Chapter 76: Chapter Seventy-Six There Is a Big Misunderstanding Between Him and Wei San…

Chapter 76: A Profound Misunderstanding

Wei San admitted he was gambling—betting that Wei Zheng harbored a sliver of compassion for him, betting that if he showed weakness and pleaded, Wei Zheng would soften and let him keep the child.

He lowered his head, anxiety churning within him, yet his expression remained outwardly calm as he stated, "Sui Yun has erred. Kneeling is his due."

Wei Zheng's brow furrowed, his voice stern and utterly disapproving. "You have indeed made a mistake, but the timing and nature of your punishment are for me to decide. Who authorized you to act on your own initiative?"

He made to help Wei San up, but Wei San placed a hand on his wrist, pressing gently and slowly shaking his head, his resolve unyielding.

This only fueled Wei Zheng's irritation. Unwilling to direct his anger at Wei San, he turned his fury on the servants behind them.

He questioned a maid, "How long has the Secondary Consort been kneeling?"

The maid flinched, trembling as she replied, "Approximately three hours."

So, Wei San had been kneeling since morning. Wei Zheng's face darkened, portending a storm.

He said in a chilling tone, "If the Secondary Consort insisted on kneeling, did none of you think to intervene?"

"Even if you didn't stop him, why did no one send word to me?"

"This servant deserves death!"

The maid who answered fought back tears, too terrified to cry, and the other eunuchs and maids knelt in unison, pleading for mercy.

"Where is Li Dan? Where is he? Such dereliction of duty—is this how you serve your master?"

Wei Zheng, still unsatisfied after scolding the maids, then called out the steward's name, clearly intending to hold everyone accountable.

The servants held their breath, sniffling softly. Wei San sighed helplessly, unwilling for his personal desires to implicate innocent people. He softly called out, "Your Highness, it is not their fault. I was the one who insisted on kneeling."

Wei Zheng stared at him in silence for a long moment before finally, through gritted teeth, he said, "Wei San, my patience has its limits."

Wei Zheng called him by his birth name directly, despite others being present, a clear indication of his profound anger.

Wei San's pupils trembled, his heart feeling as if it were being tightly squeezed, the pain sharp and numbing.

Ultimately, he had overestimated his standing in his master's heart. This grand gamble, he had likely lost.

The light in Wei San's eyes slowly faded. He bit his lower lip, drawing blood that filled his mouth with a metallic taste, yet he felt no pain.

He prostrated himself, his voice bitter. "This humble servant has overstepped. I beg for your punishment."

Wei Zheng let out a bitter laugh. Wei San's posture made it seem as though he were the one being unreasonable. He gnashed his teeth, "You have indeed made a mistake."

With that, he bent down, pulled Wei San up without a word, and then scooped him up in his arms.

Wei San, who had been bracing for a death sentence, suddenly felt the world spin. Instinctively, he threw his arms around Wei Zheng's neck, staring blankly at his angry profile, unsure what expression to make.

Wei Zheng was initially furious, but as he held the man in his arms—six or seven months pregnant yet surprisingly light, almost all bones to the touch—his anger began to subside.

The little assassin had always been utterly loyal. He must have struggled greatly before deciding to flee, enduring hardship during those two months away, and likely suffering immense inner turmoil. Now that he had been caught and knew he had erred, it was only natural that he would confess and accept punishment to regain favor. Why should he be so petty and quarrel with him, making him even more anxious?

Wei Zheng found countless justifications for Wei San in his heart, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt he shouldn't have been so harsh. His initially cold demeanor softened slightly.

Though his anger had largely dissipated, he couldn't simply let Wei San off the hook just yet, lest the latter think he had him completely under his thumb and become even more reckless in the future.

He gave a cold snort. "I will punish you properly."

With that, he kicked open the bedchamber door and carried Wei San inside.

The maids exchanged glances, then rose to close the door before discreetly retreating to the courtyard.

.

Wei San was placed on the daybed. The man who had spoken of punishing him then walked into the inner room, returning with a medicine bottle.

Wei San watched as Wei Zheng casually set the bottle on the low table, then leaned over, one hand braced on the edge of the daybed while the other undid the ties of his trousers.

The warm fingertips accidentally brushed against the skin of his waist and abdomen. Wei San flinched, instinctively reaching to press down on the back of Wei Zheng's hand.

"Master?"

He didn't understand—what was this about?

Wei Zheng offered no explanation, only issuing a cold command. "Release your hand."

Wei Zheng had never before shown him such a harsh tone.

So... the master had already grown tired of him...

Wei San's hand stiffened. He lowered his head, curled his fingers, and withdrew his hand.

Wei Zheng looked at the crestfallen and dejected assassin, feeling a mix of vindication and pity.

