Chapter 66 - OK, Good Friend
Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
13. OK, Good Friend
Chu Xing looked him directly in the eyes and said insipidly, “Yes, Your Highness’s words that day have enlightened me. I believe that I have made grave mistakes in the past. I was not loyal nor righteous. This is why I am willing to protect His Majesty as atonement for my crimes. I will never do such disgraceful things again! Moreover, His Majesty is currently like this…It couldn’t be that Your Highness is willing to let him be a ruler who destroyed the nation, forced to flee all over the country? Will it not be better to trust me just this once? Together, you and I can protect this country on His Majesty’s behalf. This can be considered being loyal to the end.”
Jing Heng looked at the earnestness in Chu Xing’s eyes, and his mood gradually calmed down. Inquiry and disbelief flashed through his eyes, and his eyebrows furrowed together. Last time they had met, Chu Xing had clearly been extremely savage. Why had he had such a big change in att.i.tude after not having seen each other for a few days? Furthermore, his reasons were just too laughable! He raised an eyebrow, “General, can I take you at your word?”
Chu Xing said, “Yes.”
Jing Heng shook his head, smiling grimly, “But, Benw.a.n.g does not trust you.”
Chu Xing also knew this. He sighed softly, “If I really had the intention to revolt, I would have killed you and His Majesty by now and crowned myself Emperor. It would be too late to do so by the time they would arrive. You could say that perhaps I’m worried about my reputation, and that’s why I’ve yet to act. However, we’ve already come to this point. Time is of the essence. My reputation is insignificant, because no matter what, I have already confirmed my name of being a traitorous scoundrel, who conspired to seize the throne. Why would I care about some false reputation? Does Your Highness believe that I’m a soft-hearted and indecisive person?”
Jing Heng’s expression finally changed.
Chu Xing spoke sincerely, “I truly thought of His Majesty when making my proposal just now. Your Highness only has to think it over carefully, and you will know that I have no need to deceive you.”
Jing Heng fell silent for a while, then suddenly looked up at Chu Xing, “Why are you doing this?”
He didn’t believe that Chu Xing would suddenly see the errors of his way. How could a rebel suddenly admit to his wrongs? This reasoning was really absurd!
Pain and self-blame flitted through Chu Xing’s eyes. He did not respond.
Jing Heng saw this, and suddenly, an inconceivable thought appeared in his mind…What could cause Chu Xing, who had been planning on killing His Majesty from the start, change his mind so quickly? What could make Chu Xing willing to get off his high horse and personally take care of His Majesty, who had lost his memories? What could make him be willing to even give up on his rebellion…? However, this idea was too preposterous. Jing Heng found it difficult to believe.
“You…like His Majesty?” Jing Heng suddenly said.
Chu Xing squeezed his fingers into a fist. A long time afterwards, he nodded. In order to convince Jing Heng to believe in him, to abandon his hatred of him, to cooperate with him, he could only admit to this. And this…this was also the true reason behind his actions anyway.
“Ridiculous! Ridiculous!” Jing Heng shouted, a stern look in his eyes, “You actually—”
Chu Xing’s laugh was self-mocking, “I also think it’s ridiculous. Only…does Your Highness not think that protecting His Majesty is currently the most important thing? Your Highness only needs to know that I will never hurt His Majesty again.”
Jing Heng paced back and forth a few times and finally gritted his teeth, looking back to say, “Benw.a.n.g wants to be able to enter the palace at any time to meet with His Majesty.”
Chu Xing said, “Certainly.”
………………………
Chu Xing finally sent Prince An away. He returned to Qin Palace and found Xie He squatting on the ground as if looking for something in the bushes.
“Your Majesty, what are you looking for? I will help you,” Chu Xing said at once.
Xie He looked up at him, opening up his palms as if presenting treasure. Inside, there were several mud-covered white and black chess pieces. His eyes lit up as he said, “Look what I found? They’re chess pieces, ne. Who knows who threw them here? If I collect them, I can use them!”
Chu Xing’s expression instantly stiffened. He recalled that time. His Majesty was sitting here playing chess by himself. Chu Xing had flipped the chess board in his hands violently, and…the chess pieces had all fallen to the ground….
Chu Xing grabbed Xie He’s hands and noticed that there was dirt underneath all of his beautiful, smooth nails. There was blood at his fingertips from his digging too. Instantly, his heart hurted tremendously, “Your Majesty, sit. I will find them for you.”
