The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 5

Slap!

A sharp, resounding sound echoed through the Qinchun Palace, startling the birds perched on the branches.

Even with little strength left in his body, Lin Huaiyu couldn’t help but muster every last ounce of energy to deliver a slap to Su Yang’s face.

Su Yang was now the Son of Heaven, the supreme ruler. The once-bullied prince from the cold palace was a memory no one dared to mention anymore. Across the land, no one dared to defy Su Yang, let alone strike or scold him.

But Lin Huaiyu dared. Even though the relationship between him and Su Yang had grown strange, in Lin Huaiyu’s heart, Su Yang remained his student someone he could still discipline and reprimand.

Lin Huaiyu was truly furious, his expression cold as frost. His gaze was like a sharp blade, piercing through Su Yang as he spoke with icy disdain, “Su Yang, what do you take me for?”

Su Yang gently wiped the side of his face where he had been struck with the back of his hand. Lin Huaiyu had used all his strength this time, holding nothing back. The skin would likely swell soon.

But Su Yang wasn’t angry in the slightest. He turned his gaze back to Lin Huaiyu, whose face was flushed with anger, his eyes rimmed red. The faint pink at the corners of his eyes lent a seductive air to his otherwise cold and aloof expression. A trace of congee clung to the corner of his lips, the transparent liquid slowly drying there, stirring something primal in Su Yang.

Unable to resist, Su Yang reached out to wipe the congee from Lin Huaiyu’s lips, his thumb rubbing roughly against the corner of his mouth. His eyes darkened with unreadable emotion. “Teacher should get used to your new identity. You no longer have the right to challenge me.”

Lin Huaiyu turned his head away, avoiding Su Yang’s touch. “Must you go this far?”

Su Yang chuckled softly, a low, muffled sound. “Be good, Teacher. Yield a little. Wouldn’t it be better to just enjoy it?”

Lin Huaiyu looked up at Su Yang. Their positions were unequal he could only gaze up at the other man. “Over the years, Your Majesty has used my hands to eliminate many threats. But now that I stand alone and helpless, is this the outcome you wanted?”

Su Yang smiled, scooping Lin Huaiyu up by the bend of his knees and carrying him to the bed. He undid the other man’s belt without denying Lin Huaiyu’s words. “Teacher is far too clever. If I hadn’t let you act on your own, you would have discovered my intentions long ago.”

Lin Huaiyu grabbed Su Yang’s hand, his brows furrowed in anger. “What are you doing now?”

A flicker of hurt passed through Su Yang’s eyes as he looked innocently at Lin Huaiyu. “Teacher’s clothes are stained with congee. I’m just changing them for you.”

Su Yang had always been handsome, likely inheriting his mother’s striking features. His face was almost unnaturally beautiful, and as he grew older, it gained a sharper, more defined edge, as if sculpted with a single stroke. Standing beside Lin Huaiyu, he was no less captivating, though his expression carried a heavy melancholy, and the aura of an emperor surrounded him, oppressive and suffocating. Few dared to look him in the eye, let alone meet his gaze.

Lin Huaiyu was different. Despite his notorious reputation, meeting him in person revealed a man of aloof detachment, an ethereal presence like an immortal a noble gentleman, a distant figure from beyond the mountains. It was a pity he was so unapproachable.

Lin Huaiyu stared into Su Yang’s innocent eyes, his lips pressed tightly together. The slight softening of his resolve was shattered by Su Yang’s next words.

“Or perhaps Teacher has grown a taste for it and can’t stop thinking about that, eagerly waiting for me?”

Lin Huaiyu took a deep breath, raised his hand to push Su Yang’s hand away, and said coldly, “I can manage myself.”

This time, Su Yang did not force him. He stood to the side and watched as Lin Huaiyu began to undress, only to realize halfway through that something was wrong he was truly too angry to think clearly.

Lin Huaiyu pulled his half-removed robe back over himself and asked, “Where are my clothes?”

