Outside the towering palace gates, a plaque hung high with the words “Prince Jing’s Mansion”. Whether in terms of grandeur or appearance, it was in no way inferior to the emperor’s sleeping quarters, presenting a lavish sight from a distance with its golden bricks and red tiles.
In the imperial palace, constructing a private residence was a daring act that, if it had happened a few decades earlier in the Great Wei Dynasty, would undoubtedly have led to losing one’s head.
However, on this day, the eunuch in charge by the Emperor’s side, Liu Fuyuan, stood at the palace gate with a feather duster in hand, bowing low. This extraordinary scene of reversal clearly demonstrated the current overwhelming power and sole authority held by this regent prince.
In the third year of the young emperor’s reign, the Great Wei Dynasty, with a history of over two hundred years, witnessed a tumultuous upheaval.
The regent prince, He Heng, of a different surname left by the former emperor to assist the young emperor, suddenly initiated a palace coup in the third year of the Jingde era. He used military force to suppress the imperial city, directly quelling any resistance and even placing the mild-mannered Emperor Wen Liangyu under house arrest.
Outside, the sun was scorching, and the chief eunuch’s brows almost formed a furrowed “川” character. He carefully wiped away the beads of sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, intensifying his already anxious expression.
At that moment, with a creaking sound, the heavy palace doors finally opened, and a young servant boy peeked out from inside.
The old eunuch’s face lit up with relief, as if he had finally found solace after a long drought. Immediately, he propped the door open with the feather duster and eagerly brought his head closer, as if afraid the person inside might change their mind.
In the next moment,
Ripples of water appeared, and a wave surged forward, causing the scene in front of He Heng to blur instantly. The old eunuch and the palace scene vanished in an instant, leaving him surrounded by an infinite expanse of golden light. He found himself suspended in mid-air.
At the same time, a familiar mechanical voice resonated in his ears,
996: [This is the mission world you are about to enter, and I’ve briefed you on the background.]
Upon hearing this, He Heng crossed his arms over his chest, furrowing his brows, and asked, “You mean ‘him’ refers to Wen Liangyu in this world?”
996: [That’s correct.]
Even though he knew he couldn’t escape the fate of chasing after his wife’s cremation scene, the moment he thought about being the regent prince who seized the imperial family’s fortune and imprisoned the emperor himself, He Heng couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
And the script he was about to step into probably told a story where the regent prince, with absolute power, ultimately succeeded in tormenting the emperor to death. Then, filled with regret, he aged overnight. Following that, the two characters would be reborn together, starting a cycle of “you torment me, I torment you, and in the end, we still end up together”.
Fortunately, the timeline and storyline He Heng was about to enter had just begun. The original owner had recently initiated the coup, softening the emperor’s situation. There hadn’t been any emotional entanglements between them, and the young emperor hadn’t been tortured to the brink of death.
However, the thought of just escaping the script of a domineering CEO and now plunging into the pit of a cold and ruthless regent prince made him sigh. He couldn’t help but wonder how many sins he had committed in his past life.
Moreover, according to the information provided by 996, the original owner was a regent prince with a mix of gloominess, sickness, obsession, ruthlessness, and gentleness all in one.
A remarkable guy,
In the previous script, it was face-changing in Sichuan opera, and now, it’s even more impressive – direct mental splitting.
But He Heng wasn’t afraid,
Because he comforted himself this way:
“No dangerous crematorium, just a lovely wife.”
The moment he thought that Shuang Shuang was the current Little Emperor of the Great Wei, He Heng suddenly felt accomplished again!
[Dear host, may I ask if you are ready to enter the script: “The Regent Prince’s Beloved Heart”?]
The system’s voice brought his thoughts back.
He Heng: “…”
He was just about to make a comment on 996’s naming skills, but the system didn’t give him any preparation time.
Before He Heng could even utter a “fine,” the mechanical voice rang out again,
[It seems you’re ready. Begin the deployment!]
At the same time, his entire being began to plummet rapidly, experiencing a sensation akin to extreme bungee jumping.
He didn’t know how long he had been descending, but just as He Heng began to feel a bit dizzy, he was abruptly halted in mid-air.
He Heng: “???”
Immediately, he looked down and realized he was suspended above the palace from the holographic projection.
[Oops, sorry about that. There was a small glitch in the deployment program. But at this height, it should be fine. You’re only about five or six meters above the ground; looks like it won’t be fatal.]
[I’ll trouble you to land automatically.]
In that instant, an indescribable premonition rose in He Heng’s heart. If he understood correctly, the “land automatically” mentioned by 996 should mean…
The next moment,
“Damn!”
