Three Steps: From Assassin to Empress - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: The Tyrant’s True Name

The shadow on the sundial pointed to youshi (5-7 PM), the time for the evening meal. The palace servants from the Imperial Kitchen entered in an orderly procession, presenting the dishes one by one.

The three of them sat at a long table. Ying Xiu was next to the emperor, and Yu An sat across from them, his face a little stiff and surprised.

He hadn’t expected the emperor to dine with them. He didn’t show a single trace of the tyrant’s character. Judging by his actions and words today, he seemed like a gentle and upright scholar.

What a performance. No wonder he was able to deceive his Ying Xiu. Yu An felt a little indignant. Looking at the exquisite and luxurious meal in front of him, he couldn’t bring himself to eat.

Ying Xiu couldn’t stand to see his dad so constrained. He reached out to serve him food, introducing it enthusiastically: “Dad, I had the Imperial Kitchen make these especially for you. Try them, they’re so good.”

The food made by the Imperial Kitchen was delicious. It was his second favorite thing in this palace.

Yu An took a bite, but it tasted like chewing on wax. Seeing his child sitting next to the emperor made him feel uncomfortable no matter how he looked at it.

Sigh, his Ying Xiu was only a seventeen-year-old youth, but this emperor was… who knew how old? He looked to be at least twenty.

Although he was good-looking, he could barely be considered a beauty, but he was so much older than Ying Xiu…

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became. He had no appetite. Ying Xiu saw his dad’s expression and felt a little anxious. He couldn’t help but get up and lean in to serve him more food.

The emperor lowered his eyes and ate quietly, but his gaze was always on Ying Xiu, as if an invisible string was tied to Ying Xiu, constantly pulling his attention.

Ying Xiu looked back and immediately saw Xie Zhou watching him. The emperor’s beautiful eyes were slightly lowered, looking captivating and stunning. Ying Xiu was momentarily mesmerized, his hand still busy serving food to his dad.

Looking at the mountain of food in his bowl, Yu An fell silent.

Ying Xiu still wanted to serve him more, but he was called by Xie Zhou: “Ying Xiu.” The emperor, who had been calm the entire time, said to him, “Come here.”

Ying Xiu obediently walked back and sat down next to Xie Zhou.

Yu An seemed to want to say something, but Xie Zhou didn’t even look at him. He turned to Ying Xiu. “I will settle your father in Jiankang so that he can come to the palace and see you often, how about that?”

He used a declarative tone, calm and unwavering, as if the decision had already been made and no one could change it. As for Yu An’s opinion, that was even less important.

Yu An, who had just learned that he was going to live in Jiankang, was speechless.

Ying Xiu hesitated and looked at his dad. Just as he was about to ask if he was willing to settle here, he saw Yu An nod slightly, clearly acquiescing.

The youth’s face broke into a gentle smile, his eyes as clear as water, and his eyes curved into crescents. He didn’t even care about his favorite pastry. He looked up at Xie Zhou, leaned in, and kissed him.

Considering that his dad was present, Ying Xiu was very restrained with the kiss. His lips barely brushed against Xie Zhou’s cheek, a light touch on his cool skin. He quickly pulled away, lowered his head, and pretended to be busy eating.

Xie Zhou’s expression was indifferent, with no emotion on his face. Only his long eyes slightly curved, a very subtle arc. Even his smile was as desolate as frost and snow.

In the next moment, he looked at Yu An. That cold, indifferent gaze made Yu An tense up instinctively. He had spent years in the mountains, so he would subconsciously become vigilant when he encountered a beast of prey.

And the sense of danger the emperor gave him was even greater than that of those bloodthirsty and vicious beasts.

In just one second of eye contact, the atmosphere became tense and murderous, almost clashing like metal and stone.

In just a breath, the emperor calmly shifted his gaze. His eyes fell on the golden-robed youth next to him, and they finally gained some warmth.

Ying Xiu was completely oblivious to all of this. He was still focused on his meal.

This meal made Yu An feel uncomfortable all over. He couldn’t stand seeing his “cabbage” being “ruined by a pig,” and he knew his son’s life was always at risk. With just one word from the emperor, Ying Xiu’s life could be taken.

And some fates could be even more terrifying than death.

Ying Xiu had no idea how dangerous a cliff he was on. He happily ate the grapes that Xie Zhou had peeled, and when he heard that his dad was about to leave the palace, he quickly got up to see him off.

The peeled grape in Xie Zhou’s hand was halfway to Ying Xiu’s mouth, but the youth had already gotten up and chased after his dad to the hall door. His fingers paused, then slowly retracted, placing the grape back on the cold platter.

“You don’t have to see me off,” Yu An said to Ying Xiu in a low voice.

From his perspective, he could clearly see the emperor behind Ying Xiu, staring intently at him with possession and love…

A madness that could be called calm.

Ying Xiu was already used to Xie Zhou’s clingy nature. He didn’t care how he looked at him and still stood at the hall door, talking to his dad. “Dad, how is the Shouchunwu case investigation going?”

Ying Xiu knew that if he asked Xie Zhou, Xie Zhou would tell him every detail. However, he wanted to hear it from his dad instead.

After all, this case was of great significance to his dad.

It was about clearing the names of the Yu family and the hundreds of refugees who had migrated south with them all those years ago.

The Yu family had died with a great injustice, and for decades, no one had cared. They couldn’t let their loyal spirits bear the name of traitors for generations.

