Chapter 13

Ye Shu said nothing. But Changyuan reacted first: "No! I have nothing to do with Young Master — everything I did today was entirely of my own will. It has nothing to do with him!"

At those words, Jin Wang gave Ye Shu a pat on the side of his waist. "He says it has nothing to do with you. Is that right?"

Ye Shu lowered his eyes.

"Very well…" Jin Wang said mildly. "Attempting to assassinate the sovereign carries the penalty of death by a thousand cuts. Take him away."

Ye Shu quickly said: "Don't!"

This young guard had appeared in the novel before.

He was indeed the original host's trusted aide. This person was unfailingly loyal to the original host — when the original host was captured, he had barely escaped with his life, and after watching helplessly as the original host was executed by slow dismemberment, he had gone into hiding among the common people, waiting for the chance to assassinate Jin Wang.

But in the end the assassination failed, and he died by the same method as the original host.

Even if he was nothing more than a character from a book, Ye Shu couldn't bear to watch him die before his eyes.

Much less dying for his sake.

Jin Wang asked: "Is beloved subject… pleading on this traitor's behalf?"

His voice was low and deep, carrying unmistakable displeasure.

Ye Shu pressed his lips together and was about to speak — but instead let out a muffled sound first: "Mmph——!"

Jin Wang's hand had at last slipped in past the hem of his garment.

Ye Shu's hand shot out and seized Jin Wang's wrist.

There were so many people here.

Had this dog emperor gone mad?

Ye Shu bit down hard and sent out a tiny plea: "…Don't."

But Jin Wang only let out a low hum and effortlessly pried free of Ye Shu's grip.

The arousal from before hadn't yet subsided — and now those hands stirred it up again with ease. Ye Shu felt as though every part of him was unbearably sensitive right now, and the slightest touch anywhere brought a faint shudder.

But the cloak concealed all movement. Only the slowly reddening corners of Ye Shu's eyes, growing more flushed from the torment, offered any hint of what was happening.

He felt the patch of skin behind his ear begin to burn again.

Jin Wang was still murmuring close to his ear: "Say something, beloved subject — didn't you want to plead for him?"

Ye Shu couldn't speak.

The original host's loyal subordinate was still kneeling in front of them, and a dozen or so highly-trained imperial guards stood all around them. The anxiety and shame made him even less able to endure what was being done to him than usual.

The other man was reducing him to a dazed, muddled state using only one hand — yet that man had a mind to torment him and stubbornly refused to give him any relief.

Suspended between two states, going nowhere — it was excruciating.

Ye Shu was truly almost at his limit. He pleaded in a low voice: "Your Majesty… please."

That word "please" was meant both for this guard, and for himself.

Jin Wang naturally understood what he meant, yet didn't let go — instead, he imperceptibly increased the pressure. "Not enough."

"…Beloved subject will need to show Us some sincerity."

The imperial guards had already bowed their heads before Jin Wang even spoke. The assassin had been pressed face-down to the ground as well, so no one could see what the two of them were doing on horseback.

The corners of Ye Shu's eyes had gone pink. He turned his head and quickly pressed a kiss to the corner of Jin Wang's lips. "Like that… is that enough?"

Jin Wang looked at him and said quietly: "Still not enough."

Dog! Emperor!

Ye Shu struggled to hold onto reason, and said through gritted teeth: "What does Your Majesty want this subject to do?"

Jin Wang asked: "Is beloved subject saying that whatever We want, it is acceptable?"

In truth, Jin Wang was the sovereign — there was no right for Ye Shu to resist whatever he wanted.

Yet he chose to put on a show of asking.

He was doing it on purpose!

Ye Shu held his gaze for a moment, then said through his teeth: "Yes…"

Jin Wang finally gave a light laugh, and gave the order: "Everyone withdraw."

This was the first assassin who had ever attempted to take the sovereign's life and survived. The imperial guards escorted the assassin out of the forest, moving even farther away than before.

Jin Wang released the cloak wrapped around Ye Shu. The rich, sweet fragrance of green plum spilled through the forest in full bloom.

The fruit-wood pheromone scent had been driven to full ripeness and clung urgently to Jin Wang's side, desperate for soothing.

Jin Wang stopped tormenting him. He bowed his head and gently nipped and licked the small mole behind Ye Shu's ear, and the motion of his hands began to speed up.

