Chapter 56: The Ploy of Injury

Chapter 56: The Ploy of Injury

Caught in the act, the Lu siblings looked at each other under Xie Xuan Yuan's sharp glare, much like they had been caught skipping classes by the Grand Tutor in their youth.

Lu Zhao Ping dared not speak again, only offering a look of sympathy, hoping his imperial brother would fend for himself.

But Emperor Lu, despite the supportive glance from his sister, did not rally, left speechless and choked.

After all, he had indeed deceived into marriage months ago and taken advantage of someone's vulnerability. During the tyrant's pregnancy, he had been playing dual roles all along. By day, the despised Emperor of Nan Chu; by night, the delicate wife, Lady Lu.

Now, with his deceit uncovered by the tyrant and caught red-handed, he was likely not to escape without severe consequences.

Yet, what he feared more than the tyrant's temper was the possibility of the latter demanding a separation in a fit of anger...

Having been preoccupied with state affairs for so many years, he had finally found such a beautiful, adorable, and devoted partner. He was on the verge of living the idyllic life described in stories, complete with a wife, children, and pets...

Unfortunately, things don't always go as one wishes.

With this thought, Emperor Lu couldn't help but sigh, a touch of melancholy shading his handsome features. His natural beauty, now tinged with such a vulnerable expression, only added to his fragile allure.

If he were just the weak and helpless "Lady Lu," he would surely have been forgiven by now. But, he was the Emperor of Nan Chu.

Although the sigh was subtle, it didn't escape the furious tyrant, who then coldly said right into Emperor Lu's ear: "What, feeling wronged? Did you consider this day when you were playing the fool with others?"

Knowing he was at fault, Emperor Lu could only honestly respond: "...I truly didn't."

After speaking, he lowered his head in silence, assuming the demeanor of someone ready to accept punishment.

He had hoped such sincerity, if not satisfying the tyrant, would at least help to cool his anger. However, Xie Xuan Yuan was far from appeased and instead, with his pale and slender hand, grabbed Emperor Lu's collar:

"Is it all over with just 'I didn't think'? Finding it amusing seeing us siblings being fooled around by you? Don't you have anything to explain?"

Emperor Lu painstakingly reviewed his recent misdeeds, his mood a bittersweet mix. To truly explain everything would only give the tyrant more ammunition, so he shook his head, resigning himself to whatever came.

Let the fiery little beauty rant; perhaps venting would dissipate his anger.

However, the tyrant's anger only intensified, opposite to how much he used to fall for such tactics. His expression darkened, and his grip suddenly tightened: "Do you know how much I hate you being as unresponsive as a rock?"

The force he used was so great that, despite Emperor Lu being taller, he was jostled, nearly stumbling into his silently observing sister behind him.

The kneeling servants of the Princess's mansion, having never witnessed such a scene, buried their heads even lower, daring not to breathe too loudly.

Seeing the situation about to spiral out of control, Princess Zhao Ping quickly dispersed the crowd, salvaging the last bit of her brother's dignity.

Once the courtyard was left to the three of them, she attempted to deflect some of the blame: "Sister-in-law, the emperor had his reasons. It's not that he doesn't care about you."

Her words successfully redirected the tyrant's fury towards her. Xie Xuan Yuan's gaze turned icy as he responded:

"Nice words. But whether his heart truly lies with me or the child in my belly remains to be seen. Didn't you also say your Lu family, with its vast estate, needs an heir?"

The exact words she had once said were thrown back at her, leaving Princess Zhao Ping speechless. She had said those words, yes, but wasn't it out of concern that her brother might be at a disadvantage under his fiery consort?

At this point, Emperor Lu could no longer feign ignorance. He mustered the courage to defend himself:

"It's not what you think. The child... was an accident. Since returning from Bei Wei, I've been worried about you. Afraid you might be targeted by Empress Dowager He again, or that you'd act impulsively and harm yourself..."

Emperor Lu's voice faded as he spoke, his confidence waning. He was acutely aware that of all the people who could infuriate the tyrant, he was the most infuriating.

Xie Xuan Yuan's expression twisted for a moment, his laugh growing darker: "Your disregard for the child suits me perfectly. I plan to take him back to Bei Wei and sever all ties with you, the despicable one."

This declaration of separation hit the Lu siblings like a bolt from the blue.

Xie Xuan Yuan was never indecisive. His decision to cut ties today meant Emperor Lu and his son would never see each other again.

Realizing the urgency, Emperor Lu resorted to a desperate plan.

He lowered his head, his hand touching the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Seeing this, Xie Xuan Yuan's anger intensified: "So, the Emperor of Nan Chu, in a fit of rage, intends to kill his spouse?"

