Chapter 140
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Throughout history, no emperor has willingly allowed themselves to be controlled by noble families, especially those without a sense of propriety.
The Xie family was a clear example of this in the past.
Under Chu Lishu’s careful design, the Pei family also inadvertently stumbled down the same path as the Xie family. By the time they realized their mistake, the Emperor had already taken action.
Although this time the Emperor only dealt a severe blow to half of the Pei family’s existence, it was enough.
The Emperor didn’t need two most favored princes, and it was time for Concubine Pei to pay the true price for her reckless act of attempting to assassinate Lin Qingyang.
In fact, the Pei family wasn’t the initial target for Chu Lishu’s plan.
Originally designed to add some turmoil among the three major families, an additional layer of revenge was added, leading to the Pei family’s unfortunate fate.
So, when Lin Qingyang heard the final outcome, it was somewhat enlightening. The consequences for the Pei family in the original plot didn’t seem as dire as what he was hearing now.
Even Xu Wenze spoke up, saying, “The Emperor has already denied it was an assassination attempt. In normal circumstances, the punishment shouldn’t be this severe. Surprisingly, the Pei family ended up in such a tragic state this time. However, it seems they are enduring it.”
Chu Lishu sneered, “If the Emperor knew that we were behind everything, he might even thank us. After all, we provided him with a reasonable excuse to target the Pei family.”
……
“Did the Emperor vent his anger?”
Inside Changmen Palace, the Empress Dowager took a sip of tea and slowly spoke.
“Your child thanks Mother for the assistance.” The Emperor respectfully bowed.
“I didn’t do much; I just wanted to prevent them from attacking the Crown Prince, so I had to do it.” The Empress Dowager chuckled.
The Emperor gave a faint smile, not delving deeper into the matter. In their view, this incident had already concluded. In reality, the Crown Prince, dissatisfied and wanting to cause trouble, was discovered by the Pei family. Greedy for an opportunity, the Pei family attempted to turn the Crown Prince’s mischief into an assassination plot, hoping to regain the Emperor’s favor. However, it led to the present outcome.
They both understood that the Empress Dowager sending Yuan Ye to deliver the message to let the Zhongren’s residence handle the matter was, in essence, her way of expressing disapproval on behalf of the Emperor. Regardless of whatever punishment the Emperor might impose afterward, the Pei family should be grateful. Look, he didn’t allow them to go to the Zhongren’s residence, and he spared them from the accusation of attempting to assassinate him. Isn’t that favoritism enough for them?
So, don’t think about causing more trouble. People should know how to be grateful.
In reality, the Emperor was strategically using this opportunity to drastically weaken the Pei family, even if he knew they were unjustly treated in this matter. The Emperor wouldn’t be lenient, and the only consideration was to ensure the punishment’s severity wouldn’t provoke the Pei family into rebellion. He aimed to make it challenging for them to recover from this incident. In this regard, the Emperor handled it just right.
For the Emperor, the three major aristocratic families were like three towering mountains, making it difficult for him to even breathe when facing them. Now that one of them had been severed at the waist, he finally felt relieved, realizing that their power was now below his own. This made the Emperor feel more at ease with his current strength.
The Empress Dowager naturally shared an unspoken understanding with her son in this regard. So, when Yuan Ye came to seek help, everything fell into place.
However, little did they know that all their reactions were within the expectations of Chu Lishu. The Emperor thought it was divine intervention, granting him the opportunity to deal with the aristocratic families. Yet, he was unaware that he was just a pawn in someone else’s game.
At this point, someone had already started to suspect Chu Lishu, and that person was Pei Jin.
Pei Jin left Wangxian Pavilion with red eyes. Although she had already clarified things with Consort Pei, at this point, the Pei family could only accept their fate and had no way to reverse the situation. Now, the only thing they could do was to bide their time, hide their strengths, and patiently wait for an opportunity to rise again.
