SLIGHT TW: violence, general assassin mayhem, mention of sui**de warriors.
Jin Xiyan stood at the bank of the pond where he always met Qin Yuze. He ran his thumb over a smooth rock that was perfect to skip over the surface of the water. He looked out to the pond to admire the lush lotuses that bloomed along the edges. Several dragonflies flitted between their leaves, adding a bit of action to the otherwise still scenery.
“Did you have to wait too long?” called a voice from behind.
Jin Xiyan turned, nearly dropping the rock in his hand. His startled state didn’t ruin the moment, because it was Qin Yuze, and his heart immediately lightened. Qin Yuze’s long white hair was pulled into a high ponytail that trailed over one shoulder. He wore a stunning jade robe that complimented his smaller frame, the brocade had designs of white tigers along the sleeves. Qin Yuze’s smile dazzled Jin Xiyan, as it always did. Silence dragged on and Qin Yuze arched a brow. Realizing he was probably expecting an answer, Jin Xiyan pushed himself to respond.
“…No,” he mumbled. His throat felt swollen, like he’d eaten too many eggs and had an allergic reaction.
Qin Yuze’s laugh bubbled out of his mouth which he covered with a slender hand, but it didn’t conceal the corners of his lips which were turned up, peeking over his fingers. His eyes turned into little crescents that sparkled, changing from dark to yellow, then dark again.
Jin Xiyan blinked. Did I see that correctly?
Qin Yuze dropped his hand and bent forward. He hovered that same hand across the rocks, taking his time in selecting one. Jin Xiyan paid close attention to his worn, rough fingers that held a grace in them as they moved. He’d pick a rock up, inspect it, then replace it – until finally, he found the right one. When he stood up, his thumbs roamed across the smooth, flat surface. Jin Xiyan’s eyes strayed to Qin Yuze’s lips as they moved.
“What is going on in that big head of yours?” Qin Yuze asked.
Jin Xiyan snapped out of his awkward staring and cleared his throat. He averted his gaze to pay attention to the still water of the pond. Sighing he held the rock to his side and whipped it forward and let go on precisely the perfect moment for the rock to skip five times before it sank.
“Emperor Father complained about me being around you too often,” he confessed. “Naturally, I argued.”
“Huh,” huffed Qin Yuze. He reared his own arm back and did the same with his rock. It skipped four times before it stopped.
Jin Xiyan paused, expecting more, but when none came he asked, “Is that all you have to say? Do you not have any opinions?”
“Oh, I have a lot of opinions,” Qin Yuze snorted. His next rock was already in his hands. “But what was his excuse? Am I being too bad of an influence?”
The image of Qin Yuze flickered as he winked at Jin Xiyan. Jin Xiyan blinked a few times and his forehead began to throb. He rubbed his temple with two fingers while he answered.
“While that is true, it goes beyond that. He thinks because you are…well…” Jin Xiyan made a vague gesture towards Qin Yuze. The thought of his Emperor Father’s rather crude words about Qin Yuze being an omega.
Qin Yuze raised his brow again and drawled, “Weeelll…?”
“You…well, you…” Heat reached the top of Jin Xiyan’s ears, coloring them red. Reluctantly he muttered, “You will be having a monthly visitor soon.” He lowered his voice even more into a mumble, “It would be improper for us to be unchaperoned.”
Qin Yuze scrunched his nose, “A monthly what?”
Jin Xiyan shot Qin Yuze a look and emphasized, “Your visitor.”
“What visitor?! I don’t get any visitors in the palace, except— Oooohh…” Qin Yuze’s voice trailed off, his mouth in a perfect little ‘o’ shape before it changed to a mischievous grin. Qin Yuze approached Jin Xiyan now, forcing him to take a step back.
Qin Yuze went on his tiptoes, his face inches from Jin Xiyan’s. His grin didn’t waver and his yellow eyes practically glowed. “What is it that you won’t say?”
Jin Xiyan teeth ground together as he stubbornly set his jaw. “I…I-I will not say it.”
“Why not? It’s perfectly nat-ur-al!” Qin Yuze sing-songed before skipping around Jin Xiyan.
Still refusing to answer, Jin Xiyan balled up his fists, his arms stiff against his sides. When Qin Yuze was behind him, he whispered near Jin Xiyan’s ear, his breath caressing the blushing lobe.
“It’s just a silly little wor–”
Jin Xiyan shuddered at the briefest of contact, and now having reached his boiling point, whirled around to face Qin Yuze and yelled.
“Your heat! You are close in age to having your first heat!”
Qin Yuze paused, his jaw slack and eyes wide. He blinked a few times, the golden color of his eyes catching the rays of the sun. Jin Xiyan took a deep breath and straightened out his robes. He turned his face away from Qin Yuze, but the infectious laughter drew him back in. As soon as he looked back at Qin Yuze, his nose was flicked by a small hand.
