Chapter 58 - From Then On, the Sovereign Will Not Attend Morning Court~

Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

4.From Then On, the Sovereign Will Not Attend Morning Court~

Xie He gazed at them, unwavering. He looked like he was just itching to eat their flesh.

Chen Cong naturally didn’t really want Xie He’s response. He had just come to enjoy the Incapable Ruler’s wretched state. After looking at him for a bit, he turned to smile at Chu Xing, “You’ve been keeping him bound all this time?”

Chu Xing nodded and said indifferently, “It’s the only way to ensure that he will not be able to kill himself.”

Chen Cong laughed and then looked at Xie He’s miserable appearance with satisfaction. Then, he said to Chu Xing, “Only, looking at his appearance, it seems that there’s no way that he will cooperate with us.”

Chu Xing’s eyebrows furrowed, “Yes.”

This Incapable Ruler was not afraid of death. There was no weak point to grab onto. Although he could torment him and not allow him to die, to make him cooperate with them and pretend that nothing had happened was impossible.

Chen Cong obviously also thought the same. He sighed, “Since it’s like this, we might as well kill him. You have your huge army bearing down on the Capital. Those people won’t be able to make any big waves.”

Chu Xing fell silent for awhile. Although he despised this Incapable Ruler, revolting was a last-ditch resort. He originally had wanted to use a more gentle approach…however, it seemed like that road was blocked. He could just kill Xie He, but that may lead to a bloodbath and even result in him gaining a blackened name beneath the heavens.

It required great decisiveness and bravery to make this sort of decision. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do it; it was just that he was a bit hesitant to do so.

Chen Cong knew about his misgivings and persuaded, “You don’t have to worry. The house of Duke Yingguo supports you. Moreover, who doesn’t know about this Incapable Ruler’s ruthless and moral-less behaviour? At that time, although Empress Bian was not his birth mother, she still raised him single-handedly. She did her best to push him onto the throne. Otherwise, how could a lowly Prince born from a concubine have everything he has now…Although there had been some suspicions that some members of the Bian clan were meddling in state affairs, he showed no affection and exterminated the entire Bian clan as soon as he gained power! He had even personally killed Empress Bian and hung her decapitated head on the city gates! He indiscriminately killed everyone in the palace. He has lived a life of debauchery despite the common people’s suffering…this kind of atrocity can be found anywhere. If you kill him, that would only be you enacting justice on behalf of Heaven! At that time, we will hang his corpse on the city gates and let the people see this tyrannical ruler’s end! They will commend you in unison! At that time, it will only be logical for you to replace him!”

Chu Xing paused for a few seconds. He nodded slightly. He could also do that. Only, when he thought about the splendour of the Incapable Ruler’s body, he unexpectedly felt that it was a bit of a waste.

He turned to glance at the Incapable Ruler. To his surprise, he discovered that Xie He had opened his eyes at some unknown point in time and was fixedly watching them. There was both a deep fear and despair in his phoenix eyes. Chu Xing’s expression changed. Before, no matter how he had disgraced this Incapable Ruler, even when he was cursing him resentfully…he had never shown such a panic-stricken expression.

This was the first time he saw such profound fear in the Incapable Ruler’s eyes. At that moment, he realized—the Incapable Ruler also had a weak spot!

And, this weak spot was in something Chen Cong had just said.

Chu Xing carefully recalled Chen Cong’s words. The Incapable Ruler was not afraid of death, so what he must be afraid of was…having his corpse hung from the city gates and spurned by the people.

When he got this, he suddenly chuckled. The Incapable Ruler was not afraid of death nor of being humiliated and tormented…he was not afraid of anything but was unexpectedly afraid of having people defile his corpse after death!

Although he thought this was absurd, Chu Xing would not let go of a good opportunity like this!

Chen Cong was thinking about the previous matter, not noticing the flash of emotion in Xie He’s face, and continued to say, “Let me do it, ba. Today, I’ll kill this cursed Emperor!”

He raised his sword and wanted to advance forward but was suddenly blocked by Chu Xing. Chu Xing shook his head, silently telling him to wait.

Although Chen Cong didn’t understand why, he had always trusted Chu Xing. Therefore, he stopped his actions.