Su Yang smiled but made no move to fetch Lin Huaiyu’s clothes. Instead, he scooped him up in his arms. Though the robe was disheveled, it still covered Lin Huaiyu completely, leaving no skin exposed.

Su Yang kicked the door open. Lin Huaiyu’s heart tightened, and he clutched the robe around him.

He didn’t know what Su Yang intended to do next. Ever since he had been confined to the inner palace, Lin Huaiyu could no longer predict what Su Yang might do to him.

Lin Huaiyu remained silent as Su Yang carried him through the corridors to another room. Behind a folding screen stood a bathtub, steam still rising faintly from the water.

Only after carrying Lin Huaiyu behind the screen did Su Yang answer his earlier question: “The porridge dirtied you. I’ll wash you clean.”

With that, he tugged off the loosely hanging robe and placed Lin Huaiyu into the bathtub.

Lin Huaiyu did not resist the idea of bathing, but when he saw Su Yang step into the tub as well, his instincts warned him. “I can wash myself, Your Majesty.”

But Su Yang refused to let him go, holding him as they both settled into the water.

The tub was spacious enough for one person, but with two, it felt cramped. Lin Huaiyu was pressed against Su Yang’s chest, his back flush against the other man’s body, their legs tangled uncomfortably close.

Feeling increasingly frustrated by his confinement in the inner palace, Lin Huaiyu couldn’t help but remark, “Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, must you even share a bath with someone?”

Su Yang knew full well that Lin Huaiyu was displeased. Smiling, he took soap and a cloth, gliding them over Lin Huaiyu’s shoulders. “I don’t share with just anyone,” he said softly. “But you, Teacher, are different.”

Lin Huaiyu reached for the soap, but Su Yang evaded his grasp. “I can wash myself. I dare not trouble Your Majesty.”

Su Yang held his hand firmly and began meticulously washing his body, as if taking great pleasure in the task. Lin Huaiyu closed his eyes, realizing he couldn’t win this struggle, and reluctantly gave in.

Lin Huaiyu’s thoughts returned to the imperial examinations. He brought it up again: “Scholars from humble backgrounds will soon arrive in the capital. The last examination disappointed so many. This time, we must not only ensure fairness but also expose those who sell official positions. Your Majesty’s court cannot tolerate such audacity.”

Su Yang held Lin Huaiyu close, the cloth now moving beneath the water. Lin Huaiyu trembled slightly in his arms and instinctively drew his legs together, but Su Yang gently but firmly parted them again. “Of course, they cannot be allowed to act recklessly,” Su Yang said slowly. “But as I’ve said before, if Minister Lin wishes to oversee the examinations, he must offer himself in exchange.”

Lin Huaiyu’s expression darkened. “Your Majesty, I am not joking. The imperial examinations are a serious matter. If I do not handle them personally, I cannot trust anyone else to do it properly.”

After finishing washing Lin Huaiyu’s body, Su Yang began washing his hair. The long, waterfall-like strands cascaded down Lin Huaiyu’s back, gathered in Su Yang’s palm a sensation that filled him with a peculiar satisfaction. Lin Huaiyu belonged to him, and only he could touch every inch of Lin Huaiyu’s body.

Su Yang remarked casually, “Teacher, you always worry about such matters. My court is not without capable people, even without you.”

Lin Huaiyu abruptly paused, then after a long silence, said, “Your Majesty means that you no longer need this subject?”

He had spent twelve years with Su Yang, rescuing him from the cold palace, teaching him to become a wise ruler, plotting for him, helping him kill the crown prince and ascend the throne. Yet he had never imagined that one day, Su Yang would no longer need him.

But the truth was, he could not accompany Su Yang for much longer at most, one more year…

He only hoped that within this year, he could accomplish as much as possible, rid the court of a few more corrupt officials, and bring a bit more peace to the world.

“Why would the teacher think that?” Su Yang stroked Lin Huaiyu’s long hair, speaking carelessly. “I need the teacher far too much as a plaything who can please and satisfy me.”

