Chapter 040 The Ambitious Regent 2
Jian Ziyan knew that he was going to die today, and whether it was poisoned wine, white silk, or a sharp sword, it made no difference to him.
Since Pei Mingjue chose the poisoned wine, he did as he wished and drank it without any hesitation.
After drinking the cold wine, he closed his eyes and quietly waited for the final moment to come.
However, after waiting for a while, he found no signs of the poison except for the invading coldness due to his thin clothes, and he opened his eyes in surprise.
He saw Pei Mingjue's face with a cold smile. The undisguised viciousness and cruelty in his face made his heart sink slightly.
Looking at his appearance, I'm afraid they won't let him die so easily.
"Why, are you disappointed?" Pei Mingjue left the dragon throne and walked slowly towards him, "Do you think I will let you die so easily?"
Jian Ziyan's eyes were heavy as he watched him gradually approach, his raised neck revealing dark blue veins.
He asked calmly: "Then, Your Majesty, how do you want me to die?"
Pei Mingjue looked at the unexpectedly slender neck and resisted the urge to reach out and pinch it, strangling him to death on the spot.
Hold on, how could he be allowed to die so easily? He should just watch himself being tortured to the point of being worse than death.
"As for the method of killing, who can compare with the Regent?" Pei Mingjue's voice was light, but his eyes revealed deep hatred. He stretched out his finger and touched Jian Ziyan's Adam's apple lightly and slowly, as if he was going to pierce this fragile place in the next second. "The Regent has many ways to make people want to live but not die, right?"
Faced with this accusation, Jian Ziyan's already pale face turned even paler, and under the dim light, the redness at the corners of his eyes appeared even more intense.
"Since Your Majesty is asking sincerely, I will be happy to give you some advice."
As he spoke, his Adam's apple swallowed naturally, and his delicate skin slid across Pei Mingjue's fingers, and Pei Mingjue's eyes suddenly darkened.
Of course he knew that Jian Ziyan had a great appearance. He had won the top spot in the imperial examination at the age of fifteen. At that time, the young man in fine clothes and riding a horse stood in the court, and his radiant beauty dazzled everyone's eyes, including his.
However, no one expected that beneath this skin, there was an ugly heart that was completely different from his appearance.
From the coronation ceremony to the regaining of the throne, they had been apart for three years, and Jian Ziyan had changed a little. His eyebrows were deep, revealing his wolfish ambitions, but his whole body exuded a weak and pale aura, which made people feel pity for him.
Why would he be so weak? Could it be that he was so worried that he became weak because he was thinking about how to find him and kill him every day to clear his own obstacles?
Pei Mingjue sneered in his heart and slowly tightened his fingers.
He has not been idle during the three years since he was away. Gu Shishan is one of the top masters in the Dajing Dynasty. In order to gain the ability to protect himself and no longer be manipulated by Jian Ziyan, he has practiced hard with Gu Shishan for three years. Even if his skills are not top-notch now, they should not be underestimated.
Jian Ziyan soon became breathless, a suffocating flush spread across his cheeks, and the tip of his tongue protruded slightly uncontrollably, unexpectedly making his face suddenly full of compelling temptation.
Pei Mingjue watched and couldn't help but his throat moving slightly, then he immediately realized what he was thinking, and as if he was scalded, he threw Jian Ziyan to the ground!
Jian Ziyan was unable to keep his balance, and his arms and body brought down the stool and a large area of dishes on the table. He fell among the crackling debris, holding his chest and coughing awkwardly.
His hand accidentally touched the porcelain fragments, causing it to be cut and bleeding. He raised his hand to wipe his cheek, causing bloodstains on his pale skin, making him look disheveled and... seductive.
Pei Mingjue was filled with anger. How could he not be able to resist this person's attraction at this time? How could he be worthy of his dead father, how could he be worthy of this chaotic dynasty!
He took a few sharp breaths and suddenly revealed a sinister smile.
