Chapter 1537: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much, What Should I Do? 06

Your Majesty, do not be afraid; Miss Chu is your subject, and guarding the carriage is only natural.

Xie Zhiwei spoke softly beside Jin Chen's ear with a calm tone, always walking ahead of him, 'Your Majesty, what did you just say to Miss Chu?'

Jin Chen pretended not to hear the latter half, raising his finger stained with mud and water, acting coquettishly, 'I am no longer afraid… I want to return to bathe and change clothes.'

'Right,' he tugged at Xie Zhiwei's sleeve and shook it, 'Little Imperial Uncle, remember to have the imperial physician bandage Miss Chu; her injury is quite serious.'

Xie Zhiwei's breath hitched; he really did not want to hear anything about Chu Qingqing from the little emperor again.

He grabbed the frail Jin Chen and slammed him against the tree trunk, nearly trapping him in his embrace, 'Your Majesty seems quite pleased with Miss Chu; are you impatient to make her empress?'

Jin Chen raised his brows slightly, finally revealing a hint of sharpness from his obedient exterior, 'Isn't this arranged by Little Imperial Uncle? I am merely learning to accept it.'

Your Majesty, are you blaming me?

... I dare not.

In the next instant, Jin Chen's chin was pinched and lifted, forcing him to meet Xie Zhiwei's dangerous gaze, 'Your Majesty, you are being disobedient again.'

You should regard Chu Qingqing as the one who silences the officials' murmurs, not as your future empress, understand?

Jin Chen let out a muffled groan, and as his breath rose and fell, his eyes instantly reddened, 'Pain…'

As if the fear of bloodletting had surged back, Jin Chen's recent reliance on him had vanished; he nodded weakly and uncomfortably, 'I understand…'

Then he retreated half a step, his back pressed against the tree trunk, trying to keep a distance from Xie Zhiwei that would allow him to breathe.

Release me… please…

Xie Zhiwei frowned deeply, his heartbeat seeming to skip a beat; he hastily let go, only then noticing he had left a glaring red mark.

Your Majesty…

When Xie Zhiwei raised his hand again, Jin Chen trembled uncontrollably, yet dared not resist.

Thus his fingertips merely smoothed the disheveled bangs on his forehead, and Xie Zhiwei avoided meeting that gaze filled with fear.

'Come, let me take Your Majesty back to bathe and rest.' Xie Zhiwei averted his gaze, took Jin Chen's hand and continued forward, for the first time regretting his decision.

It was truly wrong to let Jin Chen come into contact with Chu Qingqing.

This child has followed me since he was fourteen; how did I raise him, only to have him rely on someone else as a lifeline?

He absolutely will not allow it.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total now 10!】

Returning to the hunting grounds, Xie Zhiwei waited until the little emperor fell asleep before leaving the main tent; De Quan and one of the Dark Dragon Army's guards, An Jiu, waited outside the tent.

'Your Highness, that beast has been tamed before, but that beast medicine has never existed in the Central Plains; I still haven't discovered who did this.'

An Jiu returned the salute with clasped fists.

Xie Zhiwei gave a faint hum, 'Continue the investigation; whoever it is, no need to spare their life.'

Having said that, he glanced at De Quan again: 'Where is Chu Qingqing?'

'Your Highness, Miss Chu was wounded by a tiger and became infected, running a high fever, still unconscious.'

Have her return to the Secretary's residence tomorrow; she may not enter the palace without an imperial decree.

Yes.

Few people knew that the Emperor had almost gone missing; the officials and nobles who came to participate in the hunt cared nothing about whether they could see the Emperor, for the only person they wished to curry favor with was the Regent Prince.

Thus Jin Chen found himself idle again; these days he needed to nurture his frightened heart, aside from secretly meditating while asleep, he simply could not find any time to go out and train his body.

He also hardly ever saw the handsome prince, not knowing what Xie Zhiwei was up to, and for several days straight he saw no one.

When he had free time, Jin Chen closed his eyes to ponder; only about a week remained until mid-June, meaning he would have to be bled again.

That's not a matter either.

【Zero Egg, does the System Space have any medicine Xie Zhiwei can take?】

【We need to wait until mid-month to assess the Main God's specific symptoms before I can find the appropriate medicine, oh~】

Ling Gun Gun let out a sound and asked: '【What if there isn't any?】'

【If not, just let him drink pixiu blood.】

【!!!】

Having successfully frightened Zero Egg into withdrawing, Jin Chen summoned a maid to change his clothes; just as he stepped out of the main tent, he saw several officials hurrying over, their expressions hurried.

We officials pay our respects to Your Majesty.

Jin Chen immediately covered his mouth and coughed softly, 'What matter do you, my esteemed officials, wish to present?'

General Xuanwei knelt and replied, 'Your Majesty, in past years rewards were given after the hunt, but today I do not know what the Regent Prince is thinking, actually letting the top four warriors, General Chonghua and the Dark Dragon Army, compete in a martial arts duel on the stage!'

'General Chonghua is already exhausted from the hunt, yet sparring with the Dark Dragon Army might still turn to me… us… truly we are terrified! Please, Your Majesty, decide!'

Jin Chen raised his brows slightly, not knowing what the handsome prince was thinking again, 'Come on, I'll go with you to take a look.'

Outside the hunting ground's arena surrounded by guards, Xie Zhiwei sat elevated before the seats, leisurely watching General Chonghua being beaten back repeatedly by the Dark Dragon Army; his eyes suddenly flashed, fixing on the youth who stepped out from the corner.

'Your Majesty, how did you come here? Could it be that someone with ill intentions deliberately went to file a complaint?' Xie Zhiwei pulled Jin Chen to his side, lightly pinching his cool-feeling fingers, subtly scanning the officials present.

Jin Chen blocked his gaze, his tone somewhat stiff: 'It was I who wanted to come; Little Imperial Uncle wants to change the hunting rules—shouldn't you ask my opinion?'

'Your Majesty suffered a fright a few days ago; I merely wish for you to rest properly.'

Xie Zhiwei seemed not to notice his unease, 'Someone, grant Your Majesty a seat.'

Jin Chen glanced at the bruised and swollen warrior, really unable to fathom what he had done to provoke Xie Zhiwei, ending up beaten into such a sorry state.

'Your Majesty, do you know who this person is?' Xie Zhiwei pulled him down to sit and asked.

Jin Chen nodded, 'A fourth-rank military officer, General Chonghua.'

'Then Your Majesty, take good care of him; he's about to die.' Xie Zhiwei put his arm around his shoulder, the voice that sounded in his ear gentle and tender.