Chapter 25: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [25]

Chapter 25: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced Too? "25"

Mu Jin overheard every word of the conversation outside, with just one thought on his mind.

As expected, the male lead always had his reasons for everything he did.

As a villainous cannon fodder, he shouldn't be sticking his nose into the protagonists' business.

Once he figured that out, a lot of things started making sense to Mu Jin.

So Ying Huaifeng kept him close just to keep this puppet emperor in check, to keep him from showing up in front of Yun Fuyue and Mu Siyang.

Then he could sit back and watch them cause chaos, let things blow up until they were too busy to notice anything else, and only then make his move.

As for the others outside...

Mu Jin was sure those people weren't the ones he'd handed over to Ying Huaifeng.

Looks like Ying Huaifeng really was a smooth talker, just like 648 said—he'd totally pulled the wool over Mu Jin's eyes too.

Even Mu Jin had assumed Ying Huaifeng was always by his side, with barely any time to do anything else.

He never expected Ying Huaifeng to already have a force that was completely his own.

Mu Jin let out a soft snort. Since the male lead didn't need him worrying, he'd just keep playing dumb and pretend he knew nothing.

It wasn't so bad not having those two villains breathing down his neck all day.

The people outside chatted for a few more moments before quickly falling silent.

Feng Buyu lifted the carriage curtain, stared at the still-sleeping Mu Jin for a good long while, then finally looked away and carried him out.

Mu Jin was cradled in Feng Buyu's arms. They hadn't taken more than a few steps when he deliberately pretended to be startled awake, leaning against his chest, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Mm... where are we?"

Feng Buyu paused mid-step, smiling as he said, "This is a courtyard your big brother just rented. I'll take you to your room to rest first. Later, I'll go sell those things and come back to take you out for a walk."

Mu Jin, even though he knew full well this guy was probably renting the place to easily get in touch with his people, still played dumb and asked:

"Why rent a courtyard here? Aren't we just staying one night down here before heading back up the mountain tomorrow?"

Feng Buyu patted his head, his eyes dark and unreadable, but his tone was full of affection: "There are too many inconveniences up on the mountain. It's better down here—more people, more lively."

"Don't worry, your big brother's got money. I can take good care of our A Jin down here too."

Mu Jin nodded and didn't say anything else, letting Feng Buyu carry him into the room.

After getting Mu Jin settled, Feng Buyu headed out and didn't come back until an hour later.

He helped Mu Jin clean up a bit, got him something to eat, then carried him over to a wheelchair and tucked a hand warmer into his arms.

"Alright A Jin, let's head out. We'll grab a few things while we're at it."

Compared to Feng Buyu's good mood, Mu Jin was way more laid-back.

Mu Jin figured Feng Buyu was just putting on a show, but to his surprise, he actually bought a ton of stuff.

Most of it was for Mu Jin, including a few new outfits.

At first, Mu Jin just planned to play along with Feng Buyu. Once this guy offed the two villains and became emperor, his mission would be done.

But before long, he started to enjoy the feeling.

Even though he couldn't see anything, he could hear the vendors hawking their goods and catch all the delicious smells.

Feng Buyu also kept a close eye on Mu Jin. Whenever Mu Jin lingered in one direction for even a second, he'd take him straight over.

Mu Jin held a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts in his arms, biting into a candied hawthorn ball, the corners of his lips curling up with a hint of joy in his eyes.

He liked this feeling.

Seeing Mu Jin happy made Feng Buyu happy as well.

However, he thought he'd already gotten a handle on Mu Jin's appetite.

But when he watched Mu Jin eat his way down the street, polishing off his tenth lotus-leaf chicken, he still went silent.

Feng Buyu quietly grabbed Mu Jin's wrist and checked it carefully.

Good—even though he'd eaten a lot, it wasn't doing any harm to his body.

But his A Jin wasn't an ordinary person, so having a big appetite was totally normal.

This was the first time Mu Jin had felt this way about the world. The food outside was nothing like what they had in the palace—it made his mouth water.

It wasn't until they passed a stall that he heard a faint kitten mewing.

Mu Jin froze, turning his head toward the noise.

"Oh, would the two young masters like to buy a cat?"

The middle-aged man said with a hearty laugh. Seeing Mu Jin was interested, he grabbed a cat from the cage and held it up for Mu Jin to see.

"Young master, take a look—this cat of mine is in great shape. Well-behaved, easy to take care of, and won't hurt anyone."

Hearing the kitten's meows, Mu Jin suddenly thought of the cats he still had back in the palace.

Yun Fuyue had said one of them could do a backflip. He'd originally planned to check it out once his eyes healed, but now it didn't look like that would happen anytime soon.

Feng Buyu leaned down and whispered in Mu Jin's ear, "Does A Jin want this cat?"

Mu Jin snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "I'm not in a good place to keep a cat right now. Better to leave it to someone more fitting."

He was just a pawn in Feng Buyu's hands now—not in a position to bring this little guy along, especially since he wouldn't be sticking around in this world much longer anyway.

Keep something long enough, and you'd get attached.

He didn't want to lose the cat, and he didn't want the cat to lose him either.

If he could stay longer in the next world, he'd get a cat too.

Mu Jin thought silently.

"Alright then, let's go see what's further ahead."

Feng Buyu also thought of the cats Yun Fuyue had given him back in the palace. He smiled and nodded on the surface, but there was no warmth in his eyes at all.

Yun Fuyue... Yun Fuyue again!

He practically chewed that name to bits and swallowed it, his eyes getting colder by the second.

