MLIAM Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Last Time, My Two Amnesias Were Both For You, So You…

Chapter 98: Last Time, My Two Amnesias Were Both For You, So You…

Wei Yan raised his eyes to look at Yu Shuli, his expression complex.

“Ji’an,” he said with difficulty, “What have you remembered?”

Yu Shuli pulled a long face, helped him put on his clothes, and then helped him up. “We’re going down the mountain now.”

“No, we can’t,” Wei Yan supported himself weakly, holding him back, “There are pursuers down the mountain now, we have to go up the mountain and take the other river channel.”

“In your condition, how can you go into the water?!” Yu Shuli raised his voice, a few sobs escaping between his gritted teeth.

Wei Yan softened his voice, “I’m fine.”

“Fine! Fine! You always say you’re fine!” Yu Shuli’s eyes reddened, “The last time this happened, you were in bed for a month! You were on the verge of death several times! How many critical illness notices did the imperial physician issue?”

Wei Yan’s expression changed, “You said… the last time?”

His chest rose and fell unevenly, “You… you remember what happened then?”

Yu Shuli pursed his lips, his fingers tightly clutching his clothes, “Yes.”

“Wei Yan, my two amnesias were both for you.” He raised his eyes, his fingers gently stroking Wei Yan’s face, and said softly, “So you have to be responsible for me, don’t let anything happen.”

*

Tianyuan Year 13.

The autumn sunlight shone through the sparse leaves, leaving dappled shadows.

In the deep mountains and on the small roads, the cries of wild animals rose and fell.

Yu Shuli opened his eyes and woke up, finding himself lying under a large tree, his whole body aching.

The surrounding vegetation was desolate. This was probably some deep mountain forest. He couldn’t see any dwellings or people anywhere.

The clothes on his body were wrinkled and covered in dirty mud. As soon as he raised his eyes, he met an arrogant gaze.

“Yu Shuli, it seems you really are an arrogant fool.”

Behind the man was a group of bandits, looking down at him condescendingly, their aura aggressive.

It was Zhao Xuan, the Third Prince, whom Yu Shuli had offended by joking about his unrequited love.

Yu Shuli twitched his lips, “Third Highness, I didn’t expect you to hold grudges like this.”

Zhao Xuan sneered, a sinister glint flashing in his deep eyes, “I hold grudges? If you hadn’t spread rumors about me first, would I have retaliated against you?” He flicked a whip in his hand, smashing it on the ground, “Speaking of retaliation, my real retaliation hasn’t even started yet.”

“You ruined a marriage for me and made Princess Jiangning transfer her affections. If I don’t avenge this, what kind of Third Prince am I?! Today, I’ll let you taste the consequences of offending me!”

“You’re incompetent yourself, blaming me for your failed pursuit?” Yu Shuli sneered, “I even hoped you and Princess Jiangning would get together, after all, you’re birds of a feather.”

In the valley, the wind was bleak, as if even the sunlight was unwilling to shine.

Yu Shuli looked around and knew that Zhao Xuan had gone all out this time. After all, he had even hired bandits to use underhanded tricks on the road to kidnap him, which looked like he was serious this time.

“Tch. Princess Jiangning doesn’t like you anyway. I’m just telling the truth, and you can’t take it? If you really liked her, you would try to pursue her. Only knowing how to retaliate against me behind my back, no wonder you can only have her in your dreams.” Yu Shuli curled his lips and added, “Oh, right, friendly reminder, this beauty you admire might still be a venomous snake. Your taste really isn’t good.”

“Yu Shuli!” Zhao Xuan’s eyes were full of anger, “You still dare to slander Princess Jiangning?! Don’t you know what kind of situation you’re in right now?”

“I don’t know.” Yu Shuli narrowed his eyes slightly and moved his fingers slightly, “So, how are you going to retaliate?”

The smoke used by the bandits was quite strong, and Yu Shuli’s entire internal force had been completely removed. He arched his legs and tried to stand up by force, but to no avail.

His face was already flushed, and he simply propped himself up with the soles of his shoes against the mud, no longer sitting back down, just sneering, “For a dignified prince to use such underhanded and shady tactics, aren’t you afraid of shortening your lifespan?”

Hearing his sarcasm, Zhao Xuan’s face darkened a lot. He waved his hand, signaling the bandits to lift Yu Shuli up, “This autumn, the weather is very nice. Since you don’t want to sit, let our young Master Yu go cool off in the water and calm down his brain.”

In the desolate mountains and ridges of late autumn, the river water was icy cold.

