Chapter 49: Worth It

Chapter 49: Worth It

Proud and strong, Xie Xuan Yuan had never pleaded with anyone as cautiously as he did now.

Princess Lu's current demeanor left the tyrant breathless, with all thoughts of refusal lodged in her throat, unable to be voiced.

He sighed, looking down at the expectant face of the tyrant in his arms.

Even now, unable to see clearly, the tyrant's beautiful brown-gray eyes still vividly reflected Princess Lu's guilty and helpless expression.

The prolonged silence only heightened Xie Xuan Yuan's anxiety. He had planned to cheer Princess Lu up with some tricks before naturally broaching the subject of eloping.

But now, having accepted his favors, the people of South Chu were dismissive, offering no clear commitment.

Just as the tyrant's patience was wearing thin, Princess Lu spoke with difficulty:

"Your Majesty, my family in South Chu indeed owns extensive lands and has many old friends... Even if Ah Zhao and I start packing, it can't be settled overnight. Moreover, eloping from under the Emperor of South Chu's nose in the capital requires thorough preparation; otherwise, we might be caught before even leaving South Chu..."

His words were not entirely false. The vast territories of South Chu were all under the Lu family's domain.

A country cannot be without its ruler for a day, and with the tyrant's whimsical wish to return to Beiwei tonight, he needed to settle his affairs properly before accompanying the tyrant on his whim.

However, Princess Lu put some thought into the latter half of his statement, clearly delineating himself from the Emperor of South Chu. Princess Lu and the tyrant became the tragic lovers being pursued, while the Emperor of South Chu was cast as the villain breaking them apart.

Princess Lu discreetly observed the tyrant's skeptical expression, his acting skills improving: "I am willing to face death, but I cannot bear to see Your Majesty and the child in your womb suffer..."

Hearing this, Xie Xuan Yuan lost all inclination to question the inconsistencies in Princess Lu's story. The words "willing to face death" clenched his heart.

When he proposed eloping, he was truly determined, ready to risk interception by the Emperor of South Chu to be with Princess Lu.

But he had never intended for Princess Lu to die!

If that person truly died, what would be the point of successfully escaping back to the North Guard?

The tyrant could no longer bear to listen, his eyes slightly reddening, his breathing becoming unconsciously rapid. As if fearing the Consort Lu would utter something even more terrifying, he suddenly silenced her with his cool fingers, his voice trembling slightly:

"Silence... You cannot die! Without my permission, don't even think of escaping from my side!"

Even Consort Lu himself had not anticipated such an extreme lack of security from the tyrant, reacting so violently to the word "death." Seeing the other's state, saying a few more harsh words might actually make him cry.

Taking advantage of the young tyrant's blindness to deceive him with lies was a measure of last resort. If he really ended up making him cry again, his guilt would be immense.

Consort Lu decided to retreat gracefully, daring not to mention "death" again. Instead, he negotiated with a gentle tone:

"I won't flee, I won't flee. Now, I only wish to stay peacefully by Your Majesty's side. But we should plan this 'elopement' carefully and prepare thoroughly. May Your Majesty grant me some more time?"

Xie Xuan Yuan gave no clear response, but his previously rapid breathing gradually calmed. Seizing the moment, he captured Consort Lu's hand, which was fixing his hair, in his palm. Waiting until Consort Lu's warmth gradually heated his fingertips, he then softly asked:

"Then tell me, how long should I wait for you?"

Emperor Lu seriously recalled the many tedious preparations made before his sister's marriage, starting to feel a headache. To avoid giving the tyrant false hope, he conservatively suggested a compromise: "How about half a month?"

Half a month is neither long nor short, but to a clingy pregnant husband eager to spend every moment with his beloved, half a month clearly seemed too long.

Xie Xuan Yuan's initially hopeful gaze cooled slightly, his hand unconsciously resting on his stomach...

He gritted his teeth: "Then we'll wait! Am I supposed to be afraid of that Emperor of Nan Chu?"

Xie Xuan Yuan thought for a moment, then uneasily reminded Consort Lu: "But you must keep your word. After half a month, you must take me away, or I will sever ties with you, and your child will follow the Emperor of Nan Chu, changing his surname to Lu!"

Consort Lu was amused and bewildered by this utterly non-threatening threat.

Although he secretly hoped the child would take his father's surname, Xie, if the little tyrant insisted on the child taking his surname, he could not refuse but had to agree...

Just as Consort Lu breathed a sigh of relief for successfully calming the tyrant, who had attempted to elope with him overnight, Zhao Ping, who had just finished releasing lanterns by the river, approached.

