Having resided in the Cining Palace for some time, the days slipped by quietly until the arrival of the Moon-Chasing Festival.
A full moon hung high in the night sky, its brilliant light illuminating the entire Imperial Palace. The majestic palace was a scene of splendor, filled with the sounds of music, song, and an extravagant banquet of delicacies.
Amidst the dazzling lights, Li Jue, dressed in exquisite finery, began to perform a dance before the Emperor upon the throne. His movements were enchanting and graceful. As if catching the Emperor’s gaze, he cast a sultry, flirtatious look back at him.
Seeing this, the courtiers hurried to heap praise upon the Emperor, flattering him about the deep and unwavering love between him and the Noble Consort. However, Xi Huai felt a chill run down his spine; that seemingly affectionate gaze reminded him of being at the bottom of the cliff.
Terrified, Xi Huai broke into a cold sweat and immediately averted his gaze, only to lock eyes with Xiao Yuan. Xiao Yuan’s pupils dilated slightly, and he looked so excited that a flush of obsession appeared on his cheeks.
Xi Huai: “…” Don’t look at me, brother. Why do you look like you are about to rush up here, just like Li Jue?
He turned his eyes away again, only to inadvertently lock gazes with Wen Yulin.
Wen Yulin’s eyes rippled with tenderness as he called his name, “Ah Huai.”
Xi Huai was startled, momentarily stunned, wondering what devious plan Wen Yulin was hatching. Wen Yulin was busy serving him food and, seeing him look over, revealed a satisfied smile.
“It is nothing. I only wished to tell you not to fixate on the Noble Consort, Li. Remember to eat; do not become lost in female charms.”
Xi Huai understood the subtext. This was a veiled way of calling him a lecher, a massive misunderstanding, as he had absolutely no romantic intentions toward Li Jue.
He had no choice but to feign deep affection and explain with feigned sorrow, “This son is merely feeling a bit sad. During the days I was ill, the Noble Consort never even came to visit me.”
“It is clear that the Noble Consort once claimed I was his beloved, and that his devotion to me was set in stone. Yet, since we returned from the autumn hunt, he has not visited me once.”
“Forget it. The world is filled with fickle people; it was I who forced the issue.”
Wen Yulin, don’t think I do not know that you were the one who forbade anyone from seeing me. Whether it was Li Jue or Xiao Yuan, both had likely come to the Cining Palace multiple times. Not to mention that when he left the morning court, he was escorted by guards and never had the chance to see anyone.
Wen Yulin actually frowned, looking rather displeased. Xi Huai stiffened, vaguely catching a glimpse of the truth. Immediately, he heard a cold, unpleasant voice: “Do you truly fancy Li Wan?”
Xi Huai’s ears turned red, and he pretended to cover his tracks. “Mother Empress, I do not.”
“I only realized how resilient the Noble Consort was after we fell off the cliff together.”
“He is different from other women. He is cheerful, gentle, yet possesses a valiant spirit.”
He is also dark, mother-obsessed, and wants to kill me.
“He made me realize his uniqueness.”
He made me realize what a psychopath looks like.
“That is why I unconsciously found my eyes following him.”
Following him, watching him, so that he has no opportunity to kill me.
Wen Yulin did not speak, but his face turned black as coal. Xi Huai realized his temper; as expected, he did not like him talking about Li Jue.
After a long while, Wen Yulin sighed with guilt. “It is all the fault of this Empress for failing to protect you initially. However, tonight, I will certainly give you justice.”
Xi Huai: “Justice?”
Wen Yulin remained silent. He truly did not care much about Li Wan, but the mere thought of his child genuinely fancying Li Wan stirred strange, complex emotions within him. He could not understand his own mood; he only felt an uncontrollable jealousy.
Ah Huai, his Ah Huai. He had not wanted him to know these things. But if knowing them could make him turn back, then anything would suffice.
In the Side Courtyard
Far from the noise, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds. The full moon hanging in the sky was obscured by dark clouds, making the silent courtyard feel even gloomier.
It was not until the servants lit the palace lanterns that the dim courtyard was illuminated by an orange glow, revealing the empty space to Xi Huai.
Suddenly, Wen Yulin’s cold voice rang out in the courtyard: “Bring out the assassins who attempted to kill Ah Huai at the hunting grounds.”
Before Xi Huai could react, he saw the guards dragging out a group of men in black. He shivered, instinctively sensing that something was wrong. What was Wen Yulin planning?
Wen Yulin smiled at him before turning to scrutinize the assassins crawling on the ground.
“So what if the Regent protects them? I have plenty of ways to capture the ones who tried to assassinate you.”
“The Regent?”
“Silly child,” Wen Yulin turned and reached out with pity to stroke his cheek. “The assassins were all sent by Xiao Yuan.”
“Xiao Yuan covets the throne and has always harbored ill intentions toward the Emperor. Is it possible that Your Majesty has been completely unaware until now?”
Xi Huai had already known. Before he fell off the cliff, his flickering consciousness had caught a glimpse of Xiao Yuan’s plot. But so what? You wanted to kill the little Emperor earlier; how are you any different from Xiao Yuan?
Xi Huai wore a dazed expression of shock, which caused Wen Yulin to withdraw his hand and look back at the assassins.
