The Mad Villain Driven to Death - Chapter 34

Perhaps because ten years had passed, his memory was limited; many details had already become blurred. Consequently, he had temporarily lost track of exactly when the rebellion beyond the Pass was supposed to ignite.

Shen Zhaoxue bit his chopsticks and dazed for a moment until he heard Wan Shenghan ask, “Do you wish to see Her Highness the Princess?”

His lashes flickered as he looked up with a cold gaze, meeting Wan Shenghan’s eyes. The man before him still wore his green scholarly robes, hair neatly bound, exuding a refined, academic air. Yet here he was, asking about Shen Zhaoxue’s plans.

Wan Shenghan must know that what Shen Zhaoxue intended to do was neither good nor kind it could even be considered treasonous. Dealing in power was a high-risk game; history was written by the victors, and the losers were always branded as bandits. Usually, if someone knew of such things, they would do everything possible to distance themselves, afraid of being dragged down if the plan failed.

Who but Wan Shenghan would persistently dig for the truth and chase after the details?

Shen Zhaoxue lowered his gaze, picking at the food in his bowl. “Naturally I must see her,” he said flatly. “Why, do you disagree?”

“Her Highness the Princess has been hunting in the outskirts with the Princes lately; she likely cannot be found for the moment.” Wan Shenghan paused, then added a reminder: “However, Liu Wuyou is still in the capital. I ran into him at the academy these past few days.”

Liu Wuyou and Chen E were involved in a private affair. Now that Chen E knew Chen Luo had designs on Liu Wuyou, she had likely stationed secret guards to protect him. Shen Zhaoxue pondered for a moment and made up his mind: he would go see Liu Wuyou.

He said nothing else to Wan Shenghan, acting as if he didn’t trust the man at all. Wan Shenghan felt a wave of defeat; despite having expressed his absolute loyalty, Shen Zhaoxue remained wary. Just as he was searching for the right words, Shen Zhaoxue spoke again.

“Tomorrow, when you go to Shanyue Academy, remember to take me with you.”

Wan Shenghan froze, then quickly replied, “Fine. Do you need anything else”

“The Eldest Young Master should not ask what should not be asked,” Shen Zhaoxue said with a faint smile. “You are not yet worthy of my full trust.”

He set down his chopsticks, gathered his sleeves, and rose with a lazy air. “I am weary. You may take your leave.”

Wan Shenghan didn’t respond. He looked at the food on the table, noting that Shen Zhaoxue hadn’t eaten much this time either. He stayed in the room as if unwilling to leave. Shen Zhaoxue ignored him, ordered hot water, and went to the side room to bathe.

Wan Shenghan’s change in attitude was obvious; Shen Zhaoxue could sense it easily. Is it because I forced him to marry me that night?

Truthfully, Shen Zhaoxue didn’t care about the marriage and hadn’t pursued it. He had only been angry that Wan Shenghan had taken such a liberty. The Great Yan Empire did not favor the “passion of the cut sleeve”; the man had gone and tied himself to another man what if outsiders found out? Fortunately, the courtyard had been empty, and Wan Shenghan wasn’t the type to boast. The matter remained a secret between the two of them.

Shen Zhaoxue closed his eyes irritably, leaning against the tub until the water grew cool. He dressed himself carefully. When he stepped out, Wan Shenghan was gone, and several servants were clearing the table.

“Where are the leftovers in the bowl?” Shen Zhaoxue asked casually.

The servants looked bewildered. “The bowl was already empty when we arrived.”

Shen Zhaoxue didn’t think much of it, humming an “Mhm.” He figured Wan Shenghan had finished them. Why doesn’t he have his own food made? Why does he always eat my scraps? Is the Wan family going bankrupt?

As he dried his hair and headed for the bed, he remembered something and told the servants, “Have the kitchen prepare more food and send it to the Second Young Master’s courtyard. Do not mistreat him.”

The servants exchanged looks. After leaving the side courtyard, one whispered, “Is Young Master Shen being sincere or sarcastic?”

“He’s usually polite; he likely meant it.”

“Then what do we do? The Eldest Young Master told us not to mind that person. Should we listen to the Eldest Young Master or Young Master Shen?”

They hesitated for a while until one said, “Listen to Young Master Shen. The Eldest Young Master even finished Young Master Shen’s leftovers; I thought he was feeding the dog at first.” The group sighed with various expressions and headed to the kitchen.

Shen Zhaoxue slept until sunset. Wan Shenghan returned with the doctor and woke him to continue the treatment for his eyes. Shen Zhaoxue yawned and asked muddledly, “That retainer of yours, Zhang Shu has he not visited lately?”

“He has not,” Wan Shenghan said truthfully. “By the time Chen Shi returned to the capital, it was too late to join the Princes for the hunt. Since the Emperor is away, Chen Shi is enjoying his leisure in the palace. He likely took Zhang Shu into the palace with him.”

Shen Zhaoxue hummed a soft response. The acupoints where the needles were placed felt dull and aching. He sat by the bed with a frown, his lowered lashes casting small shadows under his eyes.

Suddenly, the doctor said, “Eldest Young Master, I must ask you to steady these needles for me. My hands and legs are growing numb in my old age.”

Wan Shenghan stepped forward. “How shall I do it?”

The doctor directed him to support the needles at the back of Shen Zhaoxue’s neck. Wan Shenghan shifted his position, effectively shielding Shen Zhaoxue in his embrace. The man’s scent suddenly filled his senses. Shen Zhaoxue’s pupils shrank; he felt that no matter which way he turned his head, he would bump into the man’s chest.

