Chapter 92: Private Tutoring; Watching Prince Yong Become a Brother-con… part 1
Plip.
A drop of water from the tip of a leaf landed right on Ying Xi’s nose.
The water droplet was cool, the sunlight was bright, and Ying Xi grew a few degrees more alert. He silently analyzed the battlefield situation for a moment and said to the soldier: “Lead the way. I will go and see.”
He walked through the corridors into the rooms.
The enemy prisoners were brought to the front hall of the Prefect’s Mansion, which was where the two advisors were handling the county’s affairs.
As soon as the two saw the Emperor, they felt as if they had received a grand amnesty and hurriedly yielded the main seat: “Your Majesty, please be seated. This humble person will serve you tea.”
The Longwu Army pressed down the heads of the rebels to pay respects to the Emperor.
“Kneel!”
Ying Xi waved his hand and got straight to the point: “I admire General Xu as a man of honor and do not wish to mistreat his subordinates. I have the intention of recruitment and hope that you generals will switch sides to Jiangbei. Do you have such an intention?”
A Longwu soldier yanked the white cloth gag from a prisoner’s mouth: “He’s asking you a question!”
But the prisoner, without even thinking, let out a loud shout and bit off his own tongue.
Thick blood flowed down, and the severed tongue twitched in the pool of blood. The prisoner could no longer confess anything and could only make some strange yi-yi-ya-ya sounds.
Ying Xi shook his head: “Next one.”
The second one began cursing the moment the gag was removed, calling the Jiangbei court heartless and Ying Xi a faint monarch, even getting up to try and bash his body against the Prefect’s desk.
Fearing the rebel would attack the Emperor, the Longwu Army could only kill him on the spot.
After interrogating only two prisoners, blood flowed all over the floor. The remaining prisoners were just as stubborn. Ying Xi’s mood had been eighty percent ruined.
“Take them all away.”
“Yes!”
The smell of blood forced Ying Xi to move to the study to continue his work.
During this time, Xie Meng led soldiers to report that he had reached the gates of Xindu City, and the Xuzhou troops were also nearly there. The previously planned pincer attack from two routes was becoming a reality.
[Sweetie: Congratulations, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is about to unify the world.]
Ying Xi coughed a few times, took a pill, and drank warm water.
“It won’t be that easy.”
“But I clearly see the other side only has one city left,” Sweetie said.
Ying Xi explained slowly: “Did those prisoners just now look like they were going to fight me to the end?”
Ying Xi’s brow lowered slightly as if talking to himself: “Why?”
He thought Sweetie wouldn’t be able to empathize, so he didn’t say more.
Sweetie said: “Is it like… a long-distance relationship?”
“If a relationship is dragged on without a result, variables might appear, and ultimately things might change over time,” Sweetie chimed in.
Ying Xi paused, then chuckled. The girl’s thinking had broadened; this was worth encouraging: “Perhaps it can be compared that way. Very good.”
[Sweetie: Mwah!]
[System Mission: Interact with any character to restore energy (5%/100%)]
Text popped up on the mission interface.
Ying Xi had been having a headache over state affairs when he suddenly received this mission. He raised his eyes, thoughtful, and said: “You’re not pranking him anymore?”
This “him” naturally referred to Xie Qianli.
[Sweetie: He’s recovering from injuries. Besides, it’s not just Your Majesty’s request; I also want to change my taste~]
[Sweetie: Every time I ‘eat’ the big wolf-dog, I’m stuffed to death!!!]
Ying Xi was silent and shook his head slightly, a sharp glint flashing in the depths of his eyes.
“Little dog! Little dog—let go of me! Who gave you permission to touch me with your dirty hands? Let go!”
Prince Yong’s shouting echoed through the Prefect’s Mansion. The hawk flew frantically, its feathers fluttering everywhere.
Lian Qing had caught Prince Yong red-handed in the dining hall; he was putting croton seeds into Xie Qianli’s patient meal.
Lian Qing was very angry; this was the pride of their Longwu Army! If Prince Yong hadn’t been a Prince, a beating would have been the least of it!
“His Majesty has summoned you; it must be done. Explain it yourself, Your Highness…”
“Coo coo coo!”
Bang.
Lian Qing shoved Prince Yong into the study.
The memorials were piled high on the desk in the study.
Prince Yong acted as if nothing had happened, patting his clothes to brush away the croton seed leaves, refusing to admit he was trying to prank the “vicious dog.”
“Sit.”