Lu Zhaoping nudged her imperial brother's elbow, her face unusually serious:

"Brother, Ji Shixiong said he'd only talk to those annoying junior brothers for a moment, dismiss them with a few words, and then come back to join me for the lantern release. But now, even after the lanterns have been released, he's nowhere to be seen. I'm really worried about Ji Shixiong, so... why don't you and sister-in-law continue releasing lanterns here, and I'll go back to look for him."

The capital of Southern Chu was safe, and though Zhaoping's martial arts were not as good as her imperial brother's, she was quite skilled in using medicine and poison, enough to protect herself.

Nevertheless, His Majesty was ultimately concerned for his sister. Under the half-blind tyrant's watch, he naturally handed her the special sachet that could direct the shadow guards to her, saying:

"Be careful on the way, your brother and sister-in-law will come find you shortly."

……

The night breeze was cool, and as the steps of Lu Guifei's sister faded away, Xie Xuan Yuan closed the distance between him and Lu Guifei once again.

He leaned half his body against the tall figure of the Southern Chu craftsman, deliberately whispering in his ear to pique his curiosity, "Weren't you curious about what wish I was going to make?"

Lu Changping, hearing the tyrant whispering in his ear, knew the tyrant was just looking for amusement to pass the time.

The perceptive Lu Mei Ren, though he could almost guess the tyrant's intention, still played along and asked, "What wish does Your Majesty want to make?"

Hearing his question, the tyrant's expression immediately became spirited, pushing his luck, "Say something pleasing. If it delights me, I might consider sharing it with you."

During his time in Beiwei, Lu Guifei had often concocted sweet nothings and deceptions to find opportunities to assassinate the naive tyrant. But now, as he kept deceiving, his true feelings got involved, and he found that his declarations of love were not as thoughtless as before. Hearing the tyrant's request, he paused, taking a moment before responding.

Xie Xuan Yuan could not see the contemplative expression on Consort Lu's face, mistaking it for pride and unwillingness to openly express affection. He coldly huffed with some dissatisfaction, "If you're unwilling to speak, then so be it. After all, I am not desperate to share my desires with you."

But just as the tyrant had given up hope, Consort Lu finally spoke with difficulty. His voice was soft, yet remarkably firm, "In truth, I have never regretted being married off to the North Guard, nor do I regret being with Your Majesty..."

Seizing this rare opportunity, Consort Lu took a long time to muster the courage to open up his heart. Xie Xuan Yuan, hearing him speak up, widened his misty phoenix eyes, eagerly looking in his direction.

However, just as he reached the crux of his confession, Consort Lu's voice suddenly halted, his tone turning tense: "Be careful!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than an unexpected attack came from behind Xie Xuan Yuan, aiming for several vital points on his body.

Seeing this clearly, Consort Lu, in a moment of urgency, pulled the tyrant into his arms and retreated backward.

Since ascending the throne, Xie Xuan Yuan had faced countless assassination attempts. The dowager faction wanted him dead for being unmanageable, aiming to install a new emperor, while ambitious members of the royal family found him a nuisance, wishing to replace him.

Wave after wave of assassins took their turns, and Xie Xuan Yuan countered each move. Fortunately, he was tough to kill, managing to escape unscathed every time. Over time, even Xie Xuan Yuan himself felt that almost everyone in the world wanted him dead.

But now, he had found an exception. At least, his Consort Lu had risked his life to save him from peril multiple times, genuinely wishing for him to live...

Without hesitation, Consort Lu pressed the tyrant against himself, and the projectiles whizzed past their ears, just missing them.

The swift sound of piercing air and the approaching footsteps reminded them this was undoubtedly another premeditated assassination attempt, this time far more dangerous than the one at the North Guard's Grand Temple.

The riverside, dimly lit and seldom trodden, was an ideal spot for murder and silence.

They were outnumbered, and the usually decisive tyrant, now half-blind and pregnant, was utterly defenseless. Almost all the pressure fell on Consort Lu's shoulders.

Worse yet, he had just given the token to summon the secret guards to his sister Zhao Ping, meaning even his personal guards couldn't quickly locate them by the unique scent of the sachet.

Consort Lu, retreating to the riverside with the tyrant, broke off a branch and positioned it in front of Xie Xuan Yuan, skillfully knocking down the incoming darts and projectiles from all directions.

