Xiao He knelt there, trembling, his hand clutched against the ghastly wound on his other hand, blood seeping through his fingers before forming a small pool of blood on the ground. Each shudder of his body spoke of a fear that gnawed at his insides, rendering him a mere husk of the man he once was.
Xiang Yu loomed before him, his disdain radiating from him like heat from the sun-baked earth. His dark eyes bore into Xiao He with a predator’s intensity, unyielding and cold. The silence between them was thick and stifling. It felt as if the world had drawn its breath and paused, waiting for the inevitable conclusion.
When the silence dragged on, Xiang Yu’s patience wore thin. He moved with the grace of a predator stalking its prey in the tall grasslands, each step deliberate and echoing in the stillness. The sharp glint of the dagger in his hand caught the light as he walked behind Xiao He, the blade poised like a coiled serpent ready to strike.
Gripping Xiao He’s hair, he yanked him back sharply, forcing his head to tilt upwards, exposing the vulnerable curve of his throat. A grimace twisted Xiao He’s face, the roots of his hair tearing free.
The steward watched, panic etched across his face. His heart raced as he raised his hands in a futile gesture, desperate to intervene. "Your Highness, please... this isn’t the answer! You can’t kill him... it will only lead to trouble!"
His voice trembled, thick with urgency, but Xiang Yu remained unmoved, his gaze locked onto Xiao He with an evil glint that suggested he was all too willing to follow through on his threat.
"Please," Xiao He’s voice quivered, breaking through the oppressive silence. Tears flowed freely, mingling with the snort running down his nose. "Your Highness, wuwuwu, please spare me..." he begged in a brittle voice.
Xiang Yu regarded him with a chilling calm. "He knows what to do. His life isn’t in my hands, but his own," he stated flatly, the words like a death sentence.
Xiao He’s breath hitched and he stammered, "I I was promised. I was promised I would be your attendant, to take Han Xin’s place. She said all I had to do was tear his room apart, the more damage, the better! Then she would use this to remove Han Xin from your palace, and I—I will have his position!" The confession spilt from him in a frantic rush, each word laced with a mixture of fear and desperation.
The steward’s eyes narrowed upon hearing this. He had never trusted the imperial consort, Peng Xiu’s mother, and now, her daughter seemed to embody the very scheming nature.
The memory of Peng Xiu’s childhood antics flashed through his mind. Her innocent facade always hid her heart that beat for power. She had always craved what belonged to Xiang Yu, weaving her pitiful tales to elicit sympathy, but now, she had shed that mask for something far more sinister.
Xiang Yu took away the dagger and released Xiao He’s hair, allowing the man to crumple to the ground in a heap of misery. "See... was that so fucking difficult?" Xiang Yu said
Xiao He’s breath came in ragged gasps as he wiped the remnants of his tears and snot from his face. Xiang Yu stood over him his dark eyes glinting with disdain at Xiao He’s pitiful state.
"You see," Xiang Yu began, his voice smooth yet laced with irritation, "people just provoke me even when I mind my own business." He spun the dagger between his fingers with casual grace, the blade reflecting glimmers of light that danced like fireflies, a stark contrast to the impending doom that loomed over Xiao He.
"Your Highness," the steward interjected, concern etched across his brow, "why does she want your attendant that badly?"
Xiang Yu sneered, the expression twisting his handsome features into something dark and unyielding. "It’s more than that... she expected this reaction from me," he replied, his voice growing colder. "She knows I hate being betrayed by my own people so much that this little pawn over here..."
He flicked Xiao He’s forehead twice, the motion almost playful, yet underscored with a palpable menace. Xiao He flinched, not daring to move, the humiliation settling deep in his chest like a stone.
Xiang Yu continued, his voice low and dangerous. "... would be beaten by me half to death, and if I don’t kill him in rage, she would finish him off. And guess who she is going to call the murderer..." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle like a damp fog in a room. "This prince."
Xiao He’s head snapped up, shock etching his features into something almost comical, his expression a mixture of disbelief and terror. "Would she really go that far?" the steward asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Xiang Yu chuckled, a sound that sent shivers racing down Xiao He’s spine. "You don’t know Peng Xiu very well," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "This is not only about taking Han Xin away but also to frame the future heir of the Republic. The news would spread like wildfire that I made my staff member disappear, even when there is no body to show."
Xiao He broke down at the realization, tears streaming anew as he pleaded, "Your Highness, ple—please help me! I don’t want to die. I have an old mother who would be left alone if I die." His words were that of desperation laced with genuine fear.
Xiang Yu crouched down, his expression shifting to one of twisted amusement as he gripped Xiao He’s throat, not too tight, but enough to make the young man fear for his life. He pulled Xiao He closer, their faces inches apart, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper that curled around Xiao He like a dark fog.
"I will spare your life, but if you ever think of betraying me again..." He leaned in, his breath chilling against Xiao He’s skin. "Think of the pain in your hand right now. I will make it hurt a hundredfold."
Xiao He nodded vigorously, fear etched across his features. "I—I will never betray Your Highness ever again!" he stammered, each word a desperate promise.
Xiang Yu tightened his grip, watching as Xiao He’s face turned a shade of crimson, veins pulsing dangerously against his skin. "I want you to update Peng Xiu," he commanded, his voice a low growl. "Tell her that I have beaten you half to death and that she should rescue you because I won’t let you leave... do you understand?"
Xiao He struggled to breathe, yet somehow managed a nod, his head bobbing up and down like a puppet on strings.
With a devilish grin, Xiang Yu released him, standing tall and imposing, a figure both terrifying and enchanting in the dim light. "You give me an update tomorrow. Do you understand?"