Chapter 38

The Gu worm that burrowed in from the wrist was extremely small, and apart from a slight stinging sensation, it left only a small red dot in its original place, hardly noticeable.

But even though his body was asleep, Xie Fuyi, still conscious, was horrified!

In the main storyline, he, as a cannon fodder character, had no interaction with the Imperial Physician at all. He had no idea why the Imperial Physician would immediately use a gu worm on him as soon as they met. Did he hold such a grudge against him?

Xie Fuyi was pondering the intricacies of the situation when he heard a muffled groan.

Jiang Yingyao’s face turned pale, he clutched his chest with one hand, staggered, and sat down at the edge of the bed.

With a slightly darkened gaze, he wiped away the blood from the corner of his lips and chuckled softly, murmuring, “Even if it’s a Puppet Gu that won’t harm lives, it still backfires.”

When the new emperor ascended the throne, Jiang Yingyao had calculated that he was not a wise ruler, and the world would change hands.

His identity required him to be loyal to the emperor, but he was unwilling to let a tyrant rule the world. He could only stay away under the guise of praying for blessings.

But strangely enough, the world did not change hands as quickly as he predicted. The Grand General Ye Baixiao did not ascend to the throne but became the regent instead.

He recalculated the hexagrams, and the result showed that the world would soon undergo drastic changes.

Even though both the young emperor and the regent were not wise rulers—one was incompetent and cruel, the other autocratic— the only faint hope seemed to lie with Xie Fuyi.

Jiang Yingyao stared at the figure sleeping on the bed, his pitch-black eyes murky. Since the hope lay with him, he was willing to give it another try. With the Puppet Gu, even if the other party acted recklessly in the future, he would have the means to restrain him.

Puppet Gu?

Xie Fuyi could roughly guess the usefulness of the name. Coupled with the fact that the Imperial Physician was supposed to care for the people, he deduced that this person, because of his oath to be loyal to the emperor but finding him too cruel, intended to manipulate him into being a good emperor using the Puppet Gu?

Truly a national teacher with the world’s interests at heart!

But Xie Fuyi hated bugs the most!

Moreover, he had no chance to become a good emperor; he just wanted to be a good cannon fodder!

Knowing that he wouldn’t die and that Jiang Yingyao would protect him, Xie Fuyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now he knew how to increase his anguish points.

Jiang Yingyao had just calmed the internal injuries caused by the backfire when he heard a low groan.

The young emperor’s pale face furrowed his brows, a painful expression creasing his body as if trembling.

“Mmm…” Xie Fuyi bit his lip tightly, the pale lips were stained with a bright color as they were bitten, but he still couldn’t suppress the painful sobbing.

He seemed to have been awakened by the pain. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes. In the blur, he looked at the man beside the bed, his misty eyes unable to clearly discern the person. With his clouded mind, he mistook him for Ye Baixiao and unconsciously said, “Brother Ye… Ah, it hurts so much…”

Jiang Yingyao’s movements halted when he heard the person the other was calling out to. The person whom the young emperor called out to so affectionately was the regent, who was plotting treason. And yet, he still relied on and trusted him so much. A king who was so easily deceived by traitors was truly pitiful…

Jiang Yingyao’s gaze grew even colder, but he made no move. The Puppet Gu wouldn’t cause such severe harm. Was the other pretending?

The young emperor, unable to endure the pain, began to cry silently. His sobbing was not loud, only a few choked sobs escaped, but tears fell continuously like beads off a broken string. His entire beautiful face was wet with tears, and his damp black hair stuck to his face. His eyes and nose were red, and his face was incredibly pitiful.

Jiang Yingyao felt a strange tightening in his heart. Seeing that the other didn’t seem to be pretending, he couldn’t help but furrow his brows—what was going on? The Puppet Gu wouldn’t cause such harm if it wasn’t activated.

He reached out to grasp Xie Fuyi’s wrist to check his pulse. Unexpectedly, the young emperor, following his lead, rolled into his arms and clutched his clothes as if trying to endure the pain with all his might.

His first instinct was to push the person away, but the little emperor was in great pain, trembling, and the muffled sobbing buried in his arms sounded so pitiful that it softened one’s heart.

Jiang Yingyao’s body stiffened. He endured the discomfort of his cleanliness obsession, half hugging Xie Fuyi while using one hand to examine him.

Xie Fuyi probably suffered from hunger and cold every day when he was young in the cold palace, which weakened his physique significantly compared to ordinary people. So, it was the puppet insect entering his body that made him unable to withstand sudden stimulation, resulting in such a strong reaction.

Jiang Yingyao took out a delicate porcelain bottle, fed him a pill, and then placed his warm palm on Xie Fuyi’s back to transfer internal energy into his body, helping Xie Fuyi suppress the pain.

Xie Fuyi breathed a sigh of relief. His body no longer ached, and his consciousness gradually cleared. When the misty black eyes saw that the person beside him was not Ye Baixiao, his body stiffened. Using one foot, he kicked himself to the end of the bed, his fearful eyes vigilant as he looked at the other person. “Who are you? Where is Brother Ye?”

Jiang Yingyao’s movements stiffened slightly. He had just intended to push the person away, but he didn’t expect the other party to run away on their own and even kick him. His abdomen throbbed with pain.

His cold gaze fell on Xie Fuyi, who looked even more frightened, clutching a small blanket and shrinking into it.

Was this kind of fear supposed to appear on the little emperor’s face?

He might be able to manage major affairs of the world, but he couldn’t overlook details. He never imagined that amnesia could have such a profound effect on someone’s personality.

Thinking back to the little emperor crying uncontrollably in his arms just now, Jiang Yingyao’s coldness dissipated somewhat.

“He’s not here,” Jiang Yingyao said indifferently. “I’m Jiang Yingyao. Your body isn’t well yet. You’ll stay here to recuperate.”

Jiang Yingyao couldn’t be bothered to explain to the currently amnesic Xie Fuyi. When Qinghe brought back the Seven Leaf Flower, his memory would be restored. By then, Jiang Yingyao would see if he could guide him into becoming a good emperor.

Xie Fuyi, still groggy, remembered that he had been in a lot of pain earlier, and it was thanks to the other person giving him medicine that he felt better. He touched the soft bed beneath him, pursed his lips, and looked up at Jiang Yingyao with apology and sincerity in his eyes. “Brother Jiang, thank you! I’m sorry I accidentally kicked you earlier. I’ll be obedient from now on…”

Seeing the trust and gratitude in the other’s eyes, Jiang Yingyao couldn’t understand how a former tyrant emperor, now suffering from amnesia, could have such a temperament.

Or was the tyrant just a facade he put on?

Moreover, was he someone who would casually call anyone ‘brother’?

Thinking that the other person also called Ye Baixiao ‘brother’ like this, Jiang Yingyao inexplicably disliked it and furrowed his brow. “Call me ‘National Teacher’.”

Xie Fuyi readily complied. “Oh, National Teacher Brother.”

He sat up, holding the small blanket, his round eyes looking at Jiang Yingyao, sincere and obedient.

Jiang Yingyao’s lips twitched but he remained silent, seeming to tacitly agree.

Xie Fuyi: …They’re both my good brothers. If they ever fight again, I won’t know who to help.