Chapter 20: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [20]

Chapter 20: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced Too? "20"

Mu Jin, though confused about why Ying Huaifeng would ask such a question, still answered honestly:

"But I haven't even tried her soup—how can I compare?"

He hadn't even gotten the chance to drink it before Ying Huaifeng brought him back.

Ying Huaifeng: "..."

"You actually wanted to drink it?!"

Ying Huaifeng gritted his slightly sharp teeth, a low chuckle slipping out as he spoke through clenched teeth:

"Your Majesty certainly is bold! If you'd actually drunk what that woman sent, you'd be dead for sure!"

Mu Jin: "???"

Ying Huaifeng stared at Mu Jin with a dark look: "Your Majesty seems surprised?"

"But of course, Your Majesty can barely protect yourself, yet you still want to shield her—how could you ever imagine she wants you dead?"

Hearing Ying Huaifeng's words, Mu Jin didn't immediately question Zhao Ruoqian, but instead felt that Yun Fuyue must have pulled some trick again.

After he had decided to spare Zhao Ruoqian, he had already carefully reviewed the few plot points about them.

This kind of thing had happened in the original story before.

But all of those incidents were Zhao Ruoqian putting on a show for Yun Fuyue's sake.

Even when forced to slip poison to "Mu Jin," she would immediately administer the antidote out of Yun Fuyue's sight.

So hearing these words from Ying Huaifeng now, Mu Jin wasn't particularly surprised—the only shock was that the timing was earlier than expected.

Seeing Mu Jin's overly calm reaction, Ying Huaifeng felt a sharp sting in his chest and spoke in a low voice:

"These past few days, everyone in the palace has been talking about how much Your Majesty adores her..."

"Could it be that Your Majesty has truly fallen for her? Have you forgotten your promise to me?"

A chill ran down Mu Jin's spine, as if he were being targeted by a venomous snake, yet he was even more confused.

Wait—when had he ever made a promise to Ying Huaifeng? He had no clue about this.

Mu Jin opened his mouth, but instinct told him that the question he wanted to ask definitely couldn't be asked right now.

"I'm not—I haven't—I don't like her."

Mu Jin's voice was soft as he tried to change the subject: "Where is this?"

Ying Huaifeng stared at him: "Can't Your Majesty even recognize your own bedroom?"

Mu Jin frowned: "I can't see, and besides, what kind of incense did you light?"

Ying Huaifeng raised a hand to caress Mu Jin's face, smoothing down his slightly messy black hair:

"Does Your Majesty like it? This is a calming incense I made just for you—with this, Your Majesty can sleep well."

Feeling the warmth of Ying Huaifeng's breath against his neck, Mu Jin quietly shifted away, trying to put some distance between them, and spoke in a low voice:

"Ying Huaifeng, don't push it."

"You're wronging me, Your Majesty."

Ying Huaifeng noticed Mu Jin's subtle movement and leaned in again, planting his hands on either side of him, nearly trapping him in his embrace, his tone one of mock innocence:

"I just lit some calming incense in Your Majesty's bedchamber—that hardly counts as going too far. If Your Majesty knew what I—"

The voice by his ear suddenly trailed off.

Mu Jin looked at Ying Huaifeng with slight confusion and instinctively pressed on: "What else did you do?"

Ying Huaifeng paused briefly before speaking slowly: "Wouldn't Your Majesty be even angrier if you knew I changed your robes?"

Mu Jin was at a loss for words: "That... there's nothing to be angry about."

Despite being blind, they had already bathed together.

These past few nights they had been fully exposed to each other—changing robes was hardly worth getting upset over.

Mu Jin truly couldn't fathom Ying Huaifeng's thoughts, but he didn't think about where Ying Huaifeng had taken his original robes.

Hearing his words, Ying Huaifeng's eyes gleamed, his voice pleased: "Does Your Majesty truly think so?"

Noticing his cheerful mood, Mu Jin fell silent: "..."

Why did this male lead seem even more unpredictable than him?

"Of course."

Receiving Mu Jin's affirmative response, Ying Huaifeng pulled back a bit, no longer trapping Mu Jin as before.

Mu Jin breathed a sigh of relief. Ying Huaifeng's posture just now had felt way too strange, and only now that he had pulled away did Mu Jin feel a bit better.

His racing heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

Ying Huaifeng got up and left, only to return shortly after and hang a jade pendant around Mu Jin's neck.

Mu Jin instinctively reached out to touch it—the warm jade was carved into the shape of two serpents intertwined, head to tail, and he could even feel the fine scales beneath his fingertips.

Ying Huaifeng smiled: "Your Majesty, be sure to wear this. I've soaked this jade in medicinal solution—it can nourish the body and will only do Your Majesty good."

Mu Jin pulled his hand back and agreed. Ying Huaifeng gently stroked the top of Mu Jin's head before finally speaking:

"Your Majesty, rest well. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll leave you be."

Mu Jin didn't think much of Ying Huaifeng's words.

But unexpectedly, for two whole days, Ying Huaifeng only appeared by his side during his medicinal baths—at all other times, he was nowhere to be seen.

This feeling made Mu Jin somewhat uneasy, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why, so he could only force himself to ignore it.

Fortunately, during these two days, Mu Siyang and Yun Fuyue were constantly at each other's throats. Their respective factions had always been at odds, and now they didn't even bother to maintain the pretense of civility.

