Chapter 60: The General’s Enlightenment; “My desire lies with you, the one I’ve always wanted to marry…”
This statement was clearly incorrect.
But he couldn’t tell the Emperor that they fought not because of Pei Jiuniang. But because of you.
Nor could he correct His Majesty that, from childhood to adulthood, the only person he had ever cared about was you.
The words of explanation stuck in his throat, and his thoughts were infinitely disrupted by that “Ju’er”.
“Ju’er.”
He hadn’t heard it for a long time. A nickname only the closest people could call him.
Xie Qianli simply couldn’t handle it; a heat rose from within him, spreading outward.
He stammered, “There… was a reason. Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
And how clever was Ying Xi?
Hearing that he fought with Prince Yong, he knew there was a hidden story behind it.
“With Dang’er’s current temperament, there are few people who don’t want to beat him after making contact.”
Ying Xi said in a low voice, “You are not guilty. Besides, in that meal of Imperial cuisine Zhen treated you to, the wine was a bit strong. No wonder you wanted to go to the Flower Street to vent.”
He didn’t know—was it because Ying Xi was unwell?
How could he hear a trace of disappointment in those words?
This made Xie Qianli feel guilty, and then alarm bells rang loudly. Visiting the Flower Street was true; having thought about staying overnight in the Flower Street was also true.
But the truer truth was that he wanted to straighten himself out, afraid of falling in love with the Emperor. He couldn’t explain.
Xie Qianli remained silent.
After a moment, receiving no answer, Ying Xi continued very calmly, “Men open their essence gate at fourteen or fifteen. Without marriage, it is normal to occasionally think about these things. The Longwu Army’s regulations are strict, and the Xie Manor’s house rules are even stricter. Zhen can understand. I absolve your guilt.”
—Then you might as well punish me heavily!
Xie Qianli felt panic in his heart. His gaze turned to Ying Xi’s hand, genuinely expecting him to slap him a few times.
That would at least show he cared about this matter.
Ying Xi’s choice of words was candid. Xie Qianli now had a bit more understanding of matters of love and lust, especially having witnessed it with his own eyes. Thinking that, originally, he could also be intimate with Ying Xi… his heart skipped a beat!
Images he shouldn’t see appeared in his mind again.
A layer of red heat rose on Xie Qianli’s dark wheat-colored skin.
He dared not look at the Emperor’s dragon robes again. Usually, his gaze was firm, so once it drifted, it would be very noticeable.
This confirmed Ying Xi’s guess even more.
No one could see the bitter smile that flashed past the Emperor, perhaps even the Emperor himself didn’t know.
Ying Xi sighed with even more composure, “Ju’er has grown up.”
That tone was natural, as if after growing up, one naturally had desires, and naturally, in the end, they all had to marry wives.
Xie Qianli felt a gouging pain in his heart and lungs!
The person in his heart stood on the open main road, never deviating to the side.
But he was provoked by Ying Xi’s words until he almost blurted out: