Day: August 20, 2024

Chapter 12 – I will pick some peaches to nourish the sick beauty.

Chapter 12 – I will pick some peaches to nourish the sick beauty.

 

Facing Zhao Qi’s skeptical expression, Xiao Shiqing responded calmly, “Don’t believe me?”

 

Zhao Qi was about to shake his head when he saw Xiao Shiqing’s expression darken, and immediately changed his tune. “Since the Prime Minister says so, then I can only choose to believe you.”

 

Xiao Shiqing smiled slightly. “Your Majesty seems quite reluctant.”

 

Zhao Qi couldn’t help but speak frankly. “After all, the Prime Minister isn’t as skilled as General He.”

 

“He Changzhou is indeed one of the top experts in Great Jing; he is quite formidable,” Xiao Shiqing said slowly, “but what use is that if he isn’t by Your Majesty’s side?”

 

Zhao Qi’s eyes widened. “He’s not by my side? But I clearly asked him to stick close to me.”

 

“Your Majesty might want to check for yourself.”

 

“Alright,” Zhao Qi shifted slightly in Xiao Shiqing’s embrace and asked tentatively, “then… could the Prime Minister let me go now?”

 

As soon as the words were out, Xiao Shiqing unceremoniously withdrew.

 

Zhao Qi stood up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, cleared his throat, and called out, “Changzhou?”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s brows lifted slightly.

 

“Really not here…” Zhao Qi said, “Old Jiang?”

 

Not even Jiang Dehai was present? Where had everyone gone, leaving him alone here?

 

Zhao Qi looked around, feeling that something was off. After thinking for a while, he said, “This room doesn’t seem to be the one I was sleeping in before.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Zhao Qi was taken aback, his eyes filled with confusion. “Can you explain?”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s gaze shifted slightly. In the past, he would never have had the leisure to explain his actions to Zhao Qi. Now, even as he stared directly into Zhao Qi’s eyes, he still didn’t want to explain.

 

How could he explain? That he had used Zhao Qi as bait to lure out the remnants of the Broken Pulse Gang in the capital?

 

Indeed, his plan was foolproof. He had prepared a decoy similar in age and built to Zhao Qi, and the entire Mu Yang Temple was under his control. The remnants of the Broken Pulse Gang couldn’t escape his watchful eye. But He Changzhou had said something true; he had indeed used the young emperor and the Empress Dowager.

 

Xiao Shiqing hesitated for a moment before speaking in a deep voice. “There is a reason for my actions.”

 

“Oh…” Zhao Qi realized that further questioning might yield no answers and changed the topic. “So where did Changzhou go?”

 

“He is busy.”

 

“Busy with what—”

 

Xiao Shiqing replied coolly, “Does Your Majesty find it impossible to live without asking so many questions about He Changzhou?”

 

Zhao Qi was taken aback and grew angry despite his usually good temper. “Why does the Prime Minister say this? He Changzhou is mine; can’t I ask about him?”

 

“No,” Xiao Shiqing said decisively. “It’s still far from dawn. Your Majesty should continue sleeping.”

 

Zhao Qi puffed up. “I won’t sleep. What can the Prime Minister do about it?”

 

“What can I do?” Xiao Shiqing asked slowly. “Does Your Majesty really want to know?”

 

Meeting Xiao Shiqing’s gaze, Zhao Qi’s courage vanished in an instant. “I suddenly feel a bit sleepy…”

 

Xiao Shiqing nodded in satisfaction. “Go to bed, and don’t fall out again.”

 

In the main hall of Mu Yang Temple, Empress Dowager Wen was discussing Buddhist matters with Master Yuan Tong by candlelight. Speaking of her only son, Empress Dowager Wen expressed mixed feelings. “Since the Emperor’s illness has improved, I’ve finally felt a great weight lift from my heart, but…”

 

Master Yuan Tong asked, “Empress Dowager, if you have any concerns, please share them with me. I will do my utmost to help you.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen glanced at the full moon outside and said, “One of my worries is the Emperor. Though he has recovered, he seems like a completely different person.”

 

Master Yuan Tong asked, “May I inquire if this change in the Emperor is good or bad?”

 

“It’s certainly for the better. In the past, the Emperor was fond of wine and women; now he enjoys eating and sleeping. Previously, he spent all his time researching odd things and kept a number of mysterious beauties in the harem. Now, he hardly visits the harem and spends most of his time in the Yonghua Palace, eating and sleeping…” Empress Dowager Wen lowered her voice. “Master, could it be that the Emperor has fallen under some kind of spell?”

