Chapter 56
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Chu Xie had just been facing off against Jiang Yanchi for a long time, and he was barely holding his eyes open. Now, he didn’t have the energy to deal with Xu Chunmu in front of him.
“I will marry him, only by marrying him can I get what I want.”
Chu Xie closed his eyes and said, “I’m tired. You must be tired too. Go back and rest.”
“Chu Xie…”
“Xu Chunmu.”
He muttered, “Don’t make any rash moves, don’t let Jiang Yanchi see through any flaws, don’t cause trouble for me… I’m really tired. I need to rest.”
Xu Chunmu looked at his exhausted expression and couldn’t bear to argue with him any longer.
Moreover, this matter was not something that could be resolved through an argument.
He stayed awake by the bedside all night, until the moonlight faded, and the sunrise in the east.
Only then did he finally lay down and rest his head on Chu Xie’s side.
When he woke up again, it was close to dusk. Jiang Yanchi had sent someone from the palace to bring Chu Xie into the palace. Chu Xie was assisted by Tao Li, who helped him wash, comb his hair, change clothes, and put on the crown.
Along with the rewards of gold, silver, and jewels that were sent, there were also the Empress’s phoenix seal and eight pairs of phoenix-shaped hairpins, as well as a pair of peony hairpins with flowing emerald tassels.
Chu Xie always wore magnificent official robes or simple, elegant long robes in his home.
He had never worn such exquisite ornaments before.
But now, he was not going to the palace as a minister, but as the Emperor’s empress.
Tao Li drew his eyebrows and applied a touch of vermilion. On top of the pale white jade crown, he chose the simplest red velvet phoenix hairpin to wear.
The color of the hairpin was soft and not too extravagant. The long velvet feathers hanging down were rare red-tailed warbler tail feathers, symbolizing auspiciousness. The vermilion feathers hung at shoulder-length and complemented his vermilion lips, making his skin appear as fair as winter snow.
Even Tao Li, who was used to Chu Xie’s appearance, couldn’t help but be filled with admiration and a touch of melancholy as she looked at him in the bronze mirror, saying, “Our Lord is so beautifully born.”
Then, she sighed with a touch of sadness, “It’s a pity that from now on, Tao Li won’t be able to see our Lord.”
“Shall I bring you into the palace?”
Tao Li shook her head like a tambourine, “I heard it’s a place where they eat people.”
“Do you even know what ‘a place where they eat people’ means?” Chu Xie asked with a smile.
“It’s precisely because I don’t know that I’m afraid,” Tao Li adjusted the hairpin slightly. “Don’t worry, my Lord. If you can’t get used to it, you can always come back. Or if you insist on having me go, I can consider it…”
“No, you better take care of my mansion.”
“Alright!” Tao Li replied with a cheerful smile.
When Xu Chunmu saw Chu Xie’s appearance after dressing up, his brown eyes gradually darkened. As they passed each other, he reached out and grabbed the hand hidden in his sleeve. “Is it really necessary to do this?”
“Young Marquis, the sedan chair is still waiting outside,” Chu Xie sighed. “You shouldn’t be like this and not being able to let go.”
Considering the bigger picture, Xu Chunmu had to let go.
He watched the distant figure in silence for a long time.
***
Jiang Yanchi had waited in the Chengluan Hall for a long time before he received word that Lord Chu had arrived at the palace.
Descending the long steps, he watched as the beautiful man, like porcelain, extended his hand to lift the pearl curtain and was helped down from the sedan chair. He was dressed in a light vermilion robe and covered by a crimson cloak, which fluttered gently in the breeze.
It was rare to see Chu Xie dressed so vividly.
The white walls, green tiles, and red windows in the palace contrasted perfectly with this man.
The gold and jade hairpin in his hair added a touch of luxury, and the red feathers swaying in the autumn wind resembled a fiery red gem etched into Jiang Yanchi’s heart.
This was really killing him.
Just a bit of dressing up like this, and he appeared as a breathtaking sight. It was hard to imagine how dazzling he would be when fully dressed for the wedding.
Jiang Yanchi’s throat moved, and he descended to meet him. The accompanying guards immediately lowered their heads and withdrew their stunned gazes upon his approach.
The Emperor held Chu Xie’s hand and entered the hall at a leisurely pace. Chu Xie wore a layered outfit of pale vermilion robes and a crimson cloak. The wind rustled the fabric, and as they ascended the last step, he stumbled forward. The Emperor quickly reached down to steady him by placing a hand on his lower abdomen. “Are you okay?”