Wen Yulin’s expression was now severe and solemn. He had shed his previous gentle disguise, replaced by a cold, decisive intent for slaughter.
Before Xi Huai could even collect his thoughts, he heard Wen Yulin suddenly say: “Kill them.”
In the next moment, hot blood splashed onto his hem.
The assassins were dead. They had not even had the chance to beg for mercy before the guards decapitated them.
Xi Huai froze. His spine felt cold, and cold sweat finally dampened his clothes. Living in a modern, peaceful society, he did not understand the hierarchy of nobility or the cheapness of human life. But now, people had died right in front of him.
“Ah Huai, no one will dare touch you now.”
Wen Yulin’s gentle voice sounded in his ear. But to Xi Huai, the voice sounded terrifyingly cold. He felt suffocated, questioning whether his plan to avenge Li Jue was even correct.
He trembled, forcing a dry smile. “With Mother Empress here, I am naturally relieved. It is just a pity that Ah Wan is not here.”
“Li Wan?” Wen Yulin asked with suspicion, the smile on his face stretching even wider.
“The assassins forced Ah Wan and me off the cliff. Mother Empress has helped us seek revenge.”
Xi Huai examined Wen Yulin’s expression. His face was full of smiles, yet his eyes were so deep that no emotion could be discerned. Every time Xi Huai spoke a word, Wen Yulin’s smile widened further, until he finally reached out to brush away the loose strands of hair on Xi Huai’s forehead.
“Your Majesty, as the ruler of the Great Qing, do not be shackled by the romantic trifles of children. You should be like the late Emperor; never let your joy or anger show on your face.”
He sounded just like a strict mother educating her child not to make friends with the wrong people. It was a suffocating gesture, but Xi Huai put on the facade of a foolish tyrant.
“I am the Emperor; who would dare criticize me?” He lifted his chin arrogantly, avoiding Wen Yulin’s hand.
Wen Yulin asked indifferently, “What if Li Wan is not the person you imagine him to be?”
Xi Huai paused. He looked up to find Wen Yulin watching him, his upturned eyes filled with a condescending sense of complete insight.
It was as if he were looking at an innocent, ignorant child. He smiled kindly. “The Li family appears to be upright, but in reality, they have slaughtered entire merchant families for wealth.”
“Even the assassins that appeared when you were conversing with Qin Mingjing were from Li Wan’s courtyard. Even so, does Your Majesty still like Li Wan?”
“That is impossible!”
So, Wen Yulin had already investigated the assassins. He knew they were connected to Li Jue, yet before the autumn hunt, he had never told him.
Xi Huai feigned intense shock, while internally thinking: You are all birds of a feather! What difference is there between you? Do you not all want to kill him?
“It is only natural that you were unaware.” Wen Yulin’s gaze was full of pity and sympathy, his voice sounding warmer than ever. “How could Li Wan let Your Majesty know? How pitiful, Your Majesty has been deceived.”
Xi Huai: “…”
It is not that miserable; it is just acting. It seemed his acting was good enough to fool even Wen Yulin.
Xi Huai put on a look of betrayal. Under Wen Yulin’s gaze, he collapsed to the ground, tears falling. “I have never liked anyone before, but he actually lied to me! How dare he? How dare he toy with my feelings?”
Xi Huai acted with such heartbreaking agony, as if he truly had feelings for Li Wan, that Wen Yulin’s expression darkened. He struggled to suppress his emotions and said, “Good child, I will settle this for you.”
“Settle it?”
“I will not permit anyone to harm Your Majesty. Since Li Wan has made you sad, the Li family will have to bear the consequences of my wrath.”
With that, Wen Yulin turned and left the side courtyard without looking back.
Left alone, the sorrow on Xi Huai’s face instantly faded. He stood up calmly, brushed the dirt off his knees, and stared ahead.
No one knew what he was looking at, but only he knew he was staring at his group chat.
[Palace Intrigue Supporting Character]: “So the Noble Consort assassinated the little Emperor just to get his family wiped out?”
Xi Huai did not deny it. “I plan to raid the Noble Consort’s family directly. He will not have to kill me then.”
[Palace Intrigue Supporting Character] did not quite agree: “This concubine thinks that is rather excessive.”
“Why?”
[Xianxia Supporting Character] offered a reminder: “Do not forget you are in a derivative BL novel.”
[Apocalypse Protagonist] added: “And you have the protagonist role of a heartthrob.”
Xi Huai was horrified, trembling, his nostrils flaring. Despite himself, he had to admit they were stating facts.
In particular, the [Derivative Novel Protagonist] said: “They will not kill you, because you are the heartthrob protagonist.”
[Palace Intrigue Supporting Character] sighed with deep emotion: “Now that you have recognized reality, what do you intend to do?”
“I…”
Xi Huai calmed down. Back when he thought he had transmigrated into a political drama as a disposable pawn, he had decided to fake his death. But now that he knew he was the heartthrob protagonist, why should he be submissive and work so hard to survive? He had much easier ways to achieve his goal and live the life of a slacker.
Just as Xi Huai was about to speak, Li Jue popped out from nowhere, wrapped his arms around his waist, and flashed a smile. “Your Majesty, I have not seen you in days, and you have grown quite plump.”