Feeling the heat beneath the water, Lin Huaiyu stiffened in Su Yang’s embrace and cursed, “Beast!”

Su Yang, instead of taking offense, widened the curve of his lips. “Teacher need not be nervous. I will not do anything to you. I want the teacher to beg me himself.”

Lin Huaiyu replied coldly, “Don’t even think about it.”

Su Yang chuckled softly in his ear. “Very well. If I don’t think of that, then the imperial examinations Prime Minister Lin shouldn’t think of them either.”

True to his word, Su Yang did not touch Lin Huaiyu. Lin Huaiyu changed into another set of Su Yang’s clothes and lay on the bed, still confined to the Spring Palace.

He watched the heavy snowfall outside, the branches in the courtyard weighed down by white snow.

He had witnessed this scene for twelve years. If only he could keep watching it forever.

Time passed quickly. The snow continued to fall, lasting until New Year’s Eve. The imperial examinations were in February, leaving less than a month between New Year’s Eve and the exams. Surprisingly, Su Yang had yet to finalize the person in charge, only instructing the Ministry of Rites to make preparations.

The door opened and closed, letting in a gust of wind and snow. Without even looking up, Lin Huaiyu knew who had arrived.

The vast rear palace was empty and desolate, with only Su Yang ever coming here.

Seeing Lin Huaiyu once again sitting by the window, gazing outside, Su Yang couldn’t help but say, “Teacher, why are you sitting there again? Opening the window will make you cold.”

Lin Huaiyu did not look at him, his eyes fixed on the snow in the courtyard. “Today is New Year’s Eve.”

Su Yang nodded, seemingly in a good mood, his tone carrying a hint of joy. “The teacher and I have spent another year together.”

Yet there was no smile on Lin Huaiyu’s face as he brought up the old matter again. “With the New Year approaching, there are many matters to attend to in my residence. Your Majesty should allow me to leave the palace for a while.”

Su Yang walked over to Lin Huaiyu, initially intending to embrace him, but paused by the bed upon hearing these words. The smile on his face slowly faded. “The teacher wants to leave the palace again?”

Only then did Lin Huaiyu turn to look at Su Yang. “Your Majesty cannot keep me imprisoned for a lifetime.”

Su Yang lowered his gaze, walked to the window, and closed it. The wind and snow that had blown in were bitterly cold, how could Lin Huaiyu have endured it for so long!

Frowning, he took Lin Huaiyu’s hand. It was indeed as cold as if it had just come from an ice cellar. His expression darkened. “What if I do keep the teacher imprisoned for a lifetime? In the short time I was away for the morning court, the teacher has frozen himself like this!”

Lin Huaiyu felt the warmth spreading from the back of his hand, but he dared not linger in it. He withdrew his hand and said, “Your Majesty, I have been in the palace for a long time now and have not attended morning court. The officials will surely start to gossip.”

“Let them dare!” Su Yang forcefully rejected Lin Huaiyu’s request and once again took his hand, holding it firmly in his palm to drive away the chill.

Lin Huaiyu could not resist the other’s insistence. After all, this gesture was not too excessive back when he and Su Yang were in the cold palace, they had often huddled together for warmth like this.

He relaxed his resistance and said calmly, “Your Majesty, since it is the New Year, I should return home.”

Su Yang sensed Lin Huaiyu’s reluctance and knew that the other’s deepest desire was to escape the palace and leave his side. He tightened his grip on Lin Huaiyu’s hand, as if determined never to let go.

He looked at Lin Huaiyu and suddenly asked, “Home? Do you have a home in the capital?”

Lin Huaiyu stared at Su Yang, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out. Then he heard Su Yang let out a soft, mocking laugh. “You have no family in the capital. The vast Lin Mansion is empty and deserted, with not a single soul inside. Where is your home? In this world, you have long been without a home or family.”

Lin Huaiyu finally closed his mouth.

