After I Faked My Death, the Dog Emperor Completely Lost His Mind - Chapter 18

Looking at Shen Yuheng’s back, which had gone rigid in an instant, Xiao Jin’s face was the picture of mockery. “Why have you stopped reading?”

Read?

Shen Yuheng looked at those erotic letters, his ears turning beet red. There is no way I’m reading this aloud!! What kind of explicit nonsense is this?!

He cleared his throat twice. To sweep this under the rug, he brought out the scar-removal ointment, intending to apply another layer for Xiao Jin.

Xiao Jin’s expression turned subtle immediately. It took Shen Yuheng a second to realize what had happened earlier that day; his face, which had just started to cool, flared up again.

He extended his hand, offering the jar to the youth. “Um… why don’t you… apply it yourself…?”

Xiao Jin stared at him. “I don’t know how.”

Shen Yuheng: “…”

Shen Yuheng was even more nervous than Xiao Jin. What if he… reacts again?!

He called out to the System in his mind, hoping for a solution.

The System replied with a toneless mechanical voice: [Beep. Detecting that the Host has entered a private plotline. The System has automatically entered sleep mode…]

Shen Yuheng: “…” I understand sleep mode for being in bed with the Emperor, but why does applying medicine count as a private plotline?!

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Shen Yuheng had no choice but to open the lid and grit his teeth as he began the application.

He carefully undid the youth’s clothing. Seeing the shocking gash, he finally regained some composure. Xiao Jin had been imprisoned in the Cold Palace and tortured all night to earn this mark. Shen Yuheng felt a wave of regret; if he hadn’t tried so hard to force a “ship” between Xiao Jin and Su Cheng, this wound wouldn’t exist.

He steeled his heart, his fingertips coated in ointment, and cautiously avoided certain areas, terrified that an accidental touch might trigger the boy’s sensitive nerves again.

In the dead of night, the room was silent save for Shen Yuheng leaning over the bedside, his nimble fingers moving gently as he applied the medicine.

Xiao Jin lowered his gaze slightly. Seeing Shen Yuheng acting so cautious and humble, the youth couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Shen Yuheng prided himself on his status as an elder, yet here he was, behaving so subserviently after Xiao Jin’s injury, with no dignity left to speak of.

He despised Shen Yuheng’s touch, and he loathed himself even more for the physical desire it had stirred.

However, when the ointment was spread evenly and those hands moved away, he felt a strange sense of irritation. Xiao Jin moved his hand to his abdomen. The stitches were slightly rough, prickling against his skin.

In the past, he had once placed a crushed cicada into his mother’s hand.

If I were to tear this open…

Would Shen Yuheng make the same expression as my Mother Consort?

The next day, just as Shen Yuheng finished washing up, Yundou came running in, shouting, “Master! A letter from the Old Master! It’s for you!”

Shen Yuheng blinked curiously. “Old Master” referred to the original owner’s father, Shen Chong, the Patriarch of the Shen family.

Having read the original book, Shen Yuheng felt a great deal of sympathy for Shen Chong. A world-renowned General, he was the embodiment of martial virtue, having slaughtered the Huns until they were nearly extinct. It was said his name alone could stop a child from crying at night.

But in his private life, Shen Chong was less fortunate. After his beloved wife died young, he raised three children alone, doting most on the youngest son she left behind—Yuheng. Shen Chong had pampered him endlessly, never refusing a single request. This limitless indulgence had created the original owner’s arrogant personality; the boy had treated his father like air.

In the original book, after Xiao Jin ascended and had the original owner executed, Shen Chong nearly went mad. The old general, who had spent his life on the battlefield, bowed and scraped before civil officials he once despised, even kneeling to beg for a chance at life for his youngest son. After the original owner died, the General fell ill and passed away within six months.

Now, with Shen Yun璟 having just left, a letter from Shen Chong had arrived. He must have heard about the palace incidents.

As Shen Yuheng opened the envelope, he prayed: Big Brother, please tell me you didn’t tell Dad everything! Especially the part about being injured in the Emperor’s bed!! Not a single word!!

Fortunately, the letter was filled only with daily greetings and health inquiries. Having not spoken to his youngest son for so long, Shen Chong was also nervous, not daring to ramble.

Shen Yuheng was quite moved. He immediately asked for brush and ink and wrote a reply.

Yundou and Jiaobai were stunned to the point of disbelief. “The Master is actually writing back to the Old Master! He’ll be so happy when he hears…”

Over the next half-month, the Shen family sent letters regularly. From these, he learned that Big Brother Yun璟 had tracked down Meng Qian and given him a thrashing combined with a stern warning. For the brawl, the General was fined six months’ salary, but to the Shens, that was pocket change.

