A Hundred Ways To Kill A Heartthrob on Danmei AI Translations

Chapter 2

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 2#

Kill That Emperor (2)#

The night grew deeper.

Shen Jue returned to his own room first.

As the foremost eunuch attending Emperor Murong Xiu, he had a room to himself.

Coughing, he took off his drenched clothes. His pale, frail body was covered with whip marks, and there were numerous old scars on his skin.

This body was ugly, utterly devoid of any aesthetic appeal. Especially his incomplete lower body.

Chapter 3

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 3#

Kill That Emperor (3)#

The moment those hands wrapped around him, Murong Xiu wanted to kick the person away—he didn’t like others touching him.

But when he caught sight of the empty medicine bowl on the table, he forcibly suppressed that urge.

Shen Jue had just recovered from a serious illness and was still taking medicine; he probably couldn’t withstand a kick from him.

“Your Majesty, this servant doesn’t want to leave the palace,” Shen Jue said in a low voice, his tone seemingly trembling slightly.

Chapter 4

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 4#

Take Down That Emperor (4)#

Seeing the room before him, Shen Jue suddenly halted.

“You said Feng Qingbao is inside?”

The young eunuch who had led him here nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Eunuch Feng is inside.”

A trace of mockery flickered in Shen Jue’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it, replacing it with an uneasy expression.

That morning, when Murong Xiu had gone to the morning court, a unfamiliar young eunuch had arrived, claiming that Feng Qingbao wanted to see him. Shen Jue knew there was a trap involved, but he needed that trap, so he pretended to know nothing and came along.

Chapter 5

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 5#

Kill That Emperor (5)#

It was exactly noon.

Rain was always plentiful in early spring. Outside the hall, a drizzling rain began to fall, droplets trickling down the eaves onto the stone bricks, like pearls large and small cascading onto a jade plate. The fine, lingering rain wrapped around everything in a lingering manner, only stirring restlessness in people’s hearts.

Murong Xiu felt exactly this way. He wished he could reach out and brush aside the layers of thick clouds hanging over the capital.

Chapter 6

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 6#

Slay That Emperor (6)#

Shen Jue listened to Feng Qingbao’s words, giving him a look that was half smile, half something else.

Feng Qingbao felt an inexplicable chill. For some reason, he always felt that Shen Jue’s gaze was strange, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was off.

He sat in Shen Jue’s room, feeling quite uneasy.

Shen Jue, however, paid no attention to Feng Qingbao’s nervous thoughts. He poured himself a cup of water—there was no tea here, only plain boiled water. Shen Jue took a sip of the cool water and then frowned slightly. Because Qin Yuan had beaten him, he had accidentally bitten the tip of his tongue, and it was still injured. Even drinking cool water hurt a little.

Chapter 7

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 7#

Kill That Emperor (7)#

At these words, Murong Xiu was instantly stunned with horror.

He stared in terror at the Regent, as if trying to discern whether he was joking.

Shen Jue also froze for a moment. In that instant, he forgot to hide his emotions, staring blankly at the Regent. Of the three, the Regent was the most composed. A faint smile hung on his lips as he looked at Shen Jue.

Chapter 8

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 8#

Kill That Emperor (8)#

Shen Jue’s recovery from this injury took much longer than the previous time.

For the first half-month, he lay in a daze on the bed, occasionally waking to the sound of Feng Qingbao’s crying.

Shen Jue’s head ached a little—in his past lives, Feng Qingbao had never been particularly close to him. Why was he so deeply attached this time?

He wanted to tell him to stop crying, but he didn’t even have the strength to open his mouth.

Chapter 9

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 9#

Off with That Emperor (9)#

Physician Xu had treated countless patients, even occasionally offering free clinics in the capital, but he had never seen anyone with such a fierce will to live.

Shen Jue’s body was so battered that anyone else would have likely died long ago.

Even if they survived, their mind would probably be damaged.

Physician Xu knew that Shen Jue was someone by Murong Xiu’s side. Though he had some precious medicines on hand, they couldn’t compare to the entire Imperial Medical Bureau, so he went to find Murong Xiu. When Murong Xiu learned that Shen Jue was injured again, he was visibly startled for a moment before finally asking, “How badly is he hurt?”

Chapter 10

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 08:55:35 +0000

Chapter 10#

Kill That Emperor (10)#

The Regent naturally placed great importance on Murong Xiu’s coming-of-age birthday.

