The Blood Crown - Chapter 266

Yuan Nanyu furrowed his brows. That voice was unmistakably Qi Manbi’s. He responded, “What is it, Madam?”

 

Qi Manbi softly said, “The prince instructed me to take good care of the general, so I brought some pear soup to help with the hangover.”

 

Yuan Nanyu hesitated. Given her status, she should avoid close interaction with subordinates, and it was inappropriate for her to come to his private quarters. Could this woman have feelings for him?

 

Although Qi Manbi was extremely beautiful, and he was somewhat moved, he was not someone who would lose his mind over beauty. He needed to quickly send this woman away to avoid revealing any misunderstandings. He spoke through the door, “Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I am feeling much better now. It is chilly at night, so you should go back and rest.”

 

“If the general drinks this pear soup, you’ll feel much more comfortable. The prince also loves the pear soup I make when he’s drunk,” Qi Manbi said softly. “You needn’t be so polite, or the prince will blame me for neglecting you.”

 

Yuan Nanyu saw that she was insistent and not planning to leave easily. With no other choice, he opened the door.

 

Under the moonlight, Qi Manbi appeared even more delicate and beautiful. She looked at Yuan Nanyu with a seductive gaze, hinting at some expectation. She raised the tray slightly higher, “General, please try some. It’s still warm.”

 

Yuan Nanyu hesitated for a moment and cupped his hands, “Thank you, Madam.” He then took the pear soup and drank it.

 

The soup must have been simmered for a long time. It was refreshing and sweet, with a delicate aftertaste. After finishing a bowl, his body felt warm.

 

Qi Manbi smiled faintly, “Is the charcoal fire in your room enough? If you’re still cold, I can add more.”

 

“It’s enough.” Yuan Nanyu saw the gleam in her eyes and was afraid that something might happen if this continued. “It’s already late. Madam, you should rest now.”

 

Qi Manbi blinked, “General… Sir, may I dare ask you a question?”

 

“Please.”

 

“You have a wife and a daughter, but you’ve also had romantic affairs with the Wolf King… So, do you prefer women more, or men more?”

 

Yuan Nanyu immediately felt awkward. He naturally preferred gentle and delicate women, but now he had to imitate Yan Sikong. If it were Yan Sikong, what would he think and how would he answer?

 

He was momentarily at a loss.

 

Qi Manbi covered her lips and laughed lightly, “I apologize for being so blunt. Because of how much I resemble you, I feel quite close to you, Sir. In the future, I could serve the prince alongside you.”

 

“Madam is right.”

 

Qi Manbi bowed slightly, “Please rest well, Sir.”

 

After watching her leave, Yuan Nanyu let out a sigh of relief. Pretending to be someone else every moment made him feel tense, like walking on thin ice. But with Yan Sikong’s intelligence, pretending to be him should be much easier. He sighed again and lay back down.

 

He worried about Yan Sikong, still imprisoned in the dungeon. He still didn’t know if what he was doing was the right decision.

 

—

 

Meanwhile, Yan Sikong was having a solitary New Year’s Eve dinner in his cell. The food and wine he had brought earlier in the day were now cold, but it was better than nothing.

 

Over the past two years, he had developed an inescapable relationship with imprisonment, having been incarcerated multiple times, though he always managed to escape unscathed. How would it end this time?

 

He wondered how Yuan Nanyu was faring outside—had he managed to deceive everyone? Would Chen Mu or Shen Hexuan see through any inconsistencies? If he could just hold out for a few more days—three to five days at most—he could leave Pingliang. He silently prayed, Yuan Nanyu, you mustn’t be exposed, or you’ll be doomed.

 

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet cell. The steps were steady and composed, definitely not those of a prison guard. Yan Sikong’s heart tightened, and he rubbed his messy hair, hiding half of his body in the corner’s shadows.

 

As expected, the person who arrived was Shen Hexuan.

 

Shen Hexuan stopped and said, “General Que, it’s the New Year’s Eve. I’ve come to wish you a happy new year.”

 

Yan Sikong lowered his voice, “Thank you, Lord Shen.”

 

“Do you know why I’ve come to see you now?”

 

Yan Sikong’s heart raced, more than he expected. Could it be… that Yuan Nanyu had been exposed? He forced himself to remain calm, “I’m also curious, on this New Year’s Eve, why would Lord Shen come to this cold and filthy place?”

 

“Because I received a confidential report from the court, a report even the prince doesn’t know about.”

 

“What report? If it’s something Prince Chu doesn’t know, why are you telling me, Lord Shen?”

 

“Because this matter is not something the prince should know.” Shen Hexuan took a few steps closer, his face appearing even more sinister in the dim light of the prison. “Feng Ye has asked the court for peace and is willing to go to the capital alone to apologize.”

 

Yan Sikong’s body trembled. He shrank further into the shadows, not wanting Shen Hexuan to see his expression. As Yan Sikong, he knew how to respond, but he constantly reminded himself that he was now Que Wang. How would Que Wang react at this moment?

 

Shen Hexuan also tried to discern his expression. “What? General Que, are you not surprised?”

 

“Lord Shen, there is no need to test me. If you wanted to learn something from me, you wouldn’t have waited until now,” Yan Sikong said slowly. “The Wolf King must have thoroughly considered whatever decision he makes. Regardless, I’m willing to go through fire for the Wolf King.”

 

“Is that so? You’re so loyal, but Feng Ye doesn’t care about your life. He plans to exchange Feng Xiang for you, but it’s just a decoy,” Shen Hexuan said coldly. “He must be plotting something.”

 

“My downfall is my own fault, I cannot blame others.” Yan Sikong snorted coldly. “And Lord Shen, withholding information from Prince Chu, isn’t that also your own scheme?”

 

“Prince Chu is young and impetuous. The current situation is delicate. He cannot be thrown into disarray by Feng Ye’s tricks. Moreover…” Shen Hexuan’s voice turned cold. “There is also Yan Sikong, this cunning person, instigating Prince Chu. What I’m doing is for his own good.”

 

“Alright, alright.” Yan Sikong acted lazily. “So, what does that have to do with me? I’m just a prisoner, unable to even have a warm meal on New Year’s Eve. Why are you telling me all this, Lord Shen?”

 

“No matter what Feng Ye plans to do, right now you and Yan Sikong are the only ones who can delay his steps. Prince Chu will not hand over Yan Sikong, so it’s only you left.” Shen Hexuan’s gaze was deep and cold. “If Feng Ye really intends to submit to the court, the prince’s situation will be very dangerous. I cannot let Feng Ye seize the initiative.”

 

“Then, Lord Shen, what do you plan to do?”

 

Shen Hexuan calmly said, “I’ve already written a letter to the Crown Prince of Ning, asking him to personally go to Huai’an to persuade Han Wang to send troops. Once Feng Ye leaves Taiyuan, the court, Han Wnag, and His Royal Highness Prince Chu will launch an attack from three directions.”

 

Yan Sikong trembled all over, his voice shaking, “What… what nonsense are you talking about? Why would the Wolf King leave Taiyuan?” What is Shen Hexuan planning?! He had sent the Crown Prince of Ning to Huai’an, which means Yuan Nanyu couldn’t leave Pingliang, right? Is he trying to use ‘Que Wang’ to trick Feng Ye into… Fengxiang?!

 

“For you, perhaps he would agree. If you don’t succeed, I will persuade His Royal Highness to use Yan Sikong as bait.” Shen Hexuan sneered, “Feng Ye is also a person who values loyalty and righteousness. If he knows that you’re being tortured day and night in prison, would he agree to His Royal Highness’ terms and come personally to Fengxiang to rescue you?”

 

Yan Sikong clenched his fists. “Shen Hexuan…”

 

“His Royal Highness has drunk too much, and when he wakes up tomorrow, with you at his side to hinder him, he may not agree to my plan. That’s why I had to come in the dead of night.” Shen Hexuan slowly bowed to Yan Sikong, “I took the liberty to act without consulting General Que, I apologize.”

 

Yan Sikong narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to do?”

 

“I want to borrow something from General Que.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“General Que’s bloodstained uniform.”

 

Yan Sikong tightened his grip on his fists.

 

Shen Hexuan loudly called out, “Someone!”

 

Several prison guards walked in, unlocked the prison door, and dragged Yan Sikong out.

 

Yan Sikong glared fiercely at Shen Hexuan. “You’re acting without Prince Chu’s approval. Don’t you fear his punishment?”

 

“Prince Chu entrusted you to me for interrogation. If I need to use torture, the Prince cannot blame me. As for whether he agrees with my plan tomorrow, that’s another matter.”

 

The prison guards strapped Yan Sikong to the torture device, and the executioner grabbed the whip hanging on the wall, which had frozen and become stiff, and swung it down sharply.

 

With a sharp “crack,” the ice shards shattered, and the whip suddenly became as flexible as a venomous snake awakening from winter hibernation.

 

Yan Sikong took a deep breath, thinking to himself that at least the one being tortured was not Yuan Nanyu.

 

Shen Hexuan whispered, “General Que, I apologize.” He stepped back a few paces, stuffed his hands in his sleeves, lowered his head expressionlessly, and stopped looking at Yan Sikong.

 

Yan Sikong gritted his teeth. “Enough nonsense, just do it!”

