Chapter 58: You want to play forced love? Come on! ...
The news of the victory of Prince Xiang's rebellion spread across the capital like wildfire, and the whole country was jubilant.
Ning Wujie personally led the victorious army and escorted the prisoners of war back to the capital.
The army received rewards from the prefectures and cities along the way and received cheers from the people along the way. It was not until the end of summer that they arrived in the capital.
At this moment, they were still a hundred miles away from the capital, and the army chose an open area to set up camp and rest for a while.
The night was like thick ink, and the campfires in the camp were like scattered stars. Ning Wujie and his generals sat around the campfire in front of the central army tent.
Wu Jing handed the wine cup to Ning Wujie and said with a smile, "Marshal Ning, would you like one?"
Ning Wujie's face was expressionless. He raised his hand and pushed away the wine cup he offered. "I mean what I said. Six months is six months. I don't owe you anything, so why should I drink?"
"Hey, you can't say that!" Wu Jing insisted, "Brothers, let's celebrate!" He winked at the generals around him as he spoke.
The generals understood what he meant, and gathered around with their wine cups in hand, all saying, "That's right! Marshal, you're mighty! You've razed Jiangping Prefecture in just six months! It's a pleasure for us brothers to follow you into battle!"
"Marshal, let's have a drink to celebrate our triumphant return!"
"Marshal, please do me a favor!"
The crowd surrounded Ning Wujie so tightly that he couldn't get out. Compliments and urgings to drink continued to flow in. He couldn't refuse, so he had to take the wine bowl from one of them and took a symbolic sip.
This one stone caused a thousand ripples.
Wu Jing yelled in dissatisfaction: "Hey! Why are you drinking his instead of mine? Am I still your good brother?!"
Someone else pushed a wine cup over, "Marshal! Drink mine!"
"We have to hurry tomorrow," Ning Wujie refused, warning, "We've already been delayed for over three months. Anyone who delays our arrival in Beijing again will be subject to military court."
Counting the time since he left Beijing, it has been a year since he last saw His Majesty.
I don’t know if that tyrant king ever thought about me.
Longing flooded into my heart like a tide, but when I thought of that person, what came to my mind was the scene before he left, when the tyrant king deceived him and the corners of his lips curled up.
He was so angry that he couldn't help but clench his wine cup.
That tyrant emperor probably already has a new love by his side and has forgotten his old love!
Amidst the noise and laughter of the crowd, a figure suddenly and quietly retreated from the edge of the crowd.
Ning Wujie took the wine cup from Wu Jing and when he brought it to his lips, he caught a glimpse of the quietly disappearing figure from the corner of his eye.
He remained calm, but his eyes flashed slightly, and he exchanged a knowing look with Wu Jing beside him.
Wu Jing understood, and under the pretext of getting up to refill his wine, he quietly blended into the shadows of the camp.
Han Jin avoided the patrol and hurried to the riverbank not far from the camp. He stopped behind a pile of jagged rocks and looked around vigilantly.
A cloaked figure suddenly appeared.
"Where are the things?" Han Jin lowered his voice very low, with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness.
The cloaked man said nothing and stuffed a heavy cloth bag into his arms.
"The master said that it must be draped over Ning Wujie in public when all the officials come to welcome him." The cloaked man had a clear voice, sounding like a young man.
Han Jin looked at the bundle in his hand and hesitated to confirm again, "Your Majesty, are you really going to do this? This is a crime punishable by the death of nine generations of your clan."
The young man nodded, "Of course! Just do as the master says!"
Han Jin calmed himself down and said through gritted teeth, "I will obey your command. I only hope that Your Majesty will ensure that I am safe when the time comes."
"Don't worry!" The young man said this, and his figure flashed and disappeared without a trace as if blending into the night.
In a grove not far from the two of them, a figure clung to a tree trunk, holding his breath and listening to every word of the conversation.
Wu Jing was stunned. What did this mean? What was His Majesty going to do?
