The Mad Villain Driven to Death - Chapter 35

The carriage reached the academy gates. Shen Zhaoxue had managed to eat only two of the hawthorns on his stick; by the third, he found the sweetness cloying. He intended to throw the rest away, but seeing Wan Shenghan gathering his books to disembark, he reached out and stuffed the remaining tanghulu into the man’s mouth.

Wan Shenghan didn’t get angry; he actually finished it.

The two entered the academy together. Wan Shenghan’s studies had been interrupted for months, and he had only returned to his lectures upon reaching the capital. The academy masters had always favored him and Liu Wuyou; seeing the spring examinations fast approaching, the masters were more anxious than Wan Shenghan himself. They had been urging him to focus entirely on his preparations.

However, Shen Zhaoxue had lingered in bed that morning, and Wan Shenghan had stayed with him. They arrived late and were immediately met with a lecture from the master. As the Eldest Young Master of the Wan family, Wan Shenghan had always respected his teachers, so he listened submissively.

Shen Zhaoxue watched the scene with folded arms. Eventually, he found it noisy and considered putting on his ear protectors. However, fearing someone might report the secret of his hearing loss to Emperor Yuanshun, he endured the din. He noted that while Wan Shenghan usually prattled on to him, the man was quite silent now. It’s rare to see someone who can handle him.

“And who is this?” the master suddenly asked.

“My page and study companion,” Wan Shenghan replied.

“A study companion who doesn’t even bother to carry his master’s books?”

“Master,” Wan Shenghan said gently, “Ah-Xue is in poor health. It isn’t right to burden him with such labor.”

Hearing the name, the master remembered: the Wan family had taken in the sickly youngest son of the Shen family years ago. According to rumors, the Wans treated him poorly; the other sons were said to bully him, and everyone treated him like a servant. This was the master’s first time seeing him. Despite his sickly appearance, the youth stood tall and carried the air of someone well-educated.

The old master, who treated all students equally, said no more and let Wan Shenghan inside.

Wan Shenghan breathed a sigh of relief and whispered to Shen Zhaoxue, “Sit with me—”

“I will not sit with you,” Shen Zhaoxue said flatly. He pointed to Liu Wuyou in the corner. “Young Master Liu has no companion, and the seat beside him is empty. I will sit there.”

Without waiting for a reaction, he walked over and sat down beside Liu Wuyou without ceremony. Liu Wuyou was buried in his books and didn’t notice the newcomer until the sweet scent of incense reached his nose. He looked up, startled.

“Young Master Shen? Why are you here?”

“I came with the Eldest Young Master Wan,” Shen Zhaoxue leaned forward slightly, pointing at the back of Wan Shenghan’s head. “He doesn’t lack for pages, and I happen to have business with you.”

“Business? Here at the academy?” Liu Wuyou asked blankly.

“I need you to deliver this letter to Her Highness the Princess.” He pulled a letter from his sleeve and set it on the desk. “Tell her Shen Zhaoxue has a matter of life and death to discuss, and I hope she returns to the city soon.”

“But,” Liu Wuyou said foolishly, “I haven’t seen Her Highness in many days. She is hunting in the outskirts, and I have no way to contact her.”

Shen Zhaoxue felt a wave of helplessness. Does Liu Wuyou not know he is surrounded by Chen E’s secret guards? What a bookworm! He started to explain but lost patience. With a cold face, he reached for his waist and drew a dagger with a sharp clink.

The cold light flashed across Liu Wuyou’s face. While the bookworm sat frozen, Shen Zhaoxue swung the blade toward him. Before it could reach his neck, the window beside Liu Wuyou shattered. A dark shadow burst into the academy, intercepting the dagger and knocking it from Shen Zhaoxue’s hand.

The commotion drew everyone’s attention. The academy master shouted, “What is this! Who is destroying my windows!”

Shen Zhaoxue only had time to exchange a look with Wan Shenghan, signaling the man to clean up the mess. Seeing the secret guard about to vanish through the window with the dagger, Shen Zhaoxue scrambled to follow.

“Wait! I need your help with something!”

The guard remained unmoved, leaping into a tree. Shen Zhaoxue bit his lip, his voice turning cold and threatening. “This concerns your mistress, the Princess. If anything happens to her because of your negligence, how will you answer to her?”

The guard suddenly dropped back to the ground, scattering dead leaves all over Shen Zhaoxue.

Shen Zhaoxue brushed off the dust with distaste. Finally, the guard’s toneless voice spoke: “What is it?”

Shen Zhaoxue handed over four or five letters. “Give these all to the Princess.”

The guard, face hidden behind a mask, inspected the letters for irregularities.

“There is nothing wrong with them,” Shen Zhaoxue said. “You follow the Princess; have you not seen me before?”

“No.” The guard stuffed the letters into his robes and suddenly seized Shen Zhaoxue’s wrist. “If you have business, find the mistress yourself.”

Shen Zhaoxue dazed for a second. In that moment, the guard swept him up by the waist. Shen Zhaoxue gasped, “Wait! You take them! Why take me?”

“If the mistress blames me, I will lose out.”

The guard was a rigid and literal person. He ignored the protests and carried Shen Zhaoxue over the city walls. The jarring movement left Shen Zhaoxue nauseous. When he was finally set down, he leaned against a tree and retched.

“Go,” the guard said indifferently.

“Go where?” Shen Zhaoxue’s face was pale, his eyes watering from the dry heaving. “I can’t move. I feel terrible.”

The guard thought for a moment and reached out as if to carry him again.

“Stay away from me!” Shen Zhaoxue snapped. He truly hated being touched by strange men. He rested for a long while before telling the guard, “Lead the way.”

Chen E’s camp was actually not far ahead. The guard only moved when prompted and hadn’t explained, leading Shen Zhaoxue to think it was a long journey. Before they reached the tents, the guard vanished either hiding nearby or returning to protect Liu Wuyou.

Shen Zhaoxue didn’t dwell on it. He lifted the tent flap and walked in, running straight into Chen E, who was carrying a tray of roasted meat.

“Young Master Shen?” she asked in surprise. “Why are you here?”

“I asked your guard for a favor.” Shen Zhaoxue didn’t like to dally; he got straight to the point. “The foreign King will soon rebel beyond the Pass. The imperial power will fall into chaos. This is your chance to show your loyalty and gain the Emperor’s trust. You should volunteer to go to the Pass to suppress the rebellion, and then surrender your military command once you return to the capital.”