BLHO Chapter 86

Chapter 86: You’re Insane, Lin Shuangxu

The next day, Han Mao had someone prepare wine and dishes and send them to Lin Shuangxu’s room. He didn’t deliberately avoid people while doing this, and the He family members saw it all.

These days, it goes without saying how much he had cared for Lin Shuangxu. Now, with the young master still unwell, he actually prepared wine to drink with him. What were his intentions?

“Isn’t this just blatant exploitation of a crisis?”

In the corridor, Vice General Qin crossed his arms and glared angrily at the tightly closed door, wishing he could rush in and drag Han Mao out.

“The General just had an accident, and even his body hasn’t been found yet, and he’s been fawning over the young master every day. What, is he so impatient to usurp the position?”

“Watch your words.” Advisor Guo reminded him from the side, “The young master always acts with discretion. There’s no need for you to worry about what he says or does.”

Vice General Qin sullenly pouted, “I’m not worried about the young master lacking discretion, I’m worried about his health. The military doctor said he shouldn’t be drinking alcohol right now.”

“If Han Mao is sincere, he will naturally advise him against it.”

“Hmph, I’m afraid he’s just eager to get the young master drunk so he can take advantage of him. Just look at his two-faced appearance, who doesn’t know what he’s plotting?”

“Alright, stop talking nonsense and go do your job.”

Advisor Guo’s words sounded proper, but in reality, Vice General Qin could tell that he was also uncomfortable seeing Han Mao getting so close to the young master.

Fine, out of sight, out of mind.

In the room, separated by a door, the wine had already been poured. Lin Shuangxu stared at the wine cup in a daze, hesitating to start.

The rustling sounds of discussion outside filtered in. Han Mao shook his head helplessly and joked with Lin Shuangxu, “Today, I’ve completely become a sinner.”

He picked up some vegetables and placed them in front of Lin Shuangxu, “Eat something first, to avoid feeling uncomfortable after drinking.”

Lin Shuangxu looked at the vegetables in his bowl without any expression, didn’t touch his chopsticks, and raised his wine cup to Han Mao.

Han Mao sighed inwardly, clinked cups with him, watched him tilt his head back and drink the wine, and also finished his own cup.

Lin Shuangxu didn’t speak, picked up the wine pot and refilled his cup, then raised it to Han Mao again.

Han Mao wanted to advise him to drink slower, but seeing his determined gaze, he knew that persuasion would be useless, so he decided to keep him company and drank with him again.

Without pause, Lin Shuangxu started pouring the third cup. After filling it, without waiting for Han Mao, he drank it all in one go.

Then, as he was about to pour another cup, Han Mao couldn’t bear to watch any longer and grabbed his wrist.

“Shuangxu.”

He said worriedly to Lin Shuangxu, “I know you’re in pain, but what’s done is done. No matter how much you mistreat your body, he won’t come back.”

Lin Shuangxu calmly looked at his wrist being held.

Han Mao immediately released him, “I’m sorry.”

Lin Shuangxu stared at him without blinking, “Sorry for what?”

He had drunk too fast, and after three cups, his voice became soft, and the corners of his eyes were tinged with red.

Han Mao opened his mouth, then lowered his head.

After a moment, he looked up again and said to him, “I really can’t bear to see you so sad.”

Lin Shuangxu suddenly smiled.

Han Mao couldn’t smile, and said seriously, “I know, you must be thinking, why is it He Yuncheng who died, and not me, Han Mao.”

Lin Shuangxu still didn’t speak.

“If that would make you feel better, you can put the blame on me.”

Their eyes met, and this time Han Mao didn’t dodge, but was sincere and open.

Such sincere affection, a pity it was misplaced.

The alcohol started to take effect, and Lin Shuangxu felt dizzy. He supported his head with his hand, “Brother Han, what you’re saying is making me feel at a loss.”

–

Night, the Royal Palace.

The empty hall was desolate and silent. Gu Huan sat on the dragon throne, the flickering candlelight reflecting on his face as he repeatedly read the letter in his hand.

The urgent letter, delivered at top speed, clearly and definitively described He Yuncheng’s death.

A smile slowly spread across his face, and his hand holding the letter trembled with excitement.

He walked down the steps. Grand Diviner was kneeling below the hall. He disregarded decorum and sat cross-legged on the ground opposite him.

“Divinate again.” He ordered the Grand Diviner.

The Grand Diviner kowtowed to receive the decree, the withered face beneath his black robe sinister and terrifying.

The tortoise shell landed, and Gu Huan patiently waited for a conclusive result.

