Chapter 33 – My head can’t stand this torture
Zhao Qi came out of the bath feeling much more comfortable, and his expression had shifted from “life is not worth living” to “I will have my revenge.” However, his eyes were still red, and his voice had a nasal quality to it, making him seem somewhat pitiful.
He dismissed everyone except for Jiang Dehai. The two of them closed the doors and windows tightly, attempting to think seriously and analyze calmly to find the real culprit.
“Who brought me back last night?” Zhao Qi asked.
Zhao Qi’s hair was still wet. As Jiang Dehai helped him dry it, he replied, “Your Majesty, I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?” Zhao Qi questioned loudly, “You are my head eunuch, and you say you don’t know?”
Jiang Dehai smiled bitterly, “Your Majesty has been staying in Haiyan Hall recently. All the servants attending to you have been there. Last night, we waited and waited but couldn’t find you. After searching everywhere, we finally found you in Yonghua Palace.”
Zhao Qi frowned and gradually remembered. He had promised Rong Tang to stay in Yonghua Palace but forgot to inform Jiang Dehai. “What was I doing when you found me?”
“Your Majesty was sleeping. Seeing you sleep so soundly, I didn’t dare to wake you.”
Last night was so chaotic for him; sleeping soundly must have been something that happened in the early hours. This meant that when Jiang Dehai found him, he had already… already been defiled by that scoundrel!
The thought of this made Zhao Qi breathless. He took a deep breath and asked, “What time did you find me?”
Jiang Dehai recalled, “Just past the hour of the ox. Your Majesty, should we summon the eunuchs and maids of Yonghua Palace for questioning? They might know who brought you back.”
Zhao Qi nodded, “Find someone tight-lipped.”
“At once, Your Majesty.”
Soon, Jiang Dehai brought a eunuch named Xiao Jinzi, known for his discretion, hence his name.
Xiao Jinzi knelt before Zhao Qi, “Your Majesty, before yesterday’s banquet, Young Master Rong told us that today is the grand celebration of your birthday, so we didn’t need to be on duty. We didn’t know you would come, so we returned to our quarters early to rest.”
Zhao Qi glared at him, “So you don’t know who brought me back either?”
Xiao Jinzi nodded, “No, Your Majesty.”
Jiang Dehai suspected, “Your Majesty, why would Young Master Rong send away all the eunuchs and maids? Could there be something fishy about it?”
Xiao Jinzi said, “Your Majesty, Young Master Rong has always preferred quiet. Not just last night, he often orders us to leave him alone.”
Jiang Dehai suggested, “Your Majesty, should I summon Young Master Rong for questioning?”
Zhao Qi raised his hand, “Wait, let me think.”
All the eunuchs and maids of Yonghua Palace were absent last night, and he remembered that Rong Tang had left the banquet early. If Rong Tang returned to Yonghua Palace after him, then there would have been a period when only he and that scoundrel were there. If Rong Tang returned before him, he should know who brought him back and might have seen something. There was also a possibility that Rong Tang was…
!!! Stop thinking, Zhao Qi! What are you thinking?! Rong Tang, how could he! He’s an aloof immortal lord, he wouldn’t roll in bed with a mortal, let alone press you down and order you to spread your legs!
However, another voice in Zhao Qi’s head reminded him: Dear, remember, he did force you a few times before.
…
Ahhh, this is too confusing! His brain couldn’t handle this kind of torment!
Xiao Jinzi, seeing the pained expression on the emperor’s face, timidly said, “Your Majesty, I have a suggestion, if I may?”
“Speak.”
“Why not ask those who attended the banquet? They should know who brought Your Majesty back.”
Zhao Qi and Jiang Dehai exchanged a glance: Right, why didn’t they think of that!
Jiang Dehai took the initiative, “Your Majesty, I’ll go inquire right away.”
As soon as Jiang Dehai left, Rong Tang arrived. Zhao Qi felt like he was facing a great enemy and had no idea how to confront him. Instinctively, he rushed to the bed, preparing to play dead.
Unfortunately, his waist couldn’t handle such a sudden movement. When Rong Tang entered, he saw Zhao Qi kneeling by the bed, one hand on his waist, grimacing in pain.
Rong Tang: “…What happened?”
Zhao Qi, gritting his teeth through the pain, forced a smile, “I twisted it accidentally.”
Rong Tang walked over, looking down at him for a moment, then bent down and picked him up.
Zhao Qi: !!!
Rong Tang was probably not good at this kind of thing, as he wobbled a bit while lifting Zhao Qi, making Zhao Qi instinctively wrap his arms around Rong Tang’s neck.
The faint scent of medicine surrounded him, and Zhao Qi felt bewildered and shocked.
Rong Tang’s body had recovered so well that he could carry him in a princess hold.
Rong Tang placed Zhao Qi gently on the bed, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Qi’s lips, “Last night…”
Zhao Qi clutched the quilt tightly, his heart racing.
What about last night? Nothing happened last night! Hurry up and tell me you don’t know anything, hurry!
Rong Tang seemed uncomfortable, pausing for a long while before saying, “Thank you for your hard work last night.”
“…”
Zhao Qi’s vision darkened, his head buzzing.
Why was he thanking him? How did he know he worked hard? What did he do to him?!
