HXC Chapter48

“Lord Shen, leaving your post without permission is a grave offense. Are you really going back?” Lu Chen pleaded anxiously. “Besides, you still have a wound on your arm. What if something happens on the way…”

 

Shen Yanqing changed into riding attire and re-pinned his scattered dark hair with a wooden hairpin. “I’ve written down everything I needed to hand over and left it on the desk. I’ll have to trouble you for these two days, Lord Lu.”

 

Wang Lingzhi came in while holding a bowl of medicine. “Lord Shen, this is the new medicine developed by the Imperial Medical.”

 

“Thank you.” Shen Yanqing took the porcelain bowl and drank the medicine in one go.

 

Lu Chen’s face was filled with worry. “We don’t know if these medicines can cure the plague or not. Please stop using your own body for experiments, Lord Shen.”

 

Shen Yanqing said softly, “If the people can drink it, I can too.”

 

Having worked together for many days, Wang Lingzhi had completely cast aside her dissatisfaction with Shen Yanqing and said admiringly, “Lord Shen, you’ve exhausted yourself for the people. We are truly ashamed of ourselves.”

 

Shen Yanqing didn’t take the praise to heart. He gave a few more important instructions and finally said, “I’ll come back as soon as possible.”

 

Lu Chen nodded. “I know what to do.”

 

Shen Yanqing fastened his cuffs, gave a solemn bow, and left through the back door of the post station. As he mounted his horse, his vision went dark for a moment, then instantly cleared. Jinzhou was nearly a hundred miles from the capital. He needed to get back in the shortest time possible, ensure Ji Zhen was safe, and then rush back again. He couldn’t afford to waste a single moment.

 

Lately, he had been getting little sleep due to his work on the plague. Combined with the wound on his arm from the bite and testing the medicine on himself, his energy was far from what it usually was. Shen Yanqing tightened his grip on the reins, steadied himself, and with a crack of his whip, rode out of Jinzhou.

 

The wind blows fiercely, and the rain pours down heavily. My beloved is far away, urging me to return to the southern bridge.

 

—

 

Ji Zhen was held captive at the Third Prince Mansion for a day and a night. This place was not like the Shen Mansion; the guards watching the courtyard were not servants but iron-bladed imperial guards. He had thought of running out several times, but the moment his foot stepped out of the study, a glimpse of the guards’ solemn expressions made him back off.

 

The marks on his neck had turned a bruised purple, and even a simple action like swallowing caused a rough, painful sensation. It showed how heavily Li Muhui had struck. Ji Zhen was certain that if the reporting guard hadn’t stopped Li Muhui’s murderous intent, he would have been killed instantly.

 

The unfamiliar environment made Ji Zhen restless, and he was also afraid that Li Muhui would have a sudden whim to take his life. But more than that, he was concerned about the condition of his elder brother, who was a thousand miles away. After being refused for the fifth time, Ji Zhen finally couldn’t sit still any longer.

 

“Where is His Highness now? If he won’t come to see me, I’ll go see him.” Ji Zhen clenched his fists. “Get out of the way.”

 

As he spoke, he was about to rush out, but the two guards immediately drew their swords to block him. “Young Master Ji, please don’t make things difficult for us.”

 

The gleam of the silver blades was chilling and terrifying. Ji Zhen was forced back two steps while gritting his teeth. He regretted that when his elder brother had tried to teach him martial arts as a child, he had been lazy and hadn’t learned a single bit of skill, which was why he was so easily controlled now.

 

Ji Zhen refused to go back inside, and the guards’ swords remained drawn. Just as they were at a stalemate, a tall figure emerged from the dappled shadows of the trees, saying coolly, “You want to see this highness? Are you not afraid that this highness will try to kill you again?”

 

Ji Zhen’s throat felt as if it were being choked again as he saw Li Muhui’s face, making it difficult for him to breathe.

 

The two of them returned to the study. Li Muhui no longer pretended in front of Ji Zhen. His face was devoid of a smile and seemed cold and untrustworthy. His foxy eyes brazenly swept over Ji Zhen, sending a chill down his spine.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

Li Muhui glanced at the closed door and raised his hand. “Ji Zhen, let this highness ask you this, if this highness sends someone to save Ji Jue, are you willing to do anything?”

 

Ji Zhen was stunned for a moment, not expecting Li Muhui to say this. He then said seriously, “Yes.”

 

Li Muhui slightly raised his chin. “Come closer.”