The Ministry of Rites had started preparations three months prior.

On the day of his birthday, Murong Xiu sat solemnly on the high seat, accepting the congratulations of the civil and military officials, a reserved smile gracing his beautiful face. As the birthday celebrant, he inevitably had to share in the revelry with the officials, so he drank a few cups of wine. After several cups, Murong Xiu began to feel tipsy, and at that moment, a bowl of soup appeared before him.

Chapter 11

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 11#

Kill That Emperor (11)#

With a clang, the brass candlestick hit the floor.

Murong Xiu seemed startled awake by the sound; his earlier relief vanished, replaced by sheer panic. He glanced at the outside of the hall in a fluster. The Regent King must not die. If he died, not only would the Regent’s men kill him, but those prince uncles of his would never tolerate him either.

Chapter 12

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

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…

Chapter 13

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 13#

Take Down That Emperor (13)#

Shen Jue ignored the dagger in Dao Zhan’s hand. With a calm demeanor, he walked over to the table, where a teapot and two or three cups sat on the rickety surface. Both the teapot and cups were the most ordinary white porcelain, utterly plain.

“Would you two gentlemen like some tea?” Shen Jue turned over the cups that had been placed upside down on the table, preparing to pour.

Chapter 14

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

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.

Chapter 16

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 16#

Kill That Emperor (16)#

Shen Jue only hesitated for a moment before saying, “Your Majesty, this servant entered the palace at a young age and has long forgotten even where his hometown was.”

Murong Xiu looked at him, his anger not subsiding. “Then why do you know You Congxuan?”

Shen Jue was silent for a while before he spoke, “Ever since Your Majesty personally reviewed the imperial examination papers, people privately approached this servant, wanting me to put in a good word before Your Majesty. You Congxuan was one of them. He had a eunuch from his hometown contact me. This servant did not intend to do such a thing, but after seeing You Congxuan’s face, I knew that this person would surely be useful to Your Majesty. That’s why I deliberately wet the examination paper.”

Chapter 17

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 17#

Take Down That Emperor (17)#

“Shen Jue, I’ve finally won once.”

Murong Xiu’s voice trembled slightly, the corners of his eyes reddening as he tightly embraced the youth in his arms, as if clinging to his only lifeline.

He had been nothing more than a puppet emperor, but Shen Jue had helped him defeat the Regent for the first time. Murong Xiu felt an indescribable exhilaration. Recalling the Regent’s expression during the morning court, he almost wanted to burst out laughing.

Chapter 18

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 18#

Kill That Emperor (18)#

That night.

Murong Xiu was delighted today, so he specially drank wine during the evening meal. The heated wine was especially warming to the body. He sat in the hot spring pool in his chamber, still holding his wine cup, unwilling to let it go. Shen Jue, seeing Murong Xiu’s face flushed red from drink, couldn’t help but advise, “Your Majesty, drinking too much harms the body. It would be best if Your Majesty stopped.”

Chapter 19

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 19#

Kill That Emperor (19)#

In previous lifetimes, Feng Qingbao had not been transferred out of imperial service. So when Shen Jue saw the bruises on Feng Qingbao’s arm, his gaze froze, and his voice turned cold as he asked, “What happened?”

Feng Qingbao stammered and tried to pull his arm back. Seeing this, Shen Jue tightened his grip. “Speak.”

“Eunuch Liu hit me. He’s old and bad-tempered. Under his charge, I naturally have to endure some hardship,” Feng Qingbao said softly, head lowered. “But it’s nothing. He just likes to pinch people. I can stand it.”

Chapter 20

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 11:25:13 +0000

Chapter 20#

Kill that emperor （20）#

Shen Jue’s body stiffened instantly when Feng Qingbao pounced on him.

After all, Feng Qingbao was not Murong Xiu. When Murong Xiu hugged him, Shen Jue could do nothing and had to endure it, but it was different with Feng Qingbao.

Coming back to his senses, Shen Jue immediately pushed him away, all warmth in his tone gone. “What are you doing?”

Seeing Shen Jue’s attitude turn cold, Feng Qingbao shrank his neck. “I… I was too moved. Don’t be annoyed with me.”

Chapter 21

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 21#

Kill That Emperor (21)#

As the year drew to a close, the weather grew colder and colder, and on this day, it even began to hail tiny ice pellets.

With the cold weather, sleeping on the footstool was no longer comfortable, after all, the footstool wasn’t as warm as the bed.