Chu Xie stepped onto the last step. “I’m fine.”
Inside the hall, Chu Xie felt a bit hungry. The newly prepared food was just what he needed. He had a few bites before the Emperor ordered someone to bring a bowl of herbal medicine.
Chu Xie frowned. “I’m trying to eat, and you keep bringing me medicine. It’s ruining my appetite.”
Jiang Yanchi had nothing but admiration for him today, and he found even his sulking cute.
The medicine was taken away again under Jiang Yanchi’s orders. “You’ll have to drink it sooner or later.”
“My injuries have almost healed a long time ago.”
“Thats to treat external injuries.”
Chu Xie seemed to realize something and refused to drink. “Hysteria isn’t something that can be cured by a few bowls of herbal medicine.”
“Oh, I didn’t know you were quite knowledgeable in the art of Qi Huang. So, how would you suggest treating it?”
Now that Chu Xie had eaten his fill, he decided to enlighten Jiang Yanchi with some expert knowledge. “For someone like me with hysteria, there’s no way to integrate it. To consider it ‘cured,’ one’s personality would eventually disappear.”
Jiang Yanchi’s faint smile gradually faded.
Unaware of Jiang Yanchi’s change in expression, Chu Xie picked up a cup of hot tea and blew on it. “Your Highness must be relieved that the personality that will eventually disappear is my daytime persona, right?”
When he raised his eyes again, he saw a sharp glint in Jiang Yanchi’s gaze.
“…?”
Realizing that his gaze was too intense, Jiang Yanchi suppressed his fierce emotions. He forced a slight smile and poured a cup of tea for Chu Xie. “No, I’ve noticed that you’ve been changing recently. Your two personalities can definitely merge.”
Impressive medical knowledge, one could even merge dual personalities.
“Neither of them is allowed to disappear.”
Chu Xie sighed. “If my daytime personality disappears, wouldn’t that be more beneficial for you? After all, it’s this persona that you’re after. The other ‘me’ is obedient and kind, more suited to be a wife, isn’t he?”
Jiang Yanchi heard an underlying message and suddenly softened his stern expression.
“Which one do you prefer that I like more?”
Seeing the tea stain at the corner of Chu Xie’s mouth, he pulled him closer and wiped it away. In the process, he deliberately spread a touch of crimson to the corner of his mouth.
The spread of that crimson, looking beautiful and enchanting.
“Both are you.”
Seeing that Chu Xie fell silent and stopped responding, Jiang Yanchi softly embraced him and looked at the wayward beauty. “There are commonalities, and they’ve become more apparent recently, haven’t they? Chu Xie… haven’t you noticed that you’ve been more… compassionate than before lately?”
The Emperor ordered the little eunuch to remove the meal, and he brought over a bowl of medicine.
“Drink this,” he handed the medicine to Chu Xie, “Don’t leave any behind.”
Chu Xie held his breath and consumed the entire bowl of bitter medicine, frowning at the strong taste. “This medicine isn’t harmful to the body, is it?”
“It’s not. I’ve examined the prescription. Don’t worry, even if it has no effect on the hysteria, it won’t harm your health. You can rest assured that anything you ingest is carefully chosen. I’m afraid that one day you’ll poison yourself again…”
Chu Xie still felt frustrated when reminded of that incident. He was genuinely afraid of Jiang Yanchi at this point.
Even though Chu Xie needed to please Jiang Yanchi right now, he didn’t like being treated like a plaything, hugged, and given medicine. After he finished the medicine, he simply placed the bowl down. “Your Majesty, you’re busy with state affairs, and I’m now in the palace. You don’t have to stay with me all the time.”
Jiang Yanchi knew that Chu Xie always found him irritating.
Take it slow.
No rush.
Seeing Chu Xie let go, Jiang Yanchi rose with feigned indifference. “Alright, I’ll go review the memorials now. I’ll come and see you later in the night.”
Chu Xie’s gaze turned colder. “You don’t have to come at night either.”
The Emperor’s gaze lingered for a moment before he ultimately left the hall.
At night, to Chu Xie’s surprise, the Emperor never arrived. Chu Xie took off his ceremonial attire, bathed, and only wore an undergarment as he was about to sleep. Suddenly, he heard Little Xizi urgently reporting, “Niang Niang, have you fallen asleep?”
“…Don’t call me that.”
“Chu, Lord Chu… Young Master Zhao entered the palace overnight and has been detained by His Majesty. It seems the Emperor is furious. Would you… consider talking to him?”