Yet, Emperor Lu was unfazed by such taunts. Drawing his sword, he remained the epitome of grace and charm:

"When I saved Your Majesty from assassins, you promised to grant me the position of the Crown Prince's father in the imperial tomb. Now that I am despised in life, unable to stay by Your Majesty's side, it might be better to proceed to the afterlife, where we can meet beneath the earth every day."

As he spoke, he reversed the direction of his sword, offering its hilt towards the tyrant's hand.

This move was extremely risky, a slight mistake could indeed cost him his life. Even Lu Changping himself was taking a gamble, betting that the tyrant wasn't as heartless as he appeared...

The performance, blending truth and deception, was so masterful that even Zhao Ping was terrified, hastily clutching at Emperor Lu's sleeve and crying out, "Your Majesty! Life is precious; you must not act rashly!"

Emperor Lu cast a covert glance at his pregnant husband, seeing a subtle shift in expression that was hard to detect, his confidence surged. He reluctantly looked at Zhao Ping, yet did not lower his sword, "Zhao Ping, don't be sad. It's my fault towards him and our child."

With his decision made, he pushed the sharp long sword, a symbol of imperial authority, into the tyrant's hand and closed his eyes, declaring with righteous indignation, "This subject fears pain, and hopes for a swift death from Your Majesty."

Xie Xuan Yuan surprisingly did not refuse. Grasping the long sword that was forcefully given, he slowly placed the blade on the fair neck of Lu the Beauty, yet never truly applied force.

"I've heard that women unable to win back their husbands resort to crying, causing a scene, or hanging themselves. It seems, the mighty Emperor of Southern Chu is well versed in these tactics."

The tyrant's words were merciless, but the force in his hands was precisely controlled. He seemed neither to spare Lu Changping nor to intend an immediate execution.

"Don't think I'm unaware of your scheme. The moment I make a move, you'll regret it, and your hidden guards will immediately take care of me, right?"

Emperor Lu, questioned thus, showed no annoyance. He smiled lightly, responding calmly, "But no matter what, Your Majesty's sword will always be a bit faster than that of the hidden guards."

Xie Xuan Yuan was no weak scholar, at such a distance, if he intended to kill, death was certain.

The tyrant, upon hearing his explanation, became somewhat infuriated, "You think I'd be willing to trade lives with a trickster like you?"

Perhaps agitated, his sword moved a fraction closer. The Emperor of Southern Chu's personal sword could slice through iron as if it were mud, and even a gentle graze against the skin left a vivid red mark on the fair flesh.

Xie Xuan Yuan had not anticipated the sword's sharpness, nor expected the other to not even dodge.

He abruptly withdrew the sword, stepping back several paces from Lu Changping, his chest heaving, "To not share life's bed, yet wish to share death's grave? You wish! The day of my demise is far off; even if you die, you'll lie alone in your coffin, I won't be joining you prematurely."

Lu the Beauty, successful in his ploy, ignored the bleeding wound on his neck, instead revealing a faint smile, "It's alright, I can wait."

However, this declaration of devotion sounded somewhat chilling to others. Xie Xuan Yuan moved the sword far away from him, disdainfully saying, "Look at you, clearly up to no good, finding ways to curse me to an early death!"

"Your Majesty misunderstands," Lu Changping said with a gentle and warm smile, the trail of blood from his neck curving down like a fine crimson line, "This subject simply does not wish to be parted from Your Majesty."

The blood-stained beauty, approaching step by step, resembled a vengeful spirit from desolate wilds, yet he himself was utterly unaware of this perception.

The tyrant, accustomed to taking lives, feared no spectral claimants but could not bear the thought of a once vibrant beauty bearing lifelong scars from injury.

Driven by perfectionism, Xie Xuan Yuan actually took action. Ignoring Lu Changping's astonishment, he handed over a handkerchief and some yet unused gold wound medicine.

Before Lu the Beauty could feel warmed by this sudden care, the tyrant continued, "I will not kill you, but I won't let you off easily either."

This threat, typical of the tyrant, was nothing new to Lu Changping. Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking his tumultuous marriage might yet be saved, he heard a cry of alarm.

It turned out that while he was simply tending to his neck wound, Xie Xuan Yuan unexpectedly shifted his target, capturing his sister Zhao Ping unawares.

Perhaps wary from the sharpness of the sword, this time Xie Xuan Yuan merely held it against Zhao Ping's critical point, distancing her inch by inch from Lu Changping, "Our matter is not entirely beyond salvation. Let's speak openly today. If the Emperor of Southern Chu agrees to a few conditions, I can spare your sister."

