The Blood Crown - Chapter 241

Yan Sikong trembled as he unfolded the letter. Before he could even read it, the study door was forcefully slammed open with a loud bang.

Yan Sikong and Feng Ye locked eyes, frozen in place. Holding the letter from Feng Changyue in his hand, there were still scattered letters and documents around him that he hadn’t had time to tidy up.

Feng Ye narrowed his eyes dangerously. “What are you looking for?”

Yan Sikong’s chest rose and fell heavily. Having experienced countless storms in his life, he remained calm now. His tone was flat as he said, “Close the door.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Ye stared at Yan Sikong for a long moment before lifting his foot to kick the door shut.

Yan Sikong placed the letter on the desk. “I’m looking for the correspondence between General Feng and you.”

“Why?” Feng Ye coldly asked. “You better have a reasonable explanation.”

“Why don’t you guess?”

Feng Ye glanced out the window. Though he couldn’t see the large rosewood gift boxes, he was looking in the direction of the front yard. “Does it have anything to do with those congratulatory gifts?”

“Do you know what General Feng sent?”

“I haven’t had the chance to see yet.” Feng Ye said expressionlessly.

“Dragon and phoenix peony embroidered bedding, gold-engraved dragon sea water kettle, gold double dragon cup,” Yan Sikong fixed his gaze on Feng Ye’s eyes. “And the South Sea pearl.”

Feng Ye’s face remained unmoved, as if he had just heard a common restaurant menu instead of a list of gifts that could condemn an entire family.

Yan Sikong trembled all over. “Feng Ye, why did General Feng send you these things?”

Feng Ye smiled faintly. “Uncle has deeply benefited from my Feng family’s kindness, and now we rely on each other for survival. Since I’m about to get married, he naturally wants to send me the best.”

“These are things only fit for the emperor and empress’s wedding!” Yan Sikong gritted his teeth. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”

Feng Ye took a step forward, and Yan Sikong felt a chill surge through him, unable to stop himself from retreating in fear.

Feng Ye bent down, picking up some documents that had fallen to the floor and placed them back on the desk. “So, is this why you rushed to my study to search through boxes and cabinets to find letters from me and my uncle?” He sneered. “Your actions make it seem like you’re looking for evidence of my rebellion, but we’ve been plotting rebellion for almost two years now.”

Yan Sikong found the man before him so unfamiliar that he could hardly recognize him. The sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, wide forehead, straight nose, thin lips, and narrow chin—he had once drawn this face countless times with his hands, lips, and gaze. He knew he could never forget this extraordinarily handsome face, yet now, standing before him was a person he had never met before.

This person was so cold it sent a shiver through his heart.

Feng Ye saw the trembling in Yan Sikong and felt a twisted sense of pleasure rise within him. He chuckled softly. “Are you afraid of me? You once said you weren’t afraid. What about now?”

Yan Sikong clenched his fists and whispered, “Feng Ye, I questioned this before, and you denied it outright. You told me I shouldn’t doubt you. I didn’t want to doubt you easily, so even though I had suspicions, I didn’t dare to ask this question directly. But now, I’m asking, clearly and plainly, and I want you to answer me honestly.”

Feng Ye’s eyes were deep, and in the dim light, they seemed to glow with a faint green shimmer. His thin lips parted slightly. “Ask away.”

Yan Sikong’s lips trembled. “Do you want to be emperor?”

Feng Ye revealed a smile that made the skin crawl. “I don’t want to be emperor.”

Yan Sikong stared at him, stunned.

Feng Ye took another step forward, his presence as fierce as a wild beast. “But I will be emperor.”

[im sorry but that was hot]

Yan Sikong’s legs went weak(mine too), and he used all his strength to support himself, keeping his body from swaying. His heart felt as if it had been hollowed out in an instant, and he was consumed by a fear that tore at his very soul. He stared fixedly at Feng Ye. “So, you’ve been… lying to me all along?”

Feng Ye showed no sign of guilt. Instead, he calmly replied, “You’re angry, aren’t you? Angry, humiliated, full of hatred, unable to believe that you were so foolish, unable to believe that the one closest to you deceived you. You feel like you’re in a nightmare, trying to find all kinds of reasons to explain it, but in the end, you realize that nothing works. This is all real.” Feng Ye smiled faintly. “Why do I know this so well, do you want to guess? It’s all thanks to you.”

Yan Sikong felt as though his heart was being torn apart. “Are you… seeking revenge on me? Revenge for me deceiving you?”

“It started that way, but it’s not entirely that anymore,” Feng Ye said quietly, watching Yan Sikong. “Do you really think that after everything that happened back then, I would still be the naive and foolish young master? You’d better think that way. You’re too smart—some even say you’re the best strategist in the world. With you helping me, I can accomplish great things.”

Yan Sikong finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed into a chair, staring at Feng Ye in disbelief, as if he were looking at a wolf that was about to swallow him alive.

