Due to Chu Xunsheng’s desperate justifications, everything remained peaceful. The Emperor did not bite his lips until they were swollen for two days, did not press him against a cold desk until he was aching and sore, nor did he paw at him to vent his dissatisfaction.
Chu Xunsheng licked the corner of his chapped lip; it was so numb he could no longer feel any pain.
Good, very good.
The Emperor, sitting high on the dais, seemed to cast his gaze this way. Chu Xunsheng felt a highly intentional stare focus on him, slowly moving upward to fixate on his chapped lips. He couldn’t help but purse his lips and lower his head.
The few officials beside him were still bickering incessantly about some incident; their noisy clamor actually made Chu Xunsheng feel a bit more at ease.
With the entire civil and military court present, he couldn’t possibly act rashly, right?
Just as he was thinking this, the voices beside him gradually faded, followed by the shrill voice of the chief eunuch at the Emperor’s side: “Nothing further? Dismiss the court.”
Chu Xunsheng hurriedly stood up to leave, only to have that shrill voice pierce the air once more: “Lord Chu, please stay behind.”
As expected.
He could only watch helplessly as the other ministers strode out of the solemn courtroom with joyful steps, while he was forced to stand rooted to the spot.
Once every minister had departed, the chief eunuch efficiently dismissed the surrounding palace maids and guards, closed the great hall doors, and left.
The heavy doors groaned as they shut. The exalted Emperor stood up from the dragon throne and walked toward Chu Xunsheng step by step.
The complex, layered garments of the Emperor made a soft rustling sound as he walked, underscored by the crisp clinking of his jade pendant.
Chu Xunsheng kept his head low, saying nothing.
Fine, fine, here we go again.
The next second, he was swept into the arms of the Emperor, who was dressed in profound black and wearing a golden mask. Soft lips pressed against his, and a nimble tongue greedily bit and sucked at him.
His already fragile lips felt even more numb. Only when Chu Xunsheng felt himself suffocating did he reflexively push the Emperor away.
The kiss ended, and both were left gasping for air.
Ji Yan breathed heavily, his thumb rubbing against the chapped corner of Chu Xunsheng’s lip.
Chu Xunsheng looked up at the Emperor’s hand, adorned with an emerald thumb ring, and turned his head aside. He caught a glimpse of himself reflected in a pillar—his clothes in disarray, his lips flushed red as if about to bleed.
He looked back at the Emperor before him, immaculately dressed in a black cloak with a golden mask concealing his expression. Only from the smiling eyes and the slightly curled corners of his lips could one discern the owner’s pleasant mood.
Chu Xunsheng’s anger flared up. Disregarding his own status, he said coldly, “Your Majesty has a fine hobby.”
Ji Yan stroked his long hair and said leisurely, “Lord Chu is unwilling?”
Chu Xunsheng spoke coldly, his voice like shards of ice: “A subject must obey his sovereign, even if ordered to die, let alone endure a little humiliation.”
The Emperor’s expression chilled. The opulent palace seemed to turn cold instantly, causing Chu Xunsheng to shiver.
“Lord Chu considers this humiliation?”
What else would it be? Chu Xunsheng was about to speak, but the furious Emperor grabbed him and fiercely blocked the mouth that spoke things he didn’t like.
Chu Xunsheng walked out of the palace with a blank expression, clutching his red, swollen mouth.
For some reason, every time he was forced into a passionate kiss by the Emperor, a strong sense of guilt arose in his heart, as if he were cheating on a beloved wife.
When he returned to the small cabin and ran into A-Yan, who was watering the flowers in white robes, this feeling reached its peak.
A-Yan, wearing white with his sleeves slightly rolled up, was bent over watering the flowers. He wasn’t wearing much, looking exceptionally lean.
Perhaps hearing someone approach, the beauty looked up at Chu Xunsheng. He gave a gentle smile, the sunlight illuminating his face and casting a warm glow, possessing the tender, wifely gentleness of a spouse.
The guilt in Chu Xunsheng’s heart grew more intense.
Furthermore, A-Yan never questioned his swollen lips or shifty eyes; at most, he would simply plant a light, swift peck on the corner of his mouth.
It formed a stark contrast to the Emperor, who seemed eager to kiss him until he suffocated.
The system was often moved to tears by such gentle gestures. Having successfully transformed into a small gray cat, it was constantly fed by the beauty, gradually becoming a supporter of the beauty and a firm anti-fan of the tyrannical Emperor.
Of course, what it liked most was its own Little Chu.
Yes, thanks to the Emperor’s impatient self-exposure, the man-system pair had successfully tracked down the flower-thief who had bitten Chu Xunsheng’s tongue, allowing the system to gain a physical form, though at a painful price.
Chu Xunsheng left the palace in low spirits and arrived at the small cabin. It was empty. A-Yan wasn’t there; he always liked running around, so Chu Xunsheng didn’t pay it much mind. He fertilized and loosened the soil for the radishes and luffas, chopped some firewood for the courtyard eaves, and it wasn’t until night fell that he sauntered back to Prince Jing’s estate.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, the old steward rushed over with a tear-stained face, crying and complaining.
Chu Xunsheng helped him up and asked softly, “What happened?”
“Sob… Lord Chu… Young Master, he just offended His Majesty in the palace and was taken away by Lord Zhang…”
Xiao Jing offended His Majesty?
Chu Xunsheng frowned, “Where is he now?”
