Chapter 39 – I don’t know what to say today, so let’s perform a good breakup for everyone.
He Zhanzhou met Xiao Shiqing’s gaze without flinching. “Your Majesty, are you going with Prime Minister Xiao?”
Zhao Qi glanced at He Zhanzhou, then at Xiao Shiqing, caught in a familiar dilemma. He thought he had made it clear enough to He Zhanzhou, but apparently, He Zhanzhou didn’t think so. It would be better to resolve this quickly; otherwise, it could lead to endless trouble.
“Prime Minister, indeed, Longzhou and I have private matters to discuss,” Zhao Qi said. “Would you mind returning first?”
“In that case—” Xiao Shiqing sat back down. “Go ahead.”
He Zhanzhou: “…”
Zhao Qi: “?? Although I call you ‘brother,’ you really don’t treat yourself as an outsider!”
Xiao Shiqing picked up his teacup leisurely. “Your Majesty has private matters that I shouldn’t know about.”
“If Prime Minister wants to hear, I’ll just say it straight,” He Zhanzhou said. “His Majesty and I have already…”
Zhao Qi rushed forward and covered He Zhanzhou’s mouth. “We already have a horse named ‘Perhaps.’ I’ll introduce it to the Prime Minister when there’s a chance.”
He Zhanzhou chuckled softly, his lips brushing against Zhao Qi’s palm. Zhao Qi gave him a meaningful look, silently warning him to shut up.
Is this person out of his mind? Can he really tell Xiao Shiqing about such things? If he wants others to know, he might as well write an 800-character essay detailing that night and post it all over the capital.
Xiao Shiqing narrowed his eyes and placed the teacup down heavily. “Finished?”
Zhao Qi nodded like a chick pecking at rice. “Finished, finished.”
Xiao Shiqing stood up. “Let’s go then.”
“Alright.” Zhao Qi let go of He Zhanzhou’s hand and gestured a warning throat-cutting gesture at him.
He Zhanzhou was quite displeased, muttering softly, “Your Majesty listens to Prime Minister too much.”
Zhao Qi rolled his eyes. Of course, I have to listen. What’s the consequence of opposing Xiao Shiqing? The original work made it very clear.
Following Xiao Shiqing to the door, Zhao Qi paused and turned back. “The injury on your shoulder…”
He Zhanzhou smiled. “It’s nothing, just a minor wound.”
“I have medicine in my quarters. I’ll have someone send it to you later.”
On the way back to his palace, Xiao Shiqing remained silent, while Zhao Qi was still digesting the fact that he had been slept with by his good brother and didn’t feel like talking much either.
Upon arriving at Yonghua Palace, Zhao Qi said, “Thank you, brother, for escorting me back.”
Xiao Shiqing lowered his gaze, observing, “You’ve spoken less today compared to usual.”
Curious, Zhao Qi asked, “Do I usually talk a lot?”
Xiao Shiqing paused, then continued, “What’s really going on between you and He Changzhou?”
At the mention of this, Zhao Qi grew uneasy, “There’s nothing going on.”
Xiao Shiqing’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice soft but firm, “Zhao Qi, don’t lie to me. Otherwise, I will… be very angry.”
Zhao Qi hesitated briefly, then denied firmly, “I haven’t.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded lightly, “Very well, go then.”
Late into the night, Zhao Qi lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He couldn’t shake He Changzhou from his mind. Unable to sleep, he stared at the characters he had written: Rong, Li, He, Xiao. The circles above “Rong” and the crosses above “He” seemed ironic the more he looked at them.
He tried to visualize He Changzhou’s face in his memories, causing goosebumps to rise all over his body.
Unexpectedly, He Changzhou appeared quite sunny and innocent, yet he had uttered such predatory words in bed! Was Zhao Qi blind to have dismissed him so readily?
However, He Changzhou’s words had triggered something in Zhao Qi. If it was just drunkenness, he wouldn’t have reacted so strangely—feverish, short of breath, craving for someone else’s touch… It felt almost like the effects of Longing Love Potion he had once encountered with Rong Tang.
Could it be that he, too, had been affected by an aphrodisiac back then?
The more Zhao Qi thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. But thinking alone wouldn’t suffice; he needed evidence.
Early the next day, Zhao Qi instructed Jiang Dehai to prepare several jars of wine. He intended to drink heavily that night.
