The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 40

White clouds drifted leisurely across the vast sky, blending seamlessly with the clear, azure expanse like an unfolding scroll painting overhead.

The evening sun was not too harsh. Lin Huaiyu lay in the courtyard, watching the bustling figures moving back and forth.

He hadn’t actually wanted to host any birthday celebration, but since he had promised Jing Fei to hold a farewell banquet, he decided to use the occasion as an excuse for an evening gathering.

He didn’t know many people in Jiangnan, and even fewer who were acquainted with Jing Fei. Ji Wuyou, however, arrived as soon as he heard the news.

“How could I miss the birthday banquet of Master Yu Xi? But you’re telling me too late I need to get some things ready for you!” Ji Wuyou said, already starting to bustle about.

Lin Huaiyu shook his head helplessly. “No need to prepare anything. I lack nothing, and it’s not really my birthday banquet anyway. It’s mainly to bid farewell to the Seventh Prince.”

Ji Wuyou retorted, “What farewell? Who cares about him? I came for your birthday banquet, and I insist it must be held! It’s a birthday celebration!”

Jing Fei smiled and fanned himself gently, his tone amiable. “Originally, it was meant to be Master Yu Xi’s birthday banquet. I was just afraid Master Yu Xi wouldn’t agree, so I used it as an excuse. Don’t mind me.”

Ji Wuyou replied, “Since you put it that way, I’ll just toast you later as a farewell gesture!”

Jing Fei nodded. “Sounds good.”

Ji Wuyou felt a bit unsettled by Jing Fei’s unusually good temper and decided to ignore him, focusing instead on decorating the courtyard.

He had somehow bought a pile of fireworks and stacked them in a corner of the yard. “We’ll set them off tonight. How can a birthday celebration be without fireworks?”

Not long after, Ji Wuyou brought over a bunch of lanterns and silk ribbons, hopping around to hang them up.

Jing Fei joined in the chaotic preparations, and Lin Huaiyu had no choice but to let them do as they pleased.

“Master!!!” Fang Zhixu rushed in from outside, carrying bags of items in both hands. His eyes lit up when he saw Lin Huaiyu in the courtyard. “Master, why didn’t you tell me about your birthday banquet?”

Lin Huaiyu sighed. “It’s not a birthday banquet…”

Fang Zhixu exclaimed, “Not a birthday banquet?! Did Ji Wuyou lie to me?!”

He glanced at the two busy figures, then turned back to Lin Huaiyu with a pitiful expression. “Master, were you deliberately hiding it from me? Didn’t you want me to attend your birthday banquet?”

Lin Huaiyu truly felt helpless with these people. “Alright, it’s a birthday banquet. You can attend.”

Fang Zhixu immediately beamed with joy, placing the items on the table. “I brought some dishes and cooked food from the street. I figured only Dr. He knows how to cook here, but… is he coming?”

Lin Huaiyu shook his head. “I didn’t invite many people.”

Fang Zhixu suddenly looked very happy. “I wasn’t the last to know that’s great!”

Lin Huaiyu: “…”

What’s going on with everyone?

Lin Huaiyu watched as Fang Zhixu joined Ji Wuyou and Jing Fei in decorating the courtyard. He leisurely sipped his tea, observing their busy preparations.

After a while, Lin Huaiyu noticed someone was missing from the courtyard.

Su Yang, in order not to leave, had been staying in his courtyard these past few days sometimes on the roof, sometimes under the tree, sometimes in the corridor, or guarding the entrance to his room.

Lin Fei also complained to him that his work was being taken away. Lin Huaiyu smiled and said, “Didn’t Ji Wuyou also take your work when he was here?”

Lin Fei shook his head. “It’s different. Ji Wuyou only stayed on that tree.”

Lin Huaiyu: “…”

But at this moment, Su Yang was not in the courtyard, nor in the corridor, nor on the roof. He remembered that when he woke up, the other was still standing under the tree, pouring tea for him. How could he disappear in such a short time?

Lin Huaiyu did not believe that, given Su Yang’s temperament, he would leave just like that.

He couldn’t even be driven away, so how could he vanish without a word?

It didn’t seem like there was any urgent matter in the capital either.

After some thought, Lin Huaiyu stood up from the recliner. Lin Fei landed beside him and asked, “What would you like to do, sir? Just give me the order. You don’t need to help them.”

Lin Huaiyu smiled faintly. “I’m going to the kitchen to take a look.”

He had no intention of helping.

Lin Fei replied dryly, “Oh.”

Lin Huaiyu left the courtyard with a smile, letting the three of them turn his yard upside down.

He walked alone to the kitchen at the back, and sure enough, as soon as he approached, he heard clattering sounds coming from inside.

Leaning against the doorframe, Lin Huaiyu watched the person inside bustling about aimlessly and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Su Yang was wearing only a simple outfit, his dark robe stained with patches of white flour. With his tall and slender figure standing by the counter, he looked less like someone kneading dough and more like someone reviewing official documents.

Su Yang turned around, saw Lin Huaiyu, and his eyes lit up. “Why are you here?”