He plummeted from the sky and landed with a loud “thud” directly onto his own honor guard.
“Lord He!” Several panicked voices immediately sounded around him.
He Heng winced in pain, furrowing his brows. Struggling, he managed to sit up from the ground. However, the sensation underneath him wasn’t as hard as he expected. He felt his limbs and everything seemed intact.
It seemed like there were several people beneath him?
“Lord He! How… how are you?”
Tian Lianghan, the eunuch who usually served by He Heng’s side, seemed a bit incoherent. He hastily called over the attendants who hadn’t been hit to come and assist.
After a while, Tian Lianghan finally managed to squeeze out a somewhat reasonable explanation,
“Did you climb onto the roof?”
He Heng rose from the ground, dusting off the dirt from his clothes. He was still immersed in the anger of being dropped unceremoniously by 996 a moment ago. He didn’t bother explaining to Tian Lianghan and simply nodded in response.
Hearing this, Tian Lianghan looked at him with concern, “Is there anything urgent that you couldn’t assign someone else to do? Must you go up to the roof yourself? It’s so dangerous.”
“I’m fine.” He Heng resumed his usual calm expression, and with a serious tone, he added, “I just wanted to go up and enjoy the view.”
Everyone: “…”
The air suddenly quieted, and the eunuchs and guards on the side didn’t know what to say for a moment.
He Heng then turned around, and he saw that the two who had been knocked unconscious by him were being carried away. One of them seemed to be the chief guard who used to stick closely to the original owner.
As the original owner was an arrogant and domineering figure, engaging in all sorts of unethical activities, he had naturally made numerous enemies in the court. The original owner was well aware of this fact, and thus, he valued his life greatly. He took precautions every day, guarded against open and secret threats from rivals, and never went out without a few trusted guards accompanying him closely.
This revealed the scene where Liu Fuyuan had urgently come to find him, and he had summoned his honor guard.
However, He Heng wasn’t the original owner. He detested having a bunch of people follow him around in everything he did. Besides, he was just taking a stroll in the palace. What was the need for so many people trailing behind him?
Thinking of this,
“No need for so many people to follow me,” He Heng waved his sleeve, pointing to the honor guard behind him, “just—”
At that moment, as he glanced back at his group of guards, among the varied heights and body types, some guards seemed oddly shaped, with either crooked appearances or fierce expressions.
And at that very moment, one tall figure in the lineup deeply captured He Heng’s attention.
Among the oddly shaped faces, that person had well-defined features that made him stand out in the crowd.
He Heng noticed that the man was tilting his head, pursing his lips, and playing with his fingers, showing a temperament that was hard to describe. With his exquisite facial features, he stood out.
If He Heng had to describe it,
It was probably like a handsome husky with clear features.
Seeing this, Tian Lianghan couldn’t help but think it wasn’t good. Of all the guards, He Heng had to pick Xie Chong, the famous silly one. But if that was what Lord He wanted, Tian Lianghan wouldn’t dare to disobey, no matter how much courage he had.
Seeing that Xie Chong was still standing there, looking silly while playing with his hands, Tian Lianghan immediately smacked the back of his head.
“Ah!” Xie Chong, looking confused, raised his head, meeting He Heng’s gaze directly.
When He Heng locked eyes with Xie Chong, who resembled a husky, he felt a vague sense of unease.
But as he observed that Xie Chong seemed taller than him, estimating at around 1.90 meters, and appeared capable of handling himself, with a familiar face, He Heng quickly suppressed the uneasy feeling.
“Him.”
He Heng finally made a decision, “Let him accompany me.”
Huh?
Was he chosen by the Regent Prince?
Xie Chong, who had never experienced any stroke of luck in his life, blurted out,
“Sure!”
Immediately, he flashed a silly smile at He Heng, his neat white teeth shining brilliantly under the sun.
“Hey, you!”
Tian Lianghan discreetly gave Xie Chong a hit, fearing he might say something inappropriate.
Anyone working by He Heng’s side had to be cautious, and yet here was Xie Chong, the second fool, still happily clueless.
They were worried he might lose his life within a couple of days.
“Lord He,”
Having stayed at the outer edge during the commotion, Liu Fuyuan had been unable to intervene. Now that the chaos seemed to have settled, he cautiously brought up the matter he sought He Heng’s help with earlier,
“What about His Majesty?”
The moment he heard the words “His Majesty”, He Heng’s attention was immediately drawn. He looked at Liu Fuyuan with a serious expression and asked, “What happened to His Majesty?”