Mu Jin took this opportunity to bring Zhao Ruoqian directly to Jiu Yun Temple.

He had already arranged for a group of assassins to appear at the temple, who would conveniently take Zhao Ruoqian away without a hitch.

Thinking of his plan, Mu Jin couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.

Unfortunately, his eyes still haven't fully recovered, and he still can't walk.

If not for that, he would've taken this chance to get away for a while.

Ever since he arrived in this world, he'd been trapped in the palace, never getting a chance to see what the outside world was like.

Thinking about the path his story was supposed to take, and that he wouldn't be able to go out and see the world until his time here ended, Mu Jin couldn't help feeling a pang of regret.

"What's the matter, Your Majesty?"

Zhao Ruoqian brought a piece of soft pastry to Mu Jin's lips and asked,

"You seem a little down?"

Mu Jin took a bite, the sweetness melting on his tongue.

Zhao Ruoqian then poured a cup of tea, lifted the carriage curtain, and glanced outside, saying,

"This Jiuyun Temple is pretty strange—it's still snowing at the foot of the mountain, but peach blossoms are already blooming along the road here."

Mu Jin was caught off guard by her words. "Is that so?"

Zhao Ruoqian chuckled softly. "Of course. There's a peach grove not far ahead. If Your Majesty doesn't believe me, I'll go pick a peach blossom branch for you."

With that, she had the carriage stopped.

Mu Jin sat quietly in the carriage, a faint smile playing on his lips. A breeze drifted by, carrying the scent of peach blossoms.

After Zhao Ruoqian got out of the carriage, she stood a short distance away and took in the scene.

The carriage curtain fluttered slightly in the breeze.

Today, Mu Jin was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, sitting in the carriage with a serene look, holding the cup of tea she'd just poured.

He lowered his eyes and took a small sip, his brows softening and a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Wind-blown peach blossoms tangled in his dark hair before drifting onto his shoulders.

For a moment, Zhao Ruoqian was lost in the sight of Mu Jin.

The Mu Jin she remembered... didn't seem like this at all.

The bloodthirsty, brooding, and vicious puppet emperor was so different from the gentle, refined young man before her that they might as well have been two different people.

Thinking about how kind Mu Jin had been to her lately, and looking at the man before her now,

a flicker of doubt stirred in Zhao Ruoqian's heart.

But...

But...

Zhao Ruoqian closed her eyes, hiding the storm of emotions within, and pushed down that flicker of doubt before turning away without a second thought.

She'd had her suspicions—whether Mu Jin was still the same Mu Jin as before.

But she couldn't afford to doubt, to hesitate, or to grow soft.

The only way she could leave this place was by killing Mu Jin!

Only with Mu Jin dead could she ever go home...

By now, Zhao Ruoqian couldn't even tell if she was hesitating because she wanted revenge—to make Mu Jin feel the same pain she'd suffered—

or because she knew deep down that the Mu Jin before her might not be the same "Mu Jin" she wanted revenge on, and she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

Zhao Ruoqian tortured herself by replaying the memories of her death in her previous life. Only that burning hatred could keep her going...

Mu Jin noticed that Zhao Ruoqian's mood had plummeted after she came back.

He ran his fingertips over the peach blossoms she'd brought back, plucked one, and tucked it into her hair with a faint smile.

"Mm, very pretty."

Zhao Ruoqian stared at him, her voice heavy as she spoke. "Your Majesty must be joking."

"Even now, Your Majesty has no idea what I look like, so how can you say I'm beautiful?"

Mu Jin tilted his head, looking a little puzzled. "Why would you think that way?"

Without a second thought, he said seriously, "My eyes may be blind, but my heart isn't. You're a bright, kind person, and in my heart, you're beautiful no matter what you look like."

Zhao Ruoqian looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

Those eyes were too pure.

Even though his words easily stirred her heart, there was no desire or affection in Mu Jin's eyes when he looked at her—only appreciation and indulgence.

Mu Jin had no idea what was going through Zhao Ruoqian's mind, so he simply went on:

"We'll be entering Jiuyun Temple soon. I've already made the arrangements, so you can get some good rest."

"I've heard the plum blossoms in front of Jiuyun Temple and the peach blossoms in back bloom just as beautifully. I'm sure you'll like them, so you can take a good look."

Zhao Ruoqian gave a soft hum in response, and the two of them stayed silent for the rest of the ride.

Mu Jin couldn't quite figure out why Zhao Ruoqian had changed so much after just picking some peach blossoms.

But it didn't matter much to him—he just wanted to keep Zhao Ruoqian alive, not dig too deep into her business.

Soon, they arrived at Jiuyun Temple.

The abbot had been waiting outside and respectfully welcomed them inside.

Zhao Ruoqian fastened Mu Jin's cloak, and seeing him sitting in the wheelchair, her heart tightened.

Mu Jin seemed to feel her gaze, turned toward her, and offered a gentle smile.

Zhao Ruoqian turned and left right away, heading back to her own small courtyard.

Mu Jin caught the scent of flowers in the cold wind and remembered what Ying Huaifeng had said before.

In a few days, his eyes would be fully healed, and he'd be able to see the scenery here.

If Ying Huaifeng weren't so busy lately, he'd have liked to bring him along and stay here for a few more days.

But that was okay—there would always be more time later.