Chapter 28: Touching Pecs â “Remove your armor, strip clean.”
The Weiyang Palace study was in turmoil.
Memorials from the desk fell to the ground, swept off when Ying Xi crashed back into his seat. Six or seven brush handles rolled away clatter clatter…
Ying Xi lowered his head. He wanted to steady his mind, but his head was buzzing.
Eunuchs brought Eight-Treasure Porridge into the study. Yu Jing hurriedly attended to him, disregarding etiquette to feed the Emperor the porridge.
The Eight-Treasure Porridge was very sweet, and only then did Ying Xi recover some state of mind, feeling less dizzy.
But hearing footsteps, he quickly waved to dismiss the eunuchs, a look of wariness revealing itself in his eyes.
Sure enough, on the other side of the screen, Ying Xi saw the tip of a military boot.
Immediately following, Xie Qianliâs tall silhouette was projected onto the screen.
Perhaps he had come just after completing the Longwu Armyâs daily drills. He wasn’t wearing the Roaming Dragon Blade, but he wore battle armor, his steps more hurried than usual.
When he entered, the cold silver-white of the armor illuminated the study even brighter, like a beam of light crashing in.
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (0/2)]
Ying Xi pushed the bowl aside, stole a glance at the mission, and his face went cold. Since the other party had entered without being summoned, he shot Xie Qianli a warning look.
“What is the matter, Duke of Ying, that you are so impatient to see Me?”
Xie Qianli’s steps stopped abruptly.
He calmly surveyed the interior of the Weiyang Palace study, looking for the source of the chaos. It wasn’t an assassin. He didn’t know Ying Xi had recovered his composure just in time. seeing the Emperor’s face cold and white, almost drained of blood, and a porridge bowl sitting on the table, looking out of place amidst the memorials and ink…
Xie Qianli quickly withdrew his gaze.
Just past the screen, more than ten steps away from Ying Xi, he bowed. “This subject comes to plead guilty.”
The phrase “plead guilty” seemingly triggered another switch in Sweet Tub. Sweet Tub chirped, “Your Majesty, this big wolf-dog likes you too~”
Being liked was a topic one could hear once a day and be fine, but hearing it a second time was just tacky.
Moreover, Ying Xi was not unaware of the situation between him and Xie Qianli. Layered with the enmity of killing a father and the hatred of killing oneselfâwhat “like” could there be?
Ying Xi scoffed, “Plead guilty for what?”
“This humble subject was not strict in managing subordinates and was unclear in employing people, causing the Sovereign to nearly be assassinated at the flower viewing banquet. This subject bears responsibility.”
Xie Qianli’s voice was exhausted, and he spoke no lies.
First his father died, then his lieutenant died; each felt like a sharp blade stabbing his heart. Yet Ying Xi had released him again and didn’t pursue the matter. This counted as the fourth time.
Ask any monarchâwho could distinguish between a subordinate and their confidant when that confidant attempted regicide?
Ying Xi acted with openness and candor.
Xie Qianli had to return the favor; he couldn’t be in the wrong towards his Sovereign.
Xie Qianli said firmly, “For Feng Ze’s assassination attempt, this subject comes bearing the bramble to plead for punishment.”
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (0/2)]
Ying Xi’s heart lit up!
In that instant, he felt the clouds part to reveal the sun, radiating boundless light. No matter how hard the mission was, it became as fleeting as passing clouds; he could complete it with a wave of his sleeve.
“Bearing the bramble to plead for punishment” was good…
This was a delivered excuse. I’m not afraid I can’t get your clothes off!
Suppressing the smugness showing at the corners of his eyes and brows, Ying Xi naturally assumed a deep posture. When he cast his eyes downward, he appeared unfathomable, his Imperial Countenance about to erupt in rage.
“Xie Qianli.”
“This subject is here.”
“You have indeed disappointed Me,” Ying Xi said. “Is there anything I have done to wrong you?”
That family feud couldn’t be aired publicly. How could Xie Qianli ask to his face: Emperor, did you murder my father?
This was a bitter pill to swallow in silence. Xie Qianli understood this, of course.
And on the surface, how Ying Xi treated the Duke of Ying’s estate was something heaven and earth could witness.
Xie Qianli could only say, “Your Majesty’s grace is heavy as a mountain.”
Ying Xi raised his voice to question, “Then how does Minister Xie treat Me?”
The Emperor’s sentence was concise but imposing.
“Escorting the coffin back to the capital, showing no respect for the Sovereign, leading troops to barge into Shanglin Park. For this alone, it wouldn’t be excessive if I had you sliced to pieces.”
“Indulging subordinates to run wild in the Department of State Affairs. At the Lishan Cemetery, what was the attitude of your relatives? And another of your subordinates dared to assassinate Me?” The Emperor listed the crimes, remembering every grudge firmly.
Xie Qianli’s shoulders heaved.