“Ow!” Jin Xiyan covered his nose with his palm, cupping it. He glared at Qin Yuze who still laughed.
“I’m only twelve, you goody two-shoes–” Qin Yuze stepped back gracefully, his robes swaying with a spin. The edge of his hairline was black, and like ink bleeding across a paper, the dark color washed down the length of his hair. Jin Xiyan’s vision blurred, and two different sounding voices came out of Qin Yuze, echoing over one another. “–we still have plenty of time before that. What, are you so eager to get rid of me?”
Jin Xiyan let go of his nose and pressed the heel of his palm against his eyes to rub at them. Qin Yuze’s face was obscured now, and a shadow was slowly stretching from the pond towards them. The shadow engulfed their feet, slowly working it’s way up until–
Jin Xiyan hadn’t realized this position until a strong arm slid around his waist and pulled him close, rousing him from his dream. At some point in the night, Jin Xiyan’s borrowed body found itself closer to Li Changyu’s. They were lightly pressed against one another, facing each other.
He opened his eyes just a fraction, because the darkness still surrounded him. There was the tiniest bit of light, but it was too far away to see Li Changyu right in front of him. Is he…cuddling me? The previously unsettling dream faded away and a small smile curved his lips. He instinctively lifted his own arm to wrap it over Li Changyu’s shoulders. It was awkward, being in a completely different body, but this was a moment he could cherish by being more familiar with Li Changyu. He took a deep breath, inhaling a familiar scent that settled him, but the arm squeezed him tight – tighter than what would be normal. Jin Xiyan blinked his eyes open even more as the embrace turned slightly painful. He barely had time to part his lips to ask a question when Li Changyu’s rumbled. Had he not been so close, Jin Xiyan might have mistaken it for a sleepy noise rather than a sentence.
“When I say now, roll away.”
Confusion and the sudden urgency in Li Changyu’s tone made his eyelids fly open. There was a slight rush of air that made the faint light from a dying candle flicker, drawing his attention. Instead of staying still, which is what he should have done, he turned his head. At that very moment, he was face to face with a blade of a sword, but a hand caught it and prevented it from reaching him. It took a moment for his brain to register the sudden assault, but the two drops of blood that landed on his cheek woke him up entirely. Li Changyu held the sword in his hand, blood trickling down his wrist. Jin Xiyan could see his glare in the scant light.
“Now!” He shouted.
Jin Xiyan rolled away from Li Changyu as he surged forward. Li Changyu took advantage of the moment’s hesitation from the would be assassin who was surprised. Jin Xiyan fell to the floor just as Li Changyu swung his leg out and kicked the sword hand of the assailant. When Jin Xiyan stood up, it was then he saw that there wasn’t just one assailant, but two. They both wore black masks and clothes on, their features unidentifiable except the faint gleam of the white in their eyes. The second assassin held an arm outstretched and went straight to him.
He knew a bit of self defense, as he wasn’t just some idle Prince growing up, but his body was still sore. He was able to dodge the first and second attempts to grab him, but he only narrowly missed the third attempt until Li Changyu suddenly appeared and knocked the attacker away. Li Changyu positioned himself between Jin Xiyan and the two assassins, his fists raised in a readied stance. The second assassin withdrew his own sword next, then nodded to the first.
“Our priority is the Emperor, you get the omega!” That attacker said to his comrade.
“Not if I can help it!” Li Changyu growled and rushed forward. He dodged the men’s swords at a dazzling speed. He landed a punch on one of them before yelling at Jin Xiyan. “Go get help!”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“But–!”
The two assassins attacked Li Changyu in unison. Li Changyu grabbed the wrist of one man as he swung his sword at him and used it to deflect the first assassin’s sword. He whipped his head back and gave Jin Xiyan a furious glare.
“NOW!” he bellowed as he spun away from another attack.
Reluctant to leave, Jin Xiyan took a step backward towards the tent opening. He went another half step when two thick tree-trunk-like arms came from the shadows and seized him around his waist. The air was crushed out of Jin Xiyan as he was lifted up off his feet, which ignited the instinct to thrash about.
“Ergh!” His assailant – a third assassin? – growled. “Hold STILL!”
Jin Xiyan kept up the fight, kicking and squirming. He could make out the shadows of Li Changyu engaged in battle with the two other assassins. With him distracted, Jin Xiyan knew that if he called out for help that it would spell danger. So what was he going to do?
