Chapter 51 – I can’t hide my dragon egg anymore!
Oh? The dragon egg’s mother has sent a letter?
Zhao Qi stretched out his hand impatiently, “Give it to me—”
Xiao Shiqing raised his hand to dodge, “In such a hurry?”
Xiao Shiqing was much taller than Zhao Qi, and he held the letter from He Changzhou high up, making it impossible for Zhao Qi to reach it. With so many people watching, he couldn’t just jump around like a monkey. Reluctantly, he called out, “Prime Minister…”
Although Zhao Qi didn’t say “brother,” his tone of complaint mixed with a hint of coquettishness was even harder to resist than calling him “brother.”
Xiao Shiqing leaned down, “What does His Majesty want to call me?”
“……” He knew he had to say “brother,” but look at all these people!
Zhao Qiao volunteered, “The answer is ‘Aiqing’—”
Zhao Qi shot him a cold glance, “You’ve already been silenced by the Anti-p0rnography Department. If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll slap your face crooked.”
Zhao Qiao covered his mouth and stared with wide eyes, feeling wronged.
“Aiqing?” Xiao Shiqing chuckled lightly, “His Majesty has never called me that before.” He leaned in and whispered in Zhao Qi’s ear, “Call me that, and I’ll give you the letter.”
As long as it’s not “Husband,” it doesn’t matter what you call him; “My Lord” is nothing special. He often addresses attractive ministers like that. Zhao Qi said with satisfaction, “Can you give this letter to me?”
Xiao Shiqing raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
Zhao Qi, with a tone he just used to address the “Prime Minister,” said, “My Lord—”
Xiao Shiqing seemed somewhat satisfied. Zhao Qi thought that now he would hand over the letter, but this person was really a dog. “General He is on the front lines and still remembers to write a letter to the Emperor. I’m very curious about what significant matters he mentioned. How about I read it to the Emperor?”
Since General He had important matters that shouldn’t be known by others, Zhao Qi was anxious when he thought about their complicated situation. “I can read it myself, no need to trouble you!”
Xiao Shiqing’s expression turned colder. “What if I insist on reading it?”
His cold demeanor made everyone present fall silent as if frozen. Zhao Qi stared at him, looking innocent, anxious, and bewildered.
Xiao Shiqing closed his eyes, unable to bear making Zhao Qi unhappy.
He shoved the letter into Zhao Qi’s arms. “Go ahead.”
Zhao Qi glanced at him quickly, took the letter, and said, “I’ll read it later.”
Xiao Shiqing: “…”
“Then I’ll be leaving first?”
Xiao Shiqing replied coldly, “The Emperor may do as he wishes.”
Fearing Xiao Shiqing would regret it, Zhao Qi hurriedly left with the letter. It was only at the door that he noticed Zhao Qiao had been following him the whole time. “Is there something else you need?”
Zhao Qiao smiled and said, “I’m just worried about General He’s safety, Your Majesty. Quickly see what he wrote in his letter.”
Zhao Qi turned his back and opened the letter.
General He’s handwriting was vigorous and wrote a lengthy message.
“Your Majesty, I’ve come to fight.”
I know.
“There isn’t much to fight; the Xixia army is just putting on a show and doesn’t dare to make a real move.”
Xiao Shiqing indeed predicted this correctly.
“I heard that the Emperor went on a southern tour. How have you been lately?”
Not good, not good at all. The dragon egg is causing distress.
“Since there’s no battle, the soldiers are quite idle. During the dark, windy nights, there were people engaging in improper conduct, which I caught red-handed.”
Why tell me this?
“Moreover, I also confiscated a few volumes of spring palace paintings from their camp, which were quite enlightening.”
???
“But Your Majesty need not worry. I haven’t let this delay important matters. Over this month, I have thoroughly surveyed the local terrain and even planned where to set up ambushes. If the Xixia dares to invade our territory again, I will make them regret coming into this world!”
Very good, the tone is finally normal.
“Your Majesty, since things are almost done, can I come back now?”
I’ll consider it.
“I have a premonition that the Prime Minister will find ways to prevent me from returning to Your Majesty’s side. Please don’t let him succeed. I ask Your Majesty to issue a secret order for me to return immediately to Your Majesty’s side. You can give the secret order to the Imperial Guards’ officer Shen Tai to deliver to me in Xizhou.”
General He actually wrote such things in the letter and isn’t afraid of Xiao Shiqing seeing it? Going to war seems to have made him dumb.
“One last thing, after being apart for several months, do you miss me?”
……
After reading the letter, Zhao Qi’s mood was somewhat mixed. He said, “Prepare the writing tools.”
Zhao Qiao asked, “Your Majesty, is General He well? How is the child in his womb?”
“Perfectly fine.”
