It Turns out that I am Beautiful, Strong and Miserable [Quick Wear] - 80

 

ITOTIABSAM | The Tyrant in the Deep Palace | 80

Even though there was a window between them, Xie Ye felt that he was closer to Gu Cong.

With a tilt of his pitch-black lashes, Gu Cong turned his head away. "Got it."

"In that case, may I come in? I can enter without using the door," understanding that this was the little emperor's willingness to trust him, Gu Cong raised a smile. Without waiting for a response, he propped himself up on the windowsill and gracefully jumped in. "Your Majesty has walked a lot today; your legs must be very sore."

"I've had hot water prepared, which should help relieve your fatigue."

Glancing at the rabbit and deer at the window, who had politely moved aside for a moment but were now curiously peeking back in, Xie Ye asked, "What about them?"

"They'll go back on their own once they're full," seeing that the deer was about to lick the remaining half of the fruit in the emperor's palm, Gu Cong quickly intercepted, taking it himself and scolding gently, "Mine."

"Don't touch."

Despite thinking that it was a bit childish for an adult male to feel jealous of a deer with its mind on food, 1101 found that its host was quite pleased. The corners of Xie Ye's eyes curved slightly, resembling the moon hanging high in the sky.

The palace servants who came to deliver water afterward were even more surprised. The main gate of the emperor's residence had been closed all along, so how did this palace eunuch, Gu, manage to appear inside the house?

But no matter what, it was visible to the naked eye that the Emperor's complexion had softened considerably compared to when he had just returned. When the master was happy, their days were better.

The only one disappointed was probably Pei Yi: when it came to assassination, the fewer people in the room, the better. Yet the tyrant and Gu Cong were glued together day after day, rarely quarreling, and quickly reconciling when they did.

It was truly sickening.

However, with his skills, whether there was one more Gu Cong or one less, it didn't matter much to him. Having pretended to be a young master for so long, he had almost forgotten the feeling of holding a sword. With the dagger that his master had entrusted to him tucked in his sleeve, Pei Yi brushed his lips with his hand. Instead of apprehension, there was more excitement at having his wishes fulfilled.

His patience hadn't been in vain, and his waiting hadn't been in vain either.

Pei Yi had already figured out the patrol routine of the Imperial Army these days. The tyrant preferred quietness and was dispatched by Xue Hai, so the defenses around his residence were naturally weaker.

At midnight, Pei Yi changed out of his wide-sleeved robe from daytime and into the simplest outfit. His courtyard was secluded, and there weren't many people rushing to flatter him. 

Worried that the smell of blood would attract trouble, he sneaked around until he had no choice but to knock out several guards and drag them into the bushes.

The infiltration process went smoothly. The tyrant's sleeping chamber was lit as bright as daylight year-round, making it one of the most challenging environments for assassination. 

However, the palace was remote and prone to fire, so although there were some candles lit, the overall atmosphere was still dim.

Silently, Pei Yi flipped over and landed on the ground without a sound. Without looking back, he pressed his hand against the window, ready to muffle any noise that might occur when it closed.

On the dragon bed draped with curtains, there was a vague lump under the embroidered quilt, seemingly wrapping around two people. Step by step, Pei Yi approached, tiptoeing closer. In a moment of reverie, he heard once again the question the tyrant had asked him before:

"Pei Yi, how have I treated you?"

But soon, the emotion in his eyes was replaced by a cold, hard killing intent. The humiliations he had endured during this time were vivid in his mind. Ultimately, he was nothing more than a plaything in the hands of the tyrant, to be molded and manipulated at whim.

What tenderness was there to speak of?

With a sudden movement, he threw back the covers and fiercely stabbed towards the throat of where a normal person's would be.

Then—

Clang!

The buzzing of blades clashing filled the air as Xue Hai, who had been waiting under the covers, sprang up and struck back, slicing through Pei Yi's right arm.

Masked and wearing different clothes, Pei Yi didn't think the other party would immediately recognize him. But Xue Hai had clearly noted every detail of their shameless affair, of the affair with a married man, with an indescribable anger mixed in, making every move deadly.

Assassination by dark guards relied on immediately fleeing after a missed strike to avoid causing trouble for the master. With no intention of engaging in a prolonged fight, let alone pondering how the tyrant could have been forewarned, Pei Yi gritted his teeth in pain and tried to run. But the next moment, the once spacious and quiet courtyard was suddenly surrounded by one group after another of Imperial Guards.

The burning torches illuminated him, preventing him from escaping through the window.

Seizing the instinctive opening when the enemy's eyes closed for just a moment, a seemingly clumsy long blade swiftly attacked from the side, mercilessly severing the tendons in Pei Yi's hand that held the dagger.

Blood flowed profusely.

Large beads of cold sweat instantly formed on his forehead, and Pei Yi couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.

Of course, he refused to give up, but his struggles were futile in the end. Despite his resistance, it was nothing more than the struggle of a trapped animal. He was restrained by the swarming Imperial Guards, forced to kneel in front of a pair of boots embroidered with dragon patterns.

Worried that the sticky blood would dirty the other person's eyes, his wound was hastily bandaged, his hands tied behind his back, and his face mask torn off, leaving him in a sorry state.

No one spoke around him, but Pei Yi could feel the piercing gazes landing on him like needles, filled with either open or hidden disdain and curiosity.

"Pei Yi."

Not bothering to bend down himself or even worthy of having Pei Yi bow, Xie Ye casually drew a sword from the waist of a nearby guard, lifting the chin of the so-called protagonist with a smirk. "Can't wait even until the middle of the night?"

