Chapter 24
Three dayster.
Late at night, the Golden Dragon Pce<sup>[1]</sup>the Emperors private chamber which should be guarded by a group of guards at the entrance and waited by rows of servants inside, was oddly barren.
In the distance, the fighting noise could be heard from all corners of the pces inner gates. The Commander of the Imperial Guards was leading all of his subordinates to resist the sudden infiltration, all guards from every station were led out to act as reinforcement.
The Forbidden City<sup>[2]</sup>Its basically the wholeplex of Imperial Pce. Theres a real Forbidden City in CN, built around 1400s, by Emperor Yongle. It looks like this today:
was almost dyed red with the blood flowing, and the glints from des meeting with other des illuminated the sky above the Imperial Pce. Dozens of pce servants were trying to escape or run into some hiding ce. The whole pce was plunged into disarray. The oue had yet been determined, but the situation had been out of order.
Among the chaotic background, Lin Yuetian came to the deserted Golden Dragon Pce, with a little makeup on his face.
The Original Owner was a handsome Gentleman with a pristine and jade-like appearance<sup>[3]</sup>A jade-like gentleman: basically a mix of elegant, graceful, and refined, looking like someone who was far from worldly matter. Yet this appearance was currently covered up with a Ghostly makeup.
Lin Yuetian was wearing a red dress that he had prepared in advance, entering the Golden Dragon Pce smoothly. He walked slowly, keeping his steps incredibly light, so that not a single sound could be heard in the empty Pce. Its almost like he was floating, looking frighteningly simr to those wandering Spirits.
There was only one eunuch left who was keeping guard inside. His eyes saw the red-dressed Lin Yuetian entering the Pce, fluttering like a vengeful ghost, and simultaneously, his hearing also caught the faint sound of ughter happening outside the Pce.
The eunuch felt immense fear in his heart. He fell to his knees beside the Dragon bed<sup>[4]</sup>The Emperors bed, shivering and unable to move a muscle.
Lin Yuetian himself halted his advance once he arrived in front of the Dragon bed. There was a candle held in his hand. Yes, it was the very familiar anesthetic candle. Lin Yuetian was someone who was very stingy and thrifty when it came to mission expenditure. The candle was used over and over, a small amount at a time, to avoid any waste (and save more money for him to enjoy).
The lights from the candle and other pcemps inside the Pce had dimmed out<sup>[5]</sup>since it waste at night and other servants who were responsible for it had run away, and the remaining lights swayed in the night wind. Lin Yuetians shadow falling on the beds curtain became elongated and distorted as if trapping the Emperor who was lying on the bed inside.
There was a coughing sound from behind the curtain. Inside, Zheng Hongxuan felt deep fatigue, he closed his eyes and asked in a low voice,
Is it the Imperial Guards Commander? Have you taken care of the rebels?
The previous eunuch had inhaled the anesthetic from the candle and couldnt move to answer or warn Zheng Hongxuan.
Lin Yuetian replied faintly in a high-pitched tone, Your Majesty
He had been practicing this kind of voice many times prior to todays event. The sound reverberated in the empty pce and drifted alongside the light and shadows from the candles. As if it was a sounding out from <em>the other side</em><sup>[6]</sup>hell.
The first one who reacted was the System, with a shudder, he couldnt help being affected by the atmosphere and talked to Lin Yuetian in a low voice as well,
[Uh, that, Big Brother, I think this scene will be scarier instead if I chant the Buddhist Scriptures like I used to<sup>[7]</sup>HELL YEAH! No matter what kind of religious chanting when it is paired with Horror, its damn spooky!. So, do you mind if I change the background to Tom&Jerry? No, actually, do you know Tom and Jerry at all? Anyway, Its a good show. Of course, its not like Im afraid of Ghost or anything! I just want to rmend a good show to you]
Lin Yuetian curiously wondered, Is it really that good? Then, do as you please, Ill listen.
Meanwhile, the sound of coughing from inside the curtain ended abruptly, as if someone suddenly pinched the persons throat. Lin Yuetian stood in front of the bed curtain, facing the shadow of Zheng Hongxuans figure lying on the bed inside.
Zheng Hongxuan didnt even dare to lift the curtain to take a look outside.
He could only say, Youre here
This Minister<sup>[8]</sup>chn: Minister, a way to refer to oneself for Officials in the ancient CN is here. Lin Yuetian replied in a low voice while listening to the sound of Tom& Jerry being yed inside his mind.
Are you here to take <em>Zhen</em><sup>[9]</sup>The way an Emperor refers to himself, simr to <em>Bengong</em>(for Empress/Consorts), <em>Benzhuo</em>(Xianxia/Wuxia Lords), <em>Benwang</em>(for a Prince/King). with you? Zheng Hongxuan asked in a low voice, with aplicated tone.
YOuR mAjeStYDo yOu sTiLl rEmeMbeR tHe dAy wHeN yOu aNd I fiRsT mEt? Lin Yuetian deliberately controlled his voice wandering between low and high-pitched.
The pcenterns ced on the walls were fluttering due to the night wind. The eunuch who was paralyzed at the bedside went paler as white as paper in extreme terror.
The System was also reacting, [Holly Molly! Its a little, uh, a bit scaryPlease allow me to turn up the back sound volume. Just ignore me, you can continue.]
Zheng Hongxuan, however, seemed to be caught in past memories.
He was in a trance as he mumbled, <em>Zhen</em> remembers
Lin Yuetian then turned his voice softer, The spring day of that year was exceptionally beautiful<em>This Minister</em> have never seen a better Spring other than that particr year
Well Zheng Hongxuan murmured, <em>Zhen</em> was not the Emperor at that time<em>Zhen</em> went to visit the town where you were first appointed atYou were paraded at the town, riding a white-hoofed ck Horse, the horse was sturdy, with a mane as white as snow, and the hoofs looked like it was treading on frostsAs for you, youre wearing the red robe of the Champion<sup>[10]</sup>The top scorer of the CN Official/Schr Examination<em>Zhen</em> thought, What a fine equestrian
Lin Yuetian stopped talking, deliberately letting the silence embrace the whole room.
After a while, Zheng Hongxuans coughing started to be heard once again. Only at this time did Lin Yuetian deliver a response, faking a sorrowful yet gloomy voice,
Your MajestyBetween the two of us, how could it get to this point?
Even now, you have never realized it<em>Zhen</em> hates youYou had no idea how to be humbleYou were aloof even toward <em>Zhen</em>even if <em>Zhen</em> has be the EmperorYoure still the venerated Prime MinisterYou were so brilliant <em>Zhen</em> unable to put off your radianceAnd yet, and yet, all of your hard work was for <em>Zhen</em>You were invincibleEvery time <em>Zhen</em> saw you, <em>Zhen</em> will be reminded of the fact that <em>Zhen</em> once lowered myself to beg for your help<em>Zhen</em> cant forget thatOne more day of your existence was one more sleepless night for <em>Zhen</em>
Zheng Hongxuans voice was getting lower and lower, as if he was absorbed in a dream.
<em>Zhen</em>wanted to see youbeing humiliatedand had to beg me in return
The System who was previously watching the battle of wits between Tom and Jerry, couldnt help but got his attention shifted, and cursed, [WTH! What kind of logic did this Scumbag use?]
Lin Yuetian himself sighed, and said, Your Majesty, <em>This Minister</em> just want to ask youHave you ever been sincere to me?
Zheng Hongxuan fell into silence for quite a long time. Lin Yuetian was not in a hurry either, just patiently waiting for him to answer.
It was unknown for exactly how long, but after a while, Zheng Hongxuans voice floated out in between his sigh,
<em>Zhen</em> does not know. But after you died<em>Zhen</em> seems to be crazy<em>Zhen</em> still wants to see you, keeps recalling those times when youre alive, <em>Zhen</em>should be fond of you
[Its really a good move. When someone knows theyre dying, they are often soft-hearted and sentimental.] The System had already defaulted Zheng Hongxuan was aware that his time was not much.