Not far away, Li Yuliang stood motionless like an empty puppet.

Time seemed to freeze. As the Grand Diviner manipulated the tortoise shell, familiar and close faces flashed before Gu Huan’s eyes, one by one.

Royal Sister, Empress Dowager, and those court officials he had eliminated with Li Yuliang’s help.

These people sacrificed their blood to heaven and died for their ruler. It was an unsurpassed honor.

If they had knowledge in the afterlife, they should kowtow and thank him for his boundless imperial grace.

Unexpectedly, a mouthful of black blood suddenly splattered onto the tortoise shell.

The Grand Diviner supported his broken body, barely managing to kneel. He had already divined the result.

“How is it?”

Gu Huan ignored the blood on his lips and eagerly inquired.

With his withered hands trembling, the Grand Diviner said one word to Gu Huan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth: “Death.”

The weak voice was like a loud thunder, echoing in the hall.

Before Gu Huan could celebrate, the Grand Diviner laboriously raised his head and said to him again, “The Son of Heaven dies.”

After saying that, his body collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The inescapable fate, unchanged.

The person destined to die was the Son of Heaven, also unchanged.

Heaven’s will cannot be defied. Everything he had done was in vain.

A ringing sound drilled into his brain, and Gu Huan’s head ached violently in an instant.

Why, why was the result still the same… Han Mao’s letter clearly stated that He Yuncheng had fallen into a deep abyss, and his body had been lost forever. Without He Yuncheng, how could the He family still stir up trouble?

Someone was secretly helping the He family, helping them to resist the imperial power. It must be like that… Who was it?

Gu Huan staggered to his feet. In his swaying vision, he saw a blurry figure.

With a swoosh, a long sword was drawn, and the sharp iron blade pressed directly against Li Yuliang’s throat.

“It’s you!” Gu Huan pointed the sword at Li Yuliang like a madman.

Li Yuliang stood still, not dodging, allowing his skin to be pierced.

“Is it you colluding with the He family? You resent me, you want me to die, don’t you!”

Li Yuliang raised his silent eyes, not defending himself at all.

What was there to defend? How else could he prove his loyalty?

“If the Emperor says so, then it is so.”

“You dog slave!”

Li Yuliang knelt down in response.

Gu Huan couldn’t hold the sword steady. Looking at his bowed figure, the fierce look in his eyes gradually dissipated.

He understood better than anyone that if there was only one person in the world who would not betray him, that person would be Li Yuliang.

The Son of Heaven would die at the hands of the He family. He wanted to escape this inescapable fate.

Where exactly had the problem occurred? Who else deserved to die that he hadn’t eliminated?

–

Drip, drip.

In the damp, dark place, water dripped from above.

Perhaps it was water, or perhaps it was blood that hadn’t finished flowing.

Han Mao’s mind was blurred, and he couldn’t tell the difference anymore.

His hands and feet were tied with ropes, and his body was covered in wounds after being subjected to torture.

Echoing in his ears were the Emperor’s instructions before his departure—

No matter what means he used, on this expedition to Yan Zhao, He Yuncheng must not return.

It was the Emperor who wanted He Yuncheng to die.

He served the ruler and had no choice.

A bucket of cold salt water was splashed down, and the pain made him a little more awake.

The moon-white sleeves fluttered before his eyes, once stirring his heart, now a soul-reaping ghost.

He didn’t even know that Lin Shuangxu could be so ruthless.

He laboriously raised his head, dark red blood flowing down the corners of his mouth and eyes.

He saw Lin Shuangxu’s face, still as expressionless as when they were drinking that day.

Lin Shuangxu had tricked him.

Inviting him to drink wasn’t just to drown his sorrows.

It was to strike him into the abyss when he was unprepared.

“Why… are you so sure… that I killed He Yuncheng? Do you have any evidence…”

He knew that Lin Shuangxu wouldn’t let him go, but people always instinctively feared death, instinctively wanting to find a way out.

“What evidence do you want?” Lin Shuangxu looked at him mockingly, “You yourself said, let me put the blame on you.”

“That’s because I like you! I didn’t want you to be sad alone…”

“Okay.” Lin Shuangxu laughed, “I’ll cut you once a day, drain your blood, and then kill everyone in the palace to pay for his life, and then I won’t be sad.”

“You’re insane… you’re insane, Lin Shuangxu…”

“It’s you who are insane.” Lin Shuangxu looked down at Han Mao’s hideous face, “You’re seeking your own death, and of course I’ll help you achieve it.”