Lin Huaiyu glanced indifferently at the flour on Su Yang’s face, his brows slightly furrowed. “Are you wasting my flour?”

Su Yang quickly replied, “Isn’t it your birthday banquet? I thought I’d make some desserts for you.”

Lin Huaiyu scoffed. “Your Majesty, accustomed to a life of luxury, knows how to make desserts?”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Su Yang’s hands. The dough was kneaded into a mess, clearly showing he had no idea what he was doing.

Su Yang smiled. “I’m not very good at it. I only asked someone for advice, but putting it into practice is quite difficult.”

Lin Huaiyu said calmly, “How could Your Majesty do such things?”

Su Yang didn’t stop his movements. “I’m willing to do these things.”

Lin Huaiyu walked in slowly, casually tying up his sleeves with a hair ribbon. “Step aside.”

Su Yang looked at Lin Huaiyu and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know how to make this, Teacher?”

Lin Huaiyu replied calmly, “I just don’t want you to waste all my flour and still end up with nothing.”

But Su Yang grabbed Lin Huaiyu’s hand, only touching it briefly before quickly letting go, as if remembering something. “Don’t do it yourself. Let me handle it. Just teach me.”

Lin Huaiyu’s tone turned cool. “I am no longer your teacher.”

Su Yang paused and looked at Lin Huaiyu. “You are my teacher. Everything I said before was nonsense. Teacher, please don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Huaiyu took half a step back. “Your Majesty’s words are as good as gold. How could they be nonsense?”

Seeing Lin Huaiyu’s stern expression, Su Yang felt a sudden surge of panic. He shook his head. “I never meant to deny you as my teacher. No matter what, you will always be my teacher.”

Between him and Lin Huaiyu, it seemed this was the only connection left. If even this were gone, he and Lin Huaiyu would truly have no relationship at all.

Lin Huaiyu seemed determined. “I won’t teach you.”

Su Yang pondered for a moment before speaking again, “Then… what if I formally become your disciple again? Would that work?”

Lin Huaiyu looked at Su Yang with a complicated expression and shook his head. “There’s no need for that, Su Yang. No matter what relationship we once had, now there is nothing between us. Do you understand?”

What Su Yang feared most was Lin Huaiyu saying that there was no longer any connection between them that they were merely strangers, and Lin Huaiyu didn’t even hate him. His hand pressed against the table, his fingertips turning white from the force, but there was nothing he could do. He could only speak to Lin Huaiyu in an almost pleading tone, “Teacher I truly know I was wrong. Please don’t abandon me.”

But Lin Huaiyu remained resolute. “I won’t accept you.”

The light in Su Yang’s eyes instantly dimmed. He picked up the lump of dough he had kneaded into a shapeless mess and said, “It’s fine. I won’t trouble you, Teacher. I’ll try again on my own.”

Lin Huaiyu watched as Su Yang struggled to make the dessert by himself, then went to fetch another portion of flour.

Su Yang observed Lin Huaiyu’s actions and asked, “What are you making, Teacher?”

Lin Huaiyu replied, “I’m afraid what you make won’t taste good, so I’ll make my own.”

Su Yang: “…”

Su Yang watched Lin Huaiyu’s movements closely, trying to learn as he worked even harder than before. He thought to himself, if only Lin Huaiyu would praise him for this, it would be enough.

As night fell, the gentle moonlight bathed the courtyard. The decorations arranged by Fang Zhixu and the other two had turned the courtyard into a dazzling spectacle. Colorful lanterns hung along the corridors, and red silk ribbons fluttered down gracefully. To those who knew, it was his birthday celebration; to those who didn’t, it might have seemed like an important festival.

Lin Huaiyu paused for a moment, regretting that he hadn’t stopped the three of them earlier. But since everything was already set up, and the three were looking at him with eager anticipation, he didn’t want to disappoint them.

He held a plate in his hand, and Fang Zhixu immediately ran over to take the dessert from him. “Did you make this, Teacher?”

Lin Huaiyu nodded. “It might not taste good. I just made it casually.”

Fang Zhixu exclaimed, “It will be delicious, I’m sure!”

Lin Huaiyu took his seat. Ji Wuyou had even brought wine. Although everyone thought they were here to celebrate Lin Huaiyu’s birthday, Jing Fei still had to offer a toast. As he poured himself a drink, Su Yang also approached with a plate. The others fell silent.

Su Yang placed the dessert he had made in front of Lin Huaiyu and said, “Happy birthday, Huaiyu.”

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t object to Su Yang’s intimate form of address.

Following Su Yang’s lead, Ji Wuyou and the others also stood up. “Happy birthday!”

Lin Huaiyu symbolically drank a small cup of wine, though this time he avoided the strong Chu liquor Ji Wuyou had brought. His tolerance for alcohol was poor, and after just two cups with Fang Zhixu, he was already drunk. Meanwhile, Ji Wuyou dragged Jing Fei into drinking until they were thoroughly intoxicated.

No one paid attention to Su Yang, so he drank alone, his gaze fixed on Lin Huaiyu. He wanted to go over and tell Lin Huaiyu not to drink too much, but it was Lin Huaiyu’s birthday, and he didn’t want to spoil the mood. So he held back.

