The Blood Crown - Chapter 131

Having understood all this, Yan Sikong became increasingly angry and worried. The steward had already accepted the gift. If he were to return it, it would be a blatant insult to Xie Zhongren. Moreover, the news of him accepting the gift must have already spread throughout the capital by now.

At this point, he had no choice but to adapt. On one hand, the gift must be returned. On the other hand, he had to personally go to apologize to Xie Zhongren. This was exactly the trap that eunuch had set for him, giving him a reason to meet privately and probe him further.

Yan Sikong’s deep-set eyes shone with an icy, peculiar light in the darkness, and his fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds. With the situation as it was, it was time to confront his archenemy face to face…

—

Early the next morning, Yan Sikong, accompanied by Ali, arrived at the mansion bestowed upon him by the Emperor. He kicked open the door and strode into the courtyard.

In the spacious courtyard, there were a dozen or so large, lacquered red and gold-trimmed nanmu wood chests arranged in order.

The gatekeeper followed behind, timidly calling out “Young Master” as he faced the sullen Yan Sikong and the tall, burly, and fierce-looking Ali.

“Bring Zhao Feng to me,” Yan Sikong commanded, his voice low but authoritative.

“Yes, sir…”

The gatekeeper had barely taken a few steps when the steward Zhao Feng, accompanied by two servants, hurried over. Seeing Yan Sikong from afar, he bowed deeply. “Young Master has returned. This old servant failed to welcome you from afar.”

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes at him. As expected of a eunuch, his hypocritical manner was even more repulsive than the palace eunuchs. It made one sick.

This Zhao Feng was originally a eunuch in the Imperial Horse Supervisory Office and was bestowed upon Yan Sikong along with the mansion. Yan Sikong had long suspected him to be Xie Zhongren’s man, but he hadn’t expected him to be so bold.

Yan Sikong said coldly, “Seize this treacherous servant.”

Zhao Feng’s expression changed, clearly not expecting Yan Sikong to be so aggressive, completely disregarding Xie Zhongren’s face. He quickly knelt on the ground, pleading, “Young Master, please calm down. This old servant thought you never refused congratulatory gifts, and in a moment of confusion, accepted it on your behalf. This old servant meant no harm, please calm down.”

Yan Sikong sneered, “Zhao Feng, you have served in the palace for thirty years and have seen more events than I have seen sunrises. Do you not know the limits when accepting gifts? Even if you are confused, as a servant, you should know the greatest taboo is acting on your own. You must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall to dare accept gifts for me!”

“Young Master, please calm down. This old servant was confused, truly confused.”

Despite Zhao Feng’s humble attitude and repeated kowtows, Yan Sikong could clearly see that there was no fear in his eyes. One reason was that Yan Sikong was young, and the other was that Zhao Feng relied on being a reward from the Emperor and having Xie Zhongren as his backer, assuming Yan Sikong wouldn’t dare harm him.

“That is just one issue,” Yan Sikong continued, “I ordered you to guard the congratulatory gifts personally, not letting a single coin go missing, yet you left them unattended in the courtyard overnight. Do you even consider me your master?!”

“Ah, this old servant is getting old and was too tired last night. Young Master, please calm down.”

Yan Sikong shouted sternly, “Seize him!”

The servants exchanged looks but dared not move.

Zhao Feng also sneaked glances at Yan Sikong, clearly not taking him seriously.

Yan Sikong gave Ali a look, and Ali immediately rushed forward, grabbing Zhao Feng off the ground with the ease of lifting a chicken. He then took the red silk tied to the wooden chest and bound Zhao Feng’s hands with it.

Zhao Feng truly panicked. “Young Master, Young Master, this old servant was momentarily confused. Please, don’t hold a grudge against me.”

Yan Sikong said coldly, “As a household servant, you dare to act against your master and show no respect for me. If I don’t punish you, you will become even more arrogant.”

“I dare not, Young Master, please calm your anger,” Zhao Feng pleaded anxiously. “This old servant is a man rewarded by His Majesty. I beg you, for the sake of His Majesty and Eunuch Xie, spare me.”

Mentioning Xie Zhongren made Yan Sikong even more furious. It was because Zhao Feng was a man bestowed by the Emperor that he couldn’t simply send him away, nor could he let him off easily. Otherwise, once he moved into the new residence, he would be harboring a snake that watched his every move. He roared, “It is precisely because you are a man rewarded by His Majesty that I must be fair in rewards and punishments. Otherwise, when the princess marries into this house, seeing such lawlessness and lack of authority, how can I explain myself to her or to His Majesty? Ali, bring the family discipline rods, twenty strikes!”

Ali immediately went to fetch the bamboo rods.

Zhao Feng realized that Yan Sikong was determined to make an example of him and became genuinely scared, crying and begging for mercy.

Ali, holding the rods in hand, walked over with large strides. The courtyard was already filled with household members, none daring to breathe loudly. Ali, ignoring Zhao Feng’s pleas, raised the bamboo rods high and brought them down on Zhao Feng’s back and waist.

Though a punishment by rod, the family discipline rods were different from those used in the court or military. These bamboo rods were thin and flexible, causing extreme pain but only injuring the skin and flesh.

With nowhere to hide, Zhao Feng screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Yan Sikong stood aside, watching expressionlessly.

The bamboo rods struck not only Zhao Feng’s body but also symbolically hit Xie Zhongren’s face. This act served to intimidate Zhao Feng and any other disloyal servants in the household, and it was also a form of revenge against Xie Zhongren. Since he had to personally return the congratulatory gifts and would inevitably suffer humiliation, he couldn’t let this opportunity pass in vain.

After twenty strikes, Zhao Feng had fainted from the pain.

Yan Sikong didn’t spare him a glance and ordered, “Load up these congratulatory gifts. Wherever they came from yesterday, take them back today. Ali, go with them.”

Ali nodded.

The servants, bowing their heads in fear, responded in unison, “Yes, sir.”

Without hesitation, Yan Sikong turned and left. He was now heading to the palace, to voluntarily meet that man he had never spoken a word to or faced directly—Xie Zhongren, the most powerful eunuch of the Da Sheng Dynasty, the treacherous villain who deserved a thousand deaths, and the enemy he most wished to tear apart alive!

Walking through corridors and around pavilions, Yan Sikong, led by a young palace eunuch, arrived at the private courtyard in the palace bestowed upon Xie Zhongren by the Emperor. Whether the Emperor knew it or not, Xie Zhongren had three residences within the city.

After the young eunuch went in to announce his arrival, he led Yan Sikong inside.

Despite his anxiousness all the way, the moment Yan Sikong stepped over the threshold, his heart pounded even harder, his mind went blank, and he could feel cold sweat sliding down his back, even though it was early winter.

It was hatred and fear, not of Xie Zhongren himself, but of the painful memories associated with him.

Thirteen years had passed. The boy who had sworn revenge back then had grown into a resolute young man. Now, at this moment, he was finally going to face his enemy, the nightmare that had haunted him for thirteen years.

In his sight, there appeared the old man with gray hair and beard, but with eyes as sharp and cold as a hawk’s. He walked steadily, his probing gaze brazenly scanning Yan Sikong, as if seeing through him at a glance.

Yan Sikong felt his breath catch, and it was as if the blood in his body had been drained, leaving him shivering with cold.

Xie! Zhong! Ren!