After I Faked My Death, the Dog Emperor Completely Lost His Mind - Chapter 6

Shen Yuheng’s expression froze.

Attend the bed? Who? Me?

He hadn’t done anything particularly noteworthy to catch the old Emperor’s attention, had he? How was it already his turn to serve the bed? Arghhh!

Forcing himself to remain calm, Shen Yuheng waited for his servants to give Head Eunuch Fang his reward before asking hesitantly, “Now that the Ninth Prince has returned to the palace, the astrological omens are unfavorable, and since he is being raised in my palace.”

Head Eunuch Fang replied, “The Bureau of Astronomy did report unfavorable omens a while back, but the stars have shifted this month. His Majesty is no longer concerned about the Ninth Prince’s situation.”

The eunuch then added in a low, fawning tone, “The Shen family has produced generations of generals. His Majesty usually dislikes ‘sturdy’ consorts, which is why he hasn’t summoned you until now.”

These male consorts were selected by the Bureau of Astronomy and the Internal Affairs Bureau based on their horoscopes; they hadn’t actually been personally vetted by the Emperor yet.

Shen Yuheng understood. So, the old Emperor had seen him today and was struck by his beauty?

The original owner’s face was almost identical to Shen Yuheng’s original one handsome and bright, yet with a refreshing, beautiful elegance in the eyes. The old Emperor was used to exotic “delicacies”; seeing such natural, makeup-free beauty was bound to spark his interest.

The System offered its condolences: 【Host, fare thee well (Candle.jpg) (Candle.jpg) (Candle.jpg) 】

Shen Yuheng: “…” Don’t start lighting incense for me this early!!

Sighing, Shen Yuheng sat back in the palanquin. In the darkness of the night, the view from the window was hazy. He looked up to find the youth’s eyes fixed on him, dark and inscrutable.

“What are you looking at?”

Shen Yuheng didn’t know why Xiao Jin stared at him all day or what the boy was thinking. He pointed at him. “Do the wounds on your hands still hurt? Let me see.”

Xiao Jin naturally wouldn’t offer his hands voluntarily. Shen Yuheng simply took those cold, chilblain-covered hands the wounds looked about the same as they had during the day.

“Where is the salve I told you to apply?”

What’s the use of knowing how to kill and burn? You can’t even heal your own frostbite. How are you any different from a child?

Feeling helpless, Shen Yuheng took out a small box of scented balm he carried with him and applied it to Xiao Jin’s hands. Although they were only two years apart in age, Shen Yuheng’s mental age was much older; he viewed Xiao Jin as nothing more than a child.

As his slender, jade-like fingers spread a thin layer of the balm over the rough, stinging skin, the soft substance was pressed into every crevice. Xiao Jin looked at Shen Yuheng’s movements with hesitation, his deep eyes filled with doubt. He was suppressing the urge to pull his hands away when he heard a soft sigh from Shen Yuheng, the sound drifting over him like thin smoke.

Regarding serving the bed, Shen Yuheng was truly unwilling a thousand times over.

Before transmigrating, Shen Yuheng was only in his early twenties. The old Emperor was in his forties old enough to be his father. To do that with a strange older man he had met just ninety minutes ago, no matter how open-minded Shen Yuheng was, he wasn’t that open.

The moment he returned to the Hall of Pure Clarity, before he could even step inside, anxious servants were already leading him in. Everyone who saw him offered joyful congratulations. Only Shen Yuheng himself couldn’t find a smile.

An instructional governess dragged him into a room to teach him the “blush-inducing” knowledge, making Shen Yuheng more terrified by the second.

“I suddenly feel a bit unwell. I drank wine earlier. What if I vomit on His Majesty later.”

The governess narrowed her eyes shrewdly and gave a wicked, toothy grin. “Doesn’t Consort Shen usually pine for a summons? Why are you suddenly afraid now that the day has finally come?”

“I…”

“His Majesty is in his prime, surrounded by countless concubines, and usually prefers women. Among the male consorts, you are the first one His Majesty has personally flipped the nameplate for and specifically requested.”

Shen Yuheng’s mouth twitched. “…” Whoever wants this “blessing” can have it! I certainly don’t!!

He desperately wanted to jump out of a window and run, but the governess and the servants watched him like hawks, giving him no opportunity.

Sensing his genuine intent to flee, the governess’s grip tightened. “Consort Shen, stop messing around. The Carriage of Grace is waiting outside. Please proceed to His Majesty’s Hall of Mental Cultivation!”

“…………” Two trails of tears nearly fell down Shen Yuheng’s face.

No way, no way. Is he really about to be [Censored] by a forty-year-old Emperor right after transmigrating?!!

Regardless of his “persona,” Shen Yuheng was practically tied onto the Carriage of Grace. As the carriage disappeared down the palace path, only a faint flicker of firelight could be seen in the distance.

“Strange,” the maid Jiaobai whispered. “Doesn’t Consort Shen usually want to serve the bed? Why did he seem so reluctant today?”

Yundou shook her head with pity. “It seems Consort Shen still can’t forget Lord Meng…”

Behind them, beneath the crimson palace walls, a sinister shadow drifted past silently before vanishing into the darkness like a ghost.