Shen Jue stood by the bed, and after helping Murong Xiu make the bed, he prepared to help Murong Xiu take off his outer robe. Murong Xiu was taller than Shen Jue, so when taking off his clothes, he needed to spread his arms. Murong Xiu tilted his chin up to avoid being brushed by the top of Shen Jue’s head.

Chapter 22

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 22#

Kill That Emperor (22)#

Shen Jue, upon hearing Feng Qingbao’s entrance, had hidden deeper under the table, never expecting Murong Xiu to be relentless. Those feet deliberately stepped on his belly not once, but also made Feng Qingbao come closer.

He heard what Murong Xiu said to Feng Qingbao, and his gaze shifted slightly.

Feng Qingbao, upon hearing Murong Xiu’s words, was so terrified he fell straight to his knees, quickly begging for mercy: “This servant wouldn’t dare.”

Chapter 23

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 23#

Down with the Emperor (23)#

Murong Xiu kept Shen Jue under tight watch, barely allowing him to leave his sight. If Shen Jue didn’t appear before him for an extended period, he would send someone to find him. This made the Regent King’s movements somewhat constrained, so he endured until the night of New Year’s Eve, taking advantage of Murong Xiu’s drunkenness to have Liang Rong lure the man out.

Chapter 24

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

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?”

Chapter 25 - 1

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 25 - 1#

Kill That Emperor (25)#

At this moment, Shen Jue was soaking in a small pond. He looked around and realized that this was actually the Qizhang Hall where Murong Xiu had lived as a prince.

When Murong Xiu was a prince, he was the sixth son. He had never been favored much since childhood. His mother had passed away early, and after he turned three, he was raised by Consort Jing. In the first few years, Consort Jing treated Murong Xiu quite well, but after she gave birth to the Eighth Prince, Murong Xiu’s life went from bad to worse. Without his mother to speak for him before the emperor, how favored could a young prince be?

Chapter 25 - 2

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 25 - 2#

In the years that followed, Shen Jue would occasionally come over, but only when Murong Xiu wasn’t around.

…

Liu Anshun led Shen Jue by the hand toward the small room behind the Imperial Kitchen. “You’ve come at just the right time. I was about to have breakfast. What’s the reason this time?”

Shen Jue thought for a moment before replying. “His Highness threw a jade pendant into the pond and ordered me to retrieve it. But I couldn’t get it out. His Highness said if I didn’t bring it back, I couldn’t eat. I was too hungry.”

Chapter 26

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 26#

Kill That Emperor (26)#

Shen Jue woke up in the afternoon. When he opened his eyes, someone was sitting by the bedside, twisting a cloth. That person was about to turn around and place it on Shen Jue’s forehead when they met Shen Jue’s gaze.

“You’re awake!” Li Feng exclaimed in surprise. “I’ll go get your medicine—it’s been kept warm on the stove.”

Shen Jue hadn’t expected Li Feng to be the one taking care of him. He was momentarily stunned, and before he could say anything, Li Feng had already hurried out, as if someone were chasing after him. Watching him leave, Shen Jue propped himself up and sat up.

Chapter 27

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 27#

Kill That Emperor (27)#

Ni Xinyan was completely oblivious to the trouble he had caused Shen Jue. Seeing Shen Jue was fine, he said he had other matters to attend to and hurriedly left the Imperial Medical Institute. After Ni Xinyan left, Shen Jue let out a sigh, thanked the imperial physician, and set off again for the Imperial Household Department.

He had originally intended to save time, but in the end, it took him twice as long.

Chapter 28

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

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.

Chapter 29

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 29#

Kill That Emperor (29)#

Ni Xinyan openly embarrassed Murong Xiu in front of everyone. When he sat back down, a smug grin still lingered on his face, as if he were a hero who had just rescued a delicate beauty from a villain.

Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but glance at the “beauty,” only to find the “beauty” staring at him with a peculiar expression.

Ni Xinyan was taken aback. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Chapter 30

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 30#

Kill That Emperor (30)#

Shen Jue carried Ni Xinyan for a long distance without seeing any signs of human habitation, so he had to find a cave to rest temporarily.

Ni Xinyan had long since fainted. Shen Jue carefully set him down, then ran out to gather some dry firewood. Along the way, Shen Jue unexpectedly discovered some medicinal herbs that could treat external injuries.

Perhaps it was destined that Ni Xinyan would survive.