Zhao Qiao said, “Your Majesty must be delighted! Since the Xixia war has eased, Your Majesty could let General He return to rest and wait until after the child is born.”
Zhao Qi picked up the pen and wrote the letter. “He should indeed come back.”
He should not bear the consequences of the trouble they caused alone; General He must also take responsibility.
Zhao Qi wrote an order for General He to return quickly and emphasized that he had very important matters to discuss.
After finishing the letter, Zhao Qi stamped it with his seal and handed it to Jiang Dehai. “Deliver this letter to Officer Shen Tai of the Imperial Guards and have him send it to Xizhou as quickly as possible.”
“Your servant will go immediately.”
As soon as Jiang Dehai left, Cheng Boyan arrived with some medicinal soup. “Your Majesty, please take this.”
Zhao Qi asked, “What is this?”
“Medicine for calming the fetus.”
Zhao Qi was speechless. “I seem to be here to deal with the dragon egg?”
Cheng Boyan advised, “Your Majesty, whether the dragon egg can be dealt with is still uncertain. Before that, you should protect the dragon egg in your womb; otherwise, if anything happens to the egg, it might affect you.”
Zhao Qi was persuaded and took the medicine, drinking it all.
The sky had completely darkened. Looking down from the boat, it was just a black expanse; dozens of boats slowly passed by, like scattered stars.
Xiao Shiqing stood at the bow, gazing into the distance with eyes as deep and dark as the river.
The Prime Minister was in a bad mood tonight, and everyone on the dragon boat was nervous, walking on thin ice.
Rong Tang approached but was stopped by the guards when he was still several steps away from Xiao Shiqing. Rong Tang stopped and said, “Prime Minister Xiao.”
Xiao Shiqing turned around and said, “Young Master Rong.” He raised his hand to signal the guards to step back.
Rong Tang approached and got straight to the point. “I received a secret letter from the Duke of Huai.”
Xiao Shiqing’s expression remained unchanged, showing no surprise.
“He learned that I am accompanying the Emperor south and asked me to use the Emperor’s seal to forge a pass to get back to the capital so that he could leave the capital.”
Xiao Shiqing said, “Since that’s the case, why tell me? Why not find an opportunity by the Emperor’s side?”
Rong Tang replied calmly, “When did Prime Minister Xiao become so talkative?”
Xiao Shiqing said nonchalantly, “When I’m with talkative people, naturally, I talk more.”
Rong Tang pursed his lips in silence. He knew exactly who the talkative person was.
Xiao Shiqing changed the subject, “Was the secret letter received the day the Emperor took you out of the palace?”
Rong Tang frowned and asked, “Were you monitoring the Emperor?”
“No, I’m monitoring Xu Zijing.”
Rong Tang clearly didn’t believe it. “Since you received the message days ago, have you delayed taking action to wait for me to mention this matter, or to wait for me to retrieve the emperor’s seal?”
“I am not you, how would I know what you would do?”
“However, no matter what choice I make, the Prime Minister probably has corresponding countermeasures.”
Xiao Shiqing nodded and said, “If you follow the letter’s instructions, I will kill you directly. The writer of the letter disregards your life and death, so as long as you’re not foolish, you should know what to do.”
“Killing me…” Rong Tang chuckled softly, “Does the Prime Minister think the emperor would agree to that?”
“When have I ever needed his approval to do things?”
Rong Tang asked, “Are you hiding all of this from him?”
Xiao Shiqing didn’t answer.
“Others say that Prime Minister Xiao has changed his nature and become a loyal minister who assists the emperor wholeheartedly,” Rong Tang said coldly, “But you haven’t changed at all. You manipulate him unscrupulously, deciding what he can and cannot know— you have never truly regarded him as the emperor.”
“You’re right,” Xiao Shiqing said with a half-smile, “I’ve never regarded him as the emperor. So, what you and others want to do but dare not do, I can accomplish.”
Rong Tang’s chest tightened. He said slowly, “Aren’t you afraid he will hate you in the future?”
“That will be a matter between him and me,” Xiao Shiqing said, “When we reach Cangzhou, you should return home from the boat and never let him see you again in this lifetime.”
Three days later, the ship docked at Cangzhou. The morning dock was shrouded in a light mist, and the Cangzhou governor had been waiting with a group of local officials for some time. Zhao Qi looked from a distance and said to Rong Tang behind him, “Rong Tang, we’re at your home now.”
Rong Tang looked at the familiar yet strange scenery, his lashes trembling slightly. “Mm.”
Xiao Shiqing glanced at the two of them and said, “Cangzhou is slightly elevated and less affected by floods. We’ll stay here for two days and leave the day after tomorrow.”
Zhao Qi had no objections. The dragon egg in his belly was growing strong, and he didn’t have much time to waste.
