The long street was eerily silent.
Wang Baobao walked along the road, the sun beating down on him, making his head spin and his vision blur.
He still couldn’t believe it—the man Kuang Xuexian had chosen as her husband through the embroidered ball toss was actually the emperor!
How could that be possible?
The ruler of an entire nation, going out of his way to catch a man’s embroidered ball. He had thought Kuang Xuexian’s decision to hold an embroidered ball toss to choose a husband was already unprecedented and unmatched, but he never imagined something even more shocking could happen!
Zhang Ji’s handsome, refined face flashed through his mind, the shadowy phoenix eyes growing clearer and clearer. Even under the blazing sun, Wang Baobao couldn’t help but shiver.
What was the emperor planning?
The thought of this bloodthirsty tyrant disguising himself as an ordinary man, now playing the role of a live-in husband in Kuang Xuexian’s home, sent chills down his spine!
It was as if a ferocious beast was sleeping in Kuang Xuexian’s bed, and she had no idea! The sun left him dizzy and disoriented, and he realized that even if he could see Kuang Xuexian, the fearsome dragon was likely in her home. What could he possibly do?
If he truly angered the emperor, he might be willing to die for his friend, but he still had an entire family behind him.
He returned home, his heart burning with anxiety, and spent the day there.
That evening, the wife of the Western Capital’s governor arrived at their home in a small sedan chair, and she and his sister, both noblewomen, embraced each other and wept bitterly.
They both agreed that the emperor was cruel and temperamental, unpredictable in his moods. Their husbands had done nothing wrong, yet they were being used as scapegoats. Now, with such a major incident unfolding, they feared their husbands would lose their heads.
They had been living comfortable, happy lives in the Western Capital, but because the emperor had suddenly arrived without warning, their families were now on the brink of ruin! They also recounted the emperor’s bloody rampage in Jiantai years ago, the rumors still vivid in their minds.
After listening to them, Wang Baobao felt that Kuang Xuexian could die at any moment! This was a bloodthirsty emperor with a heart as venomous as a snake! With such a major incident unfolding, he even began to wonder whether Kuang Xuexian was still alive.
By the next day, he could no longer bear the torment of his conscience.
Though he had no idea what he could do—after all, the other party was the most powerful man in the world, the emperor, a monstrous tyrant—he couldn’t simply pretend nothing had happened.
So, gritting his teeth, he set off for the Kuang residence.
At the very least, he had to see for himself!
As he passed the high slope outside the temporary palace, he saw a large number of soldiers and horses gathered there, likely troops stationed outside the Western Capital.
Seeing this display of force, his heart grew even more tense. Before, the emperor had been nothing more than a figure in rumors. When people spoke of his cruelty, Wang Baobao could even join in with a few complaints, since the emperor was far away and had little to do with his own life.
But now, the word “emperor” had suddenly become all too real.
He suddenly remembered that he had spoken ill of the emperor right to his face!
Perhaps he, too, would face retribution sooner or later! Wang Baobao steeled himself and pressed forward. He had to see how Kuang Xuexian was doing!
The area around the Kuang residence was slightly more populated than the main city district. Occasionally, he saw pedestrians on the streets, but there were no patrolling soldiers or officials. It seemed no different from usual—there were even vegetable vendors pushing carts and hawking their goods.
But… That made it even more terrifying!
Clearly, some mysterious force was maintaining the normalcy of this small area, creating the illusion that everything was as it should be. He even suspected that the vendor was an official in disguise!
There were many people buying vegetables in front of the vendor’s cart. He kept his head down as he passed by. Today, he had tried his best to dress inconspicuously, but being a young master from a wealthy family, he was still instantly recognized by these people as a child of privilege. At this time, everyone was highly wary of unfamiliar young nobles, and for a moment, they all fell silent, watching him intently!
Just then, he heard a familiar voice call out, “Bobo, what are you doing here?!”
He turned his head and saw Kuang Xuexian buying vegetables.
His heart trembled, and he almost burst into tears. Having stayed up all night, seeing Kuang Xuexian now filled him with overwhelming emotion. Just as he was about to run over, he noticed a plump, fair-skinned man standing beside Kuang Xuexian, holding a vegetable basket.
It was Li Qing!
Wang Bobo said, “I came to buy vegetables.”
Kuang Xuexian hurried over, “I was just thinking of visiting you after lunch.”
Ordinary people like them had limited access to information. Wang Bobo had a brother-in-law who served as deputy garrison commander, so he was likely to know more about the developments. Kuang Xuexian was mainly worried that the investigation might target outsiders, affecting Li Qing and his servant.
Wang Bobo pursed his lips and glanced at Li Qing, only to see him still wearing that gentle, smiling expression. “Greetings, Master Wang.”
Ahhh, a devil!
He nodded, forcing himself to appear calm. “Good, good.”
Kuang Xuexian said, “We came out to buy some vegetables. Let’s go, we can talk at home.”
The three of them walked home together. Once they were out of the crowd, Kuang Xuexian suddenly whispered to him, “There are many unfamiliar faces here, like government officials.”
Wang Bobo: “”
He looked at Kuang Xuexian, trying to read something from his expression.
