Chapter 114: Extra: About the Throne 5

Chapter 114: Another Side Story: About the Emperor's Throne 5

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was startled and quickly knelt to apologize: "Your Majesty, please see clearly, I have no such intention!"

Su Zheng paid him no further attention and turned back to the youth, as if asking if he had more to say.

The youth let out a barely perceptible sneer and said bitterly: "I went to the yamen to plead my case, but the Commandant's Office used their power to oppress me, and the yamen, afraid to accept the case, instead charged me with falsely accusing the powerful. One round of beatings already cost me my leg! Another round of beatings would cost me my life—what does it matter? I can lose my life, but I cannot lose justice!"

Su Zheng frowned and looked at the youth's legs. Earlier, when the youth knelt, his movements seemed a bit awkward. He had initially thought it was due to the youth's emotional state and hadn't thought much about it, but he never expected it to be so tragic.

Su Zheng quietly signaled to Luo Yan: "Help him up. No need to kneel."

Luo Yunchen also finished reading the petition and spoke to the youth: "His Majesty is benevolent and wise, and will not punish you for disturbing the imperial presence; the fifty beatings are waived. Once the truth is uncovered, if your grievance proves true, His Majesty will certainly not tolerate the wicked and will grant you justice. But if you have spoken even half a falsehood, once verified, your punishment will be increased by one degree, and there will be no leniency. Do you have any objection?"

The youth's tightly wound emotions seemed to finally find release at this moment. He lifted his sleeve to wipe his eyes, his expression growing even more resolute, and was about to kneel and bow in thanks.

Su Zheng stopped him and summoned the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Justice, saying: "Grand Tutor Min, Minister Xing, General Luo, the three of you will oversee the Supreme Court to look into this matter quickly. Verify the entire case from beginning to end clearly, and report the progress to me or the Grand General at any time."

The Grand Tutor, the Minister of Justice, and Luo Yan accepted the decree in unison and led their men to handle the matter.

Su Zheng then looked at the youth and asked: "Do you have any family?"

"My father passed away early; I have no relatives."

Su Zheng nodded, summoned Xu Mo, and said: "Find a room in the palace for him to stay. During this time, Jiang Ming is entrusted to you. Even when the Supreme Court interrogates him, he must not leave your sight, understand?"

Xu Mo clasped his hands: "Understood, I'll obey!"

Glancing at the youth, Su Zheng added to Xu Mo: "Call the Imperial Medical Institute to examine Jiang Ming and make sure to heal his legs."

"Yes!"

Xu Mo led the person away.

Su Zheng did not let this matter distract him from the soldiers; the welcome banquet was still held.

Su Zheng was slightly tipsy from drinking and was half-carried, half-supported back to the bedchamber by Luo Yunchen.

Luo Yunchen had hot water prepared and personally undressed Su Zheng for a bath.

Su Zheng watched Luo Yunchen's movements as he untied his sash, tilted his head, and smiled drunkenly and goofily: "Little wolf, you're taking off~my~clothes~again~~~"

Originally, Luo Yunchen, worried that Su Zheng's strong smell of alcohol would be unpleasant if exposed for too long, had no other intentions and only wanted to quickly help Su Zheng bathe and freshen up. He paused, looked up at Su Zheng's silly smile, and repeated: "Little wolf? Taking off your clothes?"

Su Zheng nodded, his finger tapping Luo Yunchen's lips: "My little wolf, Luo Yunchen, always wants to devour me whole, eating me up cleanly, in a lewd and domineering way..."

Luo Yunchen lowered his eyes, wanting to ask Su Zheng if brother was disgusted...

Before Luo Yunchen could finish his thought, he heard Su Zheng suddenly throw his head back and giggle dreamily: "But my little wolf is at his most sexy and charming when he's lost in passion, hehe, I love it, hehe..."

Luo Yunchen was stunned. He looked up at Su Zheng's lips, which were curved in a smile that wouldn't fade, and after a long moment, he too let out a low laugh.

He kissed Su Zheng's smooth, bare neck and chuckled: "Brother likes it? Then I'll let you watch me eat later..."

Su Zheng seemed to feel ticklish; he reached out to wrap his arms around Luo Yunchen's neck and rubbed his head against Luo Yunchen's hair.

Luo Yunchen lifted him up and placed him into the bathtub.

In the steaming mist, Su Zheng's already fuzzy mind became even hazier. His arms still around Luo Yunchen's neck, he seemed to have completely forgotten the previous conversation, squinting his dazed eyes at Luo Yunchen and smiling foolishly: "It's my little cub!"

Luo Yunchen had no problem with the nickname Su Zheng used; he carefully bathed Su Zheng while softly responding: "Mm, I'm yours."

"Is my little cub happy now..."

Su Zheng's head wobbled as if it could no longer hold itself up, eventually falling onto Luo Yunchen's shoulder, murmuring softly: "You should be happy, right? Your darkening value has dropped by half..."

The water splashed noisily; Luo Yunchen didn't catch Su Zheng's muttering and asked: "What did you say, brother?"

Su Zheng rubbed against Luo Yunchen's neck again, struggled to lift his head, looked Luo Yunchen in the eye, and said seriously: "You have to help me; I'm not as capable as you..."

"Help me stabilize the court quickly, let the people live in peace and prosperity, and find an heir..."

"When the world is at peace, we can be free and carefree..."

"Let me tell you, I won't be so useless forever. Wait for me; when my power comes back, I'll be strong, and I'll be able to protect you..."

"Then I'll take you traveling through the mountains and rivers, just the two of us. You'll be my wife. During the day, I'll hunt and fish for you, keeping you fair and tender. At night, I'll hold you while we sleep, hehehe..."

Luo Yunchen's eyes flickered; he lowered his head and kissed Su Zheng's lips, which were opening and closing as he babbled endlessly.

So brother has such "rebellious" thoughts—how delicious and adorable!

To travel the mountains and rivers?

Thinking about it, just the two of them, it seems quite nice...

But, Luo Yunchen leaned close to Su Zheng's ear and whispered softly: "Will you take me with you wherever you go, brother?"

Su Zheng couldn't hold himself up any longer and fell back onto Luo Yunchen, his eyelids drooping heavily as he murmured: "Yes... bring you... only my little cub... I like you..."

His voice was already too low to be heard. In the misty steam, Luo Yunchen seemed to hear his own joyful heartbeat, excited and strong.

Gazing intently at Su Zheng, who had fallen asleep leaning against him, a feeling of fulfillment rose up. Luo Yunchen tightened his arms around Su Zheng, as if holding a recovered treasure, cherishing him deeply.

"Ding—the male lead's darkening value has decreased. Current darkening value level: Level 4. Host, please continue to strive, complete the mission, and obtain the reward!"

Su Zheng's eyelids twitched; he instinctively burrowed deeper into Luo Yunchen's embrace. Surrounded by the familiar and reassuring scent, without even opening his eyes, he muttered groggily: "Don't make noise... I want to sleep..."

Luo Yunchen smiled at Su Zheng, wrapped him in a bathrobe, and carried him to bed while coaxing softly: "Be good, brother. Drink the sobering soup before sleeping, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."

He picked up the bowl of soup and brought it to Su Zheng's lips, but Su Zheng didn't stir, sleeping soundly.

Luo Yunchen gave a helpless smile, his tone teasing but tinged with joy: "Is brother waiting for me to feed you mouth to mouth?"

He stirred slightly—listening closely, he was already letting out a faint snore.

Luo Yunchen's smile remained. He took a sip of the soup, leaned down, gently touched Su Zheng's nose, then lowered his head and fed Su Zheng the soup, not a single drop spilled, not a single drop remained.