Chapter 17: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [17]

Chapter 17: Can a Crazy Tyrant Be Forced Too? "17"

Mu Jin narrowed his eyes.

Now that he knew why Ying Huaifeng had gone dark, the priority was to hurry back and calm him down, make it clear that he and Ying Huaifeng were on the same team, and cut ties with Zhao Ruoqian.

Otherwise, while he was here racking his brains figuring out how to protect Zhao Ruoqian, Ying Huaifeng might secretly slip her some kind of gu poison, and that would ruin everything.

When Mu Jin found Ying Huaifeng, he was still fiddling with the herbs, a small snake wrapped around his wrist.

Sensing someone approaching, the little snake first raised its head and fixed its gaze on the newcomer.

After confirming that it was Mu Jin, it quietly settled back down, rubbing its head against Ying Huaifeng's palm and letting out a soft "hiss."

Ying Huaifeng gave it a casual glance. "Hm?"

The snake's body stiffened slightly, then immediately slithered down his hand and vanished into the grass in an instant.

But Mu Jin couldn't see any of that, anyway.

Mu Jin inhaled the scent of herbs in the air, mixed with that weird fragrance that made him drowsy.

He rolled his chair closer to Ying Huaifeng, unable to help thinking that Ying Huaifeng must really be angry—last time they saw each other, he would have jumped on him directly.

Mu Jin couldn't quite put his feelings into words. He guessed it was just force of habit.

"Why has Your Majesty returned? Didn't you say the Prince Regent was bitten by a snake and needed Your Majesty to go take a look at him?"

Ying Huaifeng didn't look up as he placed several herbs into a medicine pouch, speaking in a flat voice:

"Your Majesty isn't accompanying the Prince Regent, but has come back to find me instead. If he finds out, he'd probably be upset."

Mu Jin listened to Ying Huaifeng saying "the Prince Regent" over and over, and his eye twitched involuntarily. He got the sense that Ying Huaifeng wasn't talking about Mu Siyang, but about Zhao Ruoqian.

But it was such a calm tone—so why did it still sound a little passive-aggressive?

Mu Jin thought about the manuals that 648 had shown him on the way.

By now, he had a better understanding of this thing called "dark value," and had also read some methods for lowering it.

But probably because 648 had gotten them from that so-called strategy department.

Most of the methods recorded for lowering dark value involved physical contact—kissing, hugging, and even more over-the-top stuff...

Mu Jin pressed his lips together, a light blush spreading across his face just from thinking about it.

Ying Huaifeng waited and waited but never got a reply from Mu Jin. In the end, he couldn't hold back and finally looked up at him.

Seeing Mu Jin suddenly blushing, Ying Huaifeng was startled, worried something was physically wrong. He quickly grabbed his wrist to check, his voice filled with barely hidden urgency.

"What's the matter?"

"Oh, so you're fine after all."

After confirming that Mu Jin was fine, Ying Huaifeng breathed a sigh of relief. He straightened Mu Jin's cloak and picked up the hand warmer nearby, pressing it into his hands.

Ying Huaifeng did all of this in one smooth motion, then settled back into silence, busying himself with stuffing herbs into the pouch.

Mu Jin was still hesitating. He wasn't sure whether those methods would work on Ying Huaifeng, but he couldn't come up with anything better right now.

Although Ying Huaifeng was stuffing herbs into the pouch, he never took his eyes off Mu Jin.

If Mu Jin could see, he would have noticed that Ying Huaifeng right now had practically written "hurry up and comfort me" all over his face.

But Mu Jin simply reached out and felt around until he grabbed Ying Huaifeng's arm. He gave it a gentle squeeze, then slid his hand down to hold his wrist, and finally his hand.

Ying Huaifeng's eyes went wide at the sight.

His eyelashes trembled, his breath caught, and he didn't dare move an inch, afraid that Mu Jin would pull his hand away.

This was the first time Mu Jin had ever reached out and touched his hand like this.

Such a gentle touch...

Ying Huaifeng felt his whole head go fuzzy, and he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling up.

The little snake on the tree branch sensed Ying Huaifeng's excitement and stuck its head out to look over as well.

Mu Jin squeezed Ying Huaifeng's hand and asked softly, "Are you angry?"

Ying Huaifeng wanted to stubbornly insist he wasn't, but his ears were already bright red, and even his voice trembled.

"I... I'm not angry."

Mu Jin looked at Ying Huaifeng, remembering that he was supposed to be comforting him, so he switched his self-address:

"I know you saw everything, but I can explain."

"It's not what you think—there's nothing going on between me and Zhao Ruoqian. Even though she was sent into the palace by the National Preceptor, she's not connected to him, and I owe her a favor."

"I went to see her today because I plan to take her to Jiu Yun Temple in a few days and send her away, so she won't get caught up in the National Preceptor's mess."

Mu Jin's tone was firm. "So, don't be mad."

"No matter what happens, I'm always on your side. I have nothing to do with that old geezer, the National Preceptor!"

Mu Jin thought for a moment, then added, "And I have nothing to do with the Prince Regent either!"

"But the Prince Regent wants to use the excuse of investigating who released the snake to stay in the palace. He's searching for a way to counter the National Preceptor's Lifebound Gu."

"So you need to be careful for now. Try not to confront them head-on, understand?"

Mu Jin had originally planned to properly comfort Ying Huaifeng, but as he talked, he couldn't help adding a few warnings.

