The Cannon Fodder Character Attacked The Arrogant Male Protagonist. - Chapter 4

Yu Zhao looked down at him with a smile. The impostor taking the Emperor’s place still did not know that his identity had already been exposed. He smiled so gently and harmlessly, as if waiting for Jiang Jindeng to tear him apart or destroy him, yet the reality was that one of them was high above, and the other was below.

However, the ease and composure Yu Zhao inadvertently revealed seemed to tell Jiang Jindeng that he already had everything under control. Jiang Jindeng detested being under someone else’s thumb, feeling inferior. While his heart was filled with discomfort and anger, he saw Yu Zhao lift his chin and gently hook a finger at him. “Come here.”

Fifteen minutes ago, the four Marquises arrived to pay their respects. The Emperor ordered the palace servants to prepare a grand banquet. It was early winter, and charcoal fires were burning inside, making the room as warm as spring. The Emperor sent someone to fetch the fine wine from the imperial treasury. As the feast flowed, the wine made everyone bold, and amid the clinking of glasses, the distinction between sovereign and subject seemed to fade.

The four Marquises were the Marquis of Zhongyong, the Marquis of Wumu, the Marquis of Xuanping, and the Marquis of Wenxin, all of whom were marquises of the capital. The Marquis of Zhongyong was a military man; though he was never known for his intelligence, his lineage was extremely noble.

The imperial wine was incredibly potent. The first sip felt as if his internal organs were being set ablaze, burning him until he was muddle-headed. He asked Yu Zhao bluntly, “Your Majesty, I have heard that you have recently become curious about state affairs. This old official is gratified. However, do you know what the primary duty of a Son of Heaven is?”

This remark was extremely presumptuous, and the others glanced toward Yu Zhao without leaving a trace. Yu Zhao sat in the seat of honor, with a palace servant beside him holding a long ladle to pour his wine. Yu Zhao leaned his head on his hand and asked with a good-tempered smile, “What do you think it is?”

The Marquis of Zhongyong was stumped by the counter-question. After a moment, thinking of his daughter, he laughed loudly. “You are the Son of Heaven, possessing the bloodline of the heavens. Naturally, the most important duty is to continue your progeny.”

Yu Zhao thought for a moment and expressed his agreement. “That makes perfect sense. It is a pity, though. It is just that I truly do not desire three thousand beauties.”

The Marquis of Zhongyong thought of Honorable Jiang in the palace, and his expression turned cold. “Your status is so noble, why limit yourself to one person? You are merely infatuated for the moment; you will eventually grow tired of him. Furthermore, I have heard that this man is just a rustic fellow you met while traveling incognito. Making him Empress is a major affair; Your Majesty must not act foolishly.”

“If Your Majesty does not find her unworthy, my daughter is of a suitable age for you. Though I am a mere military man, my daughter is beautiful. If you were to marry her, we would be family, and your bloodline could be even purer.”

This Marquis of Zhongyong was Yu Zhao’s uncle by marriage, and his daughter was, by relation, Yu Zhao’s cousin.

Yu Zhao nodded vaguely. “However, I have also heard a funny story recently.”

Before the Marquis could react, Yu Zhao continued, “There is a Minister of the Court of Transmission who seems to be called Zhao Tingshun. He handled a case called the Cizhou Case last year. I heard there are many beauties there.”

The Emperor’s character was known to all, but the Marquis of Zhongyong broke into a cold sweat instantly. Various chaotic thoughts erupted in his mind.

Cizhou, how does the little Emperor know about Cizhou? Could it be that idiot Zhao Tingshun!

The other Marquises were startled and quickly stole a glance at the Marquis of Zhongyong. The Marquis forced a chuckle. “Since Your Majesty likes beauties, I will certainly collect some for you.”

Yu Zhao smiled. “I will be waiting.”

At this moment, Eunuch Wang walked in quietly from outside the door. Having served for several days, he knew who his master was. He walked up to Yu Zhao without changing his expression and whispered, “Your Majesty, Honorable Jiang has arrived.”

He spoke very softly, so the Marquises did not hear him. Yu Zhao clapped his hands. “The atmosphere is heating up; let us have some music.”

The palace servants immediately went to summon the musicians, who had been waiting nearby, and they quickly appeared in lines. The Marquis of Xuanping could not help but look at Yu Zhao. He could not put his finger on it, but he felt that this report had caused the Emperor to change.

Once the musicians were in position, they began to play, though whether intentionally or not, the melody was incredibly seductive and lingering. It immediately caused the people in the room to frown; even the somewhat intoxicated Marquis of Zhongyong sobered up quite a bit.

This is simply lascivious music, the Marquises thought. They looked at Yu Zhao, but to their surprise, Yu Zhao showed no reaction.

Yu Zhao glanced at them, surprised. “What is wrong?”

The Marquis of Wenxin looked strange. It stood to reason that since the Emperor had revealed his true colors, he no longer needed to pretend in front of them, so why listen to such indecent music? Yu Zhao ignored him.

