“What do you mean you’re not coming?” Li Xuanming pretended to be confused, raising his hand as if with difficulty. “My arm feels uncomfortable. Come massage it.”
How could Yan Yihuan not know the injury had already mostly healed. He clicked his tongue softly that only he could hear, then sighed inwardly before slowly walking over.
Seeing his face full of resentment yet not daring to speak, Li Xuanming felt that things were quite fine this way. Let him think he had come as a hostage, staying obediently in the palace. Not only that, he was extremely well-behaved.
Although at times he missed his former arrogant and domineering manner, in the current murky situation it was clearly better for him to be more docile.
Li Xuanming appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, enjoying Yan Yihuan’s unwilling yet very attentive massage, but in his mind he was sorting through the recent events one by one. He had not attended court for ten days. News of his serious illness should already have reached King Qin and King Wei. However, he now knew that the assassination attempt had come from the Residence of King Qin.
Therefore, when this news reached the two kings, King Qin, knowing he had only suffered a light arrow wound, would likely hold his troops back. King Wei, on the other hand, would think that King Qin was being held back by Northern Di, while he himself[mfn]t/n: This paragraph is in Li Xuanming’s pov, so the “he himself” here refers to Li Xuanming.[/mfn] was gravely ill and unable to control the court, making it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Defeating King Wei first was what both he and King Qin desired, but clearly both wanted the other to make the first move, using it to weaken the other’s forces.
So… Li Xuanming let out a soft breath. This meant he needed to use a scheme to induce the two kings to clash first.
The strength on his arm gradually lessened. Li Xuanming opened his eyes and saw Yan Yihuan lowering his head drowsily. His head was about to drop when it was caught by a palm and gently lowered. Although Li Xuanming frowned slightly, it was nothing like what he had claimed: that even the slightest movement of his arm would cause him excruciating pain.
Tsk, already exhausted to this point after being the one taking the lead just a few times. Those who didn’t know might think he had done something to him, but who would have thought he hadn’t even touched him, not even a finger.
After turning sideways to tuck the blanket around Yan Yihuan, Li Xuanming was just about to get up and stretch when Shen Zhaoquan entered to report in a low voice and then produced a small bamboo tube. Li Xuanming opened it, and the corners of his lips curved slightly. “Du Cheng’en is quite clever. It seems he truly doesn’t know of Du Yunsong and King Qin’s plan.”
“Your Majesty is wise,” Shen Zhaoquan said with a smile. “His father clearly understands his own son better, knowing that Young General Du is loyal and upright and would certainly never collude with them.”
Now that Du Yunsong was under control in the capital, their original plan for all three of them—King Qin, King Yan, and General Du—to gather at King Qin’s residence and discuss their strategy for treason was completely disrupted by Li Xuanming’s insistence on sending Du Cheng’en in General Du’s place.
Meanwhile, far away in Changyun Prefecture, Du Cheng’en had already sensed that something was amiss. He had originally intended to press forward in one push and achieve decisive victory by repelling the Northern Di, but upon arrival he found the entire war strangely abnormal.
Although the Northern Di forces appeared to have taken two cities in succession and were already pressing up to Changyun Prefecture, their numbers were not large. Even without the reinforcements from King Yan, the troops he himself had brought from the capital, together with those already stationed in the city, would have been sufficient to drive them back.
Yet now, day after day, he could only watch as the Northern Di army camped right outside their gates, while King Qin remained inactive. He even went so far as to try to place Du Cheng’en under house arrest to prevent him from leaving the city to engage in battle. All of this left Du Cheng’en deeply confused and increasingly anxious.
During this time, Du Cheng’en had submitted memorials and argued, but King Qin remained unmoved. He had also sought out King Yan alone, but the latter spoke evasively. The letters he sent to the capital were later confirmed to have all been intercepted, not a single one getting through.
At this point, no matter how young or inexperienced he was, Du Cheng’en fully understood. The Northern Di siege was nothing more than a pretense. King Qin and King Yan were clearly plotting something else. Yet with everyone guarding against him, he had no way of learning the truth.
It was not until the day before yesterday that he received this letter from his father in the capital.
By the time it reached him, the letter had already been opened, which was to be expected. The handwriting was indeed his father’s, and at a glance it seemed to be nothing more than words of concern and admonition. Yet only Du Cheng’en could tell that the phrasing was somewhat strange, not quite his father’s usual style.
