Chapter 96 - Punching Bag
Translated by Eve
Edited by Serefina, Kitty
13. Punching Bag
Xie He smiled, “Yes.”
Lance wasn’t surprised by his answer. He gently caressed Xie He’s face and whispered into his ear, “Come with me.”
Xie He remained calm. Since he had come here, he had no intention to return alive.
Lance didn’t bring him back to his own palace. Instead, he took him to the Imperial Palace at the summit of the Empire. He had taken him here once before, except back then, Xie He was just a prize of war for everyone to judge. This time, there wasn’t anyone watching them. The palace was empty and extremely desolate. Lance brought Xie He over to a side chamber and told the guard, “I want to use the Royal Life Support System.”
“Which member of the Royal Family will be using it?” The guard asked.
Lance said, “Me.”
The medical officer who had been silent while following Lance immediately walked forward and reported his diagnosis, “His Highness’ injury is very serious. As the Empire’s Crown Prince, he has the right of precedence in using it.”
In the chamber was the Royal Family’s personal Life Support System. It was originally made for the Empire’s Royal Family. Everyone knew and accepted that Lance would be the next Emperor. The guard did not question them any further and let them in.
Xie He’s expression changed. Lance’s condition was that serious?
Just as he was thinking this, Lance suddenly grabbed his wrist. He lowered his gaze and smiled, “What are you thinking about?”
Xie He said, “How to kill you.”
Lance’s eyelashes fluttered. The corner of his thin lips quirked up. “With you like this, even if I just stood here and let you try to kill me, you wouldn’t be able to. If you want to kill me, get better first.”
He pulled Xie He to the Life Support System and said, “Get in.”
Xie He was startled. So it was for him?
Lance thought that he wasn’t willing and frowned. He turned around and indicated to the medical officer to treat Xie He.
The medical officer had always served Lance. Recently, he personally witnessed just how important Xie He was to Lance. He did not dare offend Lance and could only complain inwardly. He walked over and said, “Please get in. Don’t make things difficult for me.”
Xie He had not yet reacted. Although Lance’s own injury was really serious, he hadn’t rushed here in order to heal himself. Rather, it was for Xie He’s sake.
A complicated expression flickered through Xie He’s eyes, but he didn’t resist. He slowly stood inside. He would not play with his own life. Like Lance said, if he wanted to kill Lance, he would first have to get better.
The Life Support System was similar to the Regeneration Capsule. However, it was obviously more advanced. It was huge and the circuitry was tangled and complicated. The green liquid inside was slightly fluorescent.
Lance watched as Xie He entered. Only after did he cover his mouth and cough. Worry emerged in his eyes and he asked, “How is he?”
The medical officer slid his fingers over the control panel. His expression was grave. “Not good. If he had only used one of the two drugs, it would be fine. He could be restored using the Royal Family’s personal Life Support System. However, since he used both&#k2026; his DNA is already on the verge of collapse. According to the original estimates, he will only live for five more days.”
Lance’s hands clenched tightly. His chest hurt. This was his fault. He had personally injected a potentially-deadly drug into Xie He. That caused everything afterwards.... There was pain in Lance’s eyes. His voice was hoarse, “What about now...?”
The medical officer said, “We can use the gene stabilizer alongside the Life Support System. Although he won’t be fully restored, it will prolong his life. We have to wait until we’ve completed the procedure before I know the specifics of the efficacy. Only, even if we do this, he will periodically have to undergo this to continue living. Even if we were to exhaust the Royal Family’s resources, we could only perhaps prolong his life.” To put it simply, Xie He was living day to day. He could not part from his medicine or the Life Support System. But even like this, they could not ascertain for how long he’d persist. As the medical officer said this, he was scared witless. He was afraid Lance would get angry.
However, Lance didn’t look angry. He stared at the person inside of the Life Support System with a heavy gaze. He shut his eyes before reopening them. “Do all that you can.”
The medical officer lowered his head and said, “Yes.”
Lance stood in place. His gaze never shifted away. The man inside had his eyes shut. His expression was very calm. His handsome face didn’t seem affected despite being on death’s door. It was as it had been at the very start: so dazzling no one could look away.
When did he start caring about this person? When did he fall in love with him?
Lance had never thought that he would view another’s life as more important as his own. And this person was a captive.... If it wasn’t for that moment of life and death, he might never have realized his own feelings.
He had destroyed Xie He’s everything, trampled over his dignity, tormented him and caused him suffering. He thought that he could make Xie He submit to him... but in the end, the person who lost was him.
He had even lost his own heart.
And by the time he realized it, it was too late to take it back.
Lance’s body swayed slightly. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
The medical officer turned pale with fright. He was extremely anxious. “Your Highness, your injury hasn’t yet healed! You should let me treat you first!”
Lance said, “I’m fine. I won’t die.”
The medical officer really wanted to continue persuading him but he had already tried countless times on the way.... In the end, he didn’t continue speaking. He sighed and continued to treat Xie He. He only hoped that he would be able to drag Xie He out and then treat his Highness.
..........................................
When Xie He woke up again, quite a few days had already passed. He shifted slightly and discovered that his body had regained some strength. Although it was less than normal, it was better than his previous weakness. Moving normally was fine.
He was quite satisfied with Lance’s attitude. That child could be taught.