Jiang Dehai was surprised, “Your Majesty said drinking affects your duties, and you swore off alcohol.”
“I don’t want to drink; I want to conduct an experiment.”
“An experiment?”
Zhao Qi nodded, “I want to see what I’ll do when I’m drunk.” He couldn’t accept the idea of becoming aroused while intoxicated. Just in case, he instructed, “Tonight, guard Yonghua Palace. Don’t let anyone in, no matter who they are.”
Jiang Dehai hesitated, “What if the Prime Minister insists on seeing Your Majesty?”
“I’ll drink later tonight. The Prime Minister shouldn’t be visiting me in the middle of the night.”
When Zhao Qi went to pay respects to Empress Dowager Wen, he unsurprisingly met Princess Jiayan. There was no affection between him and this half-sister, who had grown up in the distant Xuchun Garden on the outskirts of the capital. They had met only a handful of times. Today, Empress Dowager Wen had summoned Jiayan to Cian Palace regarding the matter of the Crown Prince of Western Xia.
“Let’s get straight to the point,” Empress Dowager Wen said, “Jiayan, did you visit the Imperial Garden during the Longevity Festival banquet?”
Jiayan twisted her handkerchief nervously, “I… I…”
Impatiently, Empress Dowager Wen interrupted, “What’s there to hesitate about? Just tell the truth.”
Since Empress Dowager Wen had asked, Jiayan knew her actions had been discovered. There was no point in denying it. She lowered her head and admitted, “Yes.”
Zhao Qi asked, “Was the note received by Prince Zhaonan also written by you?”
Jiayan blushed slightly and whispered, “Yes.”
Empress Dowager Wen furrowed her brow, “As an unmarried princess, meeting a young man privately tarnishes the family’s reputation. Where did you learn your manners?”
Jiayan quickly knelt down, “I know my mistake, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
Seeing Jiayan’s panicked state, Zhao Qi couldn’t help but speak up for her, “Prince Zhaonan didn’t know it was Jiayan who invited him. It doesn’t tarnish our reputation. Besides, wanting to meet your future husband-to-be is natural. Mother should understand.”
At the mention of “future husband,” Jiayan blushed even deeper.
Zhao Qi teased, “From the looks of it, Sister seems quite fond of Prince Zhaonan. How about it, is he your ideal type?”
Jiayan blushed and replied reluctantly, “Your Majesty…”
Zhao Qi wasn’t surprised by Jiayan’s reaction. Although Li Chisu was flirtatious, he did have the charm to attract women. Jiayan was young and inexperienced with men, naive even. It wasn’t surprising she was captivated by Li Chisu’s allure.
Empress Dowager Wen chuckled coldly, “Unfortunately, even if you like him, he may not return your feelings. I have mentioned marriage to him several times, but he always finds excuses to evade. It seems you’re just wishful thinking.”
Empress Dowager Wen was kind to Zhao Qi but harsh to other illegitimate children. It was normal; it was difficult for even two biological siblings to get along, let alone biological and non-biological children.
Jiayan bit her lip, her face alternating between red and white, her eyes tinged with red.
“If he’s not interested, just forget it,” Zhao Qi comforted her, “Li Chisu isn’t such a good man that anyone would want to marry him. Sister, don’t worry, three-legged frogs are hard to find, and men with two legs are plentiful. Later, Your Majesty will choose a better one for you.”
Jiayan forced a smile and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After discussing these matters, Zhao Qi got down to business, “On that day in the Imperial Garden, did you see anyone?”
Jiayan recounted everything she had seen and heard at the time to Zhao Qi.
During the palace banquet, Jiayan was supposed to dine with the wives and concubines of the nobles in the side hall. She bribed a eunuch to deliver a message to Li Chisu and disguised herself as a palace maid to go to the Imperial Garden.
“I hid in the shadows and planned to leave after a quick glance at the prince. Unexpectedly, I ran into Second Brother and a young man in white…”
Zhao Qi asked, “Was that young man in white exceptionally handsome, like a celestial descended to earth?”
Jiayan wondered, “How did Your Majesty know?”
Empress Dowager Wen said lightly, “Because that man is your brother’s lover.”
Zhao Qi equivocated, “His former lover—so Prince Huai recognized you?”
