WMSG Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Chapter Fifteen – If you don’t want to, he doesn’t even need to know…

Gong Xunwu took the cup from his hand as well, seemingly making a handshake gesture, and then discovered the last fragment of his thoughts, taking it away and placing it aside.

Although not long ago, Ye Yueshen still found Gong Xunwu gloomy and not very likeable, at this moment he regarded him as a life-saving straw, instinctively leaning in to declare himself: “I acted in self-defense.”

Ye Yueshen’s face was pale, and the scattered bloodstains had been smeared into streaks, not only not appearing dirty, but on the contrary, complementing his moist and full red lips.

Gong Xunwu reached out to wipe the blood from his face, although fascinating and glamorous, he psychologically didn’t want any dirty things to appear on Ye Yueshen.

“He appeared suddenly, he wanted to kill me.” Ye Yueshen’s speech was a little fast, even a little incoherent, he still hadn’t calmed down from it: “I had no choice, if I didn’t kill him, I would die, do you understand?”

“I understand.” Gong Xunwu almost subconsciously answered him, as if to soothe him.

Time passed little by little, Gong Xunwu’s gaze swept over the chaotic scene, his eyes resting on the corpse.

The person in his arms was still trembling, his hand covering the back of Ye Yueshen’s neck, his thumb able to touch a bit of the skin on his neck, so delicate that he couldn’t bear to move his fingertip away.

Gong Xunwu changed his mind: “No one will believe you.”

Ye Yueshen sensed the signs of his change of heart, and after a moment of silence, he raised his head to ask: “What do you mean?”

“He is a court official, this is where he usually comes to rest.” Gong Xunwu felt a little unbearable under the watery gaze, silently struggling for a while, and after personal desire took the upper hand, he continued: “On the contrary, you have no official position, you entered the palace with your brother, not only can you not explain it clearly, perhaps no one in the Ye family can stay out of it.”

Ye Yueshen calmly thought, actually his heart was already a mess, a thousand words merging into one sentence: I need a forensic doctor and a lawyer.

Gong Xunwu gestured for him to look at the corpse: “He doesn’t even have a weapon, and you don’t have any injuries.”

Ye Yueshen read the meaning of threat from his expression, he had clearly believed in himself just now, which tiny link suddenly gave rise to hostility?

After a moment of stalemate, Ye Yueshen’s ignorant and doubtful eyes became clear and resolute, he clenched his fist, and looked back up: “Who says I don’t have any injuries?”

Gong Xunwu reacted quickly, seizing the wrist he raised to strike himself, because the movement was too fast, he clearly gasped for breath, but quickly returned to normal, only a trace of undispersed surprise remained in his eyes.

Although he didn’t expect Ye Yueshen, who had no hope of eating apricots in the Imperial Study, to collapse and beg for mercy, he should at least lower his posture a little and beg him to lend a helping hand, after all, a soft and weak young man.

He was actually going to brutally injure himself to fake the wounds in front of him?

The more impulsive intentions in Gong Xunwu’s heart were deepened by a few more wicked thoughts, a prey that refused to submit could always arouse more hunting desires in the hunter.

Gong Xunwu pressed his hand down, unconsciously with a bit of coaxing: “I said I would help you clean up the mess, I won’t break my word.”

Ye Yueshen pressed his chest and retreated, pulling away a bit and evasively avoiding him with a hostile air: “I should discuss it with my eldest brother.” His tone also didn’t include Gong Xunwu in his own camp.

His gaze fell on the corpse, the head that was originally disheveled was now haphazardly tied up, looking only a little messy, as if it was messed up during the struggle.

And that sharp hairpin that served as a murder weapon was now acting as a hair accessory… perhaps not acting, Ye Yueshen came back to his senses in a cold sweat, Gong Xunwu was right, the other party had no weapon, that hairpin was now staying where it should be.

So the other party’s hidden move that wasn’t done with all their might was here, Ye Yueshen’s back felt a chill.

An official coming to his usual place for tea was justifiable. And he was now dead, covered in injuries, next to only Ye Yueshen, unjustifiable…

Gong Xunwu seemed to have figured out the reaction he would have, and said lightly: “You’ve gotten into trouble, since I said I’d help you, why are you being stubborn?”

“His blood has soiled you.” Gong Xunwu looked him up and down, his gaze finally resting on the slender and fragile waist beneath the belt: “Actually, your brother doesn’t need to worry about it, if you don’t want to, he doesn’t even need to know.”

Ye Yueshen was unconsciously bewitched by him: If this was really a disaster that would plunge the whole family into trouble, then concealing it might spare his family from worry and fear, it would be best if this matter passed quietly, as if it had never happened.

If someone else came to kill him in the future, he would definitely be more careful not to dirty his hands, and then tell his family, they would only need to solve the small trouble of a younger son being hunted down, rather than the sky falling and the whole family being exiled.

Everything gained must have a price, Ye Yueshen knew he wouldn’t get Gong Xunwu’s help for nothing. So he asked: “What do you need me to do for you?”

The corner of Gong Xunwu’s mouth seemed to curl into a smile, it was the first time Ye Yueshen had seen him with an expression.

But Ye Yueshen didn’t have a very good impression of him, and subconsciously interpreted this light smile as cunning and treacherous.

“First, change your clothes.” Gong Xunwu seemed to be afraid that he would go back on his word, and after taking him out, he gave a look to a servant guarding nearby, and then took him away.