“I shouldn’t have killed your prestige,” Ying Xi said. “I should have handed this world over to you on a platter. Then you and your Xie family army wouldn’t listen to baseless rumors anymore, and you’d have your wish!”
Who could have thought the Emperor would bring the mutual suspicion hidden in the dark out into the open?
Speaking plainly actually appeared candid.
Ying Xi had been wronged by the Duke of Ying’s estate for two lifetimes. How could he not be angry? How could he not offer a few sarcastic remarks?
So Ying Xi got angrier as he spoke. Earlier he was dizzy from an empty stomach; now, filled with rage, his old ailment relapsed.
He forced himself to hold onto the edge of the table. Xie Qianli approached, the sound of armor ringing for a moment in the study. Inside his cold, bright silver armor, Xie Qianli pursed his lips and furrowed his handsome brows.
Xie Qianli intended to stand up.
But Ying Xi, stomach cutting like a knife, said sternly, “Kneel! Seeing I am unwell, are you taking the opportunity to come up and commit regicide?”
“This subject dares not!” Xie Qianli immediately knelt back in his original spot.
But the gaze he cast toward Ying Xi didn’t waver a bit. He observed that the blood had drained from Ying Xi’s skin, and a layer of fine cold sweat seeped from his forehead. Like white jade moistened with water.
A soul-stirring fragility interwoven with approachable majesty. Xie Qianli clenched his jaw tight, his heart already shrunk into a ball.
Xie Qianli squeezed a few words through his teeth: “Please, Your Majesty, take care of the Dragon Body.”
“This subject admits guilt. Your Majesty speaks too heavily; this subject absolutely has no intent to overstep and submits to Your Majesty’s punishment.”
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (0/2)]
Having vented his temper at the man, Ying Xi had laid enough groundwork: “Lang Xun! The Duke of Ying is bearing the bramble to plead for punishment from Me. Go find Me a bramble switch!”
“Yes!” Outside the study, Guard Lang received the order with excitement. With a wicked smile, he trotted all the way, planning to go to the armory and pick out the thickest “wolf-tooth club” (spiked mace).
Inside the study, Xie Qianli remained kneeling, receiving the Emperor’s cold command:
“Remove your armor, strip clean,” Ying Xi paused, “Upper body.”
“This subject obeys the decree. This subject will be losing decorum.”
The rustling sound of armor filled the study.
The Longwu Army’s armor was heavy. Breastplate, pauldrons, vambraces, gauntletsâthey wrapped a person up tightly.
Armor plates gently clinked against the floor of Weiyang Palace, sounding like broken jade.
For ten years, Ying Xi never figured out how that silver armor was put on or taken off, or how the connections were fixed to provide defense while making a person look heroic and upright without being cumbersome.
But Ying Xi didn’t look.
Instead, seeing his act of removing the armor, Ying Xi deliberately looked away, lowered his head, and randomly picked up a memorial. But he couldn’t read it. His breathing was a bit messy.
Immediately after, Sweet Tub’s scream filled his ears. Sweet Tub went crazy:
“Ahhhhhhh!”
“Dressing makes him look slim, stripping reveals flesh! The big wolf-dog has such a good body!”
“You definitely can’t build muscles this real in a gym; the big wolf-dog must be incredibly powerful!”
“Your Majesty! These pecs definitely feel bouncy to the touch!! You’d be letting the audience down if you didn’t grab a few handfuls!!!”
Sweet Tub’s madness continued. Ying Xi had never heard such unrestrained language from any girl’s mouth. He didn’t know how to evaluate this “girl,” but he had to continue paying attention to Xie Qianli.
Xie Qianli had already stripped his upper body bare in the study.
The rules and rectitude carved into his bones made him stack the clothes and armor plates neatly.
His dark wheat-colored skin had smooth contours; broad shoulders, straight back, powerful upper arms. He possessed a physique most men dreamed of.
But while his body was displayed bare, a blush unknown to others was climbing from behind the Duke of Ying’s ears to their tips.
Outside the study, Lang Xun shouted, “Your Majesty! The bramble switch is here!”
Guard Lang strode forward and presented the bramble.
Ying Xi took the bramble. It was very heavy. No matter how he looked at it, it looked like an old, rusty wolf-tooth club from the armory. He walked closer.
Xie Qianli closed his eyes.
Ying Xi was slightly nearsighted. Carrying the club, he looked for a good spot to strike later, deciding to scare him while hitting.
Just hit a few times, then conveniently pat Xie Qianli’s chest twice to show authority, and this mission could be barely muddled through and completed.
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (0/2)]
Hurry up meant hurry up.
Ying Xi raised his arm!
The wolf-tooth club swung, creating a whooshing wind sound.
Ying Xi swung out, his gaze casting downward.