Chu Xing took one step at a time, arriving before Xie He. Xie He turned his head away in a fluster, wanting to avoid his gaze. It was just a pity that it was already too late to evade him. Chu Xing pinched his chin and forced him to look at him. His sharp gaze directly met with Xie He’s as if he could see right through him. He chuckled in a low voice, “Your Majesty, what do you think of Chen Cong’s suggestion just now?”

Xie He’s face paled. He glared at him, trying to hide the fear in his heart.

However, Chu Xing would not give him the chance to try and fool him. He slowly said, “We’ll kill you, then strip you, and finally, we’ll hang your corpse on the city walls for ten and a half days. We’ll let everyone under the Heavens see what kind of thing you are. You’ll be spurned by every man…I think this kind of ending is very appropriate for you, Your Majesty.”

Xie He’s expression finally cracked. He used an extremely fearful, despising, despairing, and grieving expression to look at Chu Xing. His whole body began to shake, and a mournful noise came out of his throat!

Chen Cong discovered that something was fishy at this time, so he looked pensively at Xie He.

Chu Xing took his time to appreciate the extremely desperate and detesting expression on Xie He’s face before saying, “Only, if Your Majesty is obedient enough, we can let Your Majesty die happily. We can also allow you to be buried peacefully.”

Xie He stared at him rigidly as if he didn’t believe that the other man would have such kind intentions.

Chu Xing smiled, “Your Majesty has no choice right now. You can only choose to trust Chen. If you don’t want to be obedient, that’s fine. We’ll send you on your way today, and tomorrow, the world can admire your body.”

Xie He’s body quivered.

Chu Xing looked into Xie He’s eyes, emphasizing, “Are you going to be obedient or not? Do you want to be buried, or do you want to be hung on the gates? Your Majesty, choose for yourself, ba. If you’re willing to be obedient, nod once.”

After speaking, Chu Xing let go and stared at him with an apathetic gaze.

Xie He tried his best to suppress his body’s trembling. His black eyes contained all sorts of sorrow, conflict, and struggle. A long time later…he finally nodded once slowly.

This nod was the equivalent of handing over the last vestiges of the integrity and perseverance he had once had as Emperor. Not only did he have to endure this traitor’s humiliation, but he also had to listen to this traitor’s instructions.

He only asked that his death proceed smoothly.

Chu Xing enjoyed the suffering and despair on the Incapable Ruler’s face. He chuckled, “Then, Chen will help Your Majesty take off the gag now. I trust that Your Majesty will not try to harm yourself again, yes? Of course, it’s fine if you try to hurt yourself. This time, Chen will directly send you on your way.”

As he said this, he took the gag out of Xie He’s mouth. This time, Xie He was very calm. He did not fight him at all nor did he do any self-mutilating actions. He only laid there quietly like a wooden doll, completely still.

【Ding, the target, Chu Xing’s Blackening Value -10. The current Favourability Value is 20. The current Blackening Value is 70.】

Chen Cong watched this all from the side. At this time, he finally let out a great, delighted laugh. There was a layer of frost over his eyes, “So, it turns out that Your Majesty also has things that he is afraid of, ah.”

This was even better. They’d first have complete control of this Incapable Ruler. When they were done using him, they could kill him! He could vent his hatred in this way!

Chu Xing stood up and shot Xie He an insipid gaze. He then turned and left with Chen Cong.

【Xie He：Not bad. This child is teachable. He did not let my hints go to waste.】

【444：Congratulations~ You can finally eat the Imperial Court’s meals! O(∩_∩)O~】

【Xie He：Baby, your understanding of me keeps getting better. :)】

Of course, that night, Chu Xing instructed the servant girls to prepare Xie He a sumptuous table of rice and side dishes. He then loosened the chains by the bed’s headboard, lengthening it so that Xie He could sit at the table. He smiled, “Please eat, Your Majesty.”

Xie He gazed at him silently for a while, not moving.

Chu Xing said again, “Your Majesty should eat a bit more. Tomorrow, you need to attend morning court. If you’re unwilling…” His tone became colder at the end; his words’ implicit meaning went without saying.

