Chapter 046 The Ambitious Regent 8
All the doubts in my heart were settled at this moment.
Even though the people sent to investigate the truth have not returned yet, Pei Mingjue feels that there is no need to wait any longer.
He stared at the black blood that Jian Ziyan spat out, not caring at all that it was on his face and body. He raised his hand and gently wiped the blood off Jian Ziyan's face.
Jian Ziyan was like a stiff puppet, not daring to move even his eyes. He kept looking at him in horror, as if he was afraid that if he moved a little, he would turn against him and take back his order.
Only at that moment did his body tremble, showing how much pain he was in.
Pei Mingjue did not say anything, and Doctor Wang did not dare to make any sound. The atmosphere in the narrow space was depressing, as if it could swallow a person up.
It’s not that Pei Mingjue didn’t want to talk, but there were too many questions, too many confusions, and too many emotions crowding his heart at the same time. He couldn’t grasp the beginning or the end, and felt like he was about to explode.
After a short and intense competition, he picked out the most important one from the myriad of threads.
"Doctor Wang," he said, "Can't you see he's in pain? Give him some pain relief."
Doctor Wang wanted to cry but had no tears. He spoke quickly: "Your Majesty, you are well aware of the properties of this Dichen Powder. Once it reaches the point of toxicity, it means that the poisoning is already deep and there is no way to save it..."
Before he could finish his words, he felt the emperor's piercing gaze on him.
"Isn't there a medicine that can suppress the toxicity of Dichen Powder? Give it to him!"
Although the young emperor did not get angry directly, his eyes were like a dragon that was about to lose an important treasure. Just one look at him was enough to make people feel frightened.
Doctor Wang didn't dare to say a word. He immediately crawled to prepare medicine for Jian Ziyan.
After he left, Pei Mingjue withdrew his gaze and met the eyes of the person in his arms.
The fearful gaze that he was familiar with and even somewhat enjoyed made him feel as if a sword had pierced his heart. He could not continue to look at the gaze no matter what. Pei Mingjue took two quick breaths and raised his hand to close Jian Ziyan's eyes.
Then he hugged Jian Ziyan
He held her tightly, using his body temperature to moisten his cold body, feeling the false obedience. His tense emotions could no longer be maintained, and the tip of his nose suddenly turned red.
He knew what Doctor Wang didn't dare to say. After all, he had chosen Dichen Powder specifically because he knew how this poison could torture people to such an extent that they could neither live nor die.
There is no antidote for it. Anything that claims to be able to counteract Dichen Powder can only temporarily suppress its toxicity, which is nothing more than delaying the death of the poisoned person.
Even Pei Mingjue himself didn't know how the poison in his body disappeared. Not only had he never had an attack in the three years since he left the palace, but no doctor could even diagnose that he had been poisoned.
In the end, he could only conclude that his poisoning was mild and not life-threatening.
But he didn't expect that the person he had tried every means to take revenge on and had already successfully taken revenge on, actually no longer needed him to take revenge on him.
If this was all true, then why had he lived for the past 19 years? Were the hatred and determination to seek revenge that kept him alive wrong?
Who should he hate...
"Teacher, tell me," Pei Mingjue swallowed his voice into Jian Ziyan's hair, desperately absorbing the familiar fragrance from his hair to gain a moment of peace, "If you are really so angry with me and my father that you want to kill not only my father but me as well, then why do you still want to guard this kingdom of Dajing?"
He listened to every word Chen Huihai said.
Even without him telling him, Pei Mingjue clearly remembered how powerful the regent was when the previous emperor had just passed away. If he deposed the new emperor on the spot and made himself king, no one would be able to shake his foundation.
But Jian Ziyan did not do so. Not only that, during the three years he was on the run, he still single-handedly supported the government of Dajing, as if... he was waiting for him to come back and firmly believed that he would come back.
Pei Mingjue was not a complete fool after all. Once the covering was torn off, he immediately thought of the key.
If Jian Ziyan wanted to kill all the royal family members, he had countless opportunities to kill him, but he did not do so. Instead, he used Dichen Powder, a poison that is highly toxic but expensive, and will not have any effect if taken for a short period of time.
"What exactly do you want?" Pei Mingjue murmured softly, "Don't you want to kill me? You also want me to die in agony?"
However, no matter what he asked now, Jian Ziyan would not be able to answer him.
He was like a mystery, withering away silently along with the secret past. No matter how frantically he prayed, he could not get an answer.
Pei Mingjue waited for a long while and couldn't help but let out a low sob from the depths of his throat.
