After I Faked My Death, the Dog Emperor Completely Lost His Mind - Chapter 19

At that same moment, accompanied by a soft “creak,” two pairs of footsteps so light they were nearly imperceptible entered the room.

Shen Yuheng’s spine went rigid; he dared not move an inch. Within the room, where undercurrents surged, the sharp stings of pain radiating from his neck were being magnified relentlessly.

He had no idea why Xiao Jin had suddenly decided to bite him, nor why the youth was so abnormally furious. It felt as if a wolf were clamping down on his throat to savor the flavor, threatening to snap his neck at any second.

Pain caused Shen Yuheng’s eyes to well up with tears, yet he couldn’t break free from the boy’s iron grip. The assassins are right there what kind of madness has possessed this kid?!

Sensing Shen Yuheng’s struggle, Xiao Jin held him down and whispered coldly, “Don’t move.”

He was already exerting every ounce of self-control to restrain his rage. He loathed even the existence of Shen Yuheng, yet now he was forced to be pressed this intimately against him. Those warm breaths surrounding him, refusing to let him leave, caused Xiao Jin to instinctively recoil his mind and body felt as if they were being torn in two.

He wanted nothing more than to crush Shen Yuheng’s throat and devour him utterly amidst the blood, purging this bizarre, scorching heat from his body once and for all.

Hot breath fanned across his neck. Shen Yuheng bit his lip hard, a tear tracing a path down his cheek. Observing him looking terrified out of his wits, Xiao Jin let out a soft, unreadable huff of a laugh.

Inside the sleeping chamber, an assassin clad in black, clutching a long blade, slowly approached the bed. The person on the mattress appeared to be sound asleep. Faint moonlight filtered through the window paper, illuminating an unnatural crimson flush on his cheeks. These people raised in the palace have the softest skin; one stroke of the blade would meet no resistance.

The two assassins exchanged a glance, raised their blades, and aimed the edges at the sleeper’s neck.

Shen Yuheng squeezed his eyes shut, intending to lunge out with Xiao Jin, but his arms suddenly felt empty. No! He snapped his eyes open, but it was too late to intervene.

In the pitch-black chamber, two eerie “gurgling” sounds rang out. A moment later, two rigid bodies collapsed.

Shen Yuheng’s terrified gaze swept past Xiao Jin’s silhouette to see the two black-clad assassins lying on the floor, mouths agape, their throats torn open by a massive, jagged gash. Blood pooled everywhere; under the cold moonlight, the room was stained a jarring, visceral red.

Xiao Jin looked at the knife in his hand. Thick, warm blood stained his fingertips and the blade. Thinking of how Shen Yuheng was likely shivering in a corner, crying out in a pathetic display of cowardice… a slow smile began to curve Xiao Jin’s lips.

However, in the next second, Shen Yuheng stepped over the corpses and rushed to his side.

Struggling to keep his voice from shaking, he asked, “Are… are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Xiao Jin froze. The two corpses were a gruesome sight, and Shen Yuheng’s hands were trembling with weakness. Had it not been for seeing Xiao Jin drenched in blood, Shen Yuheng would never have dared take a single step closer. But I am the adult. I cannot be afraid.

He carefully checked Xiao Jin for wounds. Seeing none, he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Xiao Jin stared at his furrowing and then relaxing brow. His gaze gradually slid downward, stopping at the man’s neck the bite mark he had left remained like a red brand, seared into the fair skin.

Until this mark vanished, even if his leg healed, Shen Yuheng would be unable to be “favored.” The look of disappointment on his face when he realized he couldn’t return to Imperial Father’s side must be spectacular.

The madness in Xiao Jin’s chest subsided slightly. He gripped Shen Yuheng’s shoulder and, amidst the rising scent of iron, gave a cold, temperatureless smile.

“I’m fine, Mother Consort.”

The next day, news of the assassination attempt in Consort Shen’s palace sent a shockwave through the harem.

When Su Cheng heard the news from a palace maid, he gasped. “The Ninth Prince? Is he hurt?”

“The Ninth Prince is unharmed,” the maid replied. “If it weren’t for the Ninth Prince striking down the assassins while on guard duty, Consort Shen would likely be dead.”

Su Cheng let out a long breath of relief. “The Ninth Prince is truly a person of character. He helped me when Consort Yao mistreated me at the funeral… maybe we should give him the hand-warmer I made for Consort Shen instead?”

Su Cheng paused. He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “Consort Shen has also shown me kindness; I should return the favor. As for the Ninth Prince… if he needs one, I can always weave another.”