Unexpectedly, his Imperial Brother didn’t settle scores or stand up for the dog.
On the other side of the desk, set against the mountain of documents, the Emperor looked pale and thin. A small seat had been set up for Prince Yong on the side of the desk.
The seeds of doubt sprouted in Prince Yong’s mind, and he quickly sat down.
If he wanted to get close to Imperial Brother now, he had to rely entirely on having a thick skin and being pestering. How could it be that in the time it took to poison the dog, Imperial Brother seemed to have changed his personality? Had someone given Imperial Brother a “smart pill” from a distance?
It actually left Prince Yong confused; he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Prince Yong secretly peeked at his Imperial Brother, mesmerized, and said tentatively: “Please give your orders, Brother.”
[System Mission: Interact with any character to restore energy (10%/100%)]
Ying Xi looked at the display interface without showing any emotion and said calmly: “Can I not summon you without giving orders?”
Prince Yong had already been obsessed with and adored Ying Xi. Who would have thought Imperial Brother would take the initiative to get close?
Prince Yong’s phoenix eyes brightened a few degrees. He shifted closer to his Imperial Brother, sitting behind the mountain of official documents, and greedily observed the Emperor.
“This younger brother…” He actually didn’t know what to say.
Strangely, when Prince Yong was actually faced with a version of Ying Xi willing to be close to him, his usual dissatisfaction was filled. His jealousy and unease weakened, and he instead sat up straight.
“Please speak plainly, Imperial Brother.”
“I… cough cough, I…” Ying Xi poured himself a cup of water. He hadn’t been resting well during his illness, and the naval battle in the heavy rain had worsened his condition.
“The final battle will surely be a fierce one.”
“You heard it that day. The rebel Li knows I have no heir and hopes for my death. Fearing some mishap before the battle, I will leave the kingdom to you after I die. You are my only relative in this world; I’m explaining things in advance.”
[System Mission: Interact with any character to restore energy (15%/100%)]
Prince Yong lost his voice: “Brother!”
Prince Yong had originally wanted to take some advantage, but once death was mentioned, he couldn’t bear it. No one could separate them brothers.
Moreover, no matter how close the vicious dog was to Imperial Brother, he was still an outsider. The one who could be trusted with a final testament had to be the one Imperial Brother was closest to.
Thinking this way, Prince Yong actually felt that putting croton seeds in Xie Qianli’s food was simply redundant.
His thinking was different from ordinary people; he found immense satisfaction in this small detail.
Prince Yong bowed: “This younger brother doesn’t want the kingdom; I only want my brother!”
“I can do anything for my brother. Let me die for you! I beg for my brother to live for a hundred years!”
[System Mission: Interact with any character to restore energy (20%/100%)]
“…” Ying Xi’s brow twitched. He was secretly moved.
Actually, calling Prince Yong over was mainly to complete the mission. He had intended to ask Prince Yong to help handle some state affairs—grinding ink, reading memorials—to use up the mission requirements.
As for those few words of “serious business,” while they should be said, he hadn’t expected Dang’er’s reaction to be so intense!
Dang’er’s attachment to him far exceeded his imagination.
Ying Xi always treated it as filial devotion and intended to guide it, but he couldn’t bear to prank his own brother.
“What nonsense are you talking? I’m not dying right now. If you die for me, how many years can my body last? I would just follow you soon after. How could the two of us have the face to see our Imperial Father and Mother in the Nine Springs?”
“Don’t catch my illness. I still have things to do; go out and play. Stop fighting with others.”
“…” This was incredible! These words smoothed over all the scales on Prince Yong’s body!
Prince Yong’s attention was entirely focused on “follow you soon,” “see our parents together,” and “gentle instructions.” He didn’t think he had misheard today; rather, he felt his brother had reached an epiphany. With his brother’s favor, the vicious dog was no longer a concern.
—Is the vicious dog even worthy of seeing their Imperial Father and Mother in the underworld?
He is not!
Prince Yong’s phoenix eyes narrowed into black crescents, his diligence bordering on feverish: “Imperial Brother rest, I will help you!”
Ying Xi had already given up on pranking him, but Prince Yong had tied himself down. An “available mission target” shouldn’t go to waste.
Since their childhood, the two brothers had been used to using the same desk. Prince Yong picked up a brush and read the memorials to his brother: “‘Your servant, Su Xueyi, reports to Your Majesty…'”
[System Mission: Interact with any character to restore energy (25%/100%)]
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