Chapter 101 Just a Pawn 20
With Haoming's help from within and without, Ren Yi's plan went much more smoothly than expected.
After all, Haoming is an important supporting character who occupies a significant role in the plot, and he has some favor from the world's consciousness, making it easier for him to act than for Ren Yi, an outsider.
However, while the plan was going smoothly, it also brought some minor problems. Haoming started going to Yunjia Palace every few days.
It's unclear how the latter managed to do it, but shortly after his first entry into the palace, he managed to turn most of the palace staff in Yunjia Palace into his subordinates. The palace staff seemed to completely ignore this outsider's free movement within the palace.
As the leader of the rebels, Haoming was extremely arrogant, moving freely in and out of the enemy's stronghold.
He gradually stopped hiding his arrogance. At first, he barely maintained the etiquette of a subject when facing Ren Yi, but as he repeatedly tested the limits, he had long forgotten the distinction between ruler and subject. Now, he felt as comfortable in Yunjia Palace as if he were at home.
The system has angrily said several times, "This guy has ill intentions!"
Ren Yi certainly saw it too. After all, he couldn't really expect His Highness the Demon Emperor to be content with being a subject. But the fact that Haoming and Xuanwei didn't get along was undeniable, and that was enough.
After all, overthrowing the dynasty was merely a means, not an end. Ren Yi didn't really expect to be an emperor in this illusion, so he didn't really care whether Hao Ming was respectful or not. Perhaps it was because he realized this that Hao Ming became increasingly demanding.
Ren Yi could hear the commotion the rebels were causing outside even from inside the palace. The only thing Ren Yi couldn't understand was: how could Hao Ming, the rebel leader who had caused so much trouble, have so much free time to climb over the palace walls every day? Was that reasonable?!
For example, right now, seeing Haoming looking so relaxed, Ren Yi couldn't help but ask, "Tongzhou is at a critical juncture. Doesn't General Cheng need to personally oversee the situation?"
Logically, Ren Yi, as the "sovereign," should have accepted the order, but at this point, both men knew perfectly well that their relationship was more of a "cooperation" than a "master-servant" one. Hao Ming was willing to wear the skin of a "servant," and Ren Yi wouldn't expose him, but he wasn't foolish enough to issue orders for him to do anything.
Haoming chuckled upon hearing this, "Those are all minor matters; leave them to my subordinates. As Your Highness's subject, my thoughts and concerns are all for Your Highness's benefit. Now that Your Highness is in the lion's den, how dare I leave the capital without permission?"
Ren Yi: "..."
Oh. Indifference.jpg
If that's true, then something's fishy.
Haoming seemed oblivious to Ren Yi's disbelieving expression and diligently reported on the progress made during this period. Haoming was always conscientious in his efforts to confront Xuanwei, which made Ren Yi nod repeatedly, feeling that he couldn't have done it any better even if he did it himself.
However, after finishing their business, this person didn't seem to intend to leave anytime soon.
Ren Yi asked curiously, "General Cheng, is there anything else you wish to report?"
“No. However,” Haoming paused, then suddenly looked up and stared directly at Ren Yi, speaking with a smile, “…I have heard that in the past, when rulers and subjects were so close, they could sleep side by side in the same bed. I wonder if I will have such an honor tonight?”
Ren Yi: ? ? ?
system:! ! !
System: [Host, he's lusting after you!]
—It says this person has ill intentions!
Ren Yi was also taken aback for a moment, but still subconsciously corrected himself, "[This isn't my body.]"
It's not even a disguise; it's just an avatar in the illusion.
However, Ren Yi quickly realized the reason: [He was craving Yuan Que.]
system:!
He must be blind!
*
On the other side, in the Imperial Study.
Xuanwei frowned slightly as he looked at the military report presented to him.
The minister dressed as a military officer below said, "Your Majesty, the rebels are extremely familiar with the troop deployments in the court, as if they have foreseen the future. I suspect that there are accomplices within the court."
Xuanwei paused, holding the folded document, and looked down.
The military officer then kowtowed and pleaded, "I hope Your Majesty will investigate this thoroughly." Xuanwei neither agreed nor refused, but simply gestured for the officer to leave, which meant "we will discuss this later."
The military officer looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated, and finally swallowed his words, bowed his head and took his leave.
His Majesty probably has his own plans.
After a brief silence in the study, Di Ting glanced at the new emperor's expression and hesitated, "Your Majesty has some ideas about the identity of that inside man?"
Xuanwei glanced over, and based on his experience of serving Di Ting during this time, he immediately guessed that this was the affirmative answer.
He hurriedly knelt down and begged for permission, "May I lead the troops there?"
Xuanwei put down the memorial in his hand and said in a deep voice, "No need."
Although Di Ting found it strange, he dared not presume to guess what his superior meant. After replying "Yes," he returned to his previous position.
*
In the evening, Xuanwei went to Yunjia Palace as usual.
Ren Yi naturally refused Hao Ming's earlier suggestion to "sleep side by side". Putting everything else aside, the fact that Xuan Wei came over every night was enough for Ren Yi to refuse. He must be crazy to allow these two people to meet in his palace.
As for Haoming's attitude of not giving up before he left...