 

Master Yuan Tong smiled gently. “Even if he has, it is a good spell. The Emperor’s change benefits mother and child, the nation and its people. This is a blessing for Great Jing. There is no need for the Empress Dowager to worry about the reasons behind it.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen sighed lightly. “You’re right, Master. I’m just afraid that his change might raise suspicions among certain people.”

 

“It seems that your second concern is these ‘certain people.’”

 

Empress Dowager Wen nodded. “When the late Emperor was gravely ill and the throne had to be chosen early, the Xiao family supported me and the Emperor. On the surface, it seemed they were close to me, but in reality, it was because the Xiao family and I were easier to control. If Zhao Tong were sitting on the dragon throne now, would Xiao Shiqing still have such power, covering the sky with one hand?”

 

Master Yuan Tong replied, “Empress Dowager, the Emperor has long passed the age of ruling on his own. With this change, it seems to be heaven’s will to place the throne in the Emperor’s hands at this moment.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen gave a bitter smile and said, “I also wish for him to become a true emperor. But first, the emperor has always been clueless about court affairs and lacks interest; second, Xiao Shiqing would absolutely not agree to the emperor taking over the administration himself.”

 

Master Yuantong, holding his prayer beads, paused slightly and said, “Your Majesty, in this old monk’s view, there might be a turning point, but it must be approached gradually and not rushed.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen’s eyes lit up, “You mean…”

 

Before she could finish, hurried footsteps were heard from outside. Empress Dowager Wen stood up and asked, “What’s happening?”

 

A guard replied, “Your Majesty, it’s just the rotation of the Imperial Guards.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen skeptically asked, “How could a routine rotation cause such a commotion? Where is General He?”

 

The guard showed a troubled expression, “The general is…”

 

Empress Dowager Wen sensed that something was wrong and demanded sharply, “Where is He Changzhou? Didn’t I assign him to protect the emperor?!”

 

“General He is attending to other urgent matters,” Xiao Shiqing walked over calmly and bowed to Empress Dowager Wen, “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen’s pupils constricted suddenly, “Prime Minister? Wasn’t I supposed to have you stay in the court? Why are you here at Muyang Temple?”

 

Xiao Shiqing replied calmly, “I received a confidential report indicating that remnants of the Broken Pulse Gang are hiding in Muyang Mountain, attempting to harm the emperor and the Empress Dowager, so I came to provide protection.”

 

“Broken Pulse Gang?” Empress Dowager Wen was alarmed, “What about Qi’er? Is he safe?”

 

Xiao Shiqing said, “The emperor is asleep and knows nothing; General He is leading elite troops to capture the assassins.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen felt slightly reassured, seeing Xiao Shiqing’s composed demeanor, and said, “Look at me, I’m all flustered, unlike the calm Prime Minister.”

 

Xiao Shiqing gave a slight nod, “You flatter me, Empress Dowager.”

 

“But,” Empress Dowager Wen’s smile diminished slightly, “Since this concerns the emperor’s safety, just thinking that there are thieves so close to the emperor makes me very anxious.”

 

Xiao Shiqing continued smoothly, “Indeed, I was negligent, and I am willing to accept punishment.”

 

“Shiqing, don’t joke with me,” Empress Dowager Wen changed to a more intimate term, “I have always regarded you as a foster son; how could I bear to punish you?”

 

Xiao Shiqing seemed to understand Empress Dowager Wen’s thoughts and said, “I am frightened.”

 

“However, with so many state affairs recently, both you and I want to handle everything ourselves but are overwhelmed,” Empress Dowager Wen continued naturally, “The Longevity Festival is next month. At that time, princes from various regions will enter the capital, and envoys from other countries will come. There will be a lot to manage. I was thinking, since the emperor will be nineteen after the Longevity Festival, it’s time for him to start learning to manage the state affairs—what do you think, Shiqing?”

 

Empress Dowager Wen was prepared for Xiao Shiqing to disagree, but unexpectedly he just smiled and said, “That’s fine.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen was stunned, thinking she had misheard, “What?”

 

“Let the emperor learn to handle state affairs,” Xiao Shiqing smiled and said, “I will personally teach him.”

 

Zhao Qi had slept through the night, and the next day everything seemed normal as if nothing had happened. Jiang Dehai’s head was swollen, and the attending guard said he had accidentally fallen and lost consciousness, so they carried him off to rest.

 

Zhao Qi knew that Xiao Shiqing was definitely hiding something from him, but he couldn’t do anything about it, so he preferred to remain a happy layabout.

