Chapter 191: The Emperor’s Allure

Chapter 191: The Emperor's Allure

As Huo Lang stepped into the inner chamber, he saw Lu Yan standing in front of the brazier with his back to him, warming himself by the fire. The man had changed into a set of bright yellow regular clothes, exuding an indescribable elegance and grace. Two green jade beads hung from his hair tie, quietly swaying at his waist, accentuating the narrowness of his waist and making it hard to conceal his noble aura. If he were born into an ordinary aristocratic family, he would surely be a handsome young master who would captivate the hearts of maidens.

Unfortunately... as beautiful as jade but as treacherous as a snake, Huo Lang had been deceived by this façade of a gentleman in the past, and now he struggled to rid himself of the demon that haunted his heart.

In the Imperial Council Hall, besides Lu Yan, there were several palace maids and the chief eunuch, Wu Mei. Huo Lang didn't even glance at them; his lowered brows inadvertently revealed a hint of ferocity as he spoke in a faint voice, "All of you, leave!"

His words held more weight than the emperor's in a certain sense. Upon hearing his command, the palace maids looked uneasily at the young emperor, noticing that he didn't object. They all bowed and exited the hall together, leaving only Wu Mei standing motionless on one side.

Huo Lang's tone was dangerous. "What, can't I order you around?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Mei's eyelids twitched violently. His hands were tucked inside his sleeves, gripping tightly onto the whisk in his arms. How dare Huo Lang, who looked down upon everyone beneath him, step on the head of His Majesty? If given time, wouldn't the Zhao family's kingdom end up bearing the surname Huo?

A traitor!

Although he thought so in his heart, Wu Mei could only apologize and retreat. Before leaving, he glanced subtly at Lu Yan, his gaze carrying a subtle warning. Unfortunately, the man kept his eyes lowered, staring at the brazier the entire time without meeting his gaze.

The door opened and closed again, leaving silence all around. For a moment, they were the only two left.

Lu Yan couldn't see what was happening behind him, but he heard Huo Lang's footsteps. His movement of warming himself by the fire paused imperceptibly, feeling as if those footsteps were stomping heavily on his heart, causing a cloud of dust to fall without reason. His emotions surged uncontrollably, and he closed his eyes tightly:

"Your Highness, we haven't seen each other for a long time. How have you been?"

He hadn't even caught a glimpse of Huo Lang in his previous life, only learning from Zhao Kang's fragmented words that the latter had been pierced through the heart with a sword. Lu Yan could only wildly guess what expression Huo Lang had on his face before dying—was it disbelief or filled with hatred? Lu Yan's thoughts were muddled, and echoing in his mind was only Zhao Kang's sentence from his previous life—

He raised his blade several times but didn't kill me...

The charcoal fire crackled softly as it rose, but Lu Yan didn't notice the red marks on his hands from the heat. When he came back to his senses, a shadow had already appeared before his eyes, and he heard Huo Lang's dark and mocking voice in his ear:

"Since last year's Autumn Equinox, when Your Majesty took a concubine and established a queen, it has indeed been a long time since we've seen each other. But seeing you today, Your Majesty is still as charming as ever."

Zhao Kang was twenty-three years old and the only bloodline of the late emperor. It wasn't uncommon for him to have a vast harem. However, there was an unclear relationship between Huo Lang and Lu Yan, which Huo Lang didn't understand. Naturally, he harbored resentment in his heart and deliberately feigned illness to avoid attending court, not setting foot in the palace for several months.

Seeing Huo Lang today, his face was gloomy, his figure thin, and he had suffered from chronic illness for a long time, appearing frail and weak. In contrast, Lu Yan was like a jade-like deity, presenting a divine demeanor. This inevitably made one's heart feel cold.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan slowly withdrew his hand from above the brazier, his gaze falling on Huo Lang's familiar features. He smiled faintly and sighed, "Your Highness has lost a lot of weight."

Having impersonated Zhao Kang for several years, he had grown accustomed to this life of pretense. He laughed whether he was happy or not, hiding all his emotions beneath a mask, as unfathomable as a cold pond.

To Huo Lang, that smile was particularly annoying. He spoke coldly, "Of course, I can't compare to Your Majesty, who is precious and noble."

Lu Yan pretended not to hear his sarcasm. "The wind and snow are quite cold today. It must have been hard for Your Highness to rush here in the dead of night. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of hot tea? Rest for a while before returning home?"

After saying this, he moved slightly, seemingly intending to pour a cup of hot tea. However, an unexpected force suddenly struck his shoulder. The next moment, his vision flipped upside down, and he fell backward onto the imperial platform. When he regained his senses, the tip of a sharp dagger was already pressed against his jaw.

Facing Huo Lang's clearly provocative gaze, Lu Yan raised his eyebrows faintly, pretending to be confused. "What does Your Highness mean?"

