When the Puppet Emperor Becomes a Heartthrob - Chapter 15

Xi Huai’s body stiffened. He immediately felt trapped in a quagmire, unable to escape.

Xiao Yuan, you jerk. Why are you like a ghost lingering everywhere? You are everywhere I turn.

On the surface, he haughtily dismounted and cupped his hands in a salute. “The Regent’s praise is too generous, but I am a bit tired. Let us leave the polo for next time. As for this autumn hunt, I must thank you for your generosity.”

“Why be so formal between us?” Unexpectedly, Xiao Yuan stepped forward and covered his hand with his own. “If Your Majesty is truly grateful, why not bestow the prey you just hunted upon me as a reward?”

Xi Huai: “…”

Xi Huai felt his hair stand on end, and goosebumps broke out on his skin. This bastard was touching him again. What a pervert, a madman, a lunatic! If it were not for the fact that he had truly helped organize the autumn hunt and saved him money, he would have loved to give him a solid slap across the face.

He pulled his hand away as if nothing were wrong. “The Regent wants it? It is a pity that I cannot bestow that prey upon you.”

Xiao Yuan: “?”

Xiao Yuan gave Li Wan a knowing look. He lowered his gaze to conceal the unpleasant emotions in his eyes before looking up, his tone teasing. “Once Your Majesty has the Noble Consort, you forget me. I am very sad.”

Xi Huai blinked blankly, not understanding his meaning, and did not bother to respond. Instead, he pulled on the reins and, under Li Wan’s puzzled gaze, pulled her onto the horse and raised a flamboyant smile.

“What are you talking about? I do not understand. My prey has already been offered to the Empress Dowager as a mark of filial piety. As for Wan’s prey, naturally, I hunted it for her myself. If the Regent wants some, you must seek Wan’s opinion.”

By the time Xiao Yuan regained his senses, the heroic young Emperor had already whisked the Noble Consort away on horseback. Under the autumn sun, that thin, slender back looked spirited and dreamy.

“Your Highness, the Emperor seems to have changed recently. Could he have sensed your plans for today? Should we delay the operation?” the bodyguard beside him asked, his voice full of worry, fearing that he might delay the big plan.

Xiao Yuan showed no concern. Instead, a low sound rumbled from his throat. “A big plan? Heh. Hahahaha. Interesting, how interesting. Since when did Ah Huai become so amusing?”

“Y-Your Highness?”

Xiao Yuan resumed his usual expression. He narrowed his eyes, a look of inevitable victory curling his lips. “Proceed as planned. But remember, no matter what, you are not allowed to harm Ah Huai.”

Xi Huai shuddered all over. He assumed it was just because he had been riding for too long and could not stand the cold wind, so he slowed down significantly. Only then did he remember to look at the girl in his arms. “Wan, are you cold?”

The girl was acting very docilely in his embrace. She lowered her head and shook it silently. That submissive appearance made Xi Huai wonder if he had misunderstood her. Perhaps he had misunderstood that she was cheating on him, and she had no intention of cuckolding him or killing him.

No. Xi Huai steeled himself. Damn it, I almost let my lust for beauty cloud my judgment. What a terrifying woman; I was almost deceived.

What he did not know was that the docile girl in his arms had a gloomy expression. Li Wan raised her eyelashes and stared at Xi Huai’s chin, lost in thought. The high-spirited youth on the horse is actually the extravagant and debauched dog Emperor? Is he not supposed to be greedy, corrupt, and lawless?

Just thinking that such a heartless person could block a sword for Qin Mingjing with his own frail body in front of an assassin made Li Wan feel it was utterly absurd. “Your Majesty.” Li Wan even lowered her voice, unable to help but want to question him. She wanted to question why he used to oppress the people so harshly, and now that he was putting on an act, who was he trying to impress?

“Your Majesty! Assassin!”

A voice from somewhere cut off the question Li Wan was about to blurt out. In the blink of an eye, a stranger descended from the sky, knocking away a flying arrow.

Who? Li Wan narrowed her eyes, shocked to discover that there were secret guards present. She had not even sensed them. Since when had the dog Emperor found secret guards? Li Wan could not help but feel a surge of astonishment.

Xi Huai’s mind went blank for a moment. What is going on? Is the palace security so poor that the lover has chased him all the way here?

That was impossible. He looked at Xue Fang. Xue Fang was occupied, entangled with the assassins. He immediately grabbed Li Wan’s waist and dismounted, intending to use her as a hostage to beg for his life. However, Li Wan’s waist was too thick; was her frame a bit too large for a woman? Amidst the danger, Xi Huai’s thoughts wandered, and his head throbbed with random wild guesses.

However, the sheer number of assassins pursuing them left him no time to ponder Li Wan’s suspicious nature. Because several assassins took advantage of Xue Fang’s distraction and forced them to the edge of a cliff.

Xi Huai: “…”

Xi Huai wanted to die. In the original book, he only needed to bring the Noble Consort to the autumn hunt to solidify his reputation as a foolish ruler; there was no scene about being pursued by assassins. Even so, amidst the chaos, Xi Huai did not forget to maintain his persona. He gazed at Li Wan in his arms with deep affection and comforted her. “Wan, don’t be afraid.”

The girl’s face was pale, and her body was trembling. Her already frail and sickly appearance looked even more haggard. “Your Majesty.” The girl’s fingers were trembling as she shrank into his arms. “With Your Majesty here, I am not afraid.”

…She is really good at acting. I wonder who is more skilled, her or the Palace Drama female supporting character in the chat group.

He feigned deep emotion and gripped the girl’s fingers, with all the tragic heroism of a pair of star-crossed lovers. “Good! If we die, we die together.”

Inside, he was thinking, Whatever happens, I must find someone to accompany me to the grave. Don’t even think about leaving. I am not here to break you two up, but to die together.

Li Wan trembled and asked with a complex expression, “Your Majesty asked if I was afraid, but what about you? Is Your Majesty not afraid of death?”

“I am not afraid.” I am scared to death.

“The world only sees my foolishness and extravagance, but they do not know how many assassination attempts I have endured.” Everyone knew the little Emperor was incompetent and lawless, and various forces wanted him dead.

“Because I knew long ago that sooner or later, this day would come.” Because he had already finished reading the original book, he remembered that the cannon fodder little Emperor was destined to die.

“I am sorry. It was my selfishness to force you back into the palace and involve you in this.” Is it you and your lover who are trying every way to kill me?

“I will protect you. When the chaos starts, you should sneak away.” Xi Huai’s eyelashes fluttered. His jewel-like eyes were calm, appearing quite transcendent. But no one knew that he was roaring internally, just wanting to kneel and beg for mercy.

Li Wan was stunned. She frowned, seemingly not understanding. Finally, she broke free from Xi Huai’s restraint, stood in front of him, and roared ferociously, “Enough! This young one does not need your protection!”

Xi Huai: “?”

Xi Huai only saw the frail, beautiful girl’s expression twist and contort. The next moment, the girl seemed to realize what she had done and smiled stiffly.

“Your Majesty, I meant nothing else. You do not need to protect me.” Her voice softened, as if the gruff tone from just a moment ago was an illusion. “I do not wish to see Your Majesty in danger for my sake.”

Xi Huai: “???” Sister, what is wrong with you?

Sister smiled gently. “As a daughter of the Li family, how can I hide behind Your Majesty? Do not worry, Your Majesty. I can protect you.”

Xi Huai: “???” Weren’t these assassins sent by you?

Xi Huai was completely confused, watching the assassins hesitate, looking as if they did not want to hurt him. Furthermore, one assassin even reached out toward him. He subconsciously dodged and rolled into Li Wan’s arms. Li Wan was caught off guard, collided into his arms, and she staggered, instinctively grabbing hold of him.

He opened his eyes wide in fear, watching as he fell and was pulled off the cliff by Li Wan.

Good heavens, now I am really dead. Xi Huai’s vision went black as he fainted.

Perhaps he was truly close to death; his consciousness drifted, and in the blink of an eye, he saw Wen Yulin and Xiao Yuan. Wen Yulin was berating Xiao Yuan. “Assassins have infiltrated the hunting grounds. You, the Regent, cannot shirk the responsibility.”

Xiao Yuan was undeterred. “Your Ladyship, calm your anger. The most important thing now is to find His Majesty.”

“Calm my anger?” Wen Yulin showed a sarcastic expression. “Does the Regent truly want to find His Majesty?”

Xiao Yuan was stunned, then let out a low laugh. “I did not know Your Ladyship cared for His Majesty so much.” Though it was a light laugh, it sounded profoundly ironic.

“You!” Wen Yulin seemed about to flare up, but Xiao Yuan quickly interrupted the remark he was about to make. “If thinking this way can soothe your anger, then your Ladyship may think so.”

Xi Huai only saw Wen Yulin say gently, “His Majesty is my child; naturally, I am worried.”

Xiao Yuan paused. He curled his lips and bowed respectfully. “I will certainly find His Majesty.” With that, he turned and left the tent.

But when he returned to his own tent, a guard suddenly appeared and knelt before him. “Subordinate has failed the task. The Emperor fell off the cliff, and I failed to capture him alive. I beg Your Highness to punish me.”

Xiao Yuan looked at the guard coldly. Although he did not make a sound, the guard trembled all over. Because the next moment, a sharp blade was already pressed against the guard’s neck.

Xiao Yuan smiled, his voice as cold as winter frost, merciless and heartless. “Find the Emperor. Otherwise, not only you, but your entire family will likely be buried with the Emperor.”

Xi Huai felt a sudden surge of spirit. So, it was you, Xiao Yuan! It is you who wants to kill me! I am just an ordinary, pure-hearted, high school boy. Who understands my pain? He shed tears of sorrow and was just about to look up to the heavens and scream when his consciousness began to fade into a blur.

When he regained consciousness, he opened his eyes and saw that he was in a strange cave. We did not die? Xi Huai felt that his whole body was drenched and very uncomfortable. He struggled to stand up, only to notice that Li Wan was lying beside him.

Li Wan was unconscious. His clothes were in disarray, and he was covered in water. Perhaps due to the low temperature, his face was flushed, and he was shivering, muttering in his sleep. His appearance, as if he had caught a cold and was burning with a high fever, made his small face look both delicate and pitiful, enough to make anyone feel an irresistible sense of compassion.

Support