The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 17

The dim, cramped room held not a trace of light no windows, no candles, nothing to pierce the darkness. It was pitch black, a place where one could not even see their own hand.

Young Lin Huaiyu wore tattered, unpatched clothes, faded to a dull gray from countless washes, nearly worn through. The small, rice-dumpling-like figure huddled in the corner, clutching himself tightly against the wall as if seeking safety in the embrace of the cold stone.

The room was empty or rather, it held three people. Besides him, there were two corpses.

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes were perhaps the only source of light in the room.

He stared at the two bodies lying in the center, holding himself even tighter.

They were his parents, yet he feared them, too terrified to even approach. Though they were already dead, Lin Huaiyu’s face showed no grief only fear.

He had been locked in here for two days, trapped with the corpses. At first, he had been bound and unable to move. Later, the ropes were removed, but the door was sealed shut, leaving him with no escape.

Darkness enveloped Lin Huaiyu, gnawing at him bit by bit, devouring him whole.

Just like now.

The secret chamber held not a sliver of light, nor any extraneous sound, making the clinking of chains especially sharp, striking straight into Lin Huaiyu’s heart.

In the corner of the chamber, a slender figure knelt on the cold stone bed. He wore no clothing, his entire body suspended, hands bound and raised high by iron chains, his upper body stretched taut. His knees pressed against the stone bed, legs also shackled.

Even the slightest movement would cause the chains to clatter, easily rousing him from his dreams.

Lin Huaiyu could not truly sleep. His consciousness was hazy, not from drowsiness, but from a lingering mental affliction.

Perhaps it was the nightmare from his childhood that left him with a deep-seated fear of dark, confined spaces a fear that had not faded with time but surged to its peak the moment the chamber door closed.

Memories from his youth, long buried, flooded back like a tide. That nightmarish existence made Lin Huaiyu tremble uncontrollably.

The cold of the stone bed seeped into his bones, his knees growing numb once more. He began to cough, softly at first, then with increasing violence until it became a wrenching, heart-rending fit. Lin Huaiyu had lost track of how long he had been imprisoned.

His mind was chaotic and blurred. The taste of blood spread in his throat, and he instinctively tried to swallow it down. But after several attempts, it was useless the blood surged uncontrollably from his mouth.

The air filled with the scent of blood. Lin Huaiyu closed his eyes, helplessly letting the blood spill from his lips.

He recalled what Zhou Li had said while checking his pulse that day:

“If the day comes when you cough up blood, then medicine and treatment will be of no use.”

Lin Huaiyu let out a bitter laugh, the sound clear and jarring in the small, silent room.

That day had finally arrived. Though he had long anticipated it, its actual arrival left him with an indescribable emptiness.

But at this moment, Lin Huaiyu had little mind to dwell on such matters. Fear continued to spread through his heart as he struggled to break free from the chains binding his hands, only managing to scrape and bruise the skin on his wrists, all in vain.

Time passed slowly, each second stretching into an eternity for Lin Huaiyu. Every breath felt prolonged, his consciousness consumed by fear and drowned in darkness. In the shadows, his already pale face now appeared as white as paper.

He was on the verge of giving up.

After what felt like an eternity, the door to the dark chamber finally creaked open. Light rushed in through the crack, illuminating Lin Huaiyu, who was huddled in the corner.

Su Yang’s gaze immediately fell upon Lin Huaiyu. But upon seeing his disheveled and weakened state and catching the thick scent of blood in the air, his expression changed abruptly.

He lit the candles in the dark chamber and hurried to Lin Huaiyu’s side. The sight of the pool of crimson blood before him pierced his eyes, as did the trail of blood trickling from the corner of Lin Huaiyu’s lips.

His heart began to race, pounding so fiercely it felt as though it might leap from his chest. Su Yang had no time to appreciate Lin Huaiyu’s captivating appearance now. He swiftly unlocked the chains and carried the barely breathing man out of the chamber.

Defu, who had been guarding the entrance to the imperial study, saw Su Yang rush out in a panic and immediately followed. He heard Su Yang’s urgent command: “Summon the imperial physician!”

Without delay, Defu hurried toward the imperial medical hall.

Su Yang carefully laid Lin Huaiyu on the bed in the Qinchun Palace, draping an outer robe over him and tucking him under the covers. His gaze fell upon Lin Huaiyu’s wrists.

The once fair and slender wrists were now marred with red marks, the skin scraped and swollen, with blood seeping from the broken skin a sight of utter torment.

Su Yang gently took hold of Lin Huaiyu’s wrist, avoiding the injured areas, and began to massage it softly.

He couldn’t help but mutter, “I merely punished you by making you kneel there for a while. How did you end up like this?”

Lin Huaiyu offered no reply.

Soon, Zhou Li arrived at Qinchun Palace with Defu. Assuming it was just a minor ailment like a cold, he wasn’t as anxious as before. But upon seeing Lin Huaiyu’s feeble state, his heart leaped into his throat once more.

According to the regimen he had prescribed, Lin Huaiyu should have been able to hold on for at least a year. Yet, in just two months, how had he deteriorated to this extent?

Zhou Li cautiously glanced at Su Yang, who was seated at the edge of the bed.

Su Yang met his gaze and said, “Examine him. See what’s wrong.”

