DLWAV CH143

In fact, after seeing that secret missive, Dr. Li also felt somewhat uncomfortable.

They were indeed royal death knights.

But the ones who sold their lives to the imperial family were the human traffickers who abducted them, not themselves.

Even if the imperial family raised them, over all these years, had they shed any less blood or sweat for the imperial family?

Not to mention that Jiang Zimo had even saved the Crown Prince’s life, and had almost forfeited his own life in the process.

Yet this time, just because their mission wasn’t proceeding very smoothly, Emperor Jianzhao had actually issued words telling them all to commit suicide.

It was truly somewhat chilling.

But right now, besides obeying Emperor Jianzhao’s orders, what else could they do?

After all, as death knights, obeying the master’s orders was a concept already carved into their bones.

Moreover, Emperor Jianzhao was the Emperor, the master of the world; they simply couldn’t bear the price of disobeying his orders.

“In short, just try to find a suitable opportunity.”

“This is a type of poison I formulated a few days ago. It is colorless and odorless, and it won’t take effect until two days later. Perhaps it can offer you some help.”

After leaving behind a medicine bottle, Dr. Li departed.

Seeing this, the servant boys in his courtyard immediately gathered around, their faces full of nervous tension: “Ninth Brother?”

Jiang Zimo took a deep breath and merely said: “Don’t worry. Even if I die, I won’t let anything happen to you all.”

They weren’t just all his subordinates.

Otherwise, how could they possibly help him keep that little bit of muddled business between him and Ao Ruize a secret from Dr. Li and Emperor Jianzhao?

He thought that although he hadn’t fully enjoyed himself yet, at least his wish had been fulfilled, hadn’t it?

So he should be content.

Since that was the case, he should also start prioritizing the mission.

It was just that, for some reason, whenever he thought of this matter, his heart felt inexplicably stifled.

Most importantly, as an outstanding death knight, with just a moment’s thought, he guessed exactly why his chest felt so uncomfortable.

He actually felt reluctant to kill Ao Ruize—

Not because of how good Ao Ruize’s figure was, how well-endowed he was, how absurd his stamina was… Alright, there was still a bit of that reason… After all, without those, he wouldn’t be thinking about this kind of thing every single day.

At this thought, his mind couldn’t help but wander.

Because Ao Ruize’s stamina was indeed absurd. They say there are no exhausted fields, only exhausted oxen; yet every time after they did that business, he had to rest for a whole day, while Ao Ruize would be vigorous and energetic the very next day, going off to handle the official business of Prince Wu’s manor.

Don’t forget, the one who was drugged was Ao Ruize.

However, he quickly snapped back to his senses.

Most importantly, he seemed to have fallen a little bit in love with Ao Ruize.

Even though he originally approached Ao Ruize just to taste meat and kill him while at it.

Even though normally, when interacting with Ao Ruize, he maintained a certain distance, and Ao Ruize only treated him with the courtesy due to an ordinary aide…

If he had to explain it, there seemed to be only one explanation—

Could this be the legendary “feelings growing over time”?

The very literal meaning of it.

Jiang Zimo: “…”

He just never thought he was actually such a superficial person.

So he couldn’t help but feel a little hesitant again.

Right at this moment, a chorus of maids’ laughter suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

“…You guys didn’t see it, at the time Miss Chen’s foot slipped, and just as she was about to fall into the pond—His Highness reached out his hand at the very first moment…”

“…Was it just like how it’s written in the storybooks? His Highness directly caught Miss Chen by the waist, the two locked eyes, one tender and affectionate, the other shy and timid, and then they spun around several times on the spot before finally stopping…”

“Uh… it must have been.”

“And let me tell you, the very first reaction His Highness had after steadying Miss Chen was to let go of her, and then he immediately turned to look around, as if afraid of being seen by others. What does this mean?”

“This means His Highness was shy.”

“According to what you’re saying, our Prince Wu’s manor is about to welcome a mistress soon?”

“Exactly.”

…

Before long, those maids walked far away.

Jiang Zimo: “…”

The hands that had pinched his waist went to hold someone else’s waist?

Very well, he’d better listen to Dr. Li and just directly poison Ao Ruize to death.

Jiang Zimo expressionlessly tucked the bottle of poison on the table into his robes.

And so, that very afternoon, Ao Ruize received another message from the Fuyun Courtyard, saying that Jiang Zimo’s fellow townsman had sent him another basket of dried seafood today, so Jiang Zimo invited him over for dinner tonight.

Ao Ruize’s heart skipped a beat.

Logically speaking, Jiang Zimo had just invited him for dinner yesterday. According to his usual habits, he would wait two or three days before sending someone to invite him again.

Yet Jiang Zimo actually sent someone to invite him over right now.

Ao Ruize touched his nose: “Alright.”

He merely assumed Jiang Zimo had found out about what happened in the morning and was looking to settle the score with him.

Heaven have pity, he genuinely had no ulterior motives, yet similar situations just kept cropping up endlessly.

And this time, as usual, by the time he arrived at the Fuyun Courtyard, the meal was just ready.

“Your Highness, please.”

