KK Translates

Arc 4 – Slag that Prince Regent
Chapter 91

Because he used to get all sorts of injuries, Shen Wumian knew of simple ways to help increase blood flow and prevent blood stasis. He massaged Chen Yi’s calf with little to no strength. It hurt at first but afterwards, it started to feel comfortable.

But no matter how comfortable he was, Chi Zhao didn’t dare let him continue. Once he felt a little better, he quickly pulled his leg back, “Thank you Imperial Uncle, Zhen feels much better now.”

Despite the weight in his hands becoming lighter, Shen Wumian didn’t raise his head. He continued to look at his empty hands for a few seconds before looking over.

Chen Yi looked at him with distrust and fear. This look shouldn’t come from someone like him.

Shen Wumian didn’t say anything and no longer made any other actions that didn’t follow the plot line. He soon left. Chi Zhao breathed a sigh of relief and finally remembered the system who had been silent the entire time since its return.

When it first returned, it spoke like a machine gun, words firing rapidly after another but when it saw Shen Wumian, that machine gun immediately stopped. Without needing to ask, he could tell that the system must have misunderstood.

Chi Zhao kindly explained, “It’s not what you think. I have pulled the plot back onto its tracks. Everything is still under my control.”

After saying that, the system didn’t respond for a long time. Just as Chi Zhao thought the system wouldn’t reply, he heard a very sorrowful sigh.

Chi Zhao: “……..”

“You don’t believe me? You can’t not believe me!”

Finally, the system responded to him.

【Why?”】

Chi Zhao was silent for a moment, “Because what I said was true! Don’t you have recordings? Can’t you just check them?”

The system was originally not around so how could there be any recordings? Even if there was one, it was with the main system. As a low-level system who often slacks off during work, it didn’t have such advanced functions.

In any case, the system didn’t believe in Chi Zhao’s words. Chi Zhao felt helpless. Seeing that the system’s mood was getting more and more depressed each second, he quickly changed the topic, “Didn’t you say that you weren’t going to enter the competition? What made you change your mind again?”

Before, the system had the intention to participate in a competition but it didn’t go ahead with it because it felt that it shouldn’t step away during work as it was too unprofessional. Moreover, this competition lasted very long; from the preliminary competition to the finals, it may take several years. If anything were to happen in the middle, it would have participated for nothing.

And so, the system had filled in the registration form but never had it submitted. This continued until a few days ago when the system faintly sensed that this world was also about to collapse. In a fit of anger, it rushed over to submit the registration form and it fortunately made it just in time for the last batch of registrations. If it missed this chance, it would have had to wait another five years.

When humans are depressed, they would go out for a walk and take in the scenery to improve their mood and that was the same for the system. For Chi Zhao, the system was away for three days but to the system, it had only been away for less than two hours. After being praised by several virtual judges, the system who had regained confidence returned with a good mood.

………

No amount of praise could match the protagonist’s actions.

There was another long period of silence. Following that, Chi Zhao heard the system’s response.

【Us systems also have our own lives. Seeing that I’m about to be unemployed, I naturally should find another job to support my family.】

Chi Zhao: “…….I already said that the plot is under control. Don’t worry, you won’t become jobless.”

The system acted like it didn’t hear him. It looked at its own name glumly and continued.

【Is it? But it seems that there was a mistake with the product. When there is a problem with the system, the system would lose its job.】

After it finished saying that, the system also went out of its way to explain what was wrong with itself.

【Look, my full name is the Slag Shou System but you’re not a slag at all so you can get rid of that. In the end I’m just a Shou System.】

Chi Zhao: “……”

Chi Zhao still wanted to continue defending himself but at this moment, Hong Lei entered the room carrying a very familiar looking bowl of medicine. Chi Zhao saw this and was suddenly boosted with confidence, “Even if you don’t believe what I say, the facts are now placed in front of you so you should trust in me. If there is a problem with the plot, Shen Wumian wouldn’t continue sending me poison. You see how he’s still giving me it? It means the plot is still okay!”

Suddenly, there was a sneer in his mind.

【You think I’m a system that just left the factory? Which plot would collapse in an instant? Wasn’t it always gradual? I like you today, I fall in love with you tomorrow, I will die for you the day after tomorrow! Just you wait! Within a month, this poison will become an antidote.】

Following that was an aggrieved sob and the system then continued.

【Forget it, I’m already used to it. I’m just going to sing. I will probably be fired once I’m unbound from you. When the time comes, singing will be my only source of comfort and way to vent.】

Chi Zhao: “……….”

