Wuzhui was instantly pulled away, blinking his large black eyes innocently. Shang Cizhou kicked the horse's belly, and under the panicked expressions of the capital cavalry guards, he leaned forward to look into the carriage.
Rong Mu's face was obscured by his long hair, making it unclear, but his slender knuckles were trembling imperceptibly—like extreme fear, or like exerting tremendous strength.
Shang Cizhou lifted the carriage curtain and said in a deep voice: "Wuzhui doesn't eat flower leaves. He has just never seen a lotus before."
Several breaths later, the person in the carriage seemed to return to his senses, turning half his face toward him.
The young man's face was pale, a trace of red rising at the corner of his eye from excitement. Below his lips, two faint tooth marks were visible, branding that spot with a startling touch of blood color.
Shang Cizhou's pupils turned deeply, watching Rong Mu's still-frightened appearance, then imperceptibly furrowed his brows.
Such beauty near demonic—even panic and disarray were so heart-stirringly beautiful.
Li Suichuan rode over and asked in a low voice: "Your Majesty, did something urgent occur?"
The Son of Heaven did not speak. Li Suichuan looked into the carriage and saw a youth in cyan clothes sitting fallen from his seat, eyes slightly red, with a vat of magnificent lotus behind him.
This!
How was this still in the carriage!
Li Suichuan drew a light breath, his eyes sizing up the scene three times, before confirming that the person in the carriage was not seriously harmed.
Just as he was about to ask the Emperor for instructions, he saw the other dismount Wuzhui with long legs, walk a few steps toward the carriage, then stop.
After two breaths, he turned back and raised his whip to give Wuzhui a strike on the rump. The sharp sound of breaking air echoed in everyone's ears.
Xiahou Yan's brows rose slightly. Even Li Suichuan was too surprised to speak.
Others might not know, but he knew how this Wuzhui horse came to be.
This was from when His Majesty fought Western Yue, cut off a Western Yue prince's head, and swaggered through their camp to exchange it for this horse.
This horse was not merely livestock—Wuzhui was highly spirited, one of His Majesty's most beloved war prizes. Previously, let alone being beaten, even having his hooves trimmed had dedicated personnel.
And now, because of startling this person in the carriage, he had been fiercely whipped.
Shang Cizhou stepped back onto the carriage with a dark expression. Xiahou Yan couldn't see clearly and wanted to approach, but was warned by a glance from Li Suichuan.
Xiahou Yan: "You and His Majesty... both seem protective of this Attendant."
Li Suichuan tugged his horse's head. "You'd best not harbor any bad intentions."
Xiahou Yan hooked up the corner of his mouth and smiled: "How would I dare? I'm merely curious. I know General Li's character—besides His Majesty, I've never seen you care so much for anyone. I'm afraid this person inside is not simple."
Li Suichuan truly wanted to whip this person too. Considering the occasion, he swallowed his anger and only said in a low voice: "Not everyone can be casually manipulated and toyed with. Young Master Xiahou is unrestrained and unconventional. Be careful that your curiosity doesn't go too far and cost you your life."
Xiahou Yan's eyes moved, then he cupped his hands and smiled: "Many thanks for Brother Li's warning."
Li Suichuan spoke no more, his brows slightly furrowed as he thought of that scene just now.
He had never expected that this Attendant Rong, even when leaving the palace, would bring this heavy Bi Jiangxue flower vat.
Lotus, person, person, lotus.
Where exactly was the problem? Why, from the first moment he saw this Attendant, did he have such a strong, restless sixth sense?
This feeling often appeared on the battlefield. Now, it frequently surfaced because of one person, as if Rong Mu were some crucially important existence.
Not only him—even His Majesty's conduct was clearly different from usual.
But clearly, Rong Mu had neither identity nor status, merely a male favorite His Majesty used to fob off court officials—
Li Suichuan recalled the double-petaled lotus he saw that day on the dark green robe corner, his gaze involuntarily darkening.
Double petaled lotus... Double petaled lotus, why so familiar, who used Double petaled lotuses...
***
Inside the carriage, Rong Mu huddled in the corner, pressed tightly against his large flower vat. Shang Cizhou half-squatted before him, reaching out to pinch his cheek and examine him carefully.
"...Do you want to die? The iron pieces on Wuzhui's face can kill. You risked your life to block with your body?"
Rong Mu pressed his lips tightly, lowering his head.
Shang Cizhou's eyes narrowed slightly. This person was powerless, his flesh fragile and tender. Even if uninjured from that moment just now, he must have lost at least half his soul.
"Come here. Let me see."
Rong Mu slowly raised his eyes.
When his neck was being squeezed, he hadn't reddened. When being bullied and teased, his eyes hadn't reddened. Even drinking bitter medicine, he was lively and feisty. But now, because of this vat of lotus flowers, Shang Cizhou saw for the first time that this person could be so fragile.
Like he would lose his life without the flowers.
His chest rose and fell for an instant, some unfamiliar, awkward restlessness at his heart.
"It's just a lotus leaf. Why such panic?" Shang Cizhou said in a low voice. "Or were you frightened by Wuzhui?"