The video feed provided by 996 had ended when Liu Fuyuan and the servant entered Prince Jing’s mansion. Therefore, He Heng was unaware of the reason for Liu Fuyuan’s visit. However, judging by the other man’s demeanor, something must have occurred with the Little Emperor.
Observing He Heng’s reaction, Liu Fuyuan was momentarily taken aback. He wondered if the Regent Prince had damaged his brain with that fall, not remembering what they had just discussed.
However, he respectfully repeated himself, “Lord He, His Majesty has been unwell for a long time. In the past few days, he has hardly eaten anything, and no matter how others advise him, he won’t listen. The imperial physicians can’t enter the Hall of Nurturing the Heart anymore. If this continues, it’s feared that…”
At this point, Liu Fuyuan became emotional and directly knelt down with a “thud” in front of He Heng.
He was well aware that He Heng had currently detained the emperor, intending to humiliate him. However, he was more afraid of something happening to the emperor than anyone else.
The reason He Heng could hold onto power and maintain his position so firmly was partly due to the fear of the vassals from all directions who were wary of his influence. More importantly, they were cautious because he held the current emperor as a hostage. It was because of this that they dared not attack recklessly.
However, if something were to happen to the Little Emperor, and He Heng, as the regent prince, directly took over, it would inevitably lead to chaos in the realm. In that case, He Heng could forget about maintaining a stable position.
Liu Fuyuan, having served three emperors, understood the intricacies involved. Thus, even though He Heng was the mastermind behind all this turmoil, he was still the primary person Liu Fuyuan could turn to for help.
As expected, Liu Fuyuan noticed that He Heng immediately furrowed his brows upon hearing the news.
“Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and go!” He Heng urged.
With those words, He Heng swung his sleeves and strode forward confidently.
Liu Fuyuan quickly suppressed the despair on his face and followed him with small steps.
Inside the emperor’s sleeping chamber, it was desolate. Only a few palace servants were there, providing minimal attendance. The contrast between the emperor’s residence and the lavish Prince Jing’s mansion was stark, creating a sense of emptiness in the air.
As soon as He Heng stepped into the hall, the few palace servants immediately halted their activities and anxiously greeted him.
Waving his hand towards them, He Heng didn’t utter a word. Instead, he hurriedly walked towards the emperor’s bed.
With his arrival, the atmosphere in the sleeping chamber instantly grew heavier.
Under the sheer curtains,
He Heng could vaguely see the delicate figure of the young emperor through the translucent fabric.
From the disheveled bedding, a pair of jade-white ankles protruded, and around the ankle was a rough silver chain, rubbing the fair skin until it turned slightly red.
As if sensing the presence outside the bed, the young emperor suddenly shifted his body, inadvertently pulling the silver chain on his foot, creating a tinkling sound.
The next moment, He Heng reached out to lift the bed curtains, revealing the scene,
Beneath the crimson bedding, the brightness of the young man’s white skin was dazzling. His complexion was pale, lips devoid of color, yet his cheeks exhibited an abnormal flush. Disheveled black hair spread messily around him, and his long, feather-like eyelashes swept over the elongated corners of his eyes, accentuating the teardrop at the outer corner, making it even more enticing.
In that moment of recognition, a visible flash of hatred crossed the young man’s amber eyes. Despite his current weakness, he glared at He Heng with fierce resentment, resembling an irritated little cat.
Observing the somewhat unhealthy appearance of the young emperor, He Heng’s intuition told him that the boy might be running a fever.
Memories from their previous world together resurfaced in his mind. Looking at the familiar face before him, he was on the verge of instinctively blurting out, “Hey, wife.”
“Cough! Cough!”
The young emperor coughed twice, a faint blush appearing on his face. He looked at the man with a deepened expression, a hint of mocking smile playing on his lips.
“Lord He, what’s the point of keeping me confined like this?” he sneered. If the other wanted to humiliate him while using him as leverage against the vassals, he’d rather die than let He Heng succeed.
Wen Liangyu’s voice abruptly brought He Heng’s thoughts back. He listened as the young emperor continued:
“Why not just put an end to it?”
“Cough! Cough!”
The young emperor coughed again, hunching over himself. The skin around his eyes turned red, and he appeared extremely uncomfortable.
Just moments ago, he had uttered harsh words towards He Heng, but now, due to illness, his amber eyes looked moist, and his expression conveyed both discomfort and a hint of grievance, evoking a sense of pity.
Moreover, according to the information provided by 996, in this world, the young emperor had just turned twenty, a few years younger than when He Heng first encountered him in the previous world.
