Chapter 40 [VIP]
Lu Xuejin took a step forward. Murong Yue stared at him, as if only those eyes, filled with anger, remained in the darkness. He had never seen His Highness like this before. His Highness was always innocent and polite in front of others, never showing this gloomy side.
He spoke first, "Your Highness, how long have you been waiting here? It was my fault... How about we sit down first?"
A dagger pierced through his eardrum, a sharp, explosive sound mixed with the stench of blood. The voice trembled; worried about Murong Yue's throat, he slowly walked to the boy's side and touched his wrist.
No matter how sharply Murong Yue resisted, after they made contact, they stared at each other. The boy's eyes were filled with the ashes of a burnt-out fire, and an endless gloom spread over him. Seeing him walk towards him fearlessly, his anger subsided somewhat.
"I know I was wrong. Your Highness, please don't be angry with me." Lu Xuejin touched Murong Yue's hair, and their breaths mingled instantly. The image of him holding the boy appeared in front of the window.
Although lacking reason, he could still understand his words. Even with some loss of sanity, His Highness was still a genius. Geniuses among people; they could always grasp the smallest details.
Do not underestimate someone just because they seem unwise. Do not deceive them just because His Highness has not yet awakened.
“I went to the palace and stayed in Xiyuan Hall for one night. I wrote down the case petitions from outside the palace, and now I am waiting for His Majesty’s approval. It was my fault. I did not tell His Highness before I left, and I stayed out for too long.”
Following Murong Yue's usual practice, Lu Xuejin leaned closer to examine the boy's eyes. The boy's fan-shaped eyelids appeared sharp and distinct when he looked to the side, but became innocent and lively when he tried to open them wide. As he leaned closer, he saw two latticed windows with swirling undercurrents, and the emotions in the boy's heart made his pupils appear multicolored.
He said in a low voice.
"Your Highness, please forgive me this time, okay?"
His lips brushed against Murong Yue's forehead, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He had been in the mortal realm for over twenty-five years, and aside from his parents and the common people, he had never humbly apologized to anyone else; he believed his conscience was clear. This was the second time he had apologized to the Ninth Prince, and the prince's expression always filled him with guilt.
The moment he touched Murong Yue, Murong Yue's voice abruptly ceased. He stared at him in the darkness, his breathing still unsteady, only the sound of his rapid, uneven breathing audible. It was as if a small, angry animal was panting heavily beside him. Thinking of this, a wave of tenderness washed over him.
The boy could sense his emotions, seeing the gleam in his eyes and the way his lips touched something like a spell. The spell took effect immediately, and the dark emotions vanished. His wrist was then gripped tightly, his knuckles touching the boy's burning fingers. The boy led him silently toward his bed.
Lu Xuejin let someone lead him, and Murong Yue led him to the window. Under the carved wooden bed, in a crevice, was a small wooden box. Murong Yue opened it in front of him.
He didn't know when the boy had hidden the things there, and curiously looked over, seeing the Ninth Prince take out a pair of red earrings, the very ones he had been wearing. Besides the red earrings, there was a crumpled letter with gold patterns, and a snow-white ribbon. In addition, there were some small items, a small fish pendant, pretty stones, and a few sheets of paper.
Lu Xuejin looked thoughtfully at the snow-white ribbon, which looked somewhat like his belt. He had lost a belt a while ago... but it didn't seem to be this one.
He watched the boy fiddling with the belt, taking it out and putting it back in, ultimately reluctant to part with it, and finally returning it to its original place. The boy put the small box away and led him around the room, searching left and right, until finally finding a red rope. That rope was originally used by Ziyan for sewing things.
Having found the item, Murong Yue calmed down considerably. He tied a knot in the rope around his wrist, placed the other end in his own hand, opened his mouth, and spoke his first words of the day.
"Brother. Mine."
Lu Xuejin almost thought she had misheard. Before, he could only call her name... Now, he can speak?
"Your Highness, what did you say? I didn't understand just now. Could you repeat it?" He raised his wrist, the rope tied around his wrist was very light, hanging loosely at his wrist.
Upon hearing this, Murong Yue looked at him, seemingly casually touching his forehead, then glanced at him, feigning nonchalance while glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help but smile, leaning over to gently kiss the boy's canine tooth.
He was a relative, and the boy became uncontrollable in his presence. His waist was tightly embraced, and he was lifted up and slammed against the windowsill. He couldn't breathe from the overwhelming presence, and his breath became weak. The other person was holding him very tightly, squeezing his waist as if to lift him up.
