Chapter 6 – After being embraced by Rong Tang, I was embraced by the Prime Minister.
Hearing the commotion, Rong Tang relaxed his grip slightly, and Zhao Qi seized the opportunity to free his mouth. “No, no, no, Prime Minister, you arrived just in time! Please help me, I’m going to be crushed…”
Xiao Shiqing walked to the side of the table, lifted the hem of his official robe, and took a seat with an air of ease. He poured himself a cup of tea and said slowly, “I don’t understand what Your Majesty means. At the moment, Your Majesty is in bed with a beautiful person, what is it that you need me to rescue?”
Zhao Qi was on the verge of tears, “Are you blind? Can’t you see Rong Tang is pinning me down and not letting me move? This isn’t exactly a romantic entanglement!”
Xiao Shiqing glanced at Zhao Qi and then at Rong Tang, watching the scene unfold with an amused expression. “I didn’t see.”
Rong Tang met Xiao Shiqing’s gaze, furrowed his brow, and continued to restrain Zhao Qi.
Zhao Qi gave up seeking help from Xiao Shiqing and shouted, “Someone come!”
The guards stationed outside rushed in, holding onto the hilts of their swords. “Your Majesty?”
“Quickly, get Young Master Rong off me!”
“Yes!” The guards moved to step forward, but Xiao Shiqing cast a barely perceptible glance at them. Suddenly, the guards halted, standing obediently behind Xiao Shiqing, not daring to make a move.
Zhao Qi: “…” As an emperor, he felt utterly humiliated. While everyone in the palace appeared to respect and obey him, it was clear that in their hearts, the Prime Minister’s words were the real decree.
Xiao Shiqing took a sip of tea and said, “As far as I know, Young Master Rong is still recovering from an illness and has been bedridden for a long time. This is precisely a good time for Your Majesty to show your affection for the beauty. I ask that Your Majesty allow me to stay here and observe, so I can learn from Your Majesty’s example.”
Zhao Qi’s face turned red with frustration, “Xiao Shiqing, stop making jokes…”
Xiao Shiqing set down his cup, his tone suddenly turning cold. “If you can’t even push away a sickly person, how useless are you? Get off the bed immediately!”
Stimulated by his words, Zhao Qi jolted and used all his strength to push Rong Tang. Exhausted from the prolonged struggle and his illness, Rong Tang was caught off guard and fell to the side, breaking into a fit of coughs that reddened his face.
Panicking, Zhao Qi jumped off the bed but lost his balance, tumbling straight into Xiao Shiqing’s embrace. From one scent of medicinal herbs to another of ink, the scene became quite awkward. He looked up into Xiao Shiqing’s ice-cold eyes and blurted out, “The Prime Minister was reviewing memorials before arriving, right?”
Xiao Shiqing looked back at him, “No.”
“Huh?”
“The lampshades in the Hall of Diligent Administration were removed by Your Majesty. How could I review memorials?”
Zhao Qi: “…”
Xiao Shiqing looked down at Zhao Qi’s hand resting on his shoulder and asked, “Has Your Majesty had enough of hugging?”
Zhao Qi quickly withdrew his hand, “Yes, enough.”
Xiao Shiqing patted his official robe as if something dirty had gotten on it. “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager will soon finalize the list of candidates for the empress with me. Before that, please…” He glanced at Rong Tang, who was disheveled. “Exercise some restraint.”
“I didn’t, I didn’t! It was Rong Tang who…” Zhao Qi hesitated, swallowing the rest of his words. In front of the guards, he simply couldn’t bring himself to admit to Xiao Shiqing that he had been pretending to tease and ended up being restrained. It was too embarrassing, even though his dignity had long been lost.
Rong Tang managed to stop coughing, his eyes calm and emotionless, as if the events unfolding had nothing to do with him, a stark contrast to his earlier aggressive demeanor. Zhao Qi looked at him, feeling extremely troubled and unsure how to handle the situation.
“Forget it,” Zhao Qi said, “you should rest and take your medicine. I’ll leave now.”
Rong Tang said nothing, and Xiao Shiqing added, “Your Majesty, take care.”
“Are you not leaving, Prime Minister?”
Xiao Shiqing replied, “Does Your Majesty think I came to the study to rescue you?”
Zhao Qi was a bit confused, “If not, then why?”
Rong Tang said淡淡地, “The Prime Minister means he came to see me.”
Zhao Qi glanced at Xiao Shiqing and then at Rong Tang, alarm bells ringing in his mind. In the original novel “The Boundless Da Jing,” Xiao Shiqing and Rong Tang had several private conversations, all revolving around one person—Prince Zhao Tong.
Rong Tang was fully devoted to Zhao Tong. He knew that Xiao Shiqing was the greatest obstacle to Zhao Tong’s ascension to the throne and had repeatedly hinted for him to switch sides, abandon the ineffective emperor, and support Zhao Tong. Xiao Shiqing had feigned cooperation due to his gratitude to the Empress Dowager, until her death.