 

For the next two days, Empress Dowager Wen stayed at the temple, observing the fasting and praying. Zhao Qi also attended a Buddhist lecture once. However, after Master Yuantong had only spoken a few sentences, Zhao Qi became so drowsy that he fell asleep by the fifth sentence.

 

An hour later, he yawned as he walked out of the Dharma hall. Empress Dowager Wen asked, “Didn’t you sleep well last night?”

 

“No, it’s because Master Yuantong is too formidable,” Zhao Qi said seriously, “Even if I slept for three days and nights, I would still fall asleep immediately listening to him.”

 

Empress Dowager Wen smiled meaningfully, “You can only sleep a little longer now.”

 

“What do you mean, Mother?”

 

Empress Dowager Wen said, “You’ll find out when you return to the palace.”

 

After that, Zhao Qi stayed in the back room, passing the time. Xiao Shiqing and He Changzhou were busy with something, and he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of them.

 

In the yard of the back room was a solitary peach tree. Though the blossoms were not impressive, it bore many small peaches. Zhao Qi happened to pass by and saw a young eunuch picking peaches from the tree and asked curiously, “It’s only a few months into the year; how are there peaches already?”

 

Jiang Dehai explained, “Your Majesty may not know, but this peach tree at Muyang Temple bears fruit around this time every year. It’s quite rare. There’s also a folk saying that the early peaches from Muyang Temple can cure all ailments and extend one’s life. That’s why many people in the capital spend a lot of money to seek these peaches each year.”

 

“Really?” Zhao Qi was astonished, “Lack of education is truly frightening.”

 

“Who says it isn’t? If it were really so effective, the monks at Muyang Temple wouldn’t age and suffer from illnesses.”

 

Zhao Qi was slightly surprised, “I didn’t expect you to be quite insightful, eunuch.”

 

Jiang Dehai chuckled and said, “I don’t deserve the title of ‘wise.’ I just think that eating early peaches is much like praying to gods and worshipping. It’s all about making oneself feel better. When one feels at ease, the illness will naturally recover faster.”

 

Zhao Qi clapped and praised him, “Impressive, impressive, very impressive.”

 

When it came to illness, Zhao Qi immediately thought of Rong Tang. Since Rong Tang didn’t want the peach blossoms, how about a few small peaches?

 

Zhao Qi walked over to the tree. The young eunuch on the tree quickly climbed down when he saw him. Zhao Qi said, “Don’t move. Pick a few more before you come down.”

 

The young eunuch asked, “Which ones does Your Majesty want?”

 

Zhao Qi pointed to one of the peaches and said, “Look at that one; the tree trunk is long and wide, just like that peach, which is small and round.”

 

“What’s small and round?”

 

Hearing a familiar voice, Zhao Qi turned around abruptly, “Changzhou?!”

 

“Your Majesty,” He Changzhou smiled, “I haven’t seen you for two days. Have you missed me?”

 

Zhao Qi stopped directing the eunuch and pretended to be angry, “How dare you ask? Where have you been these past two days?”

 

He Changzhou had a hint of fatigue in his eyes, “The Prime Minister got a lead on the whereabouts of the Broken Pulse Gang’s lair in the capital. I was ordered to go and deal with the bandits.”

 

Zhao Qi responded with a “Oh,” and said, “So it was that traitor… The Prime Minister borrowed you for that. How did it go?”

 

He Changzhou replied, “We captured and killed the leader of the Broken Pulse Gang on the spot, and over a hundred people were taken alive. The case has been handed over to the Ministry of Justice, which will surely track down the gang’s scattered strongholds. Your Majesty, you needn’t worry.”

 

Zhao Qi patted He Changzhou’s shoulder, “Well done. You must be tired; go rest quickly.”

 

“It’s not urgent.” He Changzhou glanced at the peach tree, “Does Your Majesty want to eat some peaches?”

 

“No, just pick a few to play with.”

 

“Shall I pick them for you?”

 

“Eh?” Zhao Qi hadn’t reacted yet when He Changzhou picked him up by the legs, and Zhao Qi could now reach the small peaches.

 

“Can Your Majesty reach them?” He Changzhou asked.

 

“Yes,” Zhao Qi twisted off a peach, “There are more over there. Move a little to the left!”

 

He Changzhou complied, “Your Majesty, with so many small peaches, what do you plan to do with them?”

 

Without hesitation, Zhao Qi said, “Take them back to the palace and give them to Rong Tang.”