Chapter 31

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 31#

Take Down That Emperor (31)#

Seeing the blood covering the entire city, even Ni Xinyan felt shaken, fearful that his father had truly done something as cowardly as fleeing. Yet at the same time, he couldn’t believe his father would abandon the lives of the city’s people for his own sake.

Ni Xinyan was deeply dejected, even harboring a faint dread—afraid that his father might indeed be that kind of person, and if so, how would he face himself then?

Chapter 32

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 32#

Off that Emperor (32)#

Nie Xinyan shot a glance at Shen Jue, then turned his gaze to Murong Xiu. His eyes were too calm, as if he hadn’t been injured at all. “Sixth Prince, if you have any issues, take them up with me. Don’t drag others into this.”

But speaking was clearly a struggle for him; every word came out with immense effort.

Murong Xiu, upon hearing this, deepened the smile at the corners of his lips. He raised his hand and lightly clapped twice, almost as if applauding Nie Xinyan’s statement, but his words dripped with sarcasm. “You still don’t understand, do you? How pitiful. You’re exactly like your foolish father.”

Chapter 33

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 33#

Kill That Emperor (33)#

Murong Xiu leisurely savored the gradually souring expression on Shen Jue’s face. To be honest, he had been holding in a lot of resentment throughout this journey. He always felt that he couldn’t control the Shen Jue before him; the man had changed too much in the six years they had been apart.

His gaze landed on Shen Jue’s slender neck. Unlike the previous life, Shen Jue’s skin in this life was a wheatish color, as if it radiated the breath of sunlight. Murong Xiu thought that the rainy season in the capital was far too long—drizzly, overcast, and utterly loathsome.

Chapter 34

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 34#

Kill That Emperor (34)#

After Murong Xiu left, Shen Jue pulled his clothes back up. He sat on the edge of the bed for a while, then went to the wardrobe and fished out an outer garment that was barely decent enough to be seen. After putting it on, he walked to the door.

The moment he opened the door, the two men stationed outside turned their heads to look at him.

Chapter 35

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 35#

Kill That Emperor (35)#

In that instant, the ruined temple fell into utter silence.

Shen Jue first looked at Ni Xinyan in disbelief, and when he followed Ni Xinyan’s gaze to himself, his face flushed red and pale by turns. He angrily tried to pull his clothes back, but Ni Xinyan’s grip was stronger than Shen Jue’s. Shen Jue tugged, Ni Xinyan refused to let go, and the two were deadlocked until finally, the sound of fabric tearing was heard.

Chapter 36

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 36#

Kill That Emperor (36)#

Shen Jue felt a sting on his lips and was tackled to the ground.

He frowned at the person before him. The tips of Murong Xiu’s long hair by his cheeks gently brushed across his face, leaving a ticklish sensation. Shen Jue struggled with effort, but still remained firmly pinned beneath the other.

“Murong Xiu!” Shen Jue shouted Murong Xiu’s name as he struggled. He turned his face away; the half of his cheek that had been kissed was already burning hot. “Is this what you want?”

Chapter 37

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 37#

Kill That Emperor (37)#

Shen Jue crouched down and extended his finger under Murong Xiu’s nose.

No breath.

He frowned and carefully reconsidered the matter of the Chiyan Ancestor. He had already made Murong Xiu willingly die by his hand—why had he still not broken free from the realm? Could it be that Murong Xiu was not the master of this realm?

No, in his previous life, the moment he killed Murong Xiu, the realm was destroyed.

Chapter 38

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 38#

Kill That Gentleman (1)#

“Jue? Jue? Wake up!”

Shen Jue felt his body alternating between hot and cold, but someone kept speaking in his ear. Irritated, he forced his eyes open.

The person saw him awake and let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Jue, you’re finally awake. The doctor said if you couldn’t wake up today, you might…” The person before him wiped away tears, then broke into a smile through the tears. “Thank goodness you’re awake. Are you hungry? There’s still hot porridge on the stove. I’ll bring you some.”

Chapter 39

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 39#

Take Down That Gentleman (2)#

After Shen Jue and Liu Xuan arrived at the Ten Extremes Island, they were ostracized by the other Tianluo bodies.

This was because all Tianluo bodies wanted to find a powerful master, so their own lives would be protected. If their master wasn’t strong enough, once their enemies came knocking, they would surely kill the Tianluo body first.

For Tianluo bodies, the more competitors there were, the more detrimental it was to them.