Mu Jin just figured Feng Buyu was talking less, but he was too focused on the food to care.

Feng Buyu really did seem set on staying here with Mu Jin.

Mu Jin found it exasperating—even though they'd rented a courtyard, Feng Buyu still insisted at night that only one room was fit to sleep in, and squeezed into the same bed with Mu Jin.

Feng Buyu said without a shred of shame: "It's just as cold down here as it is up on the mountain. If I hold you while you sleep, big brother, you'll stay warm."

Now that Mu Jin knew Feng Buyu's true identity, he didn't buy a single word of it.

Mu Jin figured it wasn't about warmth—the guy just wanted to make sure he was asleep before sneaking off to contact someone.

Or maybe he just wanted to keep an eye on him.

But Mu Jin had already decided to play dumb, so of course he wouldn't call him out.

After all, it was just sleeping together—nothing else was going to happen.

Of course, it'd be even better if he didn't have those unspeakable dreams while holding him.

But thankfully, that's all they were—just dreams.

Once he woke up, everything could go back to normal...

Mu Jin kept thinking that, never once noticing the marks piling up on his body day after day.

Those marks left bit by bit by the bedmate he never suspected were all hidden under thick, warm layers of clothing.

Apart from the culprit himself, even Mu Jin had no idea.

Mu Jin remembered Ying Huaifeng saying his legs and eyes would be healed soon.

But they'd been in this town for a month now, and the tension in the capital was only getting worse.

Word was that Yun Fuyue and Mu Siyang both blamed each other for the attack, and some said the puppet emperor Mu Jin had died who knows where a long time ago.

His legs still wouldn't move, and his eyes still couldn't see a thing.

Even if it was just to use his disappearance, he really had spent a pretty peaceful stretch of time in this town.

Just when Mu Jin thought Feng Buyu would keep him stuck here forever, Mu Siyang showed up with his men.

Feng Buyu had gone out early that morning, and Mu Jin had no clue what was going on.

When Mu Siyang's voice sounded right next to him, he was still a bit dazed.

Mu Siyang sat on his horse, staring down coldly at Mu Jin in the wheelchair, and spoke in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, your subject is here to take you back."

Mu Jin stared quietly at Mu Siyang, a thought drifting through his mind.

Did Mu Siyang find him on his own, or had Feng Buyu already gotten ready to deal with Mu Siyang and tossed him out like a pawn?

Of course, either way, it didn't really matter to Mu Jin, and it wouldn't change the fact that Mu Siyang was taking him away.

But at the thought of the latter, a flicker of disappointment rose in his chest, only to fade just as fast.

Mu Siyang hoisted Mu Jin onto the horse without a word, held him tight, and rode off without looking back.

The courtyard where Mu Jin had lived for over a month was burned clean to the ground.

Mu Siyang didn't take Mu Jin straight back to the palace—he brought him to the Prince Regent's mansion instead.

Sitting on the soft couch, Mu Jin's gentle demeanor from the past few weeks was completely gone.

He knew exactly who he was and what he needed to do.

Facing Mu Siyang, who was staring right at him, he said coldly:

"Prince Regent, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

Mu Siyang was still holding a cup of hot tea. He downed it in one gulp, slammed the cup onto the table beside him, and wet his still-dry lips.

"Heh... Your Majesty must be joking. Your subject knows exactly what he's doing."

Mu Siyang drawled in his hoarse voice:

"It's just that things have been unstable in the palace lately. For your safety, Your Majesty, it's best you stay here at the Prince Regent's mansion under my personal watch."

Mu Jin sneered, "Your Prince Regent's mansion is certainly safer than my own imperial palace."

Mu Siyang smirked, "Your Majesty can rest easy here—your subject will make sure you're safe."

"However, to get rid of the national preceptor—that rebel who dared to plot against you—I'll need Your Majesty to cooperate with me when the time comes."

A sharp gleam flashed in Mu Siyang's eyes. Half a month ago, he'd gained a strategist who'd found Yun Fuyue's Lifebound Gu, and now Mu Jin was in his hands too.

That gave him more than enough reason to wipe out Yun Fuyue completely...

According to Mu Siyang's original plan, once Yun Fuyue was dead, everyone would learn the scandal that Mu Jin wasn't of royal blood, and then he'd die quietly.

At that point, nothing would stop him from taking the throne.

But what could he do—he was still interested in Mu Jin.

So for now, Mu Siyang just wanted to kill Yun Fuyue, who'd been going against him this whole time.

As for Mu Jin...

A smile tugged at the corner of Mu Siyang's lips, his gaze dark and unreadable. Until he lost interest in the little emperor, he'd naturally keep him around.

Mu Jin snatched the teacup off the small table beside him and hurled it at Mu Siyang!

With a sharp crack!

The cup shattered into pieces, warm tea soaking the hem of Mu Siyang's robes, and a shard cut the corner of his eye, a faint trace of blood mingling with the air.

Mu Jin shouted in fury: "Mu Siyang! Are you planning to rebel?!"

Mu Siyang wiped the blood from the corner of his eye with his fingertip and let out a soft laugh.

He watched the enraged little emperor and thought he looked like a cat with its fur standing on end, baring its claws at him.

It was a pity that this little emperor was now a cat whose claws and teeth had been worn down—unable to harm him in the slightest, yet still amusing enough to indulge.

Mu Siyang rose to his feet, casually straightening his robes, and said with patience:

"Your Majesty is tired. Rest well."

"Your subject will return tonight to keep Your Majesty company and pass the time."