Doctor Bai waved his hand dismissively. "No need to thank me. This is really my duty as a physician."
After that, Han Xin walked out of the medical bay, heading for the grand hall. As he approached the grand hall, he pulled the hood lower over his face, blending into the crowd. Who would have thought he would walk into a scene of Xiang Yu kneeling before the imperial Lord, asking to be punished?
Han Xin had a gnawing feeling that Xiang Yu was scheming something, but he couldn’t understand why everything was so different from his last life. Hidden in the shadows, his hood covering half his face, Han Xin watched as Xiang Yu was struck repeatedly by the electromagnetic whip. By the twelfth slash, Xiang Yu spat out a mouthful of blood, but his back remained straight, torn and bleeding.
The imperial Lord had expected his son to beg for mercy, but Xiang Yu’s stubbornness only fueled his fury. He raised the whip and struck even harder, the force of the blow tearing deep into Xiang Yu’s flesh, right to the bone. The onlookers turned away in horror, unable to bear the sight.
Lian and Mei, standing among the crowd, were visibly distressed. They wanted to intervene, but as if sensing their intentions, Xiang Yu discreetly signalled with his hand for them to stay out of it. Lian gritted her teeth, her fists clenched in frustration, while Mei looked down and covered her ears, unable to watch.
Everyone, including the imperial Lord, missed this subtle exchange, but Han Xin did not. He saw Xiang Yu’s small movements and followed the crowd with his eyes, spotting the two alphas of the Wu family.
Everyone in the imperial capital knew that the Wu family twins were arrogant and had disrespected Xiang Yu multiple times. Xiang Yu had cursed them in front of Han Xin on several occasions, so what was going on now?
Han Xin knew there was an anomaly, and that anomaly was Xiang Yu and the Wu family twins. The Xiang Yu of this life was different, and the changes were unsettling.
As the twentieth slash tore at Xiang Yu’s flesh, the Imperial Lord took a step back, his expression dark and unsightly. Unable to control his rage any longer, he shouted, "Everyone, get out!"
The crowd was momentarily confused by the outburst and didn’t move at first. The Imperial Lord bellowed, "I said get out!" The councillors and the rest of the onlookers bowed and hurried out, fearing the imperial lord might turn the whip on them next.
The Imperial Lord’s chest rose and fell with seething rage, the veins on his neck and temples throbbing. The doors closed behind them, leaving only the two of them in the grand hall.
On the other side of the door, two people were failing to hide their emotions. Those two people were Mei and Lian. Lian said, "Let’s go back and get him. We can’t leave him alone with him."
Mei grasped Lian’s wrist as though to stop her and whispered, "I am worried about him too, but he knows what he is doing."
Lian bit her lip, looking at the closed door. The entire conversation was overheard by Han Xin. He wanted to eavesdrop a bit more but he had another conversation he was more interested in.
He knew this palace like the back of his hand. He slipped away just as Peng Xiu began looking for him. Han Xin lifted a painting in the passageway and felt around on the wall behind it. A small gap opened with a click, and he slipped in.
By the time Peng Xiu ran into the passageway, Han Xin seemed to have disappeared like a ghost. Peng Xiu looked around and had to guess which direction Han Xin had gone. She passed the painting and ran towards the end of the passageway before turning the corner. Silence was restored in the empty passageway.
Han Xin silently walked through the dark, narrow space. This palace was built with secret entrances for the purpose of spying on traitors and guests from the Federation during peace talks. Only a few knew about them.
Han Xin had discovered these passages in his past life when Marshal Wu had given him his father’s private belongings. Among them were privileged documents meant for the imperial heir’s eyes only, including the true blueprints of all the palaces on the imperial grounds.
Reaching a certain spot, Han Xin peered through a crack in the wall. The voices from the grand hall were amplified here, allowing him to hear everything clearly. Xiang Yu was still kneeling, his back a gruesome sight, torn and bleeding.
The imperial Lord suddenly kicked his throne in a fit of rage. Being an SSS rank alpha, his strength was incomparable, and the throne shattered into pieces. Yet, Xiang Yu did not flinch.
"Explain yourself!" the imperial Lord yelled, his body trembling with anger.
Xiang Yu parted his lips to speak but swallowed his words. The imperial Lord, losing patience, shouted again, "Explain!"
"Father, do you know what they say about me behind my back?" Xiang Yu began, his voice trembling. "They say I am weak and pathetic. They say that I am so weak I have to—" He stopped abruptly, struggling to control his anger.
"I have to ask my attendant to take my punishment on my behalf. I am not weak. I am not a trash prince. I can’t let my father lose face because of me, and if it takes me taking this punishment, then so be it."
The imperial Lord raised his hand and slapped Xiang Yu across the face, sending him flying a few feet from the force. Han Xin, watching from his hidden vantage point, furrowed his brows. Since when did Xiang Yu care about what others said about him?
In the past, when mocked, he would arrogantly declare himself the future Imperial Lord of the Republic and boast about how they would have to bow before him.
Xiang Yu saw black spots as he lay on the marble floor. He bit his lower lip and struggled to get back on his feet, his cheek stinging with pain. The imperial Lord walked over and crouched down, pinching Xiang Yu’s chin and forcing him to look up. "Next time, you don’t act on your own. You know Dad doesn’t like it, Yu-er."
Xiang Yu hid the hatred in his eyes and said, "Yes, father."
The imperial Lord nodded. "Good. Now go and clean yourself up. You return to the military academy soon."
Xiang Yu nodded and got up as if nothing had happened, his movements slow and deliberate.