Transmigrator Meets Reincarnator

Chapter 289: Without a Cheat (Part 1)

If the emperor were younger, he might have really drawn the imperial sword by his side and executed Count Jing'an with a single, mad blow.

However, for the current fifty-year-old ruler, he had already experienced multitudes more compared to his younger days. Having sat on the golden throne for decades, he had been transformed into a true regent. Most trivial matters would hardly shake him now.

Thus, at the mention of the incident he regretted the most during his youth, he was able to keep his emotions under control and retain his rationality.

The emperor's cold gaze pierced down from above. If looks could kill, then Count Jing'an's body would have likely been riddled with holes, appearing akin to a sieve.

Although the look in the emperor's eyes was terrifying, Count Jing'an knew he couldn't back down at this moment. He had already stayed resolute for so many years. There was no other choice but to keep that secret to his grave!

"Very well, He Yanwen! What a good dog you are! You're still their dog, even after all these years! Like a dog, you can't change your nature of eating shit!"

Such crude words had fallen from the lips of the emperor. It was easy to imagine how furious he was.

Count Jing'an bore with the emperor's fury and silently kneeled. He bowed his head and knelt with both knees on the mirror-like floor of Qinzheng Hall. Even in this pose of obeisance, his back remained ramrod straight as a sign of his silent rebellion.

The emperor could no longer sit still behind the imperial desk. He stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his eyes blood-red from the force of his anger.

He suddenly stopped and asked, "He Yanwen. Are you still unwilling to speak even now?"

Count Jing'an made a cupped fist salute towards the Emperor with his eyes cast downwards. He said, "Your Majesty, this humble official has nothing to say."

"Nothing to say?! He Yanwen! You were Ah-Xun's senior brother! The two of you studied under the same teacher. She treated you like a real brother!"

Count Jing'an pressed his dry lips together. "Your Majesty, it's precisely because I am Ah-Xun's senior brother that I have to keep this secret."

"Good, good... How very good of you! You're living up to your name, my loyal Defender General of the South! You're still loyal even till death!"

Count Jing'an inwardly sighed. "Your Majesty, so many years have passed. Why continue troubling yourself over this matter? Ah-Xun already passed away more than ten years ago. She only wished the best for you."

The impact of Count Jing'an's words made the emperor tremble. His wavering body threatened to collapse, scaring Eunuch Wei into stepping forward and holding him up.

The emperor's lips pulled back into a bitter smile. Even though he had already guessed years ago that Ye Xun was no longer in this world, when he received confirmation of his guess, his first reaction was still disbelief.

He mumbled to himself, "So she's really gone..."

"Then can you tell Us where her grave is?" The sharp ice in the emperor's gaze had long retreated into disappointment and defeat. However, now a spark of hope returned as he looked down upon the kneeling Count Jing'an.

The count's heart panged. He thought briefly of coming clean and revealing the location to the emperor, but he quickly recovered his cool and shook his head in silent determination.

Now again filled with pain and suffering, the emperor was overcome by a vicious cough. He swept everything off the imperial desk— official reports, ink stone, papers, and brushes all crashed to the ground. Ink splattered all over the golden floors of the hall, making a huge mess that reflected the inner state of the emperor's heart.