Marked by the Tyrant After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 8

Ye Shu had a dream.

In the dream, the rain fell in a continuous drizzle. He was holding a youth who was even thinner and smaller than himself. Water dripped from the roof, pooling on the floor. Outside the window, thunder rolled and lightning flashed; with every crash, the youth in his arms shuddered.

“So cowardly,” Ye Shu said with a smile, slowly rubbing the youth’s cold fingers and cheeks. “A-Yuan is going to be an Emperor in the future. There is no such thing as an Emperor who is afraid of thunder.”

The youth looked up, revealing a pair of bright eyes. “…Can an Emperor not have things he is afraid of?”

“Of course not,” Ye Shu replied. “As a ruler, you must be strong yourself to make the country strong and the people submit. Any trace of cowardice or fear will become a fatal weakness.”

The youth stared blankly at Ye Shu. A crack of thunder exploded across the horizon, and the youth lunged back into his embrace.

“Then… just one last time,” the youth whispered, gripping Ye Shu’s clothes tightly. “The very last time.”

Ye Shu laughed and held him closer.

The scene shifted. The clouds broke, and the sun emerged. Ye Shu leaned against a winding corridor, feeling drowsy under the warm sunlight.

“I’m so busy with the coronation nonsense I can’t even breathe, yet here you are, hiding away in peace.” A crisp, youthful voice sounded. Ye Shu squinted and saw a figure walking toward him. The young man was tall and upright, his handsome brows slightly furrowed, yet he was still strikingly beautiful.

Ye Shu grinned. “Calling the coronation ‘nonsense’? Careful the old fogies don’t hear you.”

The young man did not answer, walking slowly to Ye Shu’s side.

“I asked you before what official post you wanted,” the young man said, his tall shadow blocking most of the sun. “Have you decided?”

Ye Shu countered, “Anything at all?”

“A King’s word is final.”

Ye Shu remained silent for a long time. No one knew what he was thinking in that silence. After a long while, he said slowly, “The position of Left Prime Minister is vacant. Is Your Majesty willing to give it away?”

A flash of surprise moved through the young man’s eyes. Moments later, he laughed. “Of course I am.”

Under the bright red palace walls, the two young men walked away side by side.

“I thought you’d ask for a peerage to enjoy a life of leisure.”

“Who told me I was born for a life of toil?” Ye Shu hooked his arm around the young man’s neck, his eyes full of smiles. “I have to help my Majesty unify the world.”

“That is what you said. It’s a promise.”

“Mhm. A promise.”

Ye Shu woke to the faint light of dawn. He opened his eyes and was met by an exquisitely handsome face.

Jin Wang was still sound asleep, his thick, dark lashes shielding those sharp, narrow eyes. His brows were slightly knit, leaving a shallow mark between them.

The “A-Yuan” from the dream was him. The King of Changlu, surname Jin, name Wang, courtesy name Lingyuan.

This was the first time since transmigrating that Ye Shu had dreamed of the past. His memories of the original owner’s life were vague; most of what he knew came from the book or fragmented recollections.

For instance, this dream… it seemed the tyrant used to be a soft, clingy little dumpling. How had three years of being Emperor turned him into such a dog?

“What are you thinking about?” a voice whispered by his ear.

Without thinking, Ye Shu blurted out, “Thinking about why you are so—”

The word “dog” was about to escape when Ye Shu met Jin Wang’s gaze. He instantly broke into a cold sweat. He gave a dry laugh. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”

“Morning,” Jin Wang’s voice was raspy, his expression a half-smile. “What did my dear official say he was thinking about?”

“I was thinking…” Ye Shu’s eyes darted around, and he had a sudden stroke of inspiration. “Thinking about why Your Majesty is so exceptionally talented! I am in awe; you have truly exceeded my expectations!”

Jin Wang: “?”

Ye Shu’s tone was sincere. “Your Majesty was so heroic and powerful last night. Your servant has never had such an experience in his life. It was truly… truly…”

“Truly made you feel absolutely nothing?” Jin Wang said expressionlessly. “I didn’t touch you last night. Stop making things up.”

Ye Shu: “…Huh?”

He looked down and saw that both of them were fully dressed, and his body felt completely normal—nothing like someone who had done that.

Didn’t they agree on him attending the bed? All that effort he spent in the bath was for nothing! Is this dog Emperor… impotent?

If Jin Wang knew Ye Shu was accusing him of that in his head, a severe punishment would surely follow. In truth, last night Jin Wang had been carried away and released too much Information Scent. He had forgotten that this person was a “one-scent lightweight”—one sniff and he passed out.

Passing out was one thing, but Ye Shu had fallen asleep while holding onto Jin Wang’s “vitality,” and he wouldn’t let go. The mighty King of Changlu spent half the night being held like that, leaving him alternating between arousal and frustration, nearly making himself actually impotent.

Jin Wang grew annoyed just thinking about it. He gave a cold snort, pulled back the gauze curtains, and got up.

Ye Shu peered out. “Then the thing Your Majesty promised…”

“Promised?” Jin Wang looked back. “What did I promise you?”

“The cats…”

You have the nerve to mention the cats. Jin Wang said coldly, “No.”

“Majesty…”

“No. Don’t even think about it.”

