Scum Gong Walks the Career Line in the Crematorium

In the beginning, Qi Changfeng saw Zhao Yuan as nothing more than a little brother.

He was only five years older than Zhao Yuan, but when Qi Changfeng was out riding horses and fighting battles, Zhao Yuan was raised in the imperial palace, nurtured by his mother and maternal grandfather. One was exposed to the harsh elements on the battlefield, while the other was pampered in the palace. When they stood together, the age gap seemed far more than five years.

The late Emperor Zhao Jun was skilled in war, but he knew nothing about the affairs of the harem and raising children. Qi Changfeng, raised by Zhao Jun himself, was even more clueless in these matters.

Before being entrusted with this task, Qi Changfeng and Zhao Yuan were not familiar with each other. Their personalities, preferences, and age differences were significant. Moreover, due to Qi Changfeng’s frequent military expeditions, they had only briefly encountered each other.

After being entrusted with this task, the two gradually became familiar with each other. Contrary to the ambitious imagination of the young emperor in the original text, Qi Changfeng was not interested in the affairs of the court. He only suppressed the treacherous ministers but didn’t completely eliminate them.

Qi Changfeng wanted to pass on everything he knew to the young emperor and then return to the border as the King of Nanshan, becoming the most solid wall of defense for the country.

However, the young emperor was suspicious, especially as a puppet ruler. Zhao Yuan was sensitive and astute, and he discovered Qi Changfeng’s secret attraction to men, mistakenly believing that the regent king had ill intentions toward him. He felt disgusted inside but had to pretend to be affectionate with the regent king.

Qi Changfeng, on the other hand, was oblivious to this and believed that they understood each other’s hearts. They couldn’t get too close due to their respective identities, but they secretly showed affection for each other when there were fewer people around. However, even though Qi Changfeng had never been in love before, he was satisfied with this simple affection for the young emperor.

He, who had only known how to wage war, started to learn the tactics of literati, writing sentimental poems that seemed awkward to him. He made matching jade pendants and gave them to the young emperor. But what Qi Changfeng liked the most was bringing things that were not present in the imperial palace to the imprisoned young emperor.

Street-sold sugar-coated haws, colorful windmills, lifelike little jade pigs made from cheap materials, and the grasshoppers and crickets he collected himself…

Even if they were just memories, Lin Hanchuan could feel Qi Changfeng’s warm and pure heart.

Because of this, the young emperor’s betrayal was even more unforgivable. After escaping from the predicament, Qi Changfeng couldn’t care for his injuries. He urgently rushed into the imperial palace.

In the original text, the depiction of this scene was filled with the young emperor venting his pent-up hatred, feeling relieved and gratified. However, there was no description of Qi Changfeng’s emotions. It was only known that he fiercely demanded the young emperor.

After reading Qi Changfeng’s memories, Lin Hanchuan understood his reaction a bit more.

The young emperor regarded these cheap little things as humiliation, especially the grasshoppers, which were like playing with a small dog. In the regent king’s eyes, they were just small pets. The young emperor did not feel sweetness, only humiliation.

His earnest affection was seen as such, and both sides’ affection was only wishful thinking. And everything he encountered after being imprisoned added fuel to his anger, which is why Qi Changfeng suddenly went crazy.

Qi Changfeng entered the prison believing that it was a misunderstanding and that someone in the court was trying to frame him. He thought that the young emperor would soon investigate the truth and clear him of any wrongdoing.

Therefore, when he entered the prison, Qi Changfeng remained composed. Even when the officer in charge of his interrogation and the assistants came to torture him for a confession, he believed it was his opponents taking the opportunity to harm him.

With drugs mixed into his food, his legs forcibly broken to prevent him from escaping, and with his food and water cut off, Qi Changfeng was subjected to relentless torture that drained him of all his strength. If he had not been unable to die in the prison without reason, he might have silently stopped his heartbeat.

Until Lin Hanchuan transmigrated, Qi Changfeng still firmly believed that the young emperor was unaware of everything that had happened.

Lin Hanchuan leaned against the wall, lost in thought when suddenly, loud and clamorous noises came from outside. His eyes flickered slightly as he looked towards the entrance of the prison.

In the original text, from being sent to the prison to being rescued, it took a full four or five days, and Lin Hanchuan didn’t know what day it was. He listened to the commotion outside and saw several people rushing in.

“Wangye!”

It seems like it’s today. Lin Hanchuan ignored the tearful looks of his subordinates and waved his hand, saying, “Don’t waste any time.”