But he closed his eyes, and the transparent liquid hung on his eyelashes without falling.
…
When the resources of an entire country are opened to one person, it will be a seemingly inexhaustible treasure.
With Pei Mingjue's approval, the Imperial Hospital did not dare to be stingy and all the elixirs that could save Jian Ziyan's life were sent to Yanfu Palace free of charge. This naturally included the Nine-Leaf Lotus, which was said to be the only thing that could suppress the toxicity of Dichen Powder.
When Pei Mingjue was present, Jian Ziyan cooperated extremely well in everything he did, drinking bowl after bowl of bitter medicine. Even when his shirt was taken off so that the imperial physician could give him acupuncture, he did not resist at all.
But there was always a deep fear hidden in his eyes, and when he met Pei Mingjue's eyes, this fear was fully exposed.
This made Pei Mingjue realize clearly that Jian Ziyan was not cooperating with the imperial physician to save his life, but because... he was afraid of him.
He was afraid that the general would kill the general who was still in prison in a rage, so he regarded himself as a hostage, not daring to overstep his authority and strictly observing the duties of a hostage.
This realization made Pei Mingjue breathless, and he almost didn't know how to face such a pair of eyes.
After all, Pei Mingjue still had state affairs to deal with, and also in order to get a moment's respite from the extreme depression, he fled from Yanfu Palace.
However, not long after, a palace servant came to report: "Your Majesty, please go back to Yanfu Palace and take a look!"
When Pei Mingjue hurried back, he found the palace in a mess, with precious medicines and porcelain fragments scattered all over the ground. A group of palace maids and imperial doctors were anxiously surrounding the bed, but they had no idea what to do.
The emperor's attitude these days has clearly shown the importance of Jian Ziyan. How could they dare to take heavy-handed measures against such an ancestor?
Pei Mingjue was furious. It had only been such a short time since he left, and yet these people had already forced his teacher into such a state.
But he also knew that getting angry now would not help, and what was more important was to see what Jian Ziyan's situation was.
So he walked quickly forward, lifted the curtain and walked in. After seeing the bulge curled up at the foot of the bed, his heart began to ache dully, mixed with a bit of fear.
"Teacher?" Pei Mingjue knelt on one knee on the bed, carefully approached the bulge, and tentatively reached out to touch him, "It's me, don't be afraid."
After hearing his voice, the bulge trembled violently, and then stopped there motionless, allowing Pei Mingjue to grab a corner of the quilt and lift it up.
Jian Ziyan huddled inside, hugging his legs. The sudden appearance of light made his pupils contract for a moment. Even though he was stimulated to tears, he didn't dare to move at all.
On his open upper body, the silver needles used for acupuncture were still pierced with them. Because of his movement, the needles had become crooked and misplaced, and some had even turned into wounds, oozing fine beads of blood.
Pei Mingjue's breathing stopped, his scalp exploded, and his eyes were filled with intense anger. He wanted to scold those people who had turned Jian Ziyan into this in just a quarter of an hour, but after seeing Jian Ziyan's eyes filled with fear and anxiety, his arms that were holding the quilt drooped down dejectedly.
What right did he have to blame those palace maids and imperial doctors? Wasn't it him who made Jian Ziyan show such an expression?
He took a deep breath to steady himself, not letting any sharp emotions leak out.
"Teacher, come, let's take out the needle." He held Jian Ziyan's arm very gently, and because he was afraid that Jian Ziyan would do something to hurt him, he stretched out his other arm to protect his body. "Take out the needle first, and then go back to the quilt, okay?"
However, no matter what he did, Jian Ziyan did not resist at all. He just kept looking at Pei Mingjue, unwilling to miss any expression from him, and planned to kneel down and beg for mercy as soon as he got angry.
Pei Mingjue saw what he was thinking, and his heart felt like it was stabbed hard by something. Cold and dense blood gushed out, leaving a sweet and fishy taste in his throat.
The people kneeling on the ground outside the curtain listened to the king's gentle voice, even carefully coaxing another person with a humble attitude. They didn't dare to utter a word, but just exchanged shocked glances with each other.
Everyone serving in Yeonbok Palace knew the Regent, and they had all seen how much the Emperor hated and loathed him. Even though they didn't know why the Emperor's attitude toward the Regent had changed so drastically, those at the lowest level of the palace all understood one thing very clearly.
Dajing, the weather is going to change again.
After half-coaxing and half-carrying Jian Ziyan out, the imperial doctors were about to file in but were stopped by Pei Mingjue.
