A warm feeling welled up in Mu Houchu’s heart, it warmed him to his core. His lips curled into a smile as he gently patted her head, "But I can’t bear to, can’t bear to let you be involved in these conflicts. You have been in the capital for several months now, and you’ve seen how unpredictable things here are, how every situation hides a trap. Especially since you are with me, you will inevitably become a target. How can I bear to see you suffer this pain?"
"But..."
Holding her face tenderly, Mu Houchu said solemnly, "How do you know I’m not willing? Having you, possessing you, marrying you, I feel like the luckiest man alive. For you, I’m willing to do anything. Xin He, I spent the first half of my life in a haze, never feeling like living had meaning for me. For the second half of my life, I have no other desires, all I want is to give you a lifetime of peace."
Xin He was taken aback, after a long while, she lowered her head slightly, "What is your plan, then?"
"Whatever the Emperor wants, I’ll give him. Right now, he’s not entirely comfortable on his throne. His distruct for me isn’t genuine, it’s instigated by the Shen and Chen families. They can incite him, and I can do the same, perhaps even more effectively," Mu Houchu gave a thin smile.
The Shen and Chen families harbored desires and ambitions, while he had none. Who was better placed?
Mu Houchu wrapped her securely in a blanket after lifting her from the medicinal hot spring, leaving only her fluffy little head exposed, then carried her indoors, "Get some good sleep here. You’ll be able to return home tomorrow."
Tomorrow?
While Xin He found it hard to believe, she obediently nodded, "Okay."
——
The night had fully descended. Mu Houchu’s gentle ministrations had left Xin He exhausted. She felt relaxed after a nice bath, but also incredibly tired. She soon drifted off to sleep.
Mu Houchu watched from beside the bed as she fell asleep. Only after placing a light kiss on her forehead did he rise and leave.
——
Meanwhile, the palace was anything but quiet, it was brilliantly lit. The imperial physicians were buzzing around Consort Guifei’s bedchamber, chattering about how to treat her wounds. The palace maids and eunuchs were in a state of panic. Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night in the palace.
In her haste, a little palace maid accidentally knocked over a basin of water, earning a tirade from the steward eunuch, "You’re so clumsy! Can’t you get even the simplest tasks right? What use are you to me? The Emperor has been livid over Consort Guifei’s injuries. How dare you cause trouble at such a critical moment!"
The little palace maid, her face pale with fear, immediately knelt down begging for mercy, "Eunuch, please forgive me. I admit my mistakes!"
"Clean this mess and get out of here! If the Emperor sees this when he comes later, even nine lives won’t be enough to save you! Remember, the Emperor is furious now!" the little eunuch roared.
The little palace maid didn’t dare to linger. She quickly cleaned up the mess and hurried off.
The little eunuch remained outside the bedchamber, anxiously peering inside before he sighed and stamped his foot, "Concubine Shen was the Emperor’s favorite, and now she’s in trouble. What a mess!"
Meanwhile, in the Golden Throne Hall.
The Emperor, rumored to be in a towering rage, was serenely seated on his throne, his expression indifferent as he looked at Old Man Chen kneeling in the hall, "What is the situation?"
With an air of self-congratulation, Old Man Chen kowtowed, "Your Majesty, I was ordered to arrest the traitor Mu Houchu, but he resisted the decree, so I ordered his immediate execution. He is dead now!"
The Emperor looked at him coldly, clearly skeptical, "Did he die so easily?"
He knew Mu Houchu’s capabilities all too well. Not to mention the extent of his power, his martial arts skills alone were far beyond those of ordinary people.
Could he really die that easily? 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Old Man Chen laughed, a hint of cunning in his eyes. Looking up at the Emperor, he said, "Your Majesty may not know this, but Mu Houchu was poisoned by me with the Mind-Losing Powder. He became a medicine man... a living dead. As Your Majesty knows, the living dead have their cultivation increased tenfold within the first hour, after which they die of their own accord. By now, he is probably lying dead somewhere in the wilderness."
The Emperor’s brow furrowed slightly. He knew all too well the effects of Old Man Chen’s drug. Wasn’t it that very powder that caused the black bear to lose control?
Thinking of the grotesque death of the black bear, the Emperor felt a wave of nausea.
He waved his hand dismissively, "Leave it be, it’s best if he’s dead. Tomorrow morning, take some men and search for his body. If he’s alive, bring him to me. If he’s dead, I want to see his corpse."
Old Man Chen respectfully complied, "Yes!"
"How is Guifei?" The Emperor finally found the time to ask about her.
Old Man Chen replied with a grin, "Your Majesty need not worry. As the saying goes, people of good fortune are blessed by heaven. Just now, the imperial physician said that the blade barely missed her vital points and she was fortunate to hang on to life."
"Hmm," replied the Emperor, his tone perfunctory.
Clearly, he didn’t care much about Concubine Shen’s life or death.
There were plenty of beauties around. If one died, there was always another.
Seeing that the Emperor seemed to be in a good mood, Old Man Chen ventured, "Your Majesty, with the downfall of the traitorous Mu Houchu, it’s cause for celebration. However, with no one to take over his position of power, I fear..."
The Emperor looked at him, "If it’s confirmed that Mu Houchu is dead, everything he had now belongs to you."
Old Man Chen’s eyes lighted up and he kowtowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"You can go now."
"Yes! Your servant takes my leave!" Old Man Chen left the palace in high spirits. After being suppressed for so long, his rewards were substantial indeed!
This Emperor was truly foolish. A little bit of manipulation could make him suspicious of Mu Houchu. Now, not only had he gotten rid of Mu Houchu, but he also had great power. In the future, controlling this Emperor would be a piece of cake. Perhaps he could even dare to dream greater dreams!
The thought filled Old Man Chen with elation. He left the palace in high spirits.
The Emperor gave a long sigh, speaking to his empty hall, "It’s not that I wanted to kill you, you forced me to do it."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a deep, familiar voice came from outside the hall, "When did I force the Emperor? I don’t recall."
The Emperor paled in shock, his eyes wide and voice trembling, "You, you, you..."
Before he could finish stuttering, Mu Houchu had already calmly walked into the hall. Tall and imposing in his black robe, he was clearly standing below, while the Emperor was above, yet the Emperor still felt as if he were somehow dwarfed by him.
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