Am I... being held hostage?
*...*
Very well, you've successfully caught my attention!
Xiao Yu cast Shen Zhuocheng a sidelong glance.
His tone carried a hint of authority. "Guard Shen. I may enjoy using swords, but that doesn't mean I enjoy having one pointed at me... You've overstepped!"
Damn you! What kind of man are you, bullying a child barely five feet tall when you're a grown man of eight feet? If you've got the guts, go take that incompetent emperor hostage!
The instant Xiao Yu finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
The Crown Prince and Consort Wan immediately looked at Emperor Jinyuan. Seeing that he wasn't angry, they breathed sighs of relief.
It was the first time Sun Wenxun had seen anyone dare insult the emperor to his face. Even with his composure, he couldn't help wiping away his sweat.
Shen Zhuocheng had never been berated like this by a child before. His face flushed crimson, his expression turning flustered and embarrassed.
Only then did Xiao Yu realize what he'd done.
I'm done for!
I got so worked up that I actually said what I was thinking...
How embarrassing!
I hope my Elder Imperial Brother didn't hear that last bit about him being an incompetent emperor...
A flicker of panic crossed Xiao Yu's face.
He stiffly turned toward Emperor Jinyuan, his gaze wavering.
"Elder Imperial Brother... did you hear anything just now?" he ventured cautiously.
Emperor Jinyuan snorted and gave him a disdainful look.
It wasn't the first time he'd heard the boy call him an incompetent emperor.
He was long since used to it.
...No, that wasn't right.
He was the Sovereign of a Nation, destined to become an enlightened ruler whose name would endure through history.
He couldn't let this brat ruin his reputation.
He needed to teach him a lesson.
Emperor Jinyuan raised his eyes and looked squarely at Xiao Yu.
His tone cooled as he said sternly, "Insulting the emperor constitutes grave disrespect. A minor offense warrants a beating; a serious one warrants death-"
"In consideration of the Prince of Zhennan's meritorious service defending the border and all his hard work, and given that this is your first offense and you are my sworn younger brother, I shall overlook it this once."
Then his gaze abruptly sharpened.
"If it happens again, and I hear you insult me... I'll have your head! Have I made myself clear?" he threatened.
The corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched. "Understood..."
"Your Majesty!"
Hearing Emperor Jinyuan's words, Consort Liu staggered unsteadily to her feet.
"Do you truly despise me that much?" she demanded.
He could readily forgive even that little brat Xiao Yu for insulting him to his face...
Why, then, were her offenses unforgivable?
Why was he so determined to put her to death?
"In all these years, has Your Majesty truly never felt anything for me, even for a moment?"
She pleaded humbly, yearning for that unattainable answer in her heart...
She waited for Emperor Jinyuan's reply.
"Never."
Emperor Jinyuan answered without hesitation. "I made myself clear from the very beginning. Leave me alone. I would never love you. You were the one who insisted on pestering me!"
"I've long since grown utterly sick of you!"
Although she had already known the answer, his piercing words drained all color from Consort Liu's face, thick-skinned as she was.
When she caught sight of Consort Wan, whom Emperor Jinyuan had kept behind him and protected all along, her face twisted in fury.
"How am I inferior to her? What makes her better than me? Why won't you love me?" she screamed hysterically.
Suddenly, she seized the hairpin she had intended to stab Consort Wan with and pressed it against Xiao Yu's throat, piercing his skin until blood seeped out!
Hiss!
Xiao Yu couldn't help frowning slightly.
Seeing the wound on his neck, the Crown Prince's eyes reddened with distress. "Little Imperial Uncle!"
At that moment, he hated his own helplessness more than ever.
If only he weren't the Crown Prince, if only he were stronger, he could rush over to save his imperial uncle without hesitation!
Seeing Xiao Yu injured, Consort Wan cried anxiously, "Ruomei! What are you doing? He's only a child!"
"Shut up! Don't you dare say my name!"
Consort Liu snapped at Consort Wan, "Spare me your fake concern! You make me sick!"
She turned her gaze back to Emperor Jinyuan. "The Prince of Zhennan has only one son."
"What do you think he'll do if he learns that his beloved son died in the palace?"
Consort Liu stared intently at him, searching his face for any sign of compromise. "Will he think Your Majesty can no longer tolerate the Prince of Zhennan's Residence and wants to wipe out his bloodline?
"Will he finally raise a rebellion to avenge his son?
"That would surely give Your Majesty quite a head-"
"How dare you hurt my master! I'll beat you to death!"
Before Consort Liu could finish, Qinggeng sent her flying-
Thud!
She slammed into the floor!
"Stop! Stop!"
Seeing that Qinggeng was about to beat Consort Liu to death, Shen Zhuocheng shouted in panic, "Hurt her again, and I'll kill him!"
Qinggeng stopped at once.
Afraid that his chances of escape would dwindle the longer he delayed, Shen Zhuocheng didn't dare waste another moment.
"Your Majesty!" he urged Emperor Jinyuan. "Let Consort Liu and me leave! You don't want the Prince of Zhennan to rebel, do you? Don't forget, he commands two hundred thousand personal troops-"
Sun Wenxun couldn't help speaking up. "Brother Shen, think carefully! If you-"
"What a load of fucking bullshit!"
Having heard Consort Liu and Shen Zhuocheng repeatedly slander his father and tarnish his reputation, Xiao Yu couldn't stand it any longer. He knocked the sword aside with his palm, then kicked Shen Zhuocheng over to Consort Liu.
Looking down at the two of them, he declared forcefully, "No one in this world is more loyal to his sovereign or devoted to his country than my Father. Don't you dare sully his name!"
Damn you!
My Elder Imperial Brother finally started letting down his guard around Father, and here you are, going on and on about rebellion!
Rebellion, my ass! Just looking at you pisses me off!
You've lived all these years, yet you'll throw everything away for that scrap of affection.
Clinging to it for your whole lives, refusing to let go, exhausting every scheme...
You think you've moved heaven and earth, but you've only moved yourselves. Nobody else even cares!
Idiots!
Emperor Jinyuan: "..."
Consort Wan: "..."
Sun Wenxun: "..."
The Crown Prince: "..." Seeing his little imperial uncle talking so eloquently and kicking with such vigor... he was probably fine.
Clang-
Xiao Yu tossed Shen Zhuocheng a sword.
"End your own lives," he told him. "I'll ask my Elder Imperial Brother to leave your bodies intact."
All the strength suddenly drained out of Shen Zhuocheng, leaving him utterly dispirited.
He knew.
Now that things had reached this point, it would be difficult to end this without their deaths.
At the same time, he felt a measure of relief.
Sometimes, being alive wasn't necessarily a good thing.
There was no longer any place in this world for him and Ruomei.
He helped the injured Liu Ruomei up and let her lean against his chest.
"Little Ruomei, when I grow up, I'll become a Grand General and protect you for the rest of your life..."
"All right, Brother Zhuocheng. You'd better grow up quickly..."
"Ruomei, I'm sorry. In the end, I broke my promise... I never became a Grand General, and I couldn't protect you for the rest of your life..."
Shen Zhuocheng brushed the loose strands of hair from her forehead and tucked them behind her ear.
He cupped her face and pressed a reverent kiss to her forehead.
"I know you must be exhausted too..." he said gently.
"Don't be afraid. I'll lead you down Yellow Springs Road. I'll stay with you forever..."
"Even in the Underworld..."
Before you continue