Chapter 1568: The Regent King Pampers Me Too Much—What Should I Do? 37

When Xie Zhiwei reached the palace where Jin Chen was staying, he was still discussing with the Ministry of Rites officials how to arrange the residences of various consorts after expanding the harem.

"Since they have entered the palace to serve, I cannot show favoritism; the Empress goes every month, and the others…… I will show favor to them." Jin Chen said solemnly.

"Yes, yes…… Imperial Noble Consort Yu currently holds the highest rank; as the head of a palace, should other consorts be arranged to live with her?" The Ministry of Rites official felt inexplicably colder and, not knowing why, trembled as he asked.

"No, Imperial Noble Consort Yu was the first to enter the palace; he should have privileges, so let him move into the palace nearest to my Bihua Palace."

Jin Chen lightly tapped the low table with his finger, then casually picked a pleasing name from here, saying, "I think this person is not bad; promote them!"

Ministry of Rites official: "……"

What on earth has stimulated His Majesty!

In just half a day, the number of enfeoffments will exceed what the late emperor accomplished in his entire lifetime!

Xie Zhiwei listened at the doorway for a long time, his gloom growing thicker; whether or not Jin Chen was angry with him, once the Ministry of Rites officials left, even offhand remarks would become reality.

By then, returning from the temporary palace, what awaits Jin Chen will be the entire harem's consorts!

Xie Zhiwei walked in slowly, his steps silent yet heavy; immediately the main gate shut tight and the windows slammed shut.

The Ministry of Rites official was startled by him, hastily bowed, and in the next second the document in his hand was taken by Xie Zhiwei.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Xie Zhiwei's slanted eyes full of gloom, his tone icy.

"Little Imperial Uncle is here."

Jin Chen smiled at him, twirling his brush a few times, and said casually, "You've been in the court for long; you surely understand the officials' relations better—why don't you help me pick a few more?"

Xie Zhiwei was about to go mad from Jin Chen's attitude.

All the people in these portraits are future consorts; what is he, then?

Could it be that in the days to come, he too must stand like them, waiting each month for Jin Chen's favor?

Just thinking that someone might take away Jin Chen's affection for him, Xie Zhiwei wouldn't even bother selecting—he wished to let the Dark Dragon Army secretly kill everyone in the portraits.

"Get out." Xie Zhiwei said low, full of repression.

The Ministry of Rites official, as if pardoned, didn't even bother to take the unfinished investiture documents, scrambling out of the palace, sighing repeatedly in his heart.

No wonder His Majesty suddenly wants to take in so many consorts—it turns out he quarreled with the prince!!

Summer thunderstorms are common, coming and going quickly; in a moment they cover the sky, the downpour pours forth, and thunder rumbles.

The hall grew dim again, with no palace maids coming to light the candles.

Jin Chen sat behind the table, looking up at Xie Zhiwei with a smile that was icy and deep‑meaning; when lightning split the sky, light streamed through the wind‑blown window lattice, illuminating them—showing Jin Chen clearly smiling, yet his brows and eyes were extremely cold.

"Little Imperial Uncle, why aren't you speaking? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Shut up, don't say more!"

Xie Zhiwei coldly cut off Jin Chen's provocation, strode a few steps to approach the seated person, and fiercely swept his sleeve, scattering the scrolls and ink across the table.

"What exactly…… are you trying to do?"

He knelt on one knee on the low table, leaned forward, his anger more evident than his sorrow, gritted his teeth and asked: "Why must you provoke me like this?"

Jin Chen leaned forward slightly, lightly stroking Xie Zhiwei's somewhat disheveled hair, his smile gone, and said indifferently: "In what capacity are you speaking to me, Little Imperial Uncle—or are you still the Xie Zhiwei who promised to be with me for a lifetime?"

"You forced me to take an empress; now that this breach is open, why bother caring whether there are others?"

The howling wind and rain blew into the hall; Xie Zhiwei, lying face up, felt faint chills, far less than the great trembling in his heart.

Jin Chen suddenly pulled, and Xie Zhiwei fell into his embrace—but it lacked former tenderness, instead becoming tense and confrontational due to Xie Zhiwei's resistance.

After several rounds of entanglement, Xie Zhiwei knelt on Jin Chen's thigh, gripping his wrist and pressing it backward; though it seemed Jin Chen was at a disadvantage, Xie Zhiwei's expression was fragile to the extreme, almost on the verge of tears.

Jin Chen saw this, frowned slightly, moved his hand from gripping the back of the neck to caressing Xie Zhiwei's waist a few times, and said, "All right, let go."

In an instant, Xie Zhiwei's waist went limp reflexively, and he collapsed powerlessly into Jin Chen's arms; the fleeting warmth and comfort made him instantly crumble, the wound in his heart gnawed by jealousy and sorrow festering and throbbing—something no mere embrace could smooth over.

He drew a deep breath, his serpent‑like arms tightly coiling around Jin Chen's neck, his dark robes soaked by the blowing rain and clinging to his body: "You can't do this…… you can't let others take you away, you can't treat me like this……"

Xie Zhiwei seemed to be pleading, his choked voice thick with deep obsession, as if losing the ability to speak amid emotional turmoil, his damp face buried in Jin Chen's neck repeating the words just spoken.

"Then tell me the reason, no lying." Jin Chen said low, glancing at the window blown open by the wind, seeing the lotus pond outside in chaotic sway, then after a moment lowered his eyes and ignored it.

Xie Zhiwei's tears flowed even more fiercely.

He leaned against Jin Chen's shoulder, trembling slightly, his speech broken into fragments: "The divine medicine is useless…… between you and me, only one can live."

In ten years, he must enable Jin Chen to control as much of the realm as possible, so that later he will not be left isolated and helpless.

Surely, that is the reason.

Jin Chen's heart sank, his expression grew solemn; he frowned, lifted the person in his arms to face him, and asked, "What are you going to do?"

He wiped the tears from Xie Zhiwei's eyes, foreheads touching, and said, "Don't hide it from me—what are you going to do?"

Xie Zhiwei forced a smile, lightly rubbing his palm, concealing the part about abolishing martial arts, and merely said: "Xian Ming says I can still live ten years."

Jin Chen: "My blood……" "You can't bleed anymore." Xie Zhiwei raised a hand to touch his heart, "Your constitution is worsening; further bleeding will kill you."

{Ling Gun Gun. }

{……wuwuwu Host, don't rush, the progress is fast, fast! You've been infusing spiritual power these past few nights; soon the materials will be ready to synthesize the pill! Absolutely no need for ten years! }

Jin Chen held him, his deep gaze probing Xie Zhiwei's eyes, turned his body to block the rain drifting in through the window, lightly kissed the glistening tear‑streaked corners of his eyes, eliciting a soft moan from Xie Zhiwei, whose body in his arms grew even softer.

"Believe me, there will be a way."

"We can both survive, stay together for a lifetime, don't do foolish things behind my back."

Xie Zhiwei's eyes were alluring and hazy, unsure whether to believe or not; he shed his outer garment and clung to Jin Chen relentlessly, desperately needing affection to prove Jin Chen wouldn't be taken by another, as if trapped in his own obstinacy.

"Your Majesty…… Jin Chen…"

The icy rain and scorching skin merged; Xie Zhiwei trembled, a watery red rose in his eyes—a sickly, nearly dignity‑losing invitation for favor.

…

{Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 100! }

{Detected Villain Blackening Value +5, total 30! }