The only thing that comforted Shen Yuheng was that the concubines of the Great Zhou were allowed to wear clothes when they went to serve. If he had been wrapped naked in a quilt like in those palace drama, he would have lost all dignity.

That was the only bit of solace he could find.

After stepping off the carriage, Head Eunuch Fang respectfully led him into the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Upon entering, Shen Yuheng was hit by a heavy smell of medicine that made his head spin.

Hearing footsteps, a sharp, alert voice came from within: “Who is it?”

Fang Qing bowed. “Your Majesty, Consort Shen has arrived.”

“Good.”

Through the mist of incense, Shen Yuheng saw a hazy figure standing there, long hair cascading down like a forest spirit. Fang Qing bowed and withdrew, leaving him alone to wait in terror.

A low chuckle came from the man it wasn’t pleasant, but rather carried an intense sense of pressure. For some reason, every time Shen Yuheng saw this old Emperor, he felt the man didn’t quite seem like a living person.

The man walked to the incense burner and personally added a piece of fragrance, the smoke rising in ribbons and turning the room into a fairyland. He turned his head toward Shen Yuheng, his face obscured.

“Come forward. Let me look at you.”

“…” A layer of sweat broke out on Shen Yuheng’s palms. “Yes.”

He wasn’t wearing his usual clothes; the governess and maids had put him in an ivory-white silken robe. A corner of the snowy-white fabric trailed on the ground as Shen Yuheng took agonizingly slow steps forward.

As he entered the mist, he felt a snake-like gaze wrap around his neck. He looked up secretly to see the Emperor reclining on the bed, his waterfall of black hair spilling onto the floor.

The man narrowed his almond eyes and nodded slightly, his finger picking up the flesh of a translucent grape. “You do indeed share a resemblance with the Great General.”

The “Great General” referred to Shen Yuheng’s father, Shen Chong.

“Your father and brothers spend their days on the battlefield amidst blood and blades; you, however, are quite gentle. You’re even willing to raise Old Ninth.”

Shen Yuheng stammered, “The Ninth Prince has a ‘pure’ nature. Living alone in the palace with little company, I couldn’t bear to see him uncared for, so I…”

By the end of the sentence, he almost laughed. He wanted to say a few good words for Xiao Jin to improve the boy’s treatment in the palace, but the lie felt like it was burning his mouth!

The Emperor let out a low, raspy laugh. “I don’t hate Old Ninth. It’s just as Consort Shen knows, the stars are against him. I have no choice.”

“Your Majesty is correct.” Shen Yuheng caught a strange undertone in his voice, as if there was a hidden meaning.

Before he could figure it out, the man continued. “Enough.” He let out a yawn. “I’m growing weary. Come up surely the governess taught you the rules for serving the bed?”

The man propped himself up and beckoned Shen Yuheng with a hooked finger, as if calling a puppy. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know. I find you pleasing to the eye; I don’t mind teaching you myself.”

“…” Cold sweat poured down Shen Yuheng. He suddenly couldn’t understand human speech.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. “What? Does Consort Shen wish to do it on the floor? Very well. Since it’s your first time, I shall grant your wish.”

“I don’t! I wouldn’t!” Shen Yuheng’s hands were shaking. “I heard Your Majesty does not favor male consorts. I do not wish to provoke your displeasure.”

“No matter.” The Emperor pointed to a bowl of black liquid on the table. “Bring me that medicine.”

Shen Yuheng tremblingly brought it over, spilling a few drops despite his care. The Emperor said nothing, took the bowl, and swallowed it in one go. His thin neck, almost devoid of flesh, moved slightly with the swallow.

Once he finished, he took Shen Yuheng’s hand and forced him to sit on the bed. Shen Yuheng was as rigid and tense as a stone statue. The System had long since vanished, but the list of the Emperor’s sexual preferences it had read earlier was playing on a loop in his head.

I don’t want to serve the bed, arghhh!!!

Shen Yuheng was about to get up when the Emperor grabbed his waist. For such a thin man, his strength was extraordinary. “Don’t be nervous. I will treat you well.”

Shen Yuheng’s brain was a mess, and he didn’t know what to do. However, after a few seconds, the Emperor’s movements grew inexplicably light. The hand around his waist suddenly slid away.

Huh?

Shen Yuheng carefully backed away. Without support, the Emperor’s body slumped onto the bed. After a moment of stunned silence, Shen Yuheng broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly checked the man’s breathing.

Feeling a steady breath against his finger, Shen Yuheng finally relaxed. He didn’t know why the Emperor had suddenly fallen asleep but not having to serve the bed was the best outcome.

Shen Yuheng gently straightened the Emperor’s posture and even mussed up the nearby quilts to make it look like they were finished. Having faked the scene, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Fortunately, it was standard for a consort to return to their own palace after serving; they didn’t have to stay the night unless they were exceptionally favored. Shen Yuheng looked at the sleeping Emperor to confirm he was truly out, then grew bold and hurried outside.

Time to go!

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Shortly after Shen Yuheng left, Head Eunuch Fang knocked twice on the door and entered. Confirming the Emperor had indeed fallen asleep, Fang Qing extinguished the candles and withdrew.

Outside the window paper, a shadow flickered silently before vanishing without a trace.