His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 14

Chapter 14

When he thought of it like that, Zi Li’s morale was boosted, his chest proudly puffing up. He’s expression was calm as he marches forward with steady steps.

Inside the Imperial Study, Hong Xu was leaning back on his writing desk chair. He was holding a cup of tea while leisurely using the lid of the cup to strain the floating tea leaves. He didn’t even care to give a pa.s.sing glance to Zi Li who just came in, and just continued sipping this newly tributed renowned tea leaves with his head bowed.

Zi Li also remained calmly standing below[1], and simply stole glances with the corner of his eyes on that man with an imposing vibe from time to time.

T/N: For those who got confused, Hong Xu’s desk is situated in a higher platform.

After drinking half of the tea, Hong Xu finally put down his cup, and with neither pleasant nor angry voice , he started to talk: “What brings the third prince of Bei Ling to come here today?”

Sharp icy line of sight penetrated Zi Li’s gaze that it made him unconsciously stagger.

He really lacks creativity with his opening remarks. What I know is that your stomach is full of roundworms to ask me that d.a.m.n question! 

Zi Li did not express complain, since he can’t do nothing but despise him secretly in his heart just to satisfy the bitterness of him being unfavoured .

But despite being looked down upon, Zi Li still feigned a cheerful expression as if he was s.h.i.+ning. He replied: “My humble self is stupid, so please enlighten me Your Majesty!”

Hong Xu’s pair of eyes narrowed as he observed the young man below him who’s clearly not what he seems to be. He sure has a lot of guts! From the first time to the third time, he’s still acting dumb in front of me?

“Stupid? We noticed that you seems very smart! So surely it was your intention to offend Us greatly, right? Third prince of Bei Ling.”

Zi Li’s complexion turned bad as he faces Hong Xu, he can’t help but regret acting dumb to handle a situation. Before, every time his teachers calls him to their office, he would always act like a fool so it was tried and tested, that it became his habit to do so. But he forgot for a while that the one he’s facing is not his teacher who would turn a blind eye, but rather a high and mighty sovereign king of the ancient times, who govern a kingdom with shrewd and unfeeling cruelty.

He is the son of heaven and not someone to be trifled with! So aren’t I digging my own grave and jumping into it if I bicker with him? That’s not good, I must change the course of the situation!

Then he was. .h.i.t with an idea. Zi Li stepped forward again and devoutly offered his sincere reflection: “There’s a common saying ‘If one does not know any better, one cannot be held responsible’. If my humble self have offended his Majesty, my humble self certainly did not mean it. So I ask his Majesty to read between the lines of my humble self’s reckless ignorance, and pardon this humble me as the greater person, and be magnanimous!”

Hong Xu raised his outstanding brow, he can’t help himself from starting to size up this third prince of Bei Ling who gave him a new level of respect. But why is the report about this person so different from what the intel gatherer gave him to the actual person right now? Hong Xu didn’t question that confidential information pa.s.sed to him too much, since he believed the information to be true. But this one before him knows how to pretend to be polite and compliant and knows how to pull the carpet under one’s feet. So in what way should he interpret this man who had the courage to act in that way in front of him?

Hong Xu remained tight-lipped as he made contact with that bright and lively eyes of the young man, and all of a sudden, the corner of his eyes was outlined in a curved that can be considered a smile.

Zi Li unconsciously s.h.i.+vered when he saw that. Mommy! This man’s smile is really creepy! Even though that look made him more handsome, but why do I always feel that smile harbours evil intentions!? 

“Oh? So his highness of Bei Ling do feel that you have offended the king? Then in what way have you offended us?” Hong Xu languidly leaned back on his chair, his expression unreadable.

Zi Li was fuming with rage inside. He replied: “Humble me doesn’t want to speak rudely, and slander his wise Majesty. But I believe that under his Majesty’s rule, the Chu Jing Kingdom is sure to become powerful and prosperous throughout the ages, and forever will remain in eternal glory!”

Such nice word of praises so pleasant to hear! This Lao Zi has so many stock of those in my nineteen years of practice and experiences. And without exception, I’m absolutely much more flattering than those boot-licking chancellor of  yours!

After he said that, sure enough, the emperor seems like he enjoyed it. Zi Li cheered inside, and laughed in his sleeve feeling complacent. Then he continued talking: “My humble self also could not fathom climbing on the imperial bed, and even more so to speak out of turn and disturbing his Majesty’s privacy.”

Just when Zi Li thought that by admitting his mistakes then everything would be alright, but suddenly, he heard a cold to the freezing point voice yell above him: “Isn’t death what you seek when you make a fool of Us? It seems like you are tired of living. Come! Drag this Bei Ling’s An Jin Yu out and administer fifty strikes of wooden stave, then detain him in prison and strictly guard him.”  ——

Bonbon wanted to say:

This novel’s difficulty is no joke… idioms, idioms everywhere! Well it’s satisfying to translate them anyway (although a bit draining hahaha)

Zi Li, really the MC G.o.d of misfortune, seems like death reaper had a crush on him, being in numerous death situations already （￣□

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