Chapter 8: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [8]

Chapter 8: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced Too? "8"

Mu Jin returned to the palace, had Zhou Fuhai set up Su Gantang's quarters, and then went straight to find Ying Huaifeng.

Ying Huaifeng was still sticking needles into his own leg. The moment he saw Mu Jin, his eyes brightened.

"Your Majesty!"

However, when he caught the faint scent on Mu Jin, the smile on his face couldn't hold up.

Ying Huaifeng rolled off the bed, walked over to Mu Jin, braced both hands on the arms of the wheelchair, and leaned down, nearly caging the man in his arms.

After several days of getting along, Mu Jin had gotten used to this kind of position. He no longer felt the initial awkwardness, nor did he shove the man away right away.

Ying Huaifeng leaned into Mu Jin's neck and took a light sniff, his tone sour:

"Your Majesty went to see that old geezer today?"

Mu Jin's eyes curved up at the corners. Feeling the warm breath spread across his neck, a tingle shot through him.

He raised a hand, pressed it to Ying Huaifeng's face, and shoved him away:

"The National Preceptor's only twenty-seven, yet you keep calling him an old coot."

"Then the Regent's almost thirty—what do you call him?"

Ying Huaifeng answered almost without thinking: "They're both old farts with one foot in the grave. Same thing."

"Pfft haha... Ying Huaifeng, oh Ying Huaifeng, you really do keep getting better at saying what I want to hear."

Mu Jin burst out laughing, and Ying Huaifeng just watched him quietly, a smile tugging at his own lips.

"But Yun Fuyue probably figured out that I've taken a bit of a liking to you, so he foisted a few more people on me."

Mu Jin changed the subject, his voice lazy: "He even sent me some miracle doctor, claiming she can cure my illness and get rid of the gu. I just had someone set her up with a place to stay."

"Ying Huaifeng, you also said you could get rid of the gu for me, but it's been days now, and I haven't seen much progress..."

Ying Huaifeng stared blankly at Mu Jin, taking a long moment to recover from Mu Jin's words—"I've taken a bit of a liking to you."

A faint flush crept up his face, but his tone stayed steady:

"If Your Majesty trusted his people, I wouldn't be standing here in front of you right now."

"But since he's sent so many people to Your Majesty, for your safety, they need to be dealt with ASAP."

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in Ying Huaifeng's eyes. "If Your Majesty doesn't want to get your hands dirty, I can take care of them for you."

Mu Jin chuckled softly: "Alright, what do you want this time?"

As if a thought crossed his mind, Ying Huaifeng's eyes curved, and his voice turned warm:

"I just want to ease Your Majesty's worries, only seeking your peace of mind, not asking for any reward... But if Your Majesty would be willing to share the bed with me tonight, that would be even better."

Ying Huaifeng paused for a moment, then added: "Don't worry, Your Majesty—I won't do anything to you."

Ying Huaifeng said this with total confidence, as if he wasn't the one who crawled into bed every night after dark.

Mu Jin: "..."

Ying Huaifeng seemed to have some kind of obsession with sleeping next to him.

Mu Jin found it strange. Even if it was just an act, Ying Huaifeng was treating him way too well.

He was sure that in the plot, Ying Huaifeng's attitude toward "Mu Jin" was definitely not this kind of good temper and demeanor.

But 648 had also said the plot wasn't set in stone—anything was possible. Otherwise, the plot wouldn't have gone to hell, and he wouldn't have ended up here.

So, in a way, this current weirdness could probably be considered normal, right?

Seeing that Mu Jin wasn't responding, Ying Huaifeng figured he was unwilling and was about to settle for the next best thing.

He figured even staying by the side of Mu Jin's bed at night would be fine—that way, when he crawled in, he wouldn't have to sneak through the window.

"If Your Majesty doesn't want to—"

"Fine."

Before Ying Huaifeng could finish, Mu Jin cut him off.

Mu Jin had already had 648 dig into those people's backgrounds and knew none of them were good news.

Even following the plot's development, those people coming to his side now were just a means to kill him.

Mu Jin wouldn't keep potential threats around, even if they hadn't done anything yet.

But he didn't have many capable people around, and with his current physical condition, it wasn't easy for him to act himself.

Ying Huaifeng was undoubtedly the best blade for dealing with these threats...

A villain who hated the protagonist would show no mercy to the protagonist's people and would also handle things cleanly.

Ying Huaifeng stared hard at Mu Jin, not saying anything for a moment, as if trying to figure out if those two words were real.

Mu Jin cut through his thoughts: "What? Having second thoughts?"

Ying Huaifeng denied it in a cheerful voice: "No, of course not! Why would I?"

Mu Jin could hear the delight in Ying Huaifeng's voice. Just as he was about to say more, Zhou Fuhai's voice came from outside the hall:

"Your Majesty, the Regent is waiting in the imperial study and requests an audience."

Ying Huaifeng's expression darkened slightly. He had not a shred of goodwill toward this Regent who had suddenly shown up to ruin his time with Mu Jin.

Yet no matter how unwilling he was, in the end he could only watch as Mu Jin gave a cold acknowledgment, then turned and wheeled himself out.

Before leaving, Mu Jin didn't forget to glance back and remind him: "Remember to get yourself cleaned up. When it's time, I'll have Zhou Fuhai come get you."

Ying Huaifeng watched Mu Jin's retreating figure, toying with the sachet he'd just swiped off him, a flash of obsession passing through his eyes.

He turned and went back to his bedside, opened the hidden compartment, and took out a carved sandalwood box.

When the box opened, inside were the handkerchief Mu Jin had used, a hair ribbon, a jade hairpin, and a pearl from the bedchamber.

There was also one of Mu Jin's undergarments—bright yellow, soft brocade meant for the skin, which should have been clean, but was now stained with something unknown.

Ying Huaifeng pressed the sachet to his cheek and rubbed it, then reluctantly yet reverently put it away.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of all this, Mu Jin was thinking back on the plot of the villain Regent, Mu Siyang.

Although Mu Siyang also bears the surname "Mu," he is not of royal blood.

When the late emperor was still the crown prince, he was ordered to campaign across the realm. During that time, he was ambushed by enemies, fell into hardship, and even lost his memory—it was Mu Siyang who saved him.

Mu Siyang had seen the late emperor at his lowest, yet even after recovering his memory, the late emperor never denied that chapter of the past.

Instead, he went out of his way to support and promote Mu Siyang, and Mu Siyang did not let him down—on the battlefield, he fought savagely, ruthless in both heart and action.

Thus, step by step, Mu Siyang rose to become the Grand General, and after the late emperor ascended the throne, he was granted the title of prince.

He was undoubtedly the late emperor's most trusted man, which is why the late emperor chose him as the Regent Prince to assist and guide the crown prince.

But Mu Siyang not only killed the crown prince—he didn't spare a single one of the other princes either.

Yet he alone left alive "Mu Jin," the ninth prince who had almost no standing or influence at all.

With Mu Siyang's methods and strength, he could have easily claimed the throne for himself.

But perhaps because of Yun Fuyue, Mu Siyang, to avoid giving anyone leverage against him, placed "Mu Jin," the easily manipulated ninth prince, on the throne.

As long as "Mu Jin," the sole remaining royal bloodline, remained seated there, the two villains would be kept in a delicate balance.

Now that the main storyline is underway, that balance will soon be shattered...

"Your servant greets Your Majesty."