Chapter 1538: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much, What Should I Do? 07

Jin Chen couldn't shift his gaze, forced to watch the battle on the stage.

General Chong Hua was the previous martial Top Scholar, but even so, facing the Dark Dragon Army soldiers he was still no match, suffering constant defeats, and his visible wounds kept increasing, a sight that shocked onlookers.

At the final moment, a Dark Dragon Army soldier smashed half of General Chong Hua's face with a fierce punch, threw him away like trash, and he died on the spot.

Jin Chen cooperatively took a deep breath, and a warm hand suddenly covered his eyes; Xie Zhiwei whispered by his ear, "Your Majesty, are you afraid?"

I only asked if you were scared after I finished watching, then I said you're messed up.

"I... I'm a little afraid of blood..."

Jin Chen lightly placed his hand on Xie Zhiwei's, his voice involuntarily trembling, "Little Royal Uncle, why are you determined to... kill him?"

"The Dark Dragon Army's investigation shows General Chong Hua is skilled at taming beasts, especially fierce tigers." Xie Zhiwei said, his gaze falling on the back of their overlapped hands with the little emperor, his tone softening.

Jin Chen realized: "Little Royal Uncle is doing this to avenge me."

He suddenly seemed unafraid, hooking his arm and lunging into Xie Zhiwei's embrace, "Oh, that's how it is, thank you, Little Royal Uncle."

Xie Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat; the rich sandalwood scent that assailed him was so intense it was hard to resist.

When did Your Majesty learn to act so spoiled, clinging even more than in childhood?

Thinking this, Xie Zhiwei unconsciously drew his arms in; the fresh, cold fragrance intertwined with the sandalwood scent, the slightly gloomy bitter note instantly dispelled, merging into an inseparable warm undertone.

"But why didn't you say so, Little Royal Uncle? They'll misunderstand." Jin Chen asked, burying his face in his embrace.

"They" refers to the officials kneeling in fear below the stage; Xie Zhiwei lazily held the little emperor in his arms, lightly stroking the black hair at his neck, and actually didn't care at all.

"Whether they misunderstand is their business; they dare not cause a scene before me."

Below the stage, there are always disapproving eyes watching the young emperor and the Regent Prince's intimate embrace; they are indeed frightened, yet they also dare not say more.

"No, if the officials misunderstand, it will affect Little Royal Uncle's prestige at court." Jin Chen spoke convincingly, then quickly summoned Liu Feng, who stood nearby: "General Chong Hua tamed fierce beasts to plot against me; since he died today at the hands of the Dark Dragon Army, we shall waive the punishment of exterminating his nine clans, and his family members will all be exiled to the frontier."

"Subordinate obeys."

Just after Jin Chen finished his orders, he turned his head to see Xie Zhiwei lazily propping his head up, his fingers still hooked around a strand of Jin Chen's hair, though his eyes were like pine needles—dark and sharp, flickering with a subtle smile.

"Your Majesty has indeed grown up, now more composed and ruthless than before." Xie Zhiwei's tone was indeterminate, impossible to tell if he was pleased or angry; clearly he was being more affectionate than just moments ago, yet filled with a chilling gloom.

"If it were the former you, you would surely not dare to say such a thing as exiling someone to the frontier."

The fingertips hooked in the black hair again stroked Jin Chen's exceptionally well-kept face, as if caressing yet also probing.

Touching it is useless; I am genuinely the real deal!

Jin Chen allowed him to touch, still somewhat frightened as he leaned into the handsome royal uncle's embrace, "I... don't want to always be a good-for-nothing."

"With Little Royal Uncle around, I won't be in any danger to my life." Jin Chen firmly believed this.

Xie Zhiwei deliberately avoided thinking about the reason behind those words; he simply enjoyed the little emperor assassin's reliance, which was completely different from previous years.

"I will surely protect you completely." Xie Zhiwei let out a light sigh, seeing the officials, upon hearing the truth, suddenly enlightened; even their gaze toward him lacked the former fear.

Everything the little emperor did was actually for him.

But... the surface is like that; I hope his heart is the same.

His fingertip traced Jin Chen's most vulnerable neck skin; Xie Zhiwei stared blankly for a few seconds, then, disregarding the gazes of all the officials below the stage, personally carried him back.

Jin Chen first tried to struggle a bit; even though on this martial continent where the average lifespan is two hundred years, a twenty-year-old who has just come of age is still young, he didn't truly believe he could comfortably be a child!

However, the struggle was futile; Jin Chen could only lie back and enjoy it. 【Sub... submissive.】 Ling Gun Gun muttered quietly.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -5, total 75!】

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 15!】

——

Jin Chen naturally knew that his words and deeds that day would arouse Xie Zhiwei's suspicion, but after all he couldn't forever remain a clueless little good-for-nothing; he needed Xie Zhiwei to gradually adapt to his changes.

But he hadn't expected Xie Zhiwei's probing to be even more ruthless.

The imperial hunt had at last passed without danger; on the day of returning to the palace, Jin Chen had just boarded the emperor's carriage when he saw Mu Zhengzheng hurrying with Han Zhou, rushing after him.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

Mu Zhengzheng's voice was truly loud; even if Jin Chen wanted to ignore it, he couldn't.

Thus the carriage curtain was lifted again, and Jin Chen poked his head out, "Cousin, don't you need to rest your injuries today?"

You know, since that day when he patrolled the mountains together with the Dark Dragon Army, Mu Zhengzheng fell seriously ill, and only in the past two days has he barely recovered.

Mu Zhengzheng gritted his teeth and ignored the remark, still maintaining a gentle appearance, handing over the fluffy creature in his arms, "Your Majesty, look, I discovered in the cave an extremely tame little lion."

What medicine is he selling in the gourd again?

Jin Chen glanced at him without leaving a trace, then looked at the soft, cute lion cub, seeing nothing unusual.

Perhaps he came again to bribe; Jin Chen spoke, telling the guards who wanted to block him to step back, and he held the lion cub in his arms, "Thank you, cousin, I really like it."

"The other day it was my negligence; it's fine as long as Your Majesty isn't angry." Seeing Xie Zhiwei approaching, Mu Zhengzheng didn't want to run into that dog official again, so he gave the lion to Jin Chen and made an excuse to leave.

"Han Zhou, did you notice anything just then?" After Mu Zhengzheng walked away, he asked the youth behind him, pulling him to walk side by side toward the commandery prince's carriage, his tone full of trust.

"Your Majesty also has a birthmark on the back of the hand; perhaps the master is overthinking." Han Zhou replied, without pulling his hand free from Mu Zhengzheng's grasp.

"Then how could Jin Chen have changed so much lately... could it be that what Lord Song said is true?"

Mu Zhengzheng muttered in confusion, then simply decided to keep this matter in mind, and later, when the opportunity arises, slowly test it.

"The matter of Jin Chen closing his doors for three days every mid-month—how has your investigation gone?" Mu Zhengzheng asked again.

Han Zhou's steps halted; he suddenly knelt and clasped his fists: "I am incapable; the emperor's affairs are entirely monitored by the Dark Dragon Army, and my informants inside the palace cannot get close."

Mu Zhengzheng stared for a moment, his face full of helplessness as he pulled Han Zhou up, "Alright, I don't blame you."

He bent down to dust off Han Zhou's sleeves, then naturally took the young guard's hand and brought him onto the carriage.

"How many times have I told you, don't treat yourself as a guard in front of me."

Han Zhou lowered his head to glance at his own hand, slowly nodded, and whispered in agreement: "Subordinate... understands."