【Xie He：Baby, where’s Lance?】
【444：Recently, he’s encountered a bit of trouble. Because he let you use the Life Support System that only the Royal Family could use frequently, he was caught by his second brother Milne, who tattled to the Empire. He said that Lance dared to use the precious resources of the Royal Family for a Federation slave and even abandoned the annihilation of the Federation for him. Lance’s actions showed that he failed to grasp the big picture and had already lost the qualifications to be the Crown Prince. Milne was doing his best to pull Lance down. Therefore, the Emperor called him over very angrily.】
【Xie He：Very good. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh?】
【Xie He：This is external pressure, ah. The more external pressure there is stopping him, the more clear he will be regarding my importance to him. It will make him realize that he can’t let go of me. Only a love that has overcome the tribulations of reality can withstand future trials.】
【444：Oh, it’s like that....(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：The wife he fought for isn’t being recognized by his family. This feeling isn’t very good, ah. Neither side is getting what they want. Both sides will feel wronged.】
【444：......】
【Xie He：My heart aches a bit for him, ne. 🙂 】
【444：......】He absolutely agreed with that!
Lance did not return until very late that night. He looked exhausted.
The Emperor was already too old. He didn’t have time to cultivate a new, suitable successor. Moreover, he didn’t think there would be a better successor than Lance, because Lance was the most cold-hearted. Only this kind of person was suitable in wielding the colossal power that was the Empire. Only this kind of person would be a ruthless and rational ruler... However, the matter with Xie He made the Emperor extremely disappointed with Lance. This successor, who had never made a mistake and was even ruthless against his own brothers, had done something he shouldn’t have for a slave.
For the first time, the Emperor, who had always been amiable to Lance, had severely lectured him.
Lance did not refute, however. He knew very well what he had done. He also knew that there was weakness in his heart. He could only bear the Emperor’s criticism.
When Lance returned to his room, he saw that Xie He was awake. He walked over and hugged Xie He from behind, burying his head into the crook of his neck. He sniffed the scent that he had yearned for. At this moment, all of the gloominess inside his heart suddenly dispersed. For this person, he could take any criticism.
No one could stop him.
Not his father, nor his brother.
【Ding, the target Lance’s Favourability Value +3. The current Favourability Value is 93.】
Lance carried Xie He to the bed and kissed him. He had longed for the feel of this person’s body. He was itching to have him.
Xie He put on a show of struggling for a bit before he stopped moving. His whole body was taut. He shut his eyes and his eyelashes slightly trembled.
Lance’s actions were extremely gentle, as if he was a fragile treasure. Actually, that was exactly what he was. This person’s body was so weak. He had to be extra careful when he embraced him.
He cherished every minute, every second, that he had him.
......................................................
Lance held Xie He in his arms and gently kissed him on the lips. He looked extremely peaceful.
After losing him, Lance realized just how much he needed him, yearned for him. So long as he could hold this person, he would pay any cost. Before, he had never wanted anything like this.... Not even the most honourable position of the Emperor of the Empire had made him feel as content and happy from the depths of his soul as he did now. Moreover, he didn’t hate how his emotions could be affected by another person. Instead, he found it novel.
“As long as you’re willing to stay by my side obediently, I won’t act against the Federation. I’ll even give them fifty-six Planetary Systems within the northern district,” Lance said into Xie He’s ear, “How about it?”
Xie He slowly opened his eyes. There was a faint, derisive smile in his deep blue eyes. He said, “Sure. It seems like I’m still worth something.”
Obviously, the person in his arms had agreed very cheerfully, but Lance’s eyes darkened. He felt agitated for some reason.
“I must be the only slave worth as much as I am, ba,” Xie He’s lips curved up.
Lance gazed into Xie He’s eyes, unwavering. It was not the first time hearing Xie He mock himself or sneer. He should be used to it, but he wasn’t. He wanted this person not as a slave, but as a lover who would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
But what could he say? It was Lance who had turned him into a slave. His love would only get Xie He’s disdain and merciless derision in return. His high pride did not allow him to let others trample over his heart.
“You’ve forgotten that I’ve already bestowed upon you citizenship of the Empire,” Lance said slowly, voice hoarse.
“So, you guys can casually r*pe lawful citizens of the Empire?” Xie He pushed Lance away. His slender body was covered in Lance’s marks. He turned his head to the side and reached out to touch the metal collar around his neck. His gaze was mocking, “Like this? Don’t joke around.”
Cecil could not remove that metal collar. Therefore, Xie He had no choice but to always carry a shielding device to block the collar’s tracking signal. This was a symbol of his status as a slave. It never left him.
Hate appeared in Xie He’s eyes, “Save your false kindness. I don’t need it.”
The man stood before him, naked. His body was covered in the marks Lance left. This kind of beautiful, enticing person was the unparalleled prey that he had stopped at nothing to obtain. He was willing to give up everything to have him.
However, towards Xie He, all of this was nothing but a disgrace to him.
Lance shut his eyes in pain. This was a dead end. And he could not escape it.... He couldn’t even tell him that he loved him.
【444：Host dada... since it’s like this, why didn’t you resist before?】If he said this at the start, Lance probably wouldn’t have forced him._(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：Baby, you have to learn how to be a deep thinker. Smile.JPG】
【444：(⊙o⊙) Oh! I understand! You wanted to verbally attack him after feeling good!】
【Xie He：Very smart. 🙂 】
【444：O(∩_∩)O~】
The author has something to say:
Sorry, I returned home late today, so I could only write this much.
On the icily arrogant Crown Prince transforming into a punching bag: What should I do? My wife is verbally attacking me every day. Urgently waiting online!
Eve: Short chapter today. But the previous ones of this arc have been fairly long. Still filled with angst despite the shortness hehe.
sere: angsttttttt damn XH really threw everything back in his face
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