Just a child, after all.
Thinking about this, He Heng reached out to Wen Liangyu, wanting to feel the other’s temperature.
As his hand touched the skin on the young emperor’s delicate neck, he felt intense warmth.
Seeing this, he furrowed his brow.
Indeed, the other was running a fever.
In Wen Liangyu’s eyes, when He Heng’s hand approached his neck, he subconsciously thought that he might have angered the other with his words earlier, and he couldn’t resist the urge to strangle himself. However, when it came down to it, he hesitated due to other considerations, so he didn’t dare to exert too much force.
Wen Liangyu, feeling the touch on his sensitive neck, noticed that He Heng’s hand remained in that position without further action. Unable to resist, he subtly shifted away and remarked, “What’s this? Is Lord He afraid now?”
“With all the deceiving acts you’ve pulled on the emperor, what’s one more? It doesn’t matter.”
However, after saying these words, He Heng didn’t show anger, nor did he retract his hand. He just silently gazed at Wen Liangyu, and in his profound eyes, there seemed to be some indescribable emotions.
This puzzled Wen Liangyu,
Why did the other’s behavior start to become unpredictable?
The stubborn and unyielding expression of the young emperor made He Heng unable to help but sigh inwardly.
Although he couldn’t stop the ache in his heart, he had to play his role according to the system.
Based on the information provided by 996, in this kind of ancient pursuit-of-wife crematorium literature where the body and heart are tortured, as a paranoid regent who fears nothing and continues as long as people don’t die, his correct approach is to go against everything with the protagonist, preferably to the point of infuriating him to a heart attack.
And now the scene is perfect for him to improvise on the spot.
So, in the next moment,
He Heng bent down, strands of hair falling beside the young emperor’s ear. He smirked, disdainfully saying,
“You want to die, but I won’t let you have your way.”
Then, in the bewildered eyes of the young emperor, He Heng clearly declared his stance,
“If Yama comes for you at the third watch, I’ll keep you until the fifth watch.”
When Wen Liangyu regained consciousness and realized what the other person was saying, a stubborn anger ignited in his amber-colored eyes. He struggled restlessly, and the chains on his feet jingled.
Then he thought again, as long as he persisted in not eating, what could He Heng do to him? Would they resort to torture, or perhaps force-feeding?
Since all the people he cared about and his blood relatives had already passed away, and the few close ones were banished to distant islands, He Heng wouldn’t find any leverage over him in the short term.
At this moment, He Heng released him and stood up, shouting loudly towards the palace gates, “Servants!”
Seeing this, Wen Liangyu furrowed his brows, and in an instant, countless thoughts of the cruel tortures the other might inflict on him flashed through his mind.
Just as he was lost in these disturbing thoughts, the eunuch Tian Lianghan, who was waiting outside the door, hurriedly rushed in.
He approached He Heng, bowing respectfully and waiting for further instructions.
Then Wen Liangyu saw He Heng whispering a few words into the eunuch’s ear, and as Tian Lianghan heard He Heng’s words, his eyes first flashed with a hint of confusion. However, he quickly nodded in understanding, bowed, and hurriedly left.
This made Wen Liangyu’s mood even more uneasy. Could it be that He Heng intended to use the Ten Forms of Punishment on him?
In that moment, various cruel forms of punishment paraded through his mind like a revolving lantern.
After Tian Lianghan left, He Heng raised his hand and directly ordered the servants to prepare some light food. He also summoned the imperial physician to check the Emperor’s pulse and prescribed medicine. Wen Liangyu watched He Heng’s smooth and efficient actions, and an unknown fear ignited in his heart.
Why did He Heng’s resolute demeanor make him feel somewhat afraid?
After giving all these orders, He Heng walked back to the bedside and quietly looked at the young Emperor, asking, “Will you eat later? Do you want to take the medicine?”
Seeing this, Wen Liangyu’s pupils trembled suddenly. The increasingly inscrutable behavior of the other party made him hesitate for a moment.
Or could it be that He Heng intended to use psychological tactics, hoping to make him surrender through this unknown fear? He wouldn’t fall for it.
Thinking of this, the young Emperor once again strengthened his determination, looking at He Heng, he resolutely shook his head.
“Alright.”
He Heng left a light word and turned away, showing no displeasure in his expression, as if all of this was within his expectations.
At this moment, Tian Lianghan had already completed He Heng’s instructions and returned to the sleeping chamber. In his hand, he held a long, slender rod with a few goose feathers hanging from the other end.
Seeing this, Wen Liangyu was somewhat stunned.