What would Li Changyu do? he asked himself. A split second later, he went with the first thing that came to mind, and threw his head back to slam the back of his skull into the attacker’s face. Pain blossomed across his scalp, but the audible crack was definitely not from his own skull. The yowl that came from his attacker was quite satisfying, and Jin Xiyan was promptly dropped. He fumbled on his landing, but caught himself in time to avoid a wild swing from the much larger man. Adrenaline coursed through Jin Xiyan’s thumping veins and he returned a punch of his own, hitting him square in the chest.
“OW!” he yelled, flinching backward. Jin Xiyan cradled his hand to his chest, pain radiating up and down his fingers. The assassin, unmoved, let out a ferocious growl and stepped forward, his giant arms hooked and prepared to grab him again.
Jin Xiyan dodged left, then right, where he bumped into a small side table where he had put the incense burner. Scrambling for anything to help protect himself, he grabbed the burner with his unhurt hand and threw it at the man’s head. It struck him between the eyes and the top of the burner fell off, releasing a thick layer of ash and burnt remains of the incense that plastered itself over the assassin’s face.
“Idiot!” Li Changyu yelled. Jin Xiyan whirled to look at him; Li Changyu sucker punched one of the assassins in the jaw just before the man could bring down his sword on him. Li Changyu looked over his shoulder to Jin Xiyan.
“The strongest parts of my body are my legs!” Without even looking, Li Changyu grabbed the swordman’s wrist when he tried to recover and twisted it around, swinging it along until the man dropped his sword and now had his arm immobilized by Li Changyu in a hold.
Loud rumbling brought his attention back to his own fight. The man ran a wide, meaty palm over his face, smearing the layer of dust that covered it and left a series of streaks that matched the lines of his fingers. His red eyes were exposed now, glaring daggers at Jin Xiyan. The man’s temple visibly pulsed and he carefully cracked each knuckle while he advanced on Jin Xiyan.
“Where do you suggest I kick him then!?” He called out to Li Changyu as he walked backwards. He knew he was running out of space soon.
Grunts and snaps rang through the tent before Li Changyu answered back, “Where do you think!?!”
Inspiration struck him at the same time as the man reached for him. Ducking down, Jin Xiyan rushed forward and used his now smaller stature to his advantage. His muscles, though exasperated, moved seamlessly like it was from memory, and he rammed his knee into the man’s crotch.
The man let out a cry that was several octaves high and crumpled to his side, allowing Jin Xiyan to go left. He wouldn’t be allowed to escape just yet, because a hand grabbed Jin Xiyan’s hair at the back of his head. He was dragged over just two steps and then kicked in the back of his knees and forced onto them. Jin Xiyan reached for the offending hand but stopped when he felt the cold edge of a blade against his throat.
“Your Majesty!” his captor taunted. Li Changyu, still holding one of the three assassins, paused. The assassin holding Jin Xiyan wrenched his head back to expose more of his neck. “You wouldn’t want your pretty little thing harmed now, would you?”
“Do not listen to him! Go!” Jin Xiyan shouted, which earned him another yank to his hair. Jin Xiyan knew it was likely that both of them would be killed, regardless of any sort of negotiation. The ‘Emperor’ was their target, which put Li Changyu at the most risk. Tiny pinpricks of tears welled up at the corners of his eyes. Li Changyu looked ready to charge, so he urged him again to escape. “Save yourself!”
A moment of silence stretched between them, save for the fallen assassin’s whimpering and writhing. Something flashed over Li Changyu’s eyes, and in the dim candlelight he could only see half of his face in profile. There was a cold deadness in his gaze that he directed to the man holding Jin Xiyan. Slowly, Li Changyu wrapped an arm around his own victim’s neck.
“You know…” Li Changyu began, his voice steady as he went on.
The man in Li Changyu let out a gurgling sound and he too started to wriggle about. Li Changyu’s hold on the arm and neck was firm, though. Li Changyu’s unblinking stare was eerie, but strangely, it did not disturb Jin Xiyan. The blade at his neck wavered slightly from the man’s trembling hand and it nicked him slightly. Li Changyu’s eyes snapped to Jin Xiyan’s throat. A hot bead of blood trailed down the long length of his neck and pooled down at the hollow of his throat. With one swift motion from his arm, the strangled sounds turned into a loud crack and Li Changyu let go of the man who fell to the floor with a sickening thud.
Jin Xiyan heard the man’s sharp inhale of breath. Li Changyu spoke calmly, like he was merely stating how the weather was, as he reached down and took the formerly alive assassin’s blade.
“I planned on letting you three live so we could interrogate you…” Li Changyu took two steps towards the man Jin Xiyan had crippled and kicked him in the face. He took his sword too. Li Changyu turned to face them next and pointed one of the swords at the assassin holding Jin Xiyan.
Though it was his face, Jin Xiyan could see Li Changyu clearly in the quiet furious expression he had.
“…But you had to go ahead and piss me off.” Li Changyu made eye contact with Jin Xiyan for a split second and said, “Go right!”
