The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 41 Part 3

This was the first time in all these months that Qi Junmu had brought up Shen Yi with him.

They had always avoided the topic of Shen Yi, since the Shen family still had unsettled accounts with Emperor Jing. Bringing him up inevitably meant bringing up Emperor Jing—and no matter what the world said, Emperor Jing was the sovereign, and Qi Junmu's father. There were many things that could not be easily spoken of.

Perhaps both were reminded of their own fathers, and a heavy silence fell between Qi Junmu and Shen Nian.

After what felt like a long while, Shen Nian was the first to snap out of it. He said with proper seriousness, "Your Majesty, regarding what happened that day with Commander Yang at the Marquis Zhenbei's residence, it went like this..."

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 41 Part 2

Lin Xiao gave a helpless smile. Though the Emperor said that, he was certain that if Qi Junzhuo hadn't said something to him first, the Emperor would never have had reason to suspect Yang Jinglei out of nowhere.

Yang Jinglei was straightforward and loyal by nature—his words and actions left no easy openings for others to exploit.

With that in mind, Lin Xiao hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up: "Your Majesty, I feel that whether it's Prince Jin or Marquis Zhenbei, Your Majesty should keep some guard up. Not everything they say and do is necessarily for Your Majesty's benefit—everyone in this world has their own selfish motives. In all matters, Your Majesty should consider both sides. Take Yang Jinglei, for example—perhaps someone simply doesn't like him and wants him replaced..."

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 41 Part 1

Chapter 41

The last remark Shen Nian had made—that casual, offhand comment about overstepping—left Yang Jinglei feeling somewhat dazed. In a moment of distraction, he thought back to the very first question the Emperor had asked him in the palace.

The Emperor had said: "Was your journey to Qingzhou smooth?" 

And how had he answered at the time? He had said: Aside from the assassination attempt on Prince Jin, everything else went smoothly. Prince Ping was fairly cooperative along the way.

The Emperor had fallen silent for a moment at that, then moved on to ask other matters concerning Qingzhou.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 40 Part 3

Yang Jinglei couldn't fathom what had changed. But he was not one to press the emperor for answers. So, despite his confusion, he rose respectfully, bowed, and withdrew.

After he left, Qi Junmu's expression turned cold. He took out a prepared imperial decree—one that already named Yang Jinglei's new post, lacking only the imperial seal.

But now, that seal would never be affixed.

With that thought, Qi Junmu called for Ruan Jiqing and threw the decree at his feet. "Bring a brazier and burn this," he said coldly.

Ruan Jiqing was startled. Seeing the emperor's expression, he dared not ask questions.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 40 Part 2

Wen shi gripped her maid's hand tightly, her expression fraught with alarm, and stammered, "So… so you're an eunuch from the palace. How… how did you come to be here…"

"The Marquis has been working hard at court these past days. His Majesty personally ordered this servant to escort him home so he could rest properly. The Emperor is truly protective of the Marquis from the bottom of his heart." Ruan Jiqing continued in an even tone. "This servant sees you are on your way to see the Marquis? He has already retired to sleep. If your business isn't urgent, might you wait a while?"

"No… no, nothing important," Wen shi said dryly. "If he's tired, let him rest."

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 40 Part 1

Chapter 40

Shen Nian's high spirits lasted only until Qi Junmu finished his court duties. It wasn't that he lacked the stamina—rather, Qi Junmu had forcefully ordered him to go home and get proper rest. 

Shen Nian didn't actually feel all that tired. He was used to it.

On the North Frontier, there were times when, in order to slaughter the enemy, they would raise their blades, strike down, withdraw, and raise them again—over and over for hours on end. It was numbing, repetitive work, and they only got a chance to catch their breath when the enemy beat their drums to signal retreat.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 39 Part 3

Qi Junyou felt a sharp sting. The barb he had thrown had been turned back on him, driven in deeper than before, leaving him thoroughly uncomfortable.

Who exactly was Qi Junmu trying to sicken with these words? he fumed inwardly. The snow disaster in Qingzhou had taken lives too — it wasn't as if I had spent my days in pleasure and never tasted hardship. How could he speak to me like that?

Qi Junmu hadn't talked like this as a child. Now that he is emperor, it seems his tongue has been dipped in poison.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 39 Part 2

Fortunately, the closer they drew to the capital, the shorter Prince Ping's fangs grew. By the time they reached the outskirts, he had resumed his old demeanor—the elegant, carefree nobleman.

When Qi Junzhuo set foot in the capital, he felt the sunlight dazzle his eyes.

When he had left, the capital was still cold. Now he was back in light spring clothes.

Da Qi's reign era had changed. Emperor Jing's era had come to an end—permanently, in the past year. For a moment, he felt a strange sense of disorientation.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 39 Part 1

Chapter 39

Qi Junzhuo and his party had no idea what the emperor was planning. Their itinerary had long been submitted, and their arrival in the capital was all scheduled.

On the journey, Yang Jinglei and Qi Junzhuo were fine—but Qi Junyou was like a lit keg of gunpowder, constantly hurling sarcastic barbs at the two of them.

Qi Junzhuo, for his part, showed no reaction at all. He remained so composed it was as if the person being mocked wasn't him, or as if the whole affair had nothing to do with him.

Yang Jinglei, by contrast, found it harder to keep his composure.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 38 Part 5

Once they had walked some distance, Shen Nian asked, "Lord Bai, my grandmother's illness—"

"A stroke strikes suddenly and is no small matter," Bai Feng said gently. "The old madam has likely been eating too richly. From now on, watch her diet closely and keep it plain and light. This kind of illness cannot be cured in a day—it requires long, steady care."

Shen Nian said, "We are much obliged to you, Lord Bai."

Bai Feng shook his head. "It is no trouble."

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 38 Part 4

The room fell utterly silent.

Shen Nian was the first to react. He looked toward the Emperor.

Qi Junmu gazed at A Duo, her face covered in blood, dead in a manner both tragic and fierce. His expression was calm. Shen Nian's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing.

After a long moment, the Emperor spoke: "Bury her."

Leaving the western side chamber, Qi Junmu walked slowly, with Shen Nian half a step behind him.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 38 Part 3

Soon after, A Duo was brought in. Shen Nian had already been surprised to learn about the assassination attempt, but now he was even more shocked to see that the assassin was a woman.

At the sound of the Emperor saying her name—A Duo—Shen Nian's face went utterly blank.

He was so stunned that all expression simply drained away.

A Duo's hands were bound. She was a beautiful woman, with azure-blue eyes—clearly a foreigner from beyond the borders.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 38 Part 2

Qi Junmu caught the meaning in Shen Nian's words. He smiled, clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his chin slightly, and said with striking pride, "Ah Zhuo is my younger brother. Of course I trust him and wish to give him the best of everything. What if others try to slander him? I want the world to know—it is best to curry favor with him. Whoever makes things difficult for him will have to answer to me."

"If one cannot clearly show what one likes and dislikes in this life, what is the point of living? I do not care what others think. I think this way and I am happy to act this way—and what can they do but watch?"

It was rare for the Emperor to speak so candidly. Others might say that a sovereign should not speak this way—too willful.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 38 Part 1

Chapter 38

Shen Nian was not a man without curiosity. The Emperor's sudden decision to leave the palace—though he appeared perfectly calm—was clearly rushed, and the cryptic way he spoke about it left Shen Nian with no choice but to wonder.

Thinking of the recent news that Prince Jin, Qi Junzhuo, would soon return to the capital, Shen Nian had a feeling that the Emperor's trip this time had something to do with him.

Qi Junzhuo held a very special place in the Emperor's heart—on this matter, the Emperor made his stance crystal clear. He did not care what the court officials thought; he was using actions, plain and open, to tell everyone: Prince Jin has my favor.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 37 Part 5

After dismissing Wang Jun, Shen Nian lay back on his lounging chair and thought to himself that the Emperor's mind was truly hard to read. He had appeared before the Emperor almost every day recently, and yet he had not heard a single word about Prince Jin's return.

Everyone called him the Emperor's favored minister, yet who would have guessed that there were things he only found out about after everyone else?

To be a favored minister in such a state was rather laughable.

Shen Nian felt that perhaps he had been sleeping too little—his mind was turning to mush.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 37 Part 4

Shen Nian was turning all this over in his mind, and when he saw the expectant look on the Emperor's face, his own face crumpled into a bitter expression. "Your Majesty, to be honest, this humble subject didn't really have any particular reason for entering the palace."

His tone was so forlorn that even Qi Junmu couldn't bear to hear it. He laughed and said, "What's this? My Marquis Zhenbei, who's never feared even enemy blades on the battlefield, now looks like a wronged child? Come, tell me. If someone truly has bullied my Marquis Zhenbei, I will see justice done for you."

Shen Nian had been feeling rather embarrassed about the whole thing—he'd left his house and found himself with nowhere to go in all of the vast capital.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 37 Part 3

Shen Nian turned to leave, but Ruan Jiqing caught his arm. Glancing at Yutao, he said: "Marquis Shen, do allow this servant to announce you before you go—it will only take a moment."

Yutao frowned slightly, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.

Ruan Jiqing paid her no mind and walked straight to the hall doors, knocking twice. After the Emperor's somewhat cool voice came from within, he announced: "Your Majesty, Marquis Zhenbei requests an audience."

"Shen Nian?" The Emperor clearly hadn't expected that name. "Let him in."

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 37 Part 2

Seeing Shen Nian's expression, Wang Jun assumed he was truly curious about the gossip. Eager to curry favor with Shen Nian and ride the Marquis Zhenbei's rising tide, he naturally didn't want his superior to stumble over such taboos. So he lowered his voice further and said, "My lord, you grew up in the North Frontier. You may not be familiar with what goes on in the capital. The scar on Young Master Lin En's face—he got it while saving His Majesty's life..."

These were matters known to anyone in the capital with even a bit of standing, and Wang Jun recounted them without any hesitation.

Shen Nian finally understood. No wonder the Empress Dowager's attitude toward Lin En had seemed so peculiar—he hadn't realized there was so much history behind it.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 37 Part 1

Chapter 37

Shen Nian knew Cheng Jin's abilities better than anyone. It was just that Cheng Jin had always kept a low profile—when people mentioned him, most assumed he was merely Shen Nian's personal guard, and seldom thought to single him out for anything else.

There had been opportunities before to put Cheng Jin in the public eye, but he had refused. He said that Shen Nian had saved his life on the battlefield, and that he would follow Shen Nian for the rest of his days, going nowhere else.

Cheng Jin had been adamant on the matter, and since he insisted so firmly, Shen Nian had kept him by his side.

The Tyrannical Emperor Reborn Chapter 36 Part 3

Ruan Jiqing paused, then said quietly, "Your Majesty, that is not according to protocol. Perhaps Lord Shen could wait a moment?"

Only the Empress and imperial consorts were permitted to dine with the Emperor. The Empress could sit at the same table, while consorts could only stand and attend to him—of course, except for those particularly favored. Officials generally had their own designated seats, and today the imperial kitchen hadn't laid out extra portions for an uninvited guest.

"Not according to protocol?" Qi Junmu repeated the words, turning his gaze to Ruan Jiqing with a smile: "They say the Emperor's word is golden. Is what I say not protocol?"