The Blood Crown - Side Story 2: Waning Moon (Part 8)

Side Story 2: Waning Moon (Part 8)

After returning to the inn, Yuan Nanyu couldn’t quell his anger. Thinking back on everything that had just happened, he hated Chen Mu’s presumptuousness and his own weakness.

He brought several jars of wine, locked himself in his room, and began drinking heavily.

The priority now was to leave the capital as soon as possible. He had arrived in late autumn, and now the New Year was approaching. Over the past two months, he felt as though he had been stepping deeper into a trap set by Chen Mu. Even though he knew it was a trap, their disparity in status left him perpetually at a disadvantage.

If he were a lone hero, he would willingly sacrifice himself for justice. But as a general, he couldn’t fight a battle he was destined to lose. Among the 36 stratagems, fleeing was the best option.

But how could he leave? Without Chen Mu’s permission, it was impossible to leave the capital. If it were just him, he would try anything to escape. However, he couldn’t abandon the thousands of soldiers who had accompanied him.

What would it take to make Chen Mu let him go?!

—

A few days later, Yuan Nanyu overheard some news and understood why Chen Mu had been so out of control that night.

The ministers’ objection to moving Empress De Rui’s tomb was only part of it. The other was their admonition that Chen Mu should not neglect the concubines and their veiled accusation that “there were rumors” of an outsider spending the night in the harem. Concerned about the concubines’ reputation, they urged severe punishment.

Chen Mu’s maternal family was powerless, and he had relied heavily on Prince Ning’s influence to seize the throne. Now, he both used and guarded against Prince Ning’s faction. With Empress Ning still childless and rumors about Chen Mu’s favoritism toward men spreading beyond the palace walls, it was natural that some people couldn’t sit still.

The so-called “rumors” were merely a way to give Chen Mu an out. If he remained indifferent, the ministers would escalate the matter, likely targeting Yuan Nanyu directly. Even Chen Mu wouldn’t be able to protect him unscathed.

Even Feng Ye, who once commanded 300,000 troops, had been harassed by court officials and noble families. For this young emperor with shallow roots, obstacles were inevitable.

Knowing Chen Mu’s frustration and drunkenness stemmed from him left Yuan Nanyu feeling conflicted. He couldn’t understand why Chen Mu was so fixated on him. Perhaps… perhaps Chen Mu truly loved and hated Yan Sikong so deeply that, even as the ruler of the land, he couldn’t let go of what he couldn’t have.

He didn’t want to probe further into Chen Mu’s thoughts. All he knew was that Chen Mu wouldn’t summon him to the palace anytime soon, and this might be his chance to secure permission to return to Datong.

With the New Year approaching, the weather grew colder. But the cold in the capital was nothing compared to Datong or Liaodong. As a Liaodong native, Yuan Nanyu paid no mind to the climate and continued practicing martial arts in light clothing every morning. However, he caught a cold from his carelessness.

The palace sent its best imperial physicians and prescribed top-quality medicine. His fever subsided slightly, but his head remained heavy, and he felt weak. Frustrated, he lamented that his plans to petition Chen Mu again in the coming days were now delayed.

Late at night, while he was in a daze, his door suddenly opened, letting in a blast of cold wind. Despite the blazing brazier inside, the chill made him shiver.

He opened his eyes to see Chen Mu standing silently before him, still dressed in a eunuch’s robes.

Yuan Nanyu frowned and struggled to sit up. Chen Mu helped him up and placed a cushion behind his back.

When Yuan Nanyu opened his mouth, his voice was hoarse and indifferent. “Forgive me for failing to welcome Your Majesty properly.”

“How did you fall ill? Were your servants negligent?” Chen Mu looked at Yuan Nanyu’s flushed face and pale lips. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he seemed thinner than before, devoid of his usual vigor.

“A minor cold.” Yuan Nanyu avoided Chen Mu’s intense gaze. “Why are you here again?”

“Of course, to see you.” Chen Mu touched Yuan Nanyu’s forehead and frowned. “You’re still a bit warm. Have you taken your medicine?”

“Yes.”

“I heard about it yesterday and wanted to come, but I’ve been closely watched these past few days.” Chen Mu’s expression darkened as he spoke.

“It’s not worth troubling Your Majesty.”

“Must you always put on this pretense?” Chen Mu sneered.

“Yes, as long as it keeps you from angering me,” Yuan Nanyu replied coldly, glancing at Chen Mu. “Unless I wish to invite my own death.”

Chen Mu stroked Yuan Nanyu’s face. “I was drunk that day, but I remember everything I said and did quite clearly.” He paused, then smirked. “Even the feeling when you came in my palm.”

Yuan Nanyu turned his face away, avoiding Chen Mu’s gaze.

But Chen Mu grabbed his chin and forced him to face him. “Still so stubborn even when you’re sick. Do you really think I can’t handle you?”

Yuan Nanyu met Chen Mu’s eyes directly. “You know full well why you haven’t come these past few days. The court is watching you. Even as emperor, you cannot act with impunity. No one wants me to stay here, not even myself. Why persist?”

