Since his visit that night, for the next half a month, Chi Zhao didn't see Shen Wumian again. He didn't see Shen Wumian when he went to court because the prince regent had taken sick leave. Without Shen Wumian around, the court began to go in a strange direction.
Chi Zhao wasn't interested in the changes in the court. The only thing that made him relieved was that Shen Wumian finally stopped punishing him by making him practice calligraphy.
Without any reason, Chi Zhao woke up and found out that he only had to practice calligraphy for half an hour and Hong Lei would then come and remind him that time was up and that he could do something else.
At first, Chi Zhao was very grateful and very happy but later, he became more and more anxious. The plot had said that Shen Wumian's revenge against Chen Yi was very gradual. It was estimated that it wouldn't be long before new and more terrible ways of torture would rear its head.
Chi Zhao both nervously and fearfully waited for this. He waited and waited….And half a month later, he really couldn't wait any longer.
It felt like there was a sharp knife hanging above his head. He clearly knew that there was a deadly knife above his head and he also knew that it would soon fall but that knife just wouldn't budge!
It was too torturous! It would be better to just end it quickly!
…..
Chi Zhao was very angry. He sat at a round table and thought for a while before standing up and wandering to the prince regents mansion.
Although the prince regent was ill, state affairs couldn't be delayed. Every day, he 'struggled and bore with his illness to help share the Emperor's burdens'.
A certain Emperor who had his burdens shared coldly snorted inside. Who knew what kind of evil plans he had hatched? He was even playing sickie. With his current physique, he wouldn't even have a problem defeating a cow.
But despite thinking this, Chi Zhao still felt that he needed to show his face in case Shen Wumian was too focused on fighting for power and had forgotten about what he had wanted to do to his enemy, the Emperor.
When he woke up at noon, Hong Lei wasn't around. The other eunuchs and palace maids just did their things and the person who had always served next to him was Hong Lei. Without her around, no one else would approach Chi Zhao so even when Chi Zhao left, no one moved to follow him.
When he reached the gates of the prince regents mansion, two guards wielding large swords stood at the entrance. As soon as Chi Zhao raised his foot to enter, there was a 'clank' and the long swords appeared in front of him.
The guards looked at him expressionlessly, "The regent has ordered that no one enters this place for the time being."
It was one in the afternoon and the weather was getting hot. If he continued waiting, he may need to stand there for an hour. Chi Zhao wasn't a real Emperor so he wasn't very concerned about the matter of status and respect so he just nodded his head happily when he heard the guard's words, "Alright then, Zhen will come back later."
After that, Chi Zhao really wandered back. Even the guards were shocked for a moment. They had thought that the Emperor would make a fuss before leaving. After all, their attitude just now clearly revealed that they only listened to the prince regent and held no regard for the Emperor, but the Emperor was not at all angry about this
Could it be that he has already accepted his role as the prince regent's puppet Emperor?
No one knew about the doubts the guard had. Chi Zhao felt that it was too hot outside and soon returned to his room. Hong Lei wasn't around, there was no one watching him, and he also wasn't in the mood to practice calligraphy by himself, so he only had one other option; chatting with the system in his mind.
It was very easy for one to become sleepy in summer. Chi Zhao sat on the bed in daze for a while and little by little his head started to nod. In just a few minutes, he fell asleep again.
On the other end at the prince regent mansion, Shen Wumian listened to the reports of the situation outside and then lowered his eyes slightly to look at Hong Lei who was kneeling in front of him.
"Keep talking."
Although Shen Wumian no longer went to see Chen Yi, Chen Yi's daily life was still reported to him by Hong Lei. Hearing Shen Wumian's instructions, Hong Lei lowered her head even more, "His Majesty didn't have an appetite yesterday and only had a bowl of birds nest and lotus seed soup in the morning. He didn't order anything for lunch and just at half a dish of Osmanthus cakes and he ate a little more in the evening but only finished half a bowl of rice."
Shen Wumian frowned when the heard this. Even the cats raised in the palace ate more than him.
Since a while back, from about the time he started to give Chen Yi poison, Chen Yi's appetite was getting worse and worse, but it was now a little better. In the past few days, it was almost no different from a hunger strike. Although he ate at every meal, it wasn't enough to even fill a small sauce bowl.