System, you’re getting better and better at acting.

After that short bickering with the system came to an end, Chi Zhao drank the medicine and continued to lie in bed. He pondered over why Shen Wumian would suddenly make those incomprehensible actions.

Did he fall in love with him too? That was too ridiculous. He wasn’t some super Mary Sue, how could it be possible for people to fall in love with him all the time? If he thought about it carefully, there was actually a reason for the previous protagonists to fall in love with him but in this world, Shen Wumian had no reason to like him. Not to mention, there was also deep hatred between the two that couldn’t be overlooked.

Thinking this, Chi Zhao was certain. He was absolutely certain that Shen Wumian wouldn’t fall in love with him. But how could he explain those behaviours of his?

Could it be…….

Chi Zhao’s eyes widened in shock.

He understood now.

Please read this from kk translates

This was Shen Wumian’s second wave of attack! He planned to be nice to Chen Yi, make Chen Yi fall even deeper in love with himself and then dump him, make him despaired!

Wow this man……he’s really bad, very bad.

Chi Zhao who held the slag shou script and strove to torture the protagonist to death in every world felt some admiration towards him.

……

After figuring it out, Chi Zhao no longer felt troubled and slept very peacefully. He very quickly entered his dream world. On the other end in the prince regent mansion, the prince regent who had holed himself up in the study the entire time finally stepped out.

The other guards were all send to the palace and of the remaining nine guards, three worked in other places, two were sent out to keep an eye on the situation outside and one was locked up in the mansion. Now, only three were left.

Two waited on the roof, guarding over Shen Wumian’s safety while the third hid in the dark. After Shen Wumian left the study, he waved his hand and the hidden guard walked out and knelt to listen to his order.

Shen Wumian didn’t order him to do anything. He just asked, “How is Sixteen doing?”

Among the shadow guards, the first ten had grown up and experienced the most brutal training together while the remaining nine didn’t have such experience. They had been brought back to the palace one after another, each having their own roles. For example, Sixteen’s role was to be the prince regent’s substitute and Fourteen who was kneeling on the ground at this moment was a meticulously cultivated spy with a perfect identity outside.

Only he himself and Shen Wumian knew of Fourteen’s identity. Until now, Shen Wumian hadn’t thought about where to send Fourteen. After all, he had lived a lifetime already and many things are now known in advance so there was no use for a spy.

In the end, Fourteen remained in the palace, serving as an ordinary shadow guard.

The shadow guards are always loyal to their master. If their master wanted them to kill their own parents, they would do it without hesitation. That was why, even if Shen Sixteen had been locked up for more than two months, Fourteen felt no sympathy towards him whatsoever.

“Still the same. Not speaking, not making a fuss.”

Having said that, Fourteen raised his head, “Master, in this subordinates opinion, Sixteen is hell bent on dying.”

Hell bent on dying……

Seeming to have thought of something, Shen Wumian laughed. That laugh was so soft, it didn’t’ sound like a sneer or a sarcastic laugh. It sounded like a normal laugh that carried no other emotion.

Shen Wumian raised his head and glanced at the sky. Tonight, dark clouds hung overhead and there were no stars or moon in sight. Shen Wumian placed his right hand behind him, his wide sleeves flowing with his movement, “I will go and see him. You all guard outside.”

“Yes.”

Three replies sounded at the same time but apart from Fourteen, no one could find the source of the other two.

Shen Sixteen was confined in a dungeon by Shen Wumian. This was the most secretive confinement room in the royal palace. During summer, it would be several degrees higher inside compared to outside and if it was during the hottest time of the year, it was enough to kill a person. It was currently the hottest time of the year but Shen Wumian wouldn’t let Shen Sixteen die so easily so he sent someone to watch him and pour a bucket of cold water from the bottom of a well onto him to cool him down every now and then.

In all honesty, Shen Sixteen’s treatment was far better than Chen Yi’s. He was locked up by Shen Wumian at the beginning, but Shen Wumian never tortured him. He only had him locked up and would give him three meals a day as per usual. When it was time for Chen Yi to see how miserable he was, only then did Shen Wumian order him to be tortured.

The current Shen Sixteen hadn’t been punished yet. To ordinary people, the sultry heat and the combination of hot and cold hitting him from time to time can be torturous but it was nothing for Shen Sixteen who had been raised as a shadow guard.

Although Shen Wumian wanted to retaliate against him, he only retaliated against those who deserved it. What Shen Wumian hated the most was Chen Yi’s betrayal and humiliation. Although Shen Sixteen also betrayed him, Shen Wumian didn’t hate him as much because Shen Sixteen was still a shadow guard.