Though the words sounded ambiguous, the tone was chilling, and even Pei Yi, who was usually foolish, now understood that he had fallen into a trap.

... Especially by Xue Hai.

This traitor, whose daughter was about to marry his master.

As thoughts churned in his mind, though he gritted his teeth and remained silent, his gaze seemed to bore through Xue Hai.

The latter didn't even spare a glance at Pei Yi, bowing and handing over a yet-unused signal flare. "Please, Your Majesty, take a look. This is something we found on the thief just now."

With Xi Jinyu's caution, the signal flare was naturally plain, without any markings that could identify its origin. Xie Ye didn't expect to easily obtain evidence of the protagonist's rebellion. He simply pulled the fuse and launched it into the sky.

Boom!

The fireworks exploded, illuminating Pei Yi's suddenly pale face.

This thing was something the master had repeatedly instructed, a signal flare that could only be ignited upon the successful completion of the mission. Pei Yi had thought that the tyrant would first interrogate, torture, or even kill him. But unexpectedly, the other party didn't play by the rules at all. In the situation of being trapped on the mountaintop, he dared to easily make a move that would draw the attention of the "rebel army".

What if his master really went up the mountain...

"Heh."

Softly, just when Pei Yi was genuinely worried for Xi Jinyu, the tyrant, who had discarded the signal flare, suddenly laughed. He looked down at Pei Yi, his eyes filled with mockery, as if he had witnessed something extremely ridiculous:

"You don't actually think Prince An would really go up the mountain, do you?"

Regardless of whether the assassination succeeded or not, for Xi Jinyu, staying put was the safest choice.

If Xie Ye died, it would naturally be the best outcome, without needing to waste a single soldier or worry about bearing the title of regicide. Once the exact news of his death spread, Xi Jinyu could easily shift all the blame onto Pei Yi, paving the way for his rightful succession.

If it was a deception, he could still confuse Xie Ye, mixing truth with falsehood, keeping him on guard day and night, and preventing him from easily descending the mountain. Then, when the enemy was exhausted, Xi Jinyu could strike decisively and kill the tyrant.

"Being sold out and still helping count the money," Xie Ye, who had severed ties for power, knew too well the personality of the protagonist who attacked at the crematorium. Xie Jinyu sneered lightly, "Truly foolish."

Having changed his residence early on when the system reminded him that Pei Yi would take action, he lifted his foot and walked past Pei Yi coldly. "Commander Xue."

Xue Hai: "I'm here."

"I heard that assassins usually hide poison in their teeth. Disassemble his jaw for me," Xie Ye paused subtly for two seconds, turned back with a smirk, and looked into Pei Yi's eyes, with a malicious smile. "But I guess he's probably not willing to die right now, is he?"

This was undoubtedly an extremely harsh mockery.

Unfortunately, Pei Yi couldn't refute it.

The dark side that had been suppressed tightly was easily stirred up with just a few words. Safety, the grand cause, now, immediately, right away— he impatiently wanted to see the master, to have proof.

Proof that he hadn't been foolishly played like a pawn.

One hour, two hours... As his worst fears began to be confirmed, with the night fading and the sky turning pale, Pei Yi still hadn't seen the reinforcements promised by Xi Jinyu, and even more so, he hadn't seen the one who should come to rescue him.

Bound hand and foot, he lay in the woodshed of the palace, like a broken sack. The door seemed to be broken, slightly ajar, and there were guards in the front and back. Palace maids passing by couldn't help but stop and whisper when they heard something. 

"The adopted son of the Ministry of Rites turned out to be an assassin."

"He probably didn’t have good intentions since he entered the palace."

"It's a good thing His Majesty is wise and wasn't fooled by the thief."

"Tut,tut. It's really unlucky. I actually believed his pitiful appearance, pretending to be heartbroken. I even did him a lot of favors."

At the same time, Xi Jinyu, at the foot of the mountain, frowned deeply.

Although he had treated Pei Yi as a disposable pawn when sending him to assassinate the tyrant, after all, Pei Yi was an Imperial Guard he had watched grow up since childhood. 

However, no matter what, there was still more sentimentality involved than with others.

"Since it's already failed, Your Highness, why bother dwelling on it?" the strategist from the Prince An's residence, who also saw the fireworks blazing high last night, advised in a gentle tone. "There hasn't been any commotion from the mountain, so the tyrant must have faked his death."

"According to the astrological signs, there will be rain at the palace tonight. At such a critical moment, Your Highness must not be disturbed by sentimental feelings."

"Moreover, this operation still requires Commander Xue's cooperation. As for you and Pei Yi..."

"That's enough." With a stern face, Xi Jinyu interrupted the strategist's words. He was well aware of the importance of the state affairs compared to his relationship with Pei Yi, despite feeling somewhat regretful.

But he would certainly compensate Pei Yi properly if he survived the attack on the palace.

"There are only two ways up and down the mountain. After dark, send a troop to block any possible reinforcements," Xi Jinyu, who had already thoroughly understood the terrain near the palace, said coldly. "Regardless of whether it rains tonight or not, aside from our own people, anyone in the palace..."

"Must be killed without mercy."

Led by the strategist, the others all bowed low and acknowledged.

"If it does rain, then when dealing with the aftermath, pour oil and set the palace on fire."

Rarely showing any loss of composure, Xi Jinyu's voice remained calm, and there was even a hint of a gentle smile at the corner of his mouth. "Externally, just say that this prince's good cousin went mad again and set both himself and the palace on fire."

"Absurdly ridiculous... it suits the tyrant's manner of death."

"Don't you think so?"

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Author's note:

1101: You're the one who thinks so