"Doctor Wang, you must bring in at most two people. Move quickly and get out as soon as you are done with the acupuncture. Do you understand?"
The emperor's voice was hoarse and tired, so Doctor Wang naturally didn't dare to negotiate with him. He immediately picked out two other doctors with the best medical skills besides himself, and asked them to go in together to give acupuncture to Jian Ziyan.
But to their surprise, even with Pei Mingjue by his side, Jian Ziyan still got into trouble this time.
He seemed to be trying hard to control himself from resisting, but to no avail. He watched the imperial physician approach him, his whole body stiffened. As the imperial physician's hand just touched him, he could not help but dry heaving and leaned over the bed to vomit.
But he didn't eat anything at all, and even though he vomited heartbreakingly, he could only vomit out black and bitter medicine.
“Teacher!” Pei Mingjue immediately held Jian Ziyan with his own hands. Regardless of the dirty dragon robe, he eagerly stroked his back. Feeling the jagged spine under his palm, his eyes turned red. “What’s going on!”
"this……"
Doctor Wang had a brief conversation with the other two doctors, and then said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Regent Prince may have been traumatized by some of his previous experiences, so that he now strongly rejects the touch of others."
Pei Mingjue was startled, and looked at Jian Ziyan, who had become quiet and well-behaved in his arms. He was so angry that a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his lips.
"Your Majesty!" The imperial doctors exclaimed and wanted to come forward to treat the patient, but Pei Mingjue stopped them with a wave of his hand.
"You refuse to be touched by others...really?" He made a decision with his eyes. "Doctor Wang, teach me which acupoints the silver needles should be inserted into. From now on, I will personally perform the acupuncture for the Regent."
"What?" No one could have imagined that the emperor would go to such lengths for the regent, and they were all stunned for a moment.
"What are you still hesitating about?" Pei Mingjue glared at them with red eyes, "Why don't you come and teach me?"
Looking at Jian Ziyan, who remained motionless due to his suppression and allowed the imperial physician to give him acupuncture, Pei Mingjue could hardly suppress the pain in his heart. His nose was red and his facial features were slightly distorted.
I know you're not the only one who can accept my touch, but you just don't dare to refuse it...right.
But it’s better this way, at least I can still give you acupuncture and pull you back a little from the edge of pain. This is my purpose now.
In this way, Pei Mingjue did everything personally regarding Jian Ziyan. He fed Jian Ziyan, gave Jian Ziyan a bath, and taught Jian Ziyan acupuncture.
And because Jian Ziyan would exclude everyone and might even hurt himself once he was not present, Pei Mingjue could only handle government affairs after Jian Ziyan fell asleep, and rush back immediately after the morning court session.
Pei Mingjue's time was greatly compressed. He accompanied Jian Ziyan during the day, and had to deal with tedious government affairs and attend the morning court at night. Even though he had a foundation in martial arts, he quickly became haggard.
But his expression became more solemn day by day. Instead of showing any signs of fatigue, he became more mature and strong.
Now only he can save the teacher, and he can't fall down no matter what.
A few days later, the spy he sent to investigate the late emperor finally returned.
…
Pei Mingjue was shaking slightly as he held the secret report.
Even though he had been prepared in his heart, he had never imagined that his father, whom he had loved and respected for nineteen years, would be even more unbearable than he had imagined.
This secret report not only confirmed everything that Chen Huihai had said before, but also contained shocking secrets that none of them knew.
"Did the emperor send people to wipe out the entire family of the former loyal and brave general?"
Pei Mingjue spoke each word clearly, the dim candlelight dancing on his pale face, making his dark eyes look as terrifying as if they had crawled out of hell.
"Is the news reliable?"
The spy bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case."
Pei Mingjue covered his chest with his hands.
His spies were all loyal warriors and naturally had their own ways to investigate things. He never doubted the truth of the information reported by the spies, but this secret report was really... unbelievable.
Pei Mingjue leaned on the corner of the table and read the secret report again from the beginning.
"Ha." He curled his lips, but the expression on his face was uglier than crying. "My good father, pretending to be a wise ruler in front of the world, but behind the scenes he is really... It really opened my eyes."
If Chen Huihai's words made him know the other unbearable side of his father, then this secret report completely tore apart the shadow of his father in his heart.
His father had many male favorites who looked like Jian Ziyan. During the years when he could not take action against Jian Ziyan directly, these male favorites would vent their anger. Every day, one or two bodies were carried out of the Yanfu Palace. They died in horrible ways and were secretly buried. Chen Huihai did not mention this matter. I wonder if it was to save the royal family's remaining face in front of Shangguan Lin.
