Chapter 2 – I smell the scent of drama
Zhao Qi followed Jiang Dehai’s gaze and finally felt relieved.
It seemed that the original owner’s body had no issues; the previous symptoms might have been due to psychological reasons. While Zhao Qi remained calm, Jiang Dehai was already sobbing uncontrollably, making Zhao Qi worry that he might faint any moment.
“Heaven blesses our Great Jing, Your Majesty!” Jiang Dehai stammered, “The dragon vein of the emperor has risen. From now on, Great Jing will rise too!”
Zhao Qi was momentarily speechless and awkwardly said, “There’s no need to say it like that…”
“To see the emperor rise in my lifetime, I have no regrets, Your Majesty! If the Empress Dowager learns of this…” Jiang Dehai suddenly came to his senses and called to the young eunuch behind him, “Quick, go to Cian Palace and report the good news to the Empress Dowager! Your Majesty, please maintain the current state so the Empress Dowager can witness the hope of Great Jing with her own eyes!”
Zhao Qi: “…” Just try to keep it up for me?
Not long after, a noble and elegant lady arrived at Zhao Qi’s palace. Zhao Qi barely had time to see what his mother looked like before Empress Dowager Wen pulled him into her arms.
“Qi’er, my dear Qi’er!” Tears streamed down Empress Dowager Wen’s face, falling onto Zhao Qi, “You’ve finally grown up!”
The faint fragrance on Empress Dowager Wen made Zhao Qi feel uncomfortable. He patted her hand and rolled his eyes, saying, “Mother, mother, you’re strangling me…”
Empress Dowager Wen quickly released her son and wiped her tears with a handkerchief, “I was too emotional. You must know that I have waited for this day for eighteen years!”
Zhao Qi rubbed his neck and muttered softly, “I’m only eighteen this year. Could it be that mother has been thinking about this since I was born?”
Empress Dowager Wen laughed through her tears and gently said, “Come, let mother take a look.”
Zhao Qi stiffened and said in panic, “Look at what?”
Empress Dowager Wen replied, “What do you think?”
Zhao Qi jumped up, “Mother, stop joking!”
“Joking? This is a serious matter. How can I be at ease without seeing it with my own eyes? Come over here.”
Zhao Qi shook his head vehemently, “No—I refuse!” Can this kind of thing be casually looked at? He feared developing a psychological shadow from it.
Empress Dowager Wen looked puzzled and turned to Jiang Dehai, “Did you see clearly? Has the emperor really risen?”
Jiang Dehai nodded repeatedly, “I saw it very clearly. The emperor’s dragon vein was upright and vigorous, like the peak of Mount Tai!”
Zhao Qi was mortified, “Stop talking already!”
Jiang Dehai whispered to Empress Dowager Wen, “Empress Dowager, could the emperor be feeling shy?”
“Shy?” Empress Dowager Wen said, “Impossible. Qi’er is my son. I know him well. He doesn’t even know how to write the word ‘shy’.”
Zhao Qi: “…” Can’t you lower your voices when whispering?
After a moment of contemplation, Empress Dowager Wen said, “This is no small matter. It’s best to have the imperial physicians take a look. Issue my decree: all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Academy of Medicine must come to Yonghua Palace immediately without delay.”
Jiang Dehai replied, “Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhao Qi reached out, trying to stop her, “Wait, mother, I…”
Empress Dowager Wen grabbed his hand and interrupted, “If your illness is really cured, I will grant amnesty to the world and celebrate nationwide!”
As dawn broke, Zhao Qi lay on his bed, filled with despair.
Around ten imperial physicians surrounded him, their expressions serious as they whispered among themselves. Zhao Qi, dressed in his clothes and pants, accepted their examination as his last act of defiance. Fortunately, these physicians only checked his pulse and examined his face. After some analysis, they concluded, “Congratulations, Empress Dowager! The emperor’s condition ensures the continuation of the royal lineage. Great Jing’s reign will last for millennia, generation after generation!”
Empress Dowager Wen was overjoyed, “Qi’er, did you hear that? Our Great Jing will have heirs for generations to come!”
Zhao Qi covered his face with his hand, “I heard, I heard.”