Reflecting on the entire incident, Pei Jin found it eerily strange. Perhaps others couldn’t sense it, but as the one who was manipulated, she keenly felt like someone was pushing her forward, and all the branching paths led to the worst options. The feeling of being manipulated, especially when she received the news that Yuan Ye misunderstood and prepared to defend against an attack from the Third Prince and the others, only to inadvertently expose their own plan, made it seem as if someone was orchestrating the movements of both sides from behind.
In this entire incident, the only one who benefited was the Eldest Prince. Even if someone could see through it, suspicions would likely fall on the Eldest Prince.
However, Pei Jin had no concrete evidence. Relying solely on intuition, she felt that the Eldest Prince and the four major families were not involved, but rather, they were just manipulated pieces in the grand scheme. The one who had the ability to design the entire event, creating layers upon layers and hiding oneself without leaving any trace, flashed in Pei Jin’s mind – Chu Lishu.
Thinking about Chu Lishu led her to recall Lin Qingyang, who was injured in the accident. More precisely, Lin Qingyang’s unexpected fall into the water was the starting point of the entire incident. The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was related to them.
Unconsciously, Pei Jin had arrived at Lin Qingyang’s residence. She wanted to confront her but ultimately turned around and left.
Questioning is a display of emotional incompetence; in reality, it signifies defeat. The right course of action is to reflect and prepare for a comeback. The Pei family is not one to be easily manipulated. As for Lin Qingyang, that fool, let him continue sacrificing himself for Chu Lishu’s ambitions. It serves him right to be in pain!
Hearing that things were progressing so smoothly, there was already a prompt in his ear indicating the completion of the mission. With 45% progress and 250 points, Lin Qingyang should have been happy, but at this moment, his mind was truly in turmoil.
The pain relief from the medication had worn off, and now Lin Qingyang keenly felt the excruciating pain caused by the applied medicine. Chu Lishu’s hands felt like instruments of torture, almost taking his life.
Now Lin Qingyang truly regrets it; he’d rather exchange for more painkillers. It’s embarrassing but definitely better than enduring the pain.
Chu Lishu, while updating Xu Wenze on the situation, continues to administer medication to Lin Qingyang. However, the hands shaking noticeably where they touch.
Chu Lishu is a bit puzzled, as Lin Qingyang didn’t react like this in the morning. Looking up, his eyes deepen involuntarily.
Lin Qingyang tightly bites the pillow, hands gripping the sides of the round pillow. Trembling incessantly due to exertion, knuckles protrude, fingers turning pale. Veins bulge on his neck, and sweat appears on his cheeks and forehead, presenting a miserable appearance overwhelmed by the pain from behind.
It looks like genuine pain.
“Is it hurting? Shall I be gentler?” Chu Lishu felt a pang in his heart, and his voice involuntarily softened.
As soon as Chu Lishu spoke, he heard Lin Qingyang let out a low hiss, muttering, “Um… be gentler.”
He didn’t dare to cry out; Xu Wenze was outside, and calling out loud felt embarrassingly shameful. However, he didn’t know that their conversation made Xu Wenze, who was outside, even more awkward.
Finally, Xu Wenze cleared his throat, dissatisfied with his own curiosity. He briefly discussed the situation with Chu Lishu, stating, “Ahem, I’ll take my leave now. You two rest well.”
Chu Lishu paid no attention to Xu Wenze, while Lin Qingyang was too exhausted by the pain to respond.
In reality, Chu Lishu was already being extremely gentle; any lighter, and the medication wouldn’t be applied properly. Despite this, Chu Lishu concentrated intensely, trying to make it “even gentler.” He wished he could endure all the pain for Lin Qingyang. He had a high pain tolerance, and this level of pain meant nothing to him, but for Lin Qingyang…
After applying the medication, Lin Qingyang was drenched in sweat from the pain, lying weak and limp on the bed. However, he still turned his head to gaze at Chu Lishu.
Considering his exposed back, Lin Qingyang preferred not to be observed unless necessary. Even though he doubted that Chu Lishu, as a man, would be interested in looking at another man’s back, Lin Qingyang still stared at Chu Lishu, guarding against any lingering gaze on his exposed back due to a sense of embarrassment.
Understanding Lin Qingyang’s potential discomfort, Chu Lishu had requested a very thin and sheer veil from the Weaving Workshop to cover the injured area, sparing Lin Qingyang from further embarrassment. This thoughtful gesture touched Lin Qingyang deeply.
Chu Lishu was attentive enough to help Lin Qingyang wipe off the sweat, knowing that changing clothes was necessary to prevent catching a chill. Having been cared for in such an embarrassing manner, Lin Qingyang had become somewhat numb to such situations, allowing Chu Lishu to take care of him without objection. In a somewhat humorous mindset, he thought about how well his cousin had been trained.
However, Lin Qingyang still felt a bit strange about the whole situation. After all, in the eyes of others, his character setting was that of a man secretly in love with Chu Lishu. Despite knowing everything, Chu Lishu, who should maintain a certain distance given the assumed ‘secret admiration,’ seemed to have no reservations. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but wonder if Chu Lishu wasn’t concerned about encouraging his supposed ‘secret admiration’ or even stirring up more complicated feelings.
If initially, Lin Qingyang would have thought that the scheming male lead was taking advantage of him, given the male lead’s tendency to exploit women who admired him in the original plot. However, now Lin Qingyang was somewhat perplexed, unsure of what the male lead really intended. Regardless, he was certain it wasn’t taking advantage of him, and Lin Qingyang still believed in Chu Lishu’s character.
While Lin Qingyang was left confused, Chu Lishu faced an even greater dilemma.
The steaming hot cloth pressed against Lin Qingyang’s smooth back, following the curvature down that gradually narrowed. There was a distinct concave curve, and for some reason, Chu Lishu couldn’t help but feel a burst of warmth in his eyes, as if that slender waist could be securely held by his hands.
Such fair skin, when pressed with force, would undoubtedly leave red marks, just like the area on Lin Qingyang’s back.
Chu Lishu quickly averted his gaze, concentrating on caring for Lin Qingyang. However, as his eyes moved downward, there was suddenly a feeling akin to lifting a stone and dropping it on his own foot.
Beneath that subtly transparent gauze, the pinkish hue, reminiscent of a ripe peach, left Chu Lishu’s throat tight. He had placed the thin fabric there only to spare Lin Qingyang any embarrassment, but unintentionally, it resulted in another effect that made him feel uneasy. The whole situation was making him uncomfortable; he would have preferred Lin Qingyang to be completely exposed, allowing him to see the wound and evoke some sympathy, dispelling any improper thoughts.
Hurriedly tearing his almost glued gaze away, Chu Lishu finished wiping the upper part, put on clothes, and decided to clean his lower legs as well. Naturally, the pants that were stuck to his thighs had to be removed, but this process was much more tormenting than the upper part, causing Chu Lishu’s hands to tremble.
In his line of sight were two fair legs, devoid of excess flesh, with clearly defined muscular lines along the bones. The legs appeared straight, long, and slender, perhaps because Lin Qingyang used to be overweight. Now that he had slimmed down, his skin seemed translucent and delicate compared to an average man. There were few body hairs, presenting a smooth and clean appearance, especially the curvature preparing to ascend above the thighs, resembling well-crafted jade and tempting one to explore.
Chu Lishu gently wiped across the elastic muscles of Lin Qingyang’s legs, separated by the handkerchief. These legs could be considered strong among ordinary people.
Chu Lishu couldn’t help but let his mind wander, waves of heat flooding his thoughts, making everything before him appear surreal. Finally, unable to control his own body’s reaction, he hastily rearranged Lin Qingyang’s clothes, awkwardly saying, “My body is sweaty too. I’ll go back first. You rest well.” With that, he hastily left.
It seemed that since facing his inner feelings, Chu Lishu couldn’t stop the intense desire he felt for Lin Qingyang’s masculine body. He began to doubt whether he had only developed feelings for Lin Qingyang or had completely severed any remaining feelings for women.