Chapter 40

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 40#

Taking Down That Gentleman (3)#

Shen Jue let go of Ji Lian’s sleeve, stared straight at him for a moment, then lowered his head even further.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Ji Lian was momentarily stunned. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

As his words fell, he noticed Shen Jue’s head drop even lower.

Ji Lian thought for a moment, then simply crouched down, looking up from below. When Shen Jue saw him squat down, he turned his head away. Ji Lian leaned his face closer. “Shen Jue, talk to me.”

Chapter 41

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 41#

Taking Down That Gentleman (4)#

The person who came was from Ten Absolute Island. He informed Shen Jue and Liu Xuan to bathe and change clothes immediately, then proceed at once to the main hall of Qianxin Palace on Ten Absolute Island.

Before Liu Xuan could react, Shen Jue already knew what day it was.

Today was the day he had been chosen in previous lifetimes. In just a few days after this, he would be sent to Sang Xinghe’s bed.

Chapter 42

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 42#

Kill That Gentleman (5)#

Shen Jue was chosen to attend the honored guest at Yishui Pavilion, and all the other Tianluo Bodies breathed a sigh of relief, except for Liu Xuan, who looked at Shen Jue with reddened eyes.

After being selected, Shen Jue was taken away alone. He was locked in a room, and it wasn’t until sunset that the door was opened from outside. The Left Protector, dressed in white, strode into the room.

Chapter 43

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 43#

Taking Down That Gentleman (6)#

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side and firmly grabbed Yu Ci’s arm.

Yu Ci was slightly startled. Turning his head, he saw the person on the bed had already woken up.

Sang Xinghe was a traditional handsome man: eyebrows like the shore of an autumn lake, eyes like April peach blossoms, nose like a mountain ridge, lips like silk threads. Though his features were flawless, they betrayed not a hint of femininity. Even with a pale, bloodless face, he still commanded attention.

Chapter 44

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 44#

Taking Down That Gentleman (7)#

When Sang Xinghe rounded the screen and walked to the bedside, he saw the silhouette flickering behind the bedcurtains.

He exhaled a cloud of turbid air, gritted his teeth, and turned his back once more. He recited every Buddhist scripture he knew several times in his heart, his hatred for Yu Ci, the root cause of all this, deepening with each repetition.

How could there be such a bastard as Yu Ci in this world?

Chapter 45

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 45#

Take Out That Gentleman (8)#

When Yu Ci arrived, Sang Xinghe was sitting by the bed.

He had been drugged again that night, but having gone through this once before, the second time was much easier.

Sang Xinghe looked at the bound man on the bed, sighed, and reached out to untie the soft silk restraints. But before doing so, he spoke a sentence to Shen Jue.

“I’ll untie you. Be good and don’t make a fuss, alright?”

Chapter 46

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 46#

Taking Down That Gentleman (9)#

Sang Xinghe looked down at the person biting his arm. It turned out that the lock behind Shen Jue’s mask had somehow come undone, which was why he’d gotten this bite. From his angle, he could just see the other’s fair, jade-like side profile.

There were even short, fine hairs on his face, glowing warmly in the candlelight.

Shen Jue bit until his own jaw ached before finally letting go of Sang Xinghe. He adjusted his mask with his hand and turned to look at Sang Xinghe. Sang Xinghe was startled by Shen Jue’s gaze, and then a hand suddenly covered his eyes—it was ice-cold, just like the temperature of its owner’s body.

Chapter 47

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 47#

Take Down That Gentleman (10)#

Yu Ci was startled by Shen Jue’s actions, but he quickly gave a contemptuous smirk.

This little shorty thought this could seduce him? How utterly delusional.

Shen Jue propped himself up slightly, sitting atop Yu Ci. He glanced at the small knife embedded in the pillow. With his current martial arts skills, killing Yu Ci with that knife was still far too difficult.

Chapter 48

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 48#

Taking Down That Gentleman (11)#

Yu Ci didn’t manage to dine with Shen Jue and He Queying, because as soon as he finished speaking, a disciple of the Ten Absolute Island rushed over.

“Island Master, Left Protector, Right Protector has returned!”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ci immediately turned around, his eyes lighting up. “Are you serious?”

The disciple nodded repeatedly. “Really, the Right Protector has returned to the island. He sent me to find you, Island Master.”

Chapter 49

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 49#

Kill That Gentleman (12)#

Sang Xinghe looked at the brocade box that was presented to him and raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What’s this?”

