Chapter 61 – I am a little fool.
Xiao Shiqing paused for a moment, “Bring him in.”
Doctor Zhang was quickly “invited” in. Poor man, at his age, he was frightened out of his wits and sent back to his hometown. Just as he was settling into a few peaceful days, suddenly the dark guards descended on him without explanation, dragging him all the way to Cangzhou. During the journey, he had no chance to rest or eat properly. After a few days of this treatment, his old bones were almost falling apart, but what he found most unbearable was the psychological terror.
When he saw the all-powerful Prime Minister, he trembled and knelt down with a thud, “I, I pay my respects to the Prime Minister.”
Xiao Shiqing cleared his throat lightly, looking down at the old doctor from a high vantage point, his expression unreadable.
Fu Zi, seeing him cough, felt a bit concerned and asked, “Prime Minister, are you feeling unwell?”
Xiao Shiqing shook his head, “Ask.”
Doctor Zhang stammered nervously, “What does the Prime Minister wish to know? This humble one will speak all that he knows.”
Fu Zi said, “Doctor Zhang, over three months ago, His Majesty fell ill. He summoned you to diagnose him. You prescribed a stomach-strengthening and damp-dispelling prescription. Is this true?”
Upon hearing Fu Zi mention this, Doctor Zhang, already timid by nature, was directly frightened. His voice trembled, “Y-yes, indeed.”
“But the next day, your student Cheng Boyan prescribed a completely different medicine for His Majesty. Doctor Zhang, who made the mistake, you or Cheng Boyan?”
Doctor Zhang wiped his sweat nervously, “I-I do not know…”
Fu Zi was about to ask further when Xiao Shiqing raised his hand to stop him, “Speak plainly. What illness does His Majesty suffer from?”
“His… His Majesty suffers from qi deficiency, blood deficiency, damp heat in the intestines…”
Xiao Shiqing coldly interrupted, “I have no time for your beating around the bush.”
Before Xiao Shiqing could utter a threatening word, Doctor Zhang couldn’t hold back anymore. With a pale face, he cried out, “Prime Minister! Prime Minister—this humble one really dares not say! His Majesty, unexpectedly, unexpectedly…”
Xiao Shiqing suppressed his voice, restraining himself, “Is His Majesty… pregnant?”
Fu Zi, usually composed and calm, widened his eyes as if hearing an incredible tale, and this incredible tale came from Prime Minister Xiao. For a moment, he thought he might be hallucinating and couldn’t help saying, “Prime Minister, this…”
Even Doctor Zhang was stunned, “Prime Minister, you knew?”
Xiao Shiqing fell silent for a moment, then bent down, grasped Doctor Zhang’s collar urgently, “I was right, wasn’t I?!”
“Y-yes, Prime Minister, when this humble one diagnosed His Majesty, his pulse indeed showed signs of pregnancy for over two months.”
Fu Zi couldn’t believe they were all losing their minds, or perhaps he was losing his own, and asked in confusion, “But His Majesty is a man, how can a man be pregnant?”
At this point, Doctor Zhang revealed everything he knew: “It is said that there is a secret medicine in Dongying. When a man takes it, he can conceive and bear children like a woman. But this is only a legend, and no one has seen it. There is no precedent in Dajing, and this humble one dares not assert…”
As if drained of all strength, Xiao Shiqing slowly released his grip, sank back into his chair, his deep eyes swirling like a whirlpool, “He really…”
Everything suddenly made sense: the young Emperor’s unusual behavior, his physical discomfort, the slight bulge in his abdomen, and the faint movement beneath Xiao Shiqing’s palm last night.
There was truly a little life growing inside the young Emperor.
—His own.
A faint smile tugged at Xiao Shiqing’s lips, unable to contain it, he chuckled softly.
Fu Zi and Doctor Zhang exchanged a glance, silently understanding each other, and the room fell silent.
When Xiao Shiqing spoke again, his voice was hoarse, “Prepare the medicine for him.”
“Yes.” Fu Zi handed Doctor Zhang the prescription written by Cheng Boyan, “Do you understand what this prescription is for?”
Doctor Zhang leaned in cautiously, examined it, and said carefully, “This humble one fears he must consult medical texts back at the palace. If His Majesty is indeed pregnant due to consuming the secret medicine from Dongying, there is a rare book called *Travelogue of Dongying* that details the nurturing and childbirth for a male pregnancy. Perhaps we can follow its instructions.”
Fu Zi asked, “Prime Minister, should I dispatch someone to retrieve the book from the capital?”
“No need,” Xiao Shiqing smirked, “Go directly to Dongying and bring someone back.”
Xiao Shiqing dismissed the two, sat alone for a long time, then changed into fresh clothes and went to the young Emperor’s chambers.
Naturally, the guards dared not stop him. He pushed open the door and saw Zhao Qi sleeping soundly on the bed.
Xiao Shiqing sat down beside the bed, reached out to stroke the young Emperor’s long hair, his brows, the corners of his eyes, and stopped at his slightly parted lips, murmuring softly, “Why didn’t you say?”
Disturbed in his sleep, Zhao Qi furrowed his brows uneasily.
His fingers, usually busy with official documents, played gently with Zhao Qi’s lips, “Planning to hide it from me and secretly bear our child, hmm?”
Between half-dream and half-wake, Zhao Qi opened his eyes slightly, then quickly closed them again. In a daze, he murmured, “Brother…”
Xiao Shiqing’s breath caught. In that moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to throttle this forgetful little emperor who had hidden things from him for so long. It was like that night, making him tremble beneath him, eyes moist and red, voice hoarse.
