The So-Called Outburst
Just when Xiao Han thought the plot was heading in the most sinister direction, the Prince of Wen suddenly stopped and hurriedly comforted the aggrieved and helpless Zhuo Fan, “I’m sorry, I acted rashly and didn’t consider your feelings.”
With Wen Muyan’s figure blocking his view, Xiao Han couldn’t see Zhuo Fan’s expression, but it was probably that awkwardly proud look again. This poor supporting character was truly pitiful. He didn’t get what he wanted here, and a few hours later, Zhuo Fan would be forced into the palace by an imperial decree. From then on, it would be a series of humiliating scenes where the scorned lover grovels only to be met with a cold shoulder, while the devoted Prince of Wen gets nothing in return except being used as a pawn to provoke the emperor.
Thinking about the upcoming plot, Xiao Han couldn’t help but feel anxious for Wen Muyan.
Unfortunately, the gentle, devoted, and loyal Prince of Wen had already dressed Zhuo Fan with an apologetic face. After softly comforting him for a while, he left quickly, thoughtfully instructing his men to reattach the door to the Vice Minister’s bedroom.
Watching the Prince of Wen’s hurried departure, Xiao Han’s gaze was somewhat nuanced.
No matter what, the plot continued.
It was said that after the Qing Emperor returned to the palace, he flew into a rage in his chambers, then issued a decree in Changqing Hall, ordering Vice Minister Zhuo Fan to enter the palace immediately. If the Vice Minister was still unwell, he was to be carried in.
No matter how unwilling Zhuo Fan was, he was ultimately confined in the emperor’s chambers.
The Empress, who came upon hearing the news, was so furious she nearly ground her teeth to dust, accusing Zhuo Fan of seducing the emperor and bringing disaster to the nation. However, the Qing Emperor scolded her harshly in front of Zhuo Fan, ordering her to stay in Phoenix Rest Palace without stepping out, effectively confining her.
As for Mo Lan and the likes, they were told to stay out of the way. To be fair, it wasn’t really his fault. Who told him to have such a mocking face and to mock the wrong person?
From that point on, the Qing Emperor, who suddenly seemed to have a split personality, reformed and devoted himself solely to Zhuo Fan. Unfortunately, the esteemed Top Scholar had his dignity, and the emperor’s attempts to win him back were in vain!
The scorned lover wanted to climb into his bed for pleasure? If he dared to touch him, Zhuo Fan would starve himself or bite his tongue! Xiao Han wondered why Zhuo Fan didn’t defend his chastity to the death when the Prince of Wen kissed him?
If force didn’t work, then came the gentle approach, with nightly confessions of love? Zhuo Fan remained unmoved.
Neither hard nor soft approaches worked, so the emperor threatened with the Prince of Wen’s life? Zhuo Fan immediately panicked, his kind heart wavering! The Prince of Wen only loved him and did nothing wrong, how could the foolish emperor implicate the innocent… and so on, a thousand words and punctuation omitted.
The eunuchs serving in Changqing Hall said that the Qing Emperor was so furious he was beside himself, yet helpless against his beloved, constantly blaming himself, angry, sad, and full of regret, treating this fragile person with utmost care, fearing he would leave despite not yet recovering from his illness—what nonsense!
Are you still asleep? You guys are just too sweet.
As the saying goes, indulging in fantasies is momentarily satisfying, but it leads to disaster for the whole family.
What was the reality?
The Qing Emperor confined Zhuo Fan in the chambers, but there was only one dragon bed. At night, Xiao Han yawned and tried to climb into bed to sleep, while Zhuo Fan, with a look of resignation, said in a tragic tone, “If Your Majesty intends to force me, I cannot resist. I can only bite my tongue and die. All you will get is my corpse!”
After saying this, he closed his eyes, ready to die like a chaste martyr to protect what had already been violated by the Qing Emperor countless times.
But after waiting for a long time, the Qing Emperor made no move.
Zhuo Fan opened his eyes warily, only to see the Qing Emperor rolling his eyes impatiently and yawning, “Are you done? If you’re done, go sleep on the couch outside. I want the bed.”
“…”
Similarly, when the Qing Emperor saw Zhuo Fan losing his appetite day by day, he ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare a table full of delicacies, piling Zhuo Fan’s bowl high like a small mountain, and then—then he left Zhuo Fan alone and started enjoying the feast himself.
After finishing his meal and wiping his mouth, he saw that Zhuo Fan still stubbornly refused to eat and became furious, “Not eating, are you? If you don’t eat, I’ll bring the Prince of Wen into the palace and have him do it a hundred times!”
Zhuo Fan bit his lip and said indignantly, “Your Majesty, the Prince of Wen has done nothing to me. Why must you take your anger out on him just because he treats me well? Your love suffocates me…”
“…”
Suffocating, my foot! He’s the one suffocating!
Xiao Han suddenly felt he might have eaten too much earlier, as his stomach was feeling a bit queasy. It seemed he needed to call a physician.
Since Zhuo Fan entered the palace, quite some time had passed. Although he had to face that annoying presence every day, life was still bearable.