 

He Changzhou asked, “…Your Majesty, could you repeat that?”


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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Chapter 43

       Pei Qing walked into the room and reached out to gently close the door before continuing towards the window.

       Zhan Weiyang remained in the position of kneeling by the bed but straightened his back. His red, tearful eyes, along with his head, followed Pei Qing’s movements.

       Until Pei Qing walked to the bed and sat down, stretched out a hand to Zhan Weiyang, and said, “Come on, Yangyang, get up.”

       Zhan Weiyang raised his hand and placed it on Pei Qing’s palm. Then, he was pulled up from the ground and stood in front of Pei Qing.

       “Yangyang—”

       Before Pei Qing finished speaking, Zhan Weiyang lifted his legs and sat on Pei Qing’s legs, hugged him tightly, and whispered, “Qing ge.”

       Pei Qing was stunned for a moment, then put his hands around his waist and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

       Zhan Weiyang’s voice was very aggrieved, and he spoke in a low voice to Pei Qing’s ear, “Are you ignoring me?”

       Pei Qing’s palm fell on Zhan Weiyang’s back and patted it gently, “When did I ignore you?”

       Zhan Weiyang spoke with a nasal tone, saying, “You are just upset.”

       Pei Qing said, “I’m not.”

       Zhan Weiyang stopped talking and sat quietly on Pei Qing’s legs, hugging him tightly.

       After a while, Pei Qing thought Zhan Weiyang was crying, so he leaned back a little, and stretched out his hand to hold Zhan Weiyang’s jaw, wanting to see his face clearly. However, he only saw that his eyes were still red, and the tears did not really fall.

       Zhan Weiyang looked at him for a while. He leaned forward slightly, put his forehead against his forehead, and said, “I don’t know what to do.”

       Pei Qing originally wanted to ask him what he couldn’t say and why he wasn’t willing to say it clearly, but in the end, he didn’t want to force him too much, so he just said, “If you don’t know what to do, come to gege. gege will help you.”

       Zhan Weiyang said softly, “Really?”

       Pei Qing told him, “Really, there is no problem in this world that gege can’t solve for Yangyang, do you believe it?”

       Zhan Weiyang didn’t say whether he believed it or not, but he couldn’t help the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile, struggling between tears and laughter.

       Pei Qing patted his back and said, “Alright, you’re not sad anymore, are you?”

       Zhan Weiyang nodded.

       When Pei Qing half-lay down on the bed, Zhan Weiyang still turned over and climbed on his legs, stretched out his hands to hug his neck, and leaned in his arms.

       Pei Qing put one arm around his back, patted his head with the other hand, and asked, “If Yangyang becomes a tree in the future, will he have to live on the balcony forever?”

       Zhan Weiyang seemed to think about it seriously and said, “The balcony can get sunlight.”

       Pei Qing said, ‘Hmm’ and then asked, “What if it gets dark? Aren’t you scared to be alone on the balcony?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “There are other trees.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Have you become good friends with those trees?”

       Zhan Weiyang was asked and thought for a while before answering him, “Not yet.”

       Pei Qing continued to ask, “Then can you communicate now?”

       Zhan Weiyang grabbed the hem of Pei Qing’s pyjamas with his fingers and whispered, “Not yet.”

       Pei Qing said ‘Oh’, as if a little regretful, “I was going to ask you to ask them a question for me.”

       Zhan Weiyang looked up at him, “What is it?”

       Pei Qing said, “Ask them why they turned Yangyang into a tree?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “It’s not because of them.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Then what is it because of?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “It’s my stuff.”

       Pei Qing looked down at him, “What’s yours?”

       Zhan Weiyang pointed to his head, “The stuff inside my head.”

       Pei Qing touched his head, “Yangyang, is there something so powerful in your head that it can turn you into a fortune tree?”

       Zhan Weiyang suddenly became confused, “I don’t know.”

       Pei Qing said, “You said something is deducting your points. How many points do you have now?”

       Zhan Weiyang looked at him alertly.

       Pei Qing said, “If you don’t want to tell me, forget it. It doesn’t matter.”

       Zhan Weiyang then said in a muffled voice, “38.”

       Pei Qing asked him, “What’s the full score?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “100 points.”

       Pei Qing said, “My Yangyang is so silly. He only got 38 points out of 100. What should we do?”

       Zhan Weiyang also felt very melancholy, “I don’t know.”

       Pei Qing asked him, “Is there any way Qing gege help you get some extra points?”

