CPS Chapter 9: Lingguang (3)

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The much-praised "Lingguang Zhuyu" truly possessed the appearance of a deity, flawless like a jade.

It was as if a bolt of lightning struck through the skies, rendering his mind completely blank.

Thump, thump, thump—Wen Jiao could hear his own heartbeat pounding violently. His hand, holding a tray, tightened involuntarily, leaving white imprints. Each step felt like a mountain pressing down on him. He lowered his head, breathing heavily, his throat hoarse.

The confidence in his beauty, cultivated by countless admirers, shattered in that instant.

Fear and unease crept into him, accompanied by a flicker of regret.

Could he truly manage to seduce Lou Guanxue...?

Seeing someone approach, Xia Qing fell silent. Perched on a pear blossom tree, he quietly observed the young eunuch. Watching people had become a habit for him, and he lacked any strong opinion on appearances. To him, the beauty of the mortal world was as transient as illusions and withered bones. His clear gaze settled on Wen Jiao, immediately noticing the red mole at the center of his brows. His hand, holding a pear blossom, froze momentarily.

That mole... it was truly bewitching.

This little eunuch could be considered attractive—tender-skinned, delicate, with adorable lips. The red mole on his snow-white face added an alluring touch.

Yet, Xia Qing found that peculiar mole unnerving. His brows wrinkled.

As Wen Jiao walked, he suddenly felt a gaze lingering on his brow. Startled, he glanced up but saw only a sturdy pear blossom tree.

The petals flowed like drifting snow, and the gaze felt calm and gentle. It was like a tranquil breeze passing through the mountains and rivers, untainted and unburdened.

Was it an illusion?

Wen Jiao paused briefly but quickly refocused all his attention on the young emperor ahead, whom he was to serve.

Lou Guanxue, aware of the approaching figure, did not speak.

Wen Jiao's fingers trembled nervously. He sensed that the emperor's mood wasn't too bad at the moment. His eyes fell on the wine goblet on the tray. The feeling of grievance suddenly outweighed his fear. Once a pampered little prince, how had he fallen to the point of serving someone else? This body, a gift from his mother, was not meant for suffering.

"Your Majesty..." Wen Jiao's voice quivered as he began.

The soft breeze carried the tender, slightly sticky voice of a young boy.

Lou Guanxue lazily lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent.

Outside the pear blossom grove, the palace maids and guards froze at the sound of his voice.

Especially Bai He, the head maid.

Dressed in a blue palace gown, her aged face bore light makeup. Now, her face stiffened, and her pupils widened in shock.

Everyone who had served the new emperor knew that he despised anyone approaching him during his bath.

Whenever they brought wine or water, they tried to make themselves invisible, treading lightly and barely breathing, lest a single misstep cost them their lives.

And this eunuch delivering wine—who permitted him to speak?!

The only person seemingly unaffected was Xia Qing.

He merely found it amusing how the Chu palace was so terrified at the slightest movement.

—Lou Guanxue, just how bad is your reputation?

Wen Jiao's legs wobbled, and the hot spring's steam made his eyes rimmed with red. Sniffing, he stammered, "Your Majesty, I... I am here to serve you." His slender wrist trembled as he knelt by the edge of the bath, pouring wine into a golden goblet.

Lou Guanxue glanced at him nonchalantly, his crow-feather lashes casting a cold, detached gaze on the wine-pouring eunuch.

Bai He, standing outside, was on the verge of fainting.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to step inside, fearing this blind fool would drag them all into trouble.

Feeling Lou Guanxue's frosty gaze, Wen Jiao's hand slipped, spilling some wine.

The atmosphere grew stifling. He clutched the goblet, mustering a strained smile. In his sweetest, most flattering voice, he offered, "Your Majesty..." His delicate face smiled stiffly as he handed the goblet toward Lou Guanxue, the fragrance of expensive incense wafting from him. "For you."

Lou Guanxue’s gaze lingered on the red mole at his brow for a moment, but he didn’t dwell.

Extending a hand from the water, droplets clinging to his fingers, he took the goblet.

Wen Jiao's throat tightened, his fear momentarily forgotten.

His nervousness and lack of experience betrayed him. The moment their hands touched, his overwhelmed mind faltered, and the goblet fell to the ground.

Clink.

The goblet, crafted from white jade, hit the ground with a crisp sound, spilling golden wine everywhere.

It was as if a string snapped in Wen Jiao’s mind.

His body froze, his blood turning icy cold.

Bai He entered just in time to witness the scene. Her fury surged, overriding any sense of decorum. Rushing forward before the emperor could react, she grabbed Wen Jiao by the collar and slapped him hard.

"Who taught you to serve His Majesty like this?!" she bellowed, her eyes bloodshot with rage.

The slap was both loud and harsh.

Wen Jiao was stunned.

Since his kingdom's fall and being taken to Chu Palace under the former emperor’s coercion, he had been spared major suffering thanks to secret aid from Fu Changsheng. Spoiled and delicate, tears welled up in his eyes instantly, red as a rabbit's.