Shen Jue made a motion as if to open the box, then placed it into Sang Xinghe’s hands.

Sang Xinghe had no choice but to open the box. As soon as he did, he first saw a note inside. His slender fingers picked up the note, and his eyes skimmed over it quickly. After a moment, his expression shifted slightly. He looked at Shen Jue. “Someone asked you to deliver this?”

Chapter 50

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 50#

Kill That Gentleman (13)#

Sang Xinghe’s temples throbbed.

He felt like he was being driven mad by this lunatic Yu Ci.

He couldn’t help but think back to the scene when Yu Ci had confessed to him. Back then, Yu Ci had been wearing a very flashy pink robe, and even though he had called Sang Xinghe out to fight, he was still holding a peach blossom branch in his hand. It was already past April at that time, so Sang Xinghe had no idea where he had gotten that peach blossom.

Chapter 51

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 51#

Kill That Gentleman (14)#

While Yu Ci was thinking about random things, Shen Jue suddenly woke up.

He had been startled awake by Yu Ci’s unfamiliar scent. The moment Shen Jue opened his eyes, he met Yu Ci’s gaze through the quilt.

As soon as Yu Ci saw Shen Jue awake, his face turned cold. “How much longer do you plan to sleep in my arms?”

Shen Jue’s eyes were tired, his expression weary. Hearing Yu Ci’s words, he lowered his gaze, his long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, shielding the watery blue within. He shifted to the side, backing out of Yu Ci’s embrace, and was about to sit up when a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

Chapter 52

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:17:00 +0000

Chapter 52#

Taking Down That Gentleman (15)#

As soon as Yuci spoke, Shen Jue clearly felt the person above him stiffen.

After a moment, Sang Xinghe lifted his head, his peach-blossom eyes cold and detached. “I’m not in the mood for a walk. If Island Master Yu has such leisure, feel free to go on your own.”

Seeing Sang Xinghe’s reluctance to cooperate, Yuci couldn’t help but glance at Shen Jue.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000


---

title: "Chapter 15"

weight: 150

date: 2026-06-29T11:25:13.486285+00:00

---

# Chapter 15

## Kill That Emperor (15)

Shi Jian'an was clearly surprised that Murong Xiu would call his name. After a brief pause, he stepped out from the ranks.

"Your servant believes that the imperial examination is a matter of great importance. The decision of the chief examiner must not be made rashly and should be carefully deliberated over time," Shi Jian'an said, lowering his head.

Murong Xiu looked at him. "Shi Jian'an, you are also from the Ministry of Rites. Do you think you are capable of taking on this heavy responsibility?"

Ever since Murong Xiu called Shi Jian'an's name, the Prince Regent had been staring directly at Murong Xiu, his expression somewhat surprised.

Because during their time at the Imperial Academy, Shi Jian'an had been his classmate. The two were fairly familiar with each other, and during festivals, the Prince Regent would sometimes seek out Shi Jian'an to drink together.

When Shi Jian'an heard Murong Xiu suggest he serve as the chief examiner, he was silent for a moment before bowing. "Your servant will not fail Your Majesty's trust and will strive to select talented individuals."

After the court session ended, Shi Jian'an walked straight over to the Prince Regent, and the two left together. Shi Jian'an gazed at the distant palace walls, then turned his head and lowered his voice. "Your Highness, why did His Majesty suddenly call my name?"

The Prince Regent also found it strange. He stared fixedly at Shi Jian'an for a moment.

Shi Jian'an could hardly be called a handsome man. He was naturally thin and frail, with regular features—thick eyebrows and large eyes—but his complexion was perpetually pale and sallow, giving him the appearance of someone doomed to an early death.

Suddenly, the Prince Regent thought of the dirty hedgehog who followed behind Murong Xiu.

Could it be that Murong Xiu had a taste for those who were plain-looking?

Shi Jian'an immediately noticed the strange look in the Prince Regent's eyes. He blinked and rubbed his face awkwardly. "Your Highness, is there something on my face?"

"No," the Prince Regent replied. "But I too find it odd. How did you suddenly catch His Majesty's eye?"

Shi Jian'an smiled. "If even Your Highness can't figure it out, how would I know? Perhaps His Majesty intends to place his trust in Your Highness but fears gossip, so he settled for me as a second choice."

The Prince Regent raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to that. He simply said, "Since His Majesty has made you the chief examiner, do a good job."

With that, he quickened his pace and strode ahead.