Both his sister and the tyrant were dear to Emperor Lu. He thought he'd be forced to choose between them but was suddenly told agreement to a few conditions could win hearts back, eagerly nodding, "Your Majesty, please speak."

Xie Xuan Yuan didn't mince words, stating, "It was in search of you that the Empress Dowager's faction seized the chance to cause chaos. Now as I return to Beiwei, I need to borrow a hundred thousand troops to quell the rebellion."

This demand might sound like a typical scam, but Emperor Lu accepted it well, even feeling reassured by the tyrant's ambition.

He nodded in approval, "Of course. But... is a hundred thousand troops really enough? Why not add another hundred thousand? Or to be safer, I'll accompany you. That way, we can stabilize the army's morale and I can take care of you and the child."

The tyrant was taken aback by such generosity concerning military power. He refused the generous offer with a look reserved for fools, "More troops, yes, but there's no need for you to come. Just seeing you irks me."

After his statement, he tried not to look at Lu Changping's pained expression, hardening his heart to continue, "Furthermore, the child in my belly will bear the Xie surname, inheriting Beiwei's throne. If you really want a crown prince, go have one yourself."

Intending to completely sever ties with the Emperor of Southern Chu, Lu Changping, unbothered, kept nodding, then naturally started to discuss the naming of the imperial heir:

"The child should indeed take after Your Majesty with the surname Xie. But have you considered 'Xie Zhu Long En' for his name? It rolls off the tongue. Or 'Xie Chao Lin,' symbolizing dominion over all under heaven, receiving homage from all nations. After all, whether it be the lands of Beiwei or Southern Chu, he will inherit..."

Emperor Lu grew more enthusiastic by the second, lamenting the absence of a "Shuo Wen Jie Zi" to sift through for auspicious characters.

Xie Xuan Yuan was stunned by his shamelessness. Glaring with bright phoenix eyes, he stubbornly retorted, "Who needs your Southern Chu lands as charity? If you truly wish to be the ruler of all, you should personally conquer your Southern Chu one day."

Lu ZhaoPing was utterly confounded by the peculiar conversation between her royal brother and sister-in-law. She had thought their use of "this concubine" and "Your Majesty" for each other was merely a playful exchange, a kind of role-playing game of emperor and favored concubine not uncommon in certain novels.

But upon hearing her sister-in-law's second demand, she finally sensed something was amiss. Only the notorious tyrant of Beiwai, Xie XuanYuan, could so casually decide the future heir of the northern territories and boast of conquering NanChu.

So, was her young and beautiful sister-in-law actually that same tyrant from Beiwai who had once sought to force her into marriage???

The realization was a significant shock. Thinking back on her words when alone with the tyrant, ZhaoPing felt a chill run down her spine, trembling uncontrollably.

What had she done? Not only had she inadvertently betrayed her own brother in a few words, but she had also dared to mock the murderous tyrant to his face, disregarding gender.

Lu ZhaoPing fidgeted restlessly, forcing Xie XuanYuan to withdraw his sword further away. Gazing at Princess ZhaoYun, who seemed as 'weak and bully-able' as Emperor Lu, the tyrant felt all his fierceness and menace lose their purpose.

He warned discontentedly, "Don't tremble without reason. Do you want to end up like your foolish brother, running into my sword?"

Lu ZhaoPing mustered her courage and, clinging to a last sliver of hope, asked, "Are you really that... Xie XuanYuan from Beiwai?"

Trying not to provoke her sister-in-law further, she struggled to swallow the words "the tyrant" and opted for a less suicidal phrasing.

The tyrant glanced at her with an aristocratic and frigid elegance, his words tinged with provocation: "Do I not seem so?"

Upon hearing this, ZhaoPing couldn't help but internally retort: That couldn't be less true! The tyrant of the rumors was ugly, involved in scandals, and not only dark-hearted but also known for mistreating beauties and causing the demise of his consorts, leaving the palace in desolation.

Yet, this tyrant before her had rosy lips and white teeth, more delicate than flowers. Though his words were venomous, they were all bark and no bite, even feeling guilty and remorseful for accidentally injuring her brother.

How did such a tender-hearted sister-in-law come to be branded as a heinous, perverted tyrant?

The more ZhaoPing thought about it, the more upset she felt, unable to resist complaining to Emperor Lu, "Brother, you kept such an important matter so tightly hidden. Not a word to me for months after returning from Beiwai!"

After offending the tyrant, she inadvertently upset her sister as well. Knowing he was at fault, Lu ChangPing tried to defend himself, "Brother never intended to hide it from you, just feared you wouldn't accept it all at once..."