 

The whip struck like a snake, bloodthirsty and merciless, biting down on Yan Sikong’s body.

 

The pain—

 

Every inch of skin the whip touched felt like it was being burned by fire, and his body seemed to tear apart from the bloodstains!

 

Yan Sikong bit his lip hard, stifling the scream in his throat. If he were Yan Sikong, he would allow himself to scream, but at this moment, he was ‘Que Wang,’ a general who had been through many battles, and he could not submit to torture.

 

Another lash came.

 

Yan Sikong’s vision blurred from the pain, and he bit his lips until they bled.

 

Another, and another. Soon, his white undergarment was covered with bloodstains, and the sight was gruesome. The sounds of the whip striking his flesh and the muffled groans of suppressed pain filled every corner of the prison cell, making the hair stand on end…

 

—

 

Yuan Nanyu had drunk some wine and fallen into a heavy sleep. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he was awakened by a wave of heat.

 

His body felt unbearably hot, and in his half-dreaming, half-waking state, he opened his eyes. He tried to kick off the suffocating blanket, but found that he couldn’t exert any strength at all, not even moving a finger was difficult.

 

His drowsy mind grasped at a thread of clarity—was he having a nightmare, or… was he poisoned?

 

He struggled to stay awake, but it felt like he was sinking deeper into a swamp, becoming more confused, and his body was undergoing strange changes. Not only was he burning with heat, but his blood seemed to be rushing downwards, making him… making him…

 

What’s happening to me?

 

…That bowl of pear soup?!

 

Yuan Nanyu gritted his teeth, trying to rise, but his body was as soft as mud. Having traveled the world for many years and trained under a renowned healer from the Medicine Valley, he naturally knew what poison he had been given. What confused him was why Qi Manbi would use such a vile substance on him?

 

His consciousness grew more and more clouded, and if this continued, he would soon lose control…

 

At that moment, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open.

 

Yuan Nanyu was startled, but had no strength to lift his head.

 

The person who entered hesitated for a moment at the door, gently closed it behind them, and then stumbled over toward the bed.

 

When the figure reached the bedside, their tall frame blocked the moonlight filtering through the window. Yuan Nanyu barely made out the face of the person—Chen Mu.

 

Chen Mu sat beside the bed, looking somewhat at a loss as he gazed at the person writhing in discomfort on the bed—this person he had been thinking about day and night, desiring for years. Unable to resist, he reached out and stroked the burning face, softly calling, “Sir…”

 

Yuan Nanyu’s eyes widened in horror, and he barely managed to push Chen Mu away, but he had no strength. This poison was truly powerful; even if he tried to use his inner energy to expel it, it would take time, but right now…

 

“Sir is so handsome…” Chen Mu lowered his head, in the dark, he traced Yuan Nanyu’s face with his fingers, “I’ve always thought, if only Sir belonged to me alone.”

 

“You… What do you want…” Yuan Nanyu gritted his teeth and asked.

 

“…Will you hate me, Sir? You should blame Manbi. She took matters into her own hands. But…” Chen Mu caressed Yuan Nanyu’s black hair, “But I’ve longed for you for so long. Sir, you’ve rejected me time and again, and it makes me so angry. I can’t accept it. Why can Feng Ye have you, but I can’t? I will be the future Emperor, every inch of the Dazheng kingdom, every person, will belong to me. You will too, Sir.”

 

“Get out…” Yuan Nanyu trembled, “I’m not… your Sir, get out…”

 

Chen Mu smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes, only intense desire. “You may not be my Sir, but you will be my beloved. I’ve been devoted to you for so long. In the past, I was too weak to confess my feelings, but now it’s different. Whatever Feng Ye has, I can have too. But what I have, Feng Ye can never have. I will fulfill your wish, Sir, and make you the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor. Together, we’ll share the world.”

 

“You… Chen Mu… get out…” Yuan Nanyu tried to shout that he wasn’t Yan Sikong, but his last shred of rationality choked off his voice. If he spoke the truth, he would surely die, and Yan Sikong still imprisoned would be in grave danger too.

 

Chen Mu bent down and kissed Yuan Nanyu’s lips, fervently and tenderly sucking them.

 

Yuan Nanyu’s eyes were wide open, bloodshot, as if his mind had snapped. He desperately tried to push Chen Mu away, but he couldn’t even raise his hand. In his life, he had never felt such utter despair.

 

Chen Mu kissed him deeper and harder, like a domineering predator releasing all his pent-up desires. He loosened Yuan Nanyu’s undergarment and climbed on top of him.

 

Yuan Nanyu’s face was filled with humiliation and hatred, but his body, under the influence of the poison, responded uncontrollably…