Shi Jian'an lagged behind, cupping his hands in a bow toward the Prince Regent's receding figure. "Your servant sees off Your Highness."

Only after the Prince Regent's figure had almost disappeared did Shi Jian'an lower his head and continue walking slowly. Lost in thought, he suddenly smiled to himself.

...

Murong Xiu was actually quite surprised that Shen Jue had brought up Shi Jian'an.

But Shen Jue explained that he had once befriended the personal eunuch of the former Crown Prince's palace. That eunuch said the former Crown Prince had praised Shi Jian'an's parallel prose more than once, and claimed that anyone who wrote such excellent parallel prose must have fine character.

However, at that time, the late emperor had been wary of the Prince Regent's faction and deliberately suppressed them, so Shi Jian'an never received any important appointments.

"If I promote him, wouldn't that benefit the Prince Regent?" Murong Xiu said discontentedly.

Shen Jue shook his head gently. "Not necessarily, Your Majesty. Even teeth and tongues occasionally clash, let alone two people. Shi Jian'an and the Prince Regent were classmates, but now the Prince Regent holds high power and covers the sky with one hand. As for Shi Jian'an, although he's now a third-rank official, everyone sees him as the Prince Regent's lackey. He himself constantly watches the Prince Regent's every move." He paused, then smiled faintly. "I wonder if Your Majesty has heard of that incident. The little eunuchs in the palace used to tell it as a funny story."

"What incident?"

Shen Jue said, "During the late emperor's reign, a banquet was held. In the middle of the feast, the late emperor left due to discomfort. The Prince Regent got drunk at the banquet and insisted that Shi Jian'an bark like a dog. Shi Jian'an refused at first, so the Prince Regent slapped him. Only then did Shi Jian'an obediently bark like a dog and kneel on the ground. Many little eunuchs saw it."

After hearing Shen Jue's analysis, Murong Xiu gradually came to his senses. What could be better than dismantling the enemy's forces from within?

As the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike collapses because of an ant hole. He believed that no matter how strong the enemy, they were not without flaws or invulnerable.

Thus, at today's morning court, Murong Xiu deliberately promoted Shi Jian'an. His first goal was to sow discord between Ni and Shi. The Prince Regent was naturally suspicious; even if Shi Jian'an harbored no disloyalty, the Prince Regent would still be uneasy. His second goal was to use Shi Jian'an's hand to select talents. Since Shi Jian'an was serving as chief examiner for the first time, Murong Xiu proposed that a copy of the exam papers be sent to him. This way, Murong Xiu could participate in the imperial examination process before the final palace examination.

On the surface, it appeared that Murong Xiu and the Prince Regent had each made a concession.

In reality, promoting Shi Jian'an greatly benefited Murong Xiu.

...

After the imperial examination ended, the exam papers were delivered to Murong Xiu.

Murong Xiu now trusted Shen Jue deeply. Not only did he not avoid Shen Jue when grading the papers, but he also asked for Shen Jue's opinion. However, after asking, Murong Xiu smiled and said, "I forgot. Your initial education was taught by me. Back then, I only taught you common characters."

Shen Jue lowered his head with some shame. "Your servant is useless."

By now, the entire capital had entered winter. Imperial Physician Xu had specially prepared a medicinal diet for Shen Jue, and Murong Xiu was generous, giving Shen Jue all kinds of rare ingredients. A young man's bones always recover quickly. Shen Jue's complexion had become rosy, and his formerly gaunt face had filled out. Paired with his round eyes, he looked somewhat adorable.

Still like a dog, just a cute little dog.

Murong Xiu couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Shen Jue's hair. Finding that Shen Jue's hair was as soft as his temper, a smile crept into his eyes.

Shen Jue's face flushed slightly. He dodged Murong Xiu's hand and quickly picked up the teapot on the table. "The tea has gone cold. Your servant will fetch a fresh pot."

Murong Xiu's hand suddenly missed its target. He watched Shen Jue walk out, his fingers curling slightly before slowly withdrawing.

The smile in his eyes gradually faded.

Shen Jue returned quickly. He poured new tea for Murong Xiu but accidentally knocked over the teacup. The tea spilled everywhere, soaking the papers on the desk. Shen Jue let out a startled cry and quickly took out a silk handkerchief to wipe it up. Several papers were soaked. When he wiped a particular one, he let out a soft "Oh."

Murong Xiu noticed Shen Jue staring intently at a certain paper, even forgetting to wipe away the tea. He coughed twice.

This fellow had made a mistake and dared to daydream.

Shen Jue snapped back to reality. Seeing Murong Xiu looking displeased at him, he gave an awkward smile but pointed at the paper. "Your Majesty, this person's handwriting is truly beautiful."

Murong Xiu followed his finger and looked. The corner of that paper was wet with tea, but the content was unaffected. He scanned it briefly and said flatly, "Passable."

Of course, Shen Jue had intentionally knocked over the teacup. His goal was to make Murong Xiu notice the author of this exam paper.

The author's name was You Congxuan.

In this imperial examination, he had not passed the selection. Instead, he would succeed in the examination three years after Shen Jue's death. Shen Jue wanted Murong Xiu to select this person early because—

You Congxuan bore a 50% resemblance to Murong Xiu.

In previous lifetimes, You Congxuan had repeatedly caused discord between Murong Xiu and the Prince Regent. In the worst instance, the Prince Regent failed to attend court for several days, spending his time instead indulging in pleasure quarters.

You Congxuan came from a humble background, traveling from his hometown to take the examination. He was highly scheming. After learning that he looked somewhat like Murong Xiu, he seized this opportunity and thrived in the capital.

However, You Congxuan made a grave mistake. He thought this face would ensure everything went smoothly, but with the original still around, how long could a counterfeit last?

You Congxuan was clever but greedy. After becoming an official, he began embezzling. Eventually, the Prince Regent personally investigated the case, sealed You's residence, and threw You Congxuan into the imperial prison, where he died of illness.

But now things were different.

The original's face had been ruined, making the counterfeit You Congxuan's value extraordinary.

Shen Jue felt that the Prince Regent would surely love this gift.

"Your servant has never seen such beautiful handwriting. I wonder what the person who wrote this paper looks like," Shen Jue said, deliberately making Murong Xiu linger on the exam paper.

Upon hearing this, Murong Xiu stood up. "Since the paper is wet, let's look at it later. Shen Jue, accompany me for a walk in the imperial garden."

Shen Jue frowned inwardly but had no choice but to put the paper down.

Murong Xiu slightly turned his face and noticed Shen Jue's action. Shen Jue was clearly reluctant to put the paper down, as he did so very slowly. Murong Xiu narrowed his eyes and then looked away.

He was no fool. Shen Jue's behavior was obviously suspicious.

Ever since Shen Jue had brought up Shi Jian'an, Murong Xiu had felt that Shen Jue was not as ordinary as he had imagined.

A eunuch from the harem being so familiar with matters of the court was far too strange.

But Murong Xiu, having grown suspicious of Shen Jue, still deliberately looked through that exam paper. Staring at the three large characters "You Congxuan" on the paper, he thought for a moment and then circled them with a red brush.

Since Shen Jue wanted him to notice this person, he would take notice.

The final candidates for the palace examination were selected jointly by Murong Xiu and Shi Jian'an. Interestingly, both Murong Xiu and Shi Jian'an had circled You Congxuan's name.

On the day of the palace examination, Murong Xiu spotted You Congxuan at a glance. The moment he saw him, his expression changed.

Besides Murong Xiu, many others in the court also changed their expressions, led by the Prince Regent.

The Prince Regent stared at You Congxuan almost rudely.

Murong Xiu's hand gripping the dragon head armrest tightened. He silently examined You Congxuan for a while, then said to the Prince Regent, "Prince Regent, I am feeling a bit tired. How about you set the questions for this palace examination?"

After the palace examination ended, Murong Xiu immediately had Liang Rong summon Shen Jue.

Shen Jue knew that Murong Xiu must have seen You Congxuan's face. So when Liang Rong came to call him, he was not surprised. He had already prepared his words in his mind. However, upon arriving before Murong Xiu, he realized those words might be unnecessary.

Murong Xiu's eyes were red as he stared fiercely at Shen Jue. "What's going on with You Congxuan? Don't even think of lying. I know you know him."

Shen Jue sighed inwardly and had no choice but to kneel. "Your Majesty, I do know You Congxuan, but I did it for Your Majesty's good."

"For my good? Then tell me your reason, and also tell me how you came to know You Congxuan?" Murong Xiu said fiercely, as if enraged to the extreme. "I've already found out. You and You Congxuan are from the same place."

Shen Jue was stunned. He knew You Congxuan's place of origin, but he had never paid attention to his own. Could it be that he and You Congxuan were fellow townsmen?