Wasn’t this the kind of stick people in the palace used for playing with cats?
What did He Heng intend to do with this?
“You all can leave.”
As He Heng received the cat toy, he immediately waved his hand, dismissing all the attendants. He also instructed them to firmly close the doors of the sleeping chamber upon leaving.
With a loud “bang”, the heavy door closed,
Wen Liangyu felt a vague sense of unease rising in his heart. He instinctively propped up his body, constantly moving toward the edge of the bed, but unfortunately, with chains tied to his feet, he couldn’t escape.
And at this moment, he saw He Heng making a resounding “clap, clap” with the cat toy, approaching him with a stern look.
Seeing the other approaching step by step, the tall figure cast a shadow over the bed.
The young emperor had never encountered such a situation and panicked immediately.
In the next moment, the warm palm of the other seized his delicate ankle.
Without giving the young emperor any time to prepare, He Heng directly grabbed his ankle and pulled him towards himself. Then, picking up the cat toy, he began to scratch the soles of the emperor’s feet.
Having lived together for so many years, he knew the other person inside out.
He Heng knew how much he was afraid of itching. Scratching his sensitive areas would make him completely unable to bear it. The first target was the soles of his feet, followed by his neck, and then the soft flesh around his waist.
“Hahahaha!”
Feeling the goose feathers continuously tickling the soles of his feet, there was an irresistible urge, and Wen Liangyu burst into laughter.
He knew he shouldn’t be laughing, but he couldn’t control himself.
Using a cat toy to tickle someone’s feet—what kind of person would do that?
He practically wriggled like a worm on the bed, and tears streamed down his face.
It was just the thought of himself, as the ruler of a nation, how could he make such an undignified posture?
Thinking about this, a sense of shame brought back his remaining bit of sanity.
“Um! Hey, don’t tickle me!”
Wen Liangyu protested to He Heng, speaking out in his final struggle.
However, under the “torture” of the tickling, his voice completely changed, slightly rising, and even mixed with a restrained breath, sounding as if he were coquettish.
Seeing this, He Heng’s lips curled slightly, but he still didn’t stop his actions. He asked in a deep voice, “So, are you going to behave?”
“Hmm? Are you going to eat? Are you going to take your medicine?” After saying this, he finally put away the tickling tool.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Wen Liangyu finally got a chance to catch his breath. He leaned against the edge of the bed, struggling to take a few breaths, but he didn’t give a direct answer to He Heng’s question.
The next moment, seeing that the other party was about to use the tickling tool on his feet again, “I’ll eat!”
The young emperor finally surrendered to the humiliation. He huddled in the corner, his lips and eye sockets all red, looking extremely pitiful as he hugged his knees.
“Alright, since Your Majesty says so, I naturally believe that Your Majesty will keep your word. After all, I’m not some great villain.”
With that, He Heng readily withdrew the tickling tool, a lingering smile still on his lips.
Seeing the young emperor burying his face in his chest, not daring to lift his head to look at him, He Heng’s smile deepened. He directly placed the teasing tool on the table corner and walked toward the palace’s main door.
In reality, Wen Liangyu was not the kind of young emperor who had always been pampered, unable to endure any hardship or grievance. On the contrary, he had led a turbulent life.
Born in troubled times, in the magnificent imperial city, he lost his mother in his early years. During his adolescence, he faced internal strife among siblings. Before reaching adulthood, his father, the emperor, also passed away, leaving the responsibility of governing the Wei Empire to him.
With internal power struggles among the aristocracy and external threats looming, the teenage emperor donned the heavy crown and sat on the lonely dragon throne before reaching the age of eighteen.
Wen Liangyu governed diligently, more industriously than any emperor of Wei Dynasty since the establishment of the dynasty. He devoted all his time, except for eating and sleeping, to the governance of the country. He exerted all his efforts to safeguard the Wei Dynasty, aspiring to create an era of peace and prosperity for the people.
However, the time given to him for preparation was too short. Two years proved insufficient to completely uproot the entrenched regent within the court.
A month ago, when enemy forces invaded the borders, Wen Liangyu, well aware that hastily mobilizing the Forbidden Army stationed in the imperial city might lead to disaster, decided to decisively move his troops. Considering that the regent “He Heng” who posed the greatest threat to him, was then leading his forces to quell the rebellion in Yan Province, Wen Liangyu chose to transfer the military.
However, no one anticipated that at this critical moment, the regent would disregard the overall situation. He directly summoned his forces, executed a flanking maneuver, and headed straight for the capital. This triggered a palace coup, leading to the subsequent unfolding of the plot.