Gong Xunwu also had a residence in the palace, very few princes had this kind of treatment after the new emperor ascended the throne, only this one instance in Da Yu.

Soon hot water was prepared, Ye Yueshen had just sat down on the sandalwood chair when he was called to bathe, Ye Yueshen washed himself clean in fear, suddenly remembering that he seemed to be quite good-looking, and that his brother had told him not to be alone with Qi Wang.

So the speed of bathing slowed down, almost deliberately dragging his feet and not going out.

Obviously, this wasn’t a smart decision, but it gave Gong Xunwu a legitimate reason to come in and ask: “Not done washing yet?”

Ye Yueshen shrank in the large bathtub, his heart pounding, the two of them were separated by a screen and could only see an outline of each other.

Then Gong Xunwu broke this distance, Ye Yueshen helplessly watched him approach, using a matter-of-course posture to scoop water from the bathtub onto Ye Yueshen, picking up the handkerchief next to him and pretending to help him scrub.

Ye Yueshen shrank back into the water to avoid him, one head and two rounded shoulders exposed above the water: “You go out.”

Gong Xunwu hesitated for a moment, and for some reason, ultimately didn’t make things difficult for him: “Then hurry up.”

A set of clean white undergarments was folded neatly on the high table, Ye Yueshen couldn’t bother to dry the water on his body, and put them on as soon as the person left, the undergarments were slightly larger than his own, but still relatively fitting.

Gong Xunwu stood in front of the dressing table, gesturing for Ye Yueshen to come over, not knowing what new role he had chosen for himself, in short, he wanted to interfere in everything from bathing to combing his hair.

Ye Yueshen waited for him to wipe his hair half-dry and comb it up, this time he didn’t make a mistake like last time, almost the same height as the servant had helped him tie it in the morning.

Then Gong Xunwu helped him put on the outer robe, it was an old piece of clothing that had been worn, with slight wrinkles on the back of the hem, these were the traces of having been worn.

“These were my clothes at fifteen years old.” Gong Xunwu even helped him tie the pipa knot on the waistband.

Ye Yueshen ignored this idle chatter, his fingers twisting together, and asked him: “Won’t my eldest brother not be able to find me?” The implication was that he wanted to go back.

Gong Xunwu seemed to have forgotten that he still wanted to leave, and only fell silent when he heard him say this, after a moment he said: “Tomorrow at noon, go to Qi Wang Manor alone.”

Giving help without any family ties, Ye Yueshen was mentally prepared for the price, he nodded: “Okay.”

But some things were uncertain, he always held a bit of luck in his heart, indirectly asking: “I don’t know the way, can my second brother take me?”

Gong Xunwu didn’t speak, his cold expression meaning of course not.

“I understand.” Ye Yueshen breathed a sigh of relief and was sent back to the side room by Gong Xunwu.

The room had been tidied up as if nothing had happened, Ye Yueshen no longer had the mood to drink tea, his whole person was like a water-deprived and withered flower.

He sat quietly for a while, not speaking or moving, the Gong Xunwu next to him was the same, both of them were like figures in a painting, one a melancholic beauty, the other without a soul, estranged and weary, as if their eyes had not been painted by the painter.

“How should I explain that I changed my clothes?” Ye Yueshen asked.

Gong Xunwu answered quickly: “I spilled the tea and wet your clothes.”

As soon as the words fell, the door was pushed open, Ye Yuanshen’s robes already had some wrinkles, obviously he had been busy for a while, his sleeves were still rolled above his elbows.

Seeing that Gong Xunwu was still there, he was a little surprised: “Your Highness.”

“Mm.” Gong Xunwu stood up, not intending to explain why he wasn’t familiar with someone else’s younger brother, but was sitting here alone, and left on his own.

Ye Yueshen saw Ye Yuanshen’s upright and gentle face as if he had found his backbone, quickly approached him, raising his face and calling out big brother, from his expression to his tone there was an unspeakable grievance.

He took the initiative to explain: “My clothes were wet with tea, Qi Wang took me to change clothes.”

Ye Yuanshen had already noticed, he turned his younger brother around and back again, his clear eyes full of doubt: “Is that all?”

Ye Yueshen suddenly couldn’t speak, his mind was full of the image of that person lying on the ground, lifeless.

“He didn’t do anything to you?” Ye Yuanshen’s expression was very serious: “Don’t cry, I didn’t mean to blame you, I just want to know why you look like you’ve been bullied?”

Ye Yueshen didn’t want to cry either, anyone who personally ended a life wouldn’t be calm, cold-bloodedness was the numb manifestation of an executioner, otherwise it could only be antisocial personality.

The more Ye Yuanshen cared about him, the less he could involve his family.

“I want to go home.” Ye Yueshen avoided his words: “I waited for you alone for a long time, it’s going to be dark soon, I’m afraid the palace gates will close and we won’t be able to get out.”

Ye Yuanshen tentatively believed his explanation, actually fearing that asking further would make him cry. “There’s still half an hour.”

All the way Ye Yueshen was like he lost his faith and soul, weak and pitifully shrinking next to Ye Yuanshen, trying to think of some sunny and beautiful things, trying to forget everything that had just happened.

Ye Yuanshen was thinking about Gong Xunwu, he didn’t think that Gong Xunwu, who was usually indifferent and lacked human touch, would come to contact him, a study companion he had hardly interacted with for several years, for no reason.

Apart from the reason that his beautiful younger brother was being targeted, he had no other clue.