IRBSC 121

Chapter 121

Gu Yuanbai suddenly moved.

He strode towards Xue Yuan and abruptly drew Xue Yuan’s saber from its scabbard.

The saber’s cold light reflected on the Prince Regent’s face. Gu Yuanbai was furious, his head pounding, his internal organs churning with nausea. He gritted his teeth, “I’ll kill you!”

Xue Yuan, terrified, stopped him, gripping his knife-wielding wrist, fearing he would hurt himself. “Your Majesty, you can’t kill him.”

Gu Yuanbai wouldn’t listen.

Even though he knew he and the Prince Regent weren’t true brothers, they were still related by blood. Whether it was the former Gu Lian or the current Gu Yuanbai, they had both regarded the Prince Regent as a brother for twenty-two years!

The Emperor’s eyes were bloodshot, his breathing heavy, his chest constricted. He still stared at the Prince Regent, “Gu Zhao—! I will kill you, I must kill you!”

Gu Yuanbai’s head throbbed with sharp, unrelenting pain, his hand trembling with rage, the saber shaking along with it.

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Glancing at the Prince Regent from the corner of his eye, a sneer played on his lips, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

The Prince Regent, watching their intimacy, felt a surge of bitterness rise in his throat. He clutched at the fabric over his chest, his heart aching with pain, yet he remained motionless, watching them.

He never intended to drag Gu Yuanbai down with him. Gu Yuanbai shouldn’t like men. He had hidden it so deeply, suppressed it so fiercely, wanting Gu Yuanbai to live a pure life. How dare Xue Yuan?

Gu Yuanbai buried his face in Xue Yuan’s neck. After a long while, the trembling from his extreme anger finally subsided. He clenched his hands and said hoarsely, “Take him out.”

The Prince Regent was thrown out by Xue Yuan.

The former prince, once so proud, lay prostrate on the ground, his dignity shattered. His hands trembling, he struggled to lift himself from the flagstones.

The servants of the Prince’s residence wanted to help him up, but Xue Yuan drew his sword and said, “Your Prince likes to lie on the ground; he doesn’t like being helped.”

It took a long time for these words to register in the Prince Regent’s numbed mind. Staring at the tips of Xue Yuan’s shoes, in front of all his servants, he gritted his teeth and shakily stood up.

Gu Yuanbai stepped out of the study from behind Xue Yuan.

The Emperor’s face was frosty, his eyes icy. His gaze swept over the surrounding people, and he said, “Bring wine.”

Moments later, guards brought several jars of wine. Gu Yuanbai had them pour the wine around the study, then extended his hand to Tian Fusheng, “Flint and steel.”

Tian Fusheng struck the flint and steel, respectfully offering it to Gu Yuanbai.

Gu Yuanbai raised his hand, his sleeve brushing past, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it. The spark instantly ignited the wine, the flames spreading, quickly engulfing the entire study.

The flickering red light of the fire reflected on Gu Yuanbai’s face, highlighting the cold indifference in his expression. The Prince Regent’s face changed dramatically, and he instinctively tried to rush into the burning study, but was instantly pinned down by several guards. His expression contorted, he pleaded, “Gu Lian, you can’t burn it!”

He struggled violently, the veins in his hands bulging, and the guards almost lost their grip on him. “Your Highness, you cannot go over there.”

Gu Yuanbai finally looked down at him, his voice tight, “Gu Zhao, do you still want to keep it?”

When angered, he became breathless and weak. Gu Yuanbai took a deep breath and looked away. He didn’t turn around until the fire had consumed the entire inner chamber, until everyone in the residence had been alerted by the blaze. Then he turned and started to leave.

The hem of his moon-white robe, embroidered with golden dragons, swirled with every movement, emanating an aura of fierce power and anger. The Prince Regent reached out, but before he could grasp the swirling golden dragon, Xue Yuan gently pulled Gu Yuanbai away, dodging the Prince Regent’s hand.

Gu Yuanbai passed him without pausing.

After a few steps, he encountered the Princess Regent, supported by a maid.

The Princess Regent was seven or eight months pregnant, but she looked excessively frail. Her wrists and neck were thin, her face pale and bloodless, only her belly was alarmingly large.

The Princess glanced at Gu Yuanbai, then at the burning study behind him. As she watched, tears streamed down her face.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted, and she felt a long-lost sense of relief.

Seeing her, Gu Yuanbai pursed his lips, “Imperial Physician, come and examine the Princess.”

The accompanying Imperial Physician stepped forward and took her pulse. After a moment, he said tactfully, “The Princess is in good health, but she is somewhat melancholic. She must not overthink, as it is harmful to both herself and the child.”

The Princess wiped away her tears, “I understand.”

Gu Yuanbai pondered for a moment, then asked, “Can she travel a long distance?”

The Imperial Physician was startled, “May I ask Your Majesty, what ‘long distance’ are you referring to, from where to where?”

“From here to the Hebei Imperial Retreat,” Gu Yuanbai’s eyes darkened. “She can recuperate there and accompany the Royal Consort.”

The Imperial Physician was still pondering, but the Princess bowed deeply and said resolutely, “I am willing to go to the Imperial Retreat to accompany the Royal Consort. It is peaceful there, most suitable for raising a child. I dare to request Your Majesty’s permission. As long as I travel slowly and steadily, there will be no problems.”

