Rebirth As a Fatuous and Self-indulgent Ruler
chapter-258

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

Long knew that he should think it over, so he tried his best to straighten out his feelings for Shi…

In the beginning, Long didn’t have any affection for that man. He pleased Shi just in order to protect himself.

Gradually, Long took a fancy to Shi.

Then Long found that he fell in love with that gentleman.

And he really loved Shi deeply…

However, Shi said that he actually was a ruthless person as Long saw earlier.

Shi said that he was very sober and wasn’t under control!

That perfect lover of Long’s was nothing more than an illusion.

Long had to figure out which man he really liked. Was that the gentle and wise man before, or the murderous and indifferent killer at present…

With two extreme personalities… were they really the same person?

Long couldn’t believe it from the bottom of his heart.

However, if he had to choose between the two personalities…

After a long time, Long clenched his fists. He’d like to choose the latter.

Because Shi said that was the real him.

The person he loved had long become a part of his own fresh and blood. It was impossible for him to give up…

So, Long didn’t think Shi’s character was that important. As long as Shi didn’t leave him, he would be satisfied!

When he thought it through, Long realized that he’d completely lost himself in front of Shi!

Love could really make people lose their minds!

Yet many lovers always found pleasure in it.

It was the same to Long.

Long recalled all the things they had experienced together. They vowed under the lanterns by the lakeside that they’d never leave each other.

Were all those memories just an illusion?

Even if his personality changed, that was still Shi Qingzhou. That was enough.

Who could stay the same for decades in life?

After thinking it over, Long got up from the bed and then… went to find his empress.

When he got outside, he found it was already late afternoon and it would get dark in an hour.

“Where did Qingzhou go?” Long summoned Ying Feng and asked directly.

Ying Feng said, “Master Shi went out.”

“Where did he go?” Long asked immediately.

Unexpectedly, Ying Feng shook his head. “Master Shi ordered that no one should follow him. He said anyone who disobeyed his orders would die.”

Long was stunned and had an ominous presentiment. “So you mean he went out alone?”

“Yes.” In fact, the Shadow Guardians were not worried about Shi’s safety, because Shi wasn’t less powerful than any of them and perhaps he was even stronger.

Therefore, they didn’t need to worry about his safety.

The Shadow Guardians were not idiots. Naturally, they knew that Shi’s sudden departure might have something to do with the emperor.

Seeing that Long was so anxious at this moment, they found that the emperor still cared about the empress a lot, so all of them were relieved.

They didn’t want the couple to be at odds.

After getting such an answer from the Shadow Guardian, Long pursed his lips. “Send some guards to look for him. You just need to find out where he is. Don’t get close to him.”

“Yes.” Several Shadow Guardians left immediately.

Later, Long ordered more Shadow Guardians to look for Shi and still didn’t get any news, which really worried Long.

Shi seemed to have disappeared and there wasn’t news about him at all.

It was already dark and time for dinner, but Long wasn’t in the mood for eating anything. Where on earth did his empress go?

After a while, there was some sound at the door. Long thought that Shi was back, so he immediately turned to look, only to find Liu and Ouyang.

Liu walked in and saw Long’s eyes flashed with disappointment, so he asked, “Hasn’t Shi Qingzhou been found yet?”

Long shook his head. “Not yet.”

Liu said slowly, “Don’t worry too much. He can do great martial arts. I think he’s just hidden away and he’ll be safe.”

Long pursed his lips. “There must be our enemies in this city. I’ve been thinking about who the master Song Cailian and Zhou Heng mentioned really is… The crown prince of Eastern Darkness is the most likely and there must be other people supporting him in Songye city. Moreover, the so-called treasure is in our hands now, so they must be watching us closely.”

After thinking for a moment, Liu said, “Are you worried that Shi Qingzhou has run into some enemies?”

Long nodded. “Yes, this is what I worry about the most.”

If Shi was just avoiding him deliberately, he wouldn’t be so worried.

However, if Shi was found by their enemies and was fighting with them at this moment… That was Long’s biggest worry.

Liu thought for a while and said, “It’s hardly likely. Don’t think too much. You’re just scaring yourself.”

Ouyang looked at Long and said, “Right. Well, you know how powerful Shi Qingzhou is. It’s impossible for others to catch him in a short time. Even if he is surrounded by a lot of people, he can still try his best and escape.”

Ouyang and Liu tried to comfort Long, but they were really telling the truth.

Long smiled bitterly. “All right, I see…”

Long finished dinner and kept waiting for his lover. Time passed. When it was deep night, Long still didn’t receive any news about Shi!

Long was burning with anxiety.

At this moment, it suddenly began to rain!

Long didn’t expect that and became more worried.

His empress was still nowhere to be found.

Long regretted that he decided to think clearly before acting. If he didn’t waste time and acted by instinct, he would definitely have stopped Shi!

In that case, things wouldn’t have developed like this and he wouldn’t lose contact with his lover…

Liu came again. “It’s raining outside. I’ll go to look for him and Brother Ouyang will stay here in case the enemies will come. Many assassins were killed by us today. If those people decide to counterattack, this place won’t be safe.”

Long nodded. “Okay, I see. I’ll be fine here. You can go out and look for Qingzhou.”

“Mhmm.” Liu didn’t say much. He sighed inwardly and left.

Liu thought that Shi disappeared partly because of him and Ouyang. If they had stopped Long earlier, Long wouldn’t go to Song mansion.

Their obedience caused the conflict between Long and Shi…

And it seemed that it was quite serious this time…

If Shi was really in danger… Long didn’t dare to imagine the consequences…

After Liu left, Long continued to wait for Shi anxiously.

About an hour later, Liu finally returned. “I found some clues. Perhaps Shi Qingzhou has left the city and gone to the mountain.”

Long was stunned. Then, a thought occurred to him. “He went to the mountain where we were captured earlier.”

Liu was surprised. “There? Why did he go there?”

“Qingzhou changed greatly after we disappeared last time. It’s very likely that he went there. Let’s go to find him.”

“What?” Liu was shocked. “You’re going, too?”

“It’s raining outside. Don’t bother. Now that we know where Shi Qingzhou went, we can just ask the Shadow Guardians to find him,” Ouyang added.

Long shook his head. “No. If only you guys go there, Qingzhou won’t appear even if he’s really there. Even if he shows up, he won’t come back with you. I have to go there in person.”

Long was determined. Liu and Ouyang tried to persuade him, but Long directly went outside.

They couldn’t just knock Long out, could they?

Liu and Ouyang looked at each other helplessly, and then hurriedly went out to chase Long…

Now that Long had left, the Shadow Guardians naturally followed closely.

Since Liu and Ouyang failed to persuade Long, the Shadow Guardians didn’t think they would stop the emperor.

Ying Feng also tried, but Long didn’t listen to him at all.

Somehow, Long was deeply disturbed.

He had a presentiment that his empress would be in danger if he was late.

Long knew that he might be thinking too much, but he just couldn’t control himself!

So, he insisted on going there to see for himself no matter what. Otherwise, he might regret it…

Moreover, it was raining outside. He wondered if his empress had taken shelter from the rain. What if Shi got soaked and caught a cold?

The more Long thought about that, the more worried he became, and he walked faster and faster.

When Long arrived at the foot of the mountain where he was captured earlier, the rain had become heavier.

Although Long had an umbrella, he still got drenched.

“Go up the mountain and look for the empress!” Long ordered.

Liu and Ouyang followed Long closely, offering full protection…