"As for the ability to harm people, I may not be very good at it, but there is one thing that I will never forget for the rest of my life. Dichensan, do you still remember this name, teacher?"
After calling out this name, Jian Ziyan's whole body trembled violently, as if some taboo had been broken at this moment, and he suddenly raised his head to look at him.
In the good times that once existed, Pei Mingjue was
Calling Jian Ziyan like this, the young prince at that time admired and trusted him wholeheartedly. The boy's sincerity was more precious than gold.
However, he was the one who lost all these true feelings with his own hands, and ended up in the current situation. It can be said that he reaped what he sowed and got what he wanted.
"Cleansing Powder, I see." Jian Ziyan laughed softly, "It turns out the Emperor has known this all along."
Dichen Powder has a holy name, but it is actually a deadly poison. The terrible thing about this medicine is that once you come into contact with it, you must take another medicine every month to suppress its toxicity. Once the dosage accumulates to a certain level, even the medicine that suppresses it will no longer work, because it is not an antidote at all. The final result is that the internal organs of the poisoned person will slowly turn into pus.
But the poisoned person will not lose consciousness. He will clearly feel his body melting bit by bit from beginning to end, with blood flowing out of all the holes in his body. This kind of despair is truly suffocating horror.
"Yes, I am not dead. Are you very sorry, Regent? After all, if I had died early according to your plan, you would not have become a prisoner now." Pei Mingjue's eyes were a little red. He was forced to drink several bowls of Dichen Powder. If there was no miracle, he would probably be a floating corpse now. "You used this medicine to kill my father, and you want to use it to harm me. I really disappoint you. Now the remaining poison has been cleared and my dragon body is healthy. But the person who is poisoned has changed to you, Regent."
Jian Ziyan laughed hoarsely again: "Your Majesty, do you think I killed the late emperor with the Cleansing Dust Powder?"
"That's not entirely accurate. After all, you couldn't wait for your father to die from the poison, but killed him directly with a dagger."
Pei Mingjue thought of the scene he saw in the bedroom again, and was extremely angry at Jian Ziyan's face. He kicked Jian Ziyan hard in the chest, knocking him to the ground, and then stepped on the place he had just kicked, pressing down hard with his toes.
"You used the Cleansing Powder to harm others, and now you are going to die from it. Have you ever thought about this day?"
Jian Ziyan's body was thin, and he could not bear such a crushing blow. His cheeks turned abnormally red, and he suddenly turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood.
He seemed to have heard something funny and suddenly started laughing. His laughter grew louder and louder until it was heart-wrenching and his whole body was shaking.
"Since the emperor has chosen this way for me to die, I will naturally obey your command."
he hissed.
It was as if the discussion was not about a poison that would cause him a painful death, but an invitation to a grand banquet, to which he readily agreed.
Jian Ziyan stopped laughing and looked intently at Pei Mingjue who was standing high above him.
"Since Your Majesty still calls me a teacher, I will teach you everything I know. Perhaps Your Majesty doesn't know that this Dichen Powder should be taken once every three days. For the first three times, one coin is enough. But from the fourth time onwards, three coins are needed, otherwise the poison will not be released and the person will not die painfully enough."
Pei Mingjue stared at him in disbelief, and for a moment he suspected that he had gone crazy.
However, Jian Ziyan's eyes were clear, and there was even a smile on his blood-stained lips. No matter how you looked at it, he remained rational.
He laughed in anger: "You don't believe I will really kill you?"
"How dare I." Jian Ziyan said calmly, "I just want to satisfy the emperor's wish."
Pei Mingjue's fierce gaze was fixed on Jian Ziyan, but Jian Ziyan's eyes were deep and calm, and it was impossible to tell what he was really thinking.
"Okay." Pei Mingjue said, "I'll see how long you can keep your mouth shut."
…
When Jian Ziyan left, he walked out, but when he came back, he was carried and thrown back.
