The Sickly Beauty Official Faked His Death and Now the Tyrant Has Gone Mad - Chapter 7

The lingering chill of early spring persisted, and the snow in the north seemed endless, falling day after day, burying everything under a vast expanse of white.

On the palace paths lined with vermilion walls, eunuchs swept the snow with brooms, idly chatting about gossip to pass the time.

“Hey, I heard from Yan’er that someone moved into the Qinchun Palace a few days ago. How come there’s no news of His Majesty taking a new consort?” one eunuch asked, sweeping snow while glancing toward the Qinchun Palace in the distance.

The person beside him immediately leaned closer. “His Majesty hasn’t even established an empress yet, so how could there be consorts? But I’ve also heard about the Qinchun Palace. Guess who’s living there?”

“A big shot? I can’t guess.”

The eunuch chuckled mysteriously. “It’s a man!”

The snow-sweeping eunuch widened his eyes in shock. “A man? Could it be that His Majesty hasn’t married all these years because… he prefers men?”

Another eunuch nodded. “Exactly! His Majesty’s harem is empty there’s no one at all. Now, without any announcement, he’s brought a man into the palace. Do you think he might establish a male empress?”

“Hmph,” the first eunuch sneered dismissively. “Impossible! The one in Qinchun Palace is none other than the current Prime Minister!”

“What?!” The others were even more astonished. “You mean that ruthless Prime Minister who even dared to kill a prince?”

The eunuch nodded. “That’s the one!”

Another chimed in, “Then perhaps the Prime Minister is just staying in the palace for a few days to tutor His Majesty?”

The eunuch laughed. “That’s definitely not the case. The Prime Minister is an official from outside the palace no matter what, he shouldn’t be living in the harem! Besides, I heard from Yan’er in Qinchun Palace that His Majesty visits every day, returning right after morning court. Although there are often arguments inside, there’s also.”

“There’s also what? Spit it out!” the others urged impatiently.

The eunuch quickly replied, “Oh, come on! What else could it be? You devils, do I have to spell it out for you?”

The group exchanged knowing smiles. “So, after all these years of remaining chaste, our emperor actually has feelings for his own teacher?”

The eunuch swept the snow at his feet and shook his head. “I doubt it’s affection. His Majesty and the Prime Minister always seem to be at each other’s throats in Qinchun Palace, especially His Majesty he’s looked furious several times. As for the Prime Minister… despite all the scolding and arguments, doesn’t he still let His Majesty have his way?”

The others grew even more intrigued. “Are you saying the Prime Minister is in love with His Majesty?”

The eunuch nodded, sighed, and looked toward Qinchun Palace. “The Prime Minister, rumored to wield immense power over the court, doesn’t seem all that formidable to me. Chief Eunuch Defu speaks of him as if he’s a god, but isn’t his position as Prime Minister just a result of currying favor with His Majesty?”

“Shh!” The others immediately hushed him. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? That Prime Minister Lin is ruthless. If he hears you, you’ll lose your head!”

But the eunuch shrugged it off. “You don’t know I saw Prime Minister Lin at the entrance of Qinchun Palace before. His face is absolutely stunning, a beauty unmatched in this world. No wonder His Majesty dotes on him so much. Even I, a eunuch, couldn’t help but be captivated!”

A few people looked around nervously, relieved to find the palace corridor empty of others. “You’d better keep your voice down. Even if you’re not afraid of Prime Minister Lin, if His Majesty hears you, you’ll lose your head!”

The man waved a dismissive hand. “I think the rumors are all lies. Prime Minister Lin was sitting by the window earlier, looking so frail a gust of wind could knock him over. The snow on this corridor alone could crush him. He’s nothing like the terrifying figure they say. I think he’s just a male favorite that delicate face looks born to serve.”

Seeing no one else around, the group grew bolder. “So, now that Prime Minister Lin has moved into the Spring Palace, is he planning to resign and dedicate himself to serving His Majesty?”

Another chimed in, “I heard from the front that the Prime Minister hasn’t attended court for days. All that talk of him wielding immense power and being ruthless it’s all nonsense!”

Someone clicked their tongue in amazement. “But if Prime Minister Lin becomes our master in the rear palace one day, won’t it be inappropriate for us to gossip about him like this?”

A palace servant scoffed, “From the way His Majesty treats him, it doesn’t seem like he intends to make him an empress. He’s probably just a male favorite.”

The others nodded. “His Majesty will eventually take an empress. When that happens, how will a man like him find his place in the rear palace?”

The servant sneered, “To think our esteemed Prime Minister is nothing but a sycophant kneeling beneath His Majesty, and in the future, he’ll have to bow to the imperial consorts. What a farce! Why are you tugging at me?”

As he finished speaking, he looked down and realized the other servants had all dropped to their knees, not daring to lift their heads as they faced behind him.

The servant froze, a sudden realization dawning on him. He quickly turned and knelt, not daring to look at who had arrived.

Only two people could inspire such fear in everyone: His Majesty or the very Prime Minister Lin they had been discussing.

Whichever it was, he had offended someone far beyond his station and if they had heard his words.

His life was as good as over!

“It seems I haven’t made an appearance in too long, unaware that palace servants now dare to gossip about their masters so freely.” Lin Huaiyu’s voice was as cold as the melting snow on the ground, chilling to the bone.

The servants trembled uncontrollably. Though they had just been belittling Lin Huaiyu, the overwhelming pressure he exuded now rendered them speechless.

So the rumors were true. Merely standing there, Lin Huaiyu radiated a terror greater than even His Majesty’s.

Defu, standing nearby, spat in disgust, “You worthless gossips! How dare you speak of Prime Minister Lin?!”

The servants snapped back to reality, pleading desperately, “Spare us, Prime Minister!!!”

Lin Huaiyu cast a cold glance at Defu, his eyes devoid of warmth. “Eunuch Defu, what is the punishment for privately slandering one’s master?”

Defu hurriedly replied, “Your Excellency, the punishment is death by beating!”

The servants broke into sobs. Defu was His Majesty’s chief eunuch, yet he addressed Lin Huaiyu with such deference, showing not a hint of disrespect. They now knew their earlier assumptions were nothing but delusions.

Lin Huaiyu remained unmoved by their pleas, his gaze icy. “Death by beating… seems too lenient.”

Defu quickly agreed, “Yes, Your Excellency is right. What punishment would you suggest?”

Lin Huaiyu glanced indifferently at the kneeling servants. “Have their tongues removed.”

Even though Defu was well aware of Lin Huaiyu’s methods, he still shuddered at that moment. “Pulling them out alive?”

Lin Huaiyu cast a light, indifferent glance toward Defu, who quickly responded, “This servant understands.”

Several palace attendants were immediately seized, pleading in panic, “Prime Minister Lin, spare us! We’ll never dare again.”

One of them broke free from the restraints, scrambling on his knees to Lin Huaiyu’s feet. Clutching the hem of Lin Huaiyu’s robe, he begged, “Prime Minister Lin, please spare this servant! It was this servant’s foul mouth!”

As he spoke, he slapped his own face repeatedly, hoping Lin Huaiyu would show mercy.

But it was all in vain.

Defu, watching the audacious attendant, broke into a cold sweat. He hurried over and kicked the man away from Lin Huaiyu’s feet. “What kind of lowly creature are you? How dare you touch the noble’s robes with your filthy hands?!”

If you’re going to die, die alone don’t drag me down! If His Majesty were to see someone getting this close to Prime Minister Lin, I’d be in trouble too!

The attendant was immediately seized again by the guards and dragged away.

Lin Huaiyu paid no further attention to the group. Turning around, he saw Su Yang standing tall and graceful, a young eunuch holding an umbrella beside him, watching the scene with keen interest.

Defu’s eyes widened in alarm, inwardly cursing his misfortune as he rushed over to greet the emperor.

Lin Huaiyu stood in the heavy snowfall, gazing across the distance at Su Yang. Snowflakes settled on his dark hair and shoulders, only to be gently swept away by the wind.

Just as he was about to walk over, Su Yang took the umbrella from the young eunuch and strode toward Lin Huaiyu, shielding him from the wind and snow.

Su Yang frowned, a flicker of disgust in his eyes as he glanced at Lin Huaiyu’s feet. The boots and the hem of his robe seemed tainted, as if stained by something filthy.

He handed the umbrella to Lin Huaiyu, then knelt down and grasped his foot. “Teacher, lift your foot.”

Puzzled, Lin Huaiyu complied. To his surprise, Su Yang removed his boot right there in the palace corridor and tossed it aside like trash.

A chill instantly pierced Lin Huaiyu’s bones as the wind and snow assaulted his exposed foot. “What are you doing?”

Su Yang then took off his own shoes and placed them on Lin Huaiyu’s feet, standing barefoot on the cold, freshly swept stone tiles. “How dare anyone touch my teacher? It’s utterly filthy.”

With that, he tore off the hem of Lin Huaiyu’s robe, the exquisite dragon-embroidered fabric destroyed by Su Yang’s own hands.

Lin Huaiyu frowned but had no time to speak before Su Yang removed his own outer robe and draped it over Lin Huaiyu’s shoulders.

Only after completing these actions did Su Yang seem satisfied. He remarked leisurely, “The wails echoed throughout the palace corridor. Everyone knows Prime Minister Lin’s methods are as ruthless as ever, if not more so.”

