Chapter 1549: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much, What Should I Do 18

Xie Zhiwei was the one who, after the smooth flow of qi, suddenly regained his rationality and composure.

Jin Chen, however, felt that his reaction wasn't like 'regaining' composure; it was as if he had been placed into an emotionless, desireless shell, habitually suppressing all emotions and thoughts, merely acting as a cold, indifferent Regent Prince.

Only such extreme asceticism could drive the soul to madness.

Thus, aside from drinking blood in the middle of each month, Xie Zhiwei, trapped in that detached shell, finds it hard to respond to emotions.

It seems finding that medicine is now imminent!

The next day, at the Regent Prince's Mansion.

"Master, yesterday Noble Attendant Yu left the Imperial Study, and I, following your orders, went to capture him, but before I could act, he was taken away by Your Majesty's people."

The Heavenly Hidden Guard knelt, clasped his fists, and replied: "Even today, Noble Attendant Yu has not shown his face."

Xie Zhiwei wore only a crimson robe, snorted at the reply, and his narrow phoenix eyes flashed with icy jealousy.

"Yu Huayao, you are indeed favored."

"Does Your Majesty not even give him a chance to approach?"

Xie Zhiwei absentmindedly touched his soon-to-scab collarbone; a slight press made blood seep out again, and the sharp pain brought him back to some composure.

"Where is Han Zhou?" Xie Zhiwei asked casually while wiping blood from his fingers.

"In the side courtyard." The Heavenly Hidden Guard hesitated slightly, then said, "Master, Han Zhou is on the verge of death."

"Isn't he not dead yet?"

Xie Zhiwei slowly rose, his voice soft yet full of killing intent: "If Mu Zhengzheng doesn't come to save him, that would be boring."

He paved the way for Your Majesty, not to be a wedding dress for Mu Zhengzheng; this person… will eventually be eliminated.

——

Yu Huayao clung to his knees in fear, having spent nearly a day and night in this large, dilapidated courtyard, yet no one told him what had actually happened.

After a night passed, he went from being unable to reveal the commandery prince and his father no matter who had kidnapped him, to desperately hoping someone would come.

"Noble Attendant Yu, I have seen Noble Attendant Yu."

Liu Feng entered with several guards, his expression respectful.

"You… you are Your Majesty's personal guard…" Upon realizing this, Yu Huayao lost all color in his face, "Your Majesty…"

"Your Majesty already knows your purpose for entering the palace." Liu Feng slightly raised his hand, placed a dagger at Yu Huayao's throat, forced him to open his mouth, and made him swallow a poison pill.

"If you serve Your Majesty henceforth, hand over your behind-the-scenes mastermind and the codes of your correspondence, and you may continue living as your attendant; otherwise…"

Yu Huayao trembled with fear, trying to dig the poison out of his throat to no avail, "What otherwise…"

"You will suffer intestines tearing and stomach rotting, yet not die, enduring endless agony, wasting away in this Cold Palace for a lifetime."

"No… I don't want… I don't want!" Yu Huayao's palace robes were dirtied, he lost all pride, "I serve Your Majesty… spare me…"

Only then did Liu Feng take out another medicine bottle from his sleeve and put the dagger away.

"This antidote will last you until next month; take it, Noble Attendant Yu." Liu Feng satisfiedly helped him up, carefully brushed off the dirt, "Look at you, in such a sorry state, how can you serve Your Majesty?"

Yu Huayao shuddered, left only with fear, and again heard Liu Feng's reminder: "Remember, you can only be loyal to Your Majesty."

Yu Huayao caught the meaning, recalled yesterday's hostility from the Regent Prince toward him, stirred his thoughts, and slowly nodded.

"Today… my father will send a letter." Yu Huayao said in a hoarse voice, "I will fetch it and present it to Your Majesty."

"In that case, Noble Attendant Yu, please proceed; I will personally escort you." The guards brought by Liu Feng opened the Cold Palace's main gate.

While Jin Chen examined the letter, the freshly cleaned Yu Huayao quietly accompanied him in the Azure Splendor Hall, telling him everything Mu Zhengzheng and the Grand Tutor had told him in full detail.

"Your Majesty, I, your attendant, know only this much." Yu Huayao knelt, performed the salute, but dared not rise.

Jin Chen hummed, "The hairpin."

"What?" Yu Huayao looked up at him in surprise.

"The hairpin, return it."

"... Yes." Yu Huayao replied bitterly, presenting the hairpin he had cherished like a treasure.

"Your Majesty, the Commandery Prince requests an audience." Gao Kun announced from outside the hall.

Jin Chen calmly set aside the letter, patted the seat beside him, and Yu Huayao cautiously sat down, not daring to move.

When he lifted his eyes to see Mu Zhengzheng hurrying in, Jin Chen was all smiles.

"Cousin, why have you come today?"

Mu Zhengzheng kept thinking of the missing Han Zhou, merely glanced at Yu Huayao, then knelt and performed the salute.

"I pay my respects, Your Majesty." Mu Zhengzheng said solemnly, "I beg Your Majesty to decide for me."

Jin Chen looked at him in surprise, "What do you mean by 'decide'?"

"My beloved attendant Han Zhou, whom you have seen." Mu Zhengzheng clenched his fists, his voice hoarse, "He has gone missing."

Han Zhou would often disappear for about half an hour without reason at the Assembly; Mu Zhengzheng only recently discovered he was Xie Zhiwei's man, yet he was unwilling to let go, only wishing Han Zhou would return to serve him.

After this disappearance, Mu Zhengzheng's first suspicion fell on Xie Zhiwei, but if he now rushed to confront Xie Zhiwei directly, it would be tantamount to throwing his own plans into chaos and losing everything.

He and his strategists had painstakingly prepared a year-long plan, which could not be allowed to come to naught, yet he equally could not bear to lose Han Zhou.

Weighing the two, Mu Zhengzheng could only settle for second best, going to the Young Emperor to search Xie Zhiwei's mansion.

"I dare suspect… that the Regent Prince is behind this, and I implore Your Majesty to decide for me."

Jin Chen rubbed the faint bite mark left on his web of thumb yesterday, lowered his eyes, and pondered.

It must be that Xie Zhiwei summoned him back.

But at this critical juncture, with no village ahead nor shop behind, Xie Zhiwei must also be scheming in secret, wondering what to do after summoning Han Zhou back.

"Never mind, I'll accompany you on this." Jin Chen rose, flicked his sleeves, merely solemn: "But if it isn't the Regent Prince, Cousin, you'll have to apologize to him yourself."

"I understand."

Only then did Mu Zhengzheng have the mood to observe Yu Huayao; seeing his listless expression and a hint of surprise, the next second he heard Jin Chen tell Yu Huayao, "You've kept me company for a day and night; you're tired, go rest."

Yu Huayao almost lost his balance, hastily nodded and hurried away.

So that's how it is. Mu Zhongzheng finally felt relieved and followed behind Jin Chen as they left the Bihua Hall.