Empress Dowager Wen, with tears in her eyes, said, “It must be the spirit of the late emperor protecting us. Qi’er, mother is looking forward to holding a grandson!”
One imperial physician said, “Empress Dowager, the emperor has just recovered. In my opinion, he needs to be cautious and take good care of himself. The emperor is young and has a long future ahead; there is no need to rush.”
Empress Dowager Wen calmed down and thought for a moment, “I understand.” She turned to Zhao Qi and said, “Qi’er, listen to the physicians and rest well. I know you’ve been holding back for a long time, but those people in the harem…”
In the past, Empress Dowager Wen turned a blind eye to the emperor’s behavior, knowing he kept many people in the harem. But now things were different. Since the emperor was healthy, the priority was to choose an empress and consorts from reputable families to bear legitimate heirs. The emperor’s dragon vein, once raised, should not be wasted on unworthy individuals.
“Qi’er, bear with it for now. Mother will choose a virtuous, beautiful, and understanding empress for you!”
Zhao Qi yawned, “Thank you, mother.”
Empress Dowager Wen chatted with Zhao Qi for a while longer before it was time for the morning court session. Empress Dowager Wen said, “It’s time for court. Rest well, Qi’er. I’ll visit you later.”
From her tone, Zhao Qi felt like a child. He hesitated, then said, “Have a good session, mother.” He had no idea how to govern and thought it best not to involve himself in state affairs for now.
Zhao Qi slept until late morning, then was attended by Jiang Dehai as he dressed and washed. Zhao Qi looked at Jiang Dehai and said, “Why do you keep staring at my pants? Pervert!”
Jiang Dehai chuckled, “The imperial physicians told me to note the time of vigor of the emperor’s dragon.”
“Stop!” Zhao Qi snapped, “Never mention those words in front of me again, or I’ll cut your tongue out.”
Jiang Dehai shivered, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Being a tyrant has its perks, at least you can easily scare people.
“Also, I don’t need palace maids to attend to me anymore. Replace them with eunuchs.” Before Zhao Qi entered this book, he had never even held a girl’s hand, let alone been in a relationship. He wasn’t used to close contact with women.
Jiang Dehai realized, “Understood. I’ll take care of it. By the way, news from the Drunken Book Pavilion: Lord Rong fell into a coma last night. The imperial physicians can’t identify the poison and are trying different antidotes. If they can’t find a cure within two days, I’m afraid…”
Zhao Qi’s eyelid twitched, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Jiang Dehai looked innocent, “You didn’t ask, Your Majesty. Besides, the imperial physicians said Lord Rong refused to name the poison before falling unconscious. He’s seeking death, Your Majesty.”
In the book The Boundless Great Jing, Rong Tang is an important supporting character. The poisoning incident involving him and the dog emperor was detailed, and Zhao Qi had a vague memory of the poison’s name.
“Tell the physicians the poison’s name has ‘San’ in it. Something-something San.”
Jiang Dehai wiped his sweat, “Your Majesty, that’s hardly helpful.”
“Nonsense, it’s a crucial clue! Now hurry and inform the physicians.”
Zhao Qi’s hint did indeed shorten the trial-and-error process. The next day, the imperial physicians found the antidote. Rong Tang narrowly escaped death but was left weakened. The physicians said he would always be frail and needed careful nursing to live longer.
Zhao Qi silently lit a candle for Rong Tang in his heart. In the original story, Rong Tang became a frail beauty, bedridden from the slightest chill due to the poisoning.
Rong Tang was a year younger than the original owner, only seventeen. If Zhao Qi had transmigrated earlier, he might have been able to change Rong Tang’s fate.
Zhao Qi sighed. “Forget it, just have the physicians take good care of him.”
“Yes.” Jiang Dehai replied, then added, “Your Majesty, there’s another matter. Jiang Gongzi personally prepared some snacks and invites you to Mingcui Palace to taste them.”
Zhao Qi asked, “Jiang Gongzi…who?”
Jiang Dehai reminded him, “Jiang Bao’er, Jiang Gongzi.”