He was also extremely suspicious. He killed the family of General Zhongyong because he suspected that General Zhongyong was collaborating with the enemy and passing the news of Dajing to foreign countries, but he could not find any evidence, so he simply ordered his assassins to kill the whole family.
By the way, isn’t Jian Ziyan the mysterious man who saved Censor Mountain?
Pei Mingjue thought of this and calculated the time in his mind. He was shocked and saddened to find that it was after the late emperor had poisoned Jian Ziyan. In other words... Jian Ziyan had already begun to suffer the torture of the late emperor at that time.
That's why he knew the emperor's plan and was able to rescue the dying advisor Shan by such a lucky coincidence, right?
When no one knew, how many secrets did you carry alone, and how did you survive that time that was worse than death on your own?
As soon as Pei Mingjue imagined what Jian Ziyan might have been going through at that time, his breathing became difficult. He clutched his clothes on his chest and let out violent coughing.
"puff."
He spat a mouthful of blood onto the dragon table.
"You go down."
Pei Mingjue signaled the spy to leave and stayed alone in the imperial study for a long time. He ordered the eunuch who was serving him, "Go to the Heavenly Prison and bring the first-rank general here."
…
Consultant Shan never thought that he would be able to see Jian Ziyan again one day in his lifetime.
Even though Pei Mingjue had explained Jian Ziyan's current situation to him before coming, when he actually saw Jian Ziyan's sleeping face, he still couldn't control his expression.
Heartache, pity, love, sadness, all the emotions were twisted on his face, but he didn't dare to get closer.
"Don't you want to see him?"
Pei Mingjue's ghostly voice came from behind him. Even though he tried to suppress it, one could still hear his strong unwillingness.
"Go, before I regret it."
Consultant Shan clenched his fists tightly and walked into the curtain.
Of course he knew how determined Pei Mingjue was to let him go and even let him meet Jian Ziyan. In fact, he had never dared to think that such a day would come.
After learning the whole story, his first thought was to kill the late emperor with his own hands. Since he was already dead, he would dig his remains out of the imperial mausoleum and expose them in the wilderness under the scorching sun, so that he would never rest in peace for the rest of his life.
But he also knew that Pei Mingjue would not allow him to do so. This was not only a matter of concern to the late emperor, but also the reputation of the entire royal family.
The fact that he was willing to make such a concession now was already showing him the emperor's apology.
Pei Mingjue watched Consultant Shan walk into the curtain, and used all his strength to control himself. He did not go forward to grab him and throw him out, but instead scolded him as before not to get close to his people.
But he had no position.
If his existence only forces Jian Ziyan to obey and brings him nothing but insecurity and fear, then maybe... he should find someone more suitable to take care of him.
No matter how unwilling he was and how much he wanted to kill the man who coveted his baby, he couldn't do it.
They, father and son, owed Jian Ziyan so much, and now even Jian Ziyan's life was at stake. Apart from staying away from him and not bringing more stimulation to Jian Ziyan, the only thing he could do was to kill himself to avenge Jian Ziyan.
Pei Mingjue looked at the tassels that had fallen down again and wanted to smile, but he could only reveal the sourness and bitterness that he could not suppress.
He knew Jian Ziyan's character too well. When all a person's hatred and love are concentrated on one person, his understanding of him may even be better than that person himself.
Because of what his father had done, and the harm he had caused to him, his teacher would never forgive him. If there was only one feeling he still had towards him, it was that he wanted to stab him in the chest like he had done to his father.
Pei Mingjue hated himself for being so clear-headed even now. Over the years, he could only rely on his own experiences to force him to think all the time and clearly calculate how to break the deadlock.
But no matter how he calculated, as long as he wanted to get close to Jian Ziyan, the final result would be a dead end.
Pei Mingjue touched his chest.
Teacher, if you really can only calm your anger by killing me, then I...will gladly do so.
…
"The Regent..."
Consultant Shan sat beside the bed, loosely holding Jian Ziyan's cold hand, looking at the red blush at the corners of his eyes that was already approaching black, his voice trembling a little.
"Zi Yan...it's me."
He finally called out the name that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.
At his call, Jian Ziyan's eyelashes moved and he actually opened his eyes.
After seeing Consultant Shan, his face looked a little dull, as if he had not yet reacted.
After a moment, his eyes suddenly widened and he stared straight at Consultant Shan, which made his heart soften.