[Though, how are you going to make him beg you? I think he no longer has any desire or wishes at this point.]
Lin Yuetian nodded his head. Its unclear whether hes responding to the System or to Zheng Hongxuan.
He repeated what he had said earlier, <em>This Minister</em> is here
Zheng Hongxuan suddenly turned his gaze on him. Yuetian, are you here to take me away?
Lin Yuetian returned his question instead, Does Your Majesty want to go with <em>This Minister</em>?
The small eunuch wanted to cry out a warning, but he was unable to produce a single sound. He could only stretch his eyes wide open, witnessing the contradictory scene being unfurled in front of him, and listen to this perilous conversation.
HehHehe, You finallye. <em>Zhen</em> has been trying to summon your soul 3 times in session, with no result. <em>Zhen</em> thought that there must be because there are neither Ghosts nor Gods in this world. When a person dies, they die, and nothing will be left behindBut <em>Zhen</em> always remembers yourst wordsyou said, you are going to be a Ghost and returnYou really didnt lieAs expected, you are here today Zheng Hongxuan went chuckling afterward.
The System thought about the real Original Owners farewell words,<blockquote>
<em>I wish we will never see each other ever again.</em></blockquote>
and he couldnt help but exim, [Sure enough, as expected of the most familiar stranger! You really know how to grasp others mentality.]
The rebels have breached the Imperial Pce, whereas <em>Zhen</em> is lingering in a sick bed, theres no longer chance of recovery, Zheng Hongxuan naturally didnt know that the farewell sentence of returning as a Ghost was made up by Assassin-Lin Yuetian, he continued to murmur, Take me away<em>Zhen</em> will go to <em>Huangquan</em><em>road</em><sup>[11]</sup>Its CN afterlife belief, a road to the underworld. The same belief as MengPo Soup, Yellow River, etc. with you
Ive resented you. I dont want to cross the <em>Huangquan road</em> with you. Lin Yuetian replied softly, yet unreservedly ruthless.
Since Your Majesty remembers the past, and also says that you keep recalling how you begged me to help you realize your ambition, then, do ask <em>This Minister</em> once again, just like how you did in the past, when youre still the unvalued 9th Prince, and Im still the promising new Champion. Lets go back and reminisce about the pastWe can start over. No betrayal, no killingCome, do it once more, as long as you beg me so, I will take you awayThere may be another beautiful Spring in the next life.
..
During these back and forth between Lin Yuetian and Zheng Hongxuan, the small Eunuch who had been paralyzed beside the Dragon bed was as quiet as a cicada in Winter. His eyes were filled with horror, witnessing the scene where the Evil Spirit was hooking the living to the underworld. In the end, he couldnt bear the stimtion and fainted.
Zheng Hongxuan stared at the shadow reflected on his bed tent. His hand suddenly reached out, grabbing the curtain. He was barely able to move his withered limbs, yet he kept trying to prop his body and see the person outside clearly. His entire body was almost pressed onto the curtain itself, causing the bluish veins on his hand to protrude.
He whispered, in a hurried voice, sounding like he was out of breath,
Yuetian! YuetianI beg you, please, take me away! Lets start over, from the beginningI wont be any Emperor in the next life, and I dont want to be apart from you in my whole life!
<strong>***</strong>
[<strong>2nd Mission</strong>: <em>Make the Scumbag Gong, Zheng Hongxuan, begs one more time</em>Completed.] The System felt some chill as he spoke with a low voice, [I never thoughthell actually beg you to kill himself]
Lin Yuetian couldnt hear thest words of the System, What? Why dont you speak louder? He was a little bit annoyed, Tom&Jerry doesnt have any dialogue, but the sound effect is deafening. I cant hear you.
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<em>T/N: Im kinda busy these days, so Ill change my update schedule to once per week, on weekends. I apologize, and please do bear with me for a while </em>