Yu Shuli couldn’t swim, and with his internal force gone, his hands and feet were bound, being thrown into the river was no different from seeking death.

But he would never beg Zhao Xuan for mercy.

For a dignified prince to be able to use such deadly means just because of his casual teasing. Yu Shuli was sure that he was just a showoff, just trying to scare people, and wouldn’t dare to really touch him.

The sturdy bandits easily lifted Yu Shuli up and threw him to the riverbank.

Yu Shuli raised his eyes, his delicate face showing no fear.

Zhao Xuan gritted his teeth, “You won’t even beg for mercy?!”

“Instead of me begging for mercy, I’m more curious, Third Highness, as a prince, associating with these low-class people, using such dirty methods, what will happen if His Majesty finds out?” Yu Shuli raised his eyebrows, “Where did you find these people? I don’t think you would have the opportunity to get to know them on your own.”

“You! What do you care how I know them?! I have my own channels!” Zhao Xuan kicked Yu Shuli in frustration, “Don’t push your luck! I know you can’t swim. This lake water is so deep, I can throw you in and drown you right now!”

“You throw me in, see if my father finds His Majesty and makes a scene.”

“Stop using Yu Huaxin as an excuse! How long ago was he a God of War? Now he’s just a pot-bellied old man without any military power. Do you think I’m afraid of him? Even if you go to the Emperor, you outer subjects are no match for me, a prince!”

Yu Shuli shook his head, extremely disappointed, pursed his lips and said nothing more.

Seeing Yu Shuli no longer paying attention to him or arguing with him, Zhao Xuan couldn’t vent his anger, and was so angry that he was about to die, “Are you playing dead?”

“Someone, bring me my whip!”

Zhao Xuan took the whip, flicked it, touched Yu Shuli’s face, and laughed, “I’ll see if you’re still so stubborn.”

“How about this, you apologize, kneel down and call me Grandpa, and then take thirty lashes from me, and I’ll let you go.”

“Don’t even think about it.” Yu Shuli raised his eyebrows, “If you have the guts, then do it, I’m thick-skinned, I’m not afraid of you.”

Zhao Xuan’s face was gloomy, and he raised the whip and swung it directly.

“Wait!” Not far away, a person riding a horse came in a hurry.

The man’s face was stained with a morbid flush, his brows were tightly locked, and his clothes were disheveled. After seeing Yu Shuli, his gaze almost locked on him, and his originally cold shell was completely shattered.

Yu Shuli raised his eyes in surprise, “Wei Yan?!” He moved his body, “Aren’t you still sick? Why are you here?”

Wei Yan rolled over and got off the horse, walked up to him, his face as pale as paper, “I went to the General’s Residence to look for you, and the servant said you hadn’t returned all day. I thought about how you had interacted with the Third Prince a few days ago, and I learned from the city guard that the Third Prince had left the city today, so I came out to look for you.” Wei Yan gasped for breath, his expression showing an anxiety he had never seen before, “Ji’an, are you alright?”

“Of course something’s wrong, otherwise why would he look like this?” Zhao Xuan sneered. Seeing Wei Yan caring about Yu Shuli as if there was no one else around, a playful smile appeared on his face, “Wei… Secretary Wei??”

“Third Highness.” Wei Yan lowered his eyes, his palms clenched into fists on both sides, and bowed.

“Now you remember this prince? You didn’t even say hello just now, your heart and eyes were only on this… Ji’an.” He curved his eyes, “The way you say ‘Ji’an’ is really affectionate.”

“You’re very worried about him?”

Wei Yan didn’t deny it, raising his eyes and answering, “Yes.”

“But he spoke wildly and slandered this prince. This prince is just trying to teach him a lesson and make him remember it.”

Wei Yan glanced at Yu Shuli, who had a stubborn face, a stiff neck, and was unwilling to show weakness.

He sighed and bowed again, “Your Highness, please forgive him. Young Master Yu is just straightforward and used to talking nonsense. Some jokes slip out, but he really has no malice. I don’t know where he offended Your Highness, but considering that General Yu has worked hard for the country and the people for half his life, the Yu family can be considered meritorious officials of Da Liang. I hope Your Highness is generous and forgives him this once.”

“Oh? This prince rarely sees Secretary Wei like this, so humble. It’s quite refreshing.” Zhao Xuan slowly opened his mouth, “But… what you said… makes sense.”