Zhao Qi remembered. Jiang Bao’er, one of the emperor’s male consorts and a minor character doomed to fail spectacularly. He was always causing trouble for Rong Tang, the emperor’s favorite. After the emperor was dethroned, Rong Tang took revenge, disfiguring Jiang Bao’er and using all the aphrodisiacs seized from the emperor on him. Ultimately, Jiang Bao’er died a gruesome death, bleeding from all orifices—a truly miserable fate.
“Isn’t the food from the imperial kitchen good enough?” Zhao Qi said. “Why should I go eat his? I’m not going.”
After lazing around in the palace for a few days, Zhao Qi finally adjusted to his role as the emperor. Taking advantage of the good weather, he had Jiang Dehai lead him on a stroll in the imperial garden. The garden featured a large pond filled with ornamental koi fish. As Zhao Qi basked in the sunlight and watched the fish scramble for food, he suddenly heard a commotion.
Startled, Zhao Qi asked, “What’s going on? Is it another assassin?!”
Jiang Dehai chuckled. “Your Majesty, not even a fly can get into this palace. How could there be an assassin?”
Zhao Qi, still nervous, said, “You don’t understand. Send someone to check it out right away.”
Soon, a young eunuch came to report, “Your Majesty, it’s Jiang Gongzi and Rong Gongzi arguing ahead.”
“Really? I don’t believe it,” Zhao Qi said. “Rong Tang doesn’t seem like the type to argue with Jiang Bao’er.”
“Your Majesty is wise,” the eunuch replied. “It’s mainly Jiang Gongzi talking. Rong Gongzi hasn’t said much.”
A prime opportunity to witness the downfall of a minor character—too good to pass up.
“I’ll go have a look,” Zhao Qi said. “Guards, follow closely.”
By the pond, Rong Tang sat on a stone bench, his face pale and gaunt, as if the fire in him had been extinguished. Beside him stood a fair-skinned young boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen. This must be Jiang Bao’er.
Jiang Bao’er was chattering incessantly while Rong Tang, visibly irritated, tried to leave. But Jiang Bao’er grabbed his sleeve, causing Rong Tang to yank it back forcefully. Jiang Bao’er stumbled and fell into the water with a splash, crying out, “Your Majesty, save me!”
Zhao Qi, who witnessed everything, thought, “I smell a drama queen.”
Jiang Dehai was alarmed. “Your Majesty, Jiang Gongzi fell into the water!”
“I’m not blind,” Zhao Qi said, looking at Rong Tang, who quickly averted his gaze.
Zhao Qi approached the pond. Jiang Bao’er was floundering in the water, turning from a well-dressed boy into a wet mess. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty, save Bao’er…ah!”
Leaning over, Zhao Qi asked, “Can you swim?”
“Your Majesty, Bao’er…glub…”
“What? I can’t hear you.”
“Glub glub glub…”
Suppressing a laugh, Zhao Qi motioned for the guards to rescue him.
When Jiang Bao’er was pulled ashore, he had already fainted. Zhao Qi suspected he was pretending but didn’t expose him. “Take him back and have the physicians check on him.” Then he turned to Rong Tang, “You…”
Rong Tang covered his mouth with a fist, unable to stop coughing. Zhao Qi waited patiently, but the coughing only worsened, leaving Rong Tang unsteady and on the verge of collapse.
Instinctively, Zhao Qi stepped forward to support him, but Rong Tang recoiled. “Don’t touch me.”
Zhao Qi retorted, “I didn’t want to touch you anyway. I still remember you tried to poison me.”
“Perfect. Old grudges and new grievances,” Rong Tang scoffed. “What are you waiting for, Your Majesty?”
“New grievances? What new grievances?”
Rong Tang gave him a peculiar look. “Your favorite pet fell into the water because of me. That’s a new grievance.”
“Oh, that,” Zhao Qi laughed. “Jiang Bao’er fell in on purpose. Didn’t you notice? You’re not very bright, are you? How did you pass the imperial exam as the top scholar?”
Rong Tang: …
T/N: Yay! A new novel?! If you’re wondering if it’s a good idea to take on 4 novels at the same time; my answer – “Probably not…”
But after reading a few chapters of this, I just HAD to snatch this project up. I haven’t done transmigration with a true-doomed villain start so I want to try this one! ANYWAY, 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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I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!
Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!
If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield
If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’
How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection
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