“Your Majesty, Honorable Jiang has arrived.” Soon, the shrill voice of Eunuch Wang came from outside.

The Marquises were stunned. Yu Zhao raised his hand, and the musicians immediately signaled for the performers to stop. The young attendant beside Yu Zhao stepped forward and pushed open the window near Yu Zhao. The storage monitors outside had set up a barrier, so it was not cold.

The room went silent. The Marquises watched as His Majesty spoke to his recent favorite concubine.

Jiang Jindeng stood outside the door. The person outside was a fragile-looking, thin youth who was cold and taciturn. Yet, his gaze, which seemed faint at first glance, was bottomless when observed carefully. Yu Zhao knew he was fragile, but he would never collapse. It seemed as if a specific bone supported him, forcing Jiang Jindeng to pursue his Great Dao without pause. A demon, yet with this kind of setting.

Yu Zhao sat above, while he stood below, looking up at him just like on the day they first met. He tried his best to keep his expression unchanged, and he succeeded. In the novel, Yu Zhao could hear everyone’s thoughts, except for Jiang Jindeng’s. Yu Zhao already knew most things about him, but the more he knew, the more curious he became.

Yu Zhao purposely hooked his finger. When Jiang Jindeng walked over, wary and bewildered, Yu Zhao inserted the flower he had been playing with into his hair.

An instant of fleeting beauty. Yu Zhao heard Jiang Jindeng’s breathing deepen. However, he quickly pulled his hand away. “Eunuch Wang.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Seeing Yu Zhao call him, Eunuch Wang responded immediately, watching his nose and heart.

“Take Honorable Jiang to the side courtyard to wait for a while. I will accompany him after I finish enjoying the music with the four Marquises.”

The Emperor leaned his hand on his chin, making his words sound ambiguous. The Marquises were dumbfounded, not knowing how to react.

Once the people outside the Baohe Hall had left, the Marquis of Zhongyong asked first, smiling with some difficulty. “This… is the person outside the man Your Majesty obtained while traveling south?”

Yu Zhao turned his head. “As you said, I am at an age where I can still play for a few more years.”

His words carried a casual, joking tone. The Marquis of Zhongyong alternated between shades of pale and white, daring not to say anything more. “Your Majesty, please do not joke.”

Yu Zhao smiled warmly. “Since my favorite concubine has arrived, I will not keep you all here.”

“But before you go, I do not wish for you to leave empty-handed.” He turned the conversation slowly and gave instructions naturally. “Someone, go fetch my remaining fine wine.”

The four men could not understand the Emperor’s intentions. When the wine arrived, Yu Zhao frowned in annoyance. “There are only three jars of wine left.”

The palace servants brought up three jars of wine.

“Let me think, which lord shall not be granted wine?”

By logic, this was the perfect time for mutual concessions, but everyone at the banquet suddenly kept their mouths shut. The Marquis of Zhongyong looked suspiciously at the others. “Your Majesty, although your wine is good, I am willing to share your worries, so I am willing to forgo this wine!”

“That works out perfectly.” Yu Zhao looked at him with appreciation. “That works out perfectly. I often cherish the Marquis of Zhongyong’s concern for me, so I have prepared an even more precious reward for you.”

The Marquis immediately pretended to kowtow to thank the Emperor for his kindness. Seeing that Yu Zhao did not continue to mention the Cizhou matter, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

When they were leaving, the Marquis of Wenxin was held back. The Marquis of Wenxin was different from the Marquis of Zhongyong; he was a scholar-official with a scholarly spirit. He had not said much at the banquet earlier. Now, he did not dare to look down on the Emperor; hearing Yu Zhao call him, his heart trembled violently.

“I heard you have an only son named Xiao Fei?”

The Marquis of Wenxin paused. “That is correct. Your Majesty, my son’s name is Fei, and his courtesy name is Qiezhi. It is an honor for him to be known by Your Majesty.”

Yu Zhao replied, “Let him also taste this jar of wine.”

The Marquis of Wenxin did not dare to look at the Emperor again, kneeling on the ground. “Thank you for your immense grace.”

It was late when they left the palace. The curfew was approaching, and only a few people remained on the streets. The coachman drove the carriage until it stopped in front of a mansion. The stone lions at the gate were majestic, and the plaque under the eaves bore the characters: Marquis of Wenxin’s Mansion.

The people standing at the gate immediately went to greet them. The man in front had sword-like brows and starry eyes, with a restrained aura; he looked like a precious sword stored in a sheath. He was the Marquis of Wenxin’s only son, Xiao Fei. Seeing the carriage stop, he helped his father down while servants held lanterns nearby.

“Father, have you eaten in the palace?”

“Come.” As soon as the Marquis of Wenxin got down, he gave instructions to his left and right. “Take that jar of wine from the carriage and warm it in the kitchen. It was bestowed by His Majesty, so be careful!” After speaking, he turned back and patted his son’s hand. “There was a banquet in the palace today, and it just finished, so there is no need to eat. Your mother is asleep now; let us father and son go to the study and drink this jar of wine.”

Despite saying this, the Marquis of Wenxin clearly had no look of joy on his face.

The Marquis of Wenxin sighed. “When the four of us were about to leave, His Majesty only granted wine to three people.”

Xiao Fei frowned. “What does His Majesty mean by this?”

“Have you not understood His Majesty’s intentions yet?” The Marquis of Wenxin sighed. “Imperial grace is vast, and we have to accept it. If we do not accept it, we are out. How hateful that the Emperor could pretend for so long!”

“It is lamentable that the Marquis of Zhongyong, that fool, has been arrogant for so long, yet he is so stupid that he did not understand the Emperor’s intentions.”

After the banquet ended, Yu Zhao walked into the room where Jiang Jindeng was. Jiang Jindeng was still feeling an irrepressible sense of shock. The cold was bitter outside, but the Baohe Hall was very warm.

Jiang Jindeng was still wearing a fur cape, but because he had been tossed about and was deficient in energy, his complexion was as pale as a handful of snow. He gripped the flower he had received earlier, which made his fingers look even more vibrant. Jiang Jindeng watched him stealthily as he walked in.

Yu Zhao placed the wine in front of him and said concisely, “There were four jars of wine in total; I saved one for you.”

Jiang Jindeng watched him smile at him again. His memories were too blurry for him to remember what the real Emperor looked like, but this fake Emperor was certainly gentler than the previous one. However, the fact that he could deal with those human officials meant he must have significant schemes as a ruler.

Thinking of this, a sudden thought popped into his mind. This thought came unexpectedly, but Jiang Jindeng felt as if he had been awakened from a dream. He stared at Yu Zhao. Yu Zhao was pouring him wine with a natural expression. Although they had only met twice, Yu Zhao had smiled lightly each time, his movements elegant and graceful; he did not seem like someone with deep schemes.

Jiang Jindeng was certain that he did not know he had been reborn, nor did he know his identity had been exposed. His purpose for coming here might be to plot against the country. If so, why not use him to help himself?

In fact, Yu Zhao made him feel a sense of security. Although Jiang Jindeng always felt that natural sense of superiority in Yu Zhao’s eyes, Yu Zhao was fresh to him. He was a variable outside of variables. And this fresh person treated him with neither malice nor fear. He could find the Pure Flame through him and restore his cultivation. As for waiting until he restored his cultivation, he could strangle this variable to death.

“Its name is Brewed Green and Hidden Light.” Yu Zhao was still unaware of his thoughts and told him after pouring the wine.

Jiang Jindeng lowered his slender eyelashes and obediently looked at the cup of wine Yu Zhao had poured for him on the table. From Yu Zhao’s angle, the corners of those phoenix eyes were particularly upturned.

Jiang Jindeng stretched out his fair hands and picked up the cup of wine, first examining the Brewed Green and Hidden Light. He then took a small sip. He did not expect the name to be so elegant, but after only one sip, a wave of spiciness rushed straight into his mouth. Jiang Jindeng suppressed the urge to cough, his eyes filling with tears.

“Good wine.”

Looking at his eyes, Yu Zhao unexpectedly thought of a bizarre question.

“Are you from Jiangnan?”

Jiang Jindeng’s lips became a deep red because of the wine. He raised his head and paused, as if not expecting him to ask this. “No.”

Yu Zhao understood roughly why the Dragon Aotian protagonist was so popular despite seeking the Great Dao. For someone so outwardly cold and taciturn, everyone wanted to figure out what he was truly thinking.

Jiang Jindeng brought up what he had heard when he arrived and asked hesitantly, “Are you waiting for me?”

Yu Zhao’s eyes curved, and he said gently, “I wanted to give you a gift.”

Yu Zhao was just waiting to be asked what gift he wanted to give him, only to find Jiang Jindeng suddenly collapsing on the table. Jiang Jindeng had actually gotten drunk.

Yu Zhao was stunned, even wanting to laugh. However, Yu Zhao soon found he could not laugh, because his fingertips felt his forehead.

The handful of snow was burning hot all over. He was running a fever.

Just at this moment, “Report! Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!” Eunuch Wang hurried in, panicked, forgetting even the palace etiquette, only to see the Honorable Jiang, who had been fine just a moment ago, now slumped on the table. Yu Zhao placed his fingers across his lips and gestured for him to be quiet.

Eunuch Wang wished he could slap himself for disturbing the Emperor’s time with his concubine. He managed to steady himself, but his voice was still trembling. “Your Majesty, the Marquis of Zhongyong has been assassinated.”

Yu Zhao looked down at Jiang Jindeng, who had collapsed on the table, and laughed in spite of himself.

“The gift has just arrived, yet you have fallen asleep.”