Jin Xiyan dove to the right on command. Li Changyu ran forward and thrust the sword out in front of him, catching the assassin’s blade and preventing it from getting to Jin Xiyan. The assassin let go of Jin Xiyan’s hair in order to dodge Li Changyu’s slice with the other sword. Jin Xiyan crawled on hands and knees until he had enough room to scramble up onto his feet.
The aggressive clang of metal on metal made it tempting to look back, but Jin Xiyan knew that if he did, he would hesitate. He leapt over the larger assassin and ran out through the flap in the tent to the brisk autumn night. It was nearly pitch black save for the pale glow of the half-full moon that could light his way. Jin Xiyan looked around, momentarily lost, until his eyes settled onto a nearby tent. Someone can help! His bare feet kicked up bits of dirt from the speed at which he ran towards the tent. He threw the flap open – he didn’t even bother to announce himself – and yelled.
“His Majesty is in danger! We nee–” Jin Xiyan cut himself off. In the faint light from a candle, he could see three figures sitting in the tent. They too were clad in black and the lower half of their faces concealed. The trio jerked their heads in his direction when he barged in.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…!” Jin Xiyan snapped the ends of the flaps together with his hands and a sword cut into the fabric of the tent like it was butter, just inches from his face. He turned to run in the opposite direction.
The tent blew open and the three other attackers ran out after him. The men’s longer legs and his already taxed body made it easy for them to catch up. Remembering Li Changyu’s advice, as soon as one of them was close enough that Jin Xiyan could see their shadow he stopped and whirled around. He raised his leg and swung it high in the air so the side of his foot collided with the nearest attacker’s face.
Li Changyu had been right. The strongest part of his body were his legs. The power behind his kick was enough to knock the man down on the ground in an instant, allowing Jin Xiyan to be on the offensive as the other two approached. Jin Xiyan lifted his fists towards his face to guard himself. Jin Xiyan doubted how much skill he had to take on two attackers in a foreign body, where he could not rely solely on his height and fists. He warily watched the two men as they slowed down, swords drawn and prowling like two tigers.
Tigers! Jin Xiyan’s heart leapt in excitement. He did the next best thing he could do, and it was to scream.
“PAPA!” He cried. The volume startled the encroaching assassins and they paused their step. His voice carried across the empty field that their camp settled in. He called out for Li Beidou a second time, his throat hoarse from the force of the first one. “PAPA!”
“Shut up!–” said one of the men in black before he was abruptly cut off. A long blade of a sword came up from out of his chest and skewered him. Blood sprayed out from the man’s mouth as he coughed out his last breath. Both Jin Xiyan and the other man reacted with a start, the gruesome sight even unsettling Jin Xiyan’s stomach. The blade retracted and the man fell, revealing Li Changyu.
Li Changyu’s breathing was labored, his hair in disarray and his clothes bloodied. Li Changyu’s gaze was centered solely on Jin Xiyan. He swung his blade in the air and twisted his arm, expertly flicking the blood off his blade. A flush appeared across Jin Xiyna’s cheeks and his heart jumped again and thudded against his ribs in a rhythmic ba-da-dum.
This must be what he was like on the battlefield, he thought to himself. It made his heart pound louder.
But now wasn’t the time to swoon. Li Changyu’s face contorted in frustration and he went to attack the last man, but his eyes never strayed from Jin Xiyan.
“You couldn’t even get help! Did you just sit on the throne with a thumb up your ass since I’ve been gone!?”
Jin Xiyan’s previous rush of affection washed away like a bucket of cold water was thrown on him. His blush turned into heated annoyance and he argued back.
“I tried to get help! The tent had those men in it!”
“Then you should have gone to another one!”
The one Li Changyu fought with looked between the Emperor and Empress, confused at their bickering. The Emperor was fighting like a powerhouse with a killing intent so strong he could taste it. But the General turned Wife of the Emperor was acting like a meek kitten in comparison. This is nothing like our intelligence said! He lamented to himself.
The man Jin Xiyan had knocked down was righting himself up now, so Jin Xiyan stepped forward and like he’d seen Li Changyu do, he drove the heel of his foot into the man’s face. Bone crunched and fractured under the sole of his foot, the sensation feeling ticklish and eerie at the same time. His stomach wasn’t quite built for this level of violence.
“Urgh!” Li Changyu grunted. The attacker managed to stab Li Changyu in the shoulder with a clean through-and-through. Jin Xiyan turned his head and all the blood drained from his body, leaving him cold and numb.
Without thinking, Jin Xiyan’s feet were moving and he was running towards the fight. Li Changyu caught what Jin Xiyan intended to do and he blocked his path. He grabbed the sword and pushed it out of himself. The schlick sound the action made churned Jin Xiyan’s stomach.
