Chapter 66 – Do I look delicious?
Xiao Shiqing probably isn’t very good at comforting people. After that, he didn’t say much, just holding Zhao Qi and gently stroking his scattered hair.
Zhao Qi didn’t intend to cry like this, but after holding it in for so long, enduring it for so long, and being scared by Xiao Shiqing’s almost predatory look just now, it was understandable that his tear ducts suddenly became active.
… Anyway, don’t call him a sissy.
Zhao Qi unabashedly released his grievances and pressure, feeling somewhat relieved after crying. When he finished crying, he felt better inside, except for the embarrassing hiccup that wouldn’t stop.
So he chose to continue nestling in Xiao Shiqing’s arms until the hiccups stopped.
Xiao Shiqing saw that he wasn’t crying anymore, but his body kept twitching, which made him unusually uneasy. He wanted to help Zhao Qi up and take a good look at him.
Zhao Qi hiccupped again. “Don’t touch me.”
Xiao Shiqing: “… Drinking water can stop hiccups.”
Zhao Qi froze — ah, he’s been found out.
Zhao Qi lifted his head from Xiao Shiqing’s embrace, their eyes met, and Zhao Qi’s cheeks flushed. He pretended to be dead again under the blanket.
As long as he hides deep enough, he won’t be embarrassed!
Xiao Shiqing got up and poured a cup of tea for Zhao Qi. “Your Majesty.”
Zhao Qi continued to pretend to be dead.
“Zhao Qi.”
Well, they’re calling each other by name now; if he doesn’t behave, the consequences might be serious. Zhao Qi slowly got up, took the teacup, and sipped it slowly, suppressing the urge to hiccup.
Xiao Shiqing watched him from the side. It was still raining outside, but the thunder had stopped. Zhao Qi sat on the bed, clothes disheveled, long hair hanging down, eyes red, reminiscent of that night when he was underneath him.
After Zhao Qi finished his tea, Xiao Shiqing hesitated, “About that night…”
Zhao Qi immediately tensed up, feeling like he was facing a major enemy. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to discuss this issue. Even now, he hadn’t completely processed the fact that Xiao Shiqing had slept with him.
“You said you were drugged?” Xiao Shiqing asked.
Zhao Qi nodded.
“Do you know who did it?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Zhao Qi shook his head. Rong Tang was already laden with guilt. Since Xiao Shiqing was willing to spare his life, it was better not to add fuel to the fire.
Xiao Shiqing could tell Zhao Qi was lying. “Was it also this person who gave you the fertility drug?”
“No.”
“Oh, I see.”
Under Xiao Shiqing’s subtle gaze, Zhao Qi belatedly realized he had slipped up. Annoyed with himself, he silently cursed Xiao Shiqing for being so scheming and setting him up.
Xiao Shiqing said, “If you don’t want to say, I won’t force you.”
Zhao Qi sighed, “Then… thank you, Prime Minister?”
Xiao Shiqing raised an eyebrow. “No more calling me ‘Brother’?”
“No more.”
Xiao Shiqing asked in a low voice, “Why?”
“You slept with me, and you still want me to call you ‘Brother’?” Zhao Qi complained indignantly, “There’s no reason for a brother to sleep with his younger brother.”
Xiao Shiqing’s eyes darkened slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “Are you unhappy about being slept with by me, Your Majesty?”
Perhaps Xiao Shiqing’s gentleness gave Zhao Qi courage. Gathering his courage, he said, “As a dignified man of seven feet, a sovereign of a country, I wouldn’t be happy no matter who slept with me.”
Xiao Shiqing looked at him calmly, his eyes deep and mysterious, hiding a hint of coldness.
In Zhao Qi’s heart, that night’s experience with Xiao Shiqing seemed more like a disgrace than anything else. No wonder he woke up and forgot all the details, even who the other person was. From beginning to end, he had been deluding himself.
He suddenly regretted stopping earlier. Someone like the Little Emperor, such a little fool, should be properly disciplined in bed, otherwise he’ll never mature.
“Are you really unhappy?” Xiao Shiqing asked.
“Yes.”
Xiao Shiqing casually remarked, “Then why were you crying with tears in your eyes, voice trembling, and constantly moaning? You seemed quite content to me.”
Zhao Qi blushed deeply, “I was drugged to behave like that! Speaking of which, I still want to ask Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister didn’t drug me, why did he sleep with me? Even if I was in heat, you could have called the imperial physician, or even ignored me, I wouldn’t have blamed you. With your strength, you could easily have pushed me away. But instead, you… you actually did it!” And so many times that I woke up the next day feeling like my whole body was falling apart, damn bastard!