The ship was unsteady when it docked, causing Zhao Qi to feel dizzy and nauseous again. Rong Tang reached out to help him but was preempted by Xiao Shiqing.
Rong Tang withdrew his hand and slowly tightened his grip.
Zhao Qi, held by Xiao Shiqing, said with lingering fear, “Phew, that was close.”
Xiao Shiqing asked, “Feeling uncomfortable again?”
Zhao Qi forced a smile, “Just a little uncomfortable.”
Xiao Shiqing was still concerned. “You should go to the temporary palace to rest. I’ll handle things here.”
Zhao Qi’s churning stomach didn’t allow him to refuse. “Alright, please inform the Prime Minister and the Cangzhou officials that I’m feeling unwell today and will hear their reports in a couple of days.”
The Cangzhou governor had provided his residence as the temporary palace for the emperor. The governor’s residence was one of the finest in the area, and since the governor had made careful preparations, it was relatively comfortable.
Zhao Qi had been on the boat for so long that he felt unaccustomed to land. Moreover, his severe morning sickness left him feeling deflated, and the energy he had managed to regain was once again drained.
After drinking a bowl of nourishing soup, Zhao Qi began to feel drowsy. Cheng Boyan checked his pulse and said, “Your Majesty, please rest assured. Both you and the dragon egg are fine.” After waiting for a long time without response, he looked up and found that the emperor had fallen asleep.
Jiang Dehai exchanged a look with Cheng Boyan, and the two of them quietly left.
“The emperor has never suffered like this before,” Jiang Dehai sighed. “This old servant feels heartache seeing it.”
Cheng Boyan comforted him, “Lord Jiang, morning sickness is unavoidable. It will get better after these few days.”
As they turned around, they suddenly noticed someone standing behind them, startling them greatly.
Rong Tang looked at them with a relatively calm expression. “What illness does the emperor actually suffer from?”
The two of them secretly sighed in relief. Cheng Boyan cautiously replied, “The emperor is suffering from a loss of appetite due to acclimatization issues. A few days of rest will suffice.”
Jiang Dehai said, “Young Master Rong, weren’t you supposed to return to Rong Mansion? How come…”
Rong Tang said, “I came to bid farewell to the emperor.”
“The emperor has just gone to sleep and we don’t know when he will wake up.”
Rong Tang said, “I just want to take a look at him and then leave.”
Jiang Dehai hesitated, “This…”
A weak voice came from inside the room. “Old Jiang, let Rong Tang in.”
“The emperor is awake.” Jiang Dehai opened the door. “Young Master Rong, please.”
Zhao Qi slept fitfully, waking at the slightest sound. Seeing Rong Tang approaching, he asked, “Rong Tang, are you leaving?”
Rong Tang’s nostrils twitched. Having spent almost a year steeped in medicinal herbs, he was particularly sensitive to their smell. The emperor was not drinking a digestive tonic but a nourishing supplement meant for recovering from major illnesses.
Rong Tang composed himself. “Rong Mansion is only three streets away from here.”
Zhao Qi nodded. “Then you should go quickly. I’ll just see you off here.”
Rong Tang gave a self-deprecating smile. “You think I want you to see me off just for that?”
Zhao Qi was taken aback, realizing that Rong Tang also needed to be seen to the door. “Wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes.” Zhao Qi struggled to sit up, his stomach churning again. He forced himself not to gag, though he couldn’t hide the discomfort on his face.
Rong Tang watched him impassively before suddenly grabbing Zhao Qi’s wrist.
Zhao Qi was momentarily stunned by Rong Tang’s actions, confused and helpless as he let Rong Tang hold his hand.
Suddenly, Rong Tang’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had seen the most bizarre thing in the world. “You…”
Zhao Qi realized Rong Tang’s intention and abruptly pulled back his hand, feeling guilty. “I’m fine. Don’t think too much about it.”
Rong Tang retreated to a chair, pressing his hand to his chest as his breathing grew more rapid, as though he was struggling to breathe.
“Rong Tang!” Zhao Qi got out of bed and ran barefoot to Rong Tang’s side. “Are you having an episode?! Someone, Cheng Boyan, come quickly!”
Jiang Dehai and Cheng Boyan rushed in urgently, seeing Rong Tang clutching the emperor’s hand tightly, his eyes filled with intense love and hatred that seemed almost to tear him apart. Then, Rong Tang made a muffled sound, and dark red blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Zhao Qi exclaimed in horror, “Rong Tang, you’re coughing up blood… Cheng Boyan, why are you still standing there? Hurry and save him!”
Rong Tang’s eyes were bloodshot, and his pale lips were stained red, giving him a somewhat demonic beauty. He roughly pulled Zhao Qi away and, with a mouthful of blood, he chanted as if possessed by some dark force. “Who… is it?”
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
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
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