The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 34

The sky was clear and cloudless, yet the sun was partially veiled by clouds, its rays not scorching but still leaving a burning sensation in the air that made one long to dive into the river for a refreshing coolness.

Su Yang hurried back to the government office and rummaged through the items he had brought, retrieving the most effective ointment for treating knife wounds. Tucking it away, he headed straight for Lin Huaiyu’s residence.

As soon as he stepped out, he bumped into Qu Tang, who was taken aback. “Didn’t you go with Xiao Xu ah, I mean, Lord Fang to oversee the flood control and dam repairs?”

Su Yang lowered his gaze and lied without hesitation. “I came to fetch something for Lord Fang.”

Qu Tang smiled and sidled up to Su Yang, lowering his voice. “You… aren’t really Lord Fang’s servant, are you?”

Su Yang’s gloomy gaze settled lightly on Qu Tang, but he remained silent.

Qu Tang continued, “You carry yourself with an air of distinction nothing like a servant. Besides, Lord Fang’s attitude toward you isn’t that of a master to a servant. You must be some high-ranking official from the capital, unable to reveal your identity?”

Hearing this and realizing he hadn’t been fully exposed, Su Yang asked, “What are you trying to say?”

Qu Tang cleared his throat softly. “It’s nothing, really. Just… put in a good word for Xiao Xu. He’s been under your care in the capital, and I’ve prepared some local specialties from Jiangnan as a token of gratitude nothing extravagant, just a small gesture. I’ve watched Xiao Xu grow up, and I only hope someone in the capital can look out for him. Your Excellency, I mean no offense…”

Perhaps noticing Su Yang’s expression growing increasingly dark, Qu Tang realized Su Yang might have misunderstood his intentions. He hadn’t meant to bribe anyone only to ensure Fang Zhixu had someone to rely on in the capital. But it seemed the more he explained, the worse it sounded.

Qu Tang had no choice but to fall silent.

Su Yang understood Qu Tang’s meaning. Compared to the property deeds, gold, silver, jewels, and antiques often offered as bribes in the capital, Jiangnan specialties clearly weren’t meant for corruption. Yet, the memory of Fang Zhixu kneeling beside Lin Huaiyu, feeding him medicine, wiping the blood from his lips, and receiving Lin Huaiyu’s praise…

Each and every detail was intolerable to him.

Su Yang snorted coldly, his expression darkening. “Fang Zhixu he’s good, he’s very good indeed!”

With that, he strode away, leaving Qu Tang pale and defeated.

It was over he had messed up!

Su Yang returned to the Lin residence with the wound medicine. Lin Huaiyu was lying in the courtyard under the shade of a tree, where the sunlight couldn’t reach him. A gentle breeze rustled his sleeves, while Ji Wuyou fanned him nearby a picturesque scene of a beauty enjoying the cool.

As Su Yang approached, Ji Wuyou spotted him but didn’t stop fanning, only grumbling irritably, “Why are you back again? I told you there’s no place for you in this courtyard!”

Su Yang said nothing, simply kneeling on one knee beside Lin Huaiyu and taking his hand.

Lin Huaiyu immediately furrowed his brow, trying to pull his hand back but failing. Pressing his lips together, he asked coldly, “What does Your Majesty intend to do?”

Su Yang took out the wound medicine, pushed up Lin Huaiyu’s sleeve, and revealed a section of pale wrist covered in knife scars a shocking sight that made Su Yang frown. He applied the ointment to Lin Huaiyu’s wounds, his fingertips spreading the cool medicine over the scars on Lin Huaiyu’s arm.

Lin Huaiyu watched him with a cold gaze. “Your Majesty need not trouble yourself. These wounds don’t require treatment.”

Su Yang raised his eyes to look at him and asked, “Why?”

Lin Huaiyu withdrew his hand, pulling down his sleeve to cover the scars on his arm, his expression unchanged. “Since I have to endure a cut every day anyway, what difference does it make whether it’s treated or not?”

