Chapter 23

When had the Little Emperor suffered such humiliation? Ye Baixiao not only compared him to a woman but also dared to insult him by mentioning childbirth…

Xie Fuyi’s face turned fierce, and he forcefully threw the wine glass in his hand to the ground.

With a crisp “snap,” dozens of guards with bows and arrows had already surged in from all sides, surrounding Ye Baixiao in a tight circle.

The sharp arrowheads glinted with silver light, pointing directly at him, but Ye Baixiao remained unfazed, sitting in the middle and leisurely drinking his wine.

“Why aren’t you drinking this fine wine, Your Majesty? What do you intend to do?” Xie Fuyi sneered, “Of course, the wine is excellent. It’s the wine that will send you to the Western Heaven, poisoned!”

“Ye Baixiao, you deceive your ruler, disrespect the law, and conspire to rebel with your military power! Today, I bestow upon you poisoned wine. Do you have anything else to say?”

The Little Emperor’s beautiful black eyes were full of triumph as he enumerated the charges against his opponent. His malicious arrogance was both hateful and adorable.

Ye Baixiao swirled the wine glass, smiling ambiguously. “Although Your Majesty is foolishly wicked, with this face, I can still reluctantly forgive.”

Xie Fuyi was further infuriated by Ye Baixiao’s words, his chest heaving with anger. “Release the arrows! Kill him for me!”

As the command fell, archers immediately obeyed, arrows gleaming with silver light flew out in abundance.

But Ye Baixiao, who had been seated, disappeared in a flash. The onlookers could barely catch a glimpse of a fleeting shadow. Then, cries of pain erupted as one after another of the archers fell.

He darted through the crowd with lightning speed. Before anyone could react, there were screams of agony, and tables and chairs crashed to the ground.

Xie Fuyi, seated on the high platform, could see everything happening below, but he couldn’t see where Ye Baixiao was. All he could see was his subordinates falling one by one.

He began to panic, wanting to call for help, but in the next instant, a lightning-fast figure appeared behind him. A hand clamped down on his throat, while the other held his hands tightly against his chest.

General Ye was not only skilled in warfare but also unparalleled in martial arts.

“Who else does Your Majesty want to call?” A deep voice resonated by his ear, with a cold tone of mockery. “I heard that there’s always a loyal hound by Your Majesty’s side. Why isn’t he here today?”

Did he also know about Qinghe?

Xie Fuyi ignored him, feeling the warmth of the chest behind him and the vibrations as he spoke. The fingertips pressing against his throat were rough and calloused, bearing immense strength.

Perhaps with just a little force, his neck could be snapped.

Xie Fuyi’s face paled, his voice trembling with fear, “Ye Baixiao, do you intend to commit regicide? I advise you to think carefully. Even if you kill me, you won’t escape! Surrender now and beg for mercy, and I might consider giving you the antidote to spare your life!”

Ye Baixiao raised an eyebrow, “Your Majesty, if you want to kill me, you should investigate more carefully. I am immune to poisons.”

“You’re not poisoned?” Xie Fuyi was taken aback, then his face went white, and he closed his eyes, resigning to his fate, “It’s my mistake. If you want to kill, then do it. Go ahead!”

Xie Fuyi’s hands were trembling with excitement—his mission was about to succeed. Kill him quickly!

Ye Baixiao lowered his gaze to the person in his arms, their pale face expressionless with closed eyes, but their body trembled, and even the fine eyelashes trembled, like two butterflies fluttering their wings, beating directly into his heart.

His heart inexplicably constricted. Just the thought of these beautiful eyes losing their vitality and radiance made him ache with melancholy.

He found himself unusually reluctant.

Ye Baixiao slowly shifted his fingers, which were clasped around the other’s throat, to a gentle caress, evoking a slight itching sensation. “Your Majesty is so eager for me to act? If I were to truly kill you, wouldn’t that be fulfilling your wish? I still have some matters to ask for Your Majesty’s help with.”

Xie Fuyi instantly opened his eyes, staring at him in shock—What’s going on? Why aren’t you following the script again?

Gritting his teeth, he said, “If you don’t kill me today, someday, I will surely exterminate your entire clan!”

