Chapter 138: Yaoyao, You Betrayed Me
Nan Xun proceeded methodically according to her plan. She still lounged lazily in the sun every day, but in her heart she was waiting for that day to arrive.
That day finally came. The weather was clear, the sky cloudless for miles. Nan Xun lay back in her rocking chair, gazing at the heavens, and casually asked Little Eight about what was going on outside.
Little Eight said, “No idea why, but the tyrant in this world is far more formidable than the one on the original timeline. He actually cultivated a batch of extremely powerful shadow guards and death warriors very early on. Especially those death warriors—when they kill, they don’t care about their own lives at all. Saying they can fight one hundred men apiece wouldn’t be an exaggeration. On top of that, he has an incredibly efficient intelligence network—brothels, teahouses, gambling dens, all of them have his informants. Basically, every move made by Prince Xian and the Qin family is under his surveillance. No, it’s more than that—every civil and military official at court is under his control.”
Nan Xun was astonished. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
Little Eight coughed awkwardly. “That was because I was too arrogant. I thought I fully understood this world’s development trajectory, but who would’ve guessed the tyrant big boss had leveled up this much?”
After thinking for a moment, Little Eight added, “Didn’t I tell you before that the tyrant big boss would have a hard time holding on to the throne? I’m taking that back.”
Nan Xun really wanted to smack Little Eight to death. What use was knowing this now? Spilled water couldn’t be gathered back up.
“So what now?” Little Eight asked her. “Are we still going to act according to the agreement with Prince Xian?”
Nan Xun rolled her eyes at the sky. “What else can we do? Don’t you understand that once water is spilled, it can’t be retrieved? I already agreed to Prince Xian—he must’ve told the Qin family as well. They’re all on the same boat now. If Prince Xian rebels, the Qin family will follow suit. Besides, he’s right—if it comes to open warfare, a lot of people will die. If we can reduce the bloodshed even a little, we should. Consider it building virtue for the big boss.”
Little Eight looked suspicious. “You’re really thinking a lot for the big boss.”
Nan Xun replied, “Not at all. You’re overthinking it. I’m just trying to eliminate the big boss’s malice value as quickly as possible. The fewer sins he commits, the faster the malice value will drop.”
Little Eight said, “Really?”
Nan Xun replied, “Really.”
Having made up her mind, Nan Xun sprang up from the rocking chair and quietly waited for Yan Mohan to arrive.
Yan Mohan had been very busy these past few days, seemingly making secret arrangements. But whenever he had time, he would definitely come to Pengyue Palace.
From afar, Nan Xun saw Yan Mohan approaching. She immediately ran toward him, threw herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and said in a muffled, slightly aggrieved voice, “Brother Han, you’ve been coming less lately. Tell me—have you been keeping some beauty outside?”
Pengyue Palace was unusually quiet today. Only Cui Huan was standing by. Yan Mohan seemed not to notice anything amiss. He reached out, lifted Nan Xun’s chin, gently pecked her soft lips, then said helplessly, “Having you alone is more than enough for me. How would I dare keep any other beauty?”
Nan Xun smiled in satisfaction. “I was just teasing you. I know Brother Han has only me in his heart. Brother Han, you’ve just finished dealing with matters—you must be thirsty. Wait here, I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“Yaoyao, there’s no need—” Yan Mohan quickly said, but before he could finish his sentence, Nan Xun had already cheerfully run into the small kitchen.
Cui Huan stood stiffly to the side. When she noticed the emperor glance at her, she hurriedly lowered her head.
All around was silent, as if everyone else had been deliberately sent away by Nan Xun.
Yan Mohan glanced at the blue sky behind Pengyue Palace—deep blue, cloudless. His narrow eyes were calm, without a ripple.
Hearing the light footsteps drawing closer, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Nan Xun. The corners of his lips curved slightly into a gentle smile.
Nan Xun handed him the teacup she had brewed herself and said with a bright smile, “Brother Han, drink slowly—it’s a bit hot.”
Yan Mohan took the teacup but didn’t drink right away. He stared at Nan Xun for a long time, his eyes still full of affection, yet mixed with something far more complex.
“Yaoyao, I don’t want to be separated from you,” he suddenly said.
Nan Xun smiled. “I don’t want to be separated from you either, Brother Han. Why aren’t you drinking the tea? I made it with my own hands.”
Yan Mohan lowered his gaze slightly and asked with a faint smile, “Does Yaoyao really want me to drink this tea so badly?”
Nan Xun became annoyed and snatched the teacup back. “Fine, then don’t drink it.”
Yan Mohan immediately grabbed it back. “Don’t be angry, Yaoyao. As long as it’s something you want me to drink—even if there were arsenic in it—I would still drink it.”
Without the slightest hesitation, he tilted his head back and drained the teacup in one gulp.
Feeling uneasy, Nan Xun asked Little Eight, “Does the big boss know I’m going to do something bad today? His reaction feels off.”
Little Eight immediately said, “Not just a little off—he’s seriously off! What do we do now? Do we still continue?”
Nan Xun replied, “Everything is ready except for this final push. For the sake of the people of the world, I can’t drop the ball at such a critical moment.”
Little Eight let out a dry laugh. “What a perfectly righteous reason.”
Nan Xun ignored Little Eight’s sarcasm. She was pondering the best moment to act when she suddenly saw Yan Mohan clutch his stomach, fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth—he looked exactly like someone who had been poisoned.
Nan Xun froze, utterly stunned. Little Eight was just as shocked.
She had brewed the tea herself—it definitely wasn’t poisoned. She was so sure because she had taken a sip herself after brewing it.
So what on earth was the big boss doing now?
Still in shock, Nan Xun instinctively supported the unsteady man and hurriedly asked, “Brother Han, what’s wrong with you?”
Seeing that there was not the slightest trace of worry on her face, Yan Mohan’s heart sank straight to the bottom.
Yaoyao… in the end, you still betrayed me.
You really want me… dead?
Yan Mohan suddenly grabbed Nan Xun’s hand tightly, his eyes locked onto her. “Yaoyao, at this point, can you stop lying to me? I know you poisoned the tea.”
Nan Xun looked as if she’d seen a ghost. She opened her mouth to explain, but Yan Mohan didn’t give her the chance and continued, “I also knew long ago that you met with Prince Xian.”
Nan Xun wasn’t surprised, but she was confused, so she asked, “Brother Han, how did you know I met Prince Xian? Prince Xian even assured me that you would never notice.”
Yan Mohan hadn’t expected her to admit it so quickly. His eyes darkened abruptly, all kinds of sinister, violent emotions breeding in his heart, multiplying until he was nearly unable to bear them.
He suddenly didn’t want to ask any further. He was afraid of hearing the answer he least wanted to hear.
He wanted to bite the woman before him to death, to devour her flesh and blood, so they could become one—so that Yaoyao would never be able to betray him again.