Speaking of which, he couldn't help but shift his gaze to Xie Xuan Yuan: "Those unpleasant rumors out there were all spread by the party of Empress Dowager He from Beiwei. Yuan himself is actually very kind and adorable."

Emperor Lu said this with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, his eyes twinkling with affection. Even his sister, who grew up with him, was almost overwhelmed by this heavy dose of affection.

Finally, it was the tyrant himself who could no longer bear it and sternly refused: "Stop using such nauseating titles to address me in the future!"

With that outburst, Emperor Lu, who had just gained the upper hand in their verbal exchange, immediately saw the wisdom in silence and closed his mouth.

He had long wanted to change the little tyrant's title. Previously constrained by the identity of "Consort Lu," he could only address the other as "Your Majesty." But he, too, was called "Your Majesty" in Nan Chu, and such a cold title, common to all, couldn't compare to the intimacy of "Ah Yuan."

Unfortunately, it seems the little tyrant doesn't like this new nickname... A hint of despondency appeared on Emperor Lu's face. Well, if "Ah Yuan" is not allowed, perhaps next time he should try "Ah Xuan"?

Xie Xuan Yuan seemed touched by the new nickname, falling silent for a while. Unbeknownst to him, in that moment of distraction, the crazed Consort Lu had already concocted a new nickname for him.

Long ago, his name was indeed not "Xie Xuan Yuan" but "Xie Yan," and his mother often called him "Ah Yan." But since his name change after being released from prison, no one has bothered with such personal touches in addressing him.

In the court, ministers respectfully call him "Your Majesty" to his face, only to possibly curse him as a calamitous tyrant behind his back. He thought he had become accustomed to such treatment...

Not wanting to continue his wild thoughts, Xie Xuan Yuan hid that moment of softness and returned to his demanding demeanor: "To prevent Emperor Lu from going back on his word, I now demand the military token for deploying troops. If you are reluctant, don't blame me for being ruthless towards your precious sister."

The tyrant thought he had complete control over Lu Zhao Ping, but unseen by him, Emperor Lu and his sister exchanged a meaningful look. After all, being twins who grew up together, they often understand each other's intentions without words.

What Lu Zhao Ping communicated to her brother was clearly not to worry. Insisting on returning to Bei Wei alone and refusing to let her brother accompany, it was time for her to stay by her brother-in-law's side to take care of her pregnant husband.

And Emperor Lu knew well that Zhao Ping could easily save herself on the spot with just a little poison. The reason Xie Xuan Yuan is still so arrogant is all because they, brother and sister, didn't want to upset him further, letting him have his way on purpose...

With her brother's support, Lu Zhao Ping indeed continued to play the role of the tragically kidnapped princess. She neither attempted to use poison nor to escape, remaining as quiet as a mouse within the tyrant's control.

Xie Xuan Yuan found the smooth progress of these operations unbelievably easy, but he attributed it to fortuitously seizing control of the fate of the brother-obsessed Emperor of Nan Chu.

Correct! It must be because that traitor cares too much for his sister, thus his favorable acceptance of the unequal treaties, even lending an additional hundred thousand troops!

The more the tyrant thought about it, the more bitter and jealous he became, eager to leave this place at once. Holding Lu Zhao Ping with one hand and taking the military token Emperor Lu produced from his person with the other, he also rejected all of the other's sincere offers and inappropriate banter.

As he left with Princess Zhao Yun, his thoughts were consumed with the possibility of only being able to gaze at the Emperor of Nan Chu from across the battlefield in the future.

Xie Xuan Yuan strove to suppress the slight sense of loss within him, ultimately not looking back at the divinely handsome monarch of the enemy nation.

……

With Emperor Lu's tacit approval, the tyrant led his troops out of Nan Chu unobstructed. Soon after, the battlefield of Bei Wei was filled with reports of victories. Those in the court believed that Emperor Lu was strategically intervening in Bei Wei's internal strife to secure greater benefits for Nan Chu.

Emperor Lu, highly respected in Nan Chu, rarely faced direct challenges to his decisions in the court. Yet, his overt support for the tyrant of Bei Wei against Empress Dowager He sparked significant controversy in Nan Chu's political arena.

The courtiers were divided on the issue, with one faction believing the young emperor acted with a profound and mature deliberation for the greater good, while another thought Empress Dowager He's faction, despite being insular and incompetent, was easier to manipulate compared to the ambitious tyrant of Bei Wei.

Amidst the fierce debates, Ji Yu Zhe, known for his insightful political views, unusually remained silent. From a distance, his refined and elegant demeanor stood out among his clamorous colleagues like a lotus emerging from the mud.

