“Godfather…” Xie You stared blankly at Xie Anci.
“Was it you who cleaned my body yesterday?” Xie Anci leaned against the head of the bed, a faint smile curving on his stunningly beautiful face.
“Yes… rest assured, Godfather. No one but me knows what happened yesterday.” Xie You hurriedly explained.
Xie Anci nodded in satisfaction and rose, walking over to Xie You’s side.
His slender, fair fingers tapped lightly against his elbow, the tear mole beneath his eye glinting with a bloodthirsty light.
Xie Anci’s gaze turned toward the window. The weather was mild and sunny, everything peaceful.
A complete contrast to the tense atmosphere inside the room.
Xie You swallowed hard. Xie Anci standing silently beside him put immense pressure on him.
He couldn’t fathom his godfather’s thoughts.
Suddenly, Xie Anci let out a soft laugh. “Only you know?”
“Then if you died, wouldn’t no one know?” Xie Anci seized Xie You’s long hair, forcing his head up. Xie You winced at the pain, but only furrowed his brow without a word.
“Godfather, if you wish it, I can…” Xie You said with difficulty, drawing a dagger from his waist and pressing it against his own neck.
Xie Anci’s eyes froze for a moment, and he released him.
“Forget it. This time, I’ll let it go. From now on, you are not to touch me again.”
“You know I hate being touched by others.” Xie Anci looked at Xie You warningly.
Xie You’s heart twisted in pain. Xie Anci’s words hurt more than being killed.
Xie Anci only allowed Li Jinchen to touch him. Everyone else was an “other” even Xie You, who had accompanied him for over a decade, was no exception.
“That day, Godfather had a fever and was unconscious. I had no choice but to touch you. It won’t happen again.” Xie You said in a muffled voice.
“That’s fine. Come to think of it, I have you to thank for that.” Xie Anci sat in the chair by the window. Sunlight slanted into the antique-style room, gilding it with a layer of gold.
Xie You said nothing, standing obediently with his head lowered.
Xie Anci crossed his legs, his slender calves swaying gently in front of Xie You.
“What are you thinking about?” Xie Anci suddenly asked.
“Nothing. I was just thinking it’s good that you’ve woken up, Godfather.” Xie You replied dutifully.
“Heh… You must be very curious about what happened yesterday, aren’t you?” Xie Anci chuckled lowly, his laughter laced with mockery.
Xie You froze, his face turning ashen.
He didn’t want to know. It was enough that his godfather loved Li Jinchen, he didn’t want to know what had happened last night.
But Xie Anci paid no mind to what Xie You was thinking and said directly:
“Yesterday, I locked the Emperor up and forced him. He was disgusted, yet couldn’t suppress his body’s needs, seeking release from me over and over again.”
“Enough!” Xie You shouted, and the room instantly fell into dead silence.
Only after shouting did Xie You realize he had made a mistake. “I’m sorry, Godfather, I didn’t mean”
“Get out.” Xie Anci looked at Xie You without any emotion, his beautiful face betraying not a trace of feeling.
Xie You’s heart trembled. His godfather was angry, very angry at that.
“Godfather, I’m sorry.”
“Get out! Get out!” Xie Anci grabbed the teacup from the table and hurled it down.
Crash!
Ceramic shards exploded at Xie You’s feet.
“Yes. Xie You takes his leave.” Xie You hurried out, terrified of provoking Xie Anci further.
After Xie You left, only the wreckage remained in the room.
“Heh heh heh.” Xie Anci covered his face, laughing quietly.
What had he hoped to accomplish by telling Xie You all that?
Was he hoping Xie You would call him shameless, so his own conscience might feel a little lighter?
Or did he want to tell everyone that he had schemed so painstakingly and finally achieved his goal, only for Li Jinchen to still not love him?
Xie Anci didn’t know whether he was disgusting others, or disgusting himself.
The servants of the Regent’s residence had always been disciplined. Even in a situation like this, no one dared come to pry.
Xie Anci lay back on the bed in a daze. He hadn’t intended to sleep, yet he sank into a deep slumber.
He slept all the way until nightfall.
A full moon hung high in the sky, the moon bright and the stars sparse.
The Regent’s residence had fallen into utter stillness.
Xie Anci draped an outer robe over himself and stepped outside. The moment he opened the door, he saw the steward waiting nearby.
Seeing Xie Anci emerge, the steward hurried forward, a kindly smile on his face.
“My lord, you’re awake? Would you like something to eat?” The steward’s face was full of warmth.
“No need. I’m not hungry.” When Xie Anci saw the steward, the expression on his face eased somewhat, even revealing a trace of gentleness.
“Uncle Zhang, have you been standing here all this time?” Xie Anci asked.
The steward of the Regent’s residence was surnamed Zhang; later, the old prince had given him a name, Zhang Ping’an.
It was meant to wish him peace and a smooth life.
Xie Anci had called him Uncle Zhang since childhood, and it had simply become habit.
“No, no. I just thought that since you’ve slept all day, my lord, you might be hungry.” Uncle Zhang waved his hands repeatedly.
Xie Anci disliked having servants hovering around him, so there were hardly any attendants in his quarters.
Only Uncle Zhang dared come by occasionally to check on him.
“Uncle Zhang, the whole world calls me a treacherous minister. I’m afraid I’ve even ruined my father’s good name. Whenever I think of that, I feel I won’t have the face to see my father and mother even after death.”
Xie Anci let out a long sigh and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
“My lord, you’re still young. Why are you thinking of death?”
“Besides, what does it matter if the world curses you and spits on you? As long as you have a clear conscience, my lord, that’s what counts.” Uncle Zhang wasn’t good with fine words; he only knew that the Xie Anci in his heart was a truly remarkable man.
“A clear conscience, how nicely put.” Xie Anci smiled.
He had been involved in politics for so many years; there were inevitably people he had wronged.
Now Li Jinchen had summoned Gu Lingyu back precisely to deal with him.
His worst ending wouldn’t be death, it would be a fate worse than death.
Xie Anci closed his eyes. No one knew the bitterness in his heart, and he would never show his vulnerability to anyone.
Everything could only be left to time. How he wished Li Jinchen might suddenly come to his senses, if he could fall for him even a little, all these years of effort would not have been in vain.
But Xie Anci knew that was impossible.
If Li Jinchen ever learned what he had done to his beloved, Zhou Yunqing, he would never forgive him.
“Nothing else. Uncle Zhang, go back and rest early.” Xie Anci turned his head and said gently.
“Oh, all right. Take care of yourself, my lord. If you get hungry, have the small kitchen make you something.” Uncle Zhang instructed him worriedly.
“Mm. Rest assured, Uncle Zhang.” Xie Anci nodded, watching him leave.
A dark shadow flitted across the roof of the Regent’s residence, and Xie Anci was instantly alert.
Who was bold enough to dare intrude upon his residence?
His gaze sharpened, and Xie Anci leaped up onto the roof.
Though Xie Anci disliked having servants attend him, the residence was heavily guarded.
Otherwise, with so many people who despised him, he would have been killed long ago.
Xie Anci stood on the rooftop, somewhat surprised, the man in black had actually come to a stop several zhang away, staring steadily at him.