If Jiang Zimo’s gaze could kill, he would have likely been sliced to pieces alive by now.

Ao Ruize: “…”

Most importantly, he immediately noticed something was off with the wine flagon.

Suddenly, he wasn’t panicked anymore.

After all, when you have too many lice, you stop worrying about the itching; when you have too much debt, you stop worrying about paying it off.

“Mr. Jiang, please.”

Ao Ruize directly sat down.

He picked up a piece of squid tentacle with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth: “Mm, the taste is very good.”

“As long as Your Highness likes it.”

While speaking, Jiang Zimo glanced at the wine flagon beside him.

According to habit, this was when he should be pouring wine for Ao Ruize.

But unexpectedly, even with things at this stage, he still hesitated.

But what was there to hesitate about—

After all, imperial orders were hard to defy.

And he also had to consider his subordinates.

Most importantly, Ao Ruize didn’t even like him.

At this thought, he gritted his teeth and picked up the wine flagon.

But just as he reached his hand out, he couldn’t help but stop again.

He never expected he would have such an indecisive moment.

Only then did he realize that the liking he had for Ao Ruize in his heart seemed to be even more than he imagined.

Right at this moment, Ao Ruize’s voice rang out: “Did Mr. Jiang prepare some fine wine today and is reluctant to bring it out for me to drink?”

After saying that, he directly reached out his hand.

Caught off guard for a moment, Jiang Zimo actually had the wine flagon snatched right out of his grasp.

“Don’t—”

Seeing Ao Ruize directly start pouring wine into his own cup, Jiang Zimo blurted out instinctively.

“Hm?”

Ao Ruize looked up at him.

Jiang Zimo pursed his lips: “N-nothing.”

He thought: Drink it, just drink it.

He was about to die anyway.

It was perfect to take Ao Ruize down with him, lest he go use the hands that had touched him to touch other people again.

Seeing this, Ao Ruize immediately raised the wine cup and brought it to his lips.

But unexpectedly, in this final moment, Jiang Zimo’s heart still panicked.

“Don’t drink it.”

He didn’t even care that his cover would be blown; he stood straight up, intending to intercept Ao Ruize’s hand.

Only it was a pity he was still a step too slow.

Watching helplessly as Ao Ruize downed all the wine in the cup, Jiang Zimo completely panicked. He immediately moved forward to grab Ao Ruize’s jaw, intending to make him spit out the wine in his mouth.

Who knew that at this very moment, his wrist would be seized by Ao Ruize instead.

He saw the other man give a forceful pull.

Jiang Zimo’s pupils instinctively contracted, and he tried to bat Ao Ruize’s hand away, but upon realizing that the other party was Ao Ruize, he almost reflexively pulled back his strength.

But precisely because of this sudden withdrawal of strength, his foot slipped, and he landed squarely on Ao Ruize’s lap.

And then, his jaw was captured by Ao Ruize.

Before he could react, Ao Ruize leaned in and captured his lips.

Jiang Zimo subconsciously parted his lips, and a small mouthful of wine was subsequently passed into his mouth by Ao Ruize.

Before he could swallow that wine, the other’s tongue pried open his lips and teeth, swirling around his mouth several times before sucking all the wine back away.

Hearing Jiang Zimo’s words and assuming something had gone wrong, the group of Fuyun Courtyard servant boys who charged in at precisely this moment: “…”

And here they thought Jiang Zimo had finally made up his mind, but it turned out what he gave Ao Ruize today was an aphrodisiac again.

They immediately lowered their heads and backed out, not forgetting to close the main door again.

At the exact moment the main door clicked shut again, Ao Ruize released Jiang Zimo.

He chuckled softly: “The fine wine Mr. Jiang brought out today indeed tastes very good.”

“Fragrant and sweet.”

Only then did Jiang Zimo snap back to reality. Panting slightly, his hands, which were originally clutching Ao Ruize’s clothes, instantly tightened their grip.

His subordinates only assumed that Ao Ruize’s aphrodisiac was taking effect, which was why he acted this way.

But could he possibly not know that what he gave Ao Ruize was absolutely not an aphrodisiac?

Which meant, Ao Ruize, without being drugged, had engaged in such an intimate act with him—

Seeing his changing expression, Ao Ruize reminded him: “The main point should be that I clearly already know your identity.”

Jiang Zimo: “…”

The expression on Jiang Zimo’s face completely shattered.

So much so that he took several deep breaths to barely manage to calm down… He couldn’t calm down at all.

“When did you find out?”

But Ao Ruize didn’t answer him immediately.

His gaze shifted to the wine flagon near his hand, the implication couldn’t be clearer—without any benefits, you couldn’t pry open his mouth.

Seeing this, how could Jiang Zimo not know that the situation had long been in Ao Ruize’s hands.

In fact, he was now merely a piece of fish meat lying on Ao Ruize’s chopping block.

He immediately steadied his mind, poured a cup of wine for Ao Ruize, and then personally brought it to Ao Ruize’s lips.

He watched Ao Ruize lean in and drain the cup in one gulp, and then lean in towards his own lips, reenacting the earlier scene all over again.

Jiang Zimo: “…”

“D-don’t go too far!”