Although he didn't fully understand, he knew it was definitely not a good thing. His face darkened and he disappeared silently into the woods.
*
Capital city, outside Shuntian Gate.
Banners and banners covered the sky, and drums and music blared. Officials in court robes stood solemnly on both sides of the imperial road. The common people lined the streets, cheering like waves.
Wen Xing was wearing a royal robe and a crown on his head, sitting upright on the throne on the city wall, overlooking the victorious army slowly approaching below.
His gaze penetrated the jade beads hanging from the crown and accurately locked onto the figure at the front of the team.
Ning Wujie wore silver armor, his helmet tassel twitching slightly as his scarlet cape fell across his horse's back, a corner lifted by the wind. His horse's hooves trampled through a trail of flowers and the lingering smoke from the salutes as he headed straight for the city wall.
When they reached the foot of the imperial steps, Ning Wujie dismounted from his horse and led a group of generals onto the steps. The clashing of armors made a clanging sound of metal.
Wen Xing's gaze closely followed the figure as tall as a green pine. The pearl curtain of the crown swayed slightly in front of his eyes, but it could not block his focused gaze.
Watching the other person walking towards him step by step, his heart beat faster involuntarily.
It's only been a year since I last saw him, but the boy's figure seems to be taller, and he is surrounded by a murderous aura of someone returning from the battlefield, making him look even more determined and sharp.
Wen Xing should have been happy that he was about to step down from the burden of being emperor, but when he saw Ning Wujie's handsome face so close to him, the joy in his heart was replaced by an indescribable emotion.
Perhaps the unnoticed longing quietly condensed into substance, transformed into countless fine needles, gently piercing the softest part of the heart.
Ning Wujie knelt on one knee with the courtesy of a military commander, "Your servant, Ning Wujie, has been ordered to fight against the rebel Wen Li. I have now quelled the rebellion and returned to the capital in triumph."
The generals behind him shouted in unison: "Long live our emperor, long live our emperor, long live our emperor!"
The young man slowly raised his eyes, his eyes as deep as a cold pond and extremely sharp, looking straight at the emperor on the high throne.
He was tricked by this foolish emperor into going to war, and the emperor turned around and favored a newcomer. Now that he had just returned to the capital, he didn't know what trap this foolish emperor had set for him.
He should have been filled with rage, and even wanted to hold the man down and question him harshly.
But the moment he saw Wen Xing, his resentment melted away like ice and snow. All that remained was the intense longing that had enveloped him for the past year. The moment he saw her, his heart was cleared as if the clouds and mist had finally parted, and he finally saw the light of day.
Wen Xing's voice rang out from beneath the imperial crown, "Ning Qing, please rise. You have fought for our country with great hardship and service, and I am deeply gratified."
Ning Wujie stood up and raised the axe, the symbol of supreme military power, high above his head. "Now that the rebellion has been quelled and the world is at peace, please take back the axe, Your Majesty."
Wen Xing curled his fingers slightly under the wide sleeves of his robe.
I haven't seen this guy for a year. Don't you have anything else to say to him? And you're asking for the military power back right away?
Moreover, once the military power is taken back, how can he perform the script of "abdication"? No way!
He snorted in his heart, but remained expressionless: "No hurry, you can return it to me after the ceremony is over."
After the ceremony, he would retire, and naturally there would be no question of who would take control of the military.
Ha! He is really smart.
Li Dequan stepped forward at Wen Xing's signal and read out the imperial edict of awarding the title:
"...In recognition of your illustrious military achievements, I grant Ning Wujie the Nine Gifts, a crown with ten tassels, the right to enter the court without bowing, the right to bow without naming, and the right to enter the palace with a sword and sandals..."
Hearing the words "add the Nine Gifts", Ning Wujie's pupils trembled violently, and he suddenly looked up at Wen Xing, "Your Majesty!"
"This reward is too presumptuous! I cannot obey your order!"
Since ancient times, the usurpation of the throne by powerful ministers has always been marked by the ceremony of the Nine Gifts. This ceremony gives the powerful minister the same ceremonial weapons as the emperor, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a shadow emperor.