“Probably at the Court of Judicial Review… His Majesty ordered this old servant to call you once you returned…”
How could this happen?
Chu Xunsheng hurriedly boarded a carriage for the Court of Judicial Review, furrowing his brows and deep in thought along the way.
Prince Jing had been biding his time for far too long to be this reckless right now. Why would he suddenly offend the Emperor?
This wasn’t how the plot was supposed to go. To avoid failing again, Chu Xunsheng had to ensure Prince Jing didn’t suffer any mishaps at this stage.
At the Court of Judicial Review.
The solemn main hall was incredibly austere. Zhang Ye sat below without a word, while the Emperor sat on high. The mask-covered face gave away no expression, his gaze deep and chilling.
Ji Jing was bound hand and foot below, also silent, lost in thought.
He didn’t know what he should do now.
He firmly believed that he would eventually become Emperor, firmly believing that one day he would drag his imperial brother—who dared not show his true face—off the throne. But not now.
Ji Jing admitted he had been a bit reckless.
When the dark guard told him there were people from the Emperor in the cabin, when he finally realized where he had smelled that familiar scent, when he came to the imperial court to meet his uncle after the morning session and saw his only relative embracing his most hated enemy, he had lost his rationality completely.
Back then, his uncle had left covering his mouth. It was only long after that the Emperor had emerged from the hall, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
Ji Jing felt his fists clench with blood-pumping rage. He charged forward, intending to throw a punch. Such an irrational action was, predictably, intercepted by the guards nearby.
Ji Jing remembered clearly his imperial brother’s look of contempt and the way he touched his own lips in a gesture of showy triumph.
How… how dare he?
That scumbag!
His uncle—the one he didn’t dare to touch, the uncle he felt was an insult to even imagine in his own mind—had been pinned against a pillar by his most hated enemy like this. His eyes were flushed red, his lips entangled, completely devoid of his usual aloofness.
And… that was his only relative! That was his uncle! By what right did that lowborn bastard steal him away?
Ji Jing had never revealed his ambitions to his uncle, but he had firmly believed that his uncle would stand by his side without hesitation. But… what if this bastard had seduced his uncle?
What if his uncle wasn’t willing to support him? What if his uncle were to stand on the opposite side of him?
Ji Jing could barely imagine it.
Uncle… would he look at him with disappointment, coldly spitting out words that would turn his blood to ice?
Whenever Ji Jing thought of such a scenario, he felt his breathing hitch. He didn’t know what attitude his uncle would have when he arrived, so he could only wait anxiously.
During their long, silent standoff, the hall doors slowly opened.
Ji Jing lifted his head and saw his uncle, the person he had been yearning for, walking toward him, his brows tightly furrowed in displeasure.
Ji Jing’s heart contracted. He clenched his nails so tightly that deep red marks remained on his palms. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but finally shut it in despondency.
Chu Xunsheng stepped into the hall. Three gazes converged on him. He first knelt to untie the hemp rope binding his nephew, then dropped to his knees with a loud thwack that echoed through the solemn hall.
The Emperor, seated high above on the throne, hurried down to feebly support him, “My loyal subject need not kneel.”
Chu Xunsheng shook his head, saying firmly, “My nephew has committed a fault, and it is my failure in discipline. I should be punished alongside him.”
Ji Jing’s eyes widened: “Uncle…”
Chu Xunsheng cut him off, continuing to look into the Emperor’s deep, ink-cloud-churning eyes, saying loudly: “My sister entrusted Xiao Jing to my care. I should take responsibility for all his crimes.”
Ji Yan laughed out of sheer fury, his voice icy cold: “How does my loyal subject wish to take responsibility?”
Chu Xunsheng answered clearly: “I will take Xiao Jing back to Yongzhou, and we shall never enter the capital again in this life.”
The moment he spoke, silence filled the hall. One could only hear the faint breathing of those present; if a needle dropped to the ground, it could be captured with precision.
Terrifying silence.
Chu Xunsheng threw Ji Jing a look that meant don’t be afraid.
His Majesty won’t let us leave. Don’t worry, Xiao Jing, your grand cause can still proceed.
As expected, Ji Yan let out a cold snort from his throat and flung his sleeves violently. The items on the table clattered and fell, manifesting the Emperor’s rage.
A fine never enter the capital again in this life! Is such a burly, stupid Prince Jing worth this much trouble on your part? Do you have only this piece-of-shit Ji Jing in your heart? Could it be that all those days in the cabin left not a single trace in your heart? Even if you don’t care about Ji Yan, what is A-Yan to you? A beauty kept in the house to be toyed with whenever you like?
Ji Yan’s heart felt as if it were being sliced into pieces. Fury roared toward his nerve endings, making his blood boil.
I will never allow you to forget me and go off to live a happy, carefree life outside with your dear nephew!
“No need.” Ji Yan squeezed the words from his throat and asked coldly: “Does Lord Chu have not a single shred of affection for his monarch?”
Chu Xunsheng answered rigidly: “My heart toward Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon.”
Clear as the sun and moon? Without a shred of affection?
Heh.
The Emperor sneered: “Since you insist on taking the punishment for your nephew, I will punish you—”
He leaned in toward Chu Xunsheng’s ear, his pitch-black eyes deep, as if brewing a storm, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“I will punish you by making you please me. If I am pleased, I will stop pursuing Prince Jing’s transgressions.”