Xie He paled. He resigned himself and picked up his chopsticks. His lips were tightly pursed. He looked as if it was hard for him to swallow the food down.

Chu Xing was very patient. He did not urge him to hurry. He only watched as Xie He ate slowly. Xie He could only do his best to eat while being stared at by the other man. After a long amount of time, he placed his chopsticks down and flashed a humiliated and resentful expression.

Chu Xing took a look. This Incapable Ruler had indeed eaten quite a bit. It was likely just about right. Only then did he allow people in to clear the table. He then walked towards Xie He and let his gaze fall frankly on the other’s body.

It had been a few days since they’d last done it. After enjoying the Incapable Ruler’s body again, Chu Xing discovered that he wasn’t in the least bored with him. On the contrary, he longed for it even more. He held the sleeping Incapable Ruler’s cheek and then caressed his tightly knit eyebrows. Slowly, his eyes turned dark.

When he thought that he had to kill this Incapable Ruler in the end…he really thought that it was such a pity. If he hadn’t been such a damned Incapable Ruler, perhaps he would want to keep him by his side, ba.

【Ding, the target, Chu Xing’s Favourability Value +10. The current Favourability Value is 30. The current Blackening Value is 70.】

Xie He had eaten to his heart’s content last night and even had had his sexual needs fulfilled. He was very satisfied and slept very well. In the end, before it was light out, he was pulled out of bed and woken up by the cold. Only then did he remember that he was an Emperor. Even before dawn had arrived, he had to go attend morning court. Ai, if he really had been an Emperor, he probably would actually be an Incapable Ruler who never attended morning court.

Xie He was the type to get extremely irritated upon being woken up. His gaze directed towards Chu Xing was very unkind.

However, Chu Xing was used to being looked at unkindly by the Incapable Ruler. He would feel more unaccustomed if the Incapable Ruler didn’t look at him like that. He sneered, “Your Majesty, it’s time to wake up.”

Xie He glared at him fiercely. Although he had agreed to be obedient, that didn’t mean he had to comply with everything. After all, for an Emperor to be insulted like this, how could he really be willing to submit to this traitor?! He had just been helplessly forced into this!

Chu Xing had also known this, so his demands for the Incapable Ruler were not too high. He just had to be willing to attend morning court. He naturally had a way to make him well-behaved! He placed a mahogany box onto the bed and opened it in front of Xie He. He put on a fake smile as he said, “Use this first, Your Majesty. Then, you can attend morning court.”

Xie He took a glance inside the box. His expression immediately turned ugly.

Xie He was both afraid and furious. His voice was full of hate, “Why must you disgrace Zhen like this!? Zhen has already agreed to attend morning court!”

Chu Xing said indifferently, “But, Your Majesty has always been treacherous and cunning. If it’s not like this, Chen will not be at ease.”

Xie He gritted his teeth, “Zhen will be obedient.”

Chu Xing sneered. How could he trust this Incapable Ruler’s words?

……………………………………………

Chu Xing stood up. He looked at the Incapable Ruler’s wretched appearance and smiled in disdain. He released him from his manacles and dressed him in his court dress. Then, he grasped onto his arm firmly, pulling him up into a sitting position. This series of simple actions left Xie He in so much pain that he broke out into a cold sweat.

Chu Xing was very satisfied. Like this, the Incapable Ruler would not dare to escape. With that abnormal self-ego of his, he absolutely would not allow people to discover the abnormality under his court dress.

He gazed at Xie He’s pained face and smiled, “You should know what to do at morning court, ba?”

Xie He’s eyelashes were stained with tears, his lips slightly pursed. He let out a humiliated, trembling voice, “Zh-Zhen knows….”

Chu Xing pulled Xie He to the door with a cold expression. He beckoned over his trusted aides, who were pretending to be eunuchs, letting them support Xie He. In the end, he gave Xie He a warning glance before leaving.

He could not appear with Xie He.

The two fake eunuchs supported Xie He, one on each side as he boarded the Imperial Carriage.

Xie He leaned back into his seat within the Imperial Carriage, powerless, with an expression of an imperceptible glee mixed within his pain.

444 did not notice this. He was still immersed in Xie He’s mournful act just now and was speaking very nervously.