Su Yang was right. He had no family or home in the capital. His parents had left him when he was young, and his foster mother had passed away when he was fourteen. He had come to the capital alone, struggling and scheming for twelve long years, only to end up with no one waiting for him to return home.

For Su Yang’s sake, he had made enemies everywhere, offending everyone in the court. The common people only knew that the emperor was a wise and virtuous ruler, while Lin Huaiyu was a treacherous minister who wielded immense power. People feared him, cursed him, and wished for his early death.

Indeed, he had no home.

Su Yang watched the now-silent Lin Huaiyu and pulled him into his embrace, lowering his head to whisper, “I have no family or home either, Teacher. In this world, you have only me, and I have only you.”

“Stay. Spend the New Year with me.”

Lin Huaiyu’s heart trembled. Su Yang’s tone was like that of a homeless puppy. When Lin Huaiyu looked up, he saw the other gazing at him with pleading eyes, truly pitiful.

Lin Huaiyu remembered twelve years ago when he first arrived in the capital. It was also a heavy snowstorm, and he learned for the first time how vast and cold the snow in the north could be.

He had no family, no money, and his clothes were patched and worn from his foster mother’s mending. He had been starving for a long time, staring at the steamed bun shop but unable to afford even one bun.

He was with a few beggars. Lin Huaiyu, disheveled and ragged, crouched among them, looking just like a little beggar himself.

They waited for a long time, and just as the shop was about to close, a steamed bun fell to the ground.

Lin Huaiyu was about to step forward when the beggars beside him pushed him to the ground. They swarmed over, fighting and scrambling, bloodying each other’s heads.

In the end, Lin Huaiyu licked the snow that had fallen on the corner of his lips and prepared to leave.

Just as he stood up, someone bumped into him, and a steamed bun fell to the ground.

Lin Huaiyu saw the person who had bumped into him just as ragged as himself, with bloodstains on his face. The bony hand picked up the bun from the ground, revealing a wrist covered in scars, with not a single patch of unblemished skin.

While Lin Huaiyu was still stunned, the hand holding the bun extended toward him. The person peeled off the dirty outer layer, revealing the clean part inside, and offered it to Lin Huaiyu.

Lin Huaiyu took the bun and finally saw the other’s face clearly.

Nine-year-old Su Yang was just a pitiful child, bullied and abused in the cold palace. That day, he had sneaked out of the palace, trying to escape that living hell.

But it was precisely on the way that he ran into Lin Huaiyu, which delayed him for a while, and he was caught again by the pursuing guards.

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes reflected memories of the past, and after a moment of hesitation, he agreed, “Alright.”

The New Year’s Eve palace banquet was merely a single table set up in the imperial garden, with no one else present besides Lin Huaiyu and Su Yang.

Though it was quiet, at this moment, they truly only had each other.

“It’s a bit cold outside, Teacher. Have some wine to warm yourself up,” Su Yang said, raising the wine cup in his hand toward Lin Huaiyu, who was seated below.

He didn’t actually like Lin Huaiyu sitting there. It was supposed to be a family banquet for just the two of them, yet Lin Huaiyu insisted on following protocol.

Feeling displeased, Su Yang raised his cup to Lin Huaiyu again and again. “Teacher, I am truly delighted that you are willing to spend the New Year with me. Ever since I ascended the throne, you have never returned to the palace to see me. Do I mean nothing to you at all?”

Lin Huaiyu looked at the somewhat aggrieved Su Yang, momentarily at a loss for words. He understood Su Yang’s loneliness, but Su Yang’s future was destined to be lonely, and he couldn’t stay by his side for long.

Unable to offer any comfort, Lin Huaiyu could only accompany Su Yang, drinking cup after cup with him.

As the night wore on, Lin Huaiyu didn’t even know how he ended up on Su Yang’s lap, held tightly in his arms, his consciousness growing hazy from the wine.

In a daze, he heard Su Yang ask him, “Teacher, where is my New Year’s gift?”