Rong Mu's mouth opened, and only after a long while did he say hoarsely: "Bi Jiangxue is my life."
Shang Cizhou suddenly felt somewhat displeased: "It's just a flower. Can it be more important than a living person? If you're this reckless again, I'll move Bi Jiangxue to the Cold Palace, so you won't spend every day in a trance guarding it."
Rong Mu hurriedly said: "No!"
Shang Cizhou frowned: "If not, then come here quickly."
Rong Mu's legs were weak. He pressed his face softly against the lotus leaf, not yet having time to touch the little flower bud, before being pulled over by the Emperor who had lost all patience.
The imperial carriage was spacious, but even so, with a not-small vat of flowers and two men, there wasn't much extra space. Before Rong Mu could react, he felt himself being seated on the Emperor's lap by pressing hands.
The sensation beneath him was hard and firm. Even through several layers of clothes, he could feel this tyrant's strength. Just as Rong Mu was about to struggle down, Shang Cizhou pinched the back of his neck.
This was truly striking the snake at its seven-inch point. Even if Rong Mu wanted to struggle, he had to consider that the Emperor might accidentally break his flower stem with too much strength.
The person in his arms finally became docile. Shang Cizhou lowered his brows to conceal his expression, reached to untie the binding straps of the fitted sleeves, then slowly pulled up the sleeve. As expected, he saw a deep scratch on Rong Mu's arm—though not bleeding, the skin was broken.
Given this person's constitution, the wound would likely swell within an hour.
Rong Mu also glanced at it, then hurriedly turned back to look at Bi Jiangxue. Fortunately, his original body showed nothing, letting him breathe a heavy sigh of relief.
Bi Jiangxue was heartless and carefree, appearing much stronger than him.
The fear of nearly being eaten by the horse just now still lingered in his heart. Rong Mu's breathing was slightly heavy, when he felt his back being patted lightly twice from behind.
He suddenly froze, his clear eyes looking at Shang Cizhou in disbelief.
This person... what was he doing?
The latter's face showed no extra expression, making it impossible for Rong Mu to discern his true thoughts.
"I remember, you patted me like this before. So I tried to see if it would be effective."
Rong Mu was shocked: "You..."
"It might hurt a bit in a moment, but you must endure. I've seen people on the battlefield die from being scraped by iron implements. Even small wounds must be treated." Shang Cizhou looked deeply at Rong Mu, then lifted the carriage curtain and said to outside: "Li Suichuan."
Li Suichuan hurriedly rode forward: "Your Majesty?"
Shang Cizhou: "Wine."
Li Suichuan, having grown up with the Emperor as his study companion, almost immediately understood. He untied a bulging leather bag from his horse's neck and handed it to the Son of Heaven.
Shang Cizhou took the wine, uncorked it, held Rong Mu's arm with one hand, then looked at him.
The young man's expression already showed some panic. No matter how bold and reckless this person usually was, when encountering pain and discomfort, his face would show some helplessness.
Delicate and real.
He did not want this person's life, which was why he made repeated exceptions for him.
Shang Cizhou thought thus, then brought the wine bag close to the scratch, slowly pouring down along it.
Ten li of suburban capital, the straight road of the capital, both sides planted with countless weeping willows. In the season of April, the willows were stirred by wind, raising white catkins into the sky. The horses sneezed in place. The carriage curtain was suddenly blown up by a gust of wind, bringing in several floating white petals that spun and floated down into the water of the lotus vat.
The sensation beneath his hand was smooth and cool, carrying faint fragrance, mixing with the wine liquid—indistinguishable which was more intoxicating.
Rong Mu bit his teeth tightly enduring that burst of pain, watching Shang Cizhou disinfect him with wine. He seemed accustomed to such matters, not knowing how to be gentle, but already using the most restrained strength.
The Emperor recorked the wine bag, tore off a section of white undergarment embroidered with dragon patterns from within his new clothes, and wrapped Rong Mu's arm tightly.
"Done." Shang Cizhou raised his eyes, looking at the young man who hadn't spoken for a long time. "Rest assured, you won't die."
Rong Mu looked at the tyrant's handsome face so close at hand: "Your Majesty."
Shang Cizhou threw the wine bag out the carriage window and made an acknowledging sound.
Rong Mu still wanted to try: "I asked you before if there was ever a moment when you treated someone with sincerity. Then at this moment, are you treating me with sincerity?"
Tell him. Tell him you are being sincere.
A voice spoke thus to him. But Shang Cizhou's face showed no flaw whatsoever, only slowly using his hand to smooth the young man's stiff spine.
In the corner, Bi Jiangxue trembled for an instant.
Rong Mu heard the Emperor say: "Do not attempt to gain a sincere heart from me. I have long since forgotten what it tastes like to entrust one's heart to another."
Rong Mu's heart inexplicably twisted for an instant. He heard Shang Cizhou say in a low voice: "I kill countless people, without emotion or love. Even if I cut out my heart, it would be completely black. If Attendant Rong doesn't want to be frightened, be a clear-headed, clever person."
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