Furthermore, Yun had somehow managed to smuggle a group of family servants into the palace. Aside from Yundou, Jiaobai, and Zhou Yuan, almost everyone around Shen Yuheng was replaced with Shen family loyalists. As Yun璟 put it, only his own people nearby could set his mind at ease.

The System remarked: [Big Brother is so reliable! Raising his favorability was definitely the right move!]

Shen Yuheng didn’t respond. These new servants were certainly more trustworthy than typical palace staff, but… a few days ago, when he spent a bit too long applying ointment for Xiao Jin, he felt as if someone were watching him. He thought it was an illusion, but the very next morning, he received a letter from Yun璟.

The letter was blunt: Stay away from Xiao Jin. Do not be deceived by that face.

Great, Shen Yuheng thought, he sent people to spy on me. He felt wronged. If he really had any “improper” thoughts about Xiao Jin, he would have been killed by the kid ages ago!

Xiao Jin hadn’t expected someone like Shen Yuheng to have a family that cared for him so deeply. He hadn’t minded at first, until one of his own death-soldiers was thrown out of Qingzhuo Hall by Shen Yun’s people.

He was in a foul mood. Why is Shen Yuheng so happy about a brother he barely speaks to?

The new servants had rearranged Qingzhuo Hall to mimic the Shen estate. The gaudy, flamboyant robes in the wardrobe were replaced with clean, simple colors pale greens, light blues, and soft yellows.

Xiao Jin saw in the bronze mirror that the wound on his abdomen was fading. He touched it; the pain was gone. Yet, the restless, bloodthirsty irritation in his chest only grew.

The jar of scar-removal ointment was almost empty. Shen Yuheng sent word to the old physician to prepare more. He had been living quite a peaceful life lately; the Emperor was in seclusion to focus on his health, leaving the state affairs to his ministers.

His leg was mostly healed. He figured as long as he nurtured Xiao Jin back to health, he could live out his days in “salted fish” bliss.

It was dusk when he finished tea in the courtyard and headed back to the inner hall. Halfway there, he felt a sudden chill and looked around. That eerie feeling of being watched was back. Must be another of Big Brother’s spies, he thought, shrugging it off.

He first realized things were wrong in the middle of the night. It was winter, and the charcoal heater made the room warm and cozy. He was sleeping soundly when he was suddenly shaken awake.

He opened his eyes to see Xiao Jin with a finger pressed to his lips. “Assassins,” the youth whispered.

Shen Yuheng’s mind snapped to full alertness. Assassins?!!

He shrank back into the bed, looking around. “Where?” he whispered.

“Outside. Two of them.”

As soon as Xiao Jin finished, a thin layer of dust fell from the ceiling right in front of them. It was followed by a nearly imperceptible, strange noise from outside.

They’re that close?! Shen Yuheng wanted to scream for help, but realizing how close the threat was, he felt his hair stand on end.

Xiao Jin stood up. “I’m going out.”

“No!” Shen Yuheng grabbed him. “How can you take on two of them alone?!” Future Xiao Jin might be a god of war, but current Xiao Jin was a child with an unhealed wound.

Seeing a shadow pass by the window, Shen Yuheng lunged and pulled Xiao Jin down. The youth fell onto the bed, and Shen Yuheng threw the heavy blankets over him, hiding him completely.

Inside the blankets, it was warm and smelled faintly of the light tea fragrance that always clung to Shen Yuheng. Xiao Jin went rigid, instinctively trying to shove him away.

“Don’t move!” Shen Yuheng wrapped his arms around the boy to keep him contained.

Xiao Jin froze. “You…”

Realizing his lips were pressed against the skin of Shen Yuheng’s neck, a surge of heat rushed through him. Shen Yuheng couldn’t see the boy’s expression; he pressed his mouth to the youth’s ear and whispered, “There’s a knife under my pillow. Take it out quietly.”

A few seconds passed. Inside the cramped space of the blankets, the youth’s hand brushed through Shen Yuheng’s long, silky hair spread across the mattress. The cool, smooth texture felt like it was winding around his fingers.

As the boy gripped the knife handle, his breathing became ragged, and the inexplicable heat in his chest turned into a wave of resentment toward Shen Yuheng.

Shen Yuheng closed his eyes, pretending to sleep while listening to the movements outside. The assassins seemed to be observing through the window, checking for other occupants. Even with a knife, Shen Yuheng knew their chances against professionals were slim.

As he was frantically planning his next move, a sharp, stinging pain erupted at his neck. It was so intense he almost cried out. He shivered, trying to pull away from the thin, sharp teeth causing the pain.

The shadow outside paused, sensing the movement, and became more agitated.

Shen Yuheng wanted to cry. He glared down at the hidden youth in his arms. What are you gnawing at?! Are you a dog?!!