 

Ji Zhen’s legs felt heavy as if filled with mud, and his face was etched with dread, but as long as there was even a sliver of hope to save his elder brother, he would plunge into a mountain of blades or a sea of flames without hesitation. He went to stand in front of Li Muhui, and this time, he didn’t need a signal from the other party. His knees softened, then he knelt before him.

 

Ji Zhen looked up. “What does Your Highness want?”

 

Li Muhui said softly, “Are you truly willing to do anything?”

 

Ji Zhen didn’t know what kind of difficult condition the other party would propose, but he still nodded with difficulty.

 

“What if this highness wants to have a night of passion with you?”

 

Though spoken softly, it carried the power to move mountains and seas. Ji Zhen’s eyes widened, and he looked at the serious-faced Li Muhui in disbelief. He was terrified, but he forced himself to stay kneeling. He said in a raspy voice, “Your Highness, I’m already married…”

 

Shen Yanqing’s face flashed before his eyes, and Ji Zhen felt panicked.

 

Li Muhui sneered. “This highness naturally knows you have a marriage contract with Shen Yanqing, but didn’t you promise that you would do anything? Time waits for no one. With every moment you hesitate, Ji Jue’s life grows more at risk.” He lowered his voice and said in a volume only they could hear, “You could always ask Shen Yanqing to save your elder brother, but you should also think about whom Shen Yanqing obeys…”

 

The final sentence rang in his ears like a warning bell. The fall of the Ji family had been partly due to Shen Yanqing’s actions. He no longer dared to hold even a shred of hope for Shen Yanqing. Ji Zhen’s chest heaved, and he clenched his robe tightly.

 

“This highness is not Shen Yanqing. This highness doesn’t have that much patience to wait for you to decide. This highness will only count to three. Whether you are willing or not, you decide for yourself.”

 

Without waiting for Ji Zhen’s reaction, Li Muhui began to count down. “Three…”

 

“Your Highness!”

 

He still wanted to beg Li Muhui to take back his command, but the other party didn’t stop. “Two…”

 

Ji Zhen’s teeth were chattering, and too many images flashed through his mind: Shen Yanqing, who was proud in his top scholar’s robe; his father, who died with his eyes open; his elder brother, who was standing tall in the heavy snow; and Jiang Yunyu, who was forced to leave the capital and guard the border. In this fleeting moment, love, hate, and all their tangled emotions were fully present.

 

As the final count was spoken, tears welled up in Ji Zhen’s eyes. “I’m willing.” His voice was filled with humiliation and pain.

 

Outside the door, the dust-covered Shen Yanqing’s hands were tightly clenched, and a vein stood out on his neck.

 

Ji Zhen knelt stiffly on the floor as Li Muhui lifted a long strip of black cloth to cover his eyes. He seemed frozen, his arms rigid, allowing the light before him to be snatched away.

 

“Wait here.”

 

Li Muhui rose to his feet and left the dazed Ji Zhen inside the room. He walked to the door and, seeing Shen Yanqing covered in dust from his hurried journey, lowered his voice. “You heard everything. A two-timing wife like that, and you still want to hold onto him? Shen Yanqing, don’t let your steadfast loyalty turn into a laughingstock.”

 

Shen Yanqing’s lips were pale, but he said firmly, “He has his reasons.” He paused, his tone turning sharp. “It is Your Highness who is untrustworthy, and that truly disappoints this minister.”

 

Li Muhui gritted his teeth. “For a mere Ji Zhen…”

 

“Yes, in Your Highness’s eyes, Ji Zhen is insignificant. But to this minister, no one in this world is more sincere than he is. It is precisely his pure heart that has led Your Highness to repeatedly disregard the relationship between a lord and his subject.”

 

Li Muhui’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know what you are saying?”

 

Shen Yanqing said with certainty, “This minister knows perfectly well. Even if nothing had happened today, he would still be this minister’s only good wife, no matter how much Your Highness might have forced him.”

 

This was the first time Shen Yanqing had so clearly stated his feelings. After he finished speaking, he disregarded Li Muhui’s shocked expression and pushed open the door to enter the room.

 

The frail figure kneeling with his back to him heard the sound, and, like an animal caught by a predator, his terror was evident even from his back.

 

Shen Yanqing looked down at his forearm. He first found a white cloth, tied it behind his head to cover his mouth and nose, and then slowly approached.