It seemed the attackers hadn't expected such a skilled fighter to be protecting the tyrant stranded in enemy territory. A leader-looking assassin emerged from the shadows, trying to reason with Consort Lu:

"We are ordered only to take the tyrant's head, and it concerns no one else. With your skills, why sacrifice your life for this tyrant? Please leave quickly, and spare yourself the trouble."

It was, once again, an attack targeting Xie Xuan Yuan.

With this realization, Consort Lu's mind raced, quickly formulating a plan.

When leaving the palace, he had meticulously dressed the tyrant in women's attire, proceeding with utmost caution, and the first half of their journey went unnoticed.

It seems the lengthy stay at the market to buy lanterns gave them away, as Ji Yuyue was recognized amidst the chaos, allowing these aimless assassins, like headless flies within the Southern Chu imperial city, to find their target.

Hearing that these men were after him, Xie Xuan Yuan was not afraid but instead revealed an extremely cold smile, "Whoever is so audaciously covetous, I have a good idea who it might be."

Consort Lu, having experienced significant events, was not easily frightened by the assassin's threats. Stepping forward to shield the tyrant more effectively, he replied with a hint of helplessness, "Leaving him is probably not an option. After all, I have pledged my heart to your emperor, in unwavering loyalty."

"Asking me to leave him is likely impossible. After all, I have pledged my heart to our emperor, in unwavering loyalty."

The assassins sent for the murder had never encountered such absurdity. To them, it was ridiculous enough that a "noble" from Southern Chu would take a liking to men, let alone daringly favor the murderous tyrant of the North Guard.

Does he not fear being strangled in his sleep by this ruthless partner beside him?

On the contrary, Xie Xuan Yuan, after hearing this, disdainfully retorted: "What 'united hearts and inseparable souls'? If that were true, why did you flee from the palace of Beiwei faster than a rabbit that night?"

Left speechless by the rebuke, the noble concubine could only grimace and sincerely admit his mistake: "I... was merely confused at the time."

Surprisingly, the tyrant didn't get angry at this less convincing explanation. Blinking his long, thick lashes, he suddenly flashed a dazzling smile: "I, on the other hand, wish you could be 'confused' now as well."

How could the noble concubine agree to such a request? If he pretends to be confused now, the tyrant's life would be in danger!

He forgot that Xie Xuan Yuan couldn't see and merely shook his head vigorously.

Watching the shifting shadows in his blurred vision, Xie Xuan Yuan felt a wave of irritation. He firmly grasped the noble concubine's shoulders, becoming unusually serious: "Have you thought this through? Are you truly not leaving?"

The tyrant's unusual behavior alarmed Zhao Changping, fearing he might impulsively do something foolish, thus he refused to leave his side at all costs.

Xie Xuan Yuan had been waiting for the noble concubine to leave, but the latter stood his ground as if rooted to the spot. Thus, even without a word from him, Xie Xuan Yuan understood the answer.

Facing numerous assassins sent by Empress He, without a weapon and needing to protect him, an incapacitated and blind man, they were overwhelmingly outnumbered. A direct confrontation was extremely perilous, with unpredictable outcomes of life and death...

Taking a deep breath, Xie Xuan Yuan couldn't help but advise his stubborn noble concubine:

"If... we truly cannot win, retreat in time. It's still possible to escape. It's not worth losing your life over someone like me..."

In speaking these words, he seemed a different person, the usual hostility and sharpness quietly fading away. His face was slightly pale, and his stunning appearance, under the dim lights across the river, held a decadent beauty that was captivating.

At such moments, even the usually jovial Lu Changping fell into an unusual silence. But hearing the tyrant's self-deprecation, he could not agree, no matter what.

Thus, before Xie Xuan Yuan could finish, Lu, the consort right by his side, immediately retorted, "But I believe, Your Majesty is worth it!"

The assassins hiding nearby initially couldn't grasp the complex relationship between the two, nor could they gauge Lu Changping's skill level, daring not to act rashly.

But hearing this, even the slowest assassin realized they had just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food by this couple.

Though they bicker and quarrel, their bond is clearly unbreakable, steadfast through life and death!

And here they were, waiting so long, thinking this shameless consort who dared to call himself "your consort" would abandon the tyrant when facing mortal danger!

The leader of the assassins in black, wary of Lu Changping yet seeing persuasion futile and running out of patience for the tyrant couple's continuous displays of affection, finally ordered:

"Since it's so hard to part, then join the tyrant in death."

Author's note:

Consort Lu: The tyrant is worth it!

Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I was so tired last night, wanted to nap and ended up sleeping till dawn...

I'm busy tonight and tomorrow during the day, but I can update again tomorrow night or the day after~