The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 14

The early spring wind still carried a hint of frost as it swirled through the courtyard, seeping into the dragon-patterned brocade robe of the man standing at the doorway.

Though it was no longer the bone-chilling cold of winter, Su Yang felt a deep chill spreading through his entire body. It seemed he had made a grave mistake he had personally delivered a wolf to Lin Huaiyu’s side, and now this wolf was about to snatch Lin Huaiyu away right under his nose.

Su Yang closed his eyes briefly, suppressing the gloom in his gaze. Yet, the oppressive aura around him was impossible to conceal, so much so that even De Fu dared not walk beside him.

Su Yang approached the doorframe and let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Where do you plan to take your master?”

Lin Fei turned around and saw the emperor, still clad in his dragon-patterned court robes, standing not far away with his back to the sunlight. His entire presence was shrouded in darkness, and his gaze fixed on Lin Fei like a ferocious beast eyeing its prey, ready to devour it whole.

In that instant, a cold sweat broke out on Lin Fei’s back.

Was this the emperor’s intimidating aura? It was truly terrifying.

Lin Fei immediately dropped to his knees. “Your Majesty!”

Su Yang did not bid him rise. Instead, he strode past him into the room, shifting his gaze to Lin Huaiyu. “You wish to leave the palace?”

Lin Fei kept his head bowed, not daring to meet the emperor’s eyes. Assuming Su Yang was still addressing him, he hurriedly replied, “My master may not be accustomed to life in the palace. This humble servant thought it best to take him back to the Prime Minister’s residence, as it might aid in his recovery.”

“Not accustomed to life in the palace?” Su Yang repeated the words slowly, syllable by syllable, before letting out a derisive snort. He turned to Lin Huaiyu and asked, “Which part of the palace are you unfamiliar with, Teacher? I will take you there.”

Lin Fei, feeling the weight of his nervousness, feared his words had been unclear and that Su Yang might take his anger out on Lin Huaiyu. He quickly explained, “This humble servant spoke carelessly. What I meant to say was that there is no one in the palace to care for my master, so he may not be used to life here. At the Prime Minister’s residence, I can attend to him, and he will recover more quickly.”

Su Yang’s lips curled into a faint, deliberate smile. “So, it was you who took care of Teacher at the Prime Minister’s residence?”

Lin Fei, oblivious to the possessive undertone in Su Yang’s voice, answered honestly, “Yes. This humble servant is familiar with the Prime Minister’s physical condition. If I were to care for him, I am certain he would recover swiftly.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yang’s smile widened, though his tone grew even darker. “You are familiar with Teacher’s physical… condition? How familiar?”

Without waiting for Lin Fei’s response, Su Yang’s gaze locked onto Lin Huaiyu as he asked, “More familiar than I am with you?”

Lin Huaiyu glanced at him but offered no reply. Lin Fei, still with his head bowed, had no idea how to respond.

What kind of question was His Majesty asking…?

Su Yang watched Lin Huaiyu with a composed expression and pressed further, “Is there no one in the palace to care for you, Teacher? Have I not been taking care of you all along?”

Lin Fei fell silent, stunned. He had no idea. Was His Majesty personally attending to his master? Once again, he had misspoken.

Seeing Lin Fei trembling with fear, Lin Huaiyu let out a soft sigh and said to Su Yang, “Xiao Fei is only concerned about me, Your Majesty. Why must you make things difficult for him?”

“I am making things difficult for him?” Su Yang’s tone sharpened instantly. He moved to Lin Huaiyu’s side, his gaze filled with an almost invasive intensity. “He wants to take you away from me, yet you still speak in his defense? Lin Huaiyu, you have always wanted to leave me, haven’t you?”

Lin Huaiyu furrowed his brow. He glanced at Lin Fei kneeling on the floor, wanting to stop Su Yang from continuing his nonsense. “Your Majesty, I must return eventually. What difference does it make whether it’s sooner or later? You are no longer a child.”

Su Yang looked deeply at Lin Huaiyu and asked, “Must you leave, Teacher?”

Lin Huaiyu felt that Su Yang asking this question could not bode well, but he did not want to deceive him either. He could only reply tactfully, “Your Majesty, as I have said before, I cannot accompany you for a lifetime.”

“Is that so?” Su Yang’s tone was somewhat indifferent. Then he glanced at Lin Fei and said coldly, “Then I will have him killed. Once he is dead, Teacher will have only me left, won’t you?”

Lin Huaiyu was stunned. He heard Lin Fei cry out beside him, “Your Majesty, spare my life!”