The whole audience was in an uproar! The officials' faces suddenly changed, and they whispered to each other and discussed.
Ning Wujie already controls the military power of the entire nation, and now he's adding the Nine Gifts! Is Your Majesty planning to abdicate?!
Some old ministers could not help but step forward to offer advice.
"Silence!" Wen Xing shouted sternly. The emperor's natural pressure enveloped the entire venue, suppressing all the commotion.
He swept his gaze downwards, his expression undeniably fierce. "The reward ceremony hasn't even begun, who dares interrupt?!"
All the officials were frightened by this momentum and kept silent, but their hearts were filled with turmoil.
Is there really going to be a change of dynasty?!
What a tyrant!
Wen Xing's gaze returned to Ning Wujie, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly beneath his crown, "Ning Qing's achievements are unparalleled throughout history, so he naturally deserves the honor."
He knew that even if he directly proposed to abdicate now, Ning Wujie would only refuse, so he needed to create a situation that the other party could not refuse.
Now that you hold actual military power and have received the Nine Gifts, once you put on the yellow robe, everyone in the world will know that you have the intention to usurp power.
By then, you will have to sit on the throne even if you don’t want to.
He didn't give Ning Wujie any chance to decline. He looked at the generals lined up and said loudly, "You have all worked hard and made great contributions. Come forward and receive your rewards!"
This sentence was like a hint. Han Jin took a deep breath, suppressed his anxiety, and glanced at the line of civil servants. After receiving an affirmative look from the opposite side, he finally calmed down.
The generals came forward in order, kowtowed to thank God and received their rewards.
When it was Han Jin's turn, he tucked the cloth bag under his cloak in again and began to walk slowly towards Ning Wujie's side.
Every step he took felt like he was walking on the edge of a knife. When he was one step away from Ning Wujie, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes and his right hand reached under his cloak.
But at this moment, Ning Wujie suddenly glanced over, swept his sharp eyes, and said coldly: "Capture him!"
Suddenly, several black shadows jumped out from both sides of the imperial steps and suppressed Han Jin with lightning speed.
Han Jin:!
He was forced to kneel down with a thud, and the bright yellow dragon robe under his cloak fell to the ground.
The whole process happened in a flash, clean and neat.
The scene suddenly fell into dead silence. Everyone was stunned by this sudden change and stared at the bright yellow dragon robe on the ground in amazement.
The ministers were in disarray in the wind.
What happened?! Who's trying to rebel?!
Ning Wujie's gaze fell on the dragon robe, his pupils trembled violently, and when he looked at Wen Xing again, his eyes were filled with uncontrollable anger and disbelief.
This tyrant king actually gave Han Jin something so life-threatening?!
"His Majesty......"
Ning Wujie gritted his teeth and said in a cold voice, "Your Majesty, I have secretly hidden the dragon robe with evil intentions. I have failed to control my subordinates and cannot escape the blame. I beg Your Majesty to make a judgment."
As he spoke, his sharp gaze swept towards Wen Xing, observing the other party's reaction.
Wen Xing looked at Han Jin who was forced to his knees on the ground in the blink of an eye, and the dragon robe that was supposed to be draped on Ning Wujie's shoulders, and his eyes went dark.
What's going on?! His carefully planned "retirement gift"!
But he quickly realized that his plan might have been discovered by Ning Wujie.
This kid! How did you find out?
He glanced at Han Jin again, who was eagerly protesting his innocence, "Your Majesty! I am innocent. This... this does not belong to me! How could I possibly have hidden the dragon robe at such an important occasion?! I was framed! Your Majesty, please understand!"
Wen Xing held his forehead with his hand helplessly and tiredly, "This matter...I'm afraid there's something fishy."
Ning Wujie glared at him and said in a cold voice, "Oh? Your Majesty is quite confident."
"Could it be that Your Majesty knows the reason behind this?"
He choked upon hearing this.
