Consort Jing’s palace. He carried the basket, planning to find Lu Li, but on the way, he ran into Feng Qingbao.

Feng Qingbao’s eyes widened when he saw Shen Jue. He was holding Murong Xiu’s cloak.

When Shen Jue saw Feng Qingbao, his expression didn’t change. He moved aside slightly to let the other pass, but Feng Qingbao didn’t move. Instead, he stared at Shen Jue and said quietly, “Why does His Highness dislike you so much?”

Shen Jue thought for a moment, then retorted harshly, “None of your damn business!”

Feng Qingbao choked. He hadn’t expected Shen Jue to be so crude. He raised his fair, delicate finger and pointed at Shen Jue. “You… you…”

He stammered for a long time without finishing his sentence.

While Feng Qingbao was still thinking of a retort, the other simply ignored him and walked straight ahead.

Feng Qingbao: “…”

This guy was simply incorrigible. No wonder His Highness didn’t like him! Serves him right! He wasn’t about to sympathize with him.

But Feng Qingbao had been too well pampered by Murong Xiu in this life. When he arrived in front of Murong Xiu, he still had a sulky expression. Murong Xiu first glanced at him coldly, then asked, “What’s with that expression? Who bullied you?”

Feng Qingbao lowered his head. “No one bullied this servant.”

Murong Xiu frowned slightly but still forced patience. “If no one bullied you, why do you have that expression? Speak.”

Feng Qingbao hesitated for a moment, then honestly said, “This servant just ran into Shen Jue on the way back to Qizhang Hall. This servant greeted him, but he ignored me.”

Hearing this, Murong Xiu’s impatient expression faded somewhat. His phoenix eyes lifted slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a hint of a smile that even he himself hadn’t noticed. “Oh? He dared to treat you like that? I’ll have Lu Li punish him later.”

“No need!” Feng Qingbao quickly shook his head. “He might just be in a bad mood.”

Murong Xiu’s eyes turned cold again. “Why are you pleading for him? Don’t worry, I will get an explanation for you.”

Feng Qingbao wanted to say he didn’t want an explanation, but meeting Murong Xiu’s eyes, he immediately didn’t dare say anything more.

That night, Shen Jue was punished with five strokes on the palm, to be administered personally by Feng Qingbao.

Feng Qingbao had never hit anyone before. His hand trembled slightly as he held the paddle. He looked at Lu Li beside him in distress. “Head Steward Lu, this… this servant doesn’t dare.”

Lu Li looked at him. “His Highness’s order. Just do as you’re told.”

Compared to the frightened Feng Qingbao, Shen Jue was perfectly calm. He held his palm up, and seeing that Feng Qingbao still wouldn’t move, he couldn’t help glancing at him.

Feng Qingbao simply couldn’t bring himself to do it. The expression on his face made it look like he was the one being hit.

Shen Jue’s gaze shifted slightly, then he lowered his head and stopped paying attention.

In the end, Feng Qingbao did it, but the strokes were feather-light. Afraid that Feng Qingbao’s lightness would displease Murong Xiu, Lu Li took the paddle and gave Shen Jue two solid whacks on the palm, deeming the punishment complete.

Lu Li’s adult strength was nothing like Feng Qingbao’s. After just two strokes, Shen Jue’s palm was swollen. It hadn’t subsided by the next day, so Ni Xinyan saw it.

Ni Xinyan had arrived early at the pavilion in the flower garden. Today, he had specially brought fruit wine that even children could drink. Fruit wine was different from regular wine; it had the fragrance of wine without being as harsh. It tasted sweet, and many noble ladies liked it.

This small bottle of fruit wine was top-grade; just this one bottle cost a gold piece.

When he saw Shen Jue, his eyes lit up. He hurriedly opened the bottle. “This wine is really good. Try it.”

Shen Jue didn’t dare to sit, so he stood. Ni Xinyan noticed and, after pouring the wine, reached out to pull Shen Jue’s hand, intending to make him sit down. As soon as he pulled, Shen Jue sucked in a sharp breath, and Ni Xinyan realized the texture in his hand was different.

He looked at the hand he was holding and suddenly turned the palm over, seeing the red, swollen skin.

Ni Xinyan’s gaze paused. His thick brows knitted tightly. “What happened to you?”

Shen Jue tried to pull his hand back but didn’t succeed. He pursed his lips and refused to speak.

Ni Xinyan looked at Shen Jue’s expression and suddenly said, “Did your master do this?”

