"It's not that hard to guess. You might have used an amulet or pill to hide your condition but it can't hide your heart rate's anomaly," Zhao Li Xin's mouth curved slightly. He ignored Zhao Yi Chen's sullen face and poured himself some wine.
"I forgot you used to do this trick for years," Zhao Yi Chen sneered.
?
"I did it better because no one discovered this for years…" Zhao Li Xin sipped his wine nonchalantly.
Zhao Yi Chen couldn't refute it as it was true. No one knew Zhao Li Xin was pretending to be sick for years. Not even his supposed mother knew what was happening with him. It was like he was sick one day only to become the strongest man on the continent the next day. Even the Emperor couldn't hold him down.
For a prideful person like Zhao Yi Chen, this was like a slap on his face. Zhao Li Xin not only became a powerful figure, but he also had the ability to ruin their kingdom. It was strange when Zhao Li Xin decided to release his claw around the Jiang Wei kingdom, allowing the kingdom to bounce back from its dire economic situation. He was curious to know why Zhao Li Xin didn't completely destroy the kingdom that abused him for years.
"Tell me what you want… You know I'm busy…" Zhao Li Xin complained slightly as he lazily rested his hand on the armrest.
Zhao Yi Chen's face turned dark. He found Zhao Li Zin laying on the couch with a half-empty wine flask yet he dared to say he was busy. However, he did not dare voice his dissatisfaction because he was there to bargain with him.
"Then I will cut to the chase. Can you heal me?" Zhao Yi Chen asked bluntly.
Zhao Li Xin chuckled. His shoulders trembled as he laughed, "I think this is a sign of love from your fiancé?"[LW1] he sarcastically said to Zhao Yi Chen.
Zhao Yi Chen gritted his teeth. It was an embarrassing situation but he had no one else who could help him as the alchemists were either under Lao Min Na's authority or under the Hei Shen Sect's power. He didn't have any choice left. Zhao Yi Chen hit the table in front of him and shouted,
"CAN YOU HELP ME OR NOT!"
Zhao Li Xin ignored him. Zhao Yi Chen was no match for Zhao Li Xin even when he was healthy so let alone when he was dying.
Zhao Li Xin raised his eyebrows, "Is that how you ask for help?"
Zhao Yi Chen clenched his fists. His body trembled and his face became paler from his sudden burst of anger. He hissed angrily, "What-do-you-want?"
"For starters…you can say… Please…" Zhao Li Xin smirked.
If a stare could kill, Zhao Li Xin would have been dead a hundred times at that moment. Zhao Yi Chen was used to having people singing him praises. People always admired his appearance, talent, and bright mind from child to adulthood. He never bowed to anyone other than his father, the Emperor, and perhaps the Empress once in a while.
He never knew how it felt to be ridiculed, pitied, and despised. He never knew how it felt to be invisible and forgotten. Zhao Yi Chen grew up as an overbearing, arrogant and prideful man, like how a prince should be. This was why Zhao Li Xin had the sudden urge to tease the perfect prince. For him to have a feel of how it was to be on the losing end.
Zhao Yi Chen clenched his jaws. His fists shook as he glared at Zhao Li Xin furiously. Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin twirled the wine cup in his hand and drunk his wine slowly. He didn't pay attention to Zhao Yi Chen's inner struggles.
A few minutes passed and Zhao Yi Chen said with a quiet trembling voice, "Please…"
Zhao Li Xin yawned and covered his mouth with his fist, "What?"
Zhao Yi Chen knew Zhao Li Xin was teasing him. He gnashed his teeth and replied loudly, "I said… PLEASE!"
Zhao Li Xin gently placed his empty wine cup on the table and looked at Zhao Yi Chen's ashen face, "Was that so hard…?"
Zhao Yi Chen felt like vomiting blood. He didn't know if it was because of the poison or Zhao Li Xin. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes to calm his nerves. It was the poison acting up. He started to wonder if asking Zhao Li Xin's help was a bad idea.
"Mong Liu!" Zhao Li Xin called in a slightly loud voice.
A shadow guard entered the room and kneeled in front of Zhao Li Xin, "Yes, Milord!"
"Call Jin Hao," Zhao Li Xin said with a lazy tone.
"Yes, Milord!" Mong Liu left the room without showing Zhao Yi Chen any respect.
Zhao Yi Chen could only feel the bitterness in his heart. He knew no one gave a da*n about who he was but it still made him upset.
On the other hand, Zhao Li Xin continued to treat Zhao Yi Chen like air. He drunk his wine with half-opened eyes and didn't bother conversing with Zhao Yi Chen. Zhao Yi Chen soon realized that all of Zhao Li Xin's subordinates treated him like he was invisible.
"You must be happy, aren't you? Seeing me like this," Zhao Yi Chen suddenly asked.
Zhao Li Xin looked at Zhao Yi Chen as if he remembered Zhao Yi Chen was still in the room. His eyebrows gradually furrowed as he contemplated, "Amused? Yes... Happy? No…"
Zhao Yi Chen didn't believe him. He sneered coldly, "Don't be a hypocrite. You know you like seeing me like this! You want me to feel what you felt in the past, don't you? How it felt to be weak and useless!"
Zhao Li Xin chuckled. His black onyx eyes took in Zhao Yi Chen's miserable appearance. "If I wanted to make you feel how I felt…I would have ordered my servants to hit you black and blue. I would have made you starve and eat the leftover that isn't even suitable for a dog. I would leave you alone until your poison started to act out as it ate you from inside. I would have let you suffer for years until the pain turned you numb and you started thinking maybe death wasn't so bad…"
Zhao Yi Chen gulped. He knew everyone abused Zhao Li Xin but he didn't know it was that bad. However, he wouldn't have cared even if he knew this. It was how the royal family was. They were all selfish and cold.
"Have I done any of this to you…?" Zhao Li Xin raised his eyebrows as he asked.
Zhao Yi Chen heaved heavy and answered, "No…"
"So, shut up…" Zhao Li Xin sipped his wine calmly.
This content is taken from freewebnove(l).com