Chapter 0255: Delicate and Powerless Man, Are You Out of Your Mind Cao Que

Xie Chengze had been imprisoned.

A long black iron chain was fastened around his ankle, the cold metal wrapped in white-brown fur. While it wouldn’t cut his delicate skin, it was still heavy enough to clank with every step, weighing down Xie Chengze’s heart as well.

He never imagined that one day he would become the victim of forced confinement.

Ah, kids these days…

He was just testing the waters, not outright refusing. At worst, he could stay in the palace with Xie Jinyu for eight or nine years, curing him of his insecurity before going traveling. But the boy wouldn’t listen to reason, hastily locking him up in a panic, terrified he might flee Jingcheng.

Being a kindergarten teacher is truly difficult.

Dragging the iron chain, Xie Chengze walked to the door and slapped it with both hands, shouting at the two blurred figures outside, “Hey, is anyone there? Open the door!”

No one responded. Xie Chengze licked his finger and spent some time poking through the window paper. Peeking through the small hole, he identified the guards’ uniforms as belonging to the Imperial Guards before shouting, “You outside! This prince has business with Cao Que! Go fetch Cao Que!”

The two guards exchanged glances, then turned and respectfully replied to Xie Chengze, “We beg the Prince Regent’s understanding. The Crown Prince has ordered that no matter who you wish to see, we cannot relay the message.”

“Not even if I want to see the Crown Prince?” Xie Chengze nearly laughed in frustration.

“No.”

“Fine then.”

Xie Chengze clapped his hands and took a few steps back.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t some delicate young maiden from ancient novels who, once locked in her chambers by elders, could only wait helplessly for rescue.

He was a genuine man, naturally endowed with physical strength. A mere locked wooden door couldn’t possibly confine a grown man like him!

If he just used all his strength—!

Xie Chengze took a deep breath, then assumed a charging stance and rushed toward the two large wooden doors!

“Ah—thud—ow!”

One human cry, one impact sound, another human cry.

Hugging his nearly broken arm, Xie Chengze crouched down, silently shedding tears.

Damn it, he should have listened to his elder brother and exercised more diligently!

It hurts so much!

Wahhh, why must heaven treat a delicate and powerless man like him this way!

Hearing the crashing sound, the two guards outside panicked and hurriedly asked Xie Chengze inside, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Xie Chengze had a sudden idea and immediately collapsed, pretending to faint. The two guards, hearing no response, grew frantic and quickly took out the keys to open the door. Upon seeing Xie Chengze unconscious, one guard said to the other, “Hurry and fetch the imperial physician!”

The other guard nodded hastily and ran out to find the physician. The remaining guard moved to lift Xie Chengze and carry him to the bed, but suddenly felt his scabbard lighten. By the time he realized what was happening, Xie Chengze had already drawn the long sword from his waist and pressed it against his own neck.

“Your Highness!” The guard panicked, never expecting Xie Chengze to be feigning unconsciousness. “P-please be careful! This sword is heavy! The slightest slip and…”

“Summon Cao Que!” Xie Chengze’s eyes turned icy as he cut him off, his tone frigid and sharp. “Do not inform the Crown Prince. And bring back some melon seeds and tea while you’re at it. Otherwise, this prince will die right here, leaving you unable to account for your duty!”

The guard was taken aback, sensing something oddly out of place in these demands given the tense atmosphere. But seeing Xie Chengze—utterly inexperienced—press the blade directly against his own neck, the guard feared that if he were injured, the Crown Prince’s wrath would lead to his execution. He hastily retreated several steps, pleading, “Your Highness! This humble officer will go at once! Please, do not act rashly!”

After all, with the iron chains securing him, the Prince Regent couldn’t escape far, and since Cao Que was also the Crown Prince’s man, summoning him shouldn’t pose a problem.

The guard hurried off.

Only after both guards had left did Xie Chengze lower the long sword. His inexperience was evident—unaware of how sharp the Imperial Guard’s blades were, he nicked his skin as he moved the weapon away, causing a bead of blood, small as a millet grain, to well up.

Feeling the sting, Xie Chengze wiped his neck: …

His fate was truly bitter!

Even a wretched blade bullied him! Would he end up with tetanus?

When Cao Que stepped into the room, he found Xie Chengze seated on the floor, one hand braced against the ground, looking delicate and frail. Clutching his bleeding neck, he muttered something under his breath, exuding an aura of a resentful maiden.

Spotting Cao Que, he wailed with profound grievance, “Commander Cao, boohoo, look what your Crown Prince has done!”

Cao Que: …

Frowning slightly, Cao Que turned to the guiding guard. “What happened?”

The guard hastily waved his hands. “This humble officer doesn’t know! The Prince Regent seized the sword! I did nothing!”

“As a military officer, losing your weapon is inexcusable. Go receive your punishment,” Cao Que ordered impassively. The unfortunate guard, wearing a pained expression, placed the melon seeds and tea in the inner room before leaving to face the lash.

Xie Chengze craned his neck to watch the guard depart. “There was really no need to punish him. It was my own carelessness…”

“Your Highness,” Cao Que interrupted him, “for what matter have you summoned this humble officer?”

“Ahem.” Secretly grumbling that Cao Que was as dense as a block of wood, showing him no pity, Xie Chengze clutched his neck and moved toward the tea table, gesturing for Cao Que to sit. “It’s a long story.”

He sat down, personally poured a cup of tea for Cao Que, and said, “As you can see, I am, after all, the Prince Regent. Yet your Crown Prince has imprisoned me here—what kind of propriety is this!”

He fumed, “And he’s chained me up in such a despicable manner!”

Xie Chengze kicked at the iron chains on his feet, then shifted his tone. “So, could you speak to the Crown Prince and have the Ministry of Works make a finer, lighter chain? This one is really heavy—unsuitable for confining someone as delicate as me.”

Cao Que: …

After a long silence, Cao Que slowly exposed the truth, “Your Highness has allies in the Ministry of Works. If this news gets out, I fear Lord Shen would immediately track you down.”

Xie Chengze: …

Cao Que calmly took a sip of tea.

Xie Chengze shot him a glance and sneered, “Aren’t you afraid I drugged it?”

“Your Highness underestimates this humble officer’s capabilities. Moreover, this tea was fetched together with that guard… Thud.”

The next moment, Cao Que collapsed onto the tea table.

Xie Chengze: !!!

“Holy shit?” Xie Chengze was startled, frantically trying to push Cao Que to check his condition. “Wait, I didn’t poison him! How did he actually faint?”

Then he saw Cao Que sit up again with an expressionless face.

Xie Chengze: ???

“The Prince Regent is so easy to fool,” Cao Que said calmly.

Xie Chengze: …

What the hell? Are you insane?!