Kuang Xuexian asked him, “How are things over at your place?”
“It’s still under strict lockdown, with officials everywhere.” He lowered his voice and probed cautiously, “What unfamiliar faces?”
Then he saw Li Qing smiling as he looked over and said, “Probably officials sent down to investigate the population. As an outsider, I was questioned a few times when I went out today.”
Given the current alarming situation, Li Qing was uneasy and had ultimately strengthened security around the area. However, it was difficult to completely conceal the movements now. Rather than letting Kuang Xuexian notice on his own, it was better for him to play the thief crying “stop thief.” With such a major case, outsiders were naturally the primary targets of investigation.
Wang Bobo felt that Li Qing was like someone wearing a ghost doll mask. The kind of plump doll mask, smiling even more chillingly. In a way, he thought this servant didn’t seem like a servant but rather like a ghostly official, and the emperor didn’t seem like an emperor but more like the King of Hell!
Their master and servant had merely temporarily taken human form to blend in among the living. He was extremely cautious and anxious the entire way. The closer they got to Kuang Xuexian’s home, the more terrifyingly silent the surroundings felt. Just then, a few crows circled in the sky, their cawing making his legs go weak.
The Wang family was a prominent clan in Zhouzhou. After following his sister to Shuangluan City, they became relatives of high-ranking officials. Wherever they went, they were arrogant and unrestrained. But now, in the face of absolute power, he instantly felt as insignificant as an ant.
Kuang Xuexian also noticed the crows in the sky.
He looked up and said to Wang Bobo, “There really have been a lot more crows around here lately, cawing incessantly. They seem to have flown over from the imperial retreat. I just heard someone say they’re all raised by the emperor.”
Wang Bobo pursed his lips and stole a glance at Li Qing. “Is that so…”
Kuang Xuexian nodded and said, “They say that when the emperor was born, a flock of crows landed on the roof of the Autumn Spirit Palace. Because of this, the emperor has a particular fondness for crows.”
Wang Baobao was beginning to regret coming: “Well, rumors aren’t always reliable”
Alright, he had actually heard about this too. But the version he heard wasn’t about crows. It was said that when the current emperor was born, a strange bird, as tall as a person, landed outside the Autumn Spirit Palace where Empress Zhang lived. That bizarre bird had a snake-like head and crimson eyes, standing silently on the eaves of the Autumn Spirit Palace, unmoving no matter how the palace attendants tried to drive it away.
In short, it was an ominous sign. This was one of the reasons why the deposed emperor imprisoned his younger brother back then.
It was said that when His Majesty was first imprisoned on Shuocao Island, an exorcism ritual was performed daily.
Two days ago, when they were chatting at home about the emperor, they also discussed these strange tales surrounding him. His brother-in-law, Su Hui, said that based on his analysis, it likely wasn’t a strange bird or crows, but a phoenix!
Because the phoenix is a divine bird with features like a chicken’s head, a snake’s neck, and a fish’s tail.
“So it should have been an auspicious sign. It’s just that the deposed emperor feared His Majesty at the time, so he falsely labeled it as an ill omen!”
Was it really a false accusation? Wang Baobao looked up again at the crows circling in the sky. Their master was not far ahead!
“What’s wrong with you?” Kuang Xuexian asked.
“Huh?”
“Why do you look so haggard and so quiet. Is your brother-in-law alright?”
Wang Baobao said, “He’s fine for now, he’s fine. I just didn’t sleep well.”
Kuang Xuexian patted his shoulder. It was clear that everyone was afraid of the emperor. Even the unruly Master Wang seemed like a completely different person now.
Before they even reached Kuang Xuexian’s home, Wang Baobao only saw that pitch-black gate and felt a chill run through his body!
Li Qing walked ahead and pushed open the door. A couple of cat meows came from inside the courtyard. Kuang Xuexian entered before him: “Hey, where did this little cat come from?”
That familiar gentle voice came through: “I don’t know where this stray came from. I fed it a little something. Weren’t you just saying the other day while shopping that you wanted to keep a little cat or dog?”
Wang Baobao’s legs felt weak as he stepped over the threshold and saw Zhang Ji, draped in a violet-grass patterned cloak, picking up the cat.
No, not Zhang Ji anymore.
It was that tyrant rumored to slaughter entire families.
With slightly lowered phoenix eyes and long brows extending toward his temples—perhaps because Wang Baobao now knew his true nature—he felt increasingly that those eyes carried a sinister air.
But that face was truly young and fair, exquisitely handsome.
“We have a guest,” he said lightly, raising an eyebrow, his slender fingers gently stroking the black cat in his arms.
Kuang Xuexian moved closer. Standing beside the emperor, he appeared even more slender, cool, and pristine. A smile played at the corner of the emperor’s lips as he gently showed the cat in his arms to Kuang Xuexian, saying, “This little cat isn’t afraid of people.”
In the sunlight, his fine appearance was not overshadowed even next to a beauty like Kuang Xuexian, who was as icy and pure as snow. Looking at him alone, it seemed as if all the rumors of his tyranny were lies.
The so-called “jade-faced demon” probably wasn’t far from this.