He opened his mouth but could not speak. A wave of dizziness washed over him once again.

Although Lin Fei was merely his steward, truth be told, in the capital now, only Lin Fei would still talk to him and care about him.

Over the years, everyone in the court had avoided him respecting him, fearing him, yet wishing for his death. There was no one he could truly call a “friend,” no one with whom he could share his heart.

Su Yang was right. In the capital, he had no family or relatives. Where was there a home for him to return to?

Lin Huaiyu slowly turned his gaze to Lin Fei. This child was one he had picked up from the streets a little beggar who had wandered from another town to the capital, staring at a steamed bun shop in the snowy wind. At a glance, Lin Huaiyu had been reminded of his own past self.

He had brought Lin Fei back to the Lin residence, giving the child a place to call home. He hadn’t expected anything in return it was merely saving a life.

But Lin Fei was someone who knew how to repay kindness. He had taken care of the household affairs in the Lin residence, voluntarily becoming his carriage driver as well. Everything concerning Lin Huaiyu’s life in the residence was handled personally by Lin Fei.

Lin Huaiyu’s health was poor, and Lin Fei often looked after him and showed him concern.

If one were to truly count, Lin Fei was like half a family to him.

Lin Huaiyu had no choice but to speak. “Xiao Fei was only concerned about me, Your Majesty… Please let him go.”

Hearing Lin Huaiyu’s softened tone, Su Yang raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a chill. “Is Teacher begging me?”

Lin Huaiyu glanced at Lin Fei once more, then lifted his eyes to meet Su Yang’s mocking gaze. His own gaze gradually darkened. “I beg Your Majesty to release my steward.”

Su Yang’s expression suddenly darkened. He kicked Lin Fei and roared angrily, “Didn’t you hear? Get out!”

Lin Fei cried out in pain and fell to the ground, but he did not leave immediately. He could naturally sense Su Yang’s anger and could only look at Lin Huaiyu with concern. Seeing his master give him a reassuring glance, he hesitated for a moment under Su Yang’s murderous gaze before scrambling out the door.

Just as he stepped out, De Fu outside closed the door, cutting off all sounds from within.

Unable to rest easy, Lin Fei did not go far.

Seeing the door close, Lin Huaiyu instead breathed a sigh of relief. He was about to speak when Su Yang forced him against a cabinet, leaving him with no retreat.

Su Yang’s voice was low, filled with restraint. “Lin Huaiyu, you actually begged me for his sake?!”

Lin Huaiyu’s long eyelashes trembled slightly as he replied truthfully, “There are few people in the capital I can speak with anymore. Lin Fei is innocent and should not be implicated because of me. Your Majesty, please do not trouble him.”

Hearing Lin Huaiyu’s every word revolve around Lin Fei, Su Yang grew furious. “Is he that important to you? Huh?!”

The nation and its people came before him, the sons of ministers came before him, and now even a mere steward was placed ahead of him just how little did Lin Huaiyu care about him?

Lin Huaiyu shook his head gently. “I have no family left. Xiao Fei is the only person I am familiar with in the capital. Your Majesty, please spare him.”

Lin Fei reminded him of that snowy night when he first met Su Yang. Sometimes, when speaking with Lin Fei, he would even think of the younger version of Su Yang.

Moreover, Lin Fei was truly innocent.

Upon hearing this, Su Yang let out a low, self-mocking laugh. “Fine. If you want me to spare him, then exchange yourself for him. Lin Huaiyu, aren’t you so concerned about the lives of these people? Trading yourself for a life shouldn’t be a loss, right? One life for one exchange it’s a fair deal.”

Lin Huaiyu looked at Su Yang, his eyes tinged with helplessness. The dizziness had not lessened in the slightest; instead, after stumbling back a few steps and bumping into a cabinet, it had grown worse. Su Yang’s face now appeared blurred and doubled in his vision.

When he remained silent, Su Yang sneered again. “What? Unwilling? Isn’t he important to you? As expected, the teacher remains aloof and noble.”

Lin Huaiyu did not catch Su Yang’s sarcastic remarks. Only when Su Yang stepped back and began to call out “De ” did Lin Huaiyu immediately grab hold of Su Yang’s sleeve. “Don’t.”

Su Yang indeed fell silent, simply watching Lin Huaiyu quietly.

After hesitating for a long time, Lin Huaiyu finally sighed and slowly began to remove his outer robe. The dark-colored robe fell to the floor. Beneath it, Lin Huaiyu wore nothing else, leaving himself completely exposed before Su Yang. In this moment, his heart felt unexpectedly calm.

