He lost his balance and fell to the ground, the porcelain bottle in his hand rolling away. He didn't pick it up, but just kept moving backward until he reached a corner and curled up inside.
He tried to hug himself, but Xiao Shixun, who had followed closely behind, grabbed his hands: "Do you want to hide yourself? Where else do you want to hide yourself? Haven't you been hiding for these past few years enough?"
"You, let go!" Su Fuliu tried to break free from Xiao Shixun's grasp.
But Xiao Shixun had finally found him, so how could he let go? Not only did he not let go, but he gripped even tighter: "Now that you're back, don't even think about escaping again. Jing'er, come back with me. My palace is so big, you can hide wherever you want."
Su Fuliu didn't look at him or say anything, even though her wrists were being squeezed painfully, she remained silent.
Tears were already welling up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
But inside, he was already crying: Tinglang, I'm in pain...
When Xiao Shixun saw that Su Fuliu ignored him, he was about to get angry, but he felt a tightness in his chest, which meant that the poison was about to take effect.
He then let go, got up, picked up the porcelain bottle that had rolled to the ground, poured out the pills inside, and swallowed them.
Su Fuliu huddled in the corner, looking at his wrists, which were throbbing and red from being gripped so tightly, and gently breathed on them.
He imagined Feng Muting blowing on him, and that would make the pain go away.
After taking the antidote and catching his breath, Xiao Shixun turned his head and saw Su Fuliu gently blowing on his wrist, which he had gripped so tightly that it was red. She looked just like a pitiful cat licking its wound.
Chapter 529 Encounter
Xiao Shixun narrowed his eyes slightly, then swiftly stepped forward and scooped Su Fuliu up from the ground.
The sudden movement startled Su Fuliu, who instinctively hooked her arms around Xiao Shixun's neck.
But when he realized what was happening, he quickly let go: "Xiao Shixun, you, you put me down."
As he spoke, he struggled to get out of Xiao Shixun's arms, but Xiao Shixun turned around and carried Su Fuliu to the bed.
"Xiao Shixun, what are you doing? You're not allowed to do anything reckless!" Su Fuliu was shocked. Although he had known this would happen, he panicked when it actually came.
What should he do...?
Su Fuliu was so frightened that he could hardly breathe. He looked at Xiao Shixun warily, trying hard to recall what Lu Chimo had said—a compliant refusal is easier to succeed than a strong resistance.
"Jing'er, be good, Jing'er, don't be afraid..." Xiao Shixun slowly approached Su Fuliu.
Surrounded by the bed, Su Fuliu had nowhere to escape: "Xiao... Xiao Shixun, please don't do this, I'm scared..."
He tried to make himself look pitiful, but he was genuinely scared.
He was afraid this tactic wouldn't work; he was afraid he couldn't stop Xiao Shixun's evil intentions towards him.
Xiao Shixun reached out and stroked Su Fuliu's neck, his slender fingers tracing every inch of her fair skin.
"Jing'er's neck is so beautiful. What I love most about Jing'er is her jade-like neck and feet. Now let me see if Jing'er's feet are still as beautiful as ever..."
"No!" Su Fuliu quickly pulled his feet back when he saw Xiao Shixun about to take off his shoes and socks.
But how could he possibly escape?
Xiao Shixun grabbed his foot and, in a very uncouth manner, tore off his shoes and socks, revealing his fair, jade-like feet.
The jade bells jingled softly, causing Xiao Shixun's gaze to darken: "Jing'er's jade feet are still so beautiful, but these jade bells are too much of an eyesore..."
As he spoke, he reached out to tear it off.
"No—" Su Fuliu didn't know where the strength came from, she pushed Xiao Shixun away, then immediately jumped off the bed and tried to run outside.
But when he reached the door, he heard Xiao Shixun say, "We are bound by fate, where can you run to? Do you think you can be with Feng Muting now if you run away?"
Su Fuliu paused, her heart filled with sorrow.
Then Xiao Shixun said, "Jing'er, be good. If you are good, we will live together. If you are disobedient, we will die together. I just don't know, if you die, will Feng Muting choose to die with you or live a life of shame?"
Su Fuliu clenched his fists tightly, his eyes lowered, revealing no emotion.
Xiao Shixun walked over with a smile, stood behind Su Fuliu, gently placed his hands on his shoulders, and said, "Jing'er, be good, come back with me. Once we're back, you can do whatever you want. What Feng Muting can give you, I can give you too. What Feng Muting can't give you, I can also give you..."
Su Fuliu tensed up and did not respond.
Xiao Shixun leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You and Feng Muting, is it only him touching you, and you never touching him? Then how about I don't touch you, and only let you touch me?"
“Xiao Shixun.” Su Fuliu remained standing there, her hands still clenched tightly. “Although I hate to admit it, but… we are blood brothers… how could you do this to me…”
Chapter 530 You can ruin me if you want
Xiao Shixun laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "Blood brothers? You and Xiao Shilang are the real blood brothers who are connected by blood. As for me and you, we are like you and Feng Muting, we are not related at all. I am just a tool for my mother to fight for the throne."
Su Fuliu was taken aback: "What do you mean!"
"What else could it mean? Do you think I have any similarities to you?" Xiao Shixun retorted.
“…You…” Su Fuliu turned to look at Xiao Shixun, still surprised that Xiao Shixun’s mother would use such methods to deceive his father.
"I told you back then that my mother called me a bastard, unworthy of liking anyone. She said I was a bastard, which is why she disgustingly harbored feelings for you that she shouldn't have. Your Highness, who was born with the love of your parents and had everything go smoothly, doesn't understand this feeling, does he?"
"Ha, how could you understand? Your mother is so gentle. She would only hold you tenderly and praise my good fortune, saying it is unparalleled in the world and admired by all. But my mother locks me in a dark little room every day, beats me, and curses me. Of course, I am not her flesh and blood, but a bastard she adopted from who knows where. How could she feel sorry for me?"
Xiao Shixun's tone was calm, as if he had become accustomed to it and numb to it, as if he were telling a joke.
But the indifference and mockery in his eyes gathered into a storm, as if it could destroy anything at any moment.
Su Fuliu's eyes reddened, and he glared at Xiao Shixun with resentment: "But you can't ruin everything for me like this! My family is so innocent, and you are so cruel! If you want me to be with you, then come at me! Why did you have to destroy them? Why did you have to destroy them...!!!"
Su Fuliu, who had been holding back her tears several times, finally broke down in tears.
He cried out to Xiao Shixun, his voice filled with heart-wrenching anguish: "You can ruin me, you can ruin me, but why do you have to ruin them all too? Xiao Shixun, Xiao Shixun, can't you just ruin me...?"
"They are all stumbling blocks. They will stop you from going to hell to join me. I have not let go of anyone who tried to stop me, including my mother. I became emperor as she wished, and she was overjoyed, thinking she would become the Empress Dowager. Hahaha, when I saw her fall just a step away from the Empress Dowager's throne, I was really happy..."
Xiao Shixun looked at the weeping Su Fuliu, but a smile appeared on his face: "So Jing'er, no one will stop us anymore. From now on, we will be each other's warmth."
Su Fuliu couldn't hear what Xiao Shixun was saying at all, because the pain that had been buried deep in his heart was surging up like a tidal wave.
The thought of it before was already painful enough, but now, standing before him was the enemy he had never wanted to kill for a single day. He could no longer suppress the deepest pain buried in his heart, and it all erupted at this moment.
He desperately wanted to kill Xiao Shixun right now, but he couldn't. Not only could he not, he also had to stay by Xiao Shixun's side. This pain and torment made him suffer greatly.
If it weren't for his love for Tinglang, he would have gone mad by now.
Su Fuliu, who was crying so hard she was hoarse, couldn't catch her breath and fainted.
Xiao Shixun caught the falling Su Fuliu; she was his only one, and his only one had finally returned to his side.