Zhou Li quickly complied and stepped forward to take Lin Huaiyu’s pulse.

After a long while, seeing Zhou Li remain silent, Su Yang couldn’t help but ask, “Well?”

Zhou Li finally released Lin Huaiyu’s wrist, his expression grave. “Your Majesty, Lord Lin’s pulse is extremely chaotic and weak. Aside from his long-standing physical depletion, it seems he has just experienced something that deeply frightened him, causing his old illness to flare up.”

Zhou Li chose his words carefully, sharing only what he deemed appropriate.

Su Yang lowered his gaze to the pale figure on the bed and murmured, “His old illness flared up… Is it that serious? How could he have coughed up blood?”

At this, Zhou Li’s face suddenly paled. “Lord Lin coughed up blood?!”

Su Yang raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Zhou Li. “Why are you so agitated?”

Zhou Li also realized that he had perhaps been overly emotional. If he aroused the emperor’s suspicion and was forced to reveal the truth that Lord Lin was nearing the end of his life, his entire family would be in danger!

Zhou Li quickly replied, “Vomiting blood is no small matter. Lord Lin has always been frail, and losing blood weakens him further. He needs proper care and rest.”

Su Yang remained half-convinced and turned his gaze back to Lin Huaiyu. “I know my teacher has always been weak. Prescribe him some medicine I’ll make sure he takes it.”

Zhou Li hastily agreed, though inwardly he thought, Lord Lin is beyond saving now. Medicine won’t help anymore.

After Zhou Li and De Fu left, Su Yang looked at Lin Huaiyu and couldn’t help but say, “I knew nothing was seriously wrong. You were just trying to scare me, weren’t you? Trying to make me release you, to let you leave the palace. You always have so many tricks to get away from me, Lin Huaiyu. I won’t believe it. No matter what, you will never leave me.”

He spoke as if addressing Lin Huaiyu, yet also as if reassuring himself. As he spoke, he took out an ointment for external injuries, gently pulled Lin Huaiyu’s hand from under the blanket, and carefully applied the medicine to his wrist.

Su Yang treated both of Lin Huaiyu’s hands, wrapped them carefully in gauze, and tucked them back under the blanket.

After finishing, Su Yang didn’t leave. Instead, he sat by the bed, gazing intently at Lin Huaiyu. Watching his faint breathing and the slight rise and fall of his chest, he murmured after a long while, “You frightened me, Lin Huaiyu. You succeeded. When you wake up, I’ll make sure you face the consequences.”

Lin Huaiyu woke up the next day. Turning his head, he saw Su Yang slumped over the edge of the bed, still in his court robes, and his gaze faltered slightly.

But the memories of the previous day reminded him just how despicable this person was.

He shifted slightly, realizing his hand was being held by Su Yang, and quickly pulled it back, startling Su Yang from his light doze.

Su Yang looked at Lin Huaiyu, now awake. The indifference and clarity in his eyes told Su Yang that Lin Huaiyu was perfectly fine just a few scratches on his hands and a bit of blood vomited due to his weak constitution.

Zhou Li had said he just needed to rest and recover.

His teacher’s health had always been like this.

“My teacher truly is resourceful. I almost forgot how many tricks you have up your sleeve. The ‘suffering act’ was performed to perfection. Are you trying to make me let you leave the palace again?” Su Yang watched as Lin Huaiyu turned his head away, unwilling to even look at him, and felt a pang of bitterness, unable to resist mocking him.

Lin Huaiyu ignored Su Yang, but his gaze fell upon a magnificent wedding gown hanging on a nearby clothes rack.

It was a man’s style.

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes paused, his voice slightly hoarse. “Your Majesty’s wedding attire is ready?”

Hearing this, Su Yang chuckled softly and walked over to the clothes rack. He touched the intricate wedding gown, seemingly quite pleased. “Yes, indeed. What do you think, Teacher?”

Lin Huaiyu didn’t answer the question. Instead, he asked Su Yang seriously once more, “Does Your Majesty truly love Miss Bai? Do you sincerely intend to make her your empress?”

The smile on Su Yang’s lips faded at Lin Huaiyu’s words. He turned and walked back to Lin Huaiyu’s bedside, looking down at him. “The first thing you ask upon waking is about this. It seems you care deeply about my decision to take an empress. So why do you still insist on leaving me?”

Lin Huaiyu merely shook his head gently. “If Your Majesty truly cares for Miss Bai, you should treat her well.”

Su Yang, seeing this, replied coldly, “Indeed! I do care for Bai Jianqing, and I intend to make her my empress. Lin Huaiyu, what right do you have to tell me how to treat her? You are nothing more than my captive remember your place.”

Lin Huaiyu fell silent. Between him and Su Yang, there was truly nothing left to say.

Seeing that Lin Huaiyu refused to speak another word, Su Yang stormed off in a fit of anger.

Lin Huaiyu watched the retreating figure clad in the embroidered black dragon robe, the tall and imposing silhouette exuding the dignity of an emperor.

He let out a soft sigh.

Supporting himself, he rose from the bed. After Su Yang had gone far enough, he retrieved a letter he had prepared long ago from a drawer beneath the desk and left the Qinchun Palace.

It was time for him to depart.