As a shadow guard, his feelings had been cultivated from childhood such that they only follow their master’s orders. Even if Chen Yi made Shen Sixteen defect, Shen Wumian didn’t think that Shen Sixteen really fell in love with Chen Yi. Perhaps in Shen Sixteen’s eyes, Chen Yi was just a new master.

When he thought of this in the past, Shen Wumian found it very ironic and amusing but when he thought about it now, Shen Wumian suddenly had a few more emotions he hadn’t experienced before.

For example……relief.

The path leading to the dungeon was especially dark and the air was hot and stuffy. Perhaps it was because his physical sensations were also affecting his inner emotions, Shen Wumian also felt that his heart felt stuffy, to the point that it was quite uncomfortable.

At this moment, there was only Shen Sixteen in the dungeon. Hearing someone coming, Shen Sixteen who was sitting against the wall with his head lowered raised his head, revealing a face that was nine parts similar to Shen Wumian’s.

More than just his appearance, he had also been learning Shen Wumian’s life habits, actions and expressions during the past few years. Eventually, he no longer knew what his original personality was like. Even now, Shen Sixteen didn’t know how he would react if he was confined in a dungeon and only knew that if Shen Wumian was confined, he would definitely be expressionless and indifferent. As a result, he similarly took up that expressionless and indifferent approach.

As for what he was thinking inside, only he himself knew.

Seeing Shen Wumian coming over, Shen Sixteen’s expression changed. He still remembered his own identity and very soon, he knelt before Shen Wumian, whispering, “Sixteen greets master.”

——-What I like the most is Imperial Uncle’s face that is astonishingly handsome and unforgettable.

Those words still rang in his ears.

It was just this face. Just a glimpse of it entering Chen Yi’s eyes made Chen Yi dream of it for many years. Even with a face like his, even if he had been with him for many years, it still couldn’t be on par to that short glance from that year.

Shen Wumian had already realised that there was something wrong with him. He spat at himself and hated himself but no matter what he did, he couldn’t fix those distorted thoughts of his. He clearly knew that he would be betrayed, and he also knew that the person the other person had in their eyes wasn’t himself but, like he was a madman, he still wanted to stick around, hoping to replace that person in Chen Yi’s heart.

Even Shen Wumian didn’t understand why he could be so foolish and stupid.

The most ridiculous thing was that when he looked at Shen Sixteen now, he who didn’t have much hatred for Shen Sixteen before now really wanted to tear off his face so that no one would know that there was another person in this world with a face like his. That way, Chen Yi would only look at him.

Please read this from kk translates

Although he thought this inside, Shen Wumian naturally wouldn’t do it. His dignity and pride didn’t allow for it. For a lofty prince regent to fight against a lowly servant, no one would believe it even if news of it leaked out.

Shen Wumian lowered his eyes and looked at Shen Sixteen who was kneeling before him. After a moment, he spoke.

The question he asked was his main purpose of coming here today. He wanted to know the answer.

“Back then, why did you save Chen Yi?”

Shen Wumian suddenly confining Shen Sixteen in the dungeon, even those in the know didn’t understand and Shen Sixteen also wanted to know the reason for it despite never managing to get an answer.

This time, Shen Wumian gave him an answer. It was about the time Shen Sixteen rescued Chen Yi. For a substitute to suddenly appear and expose himself, it was a big taboo. Shen Sixteen knew this too. Although he didn’t understand how Shen Wumian knew about that incident, he also understood that he was a pawn that was no longer useful.

Fourteen was right, Shen Sixteen was hell bent on dying. He hoped that Shen Wumian would give him a quick death, but more than two months had passed and Shen Wumian still hadn’t done anything. He neither killed him nor punished him or had any intentions to let him go.

When he saw Shen Wumian come in today, he had thought that it was finally time for him to die but he was left stunned by Shen Wumian’s question.

It was clearly a very easy question to answer but Shen Sixteen was silent for a long time before he answered.

“This subordinate…..also doesn’t know.”

He also didn’t know why. When he saw the child struggling in the water, his heart that shouldn’t carry any temperature suddenly trembled. He didn’t want to see that child die and so, he exposed himself.

All of this happened in an instant. After he brought that person out of the water, he realised what he had done and quickly escaped, the entire time not noticing that the child had briefly opened his eyes.

After so many years, Shen Sixteen still didn’t know who that child was. It was only now that he learnt that the child, he had saved was the young prince.

A shadow guard cannot answer with ‘I don’t know’ as it would make their master unhappy but Shen Sixteen really could only answer that question with ‘I don’t know’. After hearing that response, Shen Wumian’s expression gradually changed.

Ridicule and anger.

That answer may seem unreasonable in the eyes of others but for Shen Wumian, it was incomparably clear. It was because he and Shen Sixteen felt the same way.

He was also like this. He also didn’t know why he wanted to get close to Chen Yi and he also didn’t know why he would suddenly do something he wouldn’t usually do. What’s more, he also didn’t know what he was doing right now.

A part of him wanted to kill him while another part of him wanted to protect him.

“Do you regret it?”

Having not heard from Shen Wumian for a long time, Shen Sixteen was a little distracted. He slowly raised his head and a blank look flashed across his eyes, “What should I regret? Can the master please clarify.?

Shen Wumian’s voice was extremely low, “The matter of saving Chen Yi.”

If Chen Yi wasn’t saved, Shen Sixteen wouldn’t become like this. If Chen Yi wasn’t saved, he could live longer. Everyone naturally wanted to live longer, even if they’re a shadow guard cultivated for many years to sacrifice their lives for their master. Even they had the desire to live.

But after a short pause, Shen Sixteen shook his head under Shen Wumian’s gaze, “I don’t regret it.”

……

Leaving the dungeon, Shen Wumian couldn’t describe his feelings at that moment.

He thought Chen Yi was ridiculous but in fact, the most ridiculous person was himself.

Shen Sixteen may have been trained as a shadow guard with abnormally cultivated emotions but his feelings for Chen Yi had never been abnormal. He was worthy of Chen Yi’s ten years of memory and he was also worthy of Chen Yi’s eventual decision to betray him and choose Shen Sixteen over him.

Standing in the deserted courtyard, Shen Wumian suddenly wanted to laugh.

He wanted to laugh loudly in misery but let alone laughing, he couldn’t even lift the corner of his drooping lips.

Between himself and Shen Sixteen, he now no longer knew who the real substitute was.

………

Shen Wumian’s habit was to suddenly appear out of nowhere and then disappear for a long time and then rinse and repeat. Chi Zhao felt that he had managed to get a good understanding of this pattern so when Shen Wumian disappeared once again, he didn’t pay it much attention.

Before, Chi Zhao would still think about occasionally showing his face but, seeing that Shen Wumian was showing signs of veering off the original plot line, he decided to peacefully stay in his palace. No matter how Hong Lei tried to convince him, he never went out again. With the young emperor not coming out and the masochistic prince regent not coming over to see him, the entire palace was shrouded in gloom. Whether it was a palace maid or an official called over, no one dared to stay there for too long.

Chi Zhao who had lived for many years was able to remain calm. If the plot didn’t require him to do anything, he could stay in this one third of an acre piece of land until he died. On Shen Wumian’s side, he was at first doing it out of anger but later, in order not to let himself thing of Chen Yi all the time, he began to find work for himself to do.

With himself doing all the work, many of the officials no longer had work to do.

……

There were many changes happening in the background. Chi Zhao occasionally heard some news about official’s houses being ransacked. An official had threatened to ram his head against a column right then and there, but the prince regent didn’t say anything and instead gave that official a gift, saying that it would be better if he died like that. That angry official fainted on the spot with his mouth foaming with rage and almost died like that.

The forces of the previous dynasty were gradually replaced by the prince regent’s men. No one knew how the prince regent did it. How was he able to so easily find everyone’s weaknesses? He even somehow knew that Lord Chang’s concubine was secretly ‘communicating’ with someone outside and even brought it up in court to deal with Lord Chang.

Poor Lord Chang was very old. He just felt that the prince regent was abusing his power and wanted to find a way to distract him so he mentioned in court that the prince regent was already old and should find a wife to marry. He didn’t expect that he would be attacked with something this shameful in return.

Chi Zhao listened to Hong Lei’s recounts like he was listening to a story. Everything Hong Lei did was instructed by Shen Wumian so when he heard Hong Lei tell him these things, Chi Zhao wondered if Shen Wumian still didn’t trust him.

The silent system didn’t want to speak. It just quietly scanned Chi Zhao’s brain structure. It had always felt that Chi Zhao’s brain must be different from others, otherwise there was no way he could be this stupid.

…….

It was another starless and moonless night. Chi Zhao had just fallen asleep when the system suddenly spoke.

【Host, hurry and wake up. The assassin is coming!】

Chi Zhao who was originally about to fall asleep was suddenly startled awake. He quickly sat up, “What? What possum is coming?!”

System: “……….”

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