The qun-sovereign's pheromone entered him. Ye Shu's body went rigid for a moment, then gradually softened.

His dazed expression cleared, and he blinked. "…Your Majesty?"

"Better?"

Ye Shu hadn't fully come back to himself yet. He asked in a fog: "Why am I…"

A bit cold down below?

Before Ye Shu could finish the sentence, Jin Wang's next action nearly sent him toppling off the horse in shock. "You you you — what are you doing?!"

Jin Wang: "We just helped you. Shouldn't you help Us too?"

"Good boy — put your legs together."

…

The hunting grounds they were in were not far from the traveling palace. Two hours later, Jin Wang rode with Ye Shu directly back.

The latter was thoroughly exhausted and slumped dozing against Jin Wang's chest.

Jin Wang carried him back to the bedchamber and laid him on the bed, then pinched his face with mild disdain: "You've been getting lazier and lazier these past few days — sleeping all day long. No wonder you're in such poor physical shape."

Ye Shu was too tired to keep his eyes open, and said listlessly: "Yes — Your Majesty is impressively vigorous, bursting with energy and might, this subject naturally cannot compare… not even close."

"…" Jin Wang was so infuriated he almost laughed. "Just go to sleep."

Ye Shu was more than happy to. He rolled straight to the far side of the bed and was soon still.

Jin Wang carefully tucked the blanket around him, stood, and walked toward the door. An attendant stepped forward at once.

Jin Wang gave the order: "Bring the assassin who was captured just now to see me."

The attendant bowed. "Yes."

The Imperial Study was warm with incense. Jin Wang sipped his tea and called out mildly: "Changyuan."

The person kneeling before the hall was shackled at the wrists and ankles. "…Yes."

"Chancellor Ye begged Us for mercy — to spare your life." Jin Wang's voice was cold. "Your crime is in truth unforgivable. But in consideration of your utter loyalty and devotion to Chancellor Ye, We can give you an opportunity."

He raised a hand. An attendant presented a single pellet to Changyuan. "This is a lethal poison. There is no cure in the world for it — only the antidote We hold, taken once, can delay the onset of its effects by one month. Take it, and We will allow you to remain by Chancellor Ye's side in your capacity as a guard."

A flicker of surprise crossed Changyuan's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected Jin Wang to give him a choice like this.

He didn't hesitate. He took the pellet and swallowed it.

Jin Wang said: "Remove his shackles."

An attendant stepped forward and undid the chains on Changyuan's hands and feet. Changyuan prostrated himself in a bow. "Thank… thank you, Your Majesty."

Jin Wang: "All of you, leave."

The attendants: "Yes."

The attendants shut the doors of the Imperial Study and departed. Only Jin Wang and Changyuan remained in the hall.

Jin Wang toyed with the teacup in his hand and asked: "We recall that A Shu took you in seven years ago. Is that correct?"

Changyuan: "Yes."

In truth, Ye Shu, Jin Wang, and Changyuan were all roughly the same age — Changyuan was the oldest of the three, while Jin Wang was actually the youngest.

Jin Wang said: "Back then We were still a prince. During the struggle for succession, you actually helped Us considerably as well."

"…This subordinate would not dare take credit — we were all following Young Master's instructions."

"Following Young Master's instructions…" Jin Wang's eyes narrowed slightly. "So when he wanted to kill Us, you set about fulfilling that wish of his?"

Changyuan startled, and said urgently: "Your Majesty — Young Master harbors absolutely no treacherous intent. This… there must be a misunderstanding!"

"Your Young Master admitted to the crime of treason himself. There is no need for you to cover for him." Jin Wang gave a cold snort and said: "We will not pursue this matter for now, so put your mind at ease. We kept you here to ask about something else. You will answer truthfully."

Changyuan: "Yes."

Jin Wang was in no hurry to speak.

A long silence fell over the Imperial Study. After some unknown stretch of time, Jin Wang finally asked, slowly: "You have been by A Shu's side all these years — have you ever felt that… A Shu seems to have changed a great deal in recent years."

Changyuan startled. "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

Jin Wang: "Just say — yes, or no."

"…Yes." Changyuan hesitated briefly, then said quietly: "Young Master's temperament is very different from before. His methods of doing things have also become more… unfeeling. It is as though…"

Changyuan didn't dare continue, but then he heard the young emperor seated on the dragon throne speak languidly, completing the rest of his sentence.

"As though… he became a different person."