“Why can’t you stand in a different direction?” Shen Zhaoxue asked.

“This is convenient for me. Why?”

He actually asks ‘why’? Shen Zhaoxue’s temples throbbed. He was certain the man was doing this on purpose while playing dumb. His chest heaved once, but he quickly calmed himself and fell silent.

After a moment, the doctor said, “The Eldest Young Master may remove the needles and hand them to me.”

“Very well,” Wan Shenghan said. He leaned down as if to see more clearly, completely enveloping Shen Zhaoxue. This time, it was a full embrace. Shen Zhaoxue closed his eyes, feeling the needles being removed one by one from his neck.

Once the doctor left, Wan Shenghan prepared to stand, but Shen Zhaoxue suddenly reached out and grabbed his collar, biting the man’s lip hard. It wasn’t an act of passion, but of pure spite he even drew blood.

Wan Shenghan hissed. “Sharp-tongued and quick-to-bite.”

Yet he didn’t pull away. Instead, he cradled the back of the youth’s head and kissed him back. Shen Zhaoxue’s cheeks turned a deep crimson, his eyes shut tight, and his lashes trembled violently.

Wan Shenghan kissed his lips and Adam’s apple, whispering, “What bad idea are you hatching this time?”

Shen Zhaoxue said nothing, his hand fumbling over the bedding until Wan Shenghan seized his wrist.

“Stop looking,” Wan Shenghan panted, his warm breath hitting the youth’s neck. “If you hit me once or twice more, your husband’s brain truly will break.”

“Breaking it would be for the best,” Shen Zhaoxue smiled. “If you were a fool, I might find you more likable than you are now.”

Wan Shenghan straightened up slightly, staring into the youth’s eyes. “So cold-hearted.”

“As are you.”

Shen Zhaoxue sat up on his knees and began unfastening his own sash. He looked Wan Shenghan directly in the eye and said softly, “Since we are married after all, there is nothing wrong with performing the duties of husband and wife.”

The silk inner robe loosened and slid from his shoulders, pooling onto the floor. The candlelight flickered, casting their intermingled shadows against the window. A moment later, a figure passed by outside the room and vanished into the darkness.

The next day was somewhat chilly. After the night’s exertions, Shen Zhaoxue looked exhausted. He was listlessly dressed and groomed by Wan Shenghan before being taken to the carriage. He leaned by the window, eating sour plums from a small table to wake himself up.

He wore his ear protectors and could hear nothing. He didn’t want to look at Wan Shenghan, acting as if the man before him wasn’t the one he’d spent the night with. He just watched the world outside. He saw an old man selling tanghulu on the street. With a touch of lingering childhood whimsy, he lifted one side of his ear protectors and spoke to Wan Shenghan.

“I want tanghulu.”

Wan Shenghan tried to bargain. “I’ll buy it for a kiss.”

The smile vanished from Shen Zhaoxue’s face. He reached for the pouch at his waist, but only found a single copper coin. He remembered: they had shared a bed, and Wan Shenghan had dressed him this morning. The man had likely tampered with his pouch.

“Return my silver!” Shen Zhaoxue snapped. “I earned that by copying books for days!”

“It is simply left at the estate,” Wan Shenghan said. “I’m not going to swallow your money.” He added, “It was only a tiny bit of silver anyway; it’s not worth much.”

Shen Zhaoxue felt insulted. “I am not as wealthy as the Eldest Young Master Wan. The silver you look down upon was enough to keep me alive for days.”

“As long as you live in the Wan estate, I will never let you go hungry.”

“Who cares about living in your estate forever?”

Wan Shenghan’s expression turned strange. He parted his lips and said, “You are currently my wi”

Shen Zhaoxue clamped his hand over the man’s mouth, hissing through gritted teeth, “Watch your words when we are out.” He let go and gave the man a pinch for good measure before sitting back, no longer wanting the tanghulu.

“Why do you not want it now?” Wan Shenghan asked, knowing full well why.

Shen Zhaoxue closed his eyes. In the next instant, the man leaned over, seized his chin, and kissed him. Shen Zhaoxue was stunned. Before he could get angry, Wan Shenghan pulled away and licked his lips. “Getting you to be proactive truly is harder than climbing to heaven.”

“Was I not proactive enough last night?” Shen Zhaoxue said flatly.

He watched the man open the curtain and give a coin to the driver to buy a stick of tanghulu. The driver returned quickly and handed it through the window. The carriage moved on.

Shen Zhaoxue took a small bite of a hawthorn and asked muddledly, “Has Chen Luo not come to find me these past few days?”

“He came, but I told him you were sick. He likely feared catching whatever illness you had, so he didn’t enter the estate.”

“And has he not gone to see Liu Wuyou?”

“He has,” Wan Shenghan said. “The Princess is keeping a close watch and hasn’t let Liu Wuyou leave the house. He stayed inside for several days, only returning to the academy once Chen Luo went to the outskirts.”

A thought moved in Shen Zhaoxue’s mind. “Since Chen Luo loves to play, he must own some businesses. I wonder if there are any gambling dens or taverns under his name?”

Wan Shenghan didn’t know. “If you wish to know, I will have someone investigate.” He then realized something. “You want Wan Jingyao to…”

“Shh,” Shen Zhaoxue placed a finger to his lips, smiling with curving eyes. “The walls have ears. Be careful our plans don’t leak out.”