“No, I kept my head down the whole time, and Second Brother seemed lost in thought. He thought I was just an ordinary palace maid and ordered me to fetch two cups of sober tea.”
“Did you take it?”
Jiayan shook her head, “I was very afraid at that time, afraid that Second Brother would recognize me. I just replied ‘yes’ and left immediately, without going back.”
Zhao Qi continued, “What about the Crown Prince of Xixia? Have you seen him?”
Jiayan replied, “I have not.”
Zhao Qi pondered for a moment, “I see. Jiayan, since you rarely return to the palace, stay a few more days before returning to Xuchun Garden.”
Jiayan politely declined, “Thank you, Your Majesty, but Jiayan is accustomed to living in other palaces. I feel uncomfortable in the palace.”
Zhao Qi didn’t want to force her, “Alright, stay as comfortable as you wish.”
“Wait,” Empress Dowager Wen interjected, “Jiayan disguised herself as a palace maid and met privately with a man outside, violating the palace rules. I have to impose a punishment.”
Jiayan admitted honestly, “I know my mistake and will accept whatever punishment the Empress Dowager decides.”
“Then you shall be confined to your chambers for a month and copy the ‘Virtues of Women’ a hundred times as a minor punishment.”
Jiayan softly responded, “Yes.”
Zhao Qi felt uneasy about this and handed tea to Empress Dowager Wen, saying, “Mother, Jiayan hasn’t committed a serious offense, and she has provided me with valuable information. Consider this as making amends. Perhaps the punishment…”
Empress Dowager Wen cut him off, “The Emperor should focus on state affairs. There is no need for you to worry about matters in the harem.”
Zhao Qi was dissatisfied, “But the harem is mine, and Jiayan is my sister. Don’t I have the right to decide on such a trivial matter?”
Empress Dowager Wen looked at him in surprise, “Qier…”
“In my opinion, she can skip copying the ‘Virtues of Women,’ and her confinement can be reduced to five days. Let’s settle it this way.”
Although Empress Dowager Wen’s expression was displeased, she said nothing more.
After breakfast, Jiayan and Zhao Qi walked together. Yunxiu noticed Empress Dowager Wen’s furrowed brow and asked, “What is troubling the Empress Dowager?”
Empress Dowager Wen sighed, “Qier has always been obedient to me. This is the first time he has defied my wishes so strongly.”
Yunxiu smiled, “This shows that our Emperor is finally acting like an Emperor. Wasn’t this what you hoped for?”
“Indeed, but I still feel uneasy.”
Yunxiu advised, “Empress Dowager, please rest assured. However firm the Emperor may appear, his respect and filial piety towards you will not diminish.”
Empress Dowager Wen chuckled softly, “I am not worried about that. Let’s take it step by step.”
Zhao Qi accompanied Jiayan for part of her journey. Jiayan was feeling down and somewhat fearful of him, walking beside him in silence. Zhao Qi, inexperienced in comforting girls, awkwardly said, “Don’t take what Mother said to heart.”
Jiayan softly replied, “Jiayan dares not.”
Zhao Qi tried to keep the conversation going, “What do you usually do in Xuchun Garden?”
“I read and do embroidery. Occasionally, I visit the consorts,” Jiayan said as they walked, suddenly stopping in her tracks and staring ahead blankly.
Following her gaze, Zhao Qi saw—
Here he comes, Li Chisu with his charming demeanor!
Li Chisu also spotted them and approached slowly.
“Your Majesty,” Li Chisu bowed to Zhao Qi and looked at Jiayan, “Who is this…”
Jiayan snapped out of her daze, her long lashes trembling slightly. She curtsied, “Princess Jiayan greets Your Highness.”
“So you are Princess Jiayan,” Li Chisu smiled gently, “I am honored to meet you.”
Zhao Qi frowned slightly and discreetly positioned himself in front of Jiayan.
It was strange. Before meeting Jiayan, Zhao Qi had no objections to her and Li Chisu’s engagement. But now, seeing her obvious fondness for Li Chisu, he couldn’t help but worry for this naive girl.
Wake up, girl. You can’t handle this level of scoundrel!
Li Chisu noticed Zhao Qi’s reaction and his eyes twinkled even more warmly, “From now on, my eyes can only see Your Majesty.”
T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~
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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
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What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love
How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep