Chapter 31#
“Has Your Grace Forgotten? I Am Your Dog.” (⚠️ Episode Trigger Warning! ⚠️)#
Water dripped in the bathroom, mist curling through the air, punctuated by occasional moans and sighs that made one’s ears burn and heart race.
When it was all over, Rong Yu had been dressed in clean clothes by Chu Tan and seated back in his wheelchair, a lazy, sated look hanging between his brows. Chu Tan, for his part, looked positively refreshed.
Mo Shu had been waiting for some time. “Young Master, the Crown Prince and Third Prince have come to see you, along with the Sixth and Seventh Princes. They’ve also brought… Young General Gu. They’re in the front hall right now. The Master is keeping them company in conversation and asks that you hurry over.”
The moment he heard those names, the pleasant, post-intimacy relaxation Rong Yu had been feeling soured instantly, his expression visibly darkening.
“Young Master…” Mo Shu looked at Rong Yu with concern.
When he’d first heard that the Crown Prince was bringing Young General Gu, Mo Shu had been delighted, assuming Gu Yuez was coming to make amends to Rong Yu. But the Master had sent people to urge them along multiple times, each message harsher than the last, and Mo Shu began to sense something was wrong.
The Master had never favored the Young Master. It seemed likely that this time, the Young Master would be made to suffer again.
The group arrived at the front hall. The Crown Prince and Third Prince sat in the seats of honor, the Sixth and Seventh Princes sat below the Crown Prince, while Gu Yuez and Rong Xiuyong sat on the opposite side.
The rumbling sound of wheelchair wheels approached, and everyone looked toward the door to see Mo Shu pushing Rong Yu, with Chu Tan—one arm in a sling—standing beside him.
“You unfilial son! Knowing full well that the princes were waiting here, you still take your sweet time! What kind of behavior is this?!” Rong Xiuyong’s face was twisted with barely suppressed anger as he greeted them with a scolding.
“Now, now, no need for anger, Vice Minister Rong.” The Crown Prince raised a hand. “Third Lang must have been badly frightened and needs his rest. We are the ones intruding.”
With that, the Crown Prince smiled at Rong Yu, asking solicitously, “Were you injured, Third Lang? I’ve brought an imperial physician—let him take a look at you.”
The Crown Prince gestured, about to summon the physician inside, when Rong Yu flat-out refused.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I’ve already had a physician examine me. My health is fine—no need to trouble the imperial physician.”
The Crown Prince’s hand paused, then slowly lowered. “If that’s the case, then I am relieved.”
His gaze swept over Chu Tan’s injured arm. “Third Lang, what happened to your servant’s arm?”
Rong Yu glanced at Gu Yuez, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Thanks to Young General Gu. After we fell off the cliff, we ran into a pack of wolves. Fortunately, this servant of mine knows a bit of martial arts—otherwise, you wouldn’t be seeing me today, Your Highness.”
These barbed words landed on Gu Yuez’s ears, making his face flush red. He immediately wanted to retort, but catching the Crown Prince’s warning look, he could only shut his mouth in indignation.
The Sixth and Seventh Princes, however, had their eyes light up at these words. From the moment Chu Tan had entered, their curious gazes had been lingering on him—in fact, they’d come precisely because of him.
Now they could no longer contain themselves, saying in unison: “Come forward.”
Chu Tan kept his eyes lowered and stepped forward two paces.
The twins stood up and circled around Chu Tan. “Our men found seven wolf carcasses at the bottom of the cliff, all killed with a single blow. Did you kill them?”
Chu Tan said in a flat voice, “This servant killed six. The last one was killed by my master.”
This left everyone even more stunned—no one had expected that a cripple who’d lost both legs could kill a wolf. Gu Yuez’s expression was especially incredulous. The man he’d called “cripple” time and time again had still had the strength to kill wolves after falling to the bottom of a cliff? That had to be fake.
The Crown Prince was generous with his praise. “Third Lang appears frail, yet to think you possess such skill—truly admirable.”
Rong Yu tugged at the corner of his lips. “Your Highness flatters me.”
His expression was calm, with no real smile on his face—nothing like the confidence and delight he’d shown that morning when showing off to Aunt Qin and Mo Shu.
The twins were still circling around Chu Tan, their eyes sparkling with amazement.
Sixth Prince: “You killed a tiger?”
Seventh Prince: “And then wolves?”
In unison: “Amazing!”
Two identical youthful faces wore identical expressions of admiration and reverence as they turned back to the Crown Prince. “Brother Imperial, he killed a tiger and seven wolves—he is without question the champion of this spring hunt!”
The Crown Prince nodded with a smile. “What is your name?”
Chu Tan lowered his gaze. “This servant is Chu Tan.”
Rong Xiuyong interjected: “Reporting to Your Highness, this servant is the son of a disgraced official—the illegitimate son of Chu Yan, former Prefect of Jiangning. After his crime, he was enslaved and sold into my household.”
“Oh?” The Crown Prince gave Chu Tan a few more appraising looks. “So you are the son of Chu Yan, who was involved in Prince Wei’s rebellion. No wonder your bearing and manner are unlike an ordinary servant.”
The four words “Prince Wei’s rebellion” fell, and the entire hall fell silent. Back then, the Emperor had ordered a full investigation into Prince Wei’s treason case—anyone implicated was to be executed. In those days, everyone in the capital lived in fear, terrified that a single wrong word would see them branded with a crime by the bloodthirsty Emperor and put to death.
Countless people died in that catastrophe. Day and night, the wails of decapitations rang out from the execution grounds, and the blood did not dry for two months.
Even a year later, when it was discovered that Prefect Chu’s family had been connected to Prince Wei’s case, they were still subjected to confiscation of property and exile—a testament to how deep the Emperor’s hatred for Prince Wei ran. Even now, hearing those four words again was enough to make one’s heart tremble with lingering fear.
The Crown Prince, however, showed no particular disgust. He said calmly, “Chu Tan, according to the rules of the spring hunt, the one with the most kills receives the Golden Bow. However, since you are a servant, all your kills are credited to your master. Therefore, the champion of this hunt is your master. Do you understand?”
Chu Tan’s long lashes hung low, his eyes as dark and cold as a frozen lake, with only a faint glint of shadow passing swiftly through—like a sinister whirlpool lurking beneath the surface.
He kept his head lowered, his tone calm. “This servant understands.”
“Excellent.” The Crown Prince looked at Rong Yu with a very tender expression. “Third Lang, I will report to His Majesty upon returning to the palace and have the Golden Bow bestowed upon you.”
Rong Yu nodded casually. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
The trivial matter was brushed aside, and now came the main event.
The Crown Prince said to Rong Yu, “I came today first to check on you, and second, to give you an explanation for your fall off the cliff.”
Rong Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Crown Prince’s gentle demeanor faded, replaced by stern severity. “Gu Yuez, come here. Kneel and apologize to Rong Yu!”
Gu Yuez’s eyes flew wide in shock. Before coming, the Crown Prince had only said he needed to apologize to Rong Yu—nothing about kneeling. Kneeling before a cripple he utterly despised, in front of so many people? Even if he did, what face would he have left?! How could he ever walk the streets of the capital again? He’d be laughed to death!
Before he could speak, Rong Xiuyong couldn’t sit still any longer. “No, no, this won’t do! How could a young general kneel before him? What has my worthless son done to deserve such an honor!”
The Crown Prince said, “Vice Minister Rong, you needn’t worry. Yue was reckless in his actions—he startled Third Lang’s horse, causing the two of them to fall off the cliff and face mortal danger. Whatever punishment he receives, he deserves it.”
“Impossible, impossible! I’m sure the Young General didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, my son is unharmed now—there’s truly no need for anything so severe.”
Rong Xiuyong’s old face was full of panic. Gu Yuez’s father was the court’s top-ranking Grand General of the Guard, two full ranks above him. Letting the Grand General’s son kneel to his son would be throwing the General’s dignity to the wind!
The founding emperor of this dynasty had won the realm on horseback, and military officials had always held higher status than civil ones. Rong Xiuyong, a third-rank vice minister from a humble scholar’s background with no powerful clan behind him, would never dare to incur the Grand General’s displeasure—least of all over a disabled son he didn’t even favor.
“Exactly. It wasn’t even on purpose—just a momentary slip.”
Gu Yuez looked at Rong Yu with no sincerity at all in his explanation. “When the tiger was running toward you two, I was going to shoot it to save you. But then your servant ran in a different direction, drawing the tiger after him. I kept my bow drawn, waiting for the shot. When he killed the tiger, I was so startled that the arrow slipped from my hand—who would’ve thought it’d hit your horse of all things?”
“If you feel wronged, I’ll apologize to you. Call it a slip of the hand.”
Gu Yuez raised his chin, not a trace of apology on his face—only arrogance and contempt.
The Crown Prince frowned. “Gu Yuez, what did you promise me before we came? You said you’d properly apologize to Third Lang, and this is how you half-heartedly go about it?”
Gu Yuez stiffened his neck, feeling quite wronged himself. “I already apologized. You can’t seriously expect me to kneel and kowtow to him, can you?”
“Of course not, of course not.” Rong Xiuyong refused repeatedly, then looked at Rong Yu. “Third Lang, since the Young General has already apologized, this matter ends here. Do not stir up further trouble.”
Rong Yu propped his cheek on one hand, tilting his head without a word.
Rong Xiuyong’s brows knit tightly. He was deeply dissatisfied with Rong Yu’s reaction and snapped, “The Young General slipped by accident. You didn’t suffer a scratch—are you going to be unforgiving about this?”
Rong Yu blinked, his tone innocent. “What does Father mean? Unforgiving? From start to finish, have I said a single word?”
Rong Xiuyong was left momentarily speechless.
The others also realized—they’d been debating for a while, but the actual victim hadn’t said one word the entire time.
Rong Yu’s eyelids flickered as his pale pupils swept across each face in turn: the Crown Prince with his guilty expression, the Third Prince standing aloof, Gu Yuez arrogant and contemptuous, the Sixth and Seventh Princes with their attention fixed on Chu Tan—and his own father Rong Xiuyong, frantically warning him with his eyes not to do anything rash.
Rong Yu found it utterly ridiculous. He’d been watching coldly from the sidelines as these people bickered and squabbled, as if he were spectating an absurd, farcical stage play. He was the only audience, and they were all putting on a show for him.
As if the whole farce wouldn’t exist without him. As if he hadn’t nearly ended up in a tiger’s jaws, hadn’t fallen off a cliff and nearly been smashed to pulp. Now it was somehow his fault.
The Crown Prince said gently, “Third Lang, if you have any thoughts, speak freely.”
Rong Yu lowered his gaze, concealing the mockery in his eyes, and tugged at his pale lips. “I have no thoughts. I’ll follow Father’s wishes—let this matter end here.”
Hearing this, Rong Xiuyong breathed a private sigh of relief. He’d truly been afraid this little wretch would throw all caution to the wind and make a scene.
A smug look rose in Gu Yuez’s eyes. See? A cripple—what waves could he possibly make?
The Crown Prince made a gesture, and servants brought in two chests filled with rare treasures.
“Third Lang, you’ve been wronged in this matter. I invited you to the hunt, and yet I failed to protect you—that was my oversight. Consider these my apology.”
Rong Xiuyong hurriedly said, “Your Highness, this is far too valuable, you—”
“Vice Minister Rong.” The Crown Prince’s smile faded, his tone slightly sharp. “This is my apology to Third Lang.”
“Ah… y-yes, of course.” Rong Xiuyong mumbled, not daring to speak further.
Rong Yu finally lifted his gaze and looked seriously at the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince looked back at him with focused attention, those narrow phoenix eyes tender as water, brimming with sincerity.
Rong Yu’s heart tightened. He abruptly withdrew his gaze and said flatly, “This matter has nothing to do with Your Highness. Please don’t blame yourself.”
The Crown Prince gave a light laugh. “Just accept it, Third Lang—only then can I truly rest easy.”
The Crown Prince said to Rong Xiuyong, “Since the matter is settled, I shall return to the palace now.”
Rong Xiuyong hastily rose to see him off.
The Third Prince, meanwhile, couldn’t wait to go see the still-unconscious Rong Yue. The day before, the two of them had fallen down the slope together; Rong Yu had been poisoned by flower toxins, and the two of them had spent three hours together before the poison was dispelled.
But that morning, news had come that Rong Yue had fallen unconscious again. That was why he’d rushed over in such a hurry—and to avoid suspicion, he’d had to suppress his impatience and pretend he’d come with the Crown Prince to visit Rong Yu.
Now he was already striding quickly toward Zhaohui Hall.
The Sixth and Seventh Princes were somewhat reluctant to leave. As the two young boys exited, they quietly asked Chu Tan whether he’d like to come back to the palace with them, to be their teacher and instruct them in martial arts and archery.
Chu Tan declined, and the twins could only leave with regret, though they said that if Chu Tan ever changed his mind, he could come find them anytime.
Rong Yu glanced sideways at Chu Tan. “Why didn’t you agree? Isn’t serving in the palace a far better position than being an attendant in my courtyard?”
Chu Tan lowered his eyes, his pupils dark and deep, seemingly hiding many complex emotions. “Your Grace knows the answer full well.”
But Rong Yu couldn’t see it. He stroked the warm jade on his wheelchair, murmuring softly, “Yes… I know the answer full well.”
The reason Chu Tan stayed by his side—he’d known from the very beginning.
Rong Yu suddenly coughed, the coughing growing more violent, his entire upper body trembling. His complexion rapidly turned pale, as if all the blood had been squeezed into his lips, leaving them more vividly red than ever.
“Young Master, what’s wrong?” Mo Shu hurriedly patted Rong Yu’s back. “Oh no—Young Master didn’t take his medicine at all yesterday, and nothing today either, plus he caught a chill. It must be his cough acting up.”
Chu Tan’s brows darkened. “Then hurry up and prepare the medicine!”
Startled by his cold, ominous aura, Mo Shu stammered, “It-it’s already being prepared! Let me go check if it’s ready!”
Chu Tan moved to lay Rong Yu down on the bed, but seeing him still coughing continuously, he didn’t dare. Instead, he held him in his arms, patting his back to help him breathe, soothing him: “Young Master, breathe slowly. Relax, relax…”
That low, pleasant male voice was like some gentle, tranquil instrument, gradually calming Rong Yu down.
He leaned dazedly against Chu Tan’s chest, his face as pale as paper, his eye corners flushed red from coughing, tears clinging to his lashes. A layer of unfocused mist covered his pupils, making him look like an exquisite, hollow, beautiful doll.
After a long moment, Rong Yu spoke, his voice light and hoarse, barely audible: “Do you think… if it had been Rong Yue who fell off the cliff yesterday, Father would also have chosen to let it slide?”
Chu Tan said nothing.
Rong Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If it had been Rong Yue, Gu Yuez wouldn’t have done it at all.”
“Why me?” he asked in a very soft voice—perhaps asking Chu Tan, perhaps asking himself, or perhaps asking an unjust heaven above.
Why did I lose my legs? Why did I get this illness? Why did I die and then have to come back to life? Why is it that even after starting over, my fate is to be cannon fodder that highlights the protagonist…
Why must I bear all this pain? What did I even do wrong?
That teardrop finally proved too heavy for his lashes and fell—yet it seemed to carry the weight of ten thousand jun, striking hard against Chu Tan’s heart.
He tenderly cupped Rong Yu’s face, kissing away that tear, then gently, slowly pressed his lips to those crimson ones.
“It’s not your fault. It’s their fault.” Chu Tan coaxed in a hoarse voice between kisses.
“Young Master, drink your medicine…”
Mo Shu stood holding the medicine bowl, staring blankly at the two people embracing and kissing before him. He blinked hard several times, confirmed he wasn’t seeing things, and used every ounce of his willpower not to slam the bowl onto the floor.
Maybe he should slam the bowl onto Chu Tan’s head instead, Mo Shu thought.
But before his idea could be put into practice, Chu Tan had already taken the bowl from him, blown on it to cool it, tested the temperature, and only then brought it to Rong Yu’s lips.
Rong Yu turned his face away, pushing the bowl aside.
“Young Master, you’ll only get better if you drink the medicine.”
“It won’t get better.” Rong Yu muttered blankly. In his past life, he’d been trapped in a hospital room for six years; the pills he’d swallowed could have carpeted the entire room, yet he’d never gotten better.
He would never get better. For one lifetime, two lifetimes—he would always be a madman.
Chu Tan’s eyes were dark and deep, filled with confusion. He seemed to sense that Rong Yu wasn’t talking about the same thing, but he genuinely couldn’t understand what exactly was wrong with Rong Yu.
Rong Yu pushed the bowl away again, raising his voice: “I said I won’t drink it—can’t you understand?!”
He snatched the bowl and hurled it to the ground with all his strength.
Shards of porcelain reflected dim light, brown medicinal liquid spreading across the carpet, the pungent smell of Chinese herbs instantly filling the entire space—just like Rong Yu’s emotions, which shattered in that moment.
He felt all his blood rushing to his head, his heart about to leap out of his throat as he screamed hysterically: “I won’t drink it! I refuse! Why won’t you listen to me!”
Rong Yu threw the pillows and blankets off the bed onto the floor, then curled up into a trembling ball, neurotically biting his fingers, his gaze unfocused.
“Young Master, what’s wrong? Don’t bite, please stop biting!” Mo Shu frantically tried to stop Rong Yu’s self-harming behavior, but feared that using too much force might hurt his master, leaving him at a loss.
Chu Tan said to Mo Shu, “Go find a physician. Leave him to me.”
“Right—find a physician! A physician! You keep an eye on the Young Master!” Mo Shu seemed to find his anchor, scrambling out of the room.
Chu Tan held Rong Yu tightly, using careful skill to pry the bitten, broken-skin fingers from his mouth, clasping them tightly in his palm. “We won’t drink it, won’t drink it anymore. Don’t struggle—I’ll listen to you. Tell me, what’s wrong? Okay?”
As though touching some sensitive nerve, Rong Yu suddenly jerked his head up, staring fixedly at Chu Tan. “You’ll listen to me?”
“Of course I’ll listen to you.” Chu Tan brushed aside Rong Yu’s disheveled hair, revealing that pale, lost face, and pressed a reverent kiss to his forehead.
“Has Your Grace forgotten? I am your dog.”
A brilliant light suddenly bloomed across Rong Yu’s face. He grabbed Chu Tan’s hand back, his eyes intensely bright—yet like glass that had been shattered and reassembled, twisted in some wrong way.
“Kill him. Kill him for me.”
Rong Yu sank back into his own world, muttering under his breath, “No—killing him is too easy. I want to torment him slowly…”
Chu Tan didn’t need to ask who. He pulled Rong Yu into his embrace, and deep within his pitch-black pupils burned a cold, mad intensity even darker than Rong Yu’s own. He said softly, “I will definitely kill him.”
【Author’s Note:】
Poor baby, wuwuwuwuwu