He scooped Su Fuliu up in his arms and ordered outside, "Yuan Sichen, prepare the carriage and return to Xiao Kingdom."
Chapter 531 Can You Afford It?
And so, Xiao Shixun, along with Su Fuliu, embarked on their journey back to the Xiao Kingdom.
When Su Fuliu woke up, the people had already left the capital.
His first reaction upon waking was to touch his ankle.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he found that the jade bell was still there.
Xiao Shixun, who had been staring at him intently, noticed how much he cared about the jade bell and asked, "Was that a gift from Feng Muting?"
Su Fuliu was so frightened that she pulled her foot back, fearing that Xiao Shixun would come over and tear off the string of jade bells.
He didn't look at Xiao Shixun, nor did he answer Xiao Shixun's question; he hugged his knees tightly with both hands.
Because he wasn't wearing shoes or socks, his feet were very cold, so he rubbed his tucked-in feet together to try and warm them up.
"Jing'er, don't be afraid. Since you like this string of jade bells so much, I'll let you continue wearing it. The string of jade bells on your ankles makes your feet even more beautiful."
Su Fuliu kept her head down and remained silent.
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Xiao Shixun was somewhat displeased. Before he could ask, Yuan Sichen said, "Master, we've encountered bandits."
"What's there to be afraid of with a few bandits!" Xiao Shixun thought that bandits were just a rabble, and their mediocre skills were nothing to be afraid of.
Before Yuan Sichen could reply, the bandit leader's voice rang out from outside: "I'm not here to rob you of your money, I'm here to kidnap you. I've been watching you since the capital. Hand over the purple-clad curly-haired guy inside. I only want him."
Upon hearing the words "purple-clad curly-haired man," Xiao Shixun couldn't help but frown, clearly displeased.
Upon hearing this voice, Su Fuliu trembled all over. This wasn't...
Xiao Shixun naturally noticed Su Fuliu's reaction and asked, "You know her?"
Su Fuliu pursed her lips slightly, remaining silent.
Seeing that he remained silent, Xiao Shixun lifted the carriage curtain and saw a man riding a tall horse opposite him, wearing a half-gold mask.
Su Fuliu also looked over, and when his eyes met the man's, he trembled even more. He held back the words "Ting Lang" that were on the tip of his tongue, and then called out "Qin Shi" instead.
The sound wasn't loud, but Xiao Shixun heard it clearly.
Su Fuliu glanced at Xiao Shixun in a panic, then immediately lowered his head again. He dared not look at Qin Shi any longer, afraid that Xiao Shixun would understand the emotions in his eyes.
Xiao Shixun pondered for a moment, then looked at Qin Shi and asked, "He is now my man. Do you think you can afford to have him?"
"Your man? Isn't he one of King Ting's men? I have an irreconcilable feud with King Ting, and this Su Fuliu is King Ting's darling. I'm going to capture him to blackmail King Ting so I can get revenge. I advise you not to get involved."
Qin Shi snorted coldly, the hatred in his eyes was obvious.
“Interesting.” Xiao Shixun glanced at Su Fuliu. “It seems that this Prince Ting is not a good person either. He has enemies everywhere. Even though you have come all the way here with me, his enemies still want to chase after you and capture you to blackmail him.”
Su Fuliu remained silent.
He didn't dare to speak at all. He knew that if he spoke, he wouldn't be able to hide his emotions and Xiao Shixun would easily notice something was wrong.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xiao Shixun didn't force him, but looked at Qin Shi again: "Now he is mine, so naturally I won't let you take him away."
"Hmph, there are only two of you, yet you dare to talk to me like that. I really don't know where you get the courage." With that, Qin Shi leaped up, lightly stepped on the horse's back, and flew towards the carriage.
Upon seeing this, Yuan Sichen quickly stood up to stop him.
However, Qin Shi's moves were powerful and swift, and Yuan Sichen was unable to defend himself at all. He was defeated after only a dozen or so moves.
Without pausing, Qin Shi immediately launched another attack on Xiao Shixun...
Chapter 532 Bandit-like