       Zhan Weiyang frowned in distress, “I don’t know.”

       Pei Qing patted him on the back, “It doesn’t matter. If you don’t know, then you don’t know.”

       Zhan Weiyang suddenly sat up with his hands on Pei Qing’s shoulders. He looked straight at Pei Qing. After looking at him for a long time, he leaned over and kissed Pei Qing lightly on the lips. It was so light that Pei Qing didn’t even feel the weight of his lips pressing on his.

       Then Zhan Weiyang’s ears turned red, and he shrank his neck and said, “I’m sorry.” His upper body leaned forward, his pyjamas fell down, and his protruding collarbone and thin chest were clearly visible in the wide neckline.

       Pei Qing lowered his gaze and asked him, “Why do you say sorry?”

       Zhan Weiyang was still embarrassed, and his ears were red all the way to his neck as he said, “I shouldn’t kiss you.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Why shouldn’t you kiss me?”

       Zhan Weiyang stared at Pei Qing’s collar, avoiding eye contact, “In the TV dramas I’ve seen, it’s always the men kissing the women.”

       Pei Qing’s hand slipped to his waist, gripping his slender frame. Knowing he shouldn’t say certain things but unable to hold back, he asked, “So you’ve only seen people kissing like that in TV dramas. Do you know of any other ways to kiss?”

       Zhan Weiyang shook his head somewhat strangely. His world was too simple. Except for Chen Youyou showing him a video once, there was no other way to see it, and no one would tell him.

       Pei Qing asked him, “Do gege want me to teach you?”

       Zhan Weiyang nodded, “Okay.” After he said that, he moved closer, trying to touch Pei Qing’s lips again.

       But Pei Qing suddenly put his hand between the two of them, laughed self-deprecatingly, and said, “Forget it, I shouldn’t teach you these.”

       Zhan Weiyang looked at him in confusion.

       Pei Qing’s gaze became a little complicated. He patted his waist and said, “Go down.”

       Zhan Weiyang could keenly perceive Pei Qing’s emotional changes, but he couldn’t figure out what caused this change, so he could only ask anxiously, “What’s wrong?” He thought Pei Qing was angry with him.

       Pei Qing said, “Nothing, it’s almost time to go to bed.”

       Zhan Weiyang asked cautiously, “You won’t teach me anymore?”

       Pei Qing smiled and said, “I shouldn’t teach you these.”

       Zhan Weiyang didn’t understand, “Why?”

       Pei Qing said, “Because I don’t think it’s right for me to do so.”

       Zhan Weiyang still didn’t understand.

       Pei Qing said, “It’s okay, go to sleep, Yangyang.”

       Zhan Weiyang reluctantly got off Pei Qing. He lay down, waited until Pei Qing turned off the light, and then he leaned close to Pei Qing’s ear and said, “I think you can teach me.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Why do you want to learn this?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “I don’t know, I just want to kiss you.”

       Pei Qing opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He had a lot to say to Zhan Weiyang, but he felt a little bit speechless at this time. In the end, he just reached out and patted Zhan Weiyang on the back and said, “Good night.”

       Zhan Weiyang was completely disappointed. He retreated and rested his head on his pillow, staring in Pei Qing’s direction unwillingly.

       Pei Qing couldn’t sleep. Just now, he suddenly felt that what he had done was not good. It was not good for Zhan Pengcheng, Zhan Weiguang, himself, and, most importantly, for Zhan Weiyang.

       How should he define the relationship between him and Zhan Weiyang? Zhan Weiyang was simply dependent on him, and unconsciously wanted to get close. Kissing on the lips might not have necessarily meant anything; Zhan Weiyang’s understanding hadn’t reached that point. Yet he himself couldn’t control his own actions. Given the extent of Zhan Weiyang’s dependence on him, no matter what he did, Zhan Weiyang might have happily accepted it. But what if it had been a Zhan Weiyang who had never drowned in the past?

       Pei Qing opened the quilt with some irritability, put on slippers and walked out of the bedroom.

       At that time, Zhan Weiyang hadn’t fallen asleep yet. When he heard Pei Qing get out of bed, he instantly wanted to reach out and grab Pei Qing. However, the System, which had already been bothering him this afternoon, couldn’t hold back any longer and coldly started deducting his points again.

       The moment he heard that he had been deducted two points, Zhan Weiyang shrank back in fear, covered his head with the quilt, opened his eyes wide, looked up in the dark, and couldn’t help trembling.


The author has something to say:
How many points have been deducted? I should remember correctly…


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