Murong Yue looked at him from below, brushed his eyelashes against his eyes, rubbed his canine teeth against his lips, and repeated in his ear.
"Brother Changyou. Mine. Mine. Brother Changyou."
“Mine. Changyou.”
Lu Xuejin heard him clearly this time, but this position was very disadvantageous for him. He was also worried about upsetting the other person, so he carefully chose his words and said, "I understand... Your Highness, please put me down first."
No matter what, he was an adult man, yet the boy could easily pick him up. He stared at the boy thoughtfully, remembering that the last time he was the one carrying the boy.
"...Your Highness?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Murong Yue put him down. He didn't go far, remaining half-hugging him from behind. Looking at the figure on the windowsill, he noticed the boy had grown taller. He couldn't go anywhere today; dawn was approaching. Murong Yue led him to the bedside, intending to sleep with him.
Murong Yue also carefully placed the rag doll in the corner, his brown eyes facing them. After the boy lay down, the rag doll was placed in his arms.
He had initially thought he would have trouble falling asleep, but the scent of the boy's bed, which he had become very familiar with after spending so much time together, inexplicably made him feel at ease, and he soon drifted off to sleep.
The face of a sleeping youth emerged from the waters of the underworld, while small fish swam among the lotus blossoms. Beneath the gray sky, a sliver of light pierced through a gap in the thick clouds. The light was faint and invisible, yet it traveled from the human world to this boundless realm.
Murong Qing appeared out of nowhere and said, "If you want to go back, just keep walking along this shore. Find the boatman by the small boat, and he will take you away from here."
Murong Yue: "...Elder sister?"
Upon hearing this, Murong Yue asked, "Has anyone else been here?"
“A year ago, Wei Ning came here. Like you, she was caught between life and death. Though she was alive, her heart was not far from death,” Murong Qing said.
"Later I also saw Changyou here, and Changyou took her away. When Father Emperor was still alive, he valued Changyou very much. He was known throughout the world for his gentlemanly character... Wei Ning was already very lucky, but now it seems that Xiao Jiu was even luckier."
The present world.
"Does Your Highness still remember who I am?" Tengluo pointed to herself, then looked around at Murong Yue, who ignored her.
Hearing the commotion, Lu Xuejin looked in their direction. A message came from the guards: Xue Yi had assumed personal rule this morning. He hadn't read the memorials placed on his desk, and when Song Zhao mentioned the matter during court, Xue Yi hadn't responded. Upon waking, he immediately issued a lockdown order, heavily guarding several exits from the capital. Anyone leaving the city needed approval through multiple layers of government.
There had been no movement from the imperial prison for a long time, which gave him a bad feeling.
He was deep in thought as he looked at the letter when he noticed a gaze. He looked up and saw Murong Yue staring at him, but then looked away after a moment.
"Tengluo, did you see Song Zhao when you left the palace today?" he asked.
Tengluo immediately responded, "I saw it. Lord Song was waiting outside the Golden Palace early this morning. His Majesty was also there at the time. I was watching from afar, worried that I would be caught by His Majesty. Lord Song must have mentioned the case outside the palace. I saw him carrying salt in his hand."
"..." Before Lu Xuejin could speak, Murong Yue seemed to have sensed his thoughts.
Murong Yue: "Me. My brother. We'll go together."
Tengluo's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed incredulously, "Young Master, His Highness the Ninth Prince can speak!"
Ziyan looked over when she heard this. Murong Yue's face was tense because of what Tengluo said, but her expression softened a lot when she saw the lively appearance of the master and servant.
“Your Highness, you may come with me. Let’s check your injuries first, shall we?” Lu Xuejin asked.
He spoke, and Murong Yue looked at him, then turned his face away to look at Tengluo and Ziyan, pressing his hand on his belt.
Tengluo understood. She was certain: His Highness was indeed His Highness. Even though he had lost his soul, he was still quite shrewd. She had seen him shirtless before when she prepared his bathwater, but now he was suddenly being so particular.
“Your Highness is an unmarried young lady, and she is even more particular than us, so naturally we cannot bear to look. Ziyan, let’s go out,” Tengluo said.
Ziyan sighed, glanced at Tengluo, who covered her mouth with a grin, and the two went out together.
After Tengluo left, Murong Yue immediately complained to Lu Xuejin, saying, "Tengluo. Bad."
“Your Highness does remember people now,” Lu Xuejin said with some surprise. “If you go out with me, Your Highness will need to disguise yourself as a guard and make sure no one can tell.”
"If people find out you're still alive, we might both be in trouble. Then His Highness might have to part ways with me."