Only Emperor Lu knew that ever since Zhao Yun followed the tyrant to Bei Wei, this 'lotus' had been idly attending court on the public dime.

Apart from blankly staring at the ivory tablet in his hands, he occasionally looked up with a gaze full of silent reproach towards the sovereign seated in the hall. The talented Nan Chu scholar had turned into a longing husband on the court floor.

Helpless, Emperor Lu could only exchange weighty looks with Ji Yu Zhe. Ji pined for his fiancée, just as he missed his own pregnant spouse.

It had been a full month since he last secretly received a letter from his sister. Probably the tyrant had noticed Zhao Yun's espionage, as the frequency of "family letters" had decreased recently.

Each month, he awaited Ji Yu Zhe bringing letters from Zhao Yun to the palace. Counting the days, it's been five months now, and even the tyrant's dragon seed must be nearing birth! He wondered about the gender of the dragon seed and what name the tyrant would choose.

Amidst anticipation and anxiety, Emperor Lu finally reached the end of the morning court. He immediately headed to his private chambers. Reports from his spies sent to Bei Wei piled neatly on his desk, with the latest one delivered just that morning.

Lacking direct news from his sister, he had to scour these second-hand reports for any clues about the tyrant.

According to our informant, Xie Xuan Yuan recently won a critical battle against the Empress Dowager's faction, reclaiming the northern capital. However, the victory did not come easily. Rumors suggest he was injured during the battle and has since been recuperating in the palace, not pursuing the defeated rebels.

Upon reading this, Lu Changping sighed and picked up the medicine bowl he had neglected for a long time, taking a sip.

As expected, the medicine was just as sour and bitter as he imagined, and its strong taste persisted even after cooling. At times like these, he increasingly understood why the little tyrant was so fond of candied fruits.

Life is just too bitter!

However, his current plight was not only due to the harshness of life but also his own continuous folly. Since the tyrant left, Emperor Lu has been in a state of gloom. Wounds that should have healed in three months lingered for five due to his low spirits.

The prescription from the Imperial Physician was extremely traditional, focusing on efficacy regardless of taste. Lu Changping rarely took medicine since childhood, and without his sister's supervision, his adherence was sporadic at best, often finding excuses to let himself off.

For instance, after reading this dubious piece of news, he felt even more disheartened. Consequently, he lacked the will to take his medicine today...

Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Emperor Lu stood up and deftly poured the remaining medicine into a flower pot behind him, which only had a single withered branch left.

Before he could finish pouring out the medicine, the door to his chamber was abruptly opened with a bang. Ji Shangshu, who had exchanged melancholic looks with him in the court this morning, rushed in holding a piece of paper.

Given the urgency, Ji Yu entered without announcement. His entry coincided precisely with Emperor Lu watering the plants with his medicine bowl.

The beauty by the window, his black hair unbound, was casually draped in a brocaded robe, looking much more haggard. Even his bright, peach-blossom eyes bore additional shades of worry compared to usual.

Upon recognizing the visitor, Lu's hand trembled involuntarily, guiltily trying to hide the bowl behind him. But having been seen, any attempt at concealment was futile.

He racked his brain for a solution, hoping Ji Shangshu would remember their past camaraderie and not complain to his sister upon her return.

However, it turned out that loneliness does not breed solidarity; Ji Yu did not counsel the Emperor about his medicine. Instead, he hurriedly presented a letter signed "Zhaoping."

The letter was clearly written in haste, its script slightly messy. Yet, every word struck deep into Emperor Lu's heart, despite its brevity.

According to the letter, Xie Xuan Yuan indeed got injured on the battlefield. Although the injury itself was not severe, it was extremely dangerous for a pregnant man in advanced stages, even leading to signs of premature labor.

What was more worrisome was that Zhaoping did not specify in the letter how Xie Xuan Yuan and his unborn child ultimately fared, only mentioning that the safety of his sister-in-law and future nephew was at stake, urging her brother to visit Beiwei in person…

Emperor Lu read the letter in one go and almost passed out upon noticing the date at the end was from a month ago.

Since the resurgence of war in Beiwei, chaos had engulfed many regions. Messages that could normally be delivered in half a month took much longer amidst the turmoil, arriving in Nan Chu long after becoming outdated.

With such a long time passed since the events described and no further news from Zhaoping, Emperor Lu immediately began to harbor many ominous speculations…

Author's note:

Did you think the tyrant would respond to the truth with tears, tantrums, or even threats?

Not at all! In reality, it's the drama king, the beautiful Lu, who resorts to crying, creating scenes, and dramatics.

This chapter took a long time to write, QAQ.

I really took advantage of the May Day holiday to write diligently, QAQ.

It's just that the pace was too slow.