However, the script couldn’t possibly let Xiao Han continue to live freely.
To “bring together” the scorned lover and the reluctant beloved into a happy ending, daily “repentance and pursuit” by the scorned lover was not enough. External forces had to be used to stir things up.
As a result, Xiao Han felt a deep sense of frustration.
What was this so-called external force? The neighboring vassal states of the Qing Empire were conspiring together, and the Qing Emperor decided to lead the army himself and go to war!
The court was in an uproar, including Zhuo Fan. Although he didn’t want the Qing Emperor to be in danger, he couldn’t lower himself to ask the emperor not to go.
As the day of battle approached, Xiao Han maintained his imperial dignity, his expression calm as he rejected all petitions, while internally, his mind was filled with chaotic thoughts. He wished he could dig up the scriptwriter’s ancestors for making him feel this way!
Because he knew the plot related to himself, Xiao Han understood he wouldn’t die on the battlefield, but he would be shot through the chest by an enemy arrow, losing half his life even if he survived.
Xiao Han frowned, thinking bitterly. He wasn’t afraid of death, but he was afraid of pain. If they were going to torment him like this, they might as well make it quick.
But no matter how much he complained, that day was bound to come.
With his mind focused on the battlefield, the Qing Emperor didn’t notice another hidden plot. On the day he set out for war, Zhuo Fan, who was carefully kept in the chambers, received a visitor—none other than the Prince of Wen, who had meticulously planned to steal his beloved out of the palace.
“Prince of Wen, how… how did you get in?”
Seeing his beloved so thin, the Prince of Wen said with a pained heart, “Don’t worry about such trivial matters. Come with me quickly. The emperor has left the palace, it’s a good opportunity. The war is dangerous, and he may not return. I’ll take you far away. I don’t want this title or wealth anymore. We’ll live anonymously and never come back. What do you say?”
Zhuo Fan was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a long time. He shook his head instinctively, “Your Highness, I can’t… I can’t just watch the emperor in danger and do nothing. If you truly care for me, please grant me one unreasonable request!”
The Prince of Wen, who had finally decided to give up everything, didn’t show much surprise at being rejected. Wen Muyan just looked at Zhuo Fan numbly and forced a smile, “Go on.”
“I cannot leave the palace, but you can. Please, Your Highness, protect the emperor for me!”
“…”
Actually, the Qing Emperor hadn’t intended to eavesdrop on this conversation. It was just that before setting out for war, as the script required, he had picked a bouquet of plum blossoms to give to Zhuo Fan.
But the script had him think of Zhuo Fan after leaving the palace, growing more afraid of dying on the battlefield without expressing his feelings. Impulsively, he left the troops behind and ran back to present the bouquet along with a heartfelt farewell confession.
Originally, Xiao Han thought the script was just melodramatic, but it turned out this hidden plot was the script’s true intention.
Hearing Zhuo Fan’s heartfelt words, Xiao Han couldn’t help but sneer. If he had such feelings, why didn’t he express them when the person was there? Now that he’s gone, he starts acting all sentimental and pitiful?
He didn’t yet know that the real tragedy was for the supporting character. Because after this guy promised Zhuo Fan to protect the Qing Emperor, the ending would lead to him blocking the most fatal arrow for the emperor, dying on the battlefield.
Even in his dying moments, this guy would grab the Qing Emperor and leave a final message: If you don’t treat Zhuo Fan well, I’ll haunt you as a vengeful ghost!
See, how deeply devoted he is, giving everything for true love, even his life, without regret.
So when the half-dead Qing Emperor returned to court, knowing everything, Zhuo Fan would always keep the Prince of Wen in a special place in his heart—after all, he was the man who died for his happiness! How could he not be moved, saddened, and cherish him? If there were a next life, he would definitely kick the Qing Emperor aside and be with him!
Wen Muyan was silent for a very long time before he finally spoke with difficulty, “…Fine—like hell I will!”
“Do you think I’m some disposable item to be used and tossed aside? Even a supporting character has dignity!”
“I could have been a carefree prince, but I foolishly poured my heart out to a fool like you. All that charm, wealth, devotion, and cunning, all just to be a stepping stone in the end!”
“And what, live forever in your heart? Who cares about living in your heart? Does your heart have a bed, a fridge, or a toilet?”
“Who in their right mind would want to be with you in the next life? Please stay away from me next time, or I’ll go berserk!”
“Why should I always be the backup? Why should I die to save a rival in love?”
“Has your intelligence flown away like a butterfly?”
“Always acting like you’re so fragile, do you think you were a broken-winged chicken wing in your past life? Even if you prefer KFC in the end, you don’t have to shout for New Orleans wings in a McDonald’s! Have you considered McDonald’s feelings? Huh!”
Zhuo Fan was completely dumbfounded.
Xiao Han was also stunned, watching the usually gentle Wen Muyan transform into a roaring emperor in a second, then turn and leave the main hall with a satisfied look.
Then, as he finally processed what had happened, he burst into laughter. So McDonald’s and KFC were rivals, huh? Hahaha, wait, that wasn’t the point, hahaha—
Laughing like this, laughing like this, he laughed himself to death.