Despite the harmonious atmosphere of the birthday celebration, Su Yang felt as if he didn’t belong. Watching Lin Huaiyu drink cup after cup, it felt as though he had returned to the palace. Everything before him seemed like an illusion if he reached out to touch it, it would shatter like a dream.

He didn’t want to ruin such a beautiful scene.

By the time Su Yang had drunk himself into a stupor, Ji Wuyou and Jing Fei were already long gone.

The once lively courtyard grew much quieter. Glancing at the pile of fireworks stacked in the yard, he stood up and walked over.

Half-drunk and half-awake, Lin Huaiyu heard the whoosh of fireworks. The next moment, bursts of brilliant, colorful fireworks bloomed in the night sky, dazzling his eyes.

He looked up at the fireworks blooming in the night, momentarily mistaking it for New Year’s Eve.

Leaning against the corridor’s railing, he stepped out. His cheeks were flushed pink, making his peach-blossom eyes hazy and enchanting, like a thousand blossoms in spring.

He gazed up at the night sky, but the next moment, something gentle touched his lips.

Lin Huaiyu froze as someone pressed him against a pillar. The other’s breath was hot, scorching enough to burn him to ashes.

Amid the brilliant fireworks, someone offered a devout kiss.

Su Yang’s kiss was just a fleeting touch, quickly withdrawn.

But Lin Huaiyu still furrowed his brows. The drunken haze vanished instantly, replaced by clarity in his eyes. He raised his hand and slapped Su Yang across the face. Drunk and unsteady, Su Yang staggered, no longer able to restrain Lin Huaiyu.

The corners of Lin Huaiyu’s eyes were tinged with red whether from drunkenness or anger, it was unclear. “Su Yang, get back to your capital!”

The next morning, He Qingli came looking for Lin Huaiyu, only to find the courtyard filled with drunken fools. He blinked, then silently went to the kitchen to brew a pot of foul-tasting sobering soup, forcing it down everyone’s throats.

Ji Wuyou was jolted awake by the awful taste. “Ugh, what is this? Ugh! Did you feed me poison? Ugh ”

He Qingli continued pouring the soup into the next person with an expressionless face.

Jing Fei also woke up retching. Both of them were completely wasted. He Qingli’s expression darkened. “Hurry back and clean yourselves up!”

Feeling too disheveled, the two staggered back to their own quarters one after another.

After forcing Lin Fei to drink the soup, He Qingli hesitated for a moment before finally waking Su Yang as well.

As for Lin Huaiyu and Fang Zhixu, they were relatively fine. One had already been woken by Ji Wuyou and the others, while the other.

Lin Huaiyu was still lying on the recliner, as if he had slept there all night. His face showed no signs of discomfort, but he was frowning, clearly unhappy.

An unusual expression.

He Qingli couldn’t help but glance at Su Yang. Aside from Su Yang, no one else could make Lin Huaiyu look like this.

Who knew what had happened last night.

He Qingli gently patted Lin Huaiyu. “Does your head hurt?”

Lin Huaiyu relaxed his brow and shook his head. “I’m fine.”

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at He Qingli. As his gaze focused, memories of the previous night flooded back.

Last night.

Amid the brilliant fireworks, someone had taken advantage of the dazzling display to kiss him a light, fleeting touch, devoid of desire.

Lin Huaiyu took a sip of water and allowed He Qingli to proceed with his daily treatment. But for some reason, as soon as the bloodletting was done, he vomited blood again.

Blood flowed from his wrist and spilled from his lips. Lin Huaiyu’s face grew pale, and he leaned weakly against the recliner, like a bird with broken wings.

Seeing him like this, Su Yang rushed over. “What happened? Why is he vomiting blood again?”

He turned to He Qingli, his voice sharp and urgent. “What’s going on?! Is this really normal during treatment?!”

Before He Qingli could speak, Lin Huaiyu said first, “So noisy.”

His voice was very soft, reduced to a mere breath, but Su Yang still heard it and dared not speak further. He could only look at Lin Huaiyu, not daring to touch him, his heart in turmoil.

“What’s going on Teacher Your body hasn’t recovered at all, has it?” Su Yang’s eyes instantly reddened as he gazed at Lin Huaiyu, his gaze filled with deep distress.

Lin Huaiyu ignored him. “Get out.”

Su Yang shook his head. “I won’t leave. How could I possibly leave at a time like this?”

Lin Huaiyu weakly opened his eyes, meeting Su Yang’s bloodshot gaze, and said coldly, “You broke your promise, Su Yang. Last night, you broke your promise. Get back to the capital.”

Before Su Yang could say anything more, Lin Huaiyu closed his eyes and said, “Lin Fei, drive him out.”

Lin Fei immediately stepped between Lin Huaiyu and Su Yang, extending an arm. “Your Majesty, please.”

Su Yang looked at Lin Huaiyu, knowing he was angry about what happened last night. Seeing him cough up blood, he didn’t want to push him further, so he had no choice but to leave for now.