Hearing this, Su Yang felt as though his own heart had been slashed by a blade, a piercing, bone-deep pain surging through him.

He lowered his gaze to Lin Huaiyu’s hand resting on the recliner. Even though it was hidden by the sleeve, he could still picture those scars vividly, as if they were branded onto his own heart.

The curve of Lin Huaiyu’s arm was naturally accentuated, his slender wrist looking as though it could shatter with the slightest touch.

He hadn’t been this fragile back in the capital.

Su Yang looked up at Lin Huaiyu’s weary expression, then put away the ointment and tucked it into Lin Huaiyu’s robe. “Keep this. It will be useful in the future.”

Lin Huaiyu couldn’t help but raise a brow slightly. “Your Majesty’s words imply that I will suffer more injuries in the future?”

Su Yang immediately replied, “No, that’s not what I meant.”

Lin Huaiyu withdrew his gaze, no longer looking at him, and issued a dismissal. “If Your Majesty has no other matters, you should return early.”

Su Yang pressed his lips together, gazing at Lin Huaiyu with a look of pure longing and reluctance. “With my teacher here, where else could I go?”

Hearing this address, Lin Huaiyu opened his eyes to look at him again, a faint, mocking smile appearing at the corner of his lips. “Teacher? I am not worthy of being Your Majesty’s teacher.”

Su Yang shook his head repeatedly, tugging at Lin Huaiyu’s sleeve. “Of course you are my teacher, always will be.”

Lin Huaiyu glanced indifferently at his sleeve, now wrinkled from Su Yang’s grip, and pulled it back, his tone cold and distant. “I recall it was Your Majesty who no longer wanted me as a teacher back then.”

Su Yang’s face paled, his hand now empty, his heart feeling just as hollow. How could Lin Huaiyu not be angry? How could he not hate him?

Everything from the capital, Lin Huaiyu wanted to erase, never to return. Mentioning it now only stirred up resentment.

Su Yang insisted, “I do want you. I never stopped wanting you as my teacher. Back then, I was blinded, I was wrong.”

He had wanted Lin Huaiyu, wanted his eyes and heart to belong only to him. He had obsessively tried to possess Lin Huaiyu, breaking his pride, stripping away his wings, trapping him by his side, thinking that would make Lin Huaiyu his.

But Lin Huaiyu’s eyes had never held him, and his heart even less so.

Even after all he had done, Lin Huaiyu was never truly his, nor would he ever stay by his side.

Now he understood, and he regretted it deeply. “Teacher, please don’t abandon me.”

But Lin Huaiyu did not respond, merely closing his eyes as if to shut out Su Yang’s voice and avoid acknowledging him.

Suddenly, the wind grew stronger, and the clear sky was covered by dark clouds, as if rain was about to fall.

Su Yang glanced at the changing weather, then turned back to Lin Huaiyu, standing up. “It’s going to rain. Let me carry you back inside.”

Lin Huaiyu gave Su Yang a cold glance, freezing him in place with just a look.

Lin Huaiyu said indifferently, “I dare not trouble Your Majesty.”

“It’s no trouble,” Su Yang said anxiously, yet not daring to defy Lin Huaiyu’s wishes, remaining where he stood. “I just want to carry you inside so you won’t get wet in the rain.”

Lin Huaiyu gazed at Su Yang for a moment before slowly shifting his gaze to Ji Wuyou beside him. Just as he was about to rise, Ji Wuyou set down his fan and rushed over in a swift stride. “Let me! I’ll do it, no need to trouble yourself!”

Ji Wuyou scooped Lin Huaiyu up in his arms. As he passed by Su Yang, he shot him a provocative glance. If Lin Huaiyu hadn’t been present, Su Yang’s darkened expression would likely have prompted him to draw his sword and strike Ji Wuyou down on the spot.

With a smile, Ji Wuyou carried Lin Huaiyu from the lounge chair back into the room and asked, “Where would you like to rest, sir? On the bed or the daybed?”

Lin Huaiyu replied calmly, “The daybed.”

Ji Wuyou gently placed him on the daybed and remarked, “You’re too light, sir. You should eat more.”

Lin Huaiyu made no response, merely looking through the window at Su Yang, who stood motionless in the courtyard. Su Yang’s expression was one of profound desolation, his solitary figure seeming as hollow and lifeless as a lost soul.

After a brief glance, Lin Huaiyu said to Ji Wuyou, “Help me drive him away.”

Ji Wuyou perked up at this. “Don’t worry, leave it to me!”

As if he had received an imperial decree, Ji Wuyou strode into the courtyard and faced Su Yang. The latter remained grim-faced, merely glancing at him with thin lips pressed into a tight line.

Ji Wuyou chuckled inwardly. If they had met anywhere other than Lin Huaiyu’s courtyard, he wouldn’t have dared to provoke Su Yang like this. But now was different…

Between rivals in love, status meant nothing.

“Master Yuxi doesn’t wish to see you. If you don’t intend to leave on your own, I’ll have to force you out,” Ji Wuyou declared, though he knew from their last fight that he couldn’t actually drive Su Yang away.

But if Su Yang refused to leave, Lin Huaiyu would only grow more resentful toward him.

He wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.

Sure enough, Su Yang merely glanced toward Lin Huaiyu’s window, his eyes clouded with disappointment, before turning and leaving.

Crash

Thunder rumbled across the sky. The weather in Jiangnan was notoriously fickle no sooner had the rain seemed imminent than it poured down in torrents, drenching everyone on the streets without warning.

Just as Su Yang was about to seek shelter from the rain, he suddenly remembered something and immediately turned back toward Lin’s residence.

He rushed into the house and barged into Lin Huaiyu’s room so quickly that even Ji Wuyou didn’t notice him.

Lin Huaiyu opened his eyes to find Su Yang standing before his daybed.

Frowning, Lin Huaiyu was about to speak when Su Yang leaned over, one hand pressing down on his leg while the other lifted the hem of his robe.

Lin Huaiyu immediately struggled, but under Su Yang’s strength, he couldn’t break free. His tone turned cold. “Does Your Majesty feel that two months of imprisonment weren’t enough? Do you intend to torment me further now?”

At these words, Su Yang paused briefly but didn’t loosen his grip.

Lin Huaiyu stopped struggling and said quietly, “If that’s the case, even once would be more than I can bear. I’ll have to trouble Your Majesty to collect my remains.”

Su Yang slowly looked at Lin Huaiyu, who had now given up resisting, submitting to whatever Su Yang intended to do. Exhaustion was evident in his eyes.

Lin Huaiyu was right. Given his current physical condition, if Su Yang forced himself on him again, Lin Huaiyu wouldn’t survive.

But that… wasn’t what he meant.

A flicker of panic crossed Su Yang’s eyes, and he blurted out, “I won’t do that again.”

Lin Huaiyu closed his eyes, no longer looking at Su Yang.

A moment later, he opened his eyes again. A warmth spread from his knees Su Yang was rubbing them, the friction generating heat.

Su Yang tugged at the corner of his lips and explained on his own, “The south is damp and cold, not like the north. Your knee injury is flaring up again, isn’t it?”

Lin Huaiyu watched him quietly for a long while, his tone calm yet tinged with sarcasm, “Such a trivial matter. I’m surprised Your Majesty still remembers.”

Su Yang’s heart clenched. He looked at Lin Huaiyu, his hands never ceasing their motion. “It’s my fault.”

How could he have let Lin Huaiyu kneel in the snow back then with knees like these?

He had even thought at the time that Lin Huaiyu had only knelt for a short while nothing serious…

But these knees had been ruined saving him.

Now, every rainy season, when the weather turned damp and chilly, the pain became unbearable.