But it was just a fleeting thought.
He closed his eyes, suppressing the surging desire, and got into bed, pulling Zhao Qi into his embrace.
Zhao Qi seemed to fall back into deep sleep, showing no reaction at all.
Xiao Shiqing held his hand, stroking Zhao Qi’s abdomen, gritting his teeth helplessly, muttering, “You silly fool.”
…
In his dream, Zhao Qi felt like he was leaning against a furnace, continuously emanating heat, dispelling the dampness of the rainy season that was so bothersome.
When he opened his eyes again, it was still dark outside. The rain was still falling, but it had lessened, dripping softly with a hint of spring rain.
Turning over, Zhao Qi intended to laze in bed for a while but collided with a warm and solid chest.
Startled, Zhao Qi opened his eyes abruptly, stiffened, then turned his head slowly. Seeing the familiar handsome face, he swallowed his exclamation.
Rubbing his eyes, he confirmed he wasn’t mistaken. “Brother?”
Xiao Shiqing kept his eyes closed, his hand resting on Zhao Qi’s waist.
Zhao Qi frowned. How did Xiao Shiqing end up in his bed? He distinctly remembered sleeping alone last night.
So… did Xiao Shiqing sleepwalk into his bed in the middle of the night?
Staring at Xiao Shiqing’s face, Zhao Qi was full of questions.
Unable to resist, he reached out and gently brushed the other’s eyelashes.
Damn, he looked so good.
“Brother,” Zhao Qi shook Xiao Shiqing’s shoulder, “it’s light out, time to get up.”
Xiao Shiqing’s eyelashes twitched slightly, but his eyes remained closed.
Zhao Qi shook him a couple more times, but Xiao Shiqing still didn’t respond. Growing anxious, Zhao Qi used the back of his hand to touch Xiao Shiqing’s forehead — it was burning hot.
Quickly throwing off the covers and getting out of bed, Zhao Qi called out, “Guards… Summon Cheng Boyan!”
Cheng Boyan and Jiang Dehai arrived. Seeing the Prime Minister sleeping in the Emperor’s bed, they exchanged a subtle glance. What on earth happened last night, they dared not ask nor say.
After Cheng Boyan checked Xiao Shiqing’s pulse, he said, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has caught a cold, hence the high fever and continued unconsciousness.”
Annoyed, Zhao Qi said, “It must be from standing in the rain by the river yesterday.” He looked at Xiao Shiqing’s slightly pale face with a heavy heart. “I said using an umbrella in such heavy rain was useless.”
Cheng Boyan reassured him, “Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is young and healthy. A minor cold like this is nothing to him. With two doses of medicine and a sweat, the high fever will subside.”
Zhao Qi nodded. “Then quickly prepare the medicine.”
He stayed by the bedside for a while. Jiang Dehai entered and said, “Your Majesty…”
Supporting his chin, Zhao Qi looked at Xiao Shiqing and wondered, “Lao Jiang, has the Prime Minister always been this good-looking? Even in illness, he remains so charming.”
Jiang Dehai was taken aback, then smiled. “The Prime Minister is known as the most handsome man of our Great Jing Dynasty, always outstanding in appearance and character.”
“But I used to think he was on par with Rong Tang, He Changzhou, and others,” Zhao Qi murmured. “Why does he seem more attractive to me recently?”
Jiang Dehai thought for a moment. “Perhaps it’s not that the Prime Minister has become more attractive, but rather, Your Majesty, you have changed.”
“Maybe I was blind before,” Zhao Qi concluded, changing the subject. “What’s the situation outside?”
Jiang Dehai suddenly slapped his forehead. “Your Majesty, I almost forgot the important matter. Last night, Jiangxia Sikong, who accompanied the Prime Minister on the disaster inspection, wishes to see you.”
“Oh,” Zhao Qi forced himself to perk up. “Tell him to wait. I’ll see him in place of my brother.”
“Also, inform the ministers and nobles accompanying him that they can proceed with their discussions before the Prime Minister arrives.”
Zhao Qi’s temples throbbed. “Send word that I’ll join them after reviewing the urgent memorials from the capital.”
“Oh, Your Majesty…”
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhao Qi snapped, “Could you please just tell me everything at once?!”
“Yes, yes, Your Majesty’s orders.” Jiang Dehai complied. “Also, Prince Zhaonan arrived early this morning, saying he has urgent matters to discuss with Your Majesty.”
Impatiently, Zhao Qi said, “I don’t want to see him. Tell him to leave.”
Last night, Zhao Qi had confided in Li Chisu about hiding the dragon egg. Li Chisu believed him more readily than He Changzhou did. Without much explanation, Li Chisu said with a silence at first, then smiled and said: “Then I am exhausted. But when the matter arose suddenly, is it possible to tolerate it?”
He first noticed that his face turned black, then the tea cup smashed under Li Chisu’s foot, and said, “Get out of me!”
After a night, Li Chisu had a clear idea, and waited early in the morning.
Waited almost an hour, and finally waited until Zhao Qi left the door and went ahead and said, “Emperor.”
Zhao Qi’s heart is already big, and now he sees Li Chisu’s natural face, “I didn’t let you go?”
Li Chisu asked for a will, “The Minister didn’t hear it. The emperor, I am already sure.”
Zhao Qi’s foot is not stopping, “I’m going to go to the job, I don’t have time to listen to you.”
Li Chisu is long, “I don’t give the minister a face…”
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
Leave a Reply