“How can you be like this?” Ye Shu knelt on the bed, displeased. “Did we not agree yesterday that if I attended… you would let me go home? A King’s word is final. How can you break your word?”

Who exactly is the one who broke their word? I didn’t even touch you.

Jin Wang couldn’t be bothered with him. Ye Shu scrambled off the bed and chased after him barefoot on the soft carpet. “Majesty, please agree. I’ll just go back for a look, nothing else. I beg you… A-Yuan.”

Jin Wang’s hand froze while fastening his robes. Ye Shu took the chance to move in front of him, eagerly helping him dress. Jin Wang watched him without a word. Once Ye Shu finished, he looked up and met the King’s eyes.

After a moment of silence, Jin Wang suddenly seized Ye Shu’s jaw and smiled. “I haven’t heard that name in many years. It seems you truly want to go back.”

The smile was gentle yet dangerous, making Ye Shu’s scalp tingle. What the hell? Didn’t the original owner call him that? Why is this tyrant… angry?

Jin Wang had trained in martial arts and didn’t hold back; the grip was painful. Ye Shu winced. “Majesty…”

Jin Wang’s grip loosened. He rubbed the red marks on Ye Shu’s face with his thumb, his voice soft. “Don’t be afraid. I can allow it.”

“However… I shall accompany you.”

The Ye Estate was located in the wealthiest district of the capital. It had been built three years ago under the King’s personal supervision and named “Lin’an Residence,” an elegant sanctuary in the middle of the city. Back then, Prime Minister Ye was at the height of his power, and the estate was a place where noble families and scholars flocked to seek favor.

Now, the gates were covered in fresh official seals. The plaque bearing the name “Ye Estate” had been hacked in two and discarded on the stone steps, covered in dust. Passersby didn’t even dare to look, fearing they would be implicated. Anyone seeing it would sigh at the fickleness of fate.

…Except for Ye Shu.

Ye Shu felt no emotional surge; he actually just wanted to go back to the summer palace quickly.

Jin Wang held him tightly in his arms, a half-smile on his face. “Where are the cats my dear official mentioned?”

“…” Ye Shu tried to shift away imperceptibly, but Jin Wang pulled him back. He lowered his head and said obediently, “They… they are usually here. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Mhm. Let’s wait then.”

Both had changed into commoner clothes. Jin Wang was in black, with a black-boned bamboo fan at his waist, looking like an elegant young noble. Ye Shu was in a green robe, appearing more refined and frail.

Behind the Ye Estate was a narrow alley, overgrown with weeds and rarely frequented. After waiting for a moment, they finally heard a soft meow.

“Meow~”

A small orange-and-white cat crouched in the grass, its eyes wet. Just as Ye Shu stepped forward, the kitten shrank back in fear.

Ye Shu thought for a moment and said, “Majesty, they are afraid because you are here. Could you… could you go wait for me first?”

Jin Wang didn’t answer immediately. He stared at Ye Shu for a long time before slowly nodding. “Fine. I will wait for you at the carriage.”

The carriage was parked at the mouth of the alley. Ye Shu watched Jin Wang leave and let out a silent sigh of relief. Just then, the kitten turned and ran deeper into the alley. Ye Shu chased after it.

Not far from the back gate was an abandoned courtyard. Ye Shu followed the kitten inside and saw it crouching outside a patch of grass in the corner, meowing at him. Ye Shu pulled back the grass. Inside was a litter of newborn kittens. Their fur was soft and thin, incredibly cute.

Ye Shu’s heart melted. Just as he reached out to touch them, a noise came from the courtyard. The door of a small shack beside him creaked open. A damp, cold aura drifted out. Ye Shu’s brows knit tight. After a slight hesitation, he stood up and walked inside.

The room was filled with cobwebs and a stagnant, decaying smell. As he stepped in, a cold wind blew past. In the next moment, his neck felt a chill.

A sharp blade was pressed against his throat.

Ye Shu’s lashes trembled, but his voice remained steady. “You really are here.”

“I have no choice. They are hunting our people everywhere. There is nowhere else to hide but here.” The voice came from right beside his ear. On the ground, the shadow of a tall man was cast by the dim light.

Ye Shu held up his hands. “I didn’t betray you.”

The man behind him gave a low laugh. “The Prime Minister who was supposed to be executed appears here, and you expect me to believe that?”

Ye Shu was silent. He didn’t expect to be alive to come back here either. Who knew what that dog Emperor was thinking every day?

Ye Shu said, “If I had betrayed you, it would be the Imperial Guards here today, not me.”

“Reasonable.” The pressure against his throat loosened. Ye Shu turned around, and the man slowly retracted his dagger.

The man was very tall with deep, sharp features and eyes that glowed with a startling intensity in the darkness, he seemed to have foreign blood. Ye Shu had this man in his memories. The original owner had collaborated with him for the assassination.

Mu Jiuqing of Western Xia.

“Jin Wang is right outside. Let’s keep this short,” Ye Shu said. “I want to leave Changlu.”

To his surprise, the man didn’t ask questions. He simply nodded. “Fine. I will take you away. But you must give me something in exchange.”

Ye Shu asked, “What do you want?”

“The Emperor of Changlu killed many of my men and ruined years of our operations.” The man stared at Ye Shu, his gaze deep and dark. “I want his life.”

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