He didn't pay attention to these things before. Although there was someone who would record Chen Yi's eating habits, as long as there was nothing wrong with the Emperor and nothing wrong with the food, the people below wouldn't go out of their way to report it to Shen Wumian. After all, these people are very observant. Everyone could tell that the prince regent was very displeased with the Emperor so they naturally wouldn't bother him with such trivial matters.
Even Hong Lei thought this. But three days ago, the prince regent suddenly asked her to see him during Chen Yi's daily naps and report to him his eating habits.
Before, Chi Zhao didn't eat much because he wasn't in a good mood and was depressed all the time. He had recovered a lot now, but he still didn't have the appetite because it was too hot, and he just wanted to lie down like a corpse and do nothing.
Shen Wumian was still the same, expressionless. The fingers on his right hand tapped the armrest at a regular beat, making the atmosphere tense. After a long time, Shen Wumian finally spoke, "You can go."
Hong Lei breathed a sigh of relief and bowed lower, "Yes."
Once Hong Lei was gone, Shen Wumian turned his head slightly and looked at the guard who had been standing next to him the entire time, "Go and break the legs of those two people. For them to not kneel for the Emperor, they're useless to keep around."
With just that line those two guards outside are now destined to live a life as a waste. In fact, this was already a light sentence from Shen Wumian. In the past, if anyone were to go against his rules, even leaving a corpse behind was letting them off lightly.
The guard straightened up and bowed his head. At the same time, he mentally noted to himself that he should warn the others under him not to offend the Emperor. Although the prince regent may seem very displeased with the Emperor, he was someone who also cared a lot about tradition and formalities.
Chi Zhao didn't know what happened in the palace because no one would tell him. When he woke up again, Hong Lei was already back. Chi Zhao could vaguely guess where she may have gone but he didn't say anything. He just slowly sat up and pondered over whether or not he should show his face.
After thinking about it for too long and estimating that Shen Wumian had probably already left the palace, Chi Zhao decided to go tomorrow instead.
He had it all planned out but unexpectedly, just as the dusk clouds appeared in the skyline, Shen Wumian also appeared in his room.
Chi Zhao immediately entered first level alert state.
He's here! He's here! The second wave attack is here!
...…
Chi Zhao had thought too much. Shen Wumian didn't actually come with intentions to do anything to him and had only come over for a meal.
Please read this from kk translates
Hearing Shen Wumian's words, Chi Zhao was confused. Was it popular for people in this world to visit another person's place for a meal?
…..
In any case, if the prince regent wanted to eat, Chi Zhao couldn't drive him away. Sitting at a small round table, the palace maids and eunuchs scurried in and quickly filled the table up with twelve different dishes. Chi Zhao who had been sitting there from the beginning hesitated for a long time before finally picking up the chopsticks first.
It was only after that did Shen Wumian who hadn't moved before this, also move to pick up his chopsticks.
Although he was secretly plotting after his life and the throne pretty much every day, Shen Wumian was unexpectantly someone who abide by the rules...
After silently roasting him inside, Chi Zhao took a bite of the rice.
No speaking while eating. During this meal, Shen Wumian and Chi Zhao didn't speak a single word but Shen Wumian's eyes continued to watch Chi Zhao. Chi Zhao was nervous at first and then after being nervous for a while, he no longer felt nervous.
His attention slowly transferred over to the food before him. Under Shen Wumian's watch, Chi Zhao took a bite after another. Very soon, that bowl of rice was cleared up. When he was done, he didn't ask for anymore and instead asked to be served two bowls of soup for himself which was also finished off.
It was completely different from Hong Lei's report. Not only did he eat a lot, he also seemed to enjoy it.
Hong Lei who stood on the side watching the entire time was also very puzzled. At the same time, she was also a little worried. Her current master was already suspicious enough. If he ever thought that she had lied and was helping the young Emperor by making him sound pitiful, what should she do?
Shen Wumian however didn't think that. His attention was still on Chi Zhao. He silently made a small nod of affirmation. Sure enough, as long as he came over, Chen Yi's appetite would improve. His poor appetite the past few days was likely because he missed him.
...….
Although Shen Wumian's narcissism was enough to render people speechless, it was true that Chi Zhao's appetite had improved and even he himself didn't realise this. The system silently watched them eat and glanced back and forth between Shen Wumian and Chi Zhao. It didn't understand.
Could it be that Shen Wumian's looks helped with improving the appetite?