Little Xizi whispered softly from outside, “You should do it. It’s because of your matter. Young Master Zhao is an acquaintance of yours. His Majesty is young and hotheaded; perhaps only you can have a word with him…”
Zhao Xuan.
That’s right. It’s perfect. Chu Xie needed to address Zhao Lingqu’s matter and extract some information from Zhao Xuan.
Chu Xie looked at the crescent moon outside, only wearing a pair of sleep pants, and hurriedly rushed out, fearing that Jiang Yanchi’s impulsiveness might harm Zhao Xuan.
***
In the grand hall, Jiang Yanchi wore a cold expression. He glanced at Zhao Xuan below and asked, “Are you still going to talk now?”
After several lashes, blood had begun to seep from Zhao Xuan’s back. Receiving such punishment directly in the council chamber was unprecedented. Zhao Xuan’s face was ashen, but he remained stubborn. “Your Majesty, please reconsider,” he said.
Zhao Xuan’s hands were folded, and his words were intense as he continued, “Your Majesty cannot marry Chu Xie.”
“First, he’s a eunuch. Such a marriage contract is simply ridiculous. Second, Chu Xie is cunning and malicious. If someone like him accompanies Your Majesty, it will surely…”
“Zhao Xuan.”
A dispassionate voice interrupted him, “You don’t think that being from the Zhao family will save you from me killing you, do you?”
Sweat dripped from Zhao Xuan’s forehead, and he rolled up his sleeves to wipe it away.
“Your Majesty, please be cautious,” Zhao Shizi implored.
The Zhao family was peculiar in this regard. Although they valued Zhao Xuan, they were always pressing their eldest grandson to speak up for important matters. Jiang Yanchi sneered, “If you don’t leave by yourself, do you want another beating?”
“Your Majesty!”
Kowtowing repeatedly, Zhao Xuan said, “There are countless beautiful people in the world, and many virtuous individuals. Your Majesty, why let yourself be misled by temporary beauty…”
“Guards.”
Jiang Yanchi didn’t want to hear more. He summoned the eunuch who had been administering the punishment outside, saying, “Continue the punishment, I want to see how resilient the Zhao family’s bones are.”
The whip, with blood-smeared spikes, was raised once more.
“Your Majesty.”
A soft voice came from the side chamber.
The voice was very familiar, but Zhao Xuan didn’t react immediately. However, the Emperor immediately stood up and walked toward the door.
Zhao Xuan was still kneeling. In this position, he turned his head to see half of a figure peeking out of the intricately carved wooden gate. With a high nose, porcelain-like complexion, and eyes as deep and limpid as water, they were concealed beneath the finely-textured stray hairs that hung on the forehead, a vision of beauty and elegance.
Jiang Yanchi took the cloak from Little Xizi’s hands and draped it over the person. He then pulled him out a bit, adjusting his sash using the light inside the hall.
Zhao Shizi only recognized the person’s appearance now, with his lustrous black hair cascading like a waterfall. Two strands of hair on his temples fell to his shoulders, and the rest was tied up at the back of his head.
This was… Chu Xie?
The Emperor noticed that he wasn’t wearing any shoes as he stood on the cold stone floor and raised an eyebrow slightly. “Huh? Why did you run out without wearing shoes…”
From the slender hand emerging from his cloak, the inner garment was quite oversized, revealing a small portion of a delicate wrist. “Your Majesty, please do not resort to killing recklessly just because the truth is unpleasant to hear.”
He tilted his head slightly and glanced at Zhao Xuan, who was still kneeling in the hall, and his soft voice carried a hint of pleading. “Zhao Xuan was only providing sincere advice, and his words were not in error. Your Majesty should not have chosen me to be your empress.”
“I am not from a prestigious family, nor have I contributed to the nation. I have even… an abundance of sins that cannot be forgiven. Your Majesty, actually, I should…”
“Ah Xie!”
Jiang Yanchi interrupted him angrily and grabbed the cold hands clutching his robe’s sleeves. He felt an icy chill. Surprised, he pulled him into the grand hall without further ado. Little Xizi failed to block their way, so he gave a subtle nod and sent the eunuch with the whip and the guards standing at the door a few steps away while implying that they should not spread gossip.
The Emperor placed Chu Xie on the dragon throne in the hall, covered him with a blanket, and without looking back, he said to Zhao Xuan, “If you don’t leave now, are you waiting for your head to roll?”
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