The cold that had seeped into Lin Huaiyu’s bones dissipated instantly. He said nothing, merely letting out a low hum of indifference. “Those few aren’t worth my attention.”

Su Yang smiled, his gaze drifting down the long palace corridor behind Lin Huaiyu, as if memories were stirring within him. “Indeed. After all, back then, the wails in this corridor were a hundred times more agonizing than today. The blood stained the stones crimson, and it took the palace attendants two full days to scrub it clean. All of that was your handiwork, Teacher.”

Lin Huaiyu turned his head away, his eyes resting on the vermilion walls and jade-green tiles. Though no trace of blood remained, the scene seemed to replay before his eyes the palace filled with cries of anguish, rivers of blood flowing through its halls.

He withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “The struggle for the crown prince has always been ruthless. If they don’t die, we will only meet a worse fate.”

Su Yang smiled faintly, as though he were speaking not of his half-brothers but of strangers who deserved to die or even enemies.

All the while, he walked through the snow under the same umbrella with Lin Huaiyu, never once leaving his side.

Su Yang glanced at the person beside him and lowered his voice. “Prime Minister Lin’s influence reaches everywhere, his power overwhelming the court. Now he even presumes to manage my harem. Has he forgotten his place?”

Lin Huaiyu slowly turned to look at Su Yang, only to see that familiar, wicked smile curling at the corner of his lips again. Recalling all that Su Yang had said and done to him, Lin Huaiyu replied smoothly, “Your Majesty is absolutely right. The harem is no place for a minister to linger. I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me to leave the palace.”

Su Yang chuckled softly, as if he had anticipated Lin Huaiyu’s words. The pleasure of seeing through Lin Huaiyu’s thoughts delighted him. He drew closer, pulling Lin Huaiyu into his embrace, his thumb gently stroking the other’s waist. In a low, sinister tone, he said, “Teacher still wants to leave.”

Lin Huaiyu’s waist was too sensitive that single touch made him go weak. Though he tried to hold himself steady, he couldn’t pull away from Su Yang. “It is improper for a minister to reside in the harem.”

Su Yang’s expression darkened as he glanced toward where the palace servants had been cleaning earlier. He whispered, “Did Teacher listen to their words? I will have them all killed. No one will dare speak of Teacher again. Please, don’t mention leaving anymore, alright?”

Lin Huaiyu pressed Su Yang’s hand and shook his head. “It has nothing to do with others. I pay no mind to what they say. I only wish to leave the palace to fulfill my duties. But Your Majesty have you had enough of these games? It’s time to regain some clarity.”

Su Yang tightened his grip on Lin Huaiyu, refusing to let him pull away. “Does Teacher think I am playing games? I only want Teacher to stay by my side. Why do you always think of leaving?”

Lin Huaiyu lifted his gaze, his cool eyes like winter snow beautiful yet chilling. “Su Yang, I am the Prime Minister of Dayong, your teacher. By reason or by duty, whether for the country, the people, or for you, I should not be in the harem.”

Su Yang’s face hardened. He nodded, his grip on Lin Huaiyu’s waist tightening. “In the end, Teacher cannot let go of the position of Prime Minister. Now that you hold such high authority, your eyes are only on Dayong, on the people, on your duties. Lin Huaiyu, this position of Prime Minister it is not that I cannot do without you.”

Lin Huaiyu looked at Su Yang, his sharp mind momentarily unable to grasp his meaning.

Or perhaps he simply couldn’t believe it.

But Su Yang continued, “Didn’t Teacher say before that there are many talented scholars in the imperial examinations? Do you think any among them could take up the position of Prime Minister?”

Lin Huaiyu avoided the question and asked instead, “Is Your Majesty saying you intend to dismiss me from my post?”

Su Yang’s expression softened, his gaze lingering on Lin Huaiyu with a hint of tenderness. “I have said before Teacher only needs to stay quietly in the harem and become my captive.”

At that moment, Lin Huaiyu trembled with anger. He couldn’t believe Su Yang would strip him of his power just to trap him in the harem. Rarely had he been so incensed that he let out a cold laugh. “Does Your Majesty intend to take away my position as Prime Minister? Perhaps you want me to sit on the throne of Empress instead?”

Su Yang raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked at Lin Huaiyu, whose usually indifferent face now wore an unusual expression one Lin Huaiyu would never show to anyone else. Su Yang chuckled deliberately and said, “Teacher, you are so cunning, truly unwilling to suffer any loss. Trading the position of prime minister for that of the empress? What? Could it be that you intend to share my bed in life and my tomb in death?”

Before Lin Huaiyu could respond, Su Yang pulled him closer into his embrace and whispered in his ear, “A mere captive, how could you possibly be worthy?”