After Shen Wumian came over, Chi Zhao's brain wave activities seemed to have become more active. At first it was nervousness and then it was fear, followed by calmness and a small hint of joy. The first two states were understandable but what did the last two mean??
What was there to be happy about?
Not to mention the system, even Chi Zhao himself didn't understand it.
It was rare for the Emperor and the official to have just a harmonious moment together. After eating, Shen Wumian picked up the calligraphy Chi Zhao had worked on these days and both quietly and critically looked over it. After picking out several shortcomings, Chi Zhao who didn't understand the literary words he used could only nod and act like he understood.
After for talking for who knows how long, Shen Wumian suddenly noted someone standing next to him. He raised his eyes and looked over. It was an eunuch who was carrying a tray with his head bowed. He was clearly waiting for them to finish before bringing it over.
In the centre of the tray was a bowl filled dark brown liquid.
Shen Wumian's hands holding the papers suddenly stiffened for a moment. Seeing that he had stopped talking, Chi Zhao raised his head and saw the medicine. He straightened up and naturally reached out to take the bowl of medicine. Shen Wumian's expression changed slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but he could only watch Chi Zhao down the bowl of medicine in one go.
The last time he watched Chi Zhao drink the medicine, Chi Zhao had felt that the medicine was too bitter and quickly drank a cup of tea afterwards to relieve his suffering. Now, he no longer had any expression after drinking the medicine. He very naturally returned the bowl back onto the tray with no changes to his expression.
It was because he had grown used to it.
After realising this, Shen Wumian's soft heart felt like it had just been harshly kicked. His hands holding the paper tightened slightly. On the other end, Chi Zhao wiped his mouth with a handkerchief before returning to Shen Wumian's side. He smiled lightly at him, "Imperial Uncle, I have been drinking the tonic you sent. Not a drop is wasted."
.....It was as if he was saying it on purpose.
Please read this from kk translates
Before those words could be finished, his heart felt like it had been kicked three or four times in succession, each with great strength. It was as if it wanted to make that fragile heart bleed. Shen Wumian pursed his lips and hid it well but there was a small tear in the paper he held.
Chi Zhao didn't notice this, but Shen Wumian did. After a short pause, Shen Wumian folded the paper up and coldly stood up, "It's late. This official should leave."
After saying that, he didn't pay any heed to Chi Zhao's reaction and promptly left. Chi Zhao watched his departing back and just felt that this man was acting strangely.
Coming over for no reason and then leaving for no reason. What else could it be apart from acting strangely?
Chi Zhao didn't think too much about what could possibly be going through Shen Wumian's mind but after his visit today, Chi Zhao for once was able to have a good night sleep without suffering from sad dreams.
Dreaming of the past was an indication that one was dissatisfied with the present and no longer dreaming of the past meant that the present was now the same as the past.
Many times, humans are not that smart and their body limits their minds. The soul however is different, and it is not limited. They can recognise the same kind and can recognise each other even if the appearances are different.
.....
Lying on the comfortable bed, Chi Zhao slept soundly with no knowledge that a certain 'ill' prince regent had once again broken into his bedroom in the middle of the night and was standing silently next to him.
He stood beside him for a long time before slowly sitting down. The gaze he used to look at Chi Zhao carried both hate and calmness. After watching for a while, he stretched out his right hand and placed it over Chi Zhao's slender neck.
The young man's Adam's apple wasn't as prominent as an adults. Shen Wumian slowly exerted some effort. Chi Zhao didn't feel any pain, but he didn't like being choked so he frowned and patted at the hand while still deep in his dreams.
The unconscious actions of his revealed that he had no realisation of the danger that was coming and just thought it was someone joking with him.
He was clearly a child who had grown up in the palace, but he wasn't at all vigilant. Should he be regarded as foolish or should he be regarded as being too innocent?
Shen Wumian's expression was too heavy at this moment. The dark light in his eyes were like the death god's scythe. The system had been watching him warily ever since he entered the room and, seeing his appearance now, it was scared silly. Just as it was about to hastily wake Chi Zhao up, it saw struggle and conflict flash across Shen Wumian's face. Suddenly, he released his hold. Looking tired and weak, Shen Wumian looked like someone who had finally escaped from the water after drowning for a long time.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a long period of silence, he slowly opened his eyes and his hand lightly covered Chi Zhao's head. The turmoil in his eyes gradually calmed down.
...….
The next day, Chi Zhao suddenly realised that the system had disappeared.