Chapter 48 His Majesty Exterminates the Clan
"How long has this lamp oil been sitting there? It stinks! It's disgusting!"
Lu Wensheng held the handkerchief he had used to wipe his fingers with disdain, unsure whether to throw it away or put it in his pocket.
Fine, I'll just keep it in my hand! I'll burn it as soon as I get out.
Frowning, Lu Wensheng suppressed his discomfort and used the long, thin candle in his hand to light the oil lamps on the wall one by one.
The light dispelled the gloomy darkness and revealed a variety of creepy jars to her.
The color drained from his face instantly, his heart pounded wildly as if it would explode in his chest at any moment, his limbs were stiff and numb, and his throat felt tight.
Run! She should run out immediately and pretend she was never there, never saw anything!
But his feet seemed to take root instantly, digging deep into the hard stone bricks, no longer obeying Lu Wensheng's commands.
The glass jar in the middle seems to contain Wang Minzhi's head. Since his eyelids and lips have been cut off, the thing next to his face was probably cut off from under his own body!
To make someone a eunuch after death—how twisted must one be to resort to such an outrageous method!
And that half-head in the jar next to it, with the forehead, eyes, and nose removed, leaving only the mouth and chin, is also quite an eyesore!
Skin, severed fingers, arms, leg bones... With so many human organs on display, is this a secret room built by a deranged killer?
Upon thinking about this, Lu Wensheng was startled.
"Hehehe!"
However, at that moment, three faint sounds entered Lu Wensheng's ear canal.
Why does that sound so much like Sadako's voice?!
I broke out in a cold sweat, and my back felt chilly.
Before she could wipe away the cold sweat, she turned around abruptly to look behind her, but found nothing.
Lu Wensheng: Calm down! Maybe it's just my imagination! I'm just too nervous!
In the dead silence, just as she had calmed herself down, an even louder and clearer "hohoho" sound appeared again.
Lu Wensheng immediately turned around and looked in the direction of the sound. He found a huge black and red curtain at the end of the secret room in the upper right corner, and the sound was coming from there.
A chill ran down Lu Wensheng's spine. He instinctively touched his sleeve, wanting to ask Xiao Yuan what was inside, but then he remembered that he had left in such a hurry that he hadn't taken Xiao Yuan with him.
What to do? Her damned curiosity! She's unwilling to leave, but she's scared to go in!
No, no!
Lu Wensheng, you're wearing a book, a restricted novel, not a ghost movie. And even if there are ghosts, they'll only be handsome male ghosts!
After figuring it out, Lu Wensheng rushed forward and tore down the gauze curtain.
The crisp sound of tearing fabric echoed through the sealed room.
The first thing that catches the eye is a round, bald head, followed by an incredibly familiar face—the face of the current emperor, Shen Rui!
Below this face, however, is not a human body, but a pure white jade vat.
Lu Wensheng was utterly astonished; his blood froze instantly, and the handkerchief in his hand fell to the ground.
A transmigration version of a human pig?!
"Your Majesty?!" Suddenly meeting Shen Rui's wide, angry eyes, Lu Wensheng couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "Why aren't you speaking? Have you been poisoned and rendered mute?"
Shen Rui shook the jade jar twice with all his might, and it continued to make a "hoho" sound.
Lu Wensheng looked closely and noticed that Shen Rui's tongue had been pulled out by the roots, and he could no longer speak.
She looked around in bewilderment.
There are three masters of the imperial city. It is known that Prince Su, Shen Zhao, is in Zhao Prison, and Shen Rui is in front of him. So, it is obvious who built this place!
She never expected that Shen Hegui, who looked like an immortal and treated people kindly, was actually a big pervert in private!
So he summoned her to Zhaowu Palace specifically to kill her? And then dismember her? He clearly promised her a large house yesterday, and just because she was late today, he wants to kill her?
This is absolutely absurd!
Lu Wensheng clasped his hands together and bowed to Shen Rui.
"Your Majesty! Wait for me to come back and save you! Whatever you do, don't tell Shen Hegui that I was here!"
While Shen Hegui was still in court, she had to run away immediately! As far away as possible! She would never come to Yanjing again!
Dropping the curtain in her hand, Lu Wensheng turned and was about to rush out.
"Ugh—!"
The next instant, the tip of her pert nose suddenly collided with a solid chest, the pain bringing tears to Lu Wensheng's eyes.
A cool and eerie voice whispered in my ear: "Why are you so naughty! You rummaged through my things while I was away and even found where I hid my spoils?"
Goosebumps stood on end. Lu Wensheng swallowed hard, his mouth overflowing with saliva, and explained in a trembling voice, "I...I was eating some dry biscuits...looking for some water, I didn't see anything, I swear!"