“The Shen family wouldn’t care for such small favors,” the maid sighed. They had no hope of clinging to the Second Prince’s faction, and on the Emperor’s side, Su Cheng couldn’t even get an audience. Without someone to rely on, this bitter winter in the palace was only going to get harder. “The Ninth Prince is weak in court, but since he saved your life, perhaps we can rely on him…”

Su Cheng lowered his head, silent. His cold-nipped hands rested on the heater Xiao Jin had sent him, drawing the last of its warmth.

Qingzhuo Hall

The corpses had been removed, but despite the servants’ frantic cleaning, the scent of blood lingered. Shen Yuheng, not wanting to stay in the blood-stained chamber, moved to the backyard to rest.

Jiaobai found him sitting at a stone table. “Master, I found out,” she whispered. “The Second Prince threw a massive tantrum in court today and even docked the First Young Master’s pay.”

“Why was Big Brother fined again?”

“Because of last night, of course,” Jiaobai sighed. “The Second Prince is currently overseeing the government. For such a lapse in security to happen in the inner palace, it reflects poorly on him. But the First Young Master demanded to enter the palace to check on you in front of everyone, so the Second Prince snapped.”

Shen Yuheng hummed. Of course he’s angry. After all, the mastermind who sent those assassins was almost certainly the Second Prince, Xiao Qi. In the original book, during the Emperor’s illness, Xiao Qi used his temporary power to imprison rivals and murder several princes. Shen Yuheng just hadn’t expected Xiao Qi to target a powerless boy like Xiao Jin so early even if it meant offending the Shen family.

Jiaobai suddenly blinked. “Are you cold, Master? You didn’t bring a hand-warmer out. I’ll get one.”

Shen Yuheng tensed. He was wrapped in a thick fox-fur shawl that covered his neck completely. Though it was winter, it wasn’t cold enough for such heavy attire.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said, flushing with guilt as he pulled the shawl tighter. “I’m plenty warm.”

I can’t let everyone see that I was bitten by a ‘puppy,’ he thought. If Xiao Jin hadn’t vanished this morning, I’d have given him a piece of my mind. What kind of person bites someone while they’re killing assassins?

The System whispered: [Host… you and Xiao Jin definitely had ‘something’ happen, didn’t you? How did you two progress to ‘marking’ already? You really are a master of redemption…]

“I didn’t! We haven’t!!” Shen Yuheng felt incredibly wronged.

When Jiaobai left, he looked around like a thief and peeked into a bronze mirror, pulling the shawl back. The bite mark was deep vivid crimson and obvious. It’ll take at least two weeks to heal. Anyone who sees this will misunderstand.

He sighed. At least the Emperor was too sick to summon him.

Just then, Yundou’s voice rang out: “Master? Attendant Su is here to see you.”

Su Cheng?! Shen Yuheng was surprised. In the original book, Su Cheng was a recluse. Hearing about an assassination attempt, he should have hidden away. To come here now showed genuine concern.

Shen Yuheng adjusted his shawl and went to meet him. Su Cheng was already in the hall, looking at the dark stains on the floor and shivering. His gaze drifted toward the bed behind the heavy curtains the distance between the small cot and the large bed seemed uncomfortably intimate.

“Su Cheng?”

Su Cheng jumped. Turning to see Shen Yuheng, he felt an odd wave of guilt.

“Why are you standing there?” Shen Yuheng patted his shoulder. “Let’s talk outside. It’s warmer by the heaters.”

They sat in the courtyard. Su Cheng was shivering violently; his eyelashes looked like they were frosted over.

“Did you… walk here?”

Su Cheng nodded. “The palace is in such an uproar. No one would bring the sedan chair.”

Shen Yuheng was shocked. He walked all the way across the palace in winter? Su Cheng then presented the hand-warmer. Shen Yuheng was delighted and praised his craftsmanship. Su Cheng’s face flushed red with shyness.

He nervously reached for his tea, but his stiff fingers caused the cup to shatter, spilling tea all over his robes. Su Cheng panicked and reached down to pick up the shards.

“Don’t touch them!” Shen Yuheng lunged to stop him. “Careful, don’t cut yourself.”

As Shen Yuheng grabbed his hand, the shawl shifted. The vivid crimson bite mark, looking like a blooming plum blossom in the snow, was exposed.

Su Cheng’s mind went blank. His face turned a deep, scorching red, and he jerked his gaze away.

Shen Yuheng froze, frantically wrapping himself back up. Seeing Su Cheng refuse to look up, his heart sank. It’s over. I can’t explain this away.