Your Majesty, We’re Counting on You to Ruin the Country! 34

Chapter 34: Madness

Qin Zhaohuang was hungover.

In the early morning, as the sun began to rise, the glaring sunlight shone on him through the unclosed window. Qin Zhaohuang blinked and found that he had been carried back to his room by the servants. He was now lying on his own soft bed. He gathered his messy clothes, feeling his head was about to split.

It wasn’t just because of the wine. Last night, he had also had a dream that was neither good nor bad, about an old acquaintance from years past…

Qin Zhaohuang tapped his head. He felt that something had happened last night.

After summoning someone from the Fengtian Temple and asking some questions, Qin Zhaohuang learned about what had happened between him and the “assassin” last night. After trying hard to remember, he seemed to recall a man holding a maid hostage and demanding a jade pendant from him, even searching his body… And then…

And then the wine had taken over, and he had no impression of what happened next.

Qin Zhaohuang slapped his head. Why did I have to drink! He had missed such an important clue! It was rare for that snake man to fall into his net.

The jade pendant…

Qin Zhaohuang thought to himself, That snake man cares so much about the jade pendant. I should go and tell Feng Qi, who is keeping it. The jade pendant had actually been found in Qin Zhaohuang’s pocket after he had brought the poisoned Wen Ning’an back to the palace and his condition had stabilized. Qin Zhaohuang guessed that it might have fallen from the snake man’s body into his pocket during their struggle. It might be an important clue, so Feng Qi had taken it to have it investigated.

With this in mind, Qin Zhaohuang had someone prepare, intending to go to the Audience Hall to have an audience with Feng Qi.

After arriving at the outer hall of the Imperial Study, Fu Che just had a servant bring Qin Zhaohuang some tea, saying that His Majesty was busy and he would have to wait a while longer.

Qin Zhaohuang smiled and nodded. He had nothing to do anyway, so he picked up a book to pass the time. It was no bother to wait.

“Sister Qin…”

With a “thud,” the book in Qin Zhaohuang’s hand fell to the ground. He turned and saw Ah Bai standing by the door, looking at him. He looked around; he was the only one in the hall.

“…Are you calling me?”

Seeing Ah Bai nod, Qin Zhaohuang helplessly corrected him, “Brother Qin, not sister.”

Ah Bai tilted his head, seeming a little confused.

Qin Zhaohuang said, “I’m a man, a man just like you.”

“…” Ah Bai looked at Qin Zhaohuang as if he were a strange person. Why does this sister like people to call her brother?

“Forget it.” Qin Zhaohuang gave up, feeling weary. “Come, why are your eyes so red?”

Ah Bai pouted. “I’m scared…”

Qin Zhaohuang held Ah Bai in his arms. “What are you afraid of?”

Ah Bai lowered his head. “His Majesty has locked up big brother. Big brother was bullied and is very unhappy now…”

Qin Zhaohuang blinked, surprised.

Locked… up?

“Are you mistaken?”

“No! I’m sure of it. I even heard it with my own ears last night. Big brother was crying out in pain and arguing with His Majesty. I wanted to go into the bedchamber to see, but Eunuch Fu pulled me away…” Ah Bai lowered his head. “I’m so worried… What should I do…”

Ah Bai thought to himself, In the past, when I was bullied, Wen Ning’an protected and helped me so much. Now, I have to help him.

“You don’t have to do anything. Don’t provoke His Majesty. You have to believe that he won’t harm Ning’an.” Qin Zhaohuang stroked Ah Bai’s head. “Don’t worry about them. Just do the homework Ning’an assigned you. Ning’an will be very happy to see you finish all of it and do it well.”

“Okay!”

After Ah Bai left, Qin Zhaohuang did a quick divination in the direction of the bedchamber and the sun and couldn’t help but sigh. Turbulent waves, dark clouds gathering. It’s not peaceful.

And it was indeed not peaceful in the bedchamber.

“Yixin… Yixin… you like me, say you like me…”

Under the bed, the white porridge had been knocked over, and the porcelain shards and porridge made a mess on the floor. And on the bed, Feng Qi was pressing down on Wen Ning’an, his hand turning and thrusting the fierce jade dildo.

“Ngh… ngh…” The bed was covered in white, turbid marks, the bedding in a messy, wrinkled state. Wen Ning’an felt he was about to collapse, with no strength left to even moan. He gripped the bedsheets tightly, his chest heaving violently. The shackles on his ankles were pulled tight and embedded in the wall, forcing his legs to stay wide open.

“Yixin, say you will never leave me, and I’ll take it out.”

Wen Ning’an looked at Feng Qi’s already irrational eyes, smiled bitterly, and turned his head away.

“Mmph…!” The terrifying cylindrical object was pushed in a few more inches, as if it were about to pierce through him.

“Say it.”

“Ngh…”

“Say it!” Deeper, deeper.

After an unknown amount of time, Wen Ning’an seemed to finally be unable to take it anymore. He shook his head and cried out in a broken voice, “Huaitian, what did I do wrong! What did I do wrong!”

Two streams of clear tears slowly flowed down.

This was the first time since his rebirth that Feng Qi had seen Wen Ning’an cry, the first time he had shown weakness to him.

Feng Qi looked at Wen Ning’an’s red and swollen lower body and the bruises all over him, and was suddenly reminded of the scene in his past life where Wen Ning’an was being interrogated by the Hong Xi people in the Golden Throne Hall.