Ye Baixiao’s eyes chilled, and he lazily smiled. “My entire clan has long been reduced to just me. If Your Majesty marries over, you’ll gain an extra member.”

“You!” Xie Fuyi’s face flushed with anger. “Traitor!”

Ye Baixiao nodded. “Malicious tyrant, traitor—aren’t they a perfect match?”

Xie Fuyi didn’t want to talk to him anymore—this bastard who never follows the script!

At that moment, several people dressed as guards entered from all sides. “General, our men have sealed off the palace surroundings to ensure that no information leaks out. Our army will enter the city in two days.”

“Understood,” Ye Baixiao replied lightly.

After Xie Fuyi’s initial shock, he revealed a mocking expression, “So, you were indeed planning treason.”

Ye Baixiao’s eyes cooled as he looked at him. “You’re too suspicious. I was just preparing early.” He paused, then put on a fake smile and softened his tone. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I have no intention of bearing the title of a king-killer.”

Ye Baixiao found a reason not to kill him—killing the emperor and ascending the throne would be illegitimate and unpopular.

Xie Fuyi: …??? Is he out of his mind? He’s not going to kill him?

Gritting his teeth, Xie Fuyi said, “If I survive today, I will definitely kill you!”

Ye Baixiao’s cold eyes deepened, and he smirked. “Your Majesty seems to be unwell lately, unable to handle court affairs. I suppose Your Majesty will publicly announce tomorrow morning, during the court session, the appointment of me as the regent…”

Huh?

Xie Fuyi, who had been resigned upon hearing that Ye Baixiao didn’t plan to kill him, suddenly became alert!—As long as he insists on courting death, he’ll definitely die!

Xie Fuyi’s black eyes widened, and he angrily said, “Daydreaming! I will never decree such a thing!” He gritted his teeth and threatened, “You better release me immediately, or I will have you and Zhao Shiyi skinned alive and fed to the dogs!”

Ye Baixiao frowned slightly, his expression changing. “What did you say? Where is Zhao Shiyi?”

Seeing his urgency, Xie Fuyi sneered mockingly, “He came to assassinate me, was caught, tortured until he was unrecognizable, and still refused to reveal the mastermind behind him. So, I had no choice but to kill him.”

Ye Baixiao’s icy gaze turned fierce. Zhao Shiyi was his brother in life and death!

He tightened his grip on Xie Fuyi’s hand, his voice cold and menacing. “Where is his body?”

Xie Fuyi winced in pain, gritting his teeth and sneering, “Are you deaf? Didn’t I say? He’s probably in a dog’s belly by now.”

Ye Baixiao exerted more force with his hand, causing Xie Fuyi to cry out in pain. He bit his lip tightly, resisting the urge to scream, his lips turning crimson from the pressure. He glared at Ye Baixiao, refusing to admit defeat, tears welling up in his eyes, adding a hint of redness to their corners.

Feeling a pang in his heart, Ye Baixiao involuntarily loosened his grip slightly.

“Go and search, search the entire palace. Even if he’s in a dog’s belly, find Zhao Shiyi’s body,” he ordered his guards while his dark eyes stared deeply at Xie Fuyi. “Your Majesty, are you afraid of pain?”

“What are you planning?” Xie Fuyi watched him warily.

Ye Baixiao said lightly, “As I just said, please announce tomorrow morning, in front of all civil and military officials, the decree to appoint me as the regent.”

Xie Fuyi sneered, “You wish!”

Xie Fuyi: …To become a regent! Why not just kill me and become emperor yourself? I fully support it!

Seeing his stubborn expression, Ye Baixiao coldly curved his lips and said lightly, “I’d like to see just how resilient Your Majesty’s bones really are.”

“You all, step back and guard outside the door!” He said, gripping Xie Fuyi’s wrist with one hand and dragging him into the inner chamber with a forceful tug.

As the door closed behind him, Ye Baixiao had already taken Xie Fuyi inside.

Ye Baixiao’s guards looked at each other in confusion, unable to do anything but obediently stay outside the door.

Thrown onto the dragon bed, Xie Fuyi felt dizzy and disoriented—

This, this isn’t right…

Xie Fuyi couldn’t help but feel that this scene felt so familiar and yet so swift.