Without a word, he pulled down Wei San's trousers. As expected, Wei San's knees, already pale from years without sunlight, were swollen and bruised a deep purple from prolonged kneeling—a stark and painful sight.

Wei Zheng pressed his lips together, deeply displeased. He raised his eyes, intending to scold Wei San for bringing this upon himself, but seeing his forlorn expression, he ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it.

He picked up the medicine bottle. The ointment was cool, and he spread it slowly over the bruises on Wei San's knees with his fingertips.

To disperse bruises quickly, one had to press firmly. Wei Zheng applied considerable pressure, yet Wei San gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.

After about half a cup of tea's time, the bruises had faded slightly, no longer as shocking as before.

Wei Zheng wasn't entirely satisfied with the result, but too much pressure would be counterproductive. The remaining bruises would need to be treated gradually.

He set the medicine bottle back on the low table, then pulled up a chair to sit facing Wei San, adopting a stern and impartial expression. "Wei San, I will give you one chance to explain. If you cannot convince me, don't blame me for locking you up."

During the time Wei San was missing, he had genuinely considered locking him up upon his return. The manacles and chains had already been forged by a blacksmith and embedded in the wall. But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to use them on Wei San, hiding them carefully instead, afraid of frightening him.

He cherished Wei San so deeply, yet Wei San remained ungrateful, repeatedly provoking him and testing his patience.

If Wei San could provide a reasonable explanation and soften his attitude to coax him properly, making him happy, he might just consider forgiving him.

Wei Zheng waited patiently for Wei San's explanation, but the latter remained silent for a long time, lips pressed tightly together.

Wei San's mind was in turmoil. He didn't know how to begin. His fingers, resting on the satin surface of the daybed, curled and twitched unconsciously.

Just before Wei Zheng lost patience, he finally mustered the courage to meet his gaze. "This child... how does the master plan to handle him?"

Wei Zheng was taken aback. Handle the child?

"My legitimate eldest son will, of course, be raised properly."

He said it as though it were obvious, not understanding why Wei San would ask such a question.

Legitimate eldest son... So the master indeed intended to have him adopted by his future principal consort.

Wei San's heart turned cold, his lips trembling slightly as he forced himself to put on an ingratiating smile and said, "Could the child... be left to me?"

"What do you mean?"

Wei San's expression was truly dreadful, as if his beliefs and world had collapsed in an instant, leaving him teetering. Wei Zheng vaguely sensed something amiss and tried to untangle the logic behind Wei San's words, but the latter's eyes reddened, and he lowered his head in embarrassment.

He heard Wei San choke back a sob and say, "You will surely have other children in the future. One more or one less won’t make a difference, but I have only this child. Please, do not take him away. I will send him far away, ensuring he does not affect your relationship or life with your future princess."

Wei San felt deeply selfish and despicable. Clearly, the child would be best off following his master, yet he was being greedy and willful, wanting to keep him by his side.

The Virtuous Prince's legitimate eldest son—such a noble status was something countless people would fight tooth and nail to obtain. As a responsible father, he ought to let go.

Wei San suddenly deflated, sighing in despair, his voice bitter as he said, "My apologies, Master. Please regard my words as nonsense..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"Who told you that this prince intends to take the child away?"

Only then did Wei Zheng clearly realize that there was a significant misunderstanding between him and Wei San.

Wei San thought he had gone to great lengths to bring him back for the sake of the child in his belly. But what he truly sought was Wei San himself, unrelated to anything else.

Admittedly, the child’s existence brought him joy, but if forced to choose between the child and Wei San, he would unquestionably choose Wei San.

"Wei San, look up at this prince."

He commanded, his tone more forceful and resolute than ever before.

Wei San shuddered. He did not want his master to see him in such a distressed state, yet the instincts of an assassin compelled him to lift his head.

His eyelids half-lowered, his jawline taut, he resembled a prisoner awaiting a death sentence.

"Did I not tell you before that once this matter is settled, I would marry you with a grand procession and proper ceremony? This prince’s princess consort will only be you—no one can replace you."

"This prince’s legitimate eldest son will have only two fathers."

Wei Zheng had always been proud and self-assured, doing as he pleased and taking what he wanted without ever explaining himself to others. This time, however, he humbled himself for Wei San’s sake.

He took Wei San’s hand, cradling it in his palm, gently closing his fingers around it with the careful attitude of someone safeguarding a rare treasure.

"Did this prince forget to tell you that I love you?"

Never before had he set aside his status and pride just to confess his feelings to a mere assassin.

Wei Zheng fully expected that, having laid bare his true feelings so openly, the little assassin would be moved beyond words. Yet the little assassin, with his beautiful peach-blossom eyes wide open, replied helplessly and bewildered, "Master, why must you deceive me again?"

Someone like him—dull, rigid, and lowly—how could he possibly be worthy of his master’s affection?