A New Life Without Regret

Chapter 4

Dongfang Qingyuan woke up with a body covered in cold sweat. He dreamed when Liu Yue was beheaded. Liu Yue's disappointed gaze at him. He who only watched from the side. Qiu Ruiwen's words kept spinning in his head. [You are now Dongfang Ruo Cheng not Dongfang Qingyuan. How can you prove his innocence? Since you chose to be Dongfang Ruo Cheng, you should know. You have let down all your troops!]

Dongfang Qingyuan held his aching head. "Brother Ruo Cheng, I brought you food and medicine." Emperor Xue Feng Ning said coming in. Dongfang Qingyuan got up from the bed and knelt down.

"Brother Ruo Cheng I told you..." Emperor Xue Feng Ning's words were interrupted by Dongfang Qingyuan's words. "General Dongfang Qingyuan pays respect to His Majesty the Emperor." Dongfang Qingyuan said calmly.

"What did you say?" Emperor Xue Feng Ning asked. The Emperor's face looked unpleasant to look at. "General Dongfang Qingyuan pays respect to His Majesty the Emperor." Dongfang Qingyuan repeated. Dongfang Qingyuan's face was quite pale.

Emperor Xue Feng Ning's face became angry. "Your Majesty, General Dongfang seems to be feeling unwell. Let him sit down first." Eunuch Hong said. "Rise," Emperor Xue Feng Ning said.

Dongfang Qingyuan walked to the table and sat down after Emperor Xue Feng Ning sat down. Although he didn't like it, Emperor Xue Feng Ning didn't say anything. "This General has heard the main point and knows why Your Imperial Majesty is unhappy." Dongfang Qingyuan said.

"Tell me why this Emperor is unhappy?!" Emperor Xue Feng Ning said unhappily. "Because this General is not your closest relative, Dongfang Ruo Cheng. You called Dongfang Ruo Cheng back because you thought he was still alive. But Your Imperial Majesty, he has already died in the war. Then..." Dongfang Qingyuan's words were cut off because the door was forced open.

"Ruo Cheng, I brought your favorite desserts from Moon Restaurant." Li Tao said in panic. "Insolent. Don't you know how to behave?!" Eunuch Hong said angrily. "Leave him alone. He brought Brother Ruo Cheng's favorite desserts." Emperor Xue Feng Ning said smilingly.

Dongfang Qingyuan frowned. 'How long is he going to pretend?' thought Dongfang Qingyuan silently. As soon as the plate of desserts was brought out. The image of Liu Yue being beheaded filled his head. That desserts was the last desserts Liu Yue ate before being captured.

Dongfang Qingyuan immediately ran out to the courtyard and vomited his guts. Emperor Xue Feng Ning stood beside Dongfang Qingyuan. "Tonight in the palace." Emperor Xue Feng Ning said before leaving with Eunuch Hong.

---palace---

@Sun Palace

"Why do you think Dongfang Qingyuan vomited his guts when he saw the desserts?" Emperor Xue Feng Ning asked. "Answering Your Imperial Majesty, I think that General Dongfang probably has bad memories of the desserts." Eunuch Hong replied.
"You also feel that Li Tao's actions are to cover something up while Dongfang Qingyuan seems to not want to keep anything a secret." Emperor Xue Feng Ning said coldly. "Your Majesty, this servant has heard from Eunuch Ju that General Dongfang can't read or write. It's very likely that the report was written by Li Tao and not General Dongfang." Eunuch Hong explained.

"Summon Lan Zhi Xuan here." Emperor Xue Feng Ning said. Eunuch Hong went out to order his subordinates to deliver the message to Lan Zhi Xuan.

Meanwhile, at the inn, Dongfang Qingyuan took a deep breath before exhaling. "What did the emperor tell you?" Li Tao asked. The imperial guards guarding there frowned in displeasure. Dongfang Qingyuan smiled. "His Majesty said that I am being held here temporarily." Dongfang Qingyuan explained.

"I need to leave for a while. When your house arrest is over. I will take you to have some fun at the Autumn Pavilion." Li Tao said smilingly. "We don't have enough money to go to a place like that." Dongfang Qingyuan said frowning.