Huo Lang's expression was fierce, finally tearing off the disguise. He used the gem-encrusted dagger to lift Lu Yan's chin, leaning close to the man's ear and whispering maliciously, word by word, "Little emperor, stop putting on a show in front of me. Do you forget how you knelt here, begging me humbly to suppress the rebellion when you ascended the throne amidst internal strife and external threats? Do you forget what you swore to me then?!"

Zhao Kang ascended the throne as a teenager, with many ministers dissatisfied. The surrounding tribes took advantage of the situation, repeatedly violating the borders. At that time, no one in the vast Beishu could be relied upon except Huo Lang. He led his troops far to the border, fighting bitterly for three years, slaying countless enemies, and contracting chronic illnesses during that time, all for the sake of the other party's oath.

The cold blade pressed against his skin, ready to cut him if he wasn't careful. Lu Yan lowered his gaze, staring at the dagger handle encrusted with gems. His eyelashes cast a dark shadow under his eyes as he carefully recalled what oath he had made that year.

Oh... he remembered.

Back then, he held Huo Lang's hand and swore to their ancestors:

"I am willing to share the empire with General, never abandoning or betraying you in this life. If I violate this oath, may I be pierced by ten thousand arrows and die a miserable death!"

But those ancestors were the ancestors of the Zhao family, and the empire belonged to the Zhao family. What did it have to do with him? Huo Lang, who was usually so clever, was actually foolish enough to fall for such a deception, leading his troops to guard that barren land for several years.

Thinking about it, Lu Yan suddenly felt like laughing. In fact, he couldn't help but burst out laughing, his chest shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face, looking like a deranged madman.

Seeing this, Huo Lang's eyes darkened, unable to suppress his anger. "What are you laughing at?!"

He pushed the dagger closer, wishing to slaughter the lying dog emperor in front of him!

Lu Yan suddenly stopped laughing and grabbed Huo Lang's icy hand. He stared straight at the person in front of him, his eyes reddening, carrying an indescribable shock and stubbornness. "Huo Lang, do you know..."

His lips trembled, as if wanting to say something, but the words got stuck in his sore throat, filled with the bitterness of his past life. Not a single useful word could come out: "Do you know..."

Do you know that I ultimately betrayed you...

Do you know that the retribution eventually fell on you?

Huo Lang naturally didn't know. He only saw the emperor's eyes turn red, a tear unexpectedly falling from his eye socket, pattering onto his hand. His wrist trembled, and he couldn't even hold the dagger steadily, causing it to clang to the ground.

Huo Lang reflexively tried to pull his hand away, but Lu Yan gripped it even tighter, causing his bones to creak. They stood there silently, locked in a stalemate.

Huo Lang narrowed his eyes and asked faintly, "What, do you think shedding a tear will soften my heart?"

He was no longer the naive youth punished to kneel in the snow. Nor was he the fool who could be easily coaxed into risking his life with a few empty promises from Lu Yan. If the latter wanted to use the same trick again, shedding a few tears wouldn't be enough.

Surrounded by a chilling aura, Huo Lang's smile didn't convey any kindness. The malice and evil nature practically overflowed. "I love watching people bleed the most. Why don't you give it a try, Your Majesty?"

Lu Yan asked softly, "Your Highness can't even hold the knife steady. Do you still have the interest to watch me bleed?"

Huo Lang's tone was gloomy. "Little emperor, your wings have truly hardened!"

"That's because you spoiled me."

Lu Yan stood up from the ground, brushing off the non-existent dust. He didn't let go of Huo Lang's hand, accidentally touching the cold and hard armor on the other's body. Feeling a chill run through him, he frowned slightly and subconsciously tightened his grip, leading the person toward the inner room.

Huo Lang was taken aback, wondering if the dog emperor had realized that crying was useless and was now resorting to offering his body. Tsk, no wonder he could become an emperor. Apart from being good at reincarnating into the right family, his ability to endure and hide his true nature was unparalleled. With a cold gaze, he watched as the other party approached to untie his armor. Suddenly, he grabbed Lu Yan's wrist bone and said sarcastically,

"What, after sleeping with women, now you want to climb into my bed, Your Majesty?"

Lu Yan was a little taller than Huo Lang. He had been lowering his head to untie the silk cord of the other's armor. Hearing this, his fingertips paused, and he gave a smile with an unclear meaning. "When did I sleep with a woman?"

Huo Lang’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "What? Are the harem and concubines just for show?"

He was unaware of the overwhelming sourness in his demeanor.

Lu Yan found it amusing and couldn't help but give him an extra glance. But then he remembered that this situation was far from funny for Huo Lang, who might have been tormented to the point of spitting blood these past few months. Lu Yan reined in his smile. He reached out to caress Huo Lang's thin, icy cheek with his fingertips, gently rubbing them against the skin. His eyelashes drooped slightly, exuding an indescribable tenderness. "The Regent's influence reaches far and wide. Could you not have known that I've never favored any of my concubines?"

