Your Highness, Please Love Me Tender

63. Xiao ShengNian in Panic

Translator: Flying Lines

Su Jie lost his tongue for a moment because he found it a bit hard to understand. It had been sixteen years since Fen Buhui usurped the throne yet these men never gave up the idea of restoring their country to the rightful heir. Both Zhou Zaiyue and Sun Shu were waiting for their Crown Prince. They, with Ju Liandao as the head, confronted with Fen Buhui for sixteen years. Sixteen years…that was a long time for the short lifespan of people in this troubled time.

Was it all worth it?

As if having seen through Su Jie’s mind, Zhou said, “People of State Yanling worship the demigod, attributing everything they have now to the bestowal of the demigod. In their hearts, members of the royal family are the descendants of the demigod who they would swear their loyalty to. Only with you on the throne will people’s spirit and beliefs find a place to rest.”

“Then why don’t they just overthrow Fen Buhui?”

“Because the royal members are no where to be found. Even if Fen Buhui is dead, no new candidate would get the acknowledgement of the people. Now Yanling is only peaceful on the surface. Fen Buhui’s only way to secure his rule is to kill you or people of Yanling will always be waiting for your return.”

“They worship the demigod and would only accept the descendant of the demigod as their emperor.” Su Jie couldn’t help but chuckle, extreme calmness beneath his eyes as he murmured, “People of Yanling are still waiting for my return. They don’t care whether I was a beggar or an assassin in the past because I was born in that land of demigod, because my surname is Sue, not because of who I am.”

“So please don’t let them down. The emperors they loved in history were all wise and caring about the people. And I hope you’ll make a good ruler.”

Su Jie remained silent this time.

*

Xiao ShengNian was greeted by a faint reek of blood upon return. He paused his step and glanced back at Zhui Xing, who nodded in reply to show that he smelt it too.

Xiao ShengNian’s face changed abruptly. He hurried to push open the door and saw the blood on the ground and…the dark rooms.

Were they all dead?! Thinking of that possibility, his heart skipped a beat as he called out loud, “Wen NianXuan!”

Even Zhui Xing was startled by His Highness’s shout. He had looked around the yard carefully and saw the bodies piled up in the corner after stepping in, knowing that Su Jie and the others must be all right. Believing His Highness must have noticed that too, he didn’t say anything to remind Xiao ShengNian, who, in fact, out of extreme worry, didn’t see that at all.

Taken aback by Xiao ShengNian’s shout, Su Jie, who was napping on bed, shot straight up and rushed to the yard in haste after putting his coat on. He asked with great concern, “What happened?”

“Nothing. Just checking if you’re dead or not,” blurted Xiao ShengNian, relieved to see Su Jie safe and sound.

After a moment, anger welled up in him again. Brows knitted, he asked in a reprimanding tone, “Why didn’t you keep any light on? The door is unlocked and it’s completely dark. I thought all of you were dead!”

Sensing the worry and care in his reprimanding words, Su Jie felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Such a feeling was quite novel to him. Something touching and sweet. However, before he could figure out what this mood change of his was all about, Xiao ShengNian asked again, “Where is Master shifu and Yu Che? Are they both all right?”

“Yes.” Su Jie then pointed at the bodies at the corner, saying, “Elder Zhou knocked them down alone. I didn’t even get the chance to do anything.”

“Um.” Xiao ShengNian resumed his calm and noble look he usually had and ordered to Zhui Xing, “Find out who these men were.”

Zhui Xing then went to check on the bodies and came back shaking his head, “They came with the determination to die. There is nothing on them that could indicate their identity. We won’t get anything even if they were alive.”

“They must have come for Sun Shu. Right how is he doing?” he finally remembered his task for this journey.

“He’s fine too.” Su Jie replied.

“We’ll stay here for the night and leave first thing in the morning. Zhui Xing, take care of the bodies and let our men investigate who did this.” With that, Xiao ShengNian waved his hand, looking exhausted.

“Yes, Your Highness,” replied Zhui Xing.

It was late at night and the bright stars even eclipsed the moon, making it hard to locate. A dark, windy night was a perfect time to dispose of these bodies.

“Hump! You don’t even know to keep the light on and wait for me.” Xiao ShengNian complained in a blaming tone as he walked to the room.

“Yes, Your Highness. Your little slave will wait for your return under the candlelight and warm the bed for your royal highness.” The boy replied in an obedient and clear voice, gentle like the spring breeze.

Xiao ShengNian looked back and found the boy beaming with even manifest joy in his clear eyes. The boy’s improperly dressed robe revealed his delicate collarbone and his fair skin, looking a bit elusive under the faint candlelight.

Xiao ShengNian’s steps came to a halt and he immediately turned back to tidy up the boy’s clothes, threatening with the most unthreatening voice, “Get properly dressed next time you go out, or…I will gouge out the eyes of anyone who sees you.”

“Your Highness, don’t be so cruel. Passers-by are innocent.”

“Then I’ll just punish you.”