Feng Ye smiled and said, “Now, I command an army of 260,000 soldiers. The five cities of Qianzhou, Hetao, Datong, and Zhongyuan are all under my control. With the assistance of the wealthy and powerful King Yong, I am unstoppable. None can stand in my way. You’ve played a huge part in this.”

Yan Sikong could barely speak. “Feng Ye… you’ve been using me all along?”

“I used you. Haven’t you used me?” Feng Ye looked coldly at Yan Sikong. “Didn’t you want to use me to prop up Chen Mu, to control the court?”

Yan Sikong heard his own voice, as if it wasn’t his own. “So, you never intended for Chen Mu to ascend the throne. Everything you did was to make me useful to you, and you planned to usurp the throne under Chen Mu’s name?”

“Ridiculous!” Feng Ye said coldly. “I led the Feng family army into battle, risking my life, only to put someone else on the throne to command me? So that one day, when he has gained power, he could harm me just like that dog of an emperor killed my father?”

Yan Sikong’s eyes were empty as he stared at Feng Ye. The person before him was a stranger—he really didn’t recognize him. The man standing in front of him was a wolf king with ambitions to conquer the world, and his Feng Ye, the young master of Jingyuan, had truly vanished…

Feng Ye slowly walked up to Yan Sikong, bent down, and placed his long arm on the armrest, trapping Yan Sikong between his body and the chair. Looking down at him from above, he spoke in a cold, sinister tone, “I, Feng Ye, will rise above everything. Only by ruling the world, by commanding the empire, will I be able to protect myself and everything I want to protect. Do you understand?”

A surge of resentment rose in Yan Sikong’s chest. He grabbed Feng Ye’s collar, staring at him with bloodshot eyes. “You’ve been lying to me all along, from beginning to end. You used Chen Mu to stabilize me, to stabilize the lords of the world. You wouldn’t let me go, wouldn’t marry, just to create the illusion of deep affection, so I would wholeheartedly scheme for you!”

Feng Ye’s large hand covered Yan Sikong’s fist. He leaned closer to Yan Sikong’s face, speaking softly, “I did use Chen Mu to stabilize you and the vassal kings, but my feelings for you, my persistence all these years—doesn’t that say enough?”

“Feelings?” Yan Sikong laughed bitterly. “You’re unpredictable, paranoid, and jealous. Being by your side feels like walking on thin ice, always on edge. Feelings?”

Feng Ye tightened his grip on Yan Sikong’s hand, his words cold as ice: “I protected you, gave you fine clothes and food, and even though you once deceived me, used me, betrayed me, and abandoned me, I was still willing to trust you, get close to you, and give you military power. You married early, had children, and besides you, I’ve never touched anyone else. Taking a wife and concubines was just a matter of course. My feelings for you, Yan Sikong, are as deep as loyalty can go.”

Yan Sikong’s eyes were red, his nose burning, struggling to control his emotions. “So, in your heart, these days we’ve spent together after our reunion… are nothing but your ‘favor’ to me?”

Feng Ye spoke with a menacing sneer, “Isn’t it? You deceived me, you wronged me!” He said in a low voice, “So, everything you’ve done for me today is something you owe me. But I won’t wrong you. In the future, when I ascend to the throne and unite the world, you can go fulfill your ideals of governing and peace. Reform the laws, issue decrees, and create a court with no corruption and a peaceful world. Isn’t that more worthy of your support than Chen Mu?”

Yan Sikong choked on his words, “Feng Ye, have you lost your mind after all your victories? Let alone the alliance with the court and Chen Mu, do you think you can even survive? Even if you do manage to break into the capital, from the moment you declare yourself emperor, the lords will rise in revolt, and the world will be in chaos. The Eight Kings of the Western Jin, the split of the empire, the weakening of the nation, the decay of the people, and the invasion of foreign tribes—it wreaked havoc and slaughtered China for over a hundred years. Have you thought about the common people?”

“Don’t pretend to be righteous!” Feng Ye gritted his teeth. “You will stop at nothing to achieve your goals. Didn’t you start this war?”

“I started the war to cleanse the festering wound, to break and rebuild. It wasn’t to destroy the entire empire!” Yan Sikong’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “If you usurp the throne, have you thought about how future generations will write about you?”

Feng Ye sneered, “Thieves who steal a hook are executed, but those who steal a country become lords. Once I hold the pen, I’ll write it however I want.”

“You’re insane…”

“I won’t let the lords rally, and I won’t let the barbarians invade,” Feng Ye stared directly into Yan Sikong’s eyes. “And how to achieve this, that depends on you. Aren’t you extremely smart? If you really care about the people, care about the empire, then help me secure the nation, and I’ll sit steadily on the throne, while the vassal kings submit to me.” With that, he released Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong slumped into the chair, his hands red and sore from being gripped by Feng Ye, yet he didn’t even notice.

Feng Ye adjusted his own clothes, then straightened Yan Sikong’s, bending down once more to softly kiss his lips. “I told you, I’ll treat you well. As long as you help me, I’ll treat you better than anyone else. We’ll always be together, sharing the world. Isn’t that perfect?”

Yan Sikong shuddered all over, feeling a chill run through him.