But Su Yang seemed to have been ignited. He sprang up instantly previously leaning against the table, watching Lin Huaiyu with a mocking gaze, but now as if someone had seized his vital spot, his eyes reddening with fury. He strode over to Lin Huaiyu and grabbed him by the neck. “Lin Huaiyu! How dare you go this far for him?!”

The pain from Su Yang’s grip caused Lin Huaiyu’s vision to darken momentarily. He could feel Su Yang’s unparalleled rage, fiercer than any anger he had ever witnessed before.

Lin Huaiyu did not understand. He had done exactly as Su Yang wanted, why was Su Yang so enraged?

Instinctively, Lin Huaiyu’s hands reached for Su Yang, but he had no strength left, powerless to stop Su Yang from tightening his grip around his neck.

Unaware of Lin Huaiyu’s weakness, Su Yang roared, “He is your family, then what am I? What do I count as? For him, you would agree to something like this? Is he that important to you?”

Su Yang was nearly driven mad.

How dare Lin Huaiyu! For the sake of an outsider, he was willing to cast aside his dignity, willingly endure humiliation, even strip himself bare and beg all to spare Lin Fei!

Wasn’t Lin Fei just a steward? Was he truly that important?

Su Yang himself did not know what he was so furious about. He only knew that he could not bear to see Lin Huaiyu beg for mercy on behalf of someone unrelated.

“Is it because I drove away everyone around you, Teacher, that you feel so lonely even a steward can be considered family?” Su Yang asked bitterly. “Then what about me? Am I not your family? You wouldn’t even agree to spend the New Year with me was it because Lin Fei was waiting for you at home?”

Lin Huaiyu gradually struggled to breathe under Su Yang’s furious interrogations. Fortunately, Su Yang had not completely lost his senses. Just as Lin Huaiyu was about to suffocate, he abruptly released him.

Lin Huaiyu leaned against the cabinet, coughing violently as tears streamed from his eyes. Before he could catch his breath, Su Yang seized him once more.

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Su Yang stared intently at Lin Huaiyu, his eyes filled with rage. “Since you care so much about him, I will not let you have your way. Lin Huaiyu, no one can take you away from me. I will kill him. Your side belongs only to me, and can only be me.”

Lin Huaiyu did not hear a single word, only that Su Yang still intended to kill Lin Fei. Exhausted and overwhelmed, his discomfort worsening, his breaths scorching hot, in a haze of consciousness, he pleaded with Su Yang, “Your Majesty, I beg you, spare Lin Fei.”

He knew what Su Yang wanted, and he knew what Su Yang wanted to hear.

Yet, upon hearing Lin Huaiyu’s plea, Su Yang’s fury soared to the heavens. He gripped Lin Huaiyu’s waist with one hand and demanded viciously, “Lin Huaiyu, you’re begging me for him?”

He let out a cold, mocking laugh, dripping with endless sarcasm. “What makes you think that if you beg me, I will agree?”

Lin Huaiyu struggled to maintain a sliver of clarity and asked, “Then what must I do for Your Majesty to spare Lin Fei?”

Su Yang was so enraged that his entire body tightened. He crushed Lin Huaiyu fiercely into his embrace, as if only then could he feel Lin Huaiyu’s heartbeat, only then could he feel how close they were. “Lin Huaiyu, you are merely my captive. What right do you have to beg me?”

Lin Huaiyu pushed against him, wanting to break free, but then remembered he was pleading for Lin Fei’s life and reluctantly lowered his hands. “Didn’t Your Majesty demand that I beg you?”

Su Yang snorted disdainfully. “But you haven’t satisfied me, Lin Huaiyu. From this moment on, I forbid you to beg for mercy. No matter what I do, you are not allowed to plead, or else your little steward will die without a proper burial!”

With Su Yang’s words, Lin Huaiyu naturally fell silent. He had no desire to speak further, utterly exhausted in body and mind. If not for Su Yang holding him up, he would have collapsed long ago.

Yet even his silence did not satisfy Su Yang, who lifted him entirely, carrying him from the cabinet to the table. Lin Huaiyu’s head spun, his consciousness blurring, yet he could neither fall asleep nor completely lose consciousness.

His awareness felt as if suspended by a thread, a torment so unbearable it made him nauseous.

Su Yang remained pressed close to him, whispering into his flushed, burning ear, “Even with a fever, Teacher, you are still so scorching inside.”