Shen Jue’s head hung even lower, still silent.

Ni Xinyan was angry. “Then why did he hit you? There must be a reason for hitting someone.”

“His Highness said… said I was rude to his personal eunuch, so he punished me with palm strikes.” Shen Jue looked up, curved his eyes at Ni Xinyan, and smiled. “It doesn’t really hurt. This servant is used to it.”

Ni Xinyan was momentarily stunned. When he was a child and his father beat him, he had never said he was used to it. His interest in Shen Jue had been piqued because the boy didn’t act like a child. Now it seemed that Shen Jue’s vicious master had forced him to mature early.

While Ni Xinyan’s expression was uncertain, Shen Jue suddenly sniffed and gave a sweet smile. “Your Highness the Heir, this wine smells so sweet.”

“Alright, let’s drink first. Try this fine fruit wine. It smells sweet and tastes even sweeter.” Ni Xinyan poured a cup for Shen Jue.

The fruit wine was just as Ni Xinyan had said—sweet, not astringent like tea, and truly had a unique flavor. Shen Jue had never drunk this kind of fruit wine in the heavens, so he indulged himself, drinking several cups more than he should have. Ni Xinyan, absorbed in his own drinking, didn’t keep an eye on Shen Jue. By the time he noticed, the bottle was empty, and no more could be poured.

“You…” Ni Xinyan looked at Shen Jue in front of him. “How many cups did you drink?”

Shen Jue counted on his fingers and held up six.

Ni Xinyan hissed softly. “Damn. When you go back, remember to avoid people, so they don’t smell the alcohol on you.” He looked up at the sky, saw it was getting late, and said, “I still need to go to the martial arts training ground. I’ll leave first.”

After Ni Xinyan left, Shen Jue sat in the pavilion with his chin propped in his hand, staring blankly. This amount of wine wasn’t enough to make him drunk, but he needed to appear drunk. So he simply lay down on the pavilion and dozed off. When he woke again, the sun had set, and it was already dark.

Shen Jue looked at the sky, stood up unhurriedly, didn’t bother straightening his robes, and walked slowly back to Qizhang Hall. When he was almost there, he deliberately quickened his pace, making it look like he was in a hurry. He entered Qizhang Hall without seeing a single person. He suppressed his surprise and slipped into his room. As soon as he entered, he smelled the familiar incense.

It was the wintersweet fragrance that Murong Xiu loved most. Murong Xiu had liked it since his days as a prince, and after becoming emperor, he still had his attendants scent his clothes with wintersweet.

The room was pitch black. Although Shen Jue smelled the fragrance and knew someone was inside, he had to pretend he didn’t know. He fumbled to light the lamp. As soon as the lamp was lit, he saw a person sitting by his bed—

It was Murong Xiu.

Murong Xiu’s face was dark as he stared at Shen Jue.

Meeting Murong Xiu’s eyes, Shen Jue immediately knelt. “This servant… greets… greets Your Highness.”

The room was silent, as if only Shen Jue’s breathing could be heard.

Murong Xiu sat upright by the bed, as exquisitely still as a lifeless puppet. He didn’t speak, and Shen Jue didn’t dare to either. He simply hung his head and knelt obediently on the ground.

No one knew how long passed. Shen Jue’s legs had gone numb when he finally heard Murong Xiu say softly, “Where have you been coming back from? Such a strong smell of alcohol.”

Murong Xiu had always had a keen nose. Shen Jue hadn’t thought to hide it from him. In fact, Shen Jue was determined to provoke Murong Xiu’s anger, so he just trembled and said nothing. As expected, Murong Xiu was furious. His gaze turned even colder, and his voice carried a hint of gnashing teeth. “Fine servant. When your master asks you a question, you dare not answer. I suppose you’ve already forgotten who your master is.” He exhaled heavily, as if at the peak of his anger. “Take off your clothes.”

When he saw that Shen Jue didn’t move, he grew even angrier. “Take them off now! If you don’t, I’ll have someone peel off your skin right here, so I don’t have to look at you and get angry.” The last few words were almost a roar, and the attendants hiding outside trembled in fear.

Shen Jue lowered his head and slowly raised his hand to untie his belt. When he had stripped off his upper garments, Murong Xiu suddenly got off the bed, and in his hand was a whip. He picked up the whip and walked behind Shen Jue, then lashed it across the boy’s bare back.