“Even if the whole world objects, I can still do as I please,” Chen Mu said with a smile. “That’s what it means to be emperor.”

Yuan Nanyu sneered. “There’s no need to bluff. You’re a new ruler, constrained on all sides. Otherwise, why would you sneak here in eunuch’s robes in the dead of night?”

Chen Mu’s expression darkened. “You’ve grown sharp-tongued.”

“I—” Yuan Nanyu started, but a sudden fit of coughing cut him off.

Seeing this, Chen Mu stood up, poured him a cup of water, and brought it to his lips. Yuan Nanyu drank deeply, finally easing the burning pain in his throat.

“See? Daring to speak rudely to the true son of heaven—you’ve been punished by the heavens,” Chen Mu mocked.

Yuan Nanyu glared at him, his hoarse voice tinged with anger. “What will it take for you to let me go?”

Chen Mu fell silent.

“You can’t keep me trapped here forever. How will you explain it to the court? To the Prince of Zhenbei?”

Still, Chen Mu said nothing, only staring at Yuan Nanyu.

“Let me go.” Yuan Nanyu’s tone grew firmer as he locked eyes with Chen Mu.

“And if I don’t?” Chen Mu replied calmly.

“Can you keep me confined in the capital for the rest of my life? Hmm? How long do you plan to drag this out? You’ve already won the throne. You’ve already triumphed. Yan Sikong…”

“This has nothing to do with Yan Sikong!” Chen Mu roared.

Yuan Nanyu froze for a moment, then sneered coldly. “Everything has to do with Yan Sikong.”

Frustrated, Chen Mu pulled off his hat and threw it to the ground.

“He is my elder brother. I am willing to bear the consequences on his behalf.” Yuan Nanyu took a deep breath, ready to stake everything. “Chen Mu, I’m tired of playing this game with you. Do whatever you want, but you must let me go!”

Chen Mu narrowed his eyes, anger surging in their depths. “Are you saying I can do anything I want to you?”

Gritting his teeth, Yuan Nanyu replied, “As long as you let me go.” Chen Mu had been wearing down his patience and resolve day by day, and he was growing increasingly wary of and disturbed by this unrelenting battle of wills. Now, all he wanted was to flee the capital as quickly as possible, to escape the man who so thoroughly disrupted his thoughts.

Chen Mu leaned in closer, his lips curling into a cold smile. “When you first arrived, you were unyielding, ready to die rather than bend. And now? Are you begging me to take you?”

In a flash of fury, Yuan Nanyu grabbed Chen Mu by the neck, his sickly yet fierce gaze as chilling as a cornered beast’s. It was a shocking sight. “Consider it torture. But you must swear by Empress De Rui’s name that you’ll let me return to Datong afterward.”

Chen Mu, seething, caught hold of Yuan Nanyu’s wrist and suppressed his anger. “Yuan Nanyu, you truly refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.”

Feeling weak and drained, Yuan Nanyu had no choice but to let go. His voice was steady but low. “Everything you offer is poison, anyway.”

Chen Mu’s voice turned icy. “I’ve never treated anyone the way I treat you. I’ve never indulged anyone the way I indulge you. But you—stubborn as a mule, foolish as a pig—don’t know what’s good for you!”

Yuan Nanyu flared up. “Will you let me go or not? What exactly—”

Before he could finish, Chen Mu suddenly bent down and fiercely captured his lips, kissing him with overwhelming force.

Yuan Nanyu froze in shock and tried to resist, but Chen Mu pinned down his hands. Weak and powerless due to his illness, he couldn’t move. The scorching lips moved over his own, and his already feverish body felt like it was about to ignite.

With a darkened gaze, Yuan Nanyu bit down on Chen Mu’s lips. Chen Mu flinched in pain but didn’t retreat. Instead, he forced open Yuan Nanyu’s teeth with his tongue, invading with dominance and wantonness.

The metallic taste of blood mixed with Chen Mu’s scent—intimate, searing, and domineering. It was a sensation Yuan Nanyu would never forget.

Already lightheaded from his fever, Yuan Nanyu grew even dizzier under the kiss. Gradually, he lost even the strength to resist and could only let Chen Mu take what he wanted.

When Chen Mu finally let go, he looked at Yuan Nanyu’s now flushed, full lips with satisfaction. He pinched Yuan Nanyu’s chin and murmured by his ear, “You’re always so defiant. Do you know how I deal with people like you?”

Yuan Nanyu glared at him with damp, furious eyes.

“Punishment.” Chen Mu’s warm fingers traced along Yuan Nanyu’s sharp jawline. “For you, it’ll be the punishment of carnal desire. When you’re crying and begging beneath me, you’ll admit how much you love being taken by me.”

“Shut up!” Yuan Nanyu spat through gritted teeth.

Chen Mu gently wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, his eyes fixed on Yuan Nanyu. “I can let you return to Datong.”

Yuan Nanyu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“If you stay with me until after the New Year.”