As if remembering something, Lin Huaiyu replied, “Your Majesty refused to let me leave the palace. How could I prepare a gift for you?”

“You always had one in previous years…” Su Yang muttered softly, then after a moment added, “Never mind. This year Teacher, you yourself are the best gift for me.”

Lin Huaiyu didn’t quite catch his words, as a sudden burst of fireworks outside erupted into a brilliant display of colors in the sky, one cluster after another, playing a unique and beautiful melody to mark the beginning of the new year.

At the moment the dazzling fireworks bloomed in the sky, Lin Huaiyu felt a cool touch on his lips as Su Yang suddenly kissed him. The light of the fireworks illuminated their faces, beautiful and radiant.

Lin Huaiyu’s eyes widened abruptly, his mind clearing slightly from the wine. He immediately tried to push Su Yang away but was restrained, forced to accept the long and domineering kiss amidst the fireworks.

It was almost suffocating.

Su Yang released him just as Lin Huaiyu was about to run out of breath. Gasping for air, Lin Huaiyu coughed heavily, his breaths coming in rapid succession.

Su Yang gently patted his back, soothing him while helping him catch his breath. “Teacher, you’ll get used to it with time.”

Lin Huaiyu turned his head away, unwilling to look at Su Yang. “Your Majesty is drunk.”

Su Yang chuckled softly. “It’s Teacher who is drunk. I am perfectly sober.”

Lin Huaiyu’s expression turned stern. “If you’re sober, then what were you doing just now? What do you want me to get used to? Kissing my own student?”

On a day like this, Lin Huaiyu had no desire to dwell on such unpleasant matters, but Su Yang insisted on bringing them up.

Whenever he argued with Su Yang, he never got the outcome he wanted. So, he closed his eyes wearily and said, “Your Majesty, once the New Year is over, please let me leave the palace. I still have many things to attend to.”

If he didn’t act soon, it would be too late.

Su Yang’s expression darkened, and he held Lin Huaiyu tightly in his arms, as if trying to meld him into his very being. “On a day like this, Teacher, are you sure you want to upset me?”

Lin Huaiyu said helplessly, “Your Majesty, I only wish to leave the palace…”

Seeing Lin Huaiyu so determined to depart, Su Yang grew furious. “I said no! No! No! Lin Huaiyu, do you not understand?! Why must you leave me?!”

Lin Huaiyu felt he must truly be drunk. Forced to remain in the palace these past few days, barred from attending court, his own anger flared up as well, and he retorted defiantly, “Yes! I simply do not wish to stay by Your Majesty’s side. I want to be as far away from you as possible… Hngh ”

Before his words could fully leave his lips, Su Yang lifted him and pressed him down onto the table. Wine cups and fruit scattered across the floor. Su Yang grabbed a nearby wine pot, took a mouthful, and sealed Lin Huaiyu’s lips, forcing the wine into his mouth.

Lin Huaiyu was not a strong drinker to begin with, and drinking while lying down was even more uncomfortable. Forced to swallow by Su Yang, he wanted to cough but found his mouth blocked, unable to even clear his throat.

He struggled, trying to push Su Yang away, but his hands were pinned down on the table. Before he could even lift his legs, Su Yang, as if anticipating his move, pressed his legs down as well, leaving him no choice but to endure Su Yang’s wrath.

After the first mouthful of wine was forced down, Lin Huaiyu’s lips were briefly freed, but before he could catch his breath, Su Yang took another gulp and kissed him again, forcing more wine into his mouth.

This repeated several times until the entire pot of wine had been poured into Lin Huaiyu’s stomach. He felt as though his throat and stomach were on fire. The palace wine was undoubtedly of the finest quality, but it was also exceptionally strong. The forcibly swallowed liquor burned through his entire being, causing pain deep within his organs.

On this snowy night, Lin Huaiyu no longer felt cold instead, he felt pain, a pain that seemed to seep into his very bones.

Su Yang seemed intent on tearing him apart, starting from the center, piece by piece.