He glanced at Ning Wujie's all-knowing expression, then at Han Jin's aggrieved face as he took the blame for him, and couldn't help but close his eyes.
I cursed inwardly, this brat, he must have eight hundred schemes in his mind!
He could only force himself to remain calm and try to excuse Han Jin: "Who would hide the dragon robe in such an occasion? What's the purpose?"
"Yeah." Ning Wujie stared at him and said in a low voice, "What are you trying to achieve?"
Wen Xing was irritated by the slightly sarcastic tone and said angrily, "I will personally judge this case later! Take the criminal away first! Keep him under strict guard!"
Several imperial guards stepped forward and dragged Han Jin away.
While being dragged, Wen Xing nodded slightly to Han Jin to appease him. Han Jin received the signal and finally stopped struggling and let the imperial guards drag him away.
"Okay." Wen Xing announced the end of the ceremony.
He was tired. He hadn't been able to give away the throne for many times, and he was so angry that he wanted to kill someone.
He was about to leave dejectedly when Ning Wujie stopped him.
"His Majesty!"
Wen Xing turned around and thought, are you done yet?
Ning Wujie stared at him and handed him the axe. "Your Majesty, please take it back."
Wen Xing almost rolled his eyes.
However, his gaze passed over Mian Liu and met Ning Wujie. The other party's gaze was meaningful, and it made him feel guilty for a moment.
Never mind. The plan had already failed, so it didn't matter whether he took the axe back or not. And if he didn't take it, Ning Wujie would definitely not give up.
He reached out to take the axe with a look of self-abandonment and said sadly, "Thank you for your hard work, Ning Qing."
But then Ning Wujie added, "Since ancient times, only those who usurped power were granted the Nine Gifts. Your Majesty, please take them back as well."
Wen Xing was a little impatient. "Since Ning Qing has no intention of usurping power, why should he be afraid of this mere empty ceremony? This ceremony was originally established to commend ministers with outstanding merits. It's only been fabricated by later generations."
"I have already announced it to the world, how can I take it back? It would be a waste of time for the entire court to misunderstand and make us feel alienated."
As he spoke, he was afraid that Ning Wujie would continue to pester him, so he said, "If Ning Qing really has concerns, I will find an opportunity to take it back in the future, okay?"
After he finished speaking, he walked down the city wall with the help of Li Dequan and sat on the imperial carriage.
Ning Wujie looked at the imperial carriage slowly moving away, complex emotions surging in his eyes.
What on earth does this tyrant want to do?!
*
As Wen Xing returned to the bedroom, a sharp chill suddenly struck him from behind without warning.
He turned around and his gaze was unexpectedly met with a pair of bottomless eyes.
Ning Wujie had stood silently behind him without anyone noticing, his face gloomy and his whole body exuding a dangerous aura that told strangers to stay away.
"Your Majesty, don't you have anything to explain?" His voice was also chilling.
Wen Xing felt a little guilty, but he still pretended to be ignorant: "What do I need to explain to you?"
Ning Wujie stared at him intently, approaching step by step, and said in a dangerous voice: "Didn't His Majesty give Han Jin the dragon robe?"
As the oppressive figure approached, Wen Xing couldn't help but step back. He glanced to the side and said, "Why would I give him that? Nonsense!"
Ning Wujie continued to approach, his narrowed eyes becoming even colder, "Yes, I also don't understand why Your Majesty would give him something that would kill me."
Wen Xing flatly denied it: "You're talking nonsense. What do you mean by wanting your life? I didn't do that!"
He had retreated to the edge of the couch, and finally had nowhere to retreat. His calf was hit by the edge of the couch, and he sat down straight.
He lowered his eyelashes, not daring to look into Ning Wujie's eyes filled with anger and disappointment.
However, the slightly cool fingers pinched his jaw with irresistible force, forcing him to raise his head.
Ning Wujie's dark eyes met his sight, and there seemed to be a storm surging in his eyes.