“Get! Out!” Li Changyu growled over his shoulder at Jin Xiyan. Having him there was enough of a distraction, and if he had to save him like he’d done before, Li Changyu was not sure he would be able to keep his head clear enough to fight properly.
“You are hurt!” Jin Xiyan scolded.
“Yeah, all because your dumb body is big and slow!”
“What?” The assassin’s confusion worked to Li Changyu’s advantage. He drove his sword forward through the center of his chest, ramming it through to the hilt.
A bell rang out, one that was typically to call the group to meals, and a crowd of voices rose. Li Changyu let the sword go and the man fell. He turned around and grabbed Jin Xiyan by the ear.
“Don’t you ever do that!” He hissed through gritted teeth.
“Ow!” Jin Xiyan grabbed Li Changyu’s wrist, his annoyance rising. “You do not have the privilege of giving me orders like that!”
“You are the Emperor and your safety is paramount.”
“Then what about your safety?!” Jin Xiyan retorted back.
“I already have a contingency plan, Your Majesty.” Li Changyu huffed out a breath and blew his bangs out from his face. “I made an edict so if something happens to me in your body, you still get the throne. Do you understand? You will always be the Emperor, no matter what.”
He did what?! Going so far as to make another forged edict, and one that leaves himself disposable? That was just too much!
“You!” Jin Xiyan couldn’t scold him properly because Li Changyu swayed slightly. Concern immediately filled Jin Xiyan, and he reached out to grab his shoulders. Li Changyu let out a groan and Jin Xiyan jerked his hand back when he realized he accidentally touched his injury.
The palm of that hand was coated in warm, fresh blood. Instead of his stomach revolting, Jin Xiyan’s heart hardened. He didn’t know how to tend to a wound, but there was something he could do. Sounds of distant fighting turned into a buzzing hum as fury overtook Jin Xiyan’s body. He moved away from Li Changyu, who dropped down to one knee, and walked slowly to the last assassin.
He was crawling onto his knees in an attempt to get up. Jin Xiyan kicked him in the back to knock him back down onto his stomach. He knelt down onto the man’s back, digging a knee into his spine while he grabbed the man’s own sword. Like one of the former assassins did to him, he grabbed the man by the back of the head and yanked his head up. He touched the tip of the sword against his throat.
“Who sent you?” He growled in the man’s ear. “Who dares to attack His Majesty?”
Who dares to hurt Li Changyu like that? Jin Xiyan’s heart twisted into a knot.
The man beneath him coughed as his answer. Jin Xiyan pulled his head back even further and the man gurgled and spat out blood and a blue-black substance. Jin Xiyan recoiled, dropping his head and standing back up.
“He poisoned himself…” Jin Xiyan looked at Li Changyu, “These are not ordinary assassins. I take it that you knew?”
“I had an inkling they were,” Li Changyu’s chest heaved with a sigh that followed. He looked like he was about to fall over, so Jin Xiyan rushed to his side. He squatted down to let Li Changyu lean against him, his free hand stayed at the small of his back while the other gripped the sword tightly. Li Changyu grumbled his protests, “Quit nagging. This is nothing. I’m just sorry that you might have a scar.”
Jin Xiyan had every right to be angry right now, but his aching heart wouldn’t let him say anything except, “Silly boy…”
“Oi!”
Both of them lifted their heads to the familiar voice. Li Jiuxing came trodding towards them, looking a little out of breath as well. Zooming past him was Li Beidou, charging directly at them. When he caught up to them, the momentum made him skid across the dirt and gravel until he stopped. He dropped down onto Li Changyu’s other side and took over holding him and fervently patted down his son, checking for injuries.
Li Jiuxing eventually caught up to them, but he paused to catch his breath and stare at the bewildering sight in front of him. His Father, who always doted on his dear Baby Brother, was completely ignoring Li Changyu in favor of the Emperor! This kind of behavior from Papa Li could be expected when it involved Li Jiuxing, who was often on the receiving end of his lecturing.
Since when did this scum Emperor become a beloved Son-in-law?! Li Jiuxing looked to his Baby Brother, also focused intently on the Emperor. Li Jiuxing shook his head sadly. Baby Brother, you’ve been wronged.
Jin Xiyan whispered over Li Changyu’s head to his Father-in-law, “He was stabbed in the shoulder. I do not know how he manages to stay conscious.”
“Hmph!” Li Changyu grunted and leaned his head back against his Father’s shoulder. His eyelids were droopy, but his cocky grin was present. “I told you. This is nothing. I should tell you about—”
“YOUR MAJESTY!!!” someone cried.
“Ooohh…” Li Changyu groaned and shut his eyes tight. “Send me to King Yama, please don’t let that be–”
The sobbing, miraculously, grew louder, “Y-Y-YOOOUR MAJESTYYYY!”
