Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 552: Judgement

Qie Xieling and Luo Muchen arrived at the underground dungeon, escorted by the elders. The mercenaries guarding the dungeon bowed their heads and saluted as they saw them coming. Qie Xieling nodded and walked in, followed by Luo Muchen.

The dungeon was dark and damp, with thick iron bars and chains hanging from the walls. The prisoners were crammed into small cells, some of them wounded, some of them malnourished, some of them mad. The air was filled with the stench of blood, sweat, urine, and faeces. Some of these prisoners were the people who offended Master Zi. They had already cleared the innocent but the ones who had committed true and unforgivable acts were left there to rot.

Qie Xieling wrinkled his nose and covered his mouth with a handkerchief. Luo Muchen looked around with a grim expression. This wasn’t a place Qie Xieling should be but he had insisted on coming here to see for himself.

Qie Xieling walked along the corridor, inspecting the prisoners with a cold gaze. He stopped at one cell, where a once prestigious and noble man with a haughty character was lying on the floor. Qie Xieling smiled coldly recalling how this bastard slashed him with a knife laced with poison almost killing his little cub. Qie Xieling kicked the iron bars and said, "Wake up, Master Zi. It’s time to pay for your sins," while someone removed the cloth gagging him to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide.

The man groaned and lifted his head. He saw Qie Xieling and spat on the ground. "You bitch. Just because you are clad in expensive clothes you think that you are something special?... You are just a slut clad in the emperor’s clothes," he said with a contemptuous smile and hate-filled eyes.

Luo Muchen unsheathed his sword with a murderous aura grabbing hold of him. Just when he was about to thrust his sword which Master Zi didn’t dodge a warm hand rested on his hand and he withdrew.

Master Zi secretly gritted his teeth. A quick death was the escape he desired. He would rather end it now than suffer but Qie Xieling stopped even after he provoked him.

"Kill me, you bastard! You are just a coward just like your father. You are weak," he yelled his mouth foaming with saliva while gripping the iron bars as though trying to break them but it didn’t even move an inch. Qie Xieling smiled coldly and said, "Don’t be too eager. We still have a lot to talk about." He ordered someone to put back the cloth that was gagging Master Zi. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He turned to Elder Song and said, "Bring him out. And hose him down with the rest of the masters. Then bring them to the main hall."

Elder Song obeyed and began to pass down orders. The men dragged the masters out of their cells. Qie Xieling then turned to Luo Muchen and said, "Husband, let’s go. I have had enough of this place."

Luo Muchen nodded and took Qie Xieling’s hand. They walked out of the dungeon, leaving behind a myriad of screams and curses due to the pain.

Jolie was sitting outside with more than half of the rice cakes gone. When she saw Qie Xieling’s ugly expression she said, "It was bad, wasn’t it? I am surprised you didn’t throw up your entire breakfast. Oh, never mind. Spoke too soon."

While Jolie was talking Qie Xieling was already bent down by the bushes throwing up all his breakfast. He kept a straight face when he was inside but when he got outside he couldn’t restrain himself.

Luo Muchen pulled his hair back for him and rubbed his back with a distressed expression.

Qie Xieling rinsed his mouth and straightened his back. "Baby, I think I am dying. I-," he said to Luo Muchen but before he could continue selling misery he bent over again and started throwing up again.

Luo Muchen beckoned over Physician Jong who gave him something for Qie Xieling to drink. After a while, the discomfort in his stomach dispersed. Qie Xieling felt powerless like he had just fought in the arena, his eyes red and his face ashen.

Luo Muchen gave him the elixir and while Qie Xieling drank it he gently pushed away the hair sticking on his sweat covered forehead.

"Do you want me to carry you?" he asked and Qie Xieling nodded his head like a rattle. He was much better but who would refuse for a handsome prince to carry them?

Luo Muchen bent down to pick him up and carry him in a princess carry but Qie Xieling refused. He wanted a piggyback ride and a piggyback ride was what he got. He hopped on Luo Muchen’s back and lay his head on Luo Muchen’s shoulder.

"Let’s go," he said while pointing to the direction of the courtyard while squeezing his legs as though urging a horse.

Luo Muchen smiled slightly knowing that if Qie Xieling was in the mood to joke around then he was much better.

The two of them went down the mountain while chatting happily forcing dog food down the elders’ throats till they were almost choking on it.

"I miss my wife," said Elder Wu and Elder Xuan tsked.

"Even if you see her you will only be scolded. She won’t be as affectionate as his Majesty."

***

After resting a little, Qie Xieling was finally ready to deliver judgment and punish the wrongdoers.

He held Luo Muchen’s hand as they walked to the open area in front of the main hall, where the elders were gathered to witness the trial. The elders bowed their heads in respect.

Qie Xieling ascended the stairs to the throne, where he sat down with a majestic aura. Luo Muchen stood beside him watching him to make sure he was okay. His duty as a doting husband was of uttermost priority.

The mercenaries brought in the masters and their goons from the underground dungeon. They were chained and shackled, their faces bruised and bloody but they were more presentable than before.