His injuries had healed, and Murong Yue changed into a guard's uniform. The young man's figure appeared in the mirror; tall and slender, his black robes concealing his unrestrained air. The cluster of trumpet creeper flowers, stained with ink, appeared more reserved and enigmatic. A mask concealed only a pair of eyes that seemed both melancholic and somber. Those eyes stared directly at him.
Lu Xuejin: "You must not speak outside. Do not get too close to me. I will be within Your Highness's sight. Your Highness must not act rashly."
He gave detailed instructions, which Murong Yue listened to very carefully. Finally, he concluded, "Don't move, protect your brother."
That's fair to say. Lu Xuejin was certain he couldn't find any flaws, so he led Murong Yue out the door. They traveled by carriage to the criminal trial council, where Song Zhao was already waiting for him.
Whether it was a subtle illusion or not, ever since he waited for Song Zhao once, Song Zhao had never made him wait again. Every time, Song Zhao arrived first and waited for him here.
Lu Xuejin: "How is the Emperor doing?"
He saw the salt provided on Song Zhao's desk and figured there were no problems with the Bi brothers. Song Zhao looked at him hesitantly, and he understood the answer.
“He just woke up and is not feeling well,” Song Zhao said. “I brought this up today, and he already knows about it. I will bring it up again at court tomorrow.”
"Since he hasn't responded even after you asked, it seems he doesn't want to get involved. Qiu Fuze hasn't invited anyone over either. But before my brother woke up, he invited people over every day. Now that my brother has woken up, it's like he's found a powerful backer... He's made up his mind. Xue Yi won't be able to do anything to him," Lu Xuejin said. He didn't mention that he had also written a letter of advice.
"..." Song Zhao listened and replied, "Those in positions of power often face difficulties. His Majesty is probably pondering how to deal with it; let's give him some time."
Lu Xuejin frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed, and asked, "How is Qiu Xiongcai doing in prison lately? Is he behaving himself?"
A silence fell over the room. Song Zhao didn't answer, seemingly pondering how to reply. Seeing this, he stopped wasting words with Song Zhao and turned back to the imperial prison.
Once inside the carriage, as he had instructed, Murong Yue had not uttered a single word since he left. Murong Yue sat opposite him, and when he was troubled, the young man touched his forehead, smoothing out the wrinkles between his brows.
He felt a burning heat on his forehead, paused slightly, and touched the boy's fingertips, and the unease in his heart completely disappeared.
“Your Highness…” he sighed and gently grasped the boy’s fingers.
They arrived at their destination quickly.
Upon arriving at the location, a woman's scream echoed from inside the prison. This place was supposed to house serious offenders; how could a woman be here? Lu Xuejin questioned the prison guard, who stammered and offered no answer.
He went to see for himself. The imperial prison, a place for sentencing prisoners, had now become a paradise. A group of prisoners were peering over the bars, their throats emitting primal sounds of excitement. In the corner where Qiu Xiongcai was held, the cell was piled high with things that Qiu Fuze had sent. From fine wine to gourmet food, from servants to women to amuse Qiu Xiongcai. The original meadow had been cleared away, and brocade and velvet had transformed the prison into a magnificent cage.
The air was thick with the stench of alcohol, so strong it seemed to complement the vile souls within the prison, threatening to swallow up all the darkness and replace it with sheer evil and sin.
Qiu Xiongcai became lost in the clamor of the prisoners. He indulged in pleasure, which excited the prisoners around him. The more violent he became, the more intense the sounds and sights made them tremble. He lost himself in the noise and didn't even notice when someone came in.
"I am just a little boy~ I love it when people cry for me... Everyone calls me a devil, but I consider myself a pure and innocent fool, the only one who lives with the clearest mind..." Qiu Xiong hummed a song, unaware that the voices of the prisoners beside him had all disappeared.
Qiu Xiong only caught a glimpse of a snow-white robe and the newcomer's long, withered fingers. His hair was then grabbed, and the other person showed no signs of weakness when he attacked. He felt a tightness in his scalp, and his eyeballs felt like they were about to shatter. With a "bang," his head slammed against the wall, his nose snapped, and the sudden pain made him scream.
"Ah—" His teeth were shattered, and he was sent flying, crashing into the wall. His chest was almost shattered, and his ribs broke deep into his spine.
The fear of impending death made him open his eyes. He saw snow-white boots, spotless hem of clothes, and above, a white robe reflecting the image of a snow crane soaring into the sky. The young man was refined and elegant, looking at him like a deity's brow, yet seeing him as a filthy blade of grass. His teeth were in the young man's palm, and blood dripped from the young man's withered finger bones.
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