But looking closely, Ying Xi finally saw clearly that Xie Qianli was covered in small, fragmented wounds. These were the stab wounds, each one or two inches long, left by Lang Xun and the others poking him like a sieve in Shanglin Park two days ago.
Aside from wounds suffered on the battlefield, Xie Qianli had other crisscrossing old scars. Ying Xi’s eyes flickered slightly; those were… whip marks.
Looking further down, the penetrating wound from the shears that pierced his hand web had formed a string of deep purple blood scabs.
The bramble stopped abruptly in front of Xie Qianli.
The sound of the wind ceased instantly, and Xie Qianli opened his eyes. His gaze went from bottom to top, his pupils reflecting Ying Xi’s bright jawline. The dragon robe’s sleeves spread out, the dragon pattern bright and beautiful, revealing a slender arm raised inside the sleeve.
Xie Qianli, baffled, raised his chin slightly.
This small movement presented his injuries to Ying Xi from another angle, even more clearly. The whip marks all over his body were particularly obvious.
On the battlefield, a soft whip had an absolute disadvantage; no one would use a soft whip as a weapon.
Clearly, that beating wasn’t from an enemy, but from his own side. The only possible executioner was the former Duke of Ying, Xie Ji.
Old events swept back. Ying Xi guessed that Xie Qianli getting beaten must have originated from the old debts between the two of them.
It was just that in his past life, he had never seen these scars of Xie Qianli’s, nor known they were so shocking. Suddenly, he realized that this man before him, whether new wounds or old, was covered in injuries because of him!
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (0/2)]
The flashing mission interface reminded Ying Xi again that he must act according to plan immediately.
But even if he had a heart of stone and held a grudge against Xie Qianli, he shouldn’t add new injuries to Xie Qianli just to complete a mission.
Ying Xi lowered the bramble and threw it aside. Thrown into the corner, the bramble made a rolling sound.
Ying Xi said, “Rise.”
“…” Xie Qianli was slightly stunned. He stood up as told, his height advantage allowing him to look down at Ying Xi.
He saw the Emperor reach out a hand, placing his palm on an ugly whip scar closest to the heart. That wound hadn’t healed well, crawling clumsily like an earthworm.
Xie Qianli’s heart beat extremely fast.
Afraid Ying Xi would feel it, he trembled slightly but dared not retreat.
He felt the tips of Ying Xi’s fingers, which had slight calluses from holding a brushâjust a little bitâpressing against his skin, soft and slightly cool.
And Xie Qianli didn’t know that when Ying Xi’s fingers touched his body, Ying Xi’s heart rhythm was equally chaotic. Ying Xi had seen a few of those scars, but most he hadn’t.
Xie Qianli originally had a cinnabar mole on his chest. Later, because of the whipping, that skin was beaten raw, and the mole shattered with it, melting into the old scar Ying Xi was currently touching.
Ying Xi’s voice had a rasp he didn’t perceive himself:
“You were punished because of Me, yet never complained to Me. The fault lies with Me; I owe you one.”
[Mission Content: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (1/2)]
Then.
Ying Xi’s fingertips touched a second wound.
That was a fresh wound. It hadn’t healed yet. When touched, the muscle tissue there reacted sensitivelyâpainful, itchy, and cool.
Xie Qianli’s heart beat even more like a drum.
“During Feng Ze’s assassination attempt, Minister Xie was under attack by My guards, yet could still think of My safety and protect the Sovereign without turning back.”
“With chaotic blades added to your body, you have already been punished, so merit offsets faults.”
Thump-thump, thump-thump…
Xie Qianli’s chest heaved.
A fire-like heat was stirred in his chest, forcing his lips tight. He didn’t express it, nor did he know what expression to show Ying Xi.
Xie Qianli lowered his eyes to take in the Emperor.
He had various thoughts, messy enough to be annoying. He forced himself to be calm, but finally, they condensed into a clear flash of thought: Ying Xi has lost weight.
That unfinished half-bowl of porridge on the table, the slightly raspy voice, the sickly countenance fragile as colored glass. Facing Ying Xi, Xie Qianli felt unsettled, actually feeling a pity that shouldn’t exist.
Xie Qianli lost his composure even more, like an agitated beast. He lowered his head. He saw the soft top of Ying Xi’s hair, and further down, Ying Xi’s waist, so slender it could be encircled by a single arm.
Xie Qianli took a half-step back.
[Mission Complete: Touch Xie Qianli’s pectoral muscles (No clothes barrier version) (Hiss ha hiss ha hiss ha) (Right here in the study) (Hurry up!) (2/2). Gained Charm +500, Unlocked Truth Voice Message Ă1]
“Oh yeah!” Sweet Tub cheered.
Despite still being dissatisfied with Xie Qianli, Ying Xi finally breathed a small sigh of relief now that the mission was complete.
He smiled like a spring breeze passing through, waved his hand, smug and full of life:
“You may withdraw, Minister Xie. I am wise; I won’t beat you.”
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