Chapter Twenty-Three: Wicked Desires for His Demise

Chapter 23: Desiring Evil's Demise

Liang Zhen stood by the veranda, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed at the swaying winter jasmine in the courtyard, his figure appearing somewhat forlorn.

Zhu Yunxuan was invited in. He stopped a few steps away from Liang Zhen, and the servants retreated discreetly, even blocking Gao An, who had accompanied Zhu Yunxuan, outside.

After an extended silence, Zhu Yunxuan sighed softly and asked Liang Zhen in a solemn voice, "Why has Prince Zhao summoned the emperor to your residence?"

Liang Zhen raised his hand, casually plucking a branch of the flower that reached out to the veranda. He turned and presented it to Zhu Yunxuan. "Do you want it, Your Majesty?"

Zhu Yunxuan declined. "Prince Zhao should speak directly. I still need to return to the palace."

Liang Zhen lowered his gaze, staring at the delicate blossom in his hand, murmuring softly, "Are you sure? This flower is so beautiful, why doesn't it catch the eye of Your Majesty?"

"I've said it, I must return to the palace."

Liang Zhen lifted his gaze again, looking at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "What for? To await the officials from the Ministry of Rites to report on the wedding preparations?"

Zhu Yunxuan frowned. "If Prince Zhao has no further business, then I'll be taking my leave."

"Rarely do you venture out, yet you're in a hurry to return, Your Majesty... Where did you just come from?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied impatiently, "It has nothing to do with Prince Zhao."

Prince Liang's lips curled into a smile, though his eyes were devoid of warmth. "Was it Princess Shu He's residence on that main street? I've heard she hosted a flower-appreciation gathering today, inviting all the ladies of the capital, including your future Empress. What a coincidence that you left the palace today. I wonder if you also visited Princess Shu He's residence?"

"Your Majesty is so eager to meet your future Empress?"

"So what if I am?" Zhu Yunxuan's voice rose abruptly. "I'm about to elevate an Empress, naturally, I wish to see the person who will be my Empress. My aunt is pleased to accommodate me—what's the harm in that?!"

Prince Liang suddenly stepped closer. The familiar scent of tea approached, and Zhu Yunxuan tensed up. Clenching his fists instinctively, he barely resisted the urge to retreat. The flowers in Prince Liang's hand fell to the ground as he forcefully grabbed Zhu Yunxuan's wrist.

Startled, Zhu Yunxuan didn't have time to react before being dragged into a nearby room by Prince Liang.

Before Zhu Yunxuan could call for help, he was violently slammed against the door, feeling sharp pain in his back, causing his eyes to well up with tears. But Prince Liang showed no mercy, pressing him against the door and sealing his mouth.

A fierce, scorching tongue invaded, recklessly taking possession of his lips and tongue, hungrily savoring the moisture within Zhu Yunxuan's mouth. His scalp tingled, and he felt trapped, almost suffocating.

When he was finally released, he could no longer hold himself up and slid to the ground.

Liang Zhen crouched down, firmly grasping his jaw, forcing him to lift his head and look into his eyes. Zhu Yunxuan's eyes were red-rimmed, but this time, he managed to suppress his tears, glaring at Liang Zhen with a vengeful bloodlust.

His lips had been bitten until they bled during their intense struggle. Liang Zhen's thumb brushed over them, spreading the vivid red across his mouth corner, as if he had been painted with seductive rouge.

Staring deeply into his eyes, a peculiar glow flickered in Liang Zhen's dark orbs. After a moment of silence, he bent down, picked him up horizontally, and threw him onto the bed.

Without any preparation, Zhu Yunxuan felt his body being ripped apart as he was forcefully penetrated, causing him to break out in cold sweat from the pain. Yet, he clenched his teeth and remained silent throughout.

The man on top of him relentlessly pounded into him, like an enraged leopard, ruthlessly venting his anger upon him.

When all was quiet, Liang Zhen pulled out, his pupils constricting at the sight of blood mixed with semen. His heart tightened in sync with his regained composure.

Zhu Yunxuan's body trembled uncontrollably, clenching his lower lip until it left a bloody mark.

"...Does it hurt?" Liang Zhen asked softly, his voice carrying an unconscious hint of panic that even he didn't notice.

Zhu Yunxuan didn't respond, turning his head away. A tear trickled down his tightly closed eyelids.

Physician Fang hurriedly arrived at Prince Zhao's residence. Liang Zhen didn't allow him to examine Zhu Yunxuan's injuries; instead, he directly asked for a solution. The elderly physician knelt on the ground, unable to lift his head. "Wash it with warm water and apply...apply ointment. If the bleeding isn't excessive, it should heal within...three to five days. But for the following month, it's best to avoid..."

"Alright, I understand. Go prepare the ointment."

After dismissing the physician, Liang Zhen carried Zhu Yunxuan to the bathing chamber and gently cleaned him. Seeing Zhu Yunxuan still biting his lip with closed eyes, Liang Zhen felt terrible. Many words lingered on his tongue, but he couldn't find the right way to express them.

Zhu Yunxuan's eyelashes trembled softly. Liang Zhen kissed away the tears at the corners of his eyes, then sighed softly in his ear after a long while. "This won't happen again..."

When applying the medicine, Liang Zhen observed closely. There was indeed a slight tear, but fortunately, it wasn't severe. He meticulously applied the ointment, but when his fingers, now cold from the medicine, touched that wrinkled area, Zhu Yunxuan involuntarily shrank back, revealing fear and resistance even in his instinctive response.

Liang Zhen's heart ached slightly. Since learning that Zhu Yunxuan had gone to Princess Chang's residence that morning, the pent-up anger in his heart had finally dissipated, leaving only guilt and heartache. "Your Majesty, perhaps you should spend the night at my residence tonight. It...wouldn't be convenient for you to return to the palace in your current state."

After a long moment, Zhu Yunxuan spoke in a hoarse voice, "I want to go back."

"Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yunxuan finally opened his eyes, looking at Liang Zhen with a sorrowful expression. "Are you keeping me here to imprison me? To make me your puppet?"

Liang Zhen remained silent. If possible, he would confine Zhu Yunxuan within this prince's residence, allowing no one else to see or protect him. But he couldn't...

"I must return," Zhu Yunxuan repeated.

Liang Zhen no longer attempted to persuade him. "Very well, Your Majesty. This minister will escort you back."

Throughout the day, Zhu Yunxuan had only managed two sips of thin rice porridge. Liang Zhen's further attempts to engage him were met with silence. As the sun began to set, Liang Zhen wrapped him in a thick cloak and carried him into the carriage.

The carriage was lined with soft furs, and Liang Zhen instructed the driver to proceed at a leisurely pace. Zhu Yunxuan's brow remained deeply furrowed the entire time. When they paused in a bustling marketplace, Liang Zhen alighted and returned with some appetizing snacks for Zhu Yunxuan.

"Your Majesty hasn't had an appetite all day. You don't care for the food at my residence. Perhaps you'd like to try these popular street treats."

Despite Liang Zhen's patient coaxing, Zhu Yunxuan kept his eyes closed, ignoring him.

After a moment, Liang Zhen withdrew his hand and gently shook his head.

Back at the palace, Zhu Yunxuan requested another bath, causing Liang Zhen to frown. "Didn't you just bathe?"

Zhu Yunxuan replied coolly, "It's unclean."

His disdain was unclear, whether it was directed at Liang Zhen or the Zhao Prince's residence itself.

Zhu Yunxuan's body sank into the bath, and the rising steam blurred the expression on his face, leaving Liang Zhen with an uncertain feeling. His heart raced as he leaned closer, grasping Zhu Yunxuan's hand.

Zhu Yunxuan glanced at Liang Zhen, who had entered the water without removing his clothes, now thoroughly drenched. Their eyes met, revealing Liang Zhen's anxious gaze. Zhu Yunxuan suddenly smiled, though the amusement didn't reach his eyes. "What's the point of pretending after what's already been done?"

"Does Your Majesty truly hate me that much?"

Zhu Yunxuan gritted his teeth. "What do you take me for? Some object for your humiliation and amusement? I am the emperor! Even if I'm despised and pressured by everyone, I remain the emperor. What right do you have to question me?!"

"What's so great about being an emperor? If it weren't for your stubbornness in becoming one, I could have taken you away. The vast lands were ours to explore. Why did you have to imprison yourself on that throne?" Anger surged within Liang Zhen once more. Gripping Zhu Yunxuan's wrist tightly, he regretted his decision. He shouldn't have hesitated; he should have abducted Zhu Yunxuan as he initially planned, keeping him forever within his grasp.

What did the kingdom or the throne matter? They were the Zhu family's possessions, irrelevant to him. Why should he bear their burdens? All he ever wanted was Zhu Yunxuan, and always had!

From the day he saw Zhu Yunxuan weeping bitterly, begging for his brother's life, even bleeding, Liang Zhen wanted to claim him. How could there be someone as naive and obstinate as Zhu Yunxuan, whose every thought wasn't centered around him? He felt both disdain and envy. Why didn't he have such fortune to be cherished like that? He strived to make Zhu Yunxuan look only at him, think only of him. He had given Zhu Yunxuan the throne, gone to extreme lengths to protect him, yet why wouldn't he receive any affection in return?

Zhu Yunxuan intended to kill him. What had he done wrong to deserve this hatred from Zhu Yunxuan?

Zhu Yunxuan sneered. "Why would I leave with you? What do you have that makes me abandon my kingdom and throne? I've said it before, I'm not your plaything. You can threaten and pressure me, but never expect me to give you my heart!"

Liang Zhen's eyes reddened, seemingly ready to bleed. With a fierce grip, he dragged Zhu Yunxuan under the water, fiercely silencing him with a brutal kiss.

Lips and tongue entangled fiercely, water from all directions relentlessly pouring into his nose, eyes, and ears. Zhu Yunxuan tasted the suffocating brink of death, ceasing all struggle. In that fleeting moment, a hazy thought fleetingly glided through his mind: perhaps dying in this way would bring release, not entirely an unwelcome prospect.

Just as he was on the brink of losing consciousness, Liang Zhen abruptly burst through the water's surface with him. Zhu Yunxuan felt as if he were coughing out his organs; a pungent, burning sensation seared from his throat all the way to his lungs. With wide eyes, he looked at Liang Zhen through a mocking smile. "One day, Your Majesty, I will take your life with my own hands."

Liang Zhen closed his eyes momentarily, then opened them again, his voice deep and measured as he replied, "This subject awaits your command."

Postscript: Second Installment

"V chapter will begin at eight o'clock tomorrow evening, with three updates in a row."