Now, with Xiao Shiqing taking the initiative to approach Rong Tang, could it be that he is contemplating rebellion? Has he really harbored a grudge against Zhao Qi for removing the lampshades and decided to betray them?
… It can’t be.
Xiao Shiqing saw Zhao Qi standing still and asked, “Your Majesty, aren’t you leaving?”
Zhao Qi hesitated for a moment and said, “I’ll leave right away.”
As soon as Zhao Qi walked out of the Drunken Book Studio, he stopped and looked back.
Jiang Dehai said, “Your Majesty?”
Zhao Qi said, “No, I need to go back and check. You don’t need to follow; just wait for me here.” He couldn’t let Xiao Shiqing be taken away by Zhao Tong so quickly. Empress Dowager Wen was right; Da Jing couldn’t do without Xiao Shiqing, and if he wanted to sit comfortably on the throne, he needed Xiao Shiqing.
Zhao Qi circled back to the Drunken Book Studio through the back door. There happened to be a window left open. He hid behind it and could see Rong Tang and Xiao Shiqing sitting face to face.
Xiao Shiqing had a faint smile on his lips as he said, “Should I say that Zhao Qi is deeply devoted to you, or should I say he’s as dumb as a pig? Almost dying on your bed last time, and today almost repeating the same mistake—this is quite an eye-opener.”
Rong Tang’s face was pale, but his lips were more vividly red than usual. “If possible, Rong Tang would like to let the Prime Minister taste the Emperor’s ‘deep devotion’.”
Xiao Shiqing casually replied, “As for the fact that you tried to poison Zhao Qi, Zhao Qi didn’t inform me or the Empress Dowager. If he had, do you think you’d still be alive to speak with me now?”
Rong Tang showed little reaction. “Then how did the Prime Minister find out?”
Xiao Shiqing chuckled, “When I want to know something, I naturally find out.”
Rong Tang nodded, “Indeed. Everyone in the palace knows that the chair you sit on during court meetings is the real Dragon Throne of Da Jing.”
Xiao Shiqing’s smile faded slightly, and he tapped the table with his fingers, saying nonchalantly, “Are you afraid I’m too comfortable? Unfortunately, this won’t reach the Empress Dowager’s ears. Even if it did, I wouldn’t care.”
Rong Tang’s eyes darkened. “Xiao Shiqing, you are well-read. You know very well that as long as Zhao Qi sits on the throne, Da Jing will never have peace.”
Zhao Qi’s heart sank. It was just as he had thought—Rong Tang wanted to undermine him for Zhao Tong.
Xiao Shiqing said lazily, “Who sits on the throne is none of my concern as long as he doesn’t interfere with my matters. Why should I oppose him?”
“But Zhao Qi does not involve himself in state affairs. What about the Empress Dowager? The Empress Dowager indulges Zhao Qi excessively and turns a blind eye to his wrongdoing. Even if Zhao Qi wanted to set off a fire and play with the feudal lords, the Empress Dowager would light the match for him.”
“Enough.” Xiao Shiqing said coldly, “Your hatred for Zhao Qi is your own issue and has nothing to do with me.”
Rong Tang sighed lightly, “Cough… It seems the Prince of Huai misjudged the Prime Minister.”
Xiao Shiqing raised an eyebrow, “By the way, before the Prince of Huai headed north, he specifically asked me to look after you in the palace. It’s no wonder you are so devoted to him. If Zhao Qi had even a tenth of his charisma, I’m afraid you would have fallen for him long ago.”
Rong Tang’s voice was heavy, “Haha, if that day truly comes, I hope the Prime Minister will grant me a cup of poison to make my death more thorough.”
Xiao Shiqing said ambiguously, “For the Prince of Huai’s sake, I won’t pursue your intention to commit regicide this time. Consider it a one-time exception.”
“Do you care about Zhao Qi’s life or death?”
“If he dies, I will have quite a bit of trouble. Moreover…” Xiao Shiqing squinted his eyes, “Since he almost got poisoned last time, he seems to have changed from the past.”
“And so?” Rong Tang was indifferent, “Zhao Qi is always Zhao Qi.”
Zhao Qi, listening from his hiding spot, felt heavy-hearted. On his way back to his sleeping quarters, he encountered the beauties of the inner palace running in circles. These beauties, kept in seclusion, rarely left the palace. Suddenly running like this, they were all disheveled and breathless. Zhao Qi felt sorry for them and had them run five more laps.
In the evening, Zhao Qi went to Ci’an Palace to have dinner with Empress Dowager Wen. Empress Dowager Wen said, “Qi’er, the Prime Minister gave me a list today, filled with talented and beautiful noble girls. They all seem quite good.”
Zhao Qi replied, “Oh.”