In name, the throne of Wei Dynasty did not change hands, but the one in power had completely transformed. Wen Liangyu accepted this as his fate.
However, while he could accept his fate, he couldn’t surrender or yield because he remained the sovereign of Wei. An emperor could lose his life, but he could not lose his dignity.
So, when the original owner heated the iron brand and pressed it against the skin on his back, he did not show a trace of submission to the other party.
Over the past month, the original owner had employed numerous tortures, but none had managed to make Wen Liangyu lose control. Yet today, he found himself defeated by a simple cat toy???
Thinking about this, Wen Liangyu felt even more ashamed, especially in front of the man who used a cat toy to tickle his feet.
Only when he heard the gradually fading footsteps of the other did he cautiously peek his head out. He Heng walked to the entrance of the hall and the servants were already waiting with the prepared meal and freshly brewed medicine, he allowed the old eunuch Liu Fuyuan to enter and supervise the young emperor’s meal and medication.
Liu Fuyuan is quite shrewd; what doesn’t he understand?
As soon as Lord He began speaking, Liu Fuyuan promptly continued, “Rest assured, Lord He. I will attend to His Majesty diligently and report back to you once he finishes his meal.”
Pleased with Liu Fuyuan’s quick understanding and proactive offer to keep him informed, Lord He nodded in agreement, indicating he had no objections.
No wonder ancient emperors had several eunuchs serving by their side; it’s like having an intelligent robotic butler. Give them a command, and they promptly generate the rest of the actions, strictly adhering to instructions.
Observing the attendants delivering trays with meals and freshly brewed medicine, He Heng returned to the sleeping quarters. However, almost the moment he approached the bedside, with a swift “whoosh!” a figure suddenly darted into the corner of the bed. The movement was so quick that Minister He only caught a glimpse of the trailing hem of the person’s clothes, resembling a small cat suddenly startled on the roadside, swiftly disappearing into the thicket.
“After finishing the meal, take the medicine.”
Seeing Emperor Wen Liangyu hiding under the covers,
He Heng with a somewhat helpless smile left the room after placing the medicine bowl on the table, leaving behind a “I’ll take my leave first.”.
As he walked out of the palace gate, Tian Lianghan hurriedly came up to hold an umbrella for him. However, when He Heng turned his head, he saw Xie Chong already napping in a secluded corner of the sleeping quarters, leaning against the wall. He was sleeping soundly, even with a bit of drool at the corner of his mouth.
Tian Lianghan walked over and slapped Xie Chong awake, saying, “Ah?” Xie Chong had just woken up from his nap and was a bit disoriented.
“Do you dare to sleep here while doing things for Prince Jing? Do you not want your head anymore?” Tian Lianghan grabbed his ear, raising his voice almost an octave.
Seeing that Xie Chong was still in a daze, he yanked on his collar, pulling him up. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and catch up with our master.”
As they caught up with He Heng, the trio made their way back to the emperor’s chambers. When He Heng returned after his stroll, the atmosphere inside the chamber had become quiet and tranquil.
Listening to Liu Fuyuan’s report, He Heng learned that the young emperor, exhausted from the events, had fallen asleep after having his meal and taking the prescribed medicine. The lack of proper rest over the past few days had taken a toll on him, causing him to succumb to slumber despite the shallow sleep he had experienced in recent nights.
He Heng nodded, acknowledging the situation. He then approached the bed, taking careful and quiet steps to avoid disturbing the emperor’s rest. Standing by the bedside, he observed the peaceful visage of the sleeping monarch.
The room retained an air of calmness as He Heng, Tian Lianghan, and Xie Chong maintained a vigilant watch over the young emperor. After a moment, He Heng gestured for the two of them to leave, indicating that he would stay behind to keep an eye on things.
As they left the chambers, the door was closed gently, enveloping the room in a serene silence, allowing the young emperor to continue his much-needed rest.
And at this moment,
“Mmm~”
Wen Liangyu murmured in his sleep. It seemed that the slightly cool back of the other person felt comfortable, prompting him to nuzzle his cheek against the back of the hand, much like a little cat.
Watching him in this state, He Heng couldn’t help but chuckle. When Wen Liangyu was awake, he was like a fierce little tiger, baring his teeth and growling. Yet, once asleep, he turned into an affectionate little cat.
The weather around the capital had changed abruptly these past few days. It was sunny just a few days ago, but now a chilly wind had set in, accompanied by continuous drizzle, signaling the arrival of autumn.