"I... I..."

"Crying? You still dare to cry?!"

Bai He, furious and trembling, grabbed his hair and forced him to kneel on the ground.

Wen Jiao cried out, collapsing into a pitiful kneel with tears streaming down his face.

Bai He herself knelt beside him, her forehead hitting the white jade tiles hard, trembling. "Your Majesty, spare us! This foolish eunuch—this slave had no idea how he slipped in here! To offend Your Majesty is a crime punishable by death! Please allow me to take him away for punishment! Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Xia Qing was genuinely baffled by how panicked and frightened the Chu Palace servants were.

—Lou Guanxue, just how terrifying is your reputation?

Lou Guanxue’s gaze swept over the two kneeling figures with a faint smile. After a long pause, he said lightly, “Everyone is careless sometimes."

Bai He’s mind was a whirl of shock and disbelief, followed by overwhelming joy. She quickly kowtowed several times.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy! Thank you, Your Majesty! I will take this useless eunuch away at once.”

Wen Jiao, still stunned and pale, failed to register what had happened.

Lou Guanxue suddenly spoke, "Lift your head."

Both Bai He and Wen Jiao froze.

The emperor's orders could not be ignored. Wen Jiao timidly raised his head, revealing his tear-streaked, flushed face and reddened nose.

Lou Guanxue’s lips curved faintly. “What is your name?”

Wen Jiao clutched his sleeve tightly, sniffled, and tried to force a smile. “This... this slave’s name is Wen Jiao.”

Xia Qing, perched nearby, nearly fell from the pear tree in shock.

Lou Guanxue’s smile deepened. “Wen Jiao, is it?”

Wen Jiao squirmed uneasily.

Bai He, equally nervous, dared not move, fearful of the emperor’s unpredictability.

Fortunately, Lou Guanxue did not press further. He turned away and closed his eyes. “Leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bai He, relieved to escape unscathed, bowed deeply, though her eyes flashed with resentment toward Wen Jiao.

As Wen Jiao stumbled out, Xia Qing silently watched the retreating figure. His curiosity about the supposed “sweet, naive protagonist” grew.

So, this is the protagonist?.

Although Xia Qing had previously declared, “Everyone in this story is a villain,” in this era, everyone had their own way of survival.

So he didn’t harbor any particular dislike for Lou Guanxue, nor did he feel anything toward Wen Jiao.

He was just an outsider, purely curious about the “familiar faces” he encountered.

Wow, so this is the protagonist?

Wen Jiao’s face was swollen from a slap, a fiery red patch standing out prominently. Bai He dragged him away, but his thoughts were still muddled. As he passed under a pear tree, that calm, watchful gaze appeared again, as if the wind itself was soothing his wounds.

A single pear blossom brushed against his eyelashes, making him shrink back instinctively.

Xia Qing only withdrew his gaze once Wen Jiao’s figure had disappeared. When he turned back, he found himself meeting Lou Guanxue’s faintly mocking stare.

“Got a good look?”

Xia Qing: “Yeah.” But then he quickly snapped back, “Why are you asking me?!”

Shouldn’t you be the one getting a good look?! What does this have to do with me and Wen Jiao?!

Lou Guanxue said, “Can you really predict destiny?”

Xia Qing: “?”

Xia Qing: “That ball of fire’s nonsense—please don’t pin it on me.”

Lou Guanxue chuckled. “Then its predictions aren’t very accurate.”

Xia Qing nodded emphatically. “I think it’s pretty unreliable too.”

Lou Guanxue idly picked up the fallen wine cup with his fingers, his tone casual. “If that’s his idea of seduction, he wouldn’t end up in my bed—he’d end up in a mass grave.”

Xia Qing: “…”

Bold.

I’m sorry, system. I should’ve let you finish explaining. I regret it—I really do.

Thinking about Lou Guanxue’s current arrogant, dismissive attitude and imagining how he’d later pine for Wen Jiao, even willing to sacrifice his life for him… it was truly satisfying!

But that thought only lasted a moment.

Xia Qing smirked faintly and didn’t bother responding to him.

As a hot-blooded, straight guy born and raised in the modern world, he really couldn’t muster any interest in the entangled, torturous love stories between two men. Watching it was just nauseating and frustrating.

The only reason he stayed was that, in his current soul state, he couldn’t leave Lou Guanxue!

If he ever got his body back, Xia Qing would absolutely make a run for it!

Run away to do what, though?

Xia Qing picked up a fallen pear blossom branch. Its icy coolness in his hand gave him a peculiar, subtle feeling.

He froze. The pear blossom branch seemed to transform into something else—sharp and cold like the mountains, rivers, and forests—stirring a familiar instinct within him.

To do what…

Like a shock to his soul, a tender, youthful voice echoed in his mind.

Full of youthful exuberance, it carried the unshakable confidence and brashness of someone fearless.

“Let’s go. I’m going to conquer the world.”

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