Hearing this, Yu An’s emotions immediately became complicated. The Yin family had been the ones to convict the Yu family, and now the Yin family was also the one to overturn the case.

Emperor Yuanxi was weak, controlled by the noble clans, content with the status quo, and unable to distinguish right from wrong. Emperor Zhaosu, on the other hand, was decisive and ruthless. Although he had the name of a tyrant, he never harmed the common people.

Thinking about it, he really should be grateful to His Majesty. Without his intervention to overturn the case, the Yu family would probably never have their name cleared.

Ying Xiu tilted his head and waved his hand in front of his dad. He didn’t know what his dad was thinking. He just stood at the hall door, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

He waved several times before his dad finally came to. He lowered his head, as if looking at him, and also as if looking past him at the person behind him.

“You two must live well,” all of his words turned into this one sentence. Yu An said to Ying Xiu.

The future was long. Who could guarantee that the emperor would always love and cherish Ying Xiu? Even if he could, the Southern Dynasty was full of unexpected events. Who knew how long he would sit on the throne?

Once the emperor died, Ying Xiu, as a male empress, would likely not have a good ending.

Like the morning dew, the days that have passed are many.

Seeing his dad’s somber expression, Ying Xiu seemed to realize something. He nodded heavily, his expression serious. He would do it!

Even if Xie Zhou couldn’t support himself, he could rely on himself to support both Xie Zhou and him.

His sword was fast. All problems would be solved with his blade.

Yu An didn’t speak, thinking that perhaps a fool had a fool’s luck. He hoped Ying Xiu could stay like this forever.

In the distance, the palace road was already lit up with glass lamps, spreading a clear halo and illuminating the path for those returning.

Ying Xiu stood in front of the hall, watching his dad’s figure get further and further away. He seemed to remember something and ran back into the hall. “Xie Zhou, what’s your name?”

This was the first time the youth had asked for his name since he learned his identity. Did this mean that Ying Xiu was actually willing to try and accept his true self?

To become the emperor’s partner, not just the retainer Xie Zhou’s.

A single sentence from the youth stirred a myriad of thoughts in him.

The emperor calmly peeled a grape. The grape was round and green. Its thin skin was peeled off, revealing the soft, delicate flesh. The juice burst open on his fingertips.

A light, pale green stain bloomed on his long, beautiful hand.

“My name?” The emperor’s voice was low and gentle. He spoke slower than usual, seemingly wanting Ying Xiu to hear him more clearly.

“Yin Huan,” he said.

Ying Xiu listened carefully. Just as he was about to say something, the other’s fingers, holding the grape, were offered to his lips.

He subconsciously opened his mouth slightly and bit into the grape. Just as he was about to close his teeth, the finger that had entered his mouth didn’t retreat.

The youth was annoyed. With one bite, he not only crushed the grape but also left a faint tooth mark on that finger.

The emperor withdrew his hand, his expression indifferent, showing no pain at all. This only made Ying Xiu regret that he hadn’t bitten harder.

Ying Xiu’s thoughts were interrupted. He almost forgot what he was about to say. After thinking hard for a while, he finally remembered and asked impatiently, “Huan, does that mean beautiful and magnificent?”

He had seen this word in a book. Beautiful, magnificent. At the time, he didn’t know what kind of person or scene could bear this character. Now, he felt that the emperor and this word were a perfect match.

The emperor was silent, slowly caressing the tooth mark on his finger. His eyelashes were lowered, and his memory traveled back in time for a moment.

The music of the heavens, a magnificent spectacle. The imperial residence, a rare treasure.

In the first year of Jianyuan, the devoted emperor and empress gave their newborn eldest son this name. The single character Huan carried endless love.

More than these distant memories, Yin Huan preferred what Ying Xiu said.

Beautiful, magnificent.

It sounded like it had a fatal attraction to Ying Xiu.

Youths admire beauty. He was naturally drawn to these things, approaching step by step, sinking deeper and deeper.

The emperor nodded slightly, indicating that Ying Xiu’s guess was correct.

Ying Xiu’s eyes were sparkling. He praised him from the bottom of his heart. “This name suits you so well.”

There was another thing he didn’t say. A beautiful person should have a beautiful name. Only then would they complement each other perfectly.

The emperor smiled lightly, a faint arc on his lips, as faint as the spring breeze in March, when the snow first melts.

Ying Xiu couldn’t help but smile too. His eyes twinkling, he followed his instincts and couldn’t help but move closer. The distance between them gradually shortened.

The emperor closed his eyes at the right time, his thin eyelids shut, quietly waiting for a kiss.

“Pfft—”

Suddenly, the sound of wings flapping resounded in the hall.

Ying Xiu couldn’t help but look toward the sound, and the distance between them was quickly pulled away. Sensing that the person in front of him had left, the emperor slowly opened his eyes. His dark eyes were emotionless, and he stared coldly at the owl that had flown in at some point.

The owl was followed by a string of other owls, large and small, lined up behind it, clearly having made it their leader.

Ying Xiu recognized at a glance that these owls belonged to his comrades. A few of his familiar comrades had not participated in the assassination and should still be assassins at the Wang clan of Langya’s mansion.

He walked over, and in front of the emperor, he unabashedly untied the messages from the legs of each owl.

He opened each message one by one. Seeing the contents, the youth’s expression changed slightly.