Wei Yan breathed a sigh of relief, his expression relaxed, and he was about to help Yu Shuli untie the rope and take him away, but he saw Zhao Xuan curl his lips, “Then, Young Master Yu has offended this prince. If you take the blame for him, this prince will let him go, is that okay?”

Yu Shuli was originally slumped down, looking like he didn’t care about anything, but when he heard this, his eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth, “Third Prince! My grudges with you, why are you dragging others into it?!”

“Others?” Zhao Xuan smiled, “But I see… this Secretary Wei? He seems to care about you quite a bit. You should be good brothers, right? It’s reasonable for good brothers to take the blame for each other.”

“Reasonable my ass!” Yu Shuli struggled, “If you want to punish me, I’ll accept it, after all, I have a big mouth. But Wei Yan has nothing to do with this, his health is not good, he’s been weak and sick for years, don’t mess around!”

“Nervous?” Zhao Xuan blinked, “It’s good that you’re nervous, it seems my decision was right. It’s obviously more interesting to make you feel bad than to watch you stubbornly take the punishment.”

He turned to look at Wei Yan, “Are you really going to take the blame for him?”

“Naturally.” Wei Yan said lightly, “So can Your Highness release him first?”

“That won’t do!” Zhao Xuan shook his head, “If I let him go, what if he pounces on me to retaliate? It’s better for you to finish taking the punishment on his behalf before I let him go.”

Wei Yan’s gaze swept over the ferocious-looking bandits, and he knew that he couldn’t save Yu Shuli in his current state, so he had to nod. “Okay.”

Yu Shuli’s voice was anxious, “Wei Yan! Don’t mess around! I’ll take responsibility for what I did wrong, I don’t need you to!”

Seeing Yu Shuli start to struggle with all his might, Zhao Xuan’s face lit up, “Secretary Wei? You’re really straightforward!”

He waved his hand, and Wei Yan was immediately tied up by the bandits and kicked down in front of Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan looked down at him condescendingly, hooked Wei Yan’s face with the whip, and chuckled, “Princess Jiangning told me that she has admired you for a long time. I think… besides your outstanding face, you’re nothing special…”

“But don’t worry… I won’t touch your face, after all, you’re working for the Emperor now, so I have to give the Emperor some face.” Zhao Xuan’s voice suddenly turned cold, “Someone, strip off his clothes!”

“Zhao Xuan! Don’t go too far!” Yu Shuli’s wrists were scratched bloody from struggling, but these Jianghu bandits were quite experienced in tying people up, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t break free, and could only watch Zhao Xuan raise the whip and approach Wei Yan.

Yu Shuli felt dizzy.

Zhao Xuan raised his eyes and looked over, “Yu Shuli, remember, this is the evil consequence caused by you.”

“Don’t touch him!” Yu Shuli roared, his face flushed red.

As a series of tragic screams rang out, the whip heavily slammed into Wei Yan’s back, creating streaks of blood, and a strong smell of blood filled the air.

Wei Yan’s originally pale face quickly turned as white as paper, and tears caused by physiological pain slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the cold ground.

Yu Shuli’s hands and feet were tied, and he was pressed to the ground by a group of bandits, unable to move.

Witnessing all of this, his heart was torn, but he was powerless.

He counted each sound, not knowing whether he was counting his own heartbeats or the sound of the whip.

Finally, when Wei Yan was almost on his last breath, Zhao Xuan finally stopped.

“Alright.”

The bandits holding Yu Shuli let go, and Yu Shuli hurried over, his voice with a sob, “Wei Yan… are you okay? Wei Yan…”

Wei Yan raised his eyes and forced a smile, “I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“I’m sorry… it’s all my fault…” Yu Shuli was full of guilt, his own sins, but in the end, Wei Yan bore them for him.

No wonder he was always called an idiot.

He really was… stupid beyond compare.

In the past few years, because he refused to restrain his sharpness, he had offended all the dignitaries in the capital. If this continues, sooner or later he will bring disaster to Wei Yan, and to his family…

Zhao Xuan watched with relish, tilted his head, and seemed to be thinking of some bad ideas again.

“Third Highness, can we leave now?” Wei Yan struggled to raise his head and looked at Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan’s eyes swayed between the two, and suddenly, he shook his head, “No.”

Under the two people’s stunned gaze, Zhao Xuan smiled, “Secretary Wei? You just finished taking the punishment, so as not to let people see it, I’m kind enough to let you wash up first.”

“Someone, throw Wei Yan into the river for me!”

Yu Shuli’s eyes were about to crack, “Zhao Xuan! You’re shameless! You’re a beast!”