Following the customs of Wei Dynasty, on the third day of autumn, the imperial family would hold a hunting ceremony on the vast grasslands near the capital.
Ministers submitted memorials, suggesting that the autumn hunt be included in the schedule. Of course, these memorials were now being reviewed by He Heng, the actual wielder of power.
The officials were well aware of this, and their submissions were merely to please the new authority. After perusing the memorials, He Heng thought that the autumn hunt was indeed a good suggestion, considering the recent pacification of the border troubles and the overall stability of the country.
Moreover, according to the information provided by 996, the protagonist’s current level of blackening has been consistently hovering around 90, and it shows no signs of decreasing.
He Heng sometimes feels like he is highly combustible and Wen Liangyu is the fire alarm. Whenever he gets close to the young emperor, a fire alarm immediately rings in his mind, starting to “beep! beep!” incessantly.
In the past couple of days, Wen Liangyu’s illness has improved. Mainly because he is genuinely afraid that He Heng will use the cat teaser stick on him again, so he obediently eats his meals and takes his medicine on time.
Additionally, He Heng constantly monitors the young emperor’s clothing, food, and other aspects. He has also enlisted the best physicians from the royal hospital to help regulate the emperor’s health on a daily basis.
In this way, after about a week of recuperation, Emperor Wen Liangyu’s illness was almost healed.
However, his constitution was still weak, and his face lacked color. He was sensitive to the cold weather, and he avoided encountering He Heng. Most of the time, he stayed in the palace, appearing increasingly listless.
After careful consideration, He Heng thought it might be a good idea to take advantage of the upcoming autumn hunt to let the young emperor go out for some fresh air. Constantly staying in the palace like a sickly rabbit wasn’t ideal.
On the day of the autumn hunt,
Leading the procession was He Heng on a tall horse, followed by a grand entourage.
Everyone might not say it out loud, but deep down, they all understood that the era of the “Wen” surname ruling the world was over. The throne of Wei Dynasty had changed hands, and as for how long Wen Liangyu, the puppet emperor, could remain in his position depended entirely on He Heng’s will.
It was just a matter of time before he would be eventually deposed.
It took about two or three hours to travel from the capital to the royal hunting grounds.
When they arrived, it was precisely noon, the peak of the sun.
On the vast grasslands, the sound of hooves echoed, and a sea of green grass stretched as far as the eye could see.
While Wen Liangyu sat in the sedan chair, he lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Through the small square grid, he once again saw the vast grassland.
Wild grasses, reaching up to the knee, swayed with the wind. The thundering sound of galloping horses approached from afar. The scenery before his eyes seemed unchanged, just like it used to be.
This was still the familiar royal hunting ground for him, only the people had changed.
Wen Liangyu neither disliked horse riding nor was he incapable of hunting. However, over the past month, he had been tormented by the original owner, coupled with a severe illness. Therefore, his current physical condition was not suitable for vigorous exercise. Upon strong recommendations from the imperial physician, he chose to travel by sedan chair.
The altitude on the vast grassland was higher than in the capital, and the temperature dropped sharply. Although it was supposed to be a cool autumn, the temperature felt as cold as winter. Wen Liangyu had a cold constitution, and he was naturally sensitive to the cold. After falling ill, his aversion to cold had intensified.
Moreover, during this period of illness, he had lost a considerable amount of weight from being bedridden. His body had become rather thin, making him more susceptible to the cold. Sometimes, even a slight breeze made He Heng worry that Wen Liangyu might feel too cold.
But now, due to his aversion to the cold, Wen Liangyu had wrapped himself in several layers of padded clothing. He even wore a white fox fur scarf around his neck, leaving only a pointed chin exposed. He ended up looking like a chubby fox.
The emperor’s sedan chair was positioned prominently in the middle of the procession, attracting attention. After riding his horse around the vicinity for a while, He Heng returned to see the sedan curtain being lifted. From the sedan window, a furry little head emerged, constantly looking around.
Observing the curious appearance of the emperor peering out, He Heng understood that the young emperor was clearly finding it hard to endure the loneliness.
Wen Liangyu was still quite young, having just passed the coming of age. This was the time when young people are most active. Despite maintaining the demeanor of an emperor, appearing mature beyond his years, he still carried a childlike quality deep down.
However, He Heng noticed that in that brief moment when their eyes met, a look of panic flashed across Wen Liangyu’s young face. It was as if he had seen a monstrous creature that would devour him, and he even blushed, swiftly pulling the curtain closed with a “whoosh!”
Observing this, He Heng couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.