How could Zhao Kang even think about bedding women when he struggled to stay alive? The harem and its concubines were nothing more than mere decorations.

Huo Lang's gaze was sharp and confrontational. "Then why did you marry them?!"

Lu Yan's smile remained unchanged, but a hint of melancholy crept into his expression. "The Zhao lineage is thin. The officials and the imperial clan have been incessantly petitioning me to expand my harem. Otherwise, it would inevitably invite criticism from across the land. This was a measure I had no choice but to take, to silence their mouths."

As he spoke, he moved closer to Huo Lang, his warm lips nearly touching his cheek. In a soft voice, he made a promise: "My feelings for you, Your Highness, have never changed."

Listen to how beautifully he spoke. Not only did he explain his predicament, but he also managed to shift some of the blame onto the Zhao clan. Lu Yan realized that his skills at deception were becoming increasingly refined.

And Huo Lang, there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes...

He had indeed been harboring resentment over this matter, feeling that Lu Yan had betrayed their original vows. But now, considering that Lu Yan hadn't favored any of his concubines and that his actions were driven by the pressures of his position, it seemed petty to continue dwelling on it.

In the brief moment Huo Lang was distracted, the cold armor on his body had already been removed and thrown to the ground with a dull thud. Through the dark undergarment with its intricate patterns, Lu Yan touched Huo Lang's skin, chilled by the cold. He sighed softly. "Next time you enter the palace, please remove your armor first."

Huo Lang raised his eyebrows coldly. "What, do you feel offended as the emperor's face?"

Yet this emperor had once promised to share half of his kingdom with him. Huo Lang hadn't seen any sign of that yet, and now even wearing armor was causing complaints. It was hard not to doubt the sincerity of this young emperor.

Lu Yan looked at Huo Lang with a faint smile, a single sentence silencing him:

"Why should you endure the cold for long in that frigid armor, Your Highness?"

It wasn't certain that Huo Lang truly harbored any intentions of rebellion. His nature was more akin to that of a child, always seeking to challenge the authority of the emperor whenever he felt slighted. He would deliberately do what ministers couldn't, inch by inch testing where Lu Yan's limits lay with him. He relished in acting without restraint, provoking a flurry of impeachments from the imperial censors, who condemned him as a traitor. Then Lu Yan would openly favor him, refusing to punish him.

It seemed that Huo Lang could only find a semblance of security through these provocations, trying to touch upon the unpredictable heart of the emperor.

Lu Yan found a set of black robes embroidered with cloud patterns and a golden collar for Huo Lang to change into, along with a fine, warm cloak. He personally tied it around him, seemingly offhandedly saying, "When you leave the palace later, your different attire will inevitably raise suspicion. If Eunuch Wu Mei asks, just say that you accidentally spilled tea on your clothes and changed inside. Don't say anything else, understood?"

Their relationship was hidden and secluded, known only to themselves. Yet Wu Mei, to ensure that the impersonator wouldn't slip up, meticulously investigated every word Lu Yan said and every person he met each day before reporting back to Zhao Kang. Huo Lang was naturally arrogant; if he let something slip, it would be disastrous.

Huo Lang sneered. "A decrepit old man, do I fear him?"

Lu Yan replied calmly, "He's one of the elders who served the late emperor and was ordered to assist me. I must give him some respect. Our affair mustn't be known to him, or we'll invite unnecessary trouble."

Huo Lang frowned irritably. "What a nuisance. Why not just kill him?"

Lu Yan gently restrained him. "This man's martial arts are unfathomable. Don't act rashly. Just follow my instructions."

Huo Lang looked at Lu Yan, seeing the other's smile directed at him. He was truly a handsome figure, like the breeze and the moon. If Lu Yan had shed a few more tears earlier, Huo Lang might have really softened his heart: "Your wings have grown strong. Now you dare to order this king around..."

His unfinished words were drowned out by Lu Yan's gentle yet unexpected kiss. The man held tightly to his waist, his voice muffled and unclear, stroking Huo Lang's hair until he felt incredibly comfortable: "That's because I have you, Your Highness, as my support. That's why my wings have grown so strong..."

Lu Yan used to be a gentlemanly figure, rarely being so intimate with Huo Lang. This kiss was long and suffocating, the underlying possessiveness and dominance contrasting sharply with his outward appearance. As Huo Lang was kissed into a daze, he couldn't help but feel a bit disoriented.

Lu Yan lightly lifted Huo Lang's chin with two fingers as pale as jade. The light overhead was dim. His lips were ripe and red, his eyes sparkling, a beauty that could captivate a nation. "Why are you lost in thought, Your Highness?"

Huo Lang pressed his cheek, his eyes dark, reminiscent of a predator with ambitious intentions: "I was thinking that the sight of Your Majesty shedding tears was quite pitiful. How about crying a little longer?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan was taken aback. Then he gazed at him deeply with a smile, remaining silent.