Murong Xiu gritted his teeth, applying immense force. With each strike, he heard Shen Jue’s words from his previous life echoing in his ears—

“I’m tired, so let’s end it here.”

Why could Shen Jue forget it all so cleanly while he himself couldn’t let go?

He was nothing more than a disloyal servant; he should have killed him long ago. But why couldn’t he bring himself to do it?

And why did Shen Jue still get together with Ni Xinyan? Did Shen Jue really think he was a fool and didn’t know anything?

Murong Xiu’s eyes gradually changed. Looking at the back covered in red welts before him, he thought: Could it be that in his previous life, Shen Jue killed him because of Ni Xinyan?

Was it possible that Shen Jue’s true love was Ni Xinyan?

At this thought, Murong Xiu suddenly stopped. He threw the whip aside and covered his ears.

Impossible. How could Shen Jue love Ni Xinyan? Ni Xinyan had been so cruel to Shen Jue!

But if Shen Jue truly loved Ni Xinyan, then everything made sense.

Shen Jue had disfigured his face not for his own good, but to make Ni Xinyan loathe him.

Shen Jue’s desperate protection of his master was actually out of jealousy.

Shen Jue’s killing of him was to—

Avenge Ni Xinyan!

At this realization, Murong Xiu’s breathing grew heavy. He gritted his teeth and shook his head violently.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

His gaze shifted slightly. When he saw Shen Jue kneeling on the ground, he abruptly stepped forward and embraced him, whispering, “You couldn’t possibly like Ni Xinyan, right? I’m wrong, aren’t I?”

He longed for an answer from the other, but Shen Jue’s body went limp and collapsed in his arms.

Murong Xiu froze for a moment. Looking at Shen Jue limp in his arms, his eyes gradually deepened. Finally, he let out a low laugh.

How stupid he was. In this life, Shen Jue had no memories; he was still just a child. How could a child understand love? Even if in the previous life Shen Jue truly loved Ni Xinyan, so what? He would just kill Ni Xinyan again.

This time, he would completely destroy Ni Xinyan. And Shen Jue would never be with Ni Xinyan.

He wouldn’t let Shen Jue have his wish. Even if Shen Jue died, he would belong to him.

…

After returning to his mansion that day, Ni Xinyan once again thought of Shen Jue. He gazed at the bright moon in the sky and worried about the little eunuch in the palace. In the following days, he didn’t see Shen Jue again, so he asked a eunuch to privately inquire about a young eunuch named Shen Jue.

Coincidentally, that eunuch was well-acquainted with Liu Anshun of the Imperial Kitchen. When Liu Anshun heard that the Prince of Ning’s heir was asking about Shen Jue, his eyes lit up. He carefully asked why the heir was inquiring. The eunuch speculated, “It shouldn’t be anything bad. The Prince of Ning’s heir is easy to get along with. I’m afraid Shen Jue has met with great fortune and caught the heir’s eye.”

Liu Anshun was even happier. He had always felt that Shen Jue had a hard life in Qizhang Hall. Just a few days ago, he had discovered that Shen Jue had been whipped again and was still bedridden. Shen Jue was only ten years old now, yet the Sixth Prince, Murong Xiu, could be so cruel. If Shen Jue continued to stay in Qizhang Hall, he might not even keep his life.

“Go tell the Prince of Ning’s heir that Shen Jue is the Sixth Prince’s eunuch. He made some mistake a few days ago, got whipped, and is still lying in bed.” Liu Anshun said to the eunuch.

The eunuch passed the exact words to Ni Xinyan.

Upon hearing that Shen Jue had been beaten, Ni Xinyan was silent for a moment, then decided to go see that violent Sixth Prince himself. But to his surprise, he was directly refused entry. The Sixth Prince simply refused to see him, let alone let him inside the hall.

Ni Xinyan had never encountered such an ill-mannered person. He returned with a belly full of anger. A few days later, the Prince of Ning received orders to lead troops on an expedition, and Ni Xinyan went as a deputy general to the frontier. When the Emperor asked in court if the Prince of Ning and Ni Xinyan needed anything, Ni Xinyan thought for a moment and then stepped forward from the ranks.

“Your Majesty, I wish to ask for a person.” Ni Xinyan said loudly.

The Prince of Ning immediately glared at his son.

The Emperor, however, was pleased. Compared to loyal officials who asked for nothing, he preferred ministers who had something they wanted. “Interesting. Ni Xinyan, what person do you want? Could it be that you’ve taken a fancy to some noble’s daughter?”

