Chapter 74 It’s Not Your Fault

Chapter 74: It's Not Your Fault

"Your condition was quite severe at the time. Given the current state of medicine, the physicians couldn't guarantee anything.

But the male lead wouldn't listen to that. He grabbed the best doctors from across the city and stationed his men at the door with swords drawn, ordering them to save your life or else be buried alive with you.

After that, he ran to the palace covered in wounds, stole medicine from the Imperial Hospital, and only brought you back to the palace after stabilizing your injuries."

Upon hearing this, Su Zheng felt something was off and asked, "What about Luo Yunchen? He was also seriously injured, wasn't he? Didn't he get treatment?"

"He got some basic care—sprinkled on some hemostatic powder and wrapped himself up like a mummy. But it was all in vain."

"What do you mean? What happened next?"

"After you were sent back to the palace with serious injuries, Emperor Yuanjing was naturally furious.

After hearing the full story, he immediately punished Luo Yunchen for failing to protect the crown prince, sentencing him to thirty lashes and confinement in a dark room.

However, Luo Yunchen pleaded with Emperor Yuanjing to let him make amends by personally serving the crown prince—that is, you.

The punishment was reduced to ten lashes daily and two hours in the water dungeon.

For the past three days, the male lead has been going to the water dungeon for two hours after you fell asleep, enduring a whipping.

Then he would come back, quickly wash and bathe, apply medicine, wrap himself up as a mummy again, and then caring for you almost without rest."

Su Zheng listened, a surge of inexplicable anger rising in him: "That damned old man! Always picking on the weak!

Even without evidence, who was behind the assassination attempt on me? Can't Emperor Yuanjing figure it out?

He's not senile, just an idiot!

He must know clearly that Luo Yunchen was involved only by association, yet he still picks on him for being powerless and unable to fight back, using him as a scapegoat and whipping boy!

Damn it! The little wolf I risked my life to save is getting half-killed again! Goddammit!"

"Host, the male lead brought back the corpse of the Fifth Prince's adviser, but there's no evidence left. The Fifth Prince denied any involvement, playing innocent, and Emperor Yuanjing only scolded him for being careless in choosing his associates, sentencing him to house arrest.

But Empress Shen wouldn't let it go. She demanded that Emperor Yuanjing thoroughly investigate the matter in the name of avenging you.

Empress Shen wouldn't let up, so Emperor Yuanjing had to agree to continue the investigation, but most of the officials sent to investigate were from the Lin Faction."

"Emperor Yuanjing doesn't favor Empress Shen and the Shen Faction as much anymore. Naturally, he doesn't want them to gain too much power. The Fifth Prince and the Lin faction are the best counterbalance against the Shen faction. How could Emperor Yuanjing punish the Fifth Prince at a time like this?"

Su Zheng exchanged a few more brief questions and answers with the system, then called Xu Mo in.

Xu Mo entered the hall, head bowed, and bowed: "Your Highness."

"Go get the imperial physician. Also, send word to the Emperor that I've woken up and am out of danger, so he doesn't need to worry.

Furthermore, tell him that I'm used to Heir Luo serving me. I don't want him to get sick and be unable to take care of me. Please ask the Emperor to excuse Heir Luo from the punishment. For the rest, I'll go along with whatever the Emperor decides."

Xu Mo looked up in surprise, glanced toward the inner hall, then quickly dropped his head again. Just as he was about to respond, Luo Yunchen walked into the hall just then.

Luo Yunchen carried a tray, didn't glance at Xu Mo, and went straight to the inner hall: "A Zheng, come eat."

Su Zheng told Xu Mo, "Guard Xu, you may go."

"Yes!" Xu Mo bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

As if he hadn't noticed Xu Mo come or go at all, Luo Yunchen arranged the tray and said to Su Zheng, "A Zheng, I brought you some meat congee. You can't eat spicy or irritating food, so I had them make light and tasty meatballs of different kinds, along with stewed pigeon and bone soup. Try it, A Zheng. If you don't like it, I'll have them make something else."

"Mm."

"I can't feed you well like this. Let me help you sit up a bit, okay?"

Su Zheng nodded his agreement.

Luo Yunchen gently lifted Su Zheng and carefully adjusted him so he was half-reclining, half-leaning against the pillow.

Su Zheng was taken aback for a moment. He'd thought Luo Yunchen would do what he always did—hold him in his arms without a word and feed him.

To his surprise, Luo Yunchen was really well-behaved this time. He set Su Zheng down and sat beside him to feed him.

"Come, try this, A Zheng."

Su Zheng swallowed the food off the spoon and asked Luo Yunchen, "Where's your meal?"

"I'm not hungry. I'll eat after you finish, A Zheng."

If he hadn't learned from the system that the little wolf had barely eaten or drunk anything during his three-day coma, he might have bought that.

Su Zheng sighed inwardly and said, "Let's eat together."

"Mm?" Luo Yunchen looked up, surprised.

"What's with that 'mm'? You think you're so impressive, turning yourself into such a miserable sight? Who are you trying to show off to?"

Luo Yunchen lowered his eyes slightly and murmured, "I didn't... I'm not impressive at all. I failed to protect A Zheng. I let you collapse right in front of me. I haven't even made you stop being angry, I haven't made you happy, and then you stopped talking to me. It's all my fault. I'm useless. I deserve to die..."

"Warning! Male lead's darkening value is rising! Male lead's darkening value is upgrading! Current darkening value: Level Seven!"

"Warning! Male lead's darkening value is rising! Male lead's darkening value is upgrading! Current darkening value: Level Eight!"

Su Zheng was startled, almost jumping out of bed!

Damn it, what's the little wolf going crazy about now?!

Why did the darkening value increase so much?!

Wasn't it almost at Level Four before?!

"Host! Hurry and soothe the male lead!"

"Sooth?"

"That means say what the male lead likes to hear! Do what the male lead likes to do!"

Su Zheng: "..."

The darkening value was urgent, so Su Zheng didn't hesitate. He grabbed Luo Yunchen's wrist and gently coaxed, "A Chen, A Chen, it's not your fault. I didn't ignore you. Look at me, I'm right here."

Luo Yunchen's wrist seemed to twitch slightly, but he still didn't lift his head to look at Su Zheng.

Su Zheng pinched Luo Yunchen's chin and forced him to look up.

The moment Luo Yunchen raised his eyes, Su Zheng's pupils sharply contracted.

Luo Yunchen's eyes were blood red, like an abyss of gore. Although his gaze was fixed on Su Zheng, it seemed to pierce through Su Zheng and look into a void.

Su Zheng got a fright from Luo Yunchen for the first time. His heart clenched, and his fingers, gripping Luo Yunchen’s, trembled involuntarily as he subconsciously wanted to escape.

Just as his fingers were about to loosen, Su Zheng's near-instinctive reason told him he must not retreat, must not panic!

Su Zheng took a deep breath, pulled Luo Yunchen's chin closer, forcing him to raise his head and lean forward.

The next second, Su Zheng unhesitatingly closed in, pressed their thin lips together, soft and slightly cool.

Luo Yunchen's body seemed to freeze for a moment. His eyes flickered, as if about to focus on Su Zheng's eyes.

Su Zheng closed his eyes, slightly parted his lips, and carefully and slowly extended his tongue to probe inside...

Luo Yunchen felt his mind explode with a bang, and his gaze completely focused on Su Zheng's closed eyes.

His hands clenched tightly, and the spoon in his hand broke, but he still held it firmly.

Luo Yunchen used all his strength to control himself, firmly suppressing the mad urge to push A Zheng back and kiss him passionately.