To reiterate, he's lusting after "Yuan Que's" body; what does that have to do with "Xun Que"?
At first, the system screamed "Ahhh!" about Xuanwei sleeping in Yunjia Palace, but it soon calmed down because Xuanwei really was there to sleep—purely sleeping under the covers, with almost no physical contact.
Logically, this should have been a good opportunity for Ren Yi to retrieve the system fragments, but perhaps because of his previous two assassination attempts, Xuan Wei was extremely vigilant in Yun Jia Palace. He would immediately wake up at the slightest movement from Ren Yi.
Having shared a bed for so long, Ren Yi hadn't managed a single opportunity to rest. He couldn't help but wonder if Xuan Wei had truly come to rest, or to be tormented? With such a wary mindset, it would be strange if he could get a good rest.
This time was no exception. Ren Yi had just tentatively made a move when the person next to him grabbed his wrist.
Ren Yi sighed deeply in his heart and gave up on trying to test the waters several times a day like he had at the beginning. After the routine attempts failed, he simply gave up.
Just as Ren Yi was waiting for Xuan Wei to let go of his hand as he always had, he found that the situation today seemed a little different. The hand that was holding his wrist tightened its grip after loosening its grip slightly, and Ren Yi was dragged to the other side of the bed. Xuan Wei turned to the side and propped himself up, instantly pressing down on top of Ren Yi.
[Aaaaaah—!]
This call was obviously from the system. Ren Yi remained relatively calm. The candlelight outside the hall had not yet burned out, and he used that dim light to illuminate Xuan Wei's expression, which did not seem like he wanted to kill him.
Ren Yi breathed a sigh of relief. As long as no one was killed, that was fine. Considering the hope of recovering the system fragments, he didn't want to leave this illusion for the time being.
If Xuanwei were to plan some other nighttime activities...
Just as Ren Yi thought of this, the system's cries intensified, practically screaming "No!" Under normal circumstances, only Ren Yi would be affected by this noise, but this time, seeing Xuan Wei's furrowed brows, Ren Yi guessed that the fragment was also affected by the system, and Xuan Wei was probably suffering as well.
Ren Yi worried that Xuan Wei might have destroyed the system fragment in a fit of anger, so he tried to calm the system down, saying, "[Calm down, he thinks I'm Yuan Que.]"
It would have been better if these words hadn't been said; they only made the system angrier.
—That bastard! Not only does he want to sleep with the host, but he also treats the host like someone else!
The system's stomping was of little use. Although Xuanwei frowned, he still held Ren Yi's hand firmly to the headboard, while he leaned down.
Ren Yi originally intended to use this brief moment to try to persuade the system to see if it could seize control of the fragments, but as Xuan Wei approached, the remnant soul's emotions surged, and Ren Yi had to devote a lot of energy to suppressing them, leaving him no time to pay attention to the system.
Xuanwei could clearly feel that as he approached, the person beneath him gradually stiffened and tensed up, his originally bright red lips pressed into a straight line, leaving a white mark from his teeth.
Xuanwei knew that the person beneath him was trying his best to restrain himself, but he still couldn't help but show a look of resistance on his face, and his still free arm unconsciously pushed between the two of them.
Xuanwei grabbed that slender forearm and pressed it to the side. His hand moved up the forearm to the wrist and then up the palm, forcibly opening the other's tightly clenched fist. His fingers then squeezed between the fingers without giving him a chance to refuse, forcing the hand, which had been gripping so tightly that the fingertips had turned white, into a clasped-fingers position.
Xuanwei was clearly aware of the unwillingness of the person beneath him, but he did not stop.
He remembered that kiss from that day. He was the one who started it, wasn't he? There's always a price to pay.
The body beneath him was taut like a fully drawn bowstring, but Xuanwei knew he wouldn't refuse, because... he wanted to kill him.
A few glistening tears streamed down his face. Xuan Wei was stunned for a moment before realizing... he was crying?
A jumble of memories surged forth from the depths of Xuanwei's consciousness, but were blocked by an invisible barrier. In the end, only scattered fragments of images appeared before Xuanwei's eyes.
He was falling. Falling.
The bottomless abyss was like a giant maw that could devour everything. The surrounding gales were so fierce that they almost solidified, adding bloody streaks to the boy's body as he continued to fall.
Overwhelmed by immense fear, Xuanwei instinctively tightened his grip on the person beneath him, as if the slightest loosening of his hold would cause the other person to vanish.
Xuanwei opened her mouth and unconsciously uttered, "Ah..." Aque.
As if blocked by some invisible rule, he couldn't bring himself to say the name, but his hands tightened even more until the person beneath him let out a muffled groan of pain. Only then did he seem to realize something and quickly release his grip.
Xuanwei stood there, almost at a loss, for a moment before finally raising his hand and gently wiping away the tears welling up in the boy's eyes. Then he gently pulled the boy into his arms.
After a long pause, he seemed to have made a decision.
Warm breath fell on Ren Yi's ear, his voice hoarse, "I will lead people to Jingshan Palace in half a month."
Ren Yi, who had just suppressed the lingering emotions of his soul: ...?
What does this mean? It's not what he thinks, is it?
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