While the entire palace remained silent over the matter concerning the Pei family, Chu Lishu took the time to acquire a certain type of literature. Reading through it all night, he found himself almost disgusted when faced with the images in the book. He even began to worry if he could truly accept engaging in such activities with Lin Qingyang.
In a previous attempt, he found it somewhat acceptable, but the idea of going to a deeper level was a cause for concern. While he could easily imagine it in his mind, the fear of potentially leading Lin Qingyang into an unfamiliar physiological territory haunted him. What if, during the act, his body failed to respond as expected, leaving Lin Qingyang disappointed?
As Chu Lishu worried about this, his thoughts seemed to manifest in his dreams. Perhaps due to his intense focus on his studies, every posture from the entire book left a vivid imprint on his mind. In his dreams, he experimented with Lin Qingyang countless times, and with the precondition of having seen every inch of Lin Qingyang’s body in daily life, the details of each movement were crystal clear. He was keenly aware that this was a man, and even the expressions of pleasure, desperation, and pleading from Lin Qingyang were vividly apparent in his dreams.
As the rooster crowed at dawn, he reluctantly awoke, his body exhausted as if drained of all energy. Despite the satisfying dreams, he was well aware of the mess inside his pants.
Chu Lishu was momentarily lost in thought; it seemed he didn’t need to worry about his performance when the time came. The concern now shifted to whether he could resist the temptation of turning his dreams into reality. He contemplated whether to continue concealing his true feelings, staying officially with Lin Qingyang. However, considering Lin Qingyang’s safety and questioning his own self-control, Chu Lishu dismissed the idea, fearing that he might end up neglecting his royal duties.
The next day, Chu Lishu arrived much later than usual. Lin Qingyang, thinking there might be new developments outside, had already taken the pain medication. Realizing that Chu Lishu had come, he awkwardly explained. Lin Qingyang expected Chu Lishu to be angry, but instead, Chu Lishu seemed lost in thought. Every time their eyes met, Chu Lishu looked away. Surprisingly, he didn’t express any anger about Lin Qingyang applying the medication without informing him, only offering some advice.
Lin Qingyang easily noticed that Chu Lishu was not in good condition. Upon closer inspection, he observed Chu Lishu’s floating steps, the bluish tint under his eyes, and the vacant look—a clear sign of excessive fatigue and a drained body. However, despite the apparent exhaustion, Chu Lishu’s cheeks were remarkably flushed.
Lin Qingyang’s suspicions were aroused, and he promptly inquired, “Where did you go last night?”
Chu Lishu’s heart skipped a beat, hastily responding, “Nowhere!”
Lin Qingyang pressed on, concerned, “You don’t look well-rested. Are you feeling unwell? Have you caught a fever? Is something wrong again with the Third Prince’s situation? If there’s an issue, don’t hide it from me. I can help come up with ideas.”
Chu Lishu felt increasingly awkward, especially when his gaze met Lin Qingyang’s intense and soulful eyes. The image of Lin Qingyang’s tearful and affectionate look from the dream overlapped with the present moment, tempting Chu Lishu to lean in and kiss his eyes. Chu Lishu took a momentary pause in his breath and quickly turned away to pour tea, seizing the opportunity to change the subject.
“I did spend the night pondering, but not about the Third Prince; I was thinking about the upcoming issues. You don’t need to worry. On another note, I’ll be leaving the palace in a couple of days. Your condition will undoubtedly raise questions. Have you thought about how to explain it to aunt and cousin?”
Lin Qingyang remained optimistic, “It’s fine; I’ll just say I tripped and fell. They won’t suspect anything.”
Indeed, when he returned home, even if others noticed his less-than-optimal condition, Lin Qingyang’s explanation seemed to suffice. People’s reactions were filled with suppressed and complex emotions, and even County Princess Yawen and Lin Qinglan wore expressions of hesitation. However, it quickly shifted to sighs and lamentations.
During those days, Lin Qingyang felt like he had consumed several servings of red bean rice. Strange ointments appeared inexplicably in the small drawer beside his bed, making him briefly wonder if his situation had been exposed. However, his attention quickly shifted to other matters.
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Thanks for the update 😀