The cold, unwarm fingertips, like a snake's tongue, lightly brushed against the tiny goosebumps that had risen on her neck from fear, lingering all the way before finally stopping on her delicate chin.
"Didn't you see? You're just lying through your teeth!" Shen Hegui chuckled cryptically, his narrow eyes dark and deep. "Since you're looking for water, I can't blame you."
With a sudden, forceful pull of his long, slender fingers, Shen Hegui grabbed Lu Wensheng's chin and lifted it high, wiping away her tears with utter cruelty. His voice grew increasingly chilling: "Tell me, are these tears for Shen Rui? Or for those damned people on the shelf?"
The tears on Lu Wensheng's face are such an eyesore! And they just won't stop! If Lu Wensheng keeps crying like this, I might as well gouge out his eyes and keep them as a keepsake!
“Your Highness…” Her throat tightened.
Shen Hegui's smile is terrifying! Luckily, it was just a chin lift, not a chokehold. As long as he's still alive, there's still hope!
His hands, soaked with cold sweat, carefully gripped Shen Hegui's forearm.
Lu Wensheng forced himself to calm down and explained in a low voice, "My nose hurt from bumping into Your Highness, and my eye stings from being rubbed by Your Highness. I didn't cry, I'm in pain. Your Highness has wronged me!"
Wang Minzhi and Shen Hegui are political enemies, and Shen Rui and Shen Hegui are sworn enemies. Therefore, from this moment on, she must completely sever ties with all the 'deserving people' and make sure every word she says is in accordance with Shen Hegui's wishes!
“I can selectively forget, and I can even swear: if I, Lu Wensheng, ever utter a single word of what I have seen and heard, may I be impotent for life and unable to find a wife! His Majesty is crippled, and Prince Su has been captured by Your Highness. From now on, Your Highness is the one destined for us, and I will serve Your Highness wholeheartedly, even unto death!”
"Oh—" Shen Hegui, who had thoroughly read all sorts of erotic pictures and stories, was no longer the same as before. He drew out his words with an extremely long tone. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!"
Feeling inexplicably at ease, Shen Hegui turned Shen Rui around, his gaze fixed intently on Lu Wensheng, not missing a single emotion on her face.
So this is what Lu Wensheng looks like when he's scared—like a red flower fading on a branch! Decaying! Utterly boring! He still prefers Lu Wensheng's lively and spirited self.
Since we've run into each other, it wouldn't hurt to tell Lu Wensheng some things, otherwise he'd definitely have nightmares every day and be unable to eat or sleep properly!
Shen Hegui released his grip on Lu Wensheng's chin, then placed his hand on a seemingly ordinary stone brick beside him and said softly, "Come with me."
The loudspeaker blared, and a stone gate suddenly appeared in front of them. Shen Hegui walked straight inside.
Lu Wensheng stood frozen in place, supporting his aching chin, not moving an inch.
Go ahead and do as you please? Are you going in there to die?
Lu Wensheng glanced at the glass jars on display and then ran away!
Behind her, in the dimly lit passageway, Shen Hegui, who had stopped, curled his thin lips slightly and let out a low, chilling laugh, uttering a single word: "Foolish!"
But that reaction was actually quite cute.
Run! No prey has ever escaped his grasp!
With a hint of indulgence and pampering that he himself was unaware of, Shen Hegui strolled forward and turned the oil lamp that Lu Wensheng had pried open.
About fifteen minutes later, Lu Wensheng returned dejectedly, his head hanging low.
She forced herself to remain calm, trying to act as if nothing had happened, and handed another pancake from her arms to Shen Hegui: "Your Highness, would you like a meat pancake?"
"Why aren't you running anymore?" Shen Hegui calmly took the food and elegantly took a small bite.
Yes, it has dried out a bit.
Lu Wensheng stammered, "The door is closed. I've searched the walls and floor, but I can't find the mechanism to open it." Wiping her sweaty hands, she pleaded, "Your Highness, could you please not kill me? I'm only eighteen this year, I haven't lived enough!"
Shen Hegui paused in his work of turning over the minced meat, raising an eyebrow: "When did I ever say I wanted to kill you?"
Lu Wensheng was stunned, incredulous: "Wasn't that secret room used for dismembering corpses? I misremembered the time of the morning court session, showing disrespect to the monarch and disregard for discipline. Your Highness wasn't so angry that you wanted to kill me?"
"Ha!" Shen Hegui laughed in anger, tapping Lu Wensheng's forehead with his finger. "In your heart, is my magnanimity so narrow!"
He tore off a piece of dry biscuit crust and stuffed it into Lu Wensheng's mouth, then took her wrist and led her inside.
"I have already covered up your lateness to the morning court. I summoned you to Zhaowu Hall to help you cover up your lie. This place is connected to my bedroom. I will not, and will not allow, any life to be taken here."