Su Yang’s gaze faltered. He lowered his head, wanting to kiss Lin Huaiyu’s knees. “It’s all my fault.”

Lin Huaiyu withdrew his leg just before Su Yang could touch his knee, pulling his robe back over it. He called out toward the door, “Lin Fei!”

Lin Fei rushed in like a blur. “Sir.”

“Escort him out,” Lin Huaiyu said, lowering his gaze as he gave the order.

Su Yang’s robes were soaked through by the rain. He glanced at Lin Huaiyu but said nothing more, only adding, “If the pain gets too bad, tell me, or find He Qingli.”

With that, he walked out of the room on his own, Lin Fei following closely behind.

It was a while before Lin Huaiyu lay back down. The rain poured noisily, beating against everything on the earth. The downpour was heavy. Lying by the window, Lin Huaiyu glanced outside.

He saw Su Yang standing in the courtyard, the torrential rain drenching him completely. The stray hairs at his forehead clung to his face, rainwater streaming down his entire visage a pitiful sight.

Lin Huaiyu watched for a moment, then lowered the window, shutting out everything outside. Only the sound of the heavy rain remained.

As dusk approached, the rain gradually ceased, and the courtyard grew lively once more.

“Sir, I’m off work I’m back!” Fang Zhixu’s voice rang from outside.

Lin Fei also entered from the doorway. “The evening banquet is ready.”

Lin Huaiyu nodded. Leaning on Lin Fei, he stepped outside and immediately saw Su Yang still standing there, not having moved an inch. His clothes remained soaked through. Seeing Lin Huaiyu emerge, he lifted his gaze to look over.

Lin Huaiyu instantly averted his eyes and walked toward the nearby pavilion.

The gathering was quite complete. Looking at the three people, he asked, “I’m hosting a welcome banquet for my student. What are you two doing here?”

Ji Wuyou laughed and poured himself a cup of wine. “I’m here for the food!”

Jing Fei took out another exquisite box and handed it to Lin Fei. “I’ve come to deliver a gift, and incidentally, to join the meal.”

Lin Huaiyu glanced at the box, knowing it likely contained some rare medicinal herbs. He said calmly, “I already told you yesterday, Seventh Prince requests have an expiration. I won’t agree to anything today.”

Jing Fei shook his head. “I have no requests. Just this meal in exchange will do.”

Lin Huaiyu looked at Jing Fei but said nothing more and took his seat.

The banquet proceeded harmoniously, with occasional soft laughter. The warm glow of bright lanterns enveloped everyone, casting a lively light on Lin Huaiyu’s face, adding a touch of vitality.

Ji Wuyou and Jing Fei occasionally clinked glasses, and for the moment, they refrained from bickering. Fang Zhixu, while serving Lin Huaiyu with dishes, raised his face and said, “Thank you, sir, for your guidance and teachings. I offer this toast to you.”

Though it was a toast, no one poured wine for Lin Huaiyu. Fang Zhixu drank the wine in his hand alone, his face scrunching up in discomfort.

Lin Huaiyu chuckled, “If you can’t drink, don’t force yourself.”

Fang Zhixu smiled, recalling the Qionglin Banquet in the capital, and complained to Lin Huaiyu, “At that banquet, all the officials kept urging me to drink. I could barely hold my own and ended up getting drunk, nearly offending His Majesty…”

As he spoke, he paused, glancing at Lin Huaiyu’s expression.

But Lin Huaiyu remained composed, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Fang Zhixu breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject.

On this side, everything was peaceful and harmonious, but the courtyard was devoid of even a single lantern, making it exceptionally desolate.

Though they were in the same courtyard, it felt like two entirely different scenes.

Su Yang stood in the courtyard, his clothes soaked through, the chill enveloping his entire body. He listened to the laughter and chatter from the other side, motionless, like the stone lions outside the gate, numb and unfeeling.