Chapter 112 "The Feeling of Being Betrayed by Your Bedmate..."
When Yan Jiarou arrived at the East Palace, it was just dawn, and she happened to meet Xiao Jue leading a group of people who were ready to set off.
Her expression changed drastically, and she immediately stepped forward to block his path, saying, "Crown Prince, are you still determined to remain obstinate?"
Xiao Jue slightly raised his hand, and the imperial guards behind him all stopped in their tracks.
"It's Jia Rou." Xiao Jue smiled and said, "Why did you come so early in the morning? Our little Jia Rou, isn't she always the most sleepy?"
"I can't sleep." Yan Jiarou stepped forward and grabbed one of his arms with both hands, saying, "Crown Prince, please stop, I beg you."
Xiao Jue looked down at her hands resting on his arm, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Jiarou, are you worried about me?"
"Brother Crown Prince, of course I'm worried about you..."
“Our Jia Rou, you are truly kind-hearted, always thinking of me. It’s no wonder that your brother has doted on you for so many years,” he looked at her, a strange smile gradually appearing on his lips. “But Jia Rou, instead of worrying about me, you should worry more about your third brother…”
"Third Brother?" Yan Jiarou frowned. "What does this mean?"
"You'll find out what I mean in a bit."
Xiao Jue: "Alright, Jia Rou, you don't need to worry about me. I am not going there to plot rebellion, but to capture the thieves and protect Father Emperor's safety."
"Since Jiarou is here, she should come with me."
——
In the corridor beside the Pixiang Hall, Xiao Che sensed something was wrong, abruptly stood up, and ordered, "Withdraw!"
The group of Xuanwei Armored soldiers behind him stood up and followed him as he retreated.
However, after taking only two steps, he suddenly stopped inexplicably.
The people of Lanling have ears that are naturally different from ordinary people.
His ears twitched slightly, and from afar, he heard a series of uniform footsteps outside the palace gates, as well as the metallic sound of armor rubbing together.
Judging from the sounds, there were quite a few guards coming.
The armor he was wearing appeared to include part of "bright armor," which was the type of armor worn by the Imperial Guards in the palace.
Xiao Che's pupils suddenly contracted.
not good!
The next moment, the palace gate was suddenly pushed open, and the daylight was already bright. The dazzling sunlight poured in, illuminating the scene in the corridor.
The Imperial Guards, who burst through the door, had already surrounded Xiao Che's men. The glint of swords flashed in the sunlight, like countless eyes coldly watching him.
Xiao Jue walked in with his hands behind his back. He was wearing a crimson brocade robe but no armor. His casual and nonchalant demeanor made it seem as if he had bumped into him by chance.
He walked towards him step by step, the hem of his robe embroidered with cloud patterns in gold thread, shimmering in the sunlight.
He looked at him, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Oh, third brother, what are you doing here?"
The Imperial Guard accompanying him frowned, looking at him with a troubled expression: "Third Prince, you... how can it be you?"
Xiao Jue said, "Today is the anniversary of the death of the Imperial Concubine. Father Emperor stayed in Pixiang Palace last night. I also wanted to join Father Emperor in paying respects to the Imperial Concubine and also to comfort Father Emperor so that he would not be too sad. So before dawn, I asked Su Quan to come and set out the offerings. But Su Quan rushed back in a panic and told me that there was something strange in Pixiang Palace. He heard the sound of black armor, and it seemed that there were thieves lying in ambush here, waiting for an opportunity to harm His Majesty."
"I was very nervous after hearing this. I was worried about Father's safety, so I immediately summoned the Imperial Guards General to lead the Imperial Guards to come with me to Pixiang Palace to investigate. But as soon as we entered, we saw you, Third Brother. You led troops to sneak into Pixiang Palace in the middle of the night and ambushed us here. It can't be that you're just worried about Father's safety, can it?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in from outside and whispered something in the ear of the Imperial Guard General. The Imperial Guard General's expression changed slightly, and he turned to report to Xiao Jue.
Xiao Jue's lips slowly curled up as he turned to look at Xiao Che with a sinister smile: "I was just about to say that my third brother is here, perhaps because he is worried about Father's safety. Although it is absurd, it can indeed be considered a barely acceptable excuse."
"It's a pity. News just came that Yan Xiao secretly led the Imperial Guards stationed in the palace out of the city. Everyone knows that the Imperial Guards under his command were originally the Yan family army, and their loyalty to the Yan family is even greater than that of the Emperor. Without a reasonable explanation, deliberately leaving the city to make a detour and then returning to the city makes it hard not to suspect that he wants to take advantage of the palace guards' inattention and directly attack the capital, cooperating with you from the inside. Everyone knows that you and he have always had a close relationship, and recently you have been meeting and discussing matters frequently. If you say that neither of you knows what the other is doing, Third Brother, I'm afraid no one will believe you."
Xiao Che looked at him and suddenly laughed. Even in this perilous situation, he remained nonchalant and composed, as if everything was still under his control: "Using my bait to lure me?"
"Brother, that's quite a move."
"I dare not accept such a clever tactic," Xiao Che smiled, took a few steps closer, and whispered in Xiao Che's ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, "However, it was only with the help of a benefactor."
"Third brother, aren't you curious about who this important person is?"
A terrifying thought flashed through my mind, and my heart began to clench uncontrollably.
