A chill struck Pei Yan’s heart, and a sudden wave of cold sweat broke out all over him.
Panicking, he turned around to look at Xiao Jing’an standing amidst the dim shadows.
“You need not punish me. I will behave and be obedient from now on, and I shall never dare to displease you again.”
“Too late.”
Xiao Jing’an spat out two simple, icy words.
Pei Yan’s feet instinctively stepped backward.
He wanted to put some distance between himself and this terrifying man who resembled a dark aristocrat and inspired awe.
Yet for every step Pei Yan retreated, Xiao Jing’an pressed forward by one step.
Under his step-by-step advance, Pei Yan found himself with nowhere left to retreat.
His lean and slender frame pressed tightly against the cold, hard wall.
The chill emanating from the wall surface seeped through his clothing and into his skin.
Pei Yan’s body trembled slightly and involuntarily.
At this moment, he was like a trapped lamb facing an approaching fierce wolf, completely devoid of any power to resist.
“Your Majesty.”
Pei Yan suddenly uttered these two words.
Xiao Jing’an’s expression stalled for a split second as he stopped right before him, the two of them seemingly able to feel each other’s breath: “Tired of living.”
“Even if I were to be killed right now, you would still be the true Son of Heaven.”
“Do not attempt to divert my attention. Today, I will certainly not let you off.”
As they spoke, a throwing dagger materialized in Xiao Jing’an’s hand.
Pei Yan stared blankly at the throwing dagger with its dual purposes in Xiao Jing’an’s hand, losing his focus for a moment.
“Shall we strike another bargain today?”
“A bargain?” Xiao Jing’an frowned.
Pei Yan hurriedly said: “You unconditionally forgive me this once, and I will give you a secret that can definitely help you ascend the imperial throne in the future.”
Xiao Jing’an sneered: “You certainly have plenty of secrets.”
Seeing that Xiao Jing’an had no intention of harming him, Pei Yan pinched the corner of his sleeve and gently wiped away the sweat on his forehead: “You agree?”
“Speak.”
Left with no other choice, Pei Yan could only say: “Back when troops were stationed in the military camp of the northern border, there were spies from the barbarian tribes.”
He produced a yellowed booklet and handed it to Xiao Jing’an.
“You are aware that my mother was from the northern border. Her cousin was on duty in the camp back then to investigate the matter of the spies, and though he was later murdered, he left behind a small booklet. Knowing that my mother had once been close to a general in the imperial court, he hoped to use my mother to send this booklet to the court.”
At this, Pei Yan sighed.
“There were some things my mother was powerless to help with; she had long since lost contact with my father, especially since my father was thousands of miles away at the time, and the situation in the northern border had always been extremely complicated. If my mother had shown her face with this booklet, it would undoubtedly have brought down a fatal disaster upon her.”
Xiao Jing’an lowered his gaze and flipped open the yellowed booklet handed over by Pei Yan to read it.
Pei Yan continued: “Before my mother passed away, she handed this booklet to me and told me to give it to my father when I met him. Although it is more than a decade late, it at least fulfills her cousin’s dying entrustment.”
Pei Yan extended a fair hand, pointing to the names of two individuals within.
“I have read this booklet and gained some understanding of the people inside. Most of them have already been discovered to be spies and executed, but these two individuals are still alive and currently serving in the imperial court. If you inform your imperial father that these two are spies.”
When Pei Yan raised his hand, his wide cloud sleeves slipped down, revealing a section of jade-snow-like, delicate forearm.
Xiao Jing’an’s gaze fixed upon that glowing white forearm of his, dark undercurrents surging within his deep, unfathomable phoenix eyes as if pondering something.
As he finished speaking, Pei Yan thought to himself inwardly: He shouldn’t be able to figure out that I forged this booklet, right?
Lowering his gaze, Xiao Jing’an meticulously examined the booklet in his hand, deliberately cooperating with him to draw out his next inner voice as he remarked: “It is indeed a booklet with some age to it.”
Pei Yan breathed an unnoticeable sigh of relief and chimed in: “More than ten years, enough for the infants of that cycle to nearly grow up.”
Although he had no wish to become entangled with Xiao Jing’an again after his rebirth, things of the world were unpredictable, just like today, so he had to make preparations beforehand to ensure his own self-preservation.
In his past life, Pei Yan had coexisted with Xiao Jing’an for a full eight years and understood his temperament thoroughly.
Xiao Jing’an would never do anything without a purpose, nor would he assist anyone unconditionally and without return.
Therefore, just in case, he had fabricated this booklet and carried it with him at all times, ready for any emergency.
In one hand, Xiao Jing’an lightly twirled that throwing dagger, waiting for Pei Yan’s next inner voice.
Pei Yan’s back was still pressed tightly against the wall, yet the person before him showed not the slightest intention of moving away.
Standing face-to-face with him at such close quarters.
He could even clearly smell the faint, elusive cool fragrance lingering on the man.
Why is this tyrant still lingering here?
Could he be doubting the authenticity of the spies I revealed?
Remaining silent, Xiao Jing’an quietly listened to Pei Yan’s inner thoughts.
Twisting his fingers in the hem of his sleeve, Pei Yan spoke up: “Your subordinates are meticulous and swift; once they investigate those two spies in the booklet, they will quickly verify their identities and confirm that what I said is true.”
Uninterested in this remark, Xiao Jing’an still offered no response.
He kept Pei Yan pressed so closely against the wall that movement was nearly impossible.
Coupled with the fact that his stature was considerably taller and larger than Pei Yan’s.
This oppressive sensation made Pei Yan’s heart flutter with panic.
What on earth is the tyrant trying to do? What I just mentioned is something he will personally carry out six months from now, uncovering the spies, winning commendation from the old Emperor, thereby gaining deep trust from the old Emperor and laying the foundation for his future succession.
Xiao Jing’an’s gaze narrowed slightly, gradually turning dark, ominous, and brooding as it lingered over Pei Yan.
Pei Yan could truly no longer endure being forced tightly against the wall like a lamb ready for slaughter.
With his body pressed against the wall, he began to slowly slide sideways.
“I will investigate this matter.”
Xiao Jing’an finally broke the silence and spoke.
With two fingers moving like an agile snake, he pinched the sharp throwing dagger and slowly plunged it straight into the hard wall right beside Pei Yan’s ear.
The wall was pierced through as easily as if it were tofu.
Suddenly, a wave of chill surged straight up from Pei Yan’s spine, breaking out a cold sweat over his entire body.
His moving body instantly froze, not daring to make another twitch.
At the same time, Xiao Jing’an’s dangerous-sounding words rumbled heavily beside his ear.
“Pei Yan, between you and me, the initiative to dictate terms lies with me, not you, so.”