With no one paying him any attention anyway, Du Cheng’en shut himself in his room and pored over the letter for an entire day. At last he discerned its hidden meaning, and cold sweat immediately broke out across his back. He understood that the letter was telling him to feign compliance in order to break free from his current passive situation.
It was obvious the letter had been written under someone’s instruction, and with his father in the capital, the only person who could control him was the Emperor.
Du Cheng’en gradually calmed down. Even if he was unwilling, he understood that if he wanted to break the deadlock, he would first have to pretend to side with this group of treacherous rebels.
He slowly stood up. After taking a deep breath, he strode towards the door, head held high. But the moment he opened it, Du Cheng’en froze. Yan Zheng was walking toward him, already stepping up onto the stairs.
Though neither of them spoke, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Du Cheng’en subconsciously tightened his grip on the letter, while Yan Zheng appeared unusually calm. He gave a quick glance at the letter before speaking first,
“General Du, shall we have a talk?”
—
The Emperor had remained secluded and refused to see anyone, leaving all state affairs to be handled by Grand Chancellor Cui Yan. As a result, both the court and the public went from their initial indifference to growing suspicion, and now rumors were spreading wildly.
Twenty days had passed, yet the Emperor’s illness showed no sign of improvement. Sun Zhicheng, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, had not come out since entering the bedchamber. Could something serious really be about to happen!
It should be known that the current emperor, using the excuse of just having ascended the throne and being overwhelmed with state affairs, has not even taken any concubines into the harem, naturally leaving him without any heirs.
However, there was indeed a young prince being raised in the palace. His father had been the emperor’s elder brother, and it was common knowledge that if not for that prince’s untimely death, the position of crown prince would never have gone to the current emperor.
In principle, this nephew’s succession would be perfectly legitimate, but he was far too young, and the ambitions of King Qin and King Wei for the throne are as clear as day. In short, if the Emperor were truly to fall gravely ill, the world would inevitably descend into chaos.
While those outside were deeply anxious, inside the bedchamber, the emperor rumored to be at death’s door, still had his arm wrapped in bandages, living a life where food was brought to his mouth and clothes were brought to his hands. At this very moment, he was enjoying tea fed to him by Yan Yihuan.
“Not drinking anymore.” Li Xuanming lifted his chin slightly, signaling for the cup to be set aside. Yan Yihuan was already quite practiced, picking up a soft cloth to wipe the corner of his mouth, his movements fluid and smooth, clearly not something he had done only once or twice.
“Your Majesty…” Yan Yihuan glanced cautiously at the tightly wrapped left arm, “When will this injury heal?”
“Hiss…” At his words, Li Xuanming tentatively tried to lift it, immediately frowning and drawing in a sharp breath. “Still can’t move it.”
Yan Yihuan thought to himself, I may not have suffered such an injury myself before, but Imperial Physician Sun clearly said it wasn’t that serious. How can he lie here like this every day? Besides, even if his left hand can’t move, how is it that his right hand can’t move at all either?
These miserable days are truly impossible to endure any longer!
Yan Yihuan carried the tea set away, his mind racing with thoughts. But whatever the emperor refused to admit became absolute truth by imperial word, so if he wanted to escape this misery, he would have to come up with a way to expose him.
Seeing that it was nearly time to retire for the night, Yan Yihuan suddenly glanced at the hidden door that had not been opened for a long time, and his eyes lit up. Before long, a crafty look appeared in his gaze as he climbed onto the dragon bed holding a brocade box.
Li Xuanming’s eyes flickered as he watched him silently place the box beside him, then take out a long silk ribbon from his robes.
“What are you trying to do?”
Tie you up.[mfn]t/n: This sentence is just sarcasm btw, in case anyone’s confused by who’s getting tied up.[/mfn]
Of course Yan Yihuan did not dare say it aloud, only grumbling inwardly. Besides, these past few days, the Emperor was no different from being tied up anyway, refusing to move on his own no matter what.
Without a word, he repeated his previous method of binding his wrists with his teeth, wrapping the silk around his own wrists, then “accidentally” tying it into a dead knot.
“Oh no, this is bad.” Yan Yihuan blinked his wide eyes, his furrowed brows full of innocence, “I can’t move on my own now.”
Author’s note:
Little Yihuan: Let’s just say, I’ve got to have him completely under control!