 

Ji Zhen was shaking violently. When Shen Yanqing stood beside him, he tremblingly raised his face. His teeth chattered, and he seemed to use a great deal of effort to utter two faint words. “Your Highness…”

 

The person in front of him was his wife, but he called out for another man. Shen Yanqing’s heart was torn. He crouched down, wanting to embrace Ji Zhen.

 

With his eyes covered, Ji Zhen didn’t know who the person was. The moment he was touched, he instinctively resisted. He couldn’t bear the humiliation any longer and fell backward, “Just kill me—”

 

Shen Yanqing tore off the cloth soaked with tears. Ji Zhen squeezed his eyes shut, still trying to break free, and kept murmuring, “Kill me.”

 

“It’s me,” Shen Yanqing said as he grabbed Ji Zhen’s shoulders and pulled the body that was breaking down in tears into his arms. “Ji Zhen, it’s me.”

 

Ji Zhen heard the familiar voice and thought it was a hallucination, still pushing him away frantically.

 

Shen Yanqing’s heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand arrows, watching the once innocent and naive Ji Zhen driven to this state of madness. He gently patted Ji Zhen’s heaving back, whispering over and over, “It’s me…”

 

Ji Zhen was sobbing so hard his body was convulsing. He trembled as he opened his eyes, and when he saw those clear, almond-shaped eyes, a beast-like sob of sorrow escaped his throat.

 

Shen Yanqing glanced at his bruised neck, and his heart constricted. In a few moments, he picked him up. “Let’s go home.”

 

Ji Zhen curled into the warm embrace, his breaths coming in heavy gasps. Stepping out of the room, he was met with the clear sky, the bright light stabbing his eyes and bringing forth uncontrollable tears.

 

He saw Li Muhui standing under the eaves with a gloomy face. After his initial fear, he forced out some words. “Shen Yanqing, my elder brother…”

 

The sound of hurried footsteps came. It was one of Li Muhui’s spies.

 

“Your Highness, the former Vice Minister of Personnel, Ji Jue, contracted the plague on his way to exile and died a violent death. His remains have been abandoned on a hillside and eaten by hyenas.”

 

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

 

Ji Zhen struggled to get back on his feet. A heart-wrenching pain swept over him, and he had to lean on Shen Yanqing’s arms to stand. He raised his bloodshot eyes. “What nonsense is he saying?”

 

Shen Yanqing wanted to hold him, but he pushed him away wildly. He first looked at Li Muhui, then at Shen Yanqing while shaking his head in agony. “You’re all in this together! I don’t believe you, I don’t believe you… I’m going to Ningzhou to find my elder brother.”

 

He stumbled forward, and Shen Yanqing grabbed his wrist.

 

Hatred stretched as wide as the sky, and resentment ran as deep as the sea.

 

In his grief, Ji Zhen spoke recklessly and asked piercingly, “Why wasn’t it you?”

 

Shen Yanqing was struck as if by an arrow, in extreme anguish. Why wasn’t it him? Why didn’t he get the plague, or why wasn’t he the one who died?

 

He endured the sharp pain in his chest and delivered a swift chop to the back of the emotionally shattered Ji Zhen’s neck.

 

He held Ji Zhen steadily again and looked at Li Muhui with his cold eyes. He said without arrogance or humility, “This minister has never regretted following Your Highness. But from now on, please forgive this minister for being unable to walk this path with Your Highness anymore.”

 

It doesn’t take a great storm to stir a calm lake. Even a small, insignificant pebble can create ripples.

 

Shen Yanqing walked out of the Third Prince Mansion with firm steps while holding Ji Zhen. He placed him on the horse and covered him with a cloak. A cold gust of wind swept past, making him turn his face and cough violently. His chest burned, and his eyes were flooded with blinding white light. He pulled out a dagger, bit his lip, and cut his palm. Then he gripped the rough reins tightly, using the physical pain to stay conscious.

 

Shen Yanqing pressed Ji Zhen’s head against his chest and steered the horse away, and the words “let’s go home” scattered in the wind.

 

He had lived his life too cautiously, and when he finally acted on his feelings, words failed to convey them, leaving love beyond his grasp.

 

The author has something to say:

After experiencing his father’s tragic death, his elder brother’s exile, and his beloved trying to assassinate him and then witnessing the execution, it’s a miracle that Ji Zhen isn’t already mentally unhinged. At least at this stage, he can no longer be as innocent and adorable as he used to be, and he can no longer trust Lord Shen. “Going mad” is the normal reaction.