“I was thinking of finding an excuse to invite these girls into the palace in a few days, so you can take a look and choose one you like.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“…” Empress Dowager Wen put down her chopsticks and asked, “Qi’er, what’s wrong? Did the Prime Minister anger you again?”
Zhao Qi asked seriously, “Mother, do you really trust Xiao Shiqing with all your heart?”
Empress Dowager Wen’s expression changed slightly, and she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Why are you asking this suddenly?”
“I… I just don’t like him,” Zhao Qi offered a reason that fit the dog emperor persona. “It’s because you’re too protective of him; he doesn’t see me as the Emperor at all.”
Empress Dowager Wen said, “Shiqing has grown up under my watch, and I know him well.”
“Does the Empress Dowager think he’s a good person?”
“No, he isn’t,” Empress Dowager Wen said meaningfully. “Precisely because he isn’t, I have to use him. Besides, who else can I use besides him?”
Zhao Qi was left speechless.
Empress Dowager Wen continued, “The Xiao family is a venerable clan in the capital, with a history even longer than that of the Da Jing. Duke Xiao commands two hundred thousand troops, and his wife is a close friend of mine. If I don’t make use of their son, what will they think? Qi’er, you must understand, our survival to this day is not thanks to the late emperor’s will, but rather—thanks to the Xiao family.”
“Mother…”
“Now that there’s no one else around, let me speak frankly. As long as the Xiao family remains on our side, your throne will be secure. Otherwise…” Empress Dowager Wen smiled bitterly, “Qi’er, from the moment you ascended to the throne, the choice has always been in the hands of the Xiao family.”
The Empress Dowager’s candid words deepened Zhao Qi’s worries. Fortunately, in the original story, Xiao Shiqing only betrayed after the Empress Dowager’s death, so she never saw her son’s tragic end.
“I understand,” Zhao Qi said. “Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t oppose the Prime Minister any longer.”
Empress Dowager Wen looked at Zhao Qi for a long while, her expression softening somewhat. “I only hope that, after I’m gone, someone will be there to protect you.”
Leaving the Ci’an Palace, Zhao Qi made up his mind not to let Prince Huai, Zhao Tong, succeed in poaching. He thought for a moment and instructed, “Lao Jiang, have the Imperial Kitchen prepare some good pastries.”
Jiang Dehai asked, “Your Majesty, you just finished dinner. Are you hungry again?”
“No, I’m going to feed the Prime Minister.”
Jiang Dehai was puzzled. “??? ”
“Also, bring the lampshade I took from the Qinzhen Hall last time.”
Inside the Qinzhen Hall, Xiao Shiqing was discussing official transfers with the Minister of Personnel when a eunuch announced outside, “The Emperor has arrived—”
The Minister of Personnel was taken aback. “Why is the Emperor here at the Qinzhen Hall?”
Xiao Shiqing casually threw the memorial aside and said, “Receive the Emperor.”
Zhao Qi entered the hall and said, “Prime Minister, I’m here to return the lamp…” Seeing another official standing beside Xiao Shiqing, Zhao Qi quickly changed his words, “I’m here to see if you’ve been working well.”
Xiao Shiqing smiled lightly and, along with the Minister of Personnel, saluted Zhao Qi.
“No need for formalities,” Zhao Qi said with a straight face. “Am I interrupting?”
“No, the Minister is about to leave.”
The Minister of Personnel hurriedly said, “I take my leave, Your Majesty.”
After the Minister left, Xiao Shiqing said, “Your Majesty, please feel free to look around.”
“Huh?” Zhao Qi was puzzled. “Look at what?”
“Didn’t you come to see if I’ve been working well?”
Zhao Qi was embarrassed. “I was just… saying that casually.”
“Oh?” Xiao Shiqing observed Zhao Qi, waiting for him to continue.
Under Xiao Shiqing’s scrutinizing gaze, Zhao Qi awkwardly admitted, “I came to return the lampshade.”
Xiao Shiqing glanced at the lampshade in Jiang Dehai’s hands. “Just put it down.”
“And,” Zhao Qi lowered his eyes, “I have some pastries here. If you’re hungry, you can have some.” Eat my pastries and be a good Prime Minister from now on. Don’t think about rebellion, okay?
Xiao Shiqing looked at him and slowly smiled. “The Emperor is becoming more and more different each day. One would think someone else was inside the Emperor.”
Zhao Qi’s hand hidden in his sleeve tightened slightly. “It’s because Mother scolded me that I…”
Xiao Shiqing understood. “So the Emperor was coerced.”
Zhao Qi scratched his head. “Mother said that she and your mother were good friends, so I should consider you as a brother.”
Xiao Shiqing, intrigued, asked, “And does the Emperor wish to?”
Zhao Qi said awkwardly, “For Mother’s sake, I’m willing to try.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded. “Speaking of which, I am five years older than the Emperor. If we were to address each other as brothers, what should the Emperor call me?”
Zhao Qi thought for a moment and tentatively said, “Elder… Brother?”
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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