Li Beidou busied himself by tearing off a bit of his sleeve and wrapping it around Li Changyu’s injury, cinching it tight. Li Changyu hissed, grabbed a hold of Jin Xiyan’s hand, and squeezed until his knuckles turned white, “Tell Su Ao I’m dead, please–”
Before Jin Xiyan could open his mouth, something body slammed him away from Li Changyu.
“Oof!” he grunted, collapsing into a heap nearby. Su Ao had taken his place, sidling up to Li Changyu’s side and tried to shoulder Li Changyu’s weight, but Li Changyu just burrowed himself closer to his Father. Jin Xiyan sat up and rubbed his hip lightly.
“Your Ma-ma-majesty!” Su Ao wailed, tugging at the temporary bindings Li Beidou just applied. “Someone, anyone, get the physician!”
The eunuch looked quite unkempt and not like the pristine image of a servant Jin Xiyan was used to. Gone was his official hat, and his robes were just the underclothes, exposing much of his neck which were covered in little red marks. His shoulder length hair was down and in a disarray, adding to the frazzled state he was obviously in.
Suddenly Li Guangzhu was beside Jin Xiyan and helping him up. The Eldest Li Brother casually brushed the dirt off Jin Xiyan while he spoke.
“It was an ambush. Someone put dozens of tents between the real party and your tent. Most of them were filled with a team of suicide soldiers.”
Su Ao’s red cheeks burned an even brighter crimson, “Who would dare plot this?!”
“Yes,” drawled a low, husky voice. Jin Xiyan stiffened and turned to see his Third Uncle Zhang Wenru approach. The man looked similarly disheveled, like he rushed to get dressed, but maintained a regal composure. He looked so similar to Emperor Father that, if it weren’t for his slight beard, he would have mistaken him as the former Emperor. Zhang Wenru crossed his arms over his chest and settled a glare at Li Guangzhu. “Just who would have the gall to do this?”
Li Changyu opened his mouth, but Li Yunxi and two other men also joined their circle. One of the men must have been a physician, because he made a beeline towards Li Changyu with a box readied in his hand. The other man Jin Xiyan vaguely recognized as one of Li Changyu’s many cousins – was his name Baguul? – that looked just as battle-tired as the other Li’s, except for Li Yunxi. The old man looked like he didn’t even break a sweat.
“We checked out all the tents,” said Li Yunxi with a nod to Li Guangzhu. “All clear.”
“Let us move His Majesty,” said the physician. “You, fetch a proper tent–”
“No need!” Li Changyu lifted the hand of his uninjured side. “Zhen is very much so conscious.My Brother-in-laws can get some shi powder and stitch this wound. Time would be better spent packing up and returning to the capital.”
“Do not be so hasty, Your Majesty.” Zhang Wenru eyed the Li’s. “There is still the matter of these assassins. Are any of them alive?”
“They were death soldiers,” explained Li Guangzhu. “If we didn’t kill them ourselves, they all had poison pills hidden in their teeth and committed suicide.”
“That’s a bit convenient with the Emperor hurt, isn’t it?” Somehow, Jin Ai managed to slip in unnoticed until now. Unlike everyone else, he was dressed immaculately, without a wrinkle in place. The only indication he was at all resting tonight was the casual way his long brown hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Jin Ai crossed his arms and tucked them within his sleeves, his chin tipped up haughtily.
“Convenient?” Jin Xiyan, Li Changyu, and Li Guangzhu spoke in unison. Li Changyu growled and continued, “My wise Older Brother, enlighten Zhen. What is so convenient about being stabbed?”
“Your Majesty.” Jin Ai bowed forward finally, showing a bit of proper decorum, but his eyes traveled to Li Changyu. “It is convenient that all the assassins are dead. Your Empress saved you, and his Family supposedly dealt with the attack.”
Jin Xiyan narrowed his eyes at his Brother. Is he trying to imply that this was planned to—
Li Guangzhu’s jaw ticced, “You aren’t seriously accusing us of orchestrating this, are you?”
Jin Ai unfurled his arms and shrugged, his hands held in a mock surrender. “I am merely pointing out a coincidence. Suddenly His Highness has gained favor with my Emperor Brother…”
Jin Xiyan finished the thought for him, “…and you think in order to secure that, Zh–I would create a false attack just to impress His Majesty?”
Zhang Wenru cut Jin Xiyan with a glare. “If not an actual assassination attempt…”
“Silence!” Li Changyu bit out through clenched teeth. With the help of the physician and Li Beidou, he stood. “This is all ridiculous conjecture.”