Ni Xinyan said, “No. I ask for a young eunuch named Shen Jue, who serves the Sixth Prince. I have met him several times and found that this child has talent in martial arts. I would like to take him with me to the battlefield!”

The Emperor was taken aback. He had always known that these rough military men didn’t understand etiquette. In his years on the throne, he had seen people ask for beautiful women, gold, silver, and jewels, but he had never seen anyone ask for a eunuch.

This Prince of Ning’s heir was truly peculiar.

Upon hearing Ni Xinyan’s words, the Prince of Ning was also startled. He quickly stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, my son is insolent. Please don’t take his words seriously.”

Ni Xinyan stood straight. “I am not joking. I sincerely wish to ask Your Majesty for a person.”

Seeing that the Prince of Ning was about to beat his son right there in the court, the Emperor quickly spoke up. “It’s just a eunuch. Since you want him, I’ll grant him to you. Who knows, maybe in the future our dynasty will produce another great general? Haha.”

Murong Xiu was completely unaware of what happened in the court, as he was attending the Imperial Academy at the time. By the time his class ended, it was already a done deal. Shen Jue had already left the palace with Ni Xinyan and that very afternoon set off for the frontier.

That day, Murong Xiu smashed everything inside the hall.

Shen Jue was also a bit dazed as he set out with the army. He hadn’t expected Ni Xinyan to take him to the frontier to fight. He looked at the shrinking imperial city, a mix of emotions in his heart. Ni Xinyan, sitting beside him, saw him looking back with a bewildered expression and smiled, saying, “Don’t worry. That vicious master of yours won’t be able to catch up. You’re free now. From now on, the sea is wide for fish to leap, and the sky is high for birds to fly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Shen Jue suddenly lean half his body out of the carriage.

Startled, Ni Xinyan quickly pulled him back. “What are you doing?”

The army was marching together. If Shen Jue accidentally fell off the carriage, he would surely be trampled to death by the horses.

Shen Jue looked at Ni Xinyan and suddenly said, “He’s coming.”

“Who?” Ni Xinyan asked.

At the same time, a voice sounded from outside.

“Who goes there?”

“The Sixth Prince, Murong Xiu.”

Murong Xiu galloped on a red horse, racing all the way. When he was close to the marching column, he pulled a jade token from his waist and raised it high above his head. The setting sun slowly fell upon him. At just fourteen, he was already quite tall. Dressed in tight riding clothes, his waist appeared slender and his legs long. His face, no larger than an adult man’s palm, was as beautiful as a peach blossom and as brilliant as a crabapple.

The men nearest to Murong Xiu were almost stunned by the sight. Even the military officer who had spoken earlier stood frozen, not knowing how to react.

Facing the crowd’s gazes, Murong Xiu’s expression darkened. His small red lips were pressed tightly together. He lowered the jade token, casually brushed the long hair hanging over his chest behind his shoulder, and said coolly, “Is the Prince of Ning’s Heir here?”

Naturally, Ni Xinyan had noticed the commotion outside. Not wanting to delay the march, he lifted the carriage curtain and lazily looked at Murong Xiu. Whether it was because he already had a bad impression of Murong Xiu, or because the fourteen-year-old Murong Xiu wasn’t beautiful enough yet, this time when they met ahead of schedule, not only did Ni Xinyan not fall for him at first sight, but he found the way Murong Xiu was so gaudily dressed at sunset, like a little girl, to be even more repulsive.

“I’m here. What can Your Highness want?” Ni Xinyan said rudely.

Murong Xiu’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ve come for my disobedient little servant. I hope the heir will return him to me.”

Ni Xinyan curled his lips into a smile, a roguish grin appearing on his handsome face. “What if I don’t? His Majesty has already given him to me. Why must Your Highness persist? There are plenty of servants in this world, but this one can’t withstand such rough handling from Your Highness.” He finished speaking and clapped his hands toward the front. “Move out!”

They were the rear column. His father’s troops had already departed right after the morning court. If his column arrived too late, he would probably get a scolding. He didn’t want to be delayed because of some sissy.

Murong Xiu, seeing the column start moving again, dug his nails into his flesh. He gritted his teeth, trembling with rage.

When the army was almost out of sight, Murong Xiu abruptly bit his hand and let out a neurotic laugh.

He wouldn’t let those two off.

Those two bastards would never be together.