Zhao Qi screamed internally, but couldn’t say a word, just staring blankly at Rong Tang.
Seeing his stunned expression, Rong Tang suddenly smiled.
That smile melted all his coldness. “I understand everything.”
Zhao Qi was full of question marks—what did he understand?!
Lying on the bed, Zhao Qi watched as Rong Tang sat beside him. Their positions were now reversed from before. The scene felt unfamiliar, and the Rong Tang before him also seemed different.
Rong Tang looked at him for a long time, then reached out and stroked Zhao Qi’s cheek before leaning in.
Zhao Qi’s eyes widened. What was he doing?! Was he going to kiss him again? Wait, why again?!
While Zhao Qi’s thoughts were running wild, Rong Tang’s face was only inches away, becoming a blurry close-up.
Rong Tang’s slightly cool lips pressed a kiss on his forehead, and he smiled contentedly at Zhao Qi’s lack of resistance, “Come home with me.”
Zhao Qi’s mind went blank, “—What?”
“You said you’d release me from the palace.”
“Y-yes.” Zhao Qi tried to stay calm, “When do you want to leave?”
“That depends on you.”
Zhao Qi still didn’t understand what Rong Tang was talking about.
“Think of it as a disguised tour?” Rong Tang stood up, looking out the window, “I haven’t been home since I came to the capital with my father at eight. It’s been ten years.”
Only then did Zhao Qi realize Rong Tang meant going back to his family home in Cangzhou, where his family currently resided. “This…”
Rong Tang looked down at him, “You promised to listen to me in everything. Does Your Majesty intend to break his word?”
“No…”
Rong Tang nodded slightly, “Then I’ll wait for your message. Rest well, Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi called out, “Wait.”
“Yes?”
Zhao Qi frowned. What should he do, ask directly? Did you sleep with me last night?
That would be too embarrassing! And if it wasn’t Rong Tang, wouldn’t that expose that someone else had slept with him?!
Zhao Qi hesitated for a long time, unable to say anything, and finally gave up, “Nothing, you can go.”
After Rong Tang left, Zhao Qi lay on the bed, feeling utterly defeated.
He had a strong suspicion that the scoundrel was Rong Tang. He replayed the scene in his head: last night, he was dead drunk, went to Yonghua Palace to pester Rong Tang, and when Rong Tang got fed up, he…
Zhao Qi silently curled up under the covers. It wasn’t the first time he’d gotten drunk, but he didn’t know he had a habit of getting aroused when drunk. If it was really Rong Tang, should he castrate him?
As he was in deep distress, Jiang Dehai returned, “Your Majesty, I found out that it was General He who brought you back last night.”
Hearing this, Zhao Qi felt even more despair. He and He Changzhou had a pure, straight male friendship. He was confident that even if he danced naked in front of He Changzhou, nothing would happen. So, it was Rong Tang after all.
Zhao Qi said in frustration, “I see.”
“Your Majesty, I have invited General He. Do you want to see him?”
Zhao Qi replied indifferently, “Fine.”
He Changzhou entered and greeted Zhao Qi properly, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, you may rise.”
He Changzhou stood up, and when he met Zhao Qi’s gaze, his face turned red in an instant.
Zhao Qi: ???
What’s this sudden development? Why are you blushing out of nowhere?
“You…”
“Your Majesty…”
They both spoke at the same time. He Changzhou pressed his lips together and said, “Your Majesty, you go first—wait, what happened to your mouth?”
Zhao Qi touched the wound at the corner of his mouth and suddenly realized something. Rong Tang hadn’t asked about his lips earlier. Did Rong Tang not notice, or was he the one who caused it?
He Changzhou squinted, “Your Majesty?”
Zhao Qi made up an excuse, “I accidentally bit it. Let’s not talk about this. You brought me back last night?”
A flash of guilt appeared in He Changzhou’s eyes, but he maintained his usual cheerful smile, “Yes, Your Majesty. Have you gained weight recently? It seems no one else can carry you but me.”
“Nonsense, I’ve lost weight recently—wait, you’re distracting me. Why did you take me back to Yonghua Palace?”
“Huh?” He Changzhou looked puzzled, “Didn’t Your Majesty say you wanted to go back there yourself?”
Zhao Qi blinked, “Did I? I don’t remember.”
“Your Majesty did drink a lot last night. It’s normal not to remember.” He Changzhou asked casually, “So, does Your Majesty not remember what happened afterward either?”
Indeed, Zhao Qi couldn’t remember, but his body told him everything. “After you brought me back, what did you do?”
“What did I do…” He Changzhou’s face turned even redder. “I didn’t do anything. I just put Your Majesty on the bed and then left. I didn’t come back!”
Zhao Qi trusted his brother but couldn’t help teasing, “What’s with you today? Why are you blushing so much?”
He Changzhou cleared his throat, “It’s a bit hot today.”
Zhao Qi looked at him suspiciously for a moment, “Alright, never mind, you may leave.”
“Okay.” He Changzhou breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave. At the door, he looked back, “Your Majesty.”
“Yes? Anything else?”
He Changzhou hesitated, “Does it hurt?”
Zhao Qi didn’t catch what he said, “What?”
He Changzhou quickly said, “Nothing, nothing. I’m leaving.”
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~
If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!
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
