Chapter 0263: Gentle and Kind Xie Jinyu, The Tyrant Who Deserves a Miserable Death

After leaving Taiji Hall, Xie Shu stood at a secluded corner nearby, waiting for Xie Ping An to arrive.

Soon, Xie Ping An came jogging over. However, the moment their eyes met, Xie Ping An suddenly halted, his expression flickering several times.

Almost simultaneously, alarm bells rang in Xie Shu’s mind.

A martial artist’s intuition sent chills crawling down her spine. She stiffly turned her head and saw Xie Jinyu, clad in golden robes, calmly lowering his gaze as he pressed a hand on her shoulder, the force nearly crushing her bones.

“Did your mother never teach you not to run around recklessly in the palace?”

Xie Jinyu’s voice was exceedingly calm, yet the oppressive aura around him made Xie Shu’s scalp tingle. She forced a strained smile and said, “Crown Prince…”

Xie Shu was somewhat afraid of this third imperial brother. When she and her elder sister used to seek out their second brother to play as children, Xie Jinyu would always stare at them with a gloomy gaze. Yet, the moment their second brother turned around, Xie Jinyu would put on an obedient and gentle smile.

Later, their mother had warned them not to approach Cheng Huan Palace.

Perhaps their mother understood the temperaments of those in Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace all too well. Fearing that one day they might be sent off by the Emperor or the Crown Prince for a political marriage, she had them practice martial arts, archery, and horseback riding from a young age. Xie Shu had initially thought her mother was overthinking things, but after reading that letter last night, she began to understand something.

She, Xie Ping An, Xie Shoujun, Xie Zimiao, and even Shen Yuan—all of them were nothing but eyesores to Xie Jinyu.

He had already tolerated their presence in the imperial palace; they should not covet the person he had set his sights on.

Otherwise, they would bear the consequences.

“Did Shen Yuan send you?” Xie Jinyu’s cold eyes swept over her strained smile as he let out a faint, derisive snort. “If you’re this timid, don’t do things you know could cost you your life. Don’t let yourself be used for nothing.”

Xie Shu’s heart turned cold. Although Xie Jinyu rarely spoke to them, he had never been this harsh before. It seemed he was truly angry.

She quickly lowered her head, showing submission, and said, “I acted alone. I was just concerned about Second Brother’s condition. It has nothing to do with my elder sister.”

Xie Jinyu cast an indifferent glance at Xie Ping An, who was striding over, and after a long pause, curved his lips into a gentle yet chilling smile. “It’s fine. I know how close you siblings are, and I trust you know what to say when you return.”

He hinted meaningfully, “Now that the Emperor has passed away, and all the gunpowder is in my hands, if the Xiongnu invade…”

Whether or not to arrange a political marriage was entirely up to him.

These two imperial sisters were smart enough to know what to do.

Xie Shu trembled slightly and hurriedly said, “We didn’t find Second Brother.”

Only then did Xie Jinyu withdraw his hand, brushing past Xie Shu as he headed toward Taiji Hall. “Go back.”

As he passed Xie Ping An, he paused briefly and said calmly, “Chancellor Li should retire and return to his hometown.”

Xie Ping An froze. Only after Xie Jinyu had walked away did he pat Xie Shu’s back and ask, “Are you alright?”

Xie Shu shook her head and asked in return, “What did he just say to you?”

“The court is about to change,” Xie Ping An said with a bitter smile. “Third Sister, I’m afraid our days ahead will not be easy.”

Chancellor Li Ren was her maternal grandfather, and Xi Fei was the chancellor’s daughter. Once the chancellor retired, not only would she be affected, but even Xi Fei would have to tread carefully in the rear palace.

If they continued to oppose the Crown Prince, their fate would be predictable.

The temperamental emperor would not tolerate those who repeatedly defied him.

“Let’s go.” Xie Ping An adjusted her appearance before speaking to Xie Shu. “Don’t involve yourself in this matter anymore.”

The Crown Prince probably wouldn’t harm Second Brother—they had already done all they could.

Xie Shu nodded.

Before leaving, she glanced in the direction of Taiji Hall.

If only Second Brother were emperor…

…

Xie Ping An found Shen Yuan and informed him they hadn’t located Second Prince.

Shen Yuan wasn’t surprised. The fact that he hadn’t retrieved the letter from the princess already spoke volumes.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I understand now.” Shen Yuan bowed to Xie Ping An.

Xie Ping An nodded and left without looking back.

Wuhen and Wuji returned empty-handed. Hearing Shen Yuan say the search was unnecessary, they frowned. “Why?”

“We already know where he is.” Though faint, the scent lingering on Xie Ping An’s clothes indicated where she had recently been. “The letter I gave has been delivered. For now, we stay put to avoid alerting the enemy.”

Wuji grumbled impatiently, “Why all the trouble? Wouldn’t it be simpler to just kill the Crown Prince, rescue His Highness, and put him on the throne?”

Shen Yuan replied calmly, “If His Highness agreed, I wouldn’t stop you.”

Wuji clicked his tongue in annoyance.

This Shen fellow clearly knew how kind-hearted his lord was, hence his response.

Meanwhile, Xie Jinyu entered Taiji Hall and slowly walked down the long corridor.

His black-soled golden boots stepped heavily and rhythmically on the wooden floor, like drumsticks beating on a muffled drum—oppressive and monotonous.

Dismissing the guards with a wave, he opened the door to find Xie Chengze sitting at a wooden table in thin inner garments, chopsticks paused mid-air. Seeing him, Chengze offered his usual smile. “Jinyu, you’re early today.”

Xie Jinyu walked to the bedside, picked up the outer robe, and draped it over him. “The morning is chilly. Don’t catch a cold.”

Xie Chengze hummed in acknowledgment, his gaze following Jinyu until he sat opposite. Then he said slowly, “Why didn’t you come keep me company last night?”

Xie Jinyu’s hand, reaching for chopsticks, stilled.

Xie Chengze had expected this remark to please him, but instead, Jinyu’s eyes darkened with a cold smile as he saw through his true intention. “Does Second Brother want Shen Yuan to track me to find you?”

Xie Chengze laughed awkwardly and changed the subject. “Shouldn’t you be in court at this hour? Have the scholars’ Palace Examination results been announced? Has the Imperial Academy begun construction?”

Xie Jinyu lowered his gaze, staring at the food on the table as if lost in thought. When Chengze fell silent, he finally looked up, his eyes swirling with intensity. “Second Brother has always detested court affairs. Why the sudden interest?”

Xie Chengze rubbed his nose. “Isn’t it because I’m bored? Haven’t you sent anyone to buy storybooks yet? Why is it taking so long?”

He indeed seemed utterly bored, but his clear eyes held no complaint—only a sincere statement of his needs. Xie Jinyu finally realized that confining Xie Chengze indoors was truly unfair to him.

He was no longer the child who could stay in Cheng Huan Palace all day long, nor was he the Second Prince who craved power and wished him dead. He was a normal person who loved the sky and white birds, cherished mortal affairs and worldly pleasures. He radiated a pure and gentle light, unlike himself—a dark, filthy abyss of depravity.

Yet darkness excels at corrupting purity.

As if by instinct, he wanted to destroy this innocence, to embed it deeply within himself.

Would he be willing?

How far could he tolerate him? When would he grow weary?

Long before the altar drained his blood dry, he had already descended into madness. Those sinister and violent thoughts festered, devouring his last shreds of reason, summoning forth the broken soul of the tyrant from his past life.

He set down his chopsticks, rose, and walked to Xie Chengze’s side. As he leaned in, his oppressive aura enveloped the young man like a chilling fog. His low voice echoed like the King of Hell’s judgment from the underworld as he demanded, “Aside from storybooks, is there nothing else Second Brother desires?”

Xie Chengze instinctively clenched his left hand. “The textbooks I’m writing for the Imperial Academy aren’t finished yet. If possible… could I have some paper, ink, and brushes?”

He feigned composure. “Once this knowledge spreads, Jian’an will surely prosper, and history books will praise you generously…”

“Tch.”

Xie Chengze stiffened, almost doubting his ears. He looked up and met Xie Jinyu’s mocking gaze, his heart sinking.

“Does Second Brother know how the world judged me in my past life?”

Xie Jinyu spoke slowly, madness gleaming in his eyes. “The Mad Emperor, the Tyrant, a merciless killer who deserved a wretched death.”