Chapter 19

Xiao Heng paused in his motion to take out the silver coins from his sleeve, and instead gestured forward. His covert guards received the signal and leaped out from all directions, surrounding the group of beggars.

The ruffians panicked and knelt down, pleading for mercy. “Save us… Your Excellency, spare us! We didn’t know who you were!”

“I didn’t do anything! It was Zhou Laosan who did it! And Li Lao’er kicked the hardest!”

“We won’t dare next time! Spare us, Your Excellency!”

Facing the chorus of pleas from the beggars, Xiao Heng immediately guessed what had happened during those three days.

He had actually fallen to the point of being bullied by beggars? Worse than a street beggar!

Had he lost his martial arts skills as well?

For the first time, Xiao Heng faced the reality of how miserable those three days had been. His expression suddenly turned blank, as if he were in a desolate wilderness, with only two blazing fires burning fiercely. He clenched his fists tightly, while the ringleader’s son was gloating at the spectacle…

At that moment, Xiao Heng almost lost his composure. He couldn’t calm down to analyze the situation. In the surge of anger, feelings of foolishness, embarrassment, and humiliation in front of Chu Zhaoyou took over, and he felt that the self-deception he had maintained for seven years had been trampled upon today.

The atmosphere around the Regent was heavy, as if the snow that had been held back by the heavens for a whole winter was now falling in a rush, all directed at Chu Zhaoyou.

Chu Zhaoyou was startled by Xiao Heng’s sudden outburst. The Regent looked as if he were about to go mad and assassinate the Emperor. Instinctively, he took a step back, his face showing a brief moment of confusion.

Why was he the only one being targeted when the people who had bullied Xiao Hei were left alone?

Chu Zhaoyou’s hands and feet turned cold. He was certain that he had seen a moment of resolute determination to kill in Xiao Heng’s eyes.

It turned out that Xiao Heng truly couldn’t accept the past involving “Xiao Hei.”

“How could it be so easy to forget? If he truly forgot everything, it’s because he doesn’t want to remember.”

The old man’s words echoed in Chu Zhaoyou’s mind. He remembered how Xiao Hei had tightly held his hand before falling asleep, repeatedly confirming that he wouldn’t leave.

Xiao Hei was gone.

He shouldn’t meddle any further. The lofty Regent wouldn’t be grateful; he would only feel that Chu Zhaoyou was exposing his deep wounds.

Chu Zhaoyou took a deep breath and silently turned around, walking step by step back toward the palace.

If that day, he hadn’t met Xiao Hei, and the city gates hadn’t been closed, how much better it would have been.

The covert guards only needed to climb over a few walls to send the ruffians to the Regent’s dungeon.

The sound of the carriage and horses grew distant in an instant, leaving behind an empty space behind the Regent.

Xiao Heng watched the bright yellow figure disappear behind the deep red palace gates, and a corner of his heart suddenly sank.

He seemed to see the redness in Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes… was he crying out of fear?

The Regent stood still, as if an abandoned soul resided within him, while the palace guards remained silent.

After a few rounds of autumn wind, the shadows on the ground gradually shortened, and the sun was shining high.

“Be a little gentler, or you won’t be able to find a wife like this.”

…

Chu Zhaoyou returned to the palace, feeling famished and irritated. He had risked pointing out the people who had bullied him to the Regent, only to end up feeling upset.

Chu Zhaoyou was irritable when hungry, and he returned to the Funing Hall like a lord. “Bring the meal.”

The court historian, Cui Geng, carefully observed Chu Zhaoyou’s expression and quickly wrote down today’s daily record. “October 12th, His Majesty did not return after the morning court, his eyes were red, and his steps were unsteady, clearly bullied by the Regent.”

Chu Zhaoyou waited for the meal, feeling that the wait was a bit too long, and his cheeks puffed up in frustration.

I won’t lose my temper for no reason like someone else. I’ll wait a bit longer.

It seemed like he could eat a little bit now.

When the meal was served, Chu Zhaoyou’s eyes lit up. Although he was the Emperor, the palace kitchen didn’t put much effort into the meals. Every dish they served was almost the same, and not only were they not as delicious as those from the restaurants in his previous life, but he was also reminded by Eunuch Xue not to show his preference for any particular dish.

Eating a meal felt like a taste test, with every dish being sampled.

The lunch was overly sumptuous and not quite standard. Many of the dishes were not likely to appear in the palace’s recipe book.

Had the palace chefs suddenly become inspired?

He picked up his chopsticks and enjoyed the meal, not caring anymore. Today, he was going to eat three big pork knuckles in one go!

Cui Geng sniffed and, with eyes that could see through the truth, swallowed his saliva, calmly continuing to write, “To appease His Majesty, the Regent personally arranged for the chefs from the Regent’s residence to prepare a Fuman Banquet for His Majesty during lunch. Note: The Fuman Banquet is the highest standard banquet of the Regent’s residence, held only once a year.”

Chu Zhaoyou put down his chopsticks and said in exasperation, “Can you, the court historian, stop narrating while writing?”

It’s indeed a spy sent by the Regent.

I just wanted to have a meal, not to meet the chef, and certainly not to know who the chef’s master is. It’s off-putting.

Chu Zhaoyou ate heartily, with the sauce from the pork knuckles staining the corners of his mouth.

You can still make friends with the chef.

After finishing his meal, Chu Zhaoyou wiped his mouth and said, “Leave the dinner table as it is for now.”

So, the remnants of the lavish meal remained in the hall for the entire afternoon. At dinner time, Chu Zhaoyou successfully unlocked another equally sumptuous feast.

I’m quite clever.