After I Faked My Death, the Dog Emperor Completely Lost His Mind - Chapter 25

Noticing that Shen Yuheng had been feeling unwell lately, Shen Yun’s temper softened significantly.

“On the eighth, your second brother will go to help. I’m swamped with official business and can’t get away, so I won’t be attending.”

Mentioning this, Yun’s expression shifted, turning a shade more serious.

“There’s been some trouble in the city lately, you…” He paused mid-sentence, then added, “Never mind. You’re in the palace; nothing will happen to you there.”

Shen Yuheng’s curiosity was piqued. “What kind of trouble?”

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“…”

Shen Yuheng narrowed his eyes. “Big Brother, do you know that stopping halfway through a sentence is like serving arsenic with dinner?”

Yun raised a brow. “Do you want me to serve you for dinner instead?”

Shen Yuheng: “…” What a ruthless brother.

Fortunately, Shen Yun was the type who could be coaxed but not coerced. Eventually, unable to withstand Shen Yuheng’s persistent questioning, he let out a sigh and told him: “Xiao Qi has escaped prison. We are currently tracking his whereabouts.”

Shen Yuheng: !!

Xiao Qi escaped already? In the original book, Xiao Qi did escape, though under different circumstances he had been framed by Xiao Jin rather than imprisoned by the Emperor. Despite his fall, his faction had deep roots, and many remnants were still lurking in the capital. With their help, he successfully escaped and hid in the mountains near Wangyun Temple, recruiting private troops in an attempt to make a comeback.

Before the original Xiao Jin took the throne, the court was in constant upheaval. Xiao Qi eventually led a surprise raid on the capital, causing countless casualties. If it weren’t for the desperate resistance led by Shen Chong and Shen Yun, the civilian death toll would have been even higher.

“Xiao Qi is a sinister man,” Shen Yuheng said with genuine concern. “Big Brother, you must be careful.”

Yun was momentarily stunned, then let out a cold huff. “I need you to worry about me?”

Since there was still time before the palace gates were locked, Yun despite his grumbling stayed to help Shen Yuheng pick out gifts. He found everything intended for “Xiao Nine” to be an eyesore, but seeing Shen Yuheng so happy, he felt like he was punching a cloud and could only deflate.

While the palace was stifling, the markets of Great Zhou offered many wonders: silk sachets, cloth snakes, colorful braided ropes, and toys like tangrams and sliding puzzles. There were also exquisite gold, silver, and jade ornaments carved into beautiful shapes that were practically works of art.

Shen Yuheng’s eyes were suddenly drawn to a piece of silverware a Long Life Lock crafted from pure silver. The surface was engraved with intricate auspicious clouds, looking like misty mountains. In the center sat a single blood-red agate, its deep, lustrous texture adding a touch of warmth to the cool silver. On the back, the words “Long Life and a Hundred Years” were engraved in small seal script.

Shen Yuheng was very satisfied. It was simple, meaningful, and blessed.

He picked it up and gave it a little shake. “Let’s go with this one.”

Though Long Life Locks were usually given to infants to protect them from illness and premature death, Xiao Jin had suffered a bitter childhood. He likely hadn’t received many such gifts.

The System: [Keep it up, Host! Quantitative change leads to qualitative change! Receiving a gift from the Host might help Xiao Jin slowly awaken some normal human emotions!]

Shen Yuheng sighed. “It’s a long shot.” He wasn’t counting on such a small favor to cause any emotional ripples in Xiao Jin. Given that kid’s ice-cold heart, Shen Yuheng could send a hundred locks a day and still struggle to move him. If it were that easy, the original Su Cheng would have redeemed him long ago.

This is just too hard!

“One gift for him is enough.” Shen Yuheng pulled the remaining toys toward himself. “These belong to me. Big Brother, if you want any, I can share a few with you.”

Watching him fiddle with the trinkets, Yun’s gaze softened. As it was nearly time for the gates to lock, he stood up to leave.

Just before departing, Yun suddenly turned back and called out, “Xiao Yu.”

“Hmm?”

Yun looked at him intently. “If I were to take you out of the palace, would you be willing to go?”

Shen Yuheng froze. Leave the palace? “How would I leave?”

“I have my ways. Whether you go or not depends entirely on you,” Yun said seriously. “But you must think it through. Throughout history, there has never been a case of a male consort being named Empress Dowager.”

If he couldn’t be the Empress Dowager, there were only two outcomes: living out his days in solitude guarding the Imperial Tombs, or being buried alive with the Emperor. Shen Yuheng could handle the tombs, but being a funeral sacrifice…

He really won’t let me go, even as a ghost. A chill ran down his spine. If Yun璟 really had a way to get him out after he finished the mission with Xiao Jin, that would be the best possible ending. He promised his brother he would think about it seriously.

January 8th

The birthday banquet outside the palace had been arranged by Shen Tinglan. According to their plan, Tinglan would find a way to escort Xiao Jin back to Qingzhuo Hall after the party. Shen Yuheng had practiced his “scripts” against the wall, racking his brain for how to convince Xiao Jin to stay.

Everything was ready but the first person to arrive at Qingzhuo Hall wasn’t Xiao Jin. It was the Emperor’s personal eunuch, Fang Qing.

Followed by a team of sedan chairs, Eunuch Fang announced: “By His Majesty’s decree, we shall travel to Wangyun Temple to offer sacrifices for the nation. Consort Shen and Consort Yi are commanded to accompany the Imperial retinue.”

Sacrifices for the nation? Shen Yuheng was stunned. He asked how long they would be gone.

“Wangyun Temple is not far; the journey takes but a day. However, His Majesty plans to stay for several days. We will return in no less than five.”

Five days? Shen Yuheng’s heart sank. The gift… I won’t be able to give it to him today?

And worse… Wangyun Temple was exactly where Xiao Qi was hiding! But if he spoke up now, knowing something even Yun didn’t know, it would likely get him killed. He had no choice but to board the sedan chair and play it by ear.

Before leaving, he hurriedly scrawled a note and gave the Long Life Lock to Yundou and Jiaobai. “Leave this in the room. When Xiao Jin returns, make sure he takes it.” He lowered his voice and whispered to the maids, “Remember to put in a good word for me, okay? Say… I really wanted to stay and celebrate with him, but I was called away at the last minute.”

No matter the reason, he was technically breaking their “date.” If Xiao Jin got angry and the redemption score dropped, it wouldn’t be a surprise. He had to do damage control.

After leaving the palace, Shen Yuheng was led to the Imperial carriage train. He watched the Emperor’s massive Dragon Carriage get closer and closer, his heart thumping in his chest. Built of Phoebe zhennan wood with dark gold trimmings, the carriage looked like a floating palace luxurious and oppressive.

When Eunuch Fang didn’t stop in front of the Dragon Carriage, Shen Yuheng’s smile almost reached his ears. Yes! Good! The last banquet had given him a psychological shadow. If he had to share a carriage with Xiao Huai, he’d rather die.

“Hold.”

The familiar, low, slightly raspy voice sent a chill down his spine. The voice drawled, “Bring him here. I wish to see him again.”

Shen Yuheng: “…”

The System: [Lighting a candle… lighting a candle… lighting a candle…]

Led back to the Dragon Carriage, Shen Yuheng tried to stop his hands from shaking as he parted the pearl curtains. Inside, the intoxicating scent of incense made him feel like he had stepped into a mirage. He didn’t dare look at Xiao Huai and sat in the corner, but he heard the man chuckle.

“Come here, Consort Shen.”

His voice sounded even airier and weaker than usual. His smile and prying eyes were hidden behind layers of straight, hanging black hair. Xiao Huai crooked a withered finger, stirring the incense mist. Shen Yuheng walked over warily.