He heard the other party's voice, which was somewhat cold and suppressed with anger, "Your Majesty promised me that you would not test me again."
Wen Xing's Adam's apple rolled, "I...did not test you."
Ning Wujie approached, the anger in his eyes grew even stronger, burning the corners of his eyes red, and his voice became three times colder, "Oh? It's not a test."
"That means they are intentionally trying to bring me to an irretrievable state."
The young man leaned forward, his arms resting on the edge of the couch, imprisoning Wen Xing in the small space. His voice was hoarse, "Your Majesty, are you so impatient to take my life so that you can make room for someone else?!"
Wen Xing frowned, irritated by this strange train of thought and speechless for a moment. Finally, he looked back at Ning Wujie with confidence: "What are you talking about? Who should I make room for?"
The two of them were very close, their noses almost touching. Ning Wujie's breath, hot and scorching from his anger, sprayed on Wen Xing's cheeks and lips, burning him so much that his breathing stopped.
Ning Wujie sneered, his voice full of danger, "Of course it's Teng who gave it to His Majesty's new lover."
Wen Xing was very confused and even a little annoyed: "You are talking nonsense!"
Where did he get his new love?
Looking at the person in front of him pretending to be stupid, Ning Wujie felt so angry that his teeth were itching.
He finally understood that it was useless to talk nicely to this heartless and tyrant emperor!
Ning Wujie pushed the man down on the couch, then moved forward and bit the irritating lips with a cruel and punitive attitude.
“…Ugh, Ning Wujie…you are so outrageous!”
Wen Xing pushed the person away with all his strength, and when he looked up again, he saw Ning Wujie's chest heaving with anger. In his pair of scarlet eyes, besides anger, there was more of a deep sense of grievance.
"Your Majesty...what do you think of me? If you wanted my life, why would you go to such great lengths? With just the word, you can take my life at any time! Why are you so cruel? Do you have to exterminate my entire clan?!"
Ning Wujie's voice trembled slightly, "I just want to ask, what exactly is your heart made of?"
With each question he raised, tears gradually filled his eyes, which were gradually condensing, and he felt a sense of brokenness.
Wen Xing felt like his heart was stabbed.
In Ning Wujie's opinion, the dragon robe was almost the same as a death warrant, and it was indeed cruel for him to do this.
But that wasn't his intention.
Instead of letting the other party continue to misunderstand and hurt themselves, Wen Xing felt that it would be better to try to make things clear.
His voice softened unconsciously, and he cautiously probed, "Ning Wujie, if I said... I really wanted to abdicate to you, would you... believe it?"
Ning Wujie's pupils contracted and he looked at Wen Xing with disbelief.
Before he could say anything, Wen Xing soothed him, "Don't be anxious. Calm down and think about it carefully."
"If I simply wanted to frame you, that dragon robe alone would have been enough. Why did I grant you the Nine Gifts? And why didn't I take back your military power and frame you after you were no longer a threat?"
Hearing this, Ning Wujie's mind quickly flashed through the words of this foolish emperor who repeatedly mentioned abdication or changing the dynasty. He thought it was nonsense, but every event in today's ceremony seemed to point to an absurd but the only reasonable explanation.
A strong sense of absurdity came over him, and he shouted in disbelief, "Why?!"
Wen Xing felt a little helpless as he watched the anger in the other person's eyes turn into shock.
How should he explain it?
He can't say it's because of history, right?
He had no choice but to choose the simplest, most truthful, yet most excuse-like reason: "I am tired and don't want to be emperor anymore."
Hearing this absurd and almost childish explanation, Ning Wujie's eyes suddenly turned cold.
This tyrant emperor is really still teasing him!
"Your Majesty, if you don't want to sit on this throne, then you can simply give up the throne if Prince Xiang rebels. Why would you ask me to quell the rebellion?"
Ning Wujie lunged forward once more, his eyes blazing with even more fury than before, filled with despair. "Even if there's no Prince Xiang, the late emperor still has other descendants. At worst, there are still the imperial family's collateral branches. Anyone with the surname Wen has a more legitimate claim than I do! Why are you pushing it onto me?!"