What’s the difference… between me and them?

Feng Qi pulled out the object in his hand, and a turbid fluid gushed out. He threw it away and collapsed onto Wen Ning’an, drained of strength.

“Why do I always hurt you…”

The person I swore to protect, yet it is I who keep hurting him. He had promised that in this life, he would not let Wen Ning’an be wronged or unhappy, that he would give him the best and most precious things in the world. And now, the person was crying in despair beneath him.

None of this was my intention… Why do things always go beyond my control? Why can’t I just get along well with Wen Ning’an…

“I’m sorry…” This was the first time Feng Qi, the Son of Heaven, had apologized to someone.

Feng Qi buried his head deep in the crook of Wen Ning’an’s neck. Wen Ning’an felt a dampness there…

After noon, Qin Zhaohuang, who had already had a meal in the palace, finally got to see Feng Qi in the hour of Wei. After entering the inner hall, Qin Zhaohuang looked up and saw Feng Qi sitting behind the desk with a dark expression, deep dark circles under his eyes, looking somewhat haggard.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”

After hearing Qin Zhaohuang state his purpose, Feng Qi had Wuying give him the jade pendant. “You take care of it. Use the shadow guards or the people from Zhaoyue Tower as you see fit.”

Feng Qi threw the spare wooden plaque for commanding the shadow guards to Qin Zhaohuang, his eyes full of fatigue, as if he no longer intended to deal with these matters.

Qin Zhaohuang paused, and finally couldn’t hold back, saying nervously, “Your Majesty, you have imprisoned the Nine Heavens Dragon in a pond. Now, the dark clouds have gathered, and the weakened flood dragon is very sad. Its painful cries can be heard from ten miles away.”

Feng Qi slammed the desk. “The Nine Heavens Dragon is me! I am the most noble person in this world!”

Seeing that Feng Qi’s mood was not right, as if he were on the verge of collapse… no, he had already collapsed, Qin Zhaohuang couldn’t help but shrink back and wilt.

“I also know he doesn’t like this. But if I don’t do this, I will lose him… I can’t lose him… I have to be with him no matter what.” Feng Qi felt he was going mad, and only Qin Zhaohuang could listen to his innermost thoughts and truly help him, so he couldn’t help but say a few more words.

Are you stupid…

Qin Zhaohuang said tactfully, “Your Majesty, don’t overthink it. Even an outsider like me can understand General Wen’s feelings for you. You won’t lose him.”

“I have already lost him! He would rather risk his life on that battlefield than be with me! He said with his own mouth that we are not suitable!”

Qin Zhaohuang said, “That is because he loves Your Majesty. Love does not necessarily mean being together. If Your Majesty insists on keeping General Wen, then it is not love.”

Feng Qi frowned. “I’m doing it for his own good!”

Qin Zhaohuang rubbed his forehead, feeling that the two of them were not on the same page at all. Feng Qi was not stupid. He was adept at court politics and manipulating people’s hearts, playing with the court and balancing the situation. But in this aspect, why was he like a three-year-old… even letting his emotions and anxiety override his reason, doing such foolish things.

Feng Qi had now lost the ability to think, so Qin Zhaohuang didn’t know how to talk to him.

“You may leave.” Feng Qi waved his hand and, propping himself up on the desk, began to rest with his eyes closed.

“This subject takes his leave.” Qin Zhaohuang left respectfully, his mind already starting to scheme…

It was night again, and the chirping of cicadas came in waves. Wen Ning’an lay on the bed, sleeping soundly with his eyes closed, feeling as if his whole body were drained of strength, unable and unwilling to move. The bed had been tidied, and Feng Qi had also cleaned him and changed him into warm clothes.

Feng Qi came to the Dragon Bed with a small bowl of white porridge. The porridge had been cooked with many precious medicinal herbs and was a mix of meat and vegetables, steaming and fragrant. Wen Ning’an wrinkled his nose, as if woken by the aroma.

“Yixin, come and have some.” Feng Qi tried his best to smile kindly and harmlessly.

Wen Ning’an lay on the bed with a blank expression, showing no reaction.

Feng Qi loosened the iron chains a little so that Wen Ning’an could get up and lean against the head of the bed to drink the porridge. Wen Ning’an let Feng Qi help him up. When the spoon with the hot porridge was brought to his lips, he opened his mouth and swallowed. If Feng Qi didn’t bring it, he would just lean against the head of the bed and stare blankly ahead, showing no resistance.

Seeing Wen Ning’an so limp and lifeless, his eyes having lost their luster, like a puppet at the mercy of others, Feng Qi felt an inexplicable panic.

“Yixin, don’t be like this…”

Wen Ning’an didn’t speak, as if he had lost his soul.

“Yixin…”

A bowl of porridge was smoothly finished by Wen Ning’an, a complete contrast to his attitude of knocking over the bowl and refusing to eat this morning. Feng Qi reached out and hugged Wen Ning’an, but only felt a coldness.

“Your Majesty…”

Fu Che’s voice sounded from outside.

Feng Qi looked up and nodded for Fu Che to continue.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Immortal Nanbai has arrived.”

Nanbai of Fengzhou, although he was already sixty years old, was still ranked among the top ten martial arts masters in the martial world, and was also Feng Qi’s master since childhood.

Feng Qi frowned slightly. Why would Master suddenly come to the palace to find me?