Xie He shook his head, “Let’s do it together, ba. It’s faster if two people look at once.”
Chu Xing really wanted to tell him, No need, how about I bring you a new chess set, but when he thought that His Majesty would certainly be worried over this, he could only endure the regret and pain and continue to persuade, “Your Majesty, won’t you be dizzy after squatting for so long? How about you rest for a bit, and then, we will search together a little later?”
Xie He thought about it and then nodded. When he stood up, he was indeed hit with a dizzy spell and nearly fell head-first onto the ground. Chu Xing promptly supported him. He looked down and saw Xie He’s earlobe. He really wanted to kiss it, but he held himself back. Chu Xing deferentially supported Xie He to the side to sit and then immersed himself in the task of searching for chess pieces on the ground.
This was his fault. He should be the one to look for them.
Chu Xing was able to find them more quickly than Xie He. Very soon, he was able to find the majority of them. A while later, Xie He joined him. The two of them were busy searching up until the sky was dark before they finally found all of the pieces. Xie He was very happy and held them in his arms like they were his treasure. He didn’t dare bring them back. He dug a hole behind the rock garden and buried them. Immensely pleased, he told Chu Xing, “No one will discover them like this.”
Chu Xing shut his eyes, his throat blocked, and forced out a sound, “Mn.”
Chu Xing took Xie He back to his room to sleep. Afterwards, he went to look for a chess set without rest. He didn’t dare choose one that was too good. After expending a lot of energy, he was finally able to find a slightly shabby-looking chess board from the palace attendants.
Early the next morning, when Chu Xing went to look for Xie He, he discovered that Xie He had already gotten out of bed.
He paused and then headed to the garden. Indeed, he found Xie He behind the rock garden. Xie He had dug out the chess pieces and had drawn a chess board on the ground, playing a game by himself with great relish.
Chu Xing didn’t dare disturb him. He watched on the side. After waiting for one s.h.i.+chen, he noticed that Xie He was still not done, so he walked over and asked in a quiet, concerned voice, “Your Majesty, I’ve brought you something to eat. First, eat something, ba.”
Xie He looked up, questioning in his eyes, “Who are you? Why are you calling me Your Majesty?”
Chu Xing’s expression froze! What had happened?! Why didn’t he recognize him? However, before he could ask, Xie He pushed him away unhappily and said, “Move over a bit, you’re blocking him.”
Only then did Chu Xing realize that he was standing on the other side of the chess board. However, aside from him, there was no one else? Chu Xing felt his scalp go numb, and his heart froze. The gaze he directed towards Xie He was full of unsuppressable pain. His Emperor….
Xie He muttered for a while and then lowered his head to continue playing.
Chu Xing didn’t dare disrupt him this time. He waited for a long time before he finally saw Xie He stand up. It was just that Xie He acted like he hadn’t seen him. He turned and left. Chu Xing hastily grabbed onto Xie He’s arm and asked, “Your Majesty, where are you going?”
Xie He was stopped by Chu Xing and asked, “You’re really strange. Why are you calling me Your Majesty? Why do you care where I go?”
Chu Xing felt that his own voice was a bit stiff. He forced out a smile, “If I don’t call you Your Majesty, what should I call you? Who are you?”
Xie He tilted his head in thought. He smiled confidently, “Call me Xiao Bai. That’s what Xiao Zhao calls me.”
“Xiao Zhao?” Chu Xing asked, “Who is that?”
“Xiao Zhao is Xiao Zhao, ah. The one who was playing chess with me just now was him,” Xie He giggled, “We’re good friends.”
Shock appeared in Chu Xing’s eyes. Just now…Xie He was clearly by himself.
Xie He suddenly came in close and whispered secretly in his ears, “Right, how come you can see me? Aside from Xiao Zhao, you’re the first person who can see me, ne! Before, everyone who pa.s.sed me by couldn’t see me. Only Xiao Zhao could see me. He is my only friend. He said that I am also his only friend, that so long as he’s with me, he’ll be very happy. The one he likes the most is me, la!”
Chu Xing had a vague conjecture, but he didn’t dare believe it.
“When Xiao Zhao is by himself, what he likes to do the most is play chess with me. The one I like the most is also him, la! I will always be by his side,” A gentle smile appeared on Xie He’s face. There was a strange undercurrent in that smile, “We will always be together, never to be apart.”