"Your Majesty, do you want me to be cursed and attacked by everyone in the world?!"
"Your Majesty, did you make up such a lie because you thought I was easy to fool? Or did you just think it was fun to tease me?"
This tyrant simply wants to kill him!
Wen Xing looked at Ning Wujie's furious expression and finally realized that his behavior was too illogical and there was no way to defend himself.
He simply gave up and threw the whole thing away.
"Yes! I just think it's funny. I'm happy to see you angry! Okay!"
Ning Wujie stared at the man, his eyes filled with extreme disappointment and anger, and his knuckles gripping the edge of the couch tightened inch by inch, almost crushing it.
This tyrant has no heart at all!
He was furious and leaned over and bit Wen Xing's lips hard.
"Ouch... it hurts..." Wen Xing said in pain, "Are you a dog?" As he said that, he retreated and tried to escape, but was pulled back by Ning Wujie, who pressed his neck hard, forcing him to raise his head to meet the other's lips and teeth biting.
"Yes!" Ning Wujie held the person tightly in his mouth and refused to let go. His voice was vague, filled with grief, indignation and self-mockery. "In the eyes of Your Majesty, what's the difference between me and a plaything?!"
He's not even as good as a toy. Even cats and dogs can get the pity of their owners, but what about him?!
All I get is endless teasing and harassment from this tyrant!
Wen Xing was so breathless from the kiss that she tried her best to push him away but failed. She could only shout angrily, "Ning... well... I... am going to kill you..."
Ning Wujie retreated a little, stared at the man and sneered, "Your Majesty's methods are much more clever than killing people."
As soon as he finished speaking, his hot tongue pried open Wen Xing's teeth and frantically grabbed every inch of breath in the other's mouth.
Compared to the biting just now, it was more of a deep demand.
Wen Xing was so breathless from the kiss that she was practically starving for air. Yet, deep within her body, a long-suppressed, inappropriate heat suddenly ignited. Her heartbeat became uncontrollably chaotic.
Wen Xing secretly cursed himself as a beast.
He must have been suppressing his desire for a year, and it must have been too long, so being kissed so roughly could actually arouse him.
Never mind.
He suddenly raised his hand, grabbed Ning Wujie's neck, and pushed him down. The other party was caught off guard and was dragged to the ground by him.
He immediately took the initiative and hooked the other person's tongue tip, sucking and licking, as if he wanted to drag the other person into this whirlpool of desire.
Ning Wujie's breathing stagnated and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Wen Xing took advantage of the moment when the other person was stunned and suddenly turned over and pressed the person under him.
While kissing him fiercely, he pulled at the boy's waist belt.
You want to play forced love, right? Come on!
Who is afraid of whom!
The breathing of the two people began to become increasingly unstable, hot and rapid.
For some reason, the boy under him did not resist anymore. Instead, he let him do whatever he wanted. He just stretched out his arms, wrapped them around his lower back, and quietly tightened them.
It was as if the beast had silently locked onto its prey, while the prey was still licking the bait in ecstasy, completely unaware.
Wen Xing lowered his eyes and looked. In his hazy vision, the boy's breathing was disordered due to his kiss, and the corners of his eyes were crimson. His originally icy eyes were now filled with a layer of lust, which was both blurry and alluring.
The sight almost made his blood boil.
Torn clothes, scattered jade belts, shoes and socks kept sliding off the edge of the couch, making rustling sounds, and piling up ambiguously on the ground.
"...a tyrant ruler."
Hearing the boy's muffled curse, Wen Xing snorted indifferently.
The late summer afternoon sun streamed into the room, making the tiny particles of dust floating in the air clearly visible.
The bamboo leaves hanging by the window were blown by the wind, making rustling sounds, making the room full of charming and seductive spring scenery.
Occasionally there were curses and rapid breathing sounds intertwined and quietly overflowed out of the window.
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