The moment he sat down, an arm wrapped around his shoulder and a cold body leaned in. Xiao Huai had never touched him so directly before; it terrified him. The Emperor was shockingly thin, yet his limbs felt heavy. Being held in his arms felt like being dragged down by a “water ghost” in a dark current, pulling the victim deeper until they drowned.

Shen Yuheng struggled to maintain his balance. “Is… Your Majesty no longer angry?”

He knew the Emperor suspected him and Xiao Jin. He wanted to explain, but he knew he wasn’t entirely innocent.

Xiao Huai rested his head at the back of Shen Yuheng’s neck. “The Consort took care of Ninth for me and tested my poison; surely his merit outweighs his faults. Besides… when have I ever been angry with the Consort?”

The Emperor’s fingers climbed up Shen Yuheng’s neck like creeping vines, their roots tightening. Every breath and pulse was held within the man’s palm.

He really hasn’t let me go. Shen Yuheng realized that his life and death, his favor or punishment, were all at the whim of this man. He felt a chill as Xiao Huai, perhaps intentionally, hooked a finger into the collar of his robes at the back of his neck.

There was still a mark there that he’d forgotten to treat. If it were seen…

Just as his brain scrambled for an explanation, Xiao Huai went rigid. In the next second, the man hunched over and began to cough violently, looking as if he would cough up his very lungs. Shen Yuheng hurried to support him, only to find his hand covered in a thick, sticky moisture.

He looked at his palm. It was a shocking, vivid crimson.

Blood.

The Palace, That Night

The festive atmosphere of the New Year had faded. The sky was low and gloomy, and a cold wind swirled the remaining snow. Within the desolate chill, a youth looked toward the direction of Qingzhuo Hall.

Shen Tinglan had repeatedly told him that Shen Yuheng had something important to say and was waiting for him at the palace. Xiao Jin had found the idea laughable. When have I ever cared what he has to say?

…No, things were different. Whether Shen Yuheng looked for him or not, Xiao Jin “watched” him every day. He remembered every detail of their nights the man’s resistance, the way he gradually adapted to the pain. He lived for the moment he would finally see Shen Yuheng’s despairing face when the truth came out. He couldn’t wait to see that ignorant, pathetic expression.

However, when Xiao Jin returned to Qingzhuo Hall, the chamber was empty. The air was cold and silent. The blankets were neatly folded; it was clear he wasn’t staying the night.

Xiao Jin’s heart went cold. As he turned to storm out, he saw a letter and a silver lock sitting prominently on the desk. The letter contained a few lines of elegant, pretty handwriting:

Happy Birthday. The Long Life Lock is for you; take it. I’ll make up the birthday feast when I return. Don’t run off.   Shen Yuheng

Xiao Jin picked up the silver lock and held it up against the moonlight.

A mere silver lock. To Shen Yuheng, this was likely a trivial bit of charity, something of no real value.

Xiao Jin was silent for several seconds, but he didn’t put the lock down. Suddenly, two figures passed by the window, talking.

“Why isn’t the Ninth Prince back yet? Is the birthday banquet running that late?”

“Maybe. I heard he’s quite powerful now… By the way, is it true that Consort Shen wants to leave the palace?”

“It’s true! I heard it with my own ears!”

Xiao Jin’s fingertips gave a violent jolt.

“I just wonder how the First Young Master plans to get the Consort out…”

“Either way, as long as there’s a way. I don’t like it here either; the Consort looks so listless lately without anyone to see.”

“If he really leaves, we won’t have to call him ‘Consort’ anymore. We can go back to calling him ‘Third Young Master’ or ‘Third Lord’ like before…”

The laughter faded into the distance.

A long, heavy silence expanded in the room until it reached a breaking point. In the next instant, the silver lock in Xiao Jin’s hand crashed to the floor, shattering with a sharp, piercing sound.