Chu Xing looked at the smile on Xie He’s face. He finally understood just how cruel he had been….
When he recalled his actions and conduct on that day, he only wished to go back in time to kill his past self. In his eyes, it was but a trifling chess set. However, in His Majesty’s eyes, this was the only thing that had kept him going. It was his only solace amidst his pain.
This was His Majesty’s time with his only friend.
For His Majesty, the only one who would never abandon him in the depths of this cruel and grim palace was this friend who lived in his mind.
And yet, Chu Xing had mercilessly destroyed it all.
How could he have done such a thing?
【Ding, the target, Chu Xing’s Favourability Value +2. The current Favourability Value is 94.】
Chu Xing covered up the grief in his eyes and looked at Xie He. With a hoa.r.s.e voice, he said, “I understand. No one can tear the two of you apart.”
Xie He looked at him with a pleasantly surprised expression, “Really?”
Chu Xing nodded vigorously, “Really. You should spend more time with him. He will certainly be even happier.”
Xie He smiled widely, “What you said makes sense!”
Chu Xing felt his eyes heat up. He took a pause and thought about how the food he had brought had already gone cold. Therefore, he led Xie He back to the room and instructed people to prepare more food. Since His Majesty believed that he was someone else, he shouldn’t be conflicted over what he ate.
Indeed, Xie He did not show any fear when faced with a table full of delicious food. Rather, he had an extremely excited and happy expression, “Wah, you’re really a good person! There’s so many good things to eat! I’ve never eaten these before, ne!”
Chu Xing forced himself to smile and said, “What did you eat before?”
Xie He scrunched up his face and thought, “Before, I would eat what Xiao Zhao ate. He gave a portion of his food to me.”
Chu Xing nodded, “Since you can eat good food now, don’t be modest, and eat a bit more. Then, take some back for him.”
“This is too good! I can take some back with me?” Xie He’s eyes were glittering, “Xiao Zhao will definitely be very happy! Heehee, he’s never eaten such good things before!”
Chu Xing turned his head, “You can take back as much as you want.”
Xie He ate very happily, right until his stomach was bursting. He laid on the chair and rubbed his belly. Chu Xing personally filled a box with food for him. Xie He carried the box away and headed outside. In the end, he hadn’t even taken that many steps before he came back. He said pitifully, “I can’t remember where I live.”
There was agony in Chu Xing’s eyes. It was very normal for an imaginary person to have no residence. He said softly, “Then, live here, ba. Wait until you remember, and then, go back.”
Xie He smiled, embarra.s.sed, “Then, I’ll have to trouble you?”
Chu Xing said, “No trouble at all. It is my honour.”
Xie He laid on the bed, carefree, and slept. Indeed, because he had eaten until he was full, he slept very soundly. The next morning, he woke up feeling rejuvenated.
【Xie He：General Chu is becoming increasingly more considerate. Zhen is extremely gratified.】
【444：That’s because your guidance was correct….】
【Xie He：I’ve nearly made a full recovery. It’s time for my s.e.x life to come back for a bout. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) I think that he probably won’t lay his hands on you again….】
【Xie He：At this time, it all depends on Zhen’s acting skill. :)】
Xie He began to take his clothes off in bed….
444 covered his eyes at once. WTF, WTF, WTF, what was Host dada doing?! Σ( ° △°|||)︴
Xie He laughed. This was the pleasant surprise he had specifically prepared for Chu Xing.
In order to escape from his suffering, Jing Zhao, who had been bullied and humiliated, had developed a personality that was that of the most depraved of male pets. As an innate male pet, he was logically something that was to be enjoyed by men. He would only find it pleasurable and would not find it painful. Moreover, no matter how he was degraded, he thought it was only reasonable, because he didn’t have any dignity to begin with.
It was perfectly logical!
Last night, Chu Xing had left only after seeing that Xie He had fallen asleep. Today, he was worried that Xie He would be hungry upon waking, so he promptly made his way back after completing his work. As a result, as soon as he entered, he saw Xie He standing in the room, naked. When Xie He saw him come, the corner of his lips rose into a smile, and he leisurely made his way towards him.
Chu Xing was frozen stiff. In that instant, he didn’t know how he should react! He couldn’t help but look at that perfect body. He knew that this action of his was extremely disrespectful, but he couldn’t avert his gaze.
He loved and…yearned for this person….