He was practically telling Ying Huaifeng outright to hurry up and find Yun Fuyue's Lifebound Gu, so he'd have Yun Fuyue's life in his hands.

Mu Jin figured he had already been this direct—Ying Huaifeng should understand what he meant by now.

But Ying Huaifeng just stared at Mu Jin, a blush spreading from his ears to his face, his eyes shimmering as he felt like he was walking on air.

His Majesty was comforting him...

His Majesty was concerned about him...

His Majesty said he would be with him...

The irritation that had been building in Ying Huaifeng's chest from seeing Mu Jin and Zhao Ruoqian in such close contact had now completely melted away.

Mu Jin could sense that Ying Huaifeng's mood had improved considerably, but for some reason, a strange feeling stirred in his own heart as well.

It felt like a warm current flowed from his heart, slowly spreading through his body, leaving him feeling relaxed and content all over.

Mu Jin was stunned for a moment, then fell into thought, beginning to seriously feel it.

It was weird, this feeling of not being in control of his own body.

But since it didn't bother him, he didn't really mind it.

Ying Huaifeng cleared his throat softly, gently kneading the soft flesh of Mu Jin's palm, snapping him out of his thoughts, and said cheerfully:

"You don't need to explain yourself to me, Your Majesty."

"I've already prepared a medicinal pack for you. Just keep using it in your baths for now, and your legs will soon be able to stand up."

Mu Jin: "..."

He didn't want to explain himself anyway.

But if he didn't explain, what was the difference between Ying Huaifeng going dark and him dying?

Either way, his mission would fail, and he wouldn't get to keep tasting this world's food.

But judging by how Ying Huaifeng was acting, he probably wouldn't be sneaking around to mess with Zhao Ruoqian anymore.

Mu Jin let out a relieved breath, and a little more smile crept onto his face.

After the third herbal bath, Mu Jin could clearly tell his legs had changed a bit.

He still couldn't move them, but now he could feel when someone other than Ying Huaifeng touched him.

As for how he knew this...

Mu Jin stared blankly at Yun Fuyue, who was sitting right in front of him.

And Yun Fuyue's hand was rubbing his leg.

Yun Fuyue sounded helpless: "I heard you haven't let Miss Su treat your eyes these past couple days, Your Majesty?"

"Is it because you don't trust Miss Su's skills, or are you scared? Avoiding the doctor isn't a good look."

Su Gantang, who was standing nearby with silver needles in her hand: "..."

What a ridiculous scene. She really couldn't watch this.

Was it too late to just blind herself and pretend she was actually blind?

Mu Jin really wanted to smack Yun Fuyue's hand away, but that would definitely give away that his legs could feel things now.

He took a deep breath, held it in, and barely managed to suppress the urge.

Yun Fuyue looked up at Su Gantang, who was fiddling with the silver needles in her hand, acting like she hadn't seen a thing.

Yun Fuyue gave a soft smile: "Miss Su, why don't you come over and take a look at His Majesty already? You gonna stand there and wait for me, the National Preceptor, to invite you over?"

Su Gantang flinched, let out a hearty laugh, and hurried over:

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

The two of them went back and forth, not giving Mu Jin any chance to refuse.

While Su Gantang was sticking the needles into Mu Jin, she said:

"I've already prepared the medicine for you, Your Majesty. Just make sure you take it on time... But as for the lure needed to draw out the gu worm, you still need to make a decision soon, Your Majesty."

Even though Mu Jin hadn't been paying her any mind lately, she'd already scoped out most of the palace.

Su Gantang had first thought Mu Jin cared about Ying Huaifeng, which was why he hadn't used him to draw out the gu and heal his eyes.

But she hadn't expected Mu Jin to care about Zhao Ruoqian too, not just Ying Huaifeng.

Su Gantang stared at Mu Jin's side profile and couldn't help but sigh.

But with a face like that, even if he was just a puppet emperor, he still had the title of emperor. No wonder he drew in both men and women.

But then again...

Su Gantang glanced at Yun Fuyue, who was still sneakily rubbing Mu Jin's leg, and her mouth twitched.

She had no idea what was up with this guy. It wasn't like he'd just met Mu Jin yesterday.

Before, he was always scheming to make Mu Jin and Mu Siyang tear each other apart so he could swoop in and take the spoils.

And now he was secretly groping the guy's thigh!

Did that make any sense? No, it made zero sense!

Su Gantang was cursing on the inside but kept a smile plastered on her face.

She pulled out the needles. "Alright, I'll go brew the medicine now."

Mu Jin said calmly, "No need to trouble Miss Su with something so minor. Just have Zhou Fuhai do it."

Su Gantang waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no. Brewing medicine takes focus. Better if I go keep an eye on it myself."

Brewing medicine was naturally not something she needed to do herself.

But she really didn't want to stick around and watch Yun Fuyue push Mu Jin around just because he was blind and couldn't walk.

But since she was Yun Fuyue's person, she naturally couldn't stop him, so she could only turn a blind eye and keep her peace of mind.

Before anyone could react, Su Gantang grabbed her medicine box and made a quick exit.

Along with her, Zhou Fuhai, who had been threatened by Yun Fuyue's gaze, was also dragged away.

Yun Fuyue looked at Mu Jin with a light smile. "Your Majesty, now it's just the two of us here."

Mu Jin: "..."

Was that the reason for touching his waist?