As they continued to advance, the landscape before them gradually widened. Many fences made of thin ropes and poles appeared on the horizon. Every now and then, the figures of wild rabbits and foxes darted across, while eagles soared in the sky. This signaled that the procession had officially entered the hunting ground.
Several courtiers chose to observe from the side of the hunting ground, but as the regent, He Heng naturally had to lead by example and showcase his skills in this autumn hunt. He took the initiative to ride into the hunting ground.
Thanks to the assistance of the system, He Heng effortlessly inherited all the skills of the original owner, including equestrianism. As a commander who led the most valiant elite troops, the Tiger Elite Army, He Heng’s riding skills might not be unparalleled, but they were undoubtedly among the very best.
However, within the span of a tea ceremony, he had distanced himself from those behind him. The shallow grass didn’t reach the horse’s hooves, and amid the neighing of the spirited horse, He Heng led the way among the crowd.
In the distance, there were undulating mountain ranges. The brisk wind blew through He Heng’s hair, swaying the scarlet robe he wore.
The black waistband and wrist guards complemented his figure even more. In this appearance, He Heng didn’t seem like a regent deeply entrenched in court politics. Instead, he looked like a spirited young general.
At that moment, a rabbit suddenly emerged from the deep green grass nearby. It stared with round eyes, cautiously surveying its surroundings.
When He Heng saw that fluffy rabbit for the first time, what came to his mind was how it resembled the always fierce little emperor. With that in mind, why not catch this rabbit back? The little emperor would surely like that.
Thinking so, he immediately bent his bow, fitted an arrow, and aimed at the rabbit.
“Whoo!”
But at this moment, the spirited horse untimely let out a neigh, startling the rabbit in the grass.
The rabbit, like a startled bird, leaped with all four legs and swiftly vanished.
However, unwilling to give up, He Heng thought he must bring back this rabbit that resembled the little emperor. So, he pulled the reins and urged his horse to gallop, chasing after the disappearing rabbit.
His steed, truly a thousand-mile horse, quickly caught up with the rabbit.
Seeing the distance between him and the rabbit closing, just at this moment, a wooden stake appeared in front of the rabbit, blocking its path. He Heng saw this as an excellent opportunity. He immediately squeezed his legs against the horse’s flank and stood up on the horse, aiming at the rabbit ahead.
However, in the instant he released the bowstring, the spirited horse was suddenly tripped by a stone on the road, and its front hooves were startled, causing it to rear up.
If He Heng were seated on the horse’s back at this moment, it would be fine. But as the chosen one, he was standing on the horse’s back at this moment.
So, in this moment, the horse threw him off, but fortunately, He Heng reacted swiftly. He quickly grabbed the reins and, leveraging his long legs, hooked his foot against the horse’s flank.
As a result, the situation turned into this: he was thrown off the horse but not completely. Therefore, He Heng was now in a precarious position, hanging upside down on the horse’s back, with the edges of his long hair dangling, ready to touch the ground at any moment.
And just at that moment, the spirited horse suddenly started running wildly, carrying He Heng directly to the side of the hunting ground. In full view of the ministers, they raced along the fence.
The ministers, witnessing this bizarre spectacle, were initially stunned. As for Xie Chong, who served as He Heng’s personal guard and stood at the forefront of the crowd, when he saw He Heng’s strange shooting posture, he first widened his eyes in astonishment.
Then, in a sudden moment of realization, he seemed to fully understand.
This must be some special equestrian shooting technique pioneered by He Heng.
Realizing this, Xie Chong immediately blew a whistle towards the people in the hunting ground, “Lord He, excellent skill! Shooting while hanging upside down on the horseback, who else in the entire Great Wei can achieve such a feat?”
In the next moment, the crowd below imitated Xie Chong’s actions, erupting into a deafening chorus of cheers. Some even stood up in public, applauding He Heng.
“Well done! Well done!”
“Lord He is demonstrating extraordinary skills for us.”
“Good!” Someone immediately rushed to the front row of the hunting ground, vigorously clapping their hands.
“This technique is excellent! How about naming it ‘Hanging Golden Bell’?”
He suggested, and immediately, someone echoed, “Wonderful! Brother Zi Huan’s suggestion is brilliant!”
And at this moment, He Heng was hanging upside down on the back of the unruly wild horse, feeling a whirlwind sensation, blood rushing to his head, as if his heart, liver, and lungs were about to be thrown out.
At this moment, the world lost all its colors, leaving only a mosaic of chaos.
Amidst the deafening cheers of the crowd, he let out a helpless shout:
“Fuck, can someone please come and save me?!”
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