"Zi Yan, I'm still alive, I'm fine, don't worry."
Consultant Shan couldn't describe how excited he was when he heard Pei Mingjue say that he had closed himself off and followed orders with the sole purpose of not killing him, as if the obsessive wish in his heart had finally been answered.
But after seeing Jian Ziyan's current appearance, all the excitement turned into heartache.
"You..." Jian Ziyan finally took the initiative to say the first words other than begging for mercy, which made Pei Mingjue outside the curtain unable to help but listen attentively, "You came out."
Advisor Shan was even more moved: "Yes, I am out. The emperor has found out what happened back then. It was the late emperor who killed my family. He also wanted to kill me, but you stopped him, right?"
Pei Mingjue felt something was wrong when he heard this. He didn't care about anything else and suddenly opened the curtain and walked in, shouting angrily: "Shut up! Don't say this to him!"
But it was too late.
Jian Ziyan's whole body trembled, he looked up at Consultant Shan in astonishment, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"You said...what? You...know everything?"
Consultant Shan was a little confused, but he had a hunch that he had said something wrong, so he didn't dare to speak for a moment. But how could Jian Ziyan be fooled so easily? He asked sternly: "Do you know everything? ... And you! Have you investigated everything that happened back then? You... really know everything?"
Pei Mingjue was panicking. He pushed away the bewildered consultant Shan and tried his best to keep his tone steady: "No, we know nothing..."
"You lied to me!"
Jian Ziyan struggled to support his body with his skinny arms. He glared at Pei Mingjue fiercely, his voice hoarse and shrill.
"Pei Mingjue, do you really think I'm stupid and crazy? Since you all already know what happened, why do you still come here and say these hypocritical words? All of you get out of here, get out of here! I don't need your pity, all of you get out of here!"
"Teacher, we really don't know anything. He is just talking nonsense. He is a general who knows nothing and can't speak. Don't be afraid..."
Pei Mingjue felt that according to the pain in his heart, he should be dead by now, but he was not yet. He could only pray desperately to Jian Ziyan.
However, Jian Ziyan did not believe him. For the first time, he stared at Pei Mingjue with such hateful eyes that Pei Mingjue's voice was stuck in his throat.
Facing Jian Ziyan's hatred for the first time, Pei Mingjue felt his hands and feet paralyzed, his brain had come to a standstill, only his lips were still moving numbly, trying his best to comfort Jian Ziyan.
"Teacher, don't think too much. I didn't lie to you. I really don't know anything..."
"No, call me teacher."
Jian Ziyan spoke each word with great emphasis, pouring all his emotions into these few short words, so heavy that Pei Mingjue's face turned pale.
"roll!"
Pei Mingjue suppressed the fishy-sweet taste rising in his throat. He couldn't go out at this moment, otherwise Jian Ziyan would do something unknown. However, his paralyzed brain couldn't think of any words to persuade Jian Ziyan, and his face was filled with panic.
At this moment, Jian Ziyan's breathing suddenly choked and he fainted.
"teacher!"
…
【Jian Ziyan: "This world is so tiring. Although I have found happiness, I also have a lot of work to do."
419 I don't want to bother with him.
Jian Ziyan: "Now there is no happiness, only workload."
419 said expressionlessly: "Host, I am a forgiveness value collection system, not a pleasure system."
Jian Ziyan: "Is there still such a system? Can I apply to change the system?"
419...419 decided not to bother with this scumbag. If I bother too much, my system will get a heart attack.
419: "Pei Mingjue's forgiveness value is 50, Consultant Shan's forgiveness value is 70, Shangguan Lin's forgiveness value is 60, what are you going to do?"
Jian Ziyan: "Is it really impossible to change the system?"
Before 419 got mad, he decisively changed the subject: "Don't worry! I still have strong medicine!"]
Jian Ziyan was not unconscious for long and soon woke up again.
Pei Mingjue and Consultant Shan quickly gathered around. Consultant Shan knew he had made a big mistake and didn't dare to say a word. Pei Mingjue was also assessing the situation, and everything was quiet.
Jian Ziyan looked at Consultant Shan and fixed his eyes on Pei Mingjue's face.
Pei Mingjue subconsciously felt that something was wrong. The next moment, Jian Ziyan spoke. Even though his voice was hoarse, his tone was warm and gentle.
"Qing Jie, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so haggard?"
Pei Mingjue's expression froze on his face.
Qing Jie is his nickname. He would only call him that when everything hadn’t happened yet and Jian Ziyan still treated him like a family member.
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