【444：Host Dada, are you acting, or is this for real, ah….?】

【Xie He：Baby, why are you concerned over this? This has nothing to do with you, ah. Smile.JPG】

【444：Yi….? @[email protected]】

【Xie He：You just have to know that I’m doing great. :)】

Hehe, not only does this body have an unmentionable illness, but it was also a trembling M. This was a matter of a man’s dignity. How could he tell this to 444, that silly system that liked to make a big fuss?

Although he already knew this from the memories he had gotten, he had thought that he could change things upon his arrival. However, it seemed that this body had a deeply engraved memory of certain kinds of pain. Even if the soul had been changed, he could not change his body’s reaction.

Actually, Xie He had kind of perceived this the first time. However, at that time, it wasn’t very obvious. This time, he was finally certain. Pain and abuse made this body feel good.

So, although his pained appearance was half fake, his extreme pleasure was actually real….

As an Emperor, not only could he not get it up, but he also enjoyed being tormented. Even if he killed everyone, he still could not remove that humiliating mark on his body from his painful past. Only by tormenting others could he alleviate his own pain. It would have been stranger if he hadn’t become abnormal.

Xie He heaved a long sigh inwardly. Indeed, behind every abnormal person was an unbearable-to-recall past.

………………………………………

The Imperial Carriage was very steady, so Xie He did not feel too many jolts. Not long after, they arrived at the main hall.

The fake eunuchs supported him down from the Imperial Carriage. Step by step, Xie He finally entered the hall. His lips were tightly pursed, and he did his best to keep his expression stern and menacing. He did not reveal any of his pain…or any other inappropriate emotion.

Xie He walked over to his throne and slowly sat down. His expression warped just a bit for a second. He gripped the armrests tightly, straightened his back, and stared down coldly.

Below, the ministers all knelt before him, loudly shouting out, “Long live the Emperor.”

Xie He could see Chu Xing and Chen Cong kneeling below in one glance. A sneer appeared at his lips. After seeing that they’d been kneeling for long enough, he lazily said, “Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Everyone shouted before standing up.

Chu Xing stood up and gazed at Xie He from afar. His expression was grave and stern. His sharp eyes seemed to want to poke holes in Xie He’s body.

Xie He smiled in contempt. This rebellious scoundrel of an official. It was already good enough that he had agreed to attend morning court. It couldn’t be that he also wanted him to treat him with an amicable manner as well? Dream on! It was already pretty good that he didn’t slice his flesh off with a sword!

Xie He looked at them lazily and directly listened to the other officials’ reports.

Only, after listening to a few of them, he flashed an impatient gaze. These officials all had on an appearance of asking him for this and that for the sake of the common people. Each of them thought that they were giving him advice out of loyalty. Xie He snorted. He had something on him now, so he was not at all interested in listening to this nonsense. He brandished his hand, “Court adjourned.”

The officials below were all stunned. They kowtowed to him many times while kneeling and asked His Majesty to rethink his words.

Xie He, however, did not listen. He stood up and slowly left, supported by the fake eunuchs. The officials watched with helpless and indignant expression as his figure disappeared. Inside, they thought, What a preposterous, Incapable Ruler!

Only, everyone’s guesses lessened because of this. Seeing the Incapable Ruler like this, it didn’t seem like he was being controlled at all! He was still as unbridled and muddle-headed as before!

Xie He knew that all he had to do was come out and take a stroll, show everyone that he was fine. What was left was for General Chu to deal with.

In any case, he couldn’t stay and act as a local tyrant, and he was also too lazy to bother with it. What did it matter to him how this world turned out? He would never do anything without something in return.

The two fake eunuchs deferentially supported Xie He to his room. Then, their expressions changed. They locked Xie He in the room with loathing on their faces.

Now that there were no outsiders, Xie He could bear it no more. On his face appeared an expression of both pain and pleasure. He rolled around on the floor and let out a repressed noise.

444 was stupefied. WTF, even this was fine?! Did it really feel good?

Eve: I love that the Xie He is actually starting to find things moderately challenging. Hangry and grumpy-from-waking-up Xie He cracks me up. As well as that last scene of him not being able to control himself hahaha.