Of course, if he had forcefully pushed Ao Ruize away when he said this, it would have been much more convincing.

If it weren’t for the fact that every time, Jiang Zimo would just pin him down and go straight to business, Ao Ruize wouldn’t have been reduced to coveting this little bit of warmth.

So it wasn’t until he had bitten Jiang Zimo’s lips red that he released him.

Ao Ruize: “I knew from the very first moment I laid eyes on you.”

Jiang Zimo: “…”

Jiang Zimo actually calmed down: “How do you plan to deal with us?”

While speaking, he poured another cup of wine for Ao Ruize.

Who knew that in the next second, he would hear Ao Ruize say: “Hm? Aren’t you going to ask me first whether I actually got drugged when you slipped me that potion?”

Jiang Zimo instantly tightened his grip on the wine cup in his hand.

He actually was a little curious.

Who knew that in the next second, Ao Ruize would suddenly release him.

He said: “Figure it out yourself.”

Then he leisurely started eating his food, and whenever he tasted a dish he thought was quite good, he would specifically pick up a piece and serve it to Jiang Zimo.

Jiang Zimo: “…”

Are you a dog or something?

The main thing was that even after finishing the meal, Ao Ruize didn’t leave. He directly lay down on Jiang Zimo’s bed, and skillfully picked up a storybook disguised as the Four Books and Five Classics that Jiang Zimo had left at the head of the bed, beginning to read it.

Perhaps it was because the sky had completely darkened, or perhaps because Ao Ruize remained silent, causing the room to quiet down, but Jiang Zimo also completely calmed down.

And then, an unbelievable thought slowly took shape in his mind.

What made Ao Ruize, fully knowing he was a spy sent by Emperor Jianzhao, allow him to slip him an aphrodisiac, and even actively cooperate with him, letting him sleep with him time and time again—

Ao Ruize liked him!!!

Just like how he had inexplicably fallen in love with Ao Ruize.

So it turned out he wasn’t the only superficial one.

No, wait.

Thinking about it this way, he and Ao Ruize were truly a match made in heaven.

Still not right.

Don’t forget, Ao Ruize was their enemy.

But Ao Ruize also likes him!

Emperor Jianzhao had issued a death order for them to assassinate Ao Ruize as quickly as possible.

But Ao Ruize also likes him!!

He also had to consider his subordinates.

But Ao Ruize also likes him!!!

Right at this moment, Ao Ruize put down the storybook he had just finished reading, looked at him, and said: “It’s getting late. Are we going to sleep?”

Jiang Zimo: “…”

Jiang Zimo really wanted to say that he hadn’t thought it through yet.

But looking at Ao Ruize lying on his bed, waiting for his ‘gracious patronage’, Jiang Zimo couldn’t help but feel a little restless.

So much so that by the time he snapped back to reality, he had already walked over to the side of the bed.

Since things had already reached this point, there was even less to hesitate about.

He lay down directly beside Ao Ruize.

Soon, the faint scent of ambergris on Ao Ruize drifted into his nose. Although he had smelled this scent often in the past, never once had it made him feel such a profound sense of satisfaction as it did now.

Most importantly, right at this moment, Ao Ruize flipped over, pulled him directly into his embrace, and rested his chin on the top of his head.

Jiang Zimo: “…”

Was this the treatment he could receive right after just understanding his own feelings?

He couldn’t help but feel a little excited, and even started getting a bit restless.

Ao Ruize grabbed the hand Jiang Zimo was sneakily slipping into his clothes with one hand, and with the other, gave his butt a smack: “Although the poison in your body has been cured, can your body handle it right now?”

Don’t think he didn’t know; the main reason Jiang Zimo always waited two or three days before inviting him for a meal was because he usually needed two or three days of rest before he could rise to the occasion again.

“Oh.”

Jiang Zimo was incredibly disappointed.

And then he finally registered the words.

“The poison in my body is cured?”

In fact, if Ao Ruize hadn’t brought it up, he would have almost forgotten about it.

Ao Ruize kissed the corner of his mouth: “Didn’t you notice that you haven’t had a poison flare-up at all in these past two months?”

Jiang Zimo: “…”

Could he say that every day he was just completely preoccupied with figuring out how to sleep with him?

But none of this mattered anymore.

“You cured my poison?”

“Of course.”

But the one who spoke was certainly not Ao Ruize, but the Little Milk Dumpling, who happened to return right at this moment—

After discovering that Jiang Zimo still fell ill every few days despite taking the supreme body-strengthening potion, it decisively followed the internet cable to beat up that dog-like Pallas’s cat again, and snatched a god-tier body-strengthening potion while it was at it.

Looking at Jiang Zimo, who was right at hand, the Little Milk Dumpling felt like its head didn’t even belong to it anymore.

Because Jiang Zimo was simply too good-looking; its head was about to be melted by its own burning hot face.

And then it finally realized that Jiang Zimo didn’t seem to be lying in its embrace, but in Ao Ruize’s embrace.

The Little Milk Dumpling: “…”

The Little Milk Dumpling: “…………”

The Little Milk Dumpling: “&%￥#@#%…………&&%%”