The newcomers quickly held back their tears. One of them stepped forward and used a key snatched from the officials of the Ministry of Justice to unlock the door. When they helped Lin Hanchuan up, their eyes turned red again. This time, they couldn’t hold back their emotions, and tears streamed down the faces of these burly men.

“Wangye, your legs…”

“It’s fine, let’s leave first.” Lin Hanchuan’s pain was shielded, and he had taken medicine. He could feel his injuries gradually healing.

As they left with his subordinates, he noticed the officials from the Ministry of Justice who were tied up on the side. The one in charge of interrogating him looked particularly terrified, burying his head in fear, as if he wished he could disappear.

When Lin Hanchuan’s gaze fell on him, the official trembled and even wet his pants in fright. “Wangye, everything was the Emperor’s order. We were just following orders. Please spare us, Wangye…”

Hearing this, the others glared fiercely at the official. The leader of the group, a dark-skinned man, carefully supported Lin Hanchuan and signaled to the others.

Lin Hanchuan noticed, but he didn’t stop them. Following the group, they quickly left the Ministry of Justice’s prison. News of the prison break quickly spread to the palace.

The person responsible for delivering the news knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head. The surroundings fell silent, and he cautiously observed the area with the corner of his eye, noticing palace maids moving around. However, these palace maids walked on their tiptoes, their dresses not making any noise, as if they were ghosts.

He couldn’t help but shiver. If he had to live in this oppressive and cramped environment, he feared he would go mad in less than a month.

After an unknown period, the person high above finally spoke, “How are the people from the Ministry of Justice?”

The messenger’s status was low, and it was his first time facing the Emperor. He thought the Emperor’s voice would be more majestic, like the Regent King’s, but the Emperor’s voice was clear and gentle, carrying a hint of coldness. He didn’t sound like a powerful Emperor, but rather like a family’s young master without much imposing presence.

“They are all tied up, except for one who had his neck twisted…” The messenger’s voice faltered, feeling uneasy about speaking such words to the Emperor. Could it be without consequences?

The Emperor remained silent for a long time. The messenger couldn’t help but raise his head slightly, catching a glimpse of the Emperor’s true appearance.

To his surprise, the Emperor was wearing deep purple clothes adorned with embroidered dragons, appearing both luxurious and dignified. However, the Emperor himself had a fair and beautiful complexion, which was even more striking against the luxurious clothes, adding to his nobility.

Having quickly glanced, the messenger hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look again. After committing such a bold and daring act, his heart pounded in nervousness. Still, he couldn’t help but think that the Emperor seemed somewhat delicate. Fortunately, the Emperor’s gaze was sharp, which added some sense of authority.

“Go down.”

Hearing the command, the messenger immediately retreated respectfully and left the palace. As he stepped out of the palace gates, he couldn’t help but glance back, seeing the slim Emperor sitting on the immense dragon throne, surrounded by emptiness.

“Solitary ruler, a lonely man from a solitary family.” The phrase flashed through the messenger’s mind, but he dared not entertain further thoughts and quickly left.

“Spread the order: Regent King Qi Changfeng is wanted for fleeing due to cowardice. Nationwide manhunt…” The Emperor’s voice paused, “Dead or alive.”

After this decree, the already searching imperial guards became even more arrogant. The city gates of the capital were surrounded by hundreds of people, strictly inspecting everyone entering or leaving.

“Who are you? Where’s your registered residence? Why are you leaving? Show me your travel documents.” The gatekeeper in charge of inspections threw out a series of questions expressionlessly, “Who is in the carriage?”

“We are traveling merchants. We have finished selling our goods and are about to leave.” The dark-skinned man touched his head, smiling obsequiously. He respectfully handed over a stack of travel documents, “In the carriage, there is my concubine who recently gave birth. We bought her in the capital and are taking her back now.”

The gatekeeper glanced at him, then carefully examined the entire carriage and their belongings. After confirming that everything was in order, he allowed them to pass.

Without sparing them another glance, the gatekeeper moved on to the next person leaving. After dealing with several people, he suddenly remembered that he seemed to have forgotten to check the concubine’s selling contract.

It was just a woman who had recently given birth. She hadn’t even fully recovered from childbirth but had to travel. She was a pitiable person. The gatekeeper didn’t think much of it and said to the next person, “Who are you? Where’s your registered residence? Why are you leaving? Show me your travel documents.”

TL’s note: Haha! The joke’s on them xD