This lasted until Xie He finally stopped before him and knelt down. His eyebrows were arched, tear mole moving delicately. He used a deferential, soft, and low voice to call out, “Master, you’re back.”
At this moment, Chu Xing could feel all of the blood in his veins freeze.
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【444：……】
【Xie He：Good morning, Baby.】
【444：……】
【Xie He：Hm? What do you want to ask?】
【444 says weakly：Oh…I want to ask…did you really want your s.e.x life back that much? _(:зゝ∠)_】The tough man, General Chu, had been abused to tears! Host dada’s soft knife method was more ruthless than torture, ah….
【Xie He：Strictly speaking, it’s General Chu who wants it more, ba? He wants me so much but is forced to hold back. I’m afraid that he will fall ill from restraining himself too much. The s.e.x life is an important element in maintaining a couple’s harmony. A gentle and considerate man like me naturally must satisfy his basic needs. Why shouldn’t we do something that will bring joy to both parties? Smile.JPG】
【444：……】Really sorry, he could only see one side enjoying this.
【Xie He：Baby, do you have any other questions?】
【444：…No!】
Xie He was reflecting back. General Chu’s technique was indeed quite good. When he wasn’t rough, his skill was one grade higher. It was a bit hard to get out of his mind.
Only, for the sake of this bout of fun, he had wasted several days already. Right now, he should switch into another personality to play around. The key to keeping a romance hot was frequently keeping things fresh. He would make Chu Xing forever “pleasantly surprised.”
According to the situation, he would switch seamlessly. There was no issue!
Xie He continued to feign sleep. Chu Xing woke up first and carried Xie He into the wooden tub. Xie He felt that it was about time and made a sound, opening his eyes.
Amidst the heavy steam, his eyes were extremely clear. They were innocent like that of a child. he turned to look at Chu Xing, who was holding him, red lips parting slightly, “Uncle, who are you?”
Chu Xing froze. He already knew more or less about Xie He’s situation. He would frequently believe that he was someone else. Perhaps there was a trigger, or perhaps there were no rules. Right now, however, he had obviously switched personalities.
Chu Xing didn’t even bat an eye, “I’m Chu Xing. What’s your name?”
Xie He blinked, innocence in his eyes, “I’m Yang Jing. You can call me Xiao Jing. Uncle, are you helping me take a bath right now?”
Expression stirred in Chu Xing’s eyes, and he asked, “How old are you?”
Xie He smiled, “Five years old!”
Chu Xing’s expression became sad for a second before disappearing. He forced himself to look kind, “So, it turns out Xiao Jing is already five years old. Uncle is indeed helping you wash up. Be good.”
“Oh,” Xie He was thus obedient, not moving.
Chu Xing first helped Xie He clean up, then carried him out, dried him, and finally dressed him.
Xie He sat on the bed, kicking his feet. He tilted his head and asked, “Uncle, are you Father’s friend? Where are we? Where’s my father and mother?”
Chu Xing said, “Your parents went somewhere far away. It wasn’t convenient to take you with them, so they brought you here to stay with Uncle for a while.”
Xie He was not at all suspicious of Chu Xing’s words. He looked very lovable and well-behaved.
Chu Xing thought for a moment and then brought a pile of honeyed foods in. They were all things children liked to eat. Sure enough, Xie He’s eyes lit up when he saw them. He was extraordinarily happy, “Thank you, Uncle!”
Chu Xing nodded and said, “If there’s anything else you want, you can tell me. Treat this place as your own home.”
Xie He thought about it and said, “There’s nothing else.”
Chu Xing rubbed his head, “Uncle has to go out for a bit. What do you want to eat tonight? Uncle will bring it back for you.”
Xie He hesitated and then said, “I want to eat tanghulu. Can I?”
Chu Xing smiled, “Alright. Is there anything else you want to eat?”
Xie He shook his head, “No. Thank you, Uncle.”
Chu Xing looked at Xie He, reluctant to part. He then turned around, suffering evident in his eyes.
It was he who had forced His Majesty into such a state.
Eve: Note, because the author has rewritten and republished chapters, numbering has changed. There is no ‘chapter 14’ in this arc so the next one will be labelled as the 15th one. I double checked some old raw websites and it seems like the text has just been rearranged into different chapters so we shouldn’t be missing anything.
Also, ugh cute adorable, well-behaved children like that last personality always evokes strong maternal feelings. LET ME DOTE ON THAT CHILD. PRECIOUS.