There must be something suspicious about the osmanthus-scented balm Yin Wuzhi was wearing.
When Yin Wuzhi leaned over the armrest, gazing down at him, the faint fragrance began to stir Jiang Wu’s thoughts again.
Yin Wuzhi’s pale face, delicate lips—though lightly colored—were full and inviting, making one want to turn them a deep red, kissed and flushed.
It was a sight Yin Wuzhi had seen before.
And because he had seen it, he knew how captivating it was and longed to see it again, always, forever.
But he held back, maintaining absolute composure as he spoke about unrelated matters from his dominant position: “Either you go to the study now, or we both attend the osmanthus banquet tomorrow.”
Yin Wuzhi never expected Jiang Wu to respond with: “Yin Wuzhi, do you want to kiss me again?”
For a moment, his mind went blank.
Had he been that obvious?
He hadn’t done anything, just looked and thought, assuming he had hidden it well.
Yet, he had been seen through in an instant.
Yin Wuzhi stepped back a few paces. Unable to deny the accusation, he stammered after a long pause, “When do you plan to bathe?”
A bath would wash away that scent and rid him of its intoxicating effects, freeing him from the emperor’s manipulation.
The topic change was sudden.
But Jiang Wu liked this topic. He glanced at the sky and nodded, “Now is fine.”
Eager to wash away the fragrance, Yin Wuzhi quickly picked him up without another word and carried him to the warm bed in the adjoining room.
The maidservants came in, carrying trays, and among them, Yin Wuzhi spotted one holding the scented balm. He called her over, “We won’t be using this today.”
Jiang Wu turned his head slightly and asked, “What is it?”
The maid replied respectfully, “It’s osmanthus-scented balm, Your Majesty.”
“I want it.”
Yin Wuzhi glanced back at him with a scrutinizing gaze and said, “No need.”
“I want it.”
“No need.”
“I like it.”
“I don’t,” Yin Wuzhi replied firmly. The more Jiang Wu insisted, the more suspicious Yin Wuzhi became. It had to be this balm causing problems. Without a doubt, he commanded, “Replace it.”
Jiang Wu looked at him and said, “I want it.”
“…”
Yin Wuzhi hardened his resolve and averted his gaze. He picked up the jar of balm, stating coldly, “It’s too sweet. It doesn’t smell good.”
He walked out, and when he returned, his hands were empty.
Jiang Wu stared at him.
Yin Wuzhi said coldly, “I threw it away.”
“…”
Jiang Wu should have been angry.
But getting angry takes a lot of energy.
Forget it. Jiang Wu lazily said, “Go take a bath.”
Even though he wanted the balm, it wasn’t as if he couldn’t do without it. He just didn’t understand why Yin Wuzhi was behaving this way.
He didn’t understand, nor did he feel like asking.
So, whatever.
Things beyond his control could simply be left to drift away with the wind.
Jiang Wu then said, “After your bath, go receive twenty lashes.”
Yin Wuzhi remained silent. Getting beaten didn’t matter as long as he could confirm that Jiang Wu had drugged him. Once freed from his control, he’d know how to move forward.
Right now, his whole being felt fractured, and he had no idea what was right anymore.
Jiang Wu always floated in the water for a while during his baths. This time, Yin Wuzhi didn’t watch like before. He sat by the pool, eyes downcast, waiting until Jiang Wu began to sink before quickly pulling him up.
It wasn’t just the osmanthus balm—Yin Wuzhi discreetly pushed all the other scented items far away as well.
After the bath, Jiang Wu’s body carried only the faint scent of soap and fresh water vapor.
Yin Wuzhi helped him dress, then carried him back to the Taiji Hall, placing him by a vented heater. He inhaled deeply.
The sweet and cloying smell of osmanthus was gone. Yin Wuzhi felt a sudden clarity, the frustration and confusion in his heart lifting.
It was clear now—Yin Wuzhi gazed at the emperor, his eyes closed, long, wet hair draped over him.
It had been the balm all along, inducing hallucinations. This despicable emperor had drugged him, making him almost believe he was falling for him.
Looking at the emperor now, Yin Wuzhi felt disgusted. This person, despite being attractive, was nothing but an empty shell.
He was incompetent, lazy, indifferent, always burdening others. He couldn’t even get through a morning court session without practically being dragged there.
His absence from court for days was simply because he didn’t want to wake up early? How could someone like this exist? He had no empathy at all, even daring to fall asleep on the throne in front of all the officials.
It was absurd—completely laughable!
Claiming to love him, this emperor had imprisoned his friend, humiliated him, threatened him with his family over and over again. Such a disgraceful person was unworthy of the throne!
He was too lazy to even read official reports, couldn’t even be bothered to listen when someone read them to him!
How could someone like him rule a nation, be hailed by officials as the supreme ruler?
He didn’t deserve it.
He wasn’t fit to be emperor, nor even fit to be human!
“Why haven’t you gone for your lashes yet?”
Yin Wuzhi paused.
Jiang Wu opened his eyes lazily and said, “You threw away my balm. Aren’t you going to get your lashes?”
“Does the emperor not know why I threw it away?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Jiang Wu replied indifferently. “Go get your lashes. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Lashes?” Yin Wuzhi no longer wanted to stay in the palace. Slowly, he said, “I’ll leave the palace tonight and return to King Dingnan’s residence.”
Jiang Wu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
“This game,” Yin Wuzhi said, “I’m done. Find someone else to play with, Your Majesty.”
He turned to leave, but Jiang Wu’s voice stopped him: “If you walk out of this palace, I guarantee the entire King Dingnan’s household won’t see the sunrise tomorrow.”