Xiao Shiqing seemed caught off guard by the question, paused before saying, “The Emperor was offering himself, crying and begging for me to stay with him. I couldn’t defy his wishes.”
Zhao Qi looked at him coldly, “Heh, but why haven’t I seen Prime Minister obeying my orders at other times?”
“That’s just one of the reasons.”
“Are there other reasons?”
“I wanted to sleep with the Emperor, so I did,” Xiao Shiqing shamelessly said, “Isn’t that going with the flow?”
Damn going with the flow, Zhao Qi and his little Zhao Qi in his belly were stunned. This reason was truly unassailable, leaving him speechless.
“Not… why?” Zhao Qi felt his mind filled with question marks. “Do I look so delicious that everyone is eyeing my ass??”
Xiao Shiqing nodded lightly, “Hmm, not just your looks. You taste even better when slept with, once is never enough.”
Zhao Qi almost choked, unable to catch his breath, “Why should a straight guy like me endure all this…”
“Straight guy?”
Zhao Qi sniffled, “I mean, I just liked women.”
Xiao Shiqing continued, “Dozens of men from the Dongying (t/n: ancient Japan) royal family have used this medicine safely, all giving birth to normal babies without any abnormalities. These men remain men and won’t become any sort of ‘yao’.”
Zhao Qi struggled to contain his embarrassment and blurted out his concern, “But they won’t produce milk, right? I absolutely cannot accept this!!”
Xiao Shiqing glanced almost imperceptibly at Zhao Qi’s chest, a smirk playing on his lips. “I don’t know.”
Unsatisfied, Zhao Qi insisted, “How can such an important matter be ‘I don’t know’?! Send someone to investigate this immediately.”
Xiao Shiqing promised half-heartedly, “If it’s impossible, would Your Majesty still bear children?”
Zhao Qi admitted honestly, “I’m not sure. Do you want me to bear children?”
Without hesitation, Xiao Shiqing replied, “Yes.”
“Why?” Zhao Qi felt bombarded with questions today.
Xiao Shiqing simply stated, “Because it would be my flesh and blood.”
“If the Prime Minister wants flesh and blood, surely many would be willing to bear for you. Why insist on me?” Zhao Qi asked.
Xiao Shiqing sighed with exasperation, “Of course I insist. If this child is a boy, I can pressure the Emperor to appoint him as the Crown Prince. This way, my family would gain power over the realm just by me sleeping once.”
Suddenly understanding, Zhao Qi exclaimed, “I see! That makes sense!”
“…,” Xiao Shiqing sighed deeply, beginning to wonder if this foolish person would one day drive him to his death by exasperation. He closed his eyes and said, “No.”
“No what?” Zhao Qi asked.
“I want you to bear it, not to take over the world. The world belongs to you, to the Zhao family, and no one can take it away,” Xiao Shiqing said slowly. “I don’t want anyone else to bear my child. I only want you… to bear it.”
Zhao Qi stared at Xiao Shiqing in astonishment, suddenly feeling as if Xiao Shiqing was confessing to him.
If that were the case, then Xiao Shiqing’s romantic pursuit was indeed excessive. Being pursued by four extremely attractive people… he had only experienced such treatment when retreating from group battles in games.
For a moment, silence fell between them. Xiao Shiqing seemed somewhat uneasy, looked away, and said, “I have invited a divine physician from Dongying who will arrive in Jiangxia soon. You can thoroughly investigate the matter of men giving birth before making a decision.”
“Oh…” Zhao Qi lowered his head, gazing at his fingers. “I can also ask Mei Shenyi — the one Zhao Qiao brought from Dongying.”
Xiao Shiqing smirked, “Can you trust someone Zhao Qiao brought?”
“…,” Zhao Qi was speechless. The only reliable thing Xiao Qiao’s younger brother did was bring the real medicine for childbirth from Dongying, which alone was enough to make him grateful (or resentful) for a lifetime.
Xiao Shiqing gently lifted Zhao Qi’s chin, locking eyes with him. “Think it over again, hmm?”
Caught in Xiao Shiqing’s gaze, tinged with a hint of hope, Zhao Qi couldn’t bring himself to say “no.” He nodded. “Okay.”
Xiao Shiqing covered Zhao Qi’s eyes with his hand, leaning in close to whisper in his ear, “I’ll wait for you.”
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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