It was the middle of winter, and there was no light, fire, or charcoal basin in the house. It was as cold as an ice cellar, and he was frozen stiff all over.
Jian Ziyan knew that this was one of Pei Mingjue's ways of torturing him, but he didn't take it seriously. He curled up quietly on the ground for a long time before he let out a heavy breath and slowly stood up with the help of the table.
If Pei Mingjue was present at this time, he would definitely be surprised.
The redness at the corners of his eyes became increasingly intense, reaching an unusual level.
According to records, people who were severely poisoned by Dichen Powder would have their eyes and lips turn a very deep blood red, as if they were possessed by a demon. However, Jian Ziyan had already shown very obvious symptoms after only taking Dichen Powder for the first time.
Only Jian Ziyan knew what was going on with him. He coughed lightly twice, knowing that Pei Mingjue would not send anyone to treat his injuries, so he moved to the table with difficulty and wanted to pour himself a glass of water.
However, the pot was empty and nothing could be poured out.
Jian Ziyan held his forehead to steady his body which was about to fall. After a while, he was able to move barely. He came to the cupboard, opened it, and actually took out a pack of silver needles from it.
Then he picked up the needle and skillfully stabbed his arm and hand. He trembled in pain with each prick, but he was used to it and bit his lips skillfully so that no sound came out.
In the darkness, his figure was lonely and cold.
【Jian Ziyan: "Counselor Shan, can you see me like this?"
419: "Yes, he learned that you had just returned from the palace, and he secretly wanted to come and observe you."
Jian Ziyan: "That's good."
Although he had no forgiveness at all, he wanted to open some champagne to celebrate in advance, but the system kicked him out of his consciousness space again on the grounds that his "physical condition was not enough to lose consciousness."
Jian Ziyan: "Your health isn't bad enough, right? I understand."】
Three days later, although Pei Mingjue did not call Jian Ziyan into the palace again, he sent an old eunuch to the Regent's Palace.
The old eunuch brought out a bowl of medicine. He obviously knew that Jian Ziyan was doomed this time and there was no way he could make a comeback, so there was no respect in his words.
"My Lord Regent, the Emperor has ordered that if you don't drink the medicine, this old servant will pry open your mouth and give it to you..." and pour it down.
Before he could finish his words, his eyes widened in shock.
Jian Ziyan picked up the bowl without hesitation, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp without any hesitation.
After drinking, he put the bowl on the table and looked at the old eunuch coldly: "Are you done?"
Even though he was now in dire straits, he was once a powerful regent. When he glanced over at him, he looked as if he was looking down on the world even though he was sitting.
The old eunuch didn't dare to do it again. He hurriedly packed up the bowl and ran back to the palace to report.
Three days later, another old eunuch brought the same bowl of medicine, and Jian Ziyan still drank it without hesitation.
But every time he finished drinking and waited for everyone to leave, he would take out the bag of silver needles and pierce his body.
It was not until the fourth time that Jian Ziyan picked up the medicine bowl and brought it to his nose that he could smell that the amount of Dichen Powder in it had been increased to three grams.
He lowered his eyes, as if he felt nothing, and drank it all.
It was also night, and the lights in the imperial study were brightly lit.
"After these days of investigation, the court officials who had connections with him either claimed to be sick or refused to admit it. They are more loyal than me, the king. What a good Jian Ziyan, what a regent." Pei Mingjue said cryptically, "As I guessed before, he must be making other plans, so his subordinates are all looking forward to his return to the court."
However, the advisor Shan, who should have agreed with him, remained silent and looked thoughtful.
Pei Mingjue looked at him in confusion: "Wenshan, what are you thinking about?"
Consultant Shan came back from his distraction, first quickly apologised, then looked hesitant.
"Wenshan, you and I are as close as brothers, so you don't have to worry about what you have to say." Pei Mingjue smiled a little, "If even you are hiding something from me, then I will really be a lonely man."
Consultant Shan was a martial artist, so he didn't have many twists and turns in his mind. When he heard Pei Mingjue say this, he said directly: "Your Majesty, I was just thinking that it is impossible for Jian Ziyan to surrender like this, but the fact is that he stays in his room honestly every day and refuses to step out of the door. It doesn't seem like..."
"You met Jian Ziyan in private?" Pei Mingjue interrupted him abruptly, his tone darkening, "What did you say to him?"
He couldn't explain why, upon hearing that Consultant Shan was secretly keeping an eye on Jian Ziyan, and might even have secretly contacted him without his knowledge, he felt an indescribable anger, an anger that even made him not bother to conceal his tone; he just wanted an answer right away.
Consultant Shan noticed his displeasure and was shocked. He became cautious.
"I did not meet with the Regent in private. I was just worried that he might do something unworthy, so I took the initiative to monitor him. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Hearing that he did not meet Jian Ziyan directly, Pei Mingjue's anger subsided a little. He calmed himself down and his expression softened.
"Jian Ziyan is full of tricks. Even I was deceived by him for a period of time. I believed in him without a doubt. I am just worried that you are simple-minded and will be used without knowing it."│
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I know my limits." Advisor Shan bowed respectfully.
Today, Pei Mingjue is no longer the poor wandering kid he used to be, but the supreme ruler who controls the power of life and death. He has always remembered this very clearly.
Pei Mingjue can take the initiative to treat him as a brother, but he cannot lose his sense of propriety.
Just thinking about this, Consultant Shan felt a little frightened.
In just three short years, Pei Mingjue had undergone tremendous changes. He used to be able to barely guess what he was thinking, but now, he could only see his deep eyes, and had no way of guessing whether he was happy or angry unless he deliberately showed it.
Now, every time he saw those dark eyes, he would suddenly feel that he was indeed that person's former student. Pei Mingjue was becoming more and more like him.
However, he didn't dare to say this. Pei Mingjue now exuded an extremely oppressive aura, and he didn't want to experience the wrath of the emperor with millions of corpses lying on the ground.
Pei Mingjue no longer intended to say too much to him. He stared at Consultant Shan for a long time, and his tone returned to normal.
"This won't work. Perhaps the breakthrough lies in Jian Ziyan himself." Pei Mingjue's eyes flashed with something inexplicable. "I will start with him."
Consultant Shan opened his mouth, but considering his status as a different person, he hesitated and swallowed his words, but a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.
…
When Jian Ziyan received the order to enter the palace again, he was still a little surprised.
He thought that after Pei Mingjue decided on his death, he would never see him again in this life.
He hesitated for a moment before realizing that he had no right to refuse, so he had to move forward and catch up with the person who came to pick him up.
It was still the Golden Palace, still empty, but this time there was no banquet. Only the young king sat high up on the dragon throne, looking down at him as he walked in.
Pei Mingjue looked at the thin figure. After not seeing him for a few days, he became thinner and paler. He used to be such a vicious and strong man, but now he walked like a willow branch in the wind, revealing an abnormal weakness and morbidity.
He was a little surprised. He had drunk Dichen Powder before, but this poison took a long time to take effect. In the first month, there was only some mild abdominal pain. How come Jian Ziyan was in this state after only drinking it a few times?
This question only flashed through Pei Mingjue's mind. Jian Ziyan's health was not within his concern. Seeing that he was weak, he was even happier.
Jian Ziyan stopped at the bottom of the steps and knelt down to pay his respects according to etiquette: "Your humble servant pays respect to the emperor."
Pei Mingjue didn't say anything, nor did he ask him to get up. He even read the memorials leisurely.
Jian Ziyan knew it very well, so he kept his forehead pressed against the ground, just like the day when he welcomed Pei Mingjue back to the Golden Palace. Pei Mingjue didn't let him get up, so he kept kneeling.
But now his health is much worse than it was then. After just a moment, his arms began to tremble.
Pei Mingjue took a sip of tea and suddenly, as if he had just remembered, said, "I was so busy that I forgot that today is the day the Regent takes his medicine. Someone, bring the Regent's medicine up."
Immediately, a young eunuch came from behind with a bowl of medicine, and Jian Ziyan's eyes fixed.
Pei Mingjue did it on purpose. He chose to summon him to the palace today just because he wanted to see him drink the bowl of medicine with his own eyes and reveal his ugly face in pain.
Seeing that he didn't move, Pei Mingjue urged, "Prince Regent, please don't let me down."
Jian Ziyan's lips were pale and bloodless.
He stretched out his hands, which were so thin that the joints were clearly visible, picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one breath.
Pei Mingjue pursed his lips and waved his hand. The young eunuch immediately took the bowl and retreated. Once again, there were only the two of them left in the hall.
Jian Ziyan said nothing, and after a moment he suddenly staggered two steps and almost fell to the ground.
The medicine started to take effect.
Jian Ziyan tried desperately to steady himself, but the severe pain attacked his internal organs. He was too weak to hold on, so he had to fall to the ground and curled up unconsciously to relieve the pain.
A hint of surprise flashed across Pei Mingjue's eyes.
The effects of Dichen Powder will become more and more severe after repeated accumulation, and the frequency of attacks will become more and more obvious, but as mentioned before, based on Jian Ziyan's current dosage, it should not cause such a serious reaction.
Pei Mingjue couldn't help but look at Jian Ziyan, but after looking at him, his eyes couldn't move away.
Jian Ziyan in a state of pain was obviously completely different from his usual self. He curled up his thin body tightly, and the curve of his back was as graceful as a swan with its neck raised. Sweat soaked his black hair and stuck to his pale cheeks, making this usually strong man show a vulnerability unlike before.
Pei Mingjue clearly felt his Adam's apple rolling.
In addition to hatred and disgust, another strong emotion began to rise in his heart.
During those years when no one knew about it, he was deeply attracted to Jian Ziyan, and his every move fascinated him. However, for fear of offending Jian Ziyan, he acted out of emotion but restrained himself from courtesy, and always treated Jian Ziyan as a student treats a teacher, not daring to overstep the line.
He was the most stunning light in his youth.
Later, this light was painted with a scarlet color, and there was a blood feud between them. The love in his heart was replaced by hatred. The more he thought about how much he cherished and respected this person in the past, the stronger the hatred that brewed now.
But... now everything has changed.
This man was no longer his respected teacher, nor was he the powerful regent whom he feared. He was just a prisoner kneeling at his feet and letting him do whatever he wanted!
Since he is just the lowest prisoner, it doesn't matter how he treats him, right?
Endless stupidity grew wildly in Pei Mingjue's heart. He looked at Jian Ziyan's eyes, which gradually turned scarlet, and his breathing became heavy.
He stared at Jian Ziyan without blinking, then stood up and walked down the stairs.
Jian Ziyan was in so much pain that he was blurred in consciousness. He seemed to feel cold beads falling on his face. He opened his eyes blankly, but saw Pei Mingjue's face close to him.
There was a crazy look brewing in his eyes, and his fingers were wandering on his face and neck.
Jian Ziyan is also a man, and although he has never been approached by a woman, it doesn’t mean that he can’t understand the look in another man’s eyes!
Realizing what Pei Mingjue wanted to do, his face suddenly changed. Regardless of the pain in his internal organs, he shouted: "What are you going to do! Yu Yanshu"
Pei Mingjue easily grabbed both of his wrists with just one hand. His resistance was no more of a threat to him than a cat's scratch.
He stretched out his other hand and touched the top of Jian Ziyan's head, pulling away his jade crown.
In an instant, the soft black long hair tilted down, half covering and half revealing the startling whiteness of Jian Ziyan's body, which combined with his frightened and angry expression formed a gorgeous picture.
Pei Mingjue's voice became hoarse.
"I told you, let's see how long you can keep your mouth shut."
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