Yin Wuzhi froze, his breath catching as he slowly turned back, glaring at Jiang Wu. “Why? When did I ever provoke you?”
Jiang Wu met his gaze. “Blame it on your looks. They’re exactly to my liking.”
Yin Wuzhi’s pupils dilated.
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard Jiang Wu say he liked him.
But this time, it hit harder. Jiang Wu didn’t care for him—only for his appearance.
“If I want you to stay, you will stay,” Jiang Wu said slowly. “I am the ruler of the world, the Son of Heaven, and you, along with your entire family, are nothing but ants in my eyes.”
So, grow quickly. Follow the path laid out for you, and let the Later Xia dynasty be restored.
A sudden and deep wound tore open in Yin Wuzhi’s heart.
It was hard to tell if it was his pride or something else that made him feel so hurt, so suddenly.
His hands clenched into fists as he spoke with hatred: “You treat me like this, yet you want me to stay. Aren’t you afraid that one day, I’ll kill you?”
Jiang Wu laughed.
His gaze was filled with encouragement. “You can try.”
There was no fear, no anger. That hint of encouragement now felt like nothing but contempt in Yin Wuzhi’s eyes.
His chest rose and fell with agitation.
“Enough,” Jiang Wu said, his expression returning to indifference. “Go get your lashes.”
“No.”
“Go.”
“I won’t,” Yin Wuzhi said darkly. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I won’t let you push me around.”
Disobedient.
Jiang Wu laid still for a moment before using his trump card: “Do you want to kiss me again?”
“…”
After a brief silence: “!”
Yin Wuzhi suddenly turned around again.
His heart—his heartbeat—started speeding up again.
No osmanthus scent, no medicine, yet still, it sped up.
Could it be that he really felt something for the incapable emperor…
Jiang Wu glanced at his back.
Was this… disdain?
As expected, when dealing with someone as thick-skinned as Yin Wuzhi, attacking the heart is the way to go.
“If you don’t want the flogging, fine. Just give me a kiss. If it makes me happy, I’ll let you off.”
Bright red lips flashed through his mind—
Yin Wuzhi: “.”
He felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Jiang Wu, unhurried: “Yin Wuzhi, you…”
A gust of wind swept past his ear, and without looking back, Yin Wuzhi bolted out of the room.
Getting beaten clears the mind.
There must be something wrong. There’s some kind of incense he hadn’t considered. The incapable emperor didn’t insist on osmanthus balm, so there must be another type of balm confusing him.
After the flogging, Yin Wuzhi vanished without a trace.
By the time Jiang Wu’s hair was dry and he was getting ready for bed, there was still no sign of him.
“Send someone to look for him,” Jiang Wu ordered. “If he hasn’t left the palace, let him be.”
The night was cold. In the rock garden pavilion, someone laid there fully dressed. Moonlight spilled over his face, and suddenly, he turned over on the reclining chair, lifting his wide sleeve to cover his face.
When Qi Hanmiao arrived with a lantern, Yin Wuzhi had already gone from lying down to sitting, quietly gazing at the cold and indifferent moon in the sky.
“Your Highness, we’ve finally found you. His Majesty was worried sick.”
Yin Wuzhi coldly replied, “No need to lie to me. He’s definitely already asleep.”
“… His Majesty still cares for the young lord.”
Cares? If he really cared, he wouldn’t have insisted on beating him.
Yin Wuzhi lowered his eyelashes, unable to hide the loneliness on his youthful face.
Qi Hanmiao watched him for a while, then stammered, “Your Highness, don’t be sad. I’m sure His Majesty will soon release you from the palace.”
Yin Wuzhi asked, “How do you know?”
“In fact, tomorrow’s osmanthus banquet is being held at the request of the Great Empress Dowager, who specifically arranged it to gather the daughters of officials. By then, there will be many beautiful women, and His Majesty will surely take a liking to one of them.”
Yin Wuzhi: “… Is that so?”
“Of course. Think about it, Your Highness. No matter how good-looking you are, you’re still a man. You can’t bear children for His Majesty, and you can’t openly become his consort. His Majesty is probably just curious for now. You see, even the Great Empress Dowager hasn’t intervened forcefully. Both she and the Empress Dowager watched His Majesty grow up. They know his temperament very well. Right now, he’s just acting out for the elders. Just endure it a few more days, and once the harem is filled, the Great Empress Dowager will definitely see to it that you’re sent back home.”
The more Yin Wuzhi listened, the darker his expression became: “He’s just acting out?”
“… His Majesty was too tightly controlled before. Lately, he’s been indulging a bit more. The Great Empress Dowager is working on it. I’m sure His Majesty will soon resolve his inner conflicts and think things through completely.”
Yin Wuzhi abruptly stood up and leaped down from the rock garden.
Qi Hanmiao, who couldn’t fight, could only chase after him with a lantern: “Your Highness, Your Highness, wait for me!”
By the time they returned, gasping for breath, Yin Wuzhi was standing tall at the entrance of the Taiji Hall. His young figure was as straight as a white poplar, and even standing casually, he resembled a drawn sword.
Qi Hanmiao caught his breath and said, “Your Highness, tomorrow you just need to help coax His Majesty to attend the osmanthus banquet. The rest can be left to the Great Empress Dowager.”
Yin Wuzhi’s face was expressionless.
Qi Hanmiao: “Your Highness?”
“I understand.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Qi Hanmiao finally relaxed.
With the young lord shizi at His Majesty’s side to offer advice, the osmanthus banquet was sure to go smoothly.