Xiao Che clenched his fists, feeling a sudden dryness in his throat. His light-colored eyes, which shone like glass in the sunlight, were as still as a cold pool: "Xiao Jue, just say what you have to say. Why be so mysterious?"
"Third brother, you're so smart, you must have already guessed it."
"How does it feel to be betrayed by your spouse?"
"You've liked her for as many years as she's liked me. Do you think a few months of intimacy with her can erase all the years of feelings we've shared? She likes you, but she only loves me. Don't listen to what she says, listen to what she does. After all, how can you take what's said in bed seriously?"
"In life-or-death situations, she always chooses me. I don't need to use my looks to seduce her; she'll obediently help me. She loves me for who I am, and that's true love. And you know better than anyone what she loves about you."
"To her, you are nothing but medicine, a lowly plaything—Third brother, you can fool everyone, but you can't fool me. You can't possibly not be a Lanling native, not be Jiang Chenyu's son. You were born lowly, and that can never be erased."
"Do you want me to put it more clearly? What were your previous clansmen, if they were men, to our aunt? And what are you to Jiarou? Nothing more than a gigolo."
"She's just under the influence of this strange illness, and she's attracted to your appearance and your body."
"But the person she cares about most is always me."
"So I won't be jealous anymore. He's just a plaything. If I were jealous of you, wouldn't I be lowering myself? What do you say, Third Brother?"
As he spoke, he slowly stepped back a little, watching with satisfaction as the murderous intent surged in Xiao Che's eyes, the corners of his eyes slowly turning bloodshot, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles cracking.
Like a trapped beast that has been provoked.
Xiao Jue admired his current demeanor. Xiao Che always had a nonchalant expression in front of him, as if he never took him seriously.
It's rare to see someone lose their composure like this because of his few words.
He chuckled and then called out, "Jiarou, your third brother is here. Why don't you come in and say hello to him?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards behind Xiao Jue lined up on both sides, revealing a crimson figure behind him.
Yan Jiarou moved her feet forward, step by step.
She hadn't figured out what was going on. Wasn't Xiao Jue supposed to be going to catch the thief? Why was Xiao Che surrounded...?
She originally thought that as long as Xiao Jue stopped, the rebellion could be pretended to have never happened, and everyone would be fine. But... why did it turn out like this?
She had a vague feeling that things were getting out of her control. She remembered what Xiao Jue had said to her before: "You should still worry about your third brother." Her body immediately trembled, and she felt a chill run down her spine.
Could it be that Xiao Jue is trying to frame Xiao Che?
She looked up abruptly, her beautiful, pale face drained of color. Panic and confusion gripped Xiao Che's gaze. Under his shattering gaze, she momentarily forgot to move forward, standing frozen in place, looking at him mournfully: "Third Brother..."
Even though he had already guessed it was her, Xiao Che still felt a heart-wrenching pain when he saw her emerge from behind the Imperial Guards.
My heart felt like it was being gripped tightly, and even breathing was excruciatingly painful.
His once nonchalant and indifferent face has now shattered completely.
It was as if a mask, which had always been used to protect oneself and prevent others from seeing one's weaknesses and pain, had finally been completely reduced to dust at this moment.
From childhood to adulthood, he had long been fed up with the cold stares and slander of the world, and his heart had become numb.
He had thought that he would no longer be in pain.
Until this moment, he saw Yan Jiarou appear here.
She lied to him again.
It's ridiculous that he's so naive as to believe that there's anyone in this world who truly cares for him.
He had already stumbled over her before, yet he remained stubbornly infatuated, sinking deeper and deeper into despair. Only when he was battered and bruised, and left with a broken heart, did he finally have to wake up.
Now that things have come to this, who can we blame?
only……
Xiao Che's grip on the sword hilt tightened violently, his fingers turning white. Looking at her, he suddenly felt a metallic taste rise in his throat, and he vomited blood: "Why? Why is it you..."
Yan Jiarou was terrified and cried out, "Xiao Che!"
She staggered to his side, frantically trying to help him up: "I'm sorry, Xiao Che... I'm so sorry, are you alright... Don't scare me..."
Xiao Che shoved her away, looked up, and his eyes were cold and lifeless: "Get out."
He said, slowly and deliberately, "Don't let me see you again."
That look in her eyes would make Yan Jiarou wake up crying from her dreams for many years to come.
She was pushed and staggered backward.
The push wasn't very forceful, but it still left her stunned.
Xiao Che had always pampered and coaxed her; he had never once so ruthlessly pushed her away from him.
She was truly terrified, looking at him helplessly, tears streaming down her face. She sobbed, "Xiao Che, I was wrong... I really know I was wrong... Please don't do this to me..."
She tentatively approached him, her outstretched hand hovering in mid-air, ultimately too afraid to touch him, terrified of being pushed away again: "Brother, don't you want me anymore...?"
Normally, no matter what mistake she makes, there's nothing that crying can't solve.
This time, however, Xiao Che merely stared at her coldly, scoffed, and looked at her as if he were watching a strenuous but clumsy performance.
"Why are you crying? Now that your goal has been achieved, Princess Qinghe, why bother with this pretense?"
Yan Jiarou cried even harder.
Tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.
Xiao Jue stepped forward, embraced the person, and gently comforted him. He turned to look at Xiao Che, who was utterly devastated by Yan Jiarou's betrayal and had suffered a huge blow that almost broke his spirit. A twisted sense of pleasure finally surfaced in his heart.
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