Rebirth As a Fatuous and Self-indulgent Ruler
chapter-257

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

All the assassins who entered the Song mansion were captured, and the “treasure” they mentioned was taken away by Liu and Ouyang.

Shi seemed to have restrained himself and calmed down.

He went to meet Song Qingtian and Long was waiting for him outside.

After about an hour, Shi came out of the Song mansion.

Long immediately went to him. “How many casualties are there?”

Shi said, “Eighteen people died and more than twenty got injured.”

Long frowned. “So many people died?”

Shi did not speak.

Long sighed. “Let’s go back first.”

Shi nodded. “Mhmm.”

The two of them went back together. Long didn’t walk very fast and Shi was right behind him.

After a while, Long said gently, “Qingzhou, you’ve been out for a long time. Have you had breakfast and lunch?”

Shi kept silent.

As Long took Shi’s hand, Shi became a little stiff.

Long knew that his appearance made Shi unhappy.

He also knew that his words were not the best answer.

But that was just the truth, even if sometimes it could really hurt people.

Long was willing to give Shi all the best things. He was willing to give his lover everything in the world.

But blood and killing weren’t what he wanted.

He didn’t want the person he loved to lose himself.

Shi could kill, but he shouldn’t become like a devil.

That wasn’t the real Shi Qingzhou!

Just as the tyrant earlier wasn’t the real Long Xiaoyuan!

Therefore, Long said that just now and he didn’t regret it.

He believed that his empress would understand.

Their relationship needed to be maintained by both sides. No matter what Shi became like, Long would still love him, but Long didn’t want him to lose control and become a devil!

The two of them returned to the house hand in hand.

Long took Shi to the pool and they squatted down.

“Qingzhou, wash your hands.”

Shi still kept silent as he washed his hands.

Long also did the same thing.

After a long time, he held Shi’s hand and stood up.

“Let’s go back to the room. I’ll order the servants to deliver the food.”

Without nodding or speaking, Shi just followed silently.

Long took Shi back to the room.

Then, they sat down at the table.

Shi had been very silent. After the meal was sent there, Long kept putting food in Shi’s bowl as usual. Shi dropped his eyes and ate the food. However, the atmosphere wasn’t as relaxed as before.

The two of them finished eating without saying anything.

After that, Long ordered the servants to clean the table.

“Let’s go to rest. Qingzhou, you got up so early today. Go to take a nap.”

After thinking for a moment, Shi didn’t refuse.

They walked towards the bed hand in hand and Long took off Shi’s coat.

Shi lowed his head and didn’t stop Long.

Later, Shi only had underwear on.

Long held Shi’s hand and they went to bed.

The two of them lay down side by side. Shi closed his eyes, while Long turned his head and looked at him.

Shi didn’t open his eyes, but Long believed that Shi must know he was looking at him.

After a long time, Long said softly, “Qingzhou, do you blame me?”

Shi didn’t speak and he looked very relaxed, as if he had fallen asleep.

Long held Shi’s hand and pressed his body against Shi’s.

Shi became a little stiff.

Long said gently, “Qingzhou, you’ll understand what I said. I believe you’ll certainly understand.”

It seemed that Shi’s eyelids flickered, but they returned to normal soon.

“Qingzhou, it’s not that I don’t love you or I don’t love you enough, but that I love you too much. Qingzhou, I love you so much that I don’t want you to lose yourself for anyone or for any reason. You must remember who you are. You’re Shi Qingzhou. Take me as an example. I used to be a tyrant and no one liked me at that time. But I have changed. Qingzhou, you like me now, right? If I become cruel and ruthless again, I believe you will still like me and you won’t leave me until we die. We’ve promised each other. But Qingzhou, all people like nice things. Don’t you think so? If there’s a choice, you’d hope I can be still like this. In the past, I was a fatuous emperor and you were not the only person I liked. I also had many concubines around me.”

When he said the last few words, Shi seemed to make an angry reaction.

Long knew that Shi wasn’t really asleep.

He knew Shi heard what he had said.

Shi reacted angrily because he heard Long mentioning those concubines.

Shi didn’t like those women, who had always been a thorn in his side.

Long kept trying to persuade Shi. He whispered more softly in Shi’s ear, “Qingzhou, I know you don’t want me to become that ruthless emperor again, because that man was different from me now… You like the present me, don’t you? But you… Qingzhou, I love you. No matter what you’re like, I’ll always love you, because my feelings for you won’t change. But I don’t want you to kill too many people and be stained with too much blood. Qingzhou, do you remember what I said in the past? I’m afraid there will be karma. I’m afraid there will be retribution. If one of us must kill and become like a devil, I hope that person is me. Qingzhou, did you forget what I’ve said?”

Shi’s body trembled slightly. Finally, he opened his eyes.

“Qingzhou.” Long stared at Shi’s scarlet eyes. “I like your eyes, no matter what color they are. However, I’m afraid that the color will become darker and darker. At that time, will you also want to kill me? I can accept your changes, but I can’t accept it if you can’t control yourself and lose your mind. In that case, will I still be the most important person in your heart? Qingzhou, do you understand? I’m really worried.”

“Long Xiaoyuan…” Shi said hoarsely, “You’re worried that I’ll be possessed, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I’m worried,” Long said gently.

Shi shook his head slowly. “No, I’m sober. Even if I’m possessed, I’m still sober.”

“Sober…” Long was stunned slightly. “So… Qingzhou, you killed those people not because you lost control, but because… you really wanted to do that?”

“That’s right.” The corners of Shi’s lips turned upward. “I’m very sober. Long Xiaoyuan, perhaps the poisonous insect really had a great influence on me in the past, but it had gradually weakened. This is just my nature. This is Shi Qingzhou. This is what I’m like. Do you understand?”

Long didn’t know what Shi said was true or not, so he became speechless.

“You know I’ve been developing my own forces. That’s because I need to make preparations. In the past, you and I had a bad relationship and you didn’t like Shi family. I was afraid that you would kill my father, so I had the thought of… killing you. Long Xiaoyuan, you haven’t done anything to hurt Shi family, so it doesn’t matter even if I’m despised and humiliated by you. But if you hurt my family, I will surely kill you. This is me, the real Shi Qingzhou.”

Long kept silent. He thought of that novel, in which Shi really killed the emperor. Therefore, when he became the emperor, the first thing he did was to get close to Shi!

“Long Xiaoyuan, do you understand? This is the real me. The man you like is a fake. I cheated you. I’m not as kind and gentle as you think. Am I wrong to kill my enemies?

Those bastards deserve to be tortured and slaughtered! This is me, the real Shi Qingzhou. Do you understand?”

Long was shocked and didn’t know what to say.

Shi pushed Long away and jumped from the bed. With his internal strength, he waved his hand and made his clothes fall on his body.

Later, Shi stood beside the bed, looking down at Long.

“Long Xiaoyuan, that perfect lover is just your illusion. The real Shi Qingzhou is like what you see now. You can’t change me… and I don’t want to change.”

After that, Shi took a look at Long and then vanished without trace.

Shi turned around and sadness filled his eyes. However, that was invisible to Long.

Long could no longer see his lover.

The next moment, Long suddenly sat up from the bed and wanted to chase Shi, but he felt powerless.

He thought he should first sort out his feelings for Shi.

Otherwise… he had an intuition that he couldn’t get his lover back.

Perhaps, he really needed to think it over…