Upon learning that his life was not in danger, Lu Wensheng immediately felt relieved.
So the bedroom outside, where Shen Hegui was staying, was far too simple.
The candle was lit, and a huge canvas suddenly appeared before her eyes.
The deep blue waves seemed to surge silently, with hundreds of ships densely packed together, their decks filled with officials and guards. In the center of the scene, on the shore, a bright yellow figure stood out prominently.
At his feet lay a beautiful woman weeping and pleading, and beside him lay countless corpses lying on the ground. The scarlet paint spread across the canvas, glaringly bright.
"What is this painting?" Lu Wensheng stepped forward and asked in a murmur.
"The sins committed by Shen Rui."
A deep, cool voice, tinged with chill, echoed in the narrow, secret room: "More than twenty years ago, Shen Rui traveled south and passed by a remote island overseas. The island had only a hundred inhabitants, but due to their special bloodline, both men and women were exceptionally beautiful, especially the island's lord, whose elegant demeanor was like that of a fairy from another world. Upon seeing her, Shen Rui was awestruck and immediately decided to keep her there."
"He promised her the throne, bestowed upon her rare treasures, and even pledged to establish the entire island as a secluded vassal state. However, the island lord had someone else in his heart and was of a strong and unyielding nature, remaining aloof and unmoved."
Shen Hegui's fingertips lingered over the azure sea on the canvas, finally settling on the scarlet paint.
Having read many stories in both his past and present lives, Lu Wensheng easily guessed the sequel by combining the content of the illustrations: "So Your Majesty... Shen Rui, he killed all the islanders, seized the island lord, and forced her to give birth to His Highness?"
"Clever!" The candlelight suddenly flickered violently, casting a half-light and half-shadow on the profile of Shen Hegui's face.
Lu Wensheng suddenly had a flash of inspiration, instantly understanding everything: "No wonder there is not a single word about the late Empress outside. According to etiquette, a son inherits his father's surname and is included in his father's family genealogy. Bloodline and clan law are all tied to the father's lineage. So, Your Highness, there is an irreconcilable hatred between you and your own mother, a hatred that led to the extermination of your clan!"
“Yes.” Shen Hegui responded with surprising calmness. He picked up the meat pie on the table again, ate all the meat filling inside, and chewed it with relish.
"And then what? What happened to His Highness's mother?" Lu Wensheng pressed.
"Over time, affection faded and aversion arose. Moreover, the bloodline of the orphan's clan was special, and eating her flesh and blood could prolong life, so Shen Rui ate her."
"?!?!" Lu Wensheng's hair, which had just begun to settle down, stood on end again.
This is utterly outrageous! So, Shen Hegui's mother is a simplified version of Tang Sanzang's flesh? Since children are born from their mothers' wombs, then Shen Hegui... he is also a simplified version of Tang Sanzang's flesh?
Meeting those deep, narrow phoenix eyes, a more terrifying thought suddenly pierced his mind. Lu Wensheng asked in fear, "So... His Highness's flesh and blood have the same effect, then... Shen Rui... did he ever think of eating His Highness?"
“Of course.” Shen Hegui patiently guided Lu Wensheng by placing the dried biscuit back into his hand: “Do you still remember that lunch outside the palace, the story I told you at the table?”
“I remember.” Lu Wensheng suddenly felt a chill all over his body, as if his body had lost the ability to maintain its temperature. “Your Highness escaped from the palace on a snowy night and almost froze to death.”
"Yes, it was that night that Shen Rui killed my mother in front of me and then dismembered her. He originally intended to kill me as well, but I ran fast and didn't succeed."
Shen Hegui's tone was as if it were none of his business, so calm it was unsettling.
"I'm telling you this for no other reason than to say so. Don't be afraid."
He raised his hand to stroke Lu Wensheng's slightly pale lips, and suddenly felt that it was better to make things clear. "I'm telling you this so that you understand that Shen Rui deserves what he got. Don't overthink things and scare yourself when you go to sleep at night."
"Okay, I won't overthink it." Lu Wensheng replied, but his voice was as light as a wisp of smoke that would dissipate in the wind.
Shen Rui is such a beast in human form, so utterly depraved. It's fortunate that Shen Hegui has come to power. If her secret had been exposed while Shen Rui was in power, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
A web of lingering fear gripped Lu Wensheng, causing his vision to go black and his body to go limp uncontrollably, collapsing to the side.
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Author's Note: I'm going to sleep now, I've used up all my magical energy. I'll explain why I treated Wang Minzhi that way tomorrow. [Chin resting on hand] And the guy next to Wang Minzhi. The origin of this island will be explained later, and it's related to the male protagonist of another story. I was woken up in the middle of the night by a cat stepping on my foot.
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