“Your Majesty,” Zhang Wenru’s gaze softened when he looked at Li Changyu, and he stepped closer to him until he wedged Li Beidou out of the way and was side by side with Li Changyu. His voice was a fake whisper, clearly intended to be heard by the others. “It is possible for those closest to Your Majesty to do harm. A tiger attacks when they are close and unsuspecting.”
He was the one to bite back at Zhang Wenru. “If we are talking about ones closest to His Majesty, then as a relative wouldn’t you be blamed for allowing said tiger into this Dragon’s den?”
Jin Xiyan was well versed in rhetoric, and he easily shifted the blame to Zhang Wenru. He was the one who suggested the match in the first place. So if one wanted to claim the Li’s were responsible for this assassination attempt, then another argument could be made that Zhang Wenru helped cause this calamity.
Third Uncle’s lip curled with a split second glare sent to Jin Xiyan’s way. Just as quickly as it appeared, his face was back to the mask of decorum. “Those may be some clever words, but I trust His Majesty’s judgement.”
“Indeed!” piped in Jin Ai before Li Changyu could get a word into the conversation. As per usual, people talked to the “Emperor”, not with him. He came forward and bowed to Li Changyu. “Your Majesty, please investigate this to see if the Li’s had something to do with this attack.”
Zhang Wenru moved to be beside Jin Ai and did the same, “Please, Your Majesty! Investigate the Li Family!”
A few others joined them in chorus, all beseeching the “Emperor” to find out if the Li Family were behind this attack. Jin Xiyan looked at the servants and other party members that were so eager to throw “Li Changyu” back into the Cold Palace! Li Guangzhu’s grip on the sword at his hip tightened and Li Beidou stood absolutely still. Li Yunxi, just a few feet away, looked like a pot of oil ready to burst. His cheeks turned ruddy, and his teeth gnashed. Jin Xiyan, being closest to the Li’s, could hear Li Yunxi whisper to another relative beside them.
“Go get the sword.”
The sword! It was the one gifted to the Li Family, and it was a possible lifeline. If it were used as a token now to avoid disaster for the Li Family, what could they possibly use if this happens again? And knowing whoever is plotting this…there will be a next time. Jin Xiyan took a deep breath. No. I can come up with something else. Before the relative could move, Jin Xiyan took one large step forward and faced Zhang Wenru and the others.
“Your Highness,” he began, and all movement stopped. All eyes were turned to him now, their gazes cast down their noses that they held high in the air. It made him even more aware of his shorter stature. “You are all aware that I spent the night with His Majesty.”
“EH!” Li Jiuxing and Li Yunxi made noises of protest – or disgust – but were promptly shushed by Li Beidou.
Though it was a bit embarrassing, Li Changyu was someone shameless, wasn’t he? Jin Xiyan pivoted to Li Changyu next. Li Changyu was blushing, his eyes wide in a slack jawed horror. Does he know what I am about to do? Forging ahead with this foolhardy plan, Jin Xiyan cupped his hands and bent forward.
“Your Majesty! I may be carrying your child. If this attack was planned by this Wife’s Family, what purpose would it serve for me to fulfill my duty as a Wife and help provide an heir for our glorious Nation?”
“Ha!” Jin Ai spat out a mocking laugh. “You think one night is enough to suddenly be with child? Your Highness, your own Mother is a physician. Surely you know better than that!”
“Who said it was just one night?” It was Jin Xiyan’s turn to put on one of Li Changyu’s signature smirks. “Brother-in-law, did you not point out that I have been in favor with His Majesty?”
A retching sound came from behind him. It was Li Yunxi, hunched over gagging. Li Yunmeng and Li Jiuxing were beside him, rubbing his back and fanning him lightly. Jin Xiyan knew he had to wrap this up quickly before things could carry on.
“Your Majesty!” he called again, “Please investigate this thoroughly so the Li Family is not wronged!” He bowed once more, this time on his knees, and he put his head to the ground.
Jin Xiyan heard the crunch of Li Guangzhu’s boots as they came up beside him. “Please, Your Majesty!”
Li Guangzhu joined him to kneel. A chorus followed amongst the Li’s to ask for a thorough investigation. Before Li Yunxi had to contribute, Li Changyu silenced everyone with a raised hand. Jin Xiyan lifted his head to look at Li Changyu. He was confused at the slightly misty look in Li Changyu’s eyes as he stared down at him.
“Yes, yes, of course!” Li Changyu pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes. “Zhen does not wish for any more talk of this. As for the investigation…” Li Changyu dropped his hand and zeroed in on Zhang Wenru. “Dear Uncle, Zhen trusts that you are capable.”
Zhang Wenru hesitated, but bowed. “…Yes, Your Majesty. Of course.”
“Dismissed, all of you!” Li Changyu turned with a flick of his sleeve, but he stumbled a step and was caught by the physician. Everyone in the area bowed low at his departure, and no one dared to move until Li Changyu had gone into the nearest tent flanked by the physician and Su Ao.
Jin Xiyan sat up, and Li Guangzhu sighed and did the same. The Eldest Li Brother looked at Jin Xiyan with an arched brow.
“Well, Baby Brother…” Li Guangzhu’s eyes strayed down to Jin Xiyan’s belly. “I guess it is time for some nourishing soup?”
I seriously suspected ZW & JA.. These 2 bastards really find a way to throw the Li family in trouble. Thank you for the update although my heart is aching for them
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Do you think ZW and JA are working together?
Yes and that bitch QY is suspicious too.. Anyway, I hope u are well now
I am very well. I hope the mystery plot will continue to entertain!
Ahhh my heart will continue to ache..😭
Domino!! I haven’t even read it yet, I’m just happy to see you back 😀
<3 I have been away to Germany to help with the refugee relief and do some studying. I also got a few injuries while there and had to recuperate. But I am back baby!
😳 Got more than a little Li Changyu in you huh? I’m in awe, truly. Just, please be careful with yourself 😉. So glad to have our tormenter back online. I was getting complacent.
ugh i can’t wait for the truth to be revealed. i just know it’s the uncle, the cousin, and that white haired other wife working together. they’re all so annoying!!!! 😤
But are they reeeeally? 🧐 Hehe! I will never tell.
Wew.. that was actually intense. LCY is so cool. He is an emperor material. Sigh.
Thanks for the update!
You are welcome! I am glad everyone loves LCY fighting. We sure know JXY does.
Thanks for the chapter ♥️♥️
You are very welcome! I hope you enjoyed <3
thanks for the update, happy that you are coming back
Thank you for reading! I hope it is enjoyable, and I am happy to be back!
Maybe tormenter is a harsh word. That was so beautiful! They are so good together when their lives are in danger, and Jin Xiyan learned Li Changyu’s smirk – right after dreaming about it…hey🤔. Li Yunxi 😂.
Tormenter is good! I know I act like I hate putting readers through pain but…😇 and yes I think everyone can appreciate Li Yunxi and Li Jiuxing as MVPs. I hope the action was okay and easy to follow? It is hard going from showing and telling in a good balance!
Yes, from the moment Xiyan thinks he’s being cuddled up until the Li family comes (that scream for help is the definition of heart wrenching!) I found it easy to follow. I also thought, if Li Beidou is the rock of the family, Li Jiuxing is the playground ball.
THAT IS A VERY ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF LI JIUXING
Thanks for the chapter ❤️❤️
Thank you for reading!
Ah hum. Su Ao disheveled dress and little red marks on his neck ? Did the mosquitoes attack this overzealous servant?
Welcome back! Glad your safe.
Teehee! We know what Su Ao was up to.
Thank you very much <2
Welcome back and thanks for the chapter.
You are very welcome and I love that cat!!
That’s my princess Orio, she’s a spoilt thing.
Awwwww!!!
I wonder if the mist in LCY’s eyes after that speech were because JXY finally stood up for him or because he knows he can’t birth an heir to the empire. Also I loved the fighting scenes so much, because of them this became my favorite chapter of the whole novel! I’m so glad you gave us so much detail of it.
P.S it seems JXY is developing some kind of kink seeing LCY fight and kill people
😶😅
I am glad your heart is changing a little towards the Emperor! I will reveal the truth that LCY was sad because he assumes he is infertile now.
Also, I will reveal that yes, our Emperor likes his Warrior Empress very much.
Thank you! I’m glad i managed to figure out some stuff, i like when novels make me think hard and this one does it for sure!
We appreciate readers like you! 🙏
It’s okay bebe Jin we know baby Li is the real dom in this relationship and that he was probably turned on when you said you were possibly pregnant with his kid😔❤ siiigh young love and how dumb baby Jin Is when someone whispers to you to roll when they say you don’t turn around to look you play dead till they say roll!!
I think everyone was turned on by Li Changyu
^-^ you’re still sus amazing writer person but yes yes they were!😤
Estaba extrañando esta novela. Nunca hubiera imaginado que estabas ayudando al pueblo de Ucrania. Aquí en Argentina, la guerra se ve tan lejana. Te felicito por tu solidaridad y celebro que estés bien. Volviendo a la novela, JXY y LCG están uniéndose cada vez más luego de tantas intrigas. Thanks for the chapter!🥰😍
¡Gracias! Antes de convertirme en arqueólogo, trabajé en medicina como técnico de emergencias médicas. Mi clase de posgrado y yo queríamos pasar nuestras vacaciones de primavera haciendo lo que pudiéramos para ayudar. ¡Estoy feliz de estar en casa y escribir de nuevo!