Chapter 14: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [14]

Chapter 14: Can a Psycho Tyrant Be Forced Too? "14"

"Your Majesty! You've finally come out, Your Majesty!"

Zhou Fuhai's eyes lit up the moment he saw Mu Jin appear, and he scrambled over eagerly, trying to grab the wheelchair from Ying Huaifeng.

But Ying Huaifeng merely shot him a cold look, showing no intention of letting go.

The guy, who was already getting antsy from waiting, was momentarily stunned at the sight of Mu Jin, then quickly composed himself and said, his tone still somewhat respectful:

"Your Majesty, my lord has been wanting to see you and has been waiting for quite some time."

The guy didn't even bother to bow—he just stepped right up.

The second the guy got close, Mu Jin caught the stench of blood clinging to him.

He chuckled softly, propped his head on one hand, and raised an eyebrow at the man.

One single, weightless look was all it took to freeze the guy in his tracks, halting his attempt to grab the wheelchair.

His heart skipped a beat—he really couldn't figure out how a puppet emperor with nothing but a pretty face could have such an intimidating stare.

Mu Jin drawled, "What's your name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, my name is Yue Liu."

Yue Liu kept his head down as he answered, then pressed again: "Your Majesty, my lord has been waiting for a long time. You should go see him quickly—since the prince's accident happened right in Your Majesty's own garden."

That half-begging, half-threatening tone really rubbed Mu Jin the wrong way.

Mu Jin lazily raised a hand and let out what sounded like a faint sigh.

"Yue Liu, a good name. Easy to remember, loyal, and protective of your master. I've got a reward for you."

Yue Liu couldn't read the little emperor's mind and was about to say something more when the little emperor spoke again, all calm and collected:

"Then you're dead."

Yue Liu's pupils shrank!

The second he heard that, he instinctively grabbed the dagger that had slid out of his sleeve.

But before he could make a move, the murderous glint in his eyes turned to sheer shock and panic.

He went rigid, lowering his head as blood flooded his eyes. He crumpled to the ground, mouth opening and closing, but no sound came out.

Ying Huaifeng glanced at the blood-stained dagger in his hand with a look of disgust, then casually tossed it onto Yue Liu's corpse.

Zhou Fuhai, who'd watched the whole thing, was still in a daze.

Yue Liu had drawn his dagger fast—fast enough that Zhou Fuhai didn't even have time to shout "Protect the Emperor!"

But Ying Huaifeng moved even faster. The instant Yue Liu's hand closed around the blade, Ying Huaifeng snapped his wrist, ripped the dagger away, and slashed his throat!

It was one smooth, brutal motion!

Zhou Fuhai couldn't help but gulp, suddenly glad he hadn't tried to snatch the wheelchair from Ying Huaifeng just now.

No wonder he'd lasted this long by the emperor's side—the guy clearly had some real skills.

But snapping out of it, Zhou Fuhai started to worry again.

The Regent got hurt in the imperial garden just last night, and now one of his men is dead here. That's gonna be a pain to explain.

"Zhou Fuhai, let's go. Let's go see just how hurt the Regent really is that he's demanding I come to him."

Mu Jin couldn't have cared less about Yue Liu's death. As he spoke, he turned to Ying Huaifeng.

"Clean this up. I don't want to come back to this smell."

"If you don't get it spotless, I'll bust your legs again."

At the threat, Ying Huaifeng was a little bummed he couldn't tag along with Mu Jin, but he stayed put like a good boy to dispose of Yue Liu's corpse and the bloodstains.

Zhou Fuhai had no choice but to grit his teeth and push Mu Jin over to see Mu Siyang.

But halfway there, a sweet, flirtatious female voice rang out, and the eunuchs hauling the palanquin came to a halt.

"Your Majesty? Your consort greets you."

Mu Jin automatically glanced toward the voice, looking a bit lost.

Wait, "Mu Jin" had consorts too?

Mu Jin racked his brain for a second, then it clicked.

Yeah, there were a few, but they were all spies planted by those two guys.

But unlike the maids and eunuchs before, these consorts weren't just spies—they were also the so-called legitimate daughters of court officials.

Even though "Mu Jin" had a nasty temper, he wasn't stupid about it. Killing a few palace servants was one thing, but if he killed these women, they'd have the perfect excuse to rise up against him.

So "Mu Jin" just kept them around as decoration in the harem.

So who was this one today, anyway?

One of Yun Fuyue's plants, or Mu Siyang's?

Mu Jin figured it was the latter, since Mu Siyang was the one stirring up all this mess.

While he was thinking, the consort had already reached him.

Zhou Fuhai seemed to notice Mu Jin's confusion and leaned down to whisper in his ear:

"Your Majesty, this is Noble Lady Zhao. She's the Prime Minister's eldest daughter who was lost and only found three months ago. The National Preceptor recommended her to enter the palace."

Zhao Ruoqian beamed at Mu Jin, fiddling with her handkerchief. Seeing the blank look in his eyes, her smile only grew.

Mu Jin looked at the woman before him calmly.

He remembered now—the plot had mentioned that while everyone else was a spy planted beside "Mu Jin," Zhao Ruoqian was the only one who genuinely liked him.

But too many people had said they liked him only to turn around and stab him in the back.

In a palace like this, "Mu Jin" had long developed a nature of trusting no one.

Still, "Mu Jin" was a Villainous Cannon Fodder, and Zhao Ruoqian was even more of a cannon fodder among cannon fodder.

There was barely any description of Zhao Ruoqian in the plot.

Mu Jin recalled from the plot that Zhao Ruoqian was described as a bright, dazzling beauty, the complete opposite of "Mu Jin," yet all she saw and cared about was "Mu Jin."

"Mu Jin" was initially drawn to her as well, and even had a soft spot for her.

Unfortunately, Zhao Ruoqian, like "Mu Jin," didn't have a happy ending.

"Mu Jin" tried to trust her, but in the end, he let distrust win.

And so, the only person who had ever been truly sincere with "Mu Jin" also died in the flames, full of hatred for him.

Mu Jin recalled the few times the plot mentioned them and sighed softly.

He wasn't "Mu Jin."

Since he knew the plot, facing this Zhao Ruoqian, he couldn't say he was fond of her, but he wouldn't treat her the way the plot said he would.

648 had said that small changes to the plot were okay, as long as Ying Huaifeng eventually made it to the throne.

So Zhao Ruoqian didn't have to die after all...

Zhao Ruoqian didn't know why Mu Jin was just staring at her in silence.

She froze for a long moment under that unfamiliar gaze, then smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, what's the matter? Why do you keep staring at me like that?"

Mu Jin said softly: "It's snowing and windy, so don't stay out too long."

Zhao Ruoqian's fingers curled slightly at her sides, as if she hadn't expected that reaction from him.

Mu Jin didn't notice her reaction and just kept talking as he handed the hand warmer to Zhou Fuhai.

Zhou Fuhai caught on right away and brought the hand warmer to Zhao Ruoqian, smiling at her: "Milady."

Zhao Ruoqian held the hand warmer, feeling the warmth spread through her, and then Mu Jin spoke again:

"I still have things to take care of. You should head back now, so you don't catch a cold."

As Mu Jin was about to leave, Zhao Ruoqian suddenly asked:

"Your Majesty, once you're done, would you come sit with me in my palace for a bit? It's been so long since I've seen you, and I miss you so much."

Mu Jin thought about it and agreed, then told Zhou Fuhai to send her some things later.

Zhou Fuhai agreed to everything, though he was confused.

His Majesty couldn't see a thing now, and this was the first time he'd met this Noble Lady Zhao, and he already seemed to like her a lot.

At least, it was the first time he'd seen His Majesty so friendly to someone the Grand Tutor had sent.

Guess he really did like her...

Mu Jin didn't know that Zhao Ruoqian stood there for a long time after he left.

Zhao Ruoqian clutched the handkerchief in her hand, embroidered with a plum blossom, and even the sachet at her waist smelled faintly of plum blossoms.

She stared at Mu Jin's retreating figure with a deep, complicated look, until he was completely out of sight.

Why did it feel like he'd changed so much...?

Zhao Ruoqian took a deep breath and shook her head, trying to shake those ridiculous thoughts out of her head, leaving nothing but deep scorn in her eyes.

What was she even thinking? Ridiculous. How could Mu Jin ever change?

A hint of hatred was hidden beneath the mockery in her eyes.

Zhao Ruoqian finally turned and left.

But Su Gantang, who was picking flowers in a tree off in the distance, saw the whole thing.

Su Gantang blinked, and a slightly excited smile curled at the corner of her lips.

She seemed to have found something interesting.

...

When Mu Jin went to see Mu Siyang, the first thing he heard was coughing.

"Cough... cough cough cough..."

Then came Mu Siyang's weak, almost bitter voice:

"Your Majesty finally came. I thought I'd die here today without ever seeing you again."

Mu Jin said calmly: "If the Regent wants someone to blame, blame your men for wasting my time. Otherwise, I'd have come to see you much sooner."

Mu Siyang lounged on the couch, eyes down, stirring the medicine in his bowl. He heard Mu Jin and replied casually:

"Is Your Majesty talking about Yue Liu? Whatever. Since it's his fault, I'll go back and teach him a lesson..."

Mu Jin smiled slightly: "No need to bother, Regent. I already took care of it for you."

"Clatter—!"

The porcelain spoon clinked against the white jade bowl.

Mu Siyang stared at Mu Jin, his eyes dark and his tone cold:

"What does Your Majesty mean by that? Even if he messed up, he's still my man, so I should be the one to punish him."

Mu Jin continued to smile: "No matter. He was just a servant who committed treason, disrespected the royal family, and tried to assassinate me."

"Killing him was no trouble for me. Why make the Regent take him back just to do it yourself?"

Mu Siyang: "..."

Why did he suddenly feel so stifled and annoyed?

Mu Siyang felt like there was a lump of air stuck in his chest, and it was driving him crazy.

And the one who caused all this was smiling at him like a sly fox.

Mu Jin continued with a grin: "Why is the Regent so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Could it be you're doubting my decision?"

Mu Siyang downed the bitter medicine in one gulp and said with a forced smile:

"Of course not."

"Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven; how could the Son of Heaven's decisions be wrong?"

"I just didn't expect that among my subordinates there would be someone so disloyal."

Mu Siyang spoke, clearly unwilling to continue on this topic, and changed the subject instead,

"But does Your Majesty know that last night, in the palace, I was bitten by a snake, and I still haven't caught it."

Mu Jin: "I've heard about that. Whatever compensation you wish to request, I'll do my best to grant it. I'll have someone catch that snake as soon as possible."

Mu Siyang gave a derisive snort: "No need. I naturally have my ways of catching that snake; it'll just take a bit of time."

"As for compensation... there is indeed something I desire."

Mu Siyang's eyes gleamed: "That item I mentioned to Your Majesty last time—what has Your Majesty decided?"

Mu Jin: "I don't know where it is."

The story never went into detail about it, nor did it even mention how it ended up in Ying Huaifeng's hands.

How could a villainous cannon fodder like him possibly know where that thing was hidden?

Besides, that was Ying Huaifeng's destined opportunity; even if he did know, he wouldn't try to take it.

Mu Siyang didn't seem the least bit disappointed, the smile in his eyes deepened as he sighed:

"In that case, I'll have to ask for something else."

Mu Jin: "Speak."

Mu Siyang: "In the coming days, I'd like to share a bed with Your Majesty."

Mu Jin: "..."

Why do both the villain and the male lead want to sleep with him?

The male lead can't possibly like him that way, so the villain must have his reasons for doing this too... right?