The Imperial Physician nodded, “The Princess is correct.”

“Then prepare to depart for the Imperial Retreat today,” Gu Yuanbai started walking again. “From this day forward, without my command, no one from the Prince Regent’s residence is allowed to step outside.”

The Prince Regent’s residence was thrown into complete chaos.

After the Princess Regent boarded the carriage for the Imperial Retreat and left the residence, a retainer surnamed Wang pushed open the Prince Regent’s door.

“Your Highness,” Mr. Wang lit incense he had taken from his sleeve, his voice filled with worry, “The residence is under guard.”

After a long while, the Prince Regent managed a wry smile. “You used to tell me that His Majesty was very concerned about me. Back then, I scolded you for not understanding. Now, do you understand?”

Mr. Wang remained silent.

The Prince Regent took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance in the room. In a daze, he seemed to see Gu Yuanbai standing before him, looking down at him with a sneer, saying, “My dear brother, how did you become so pathetic?”

“Isn’t it because of you?” the Prince Regent murmured, the illusion fading. He rubbed his face in frustration.

Mr. Wang glanced at the incense, which had burned halfway down, and sighed. “Your Highness, the incense in the residence is running low.”

The Prince Regent paused for a moment. “There’s still plenty in the private storehouse. Take what you need. If you can trade for more, then trade. If not, then let it be. I won’t force it.”

A glint flashed in Mr. Wang’s eyes. “Yes.”

On the way back to the palace, Gu Yuanbai remained silent, his face grim.

Xue Yuan tried to persuade him, “Your Majesty, you cannot kill the Prince Regent.”

“I know,” Gu Yuanbai’s fingertips dug deeply into his palm. “He actually dared—”

Xue Yuan took his hand, unclenching his fingers, a sneer forming in his own heart.

No wonder the Prince Regent’s attitude towards him had always been hostile and strange. To harbor such thoughts for Gu Yuanbai, his own brother… if the late Emperor knew, he would jump out of his coffin in rage.

“Such a person deserves to be beheaded,” Xue Yuan said. “Anyone who dares to have such disrespectful thoughts towards Your Majesty should be prepared to die.”

Gu Yuanbai diverted a sliver of his attention from his anger and glanced at him.

Xue Yuan continued, his expression unchanging, “Of course, this does not include me.” After all, he was the one who had asked Heaven for permission to marry the Emperor. 

(Translator’s note: I burst out laughing. Damn, Xue Yuan is crazy. Excuse me. Don’t mind me. I just can’t help but interrupt. Hahaha.)

After saying a few words to appease Gu Yuanbai’s anger, Xue Yuan examined Gu Yuanbai’s foot, applying medicine. Seeing that it was still red, he couldn’t resist gently scratching the itchy spot, sighing, a mixture of delight and worry in his voice, “How can they be so tender?”

Gu Yuanbai pulled his foot back. Xue Yuan sat beside him, draping his arm over Gu Yuanbai’s shoulder, earnestly advising, “Your Majesty, someone like the Prince Regent is thick-skinned and shameless. If you feel bad, vent your anger on me. Otherwise, if you keep thinking about him, he will be delighted.”

“You’re right,” Gu Yuanbai’s expression hardened. He said coldly, “I won’t think about this matter anymore.”

Xue Yuan smiled and stroked the Emperor’s back. When they arrived back at the palace, he jumped out of the carriage first, lifted his robe, knelt on one knee in front of the carriage, patted his outstretched left leg, and raised a playful eyebrow at the Emperor.

“Your Majesty’s feet are tender, don’t step on the footstool, step on my leg,” Xue Yuan said. “I won’t budge an inch, I guarantee a steady footing.”

Gu Yuanbai stood in the carriage, looking down at him, frowning. “Get out of the way.”

He didn’t have the bad habit of using people as footstools.

Xue Yuan: “Please grant me this favor, Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai turned his face, intending to exit from the other side. Xue Yuan rose, nimbly moved around the carriage, and lifted his robe again, blocking the exit just in time. “Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai, his face dark, stepped on Xue Yuan’s thigh and descended from the carriage.

As Xue Yuan had said, his legs were very strong, easily supporting Gu Yuanbai’s weight. In fact, they were so firm that Gu Yuanbai felt as if he had stepped on a stone.

But this feeling… seemed somewhat familiar.

The Emperor’s expression flickered.

Xue Yuan stood up, cherishing the footprint on his knee. The sole of the Emperor’s shoe was also very clean, and he was reluctant to brush away the faint mark. Turning his head, he saw the Captain of the Guards looking at him hesitantly. Xue Yuan smiled faintly, “Captain Zhang, why are you looking at me like that?”

The Captain of the Guards was about to speak, but Xue Yuan suddenly strode past him, catching up to Gu Yuanbai. “Where is Your Majesty going? Shall I carry you there?”

“Xue Jiuyao,” Gu Yuanbai said, his tone unpredictable, “Did you do something unspeakable with my foot last night?”

Xue Yuan feigned ignorance, frowning. “What?”

Gu Yuanbai stopped abruptly. “Did you make me touch that beast’s thing?”

Xue Yuan’s scalp tingled. “Your Majesty, don’t curse.”

He couldn’t bear it when the Emperor cursed at him.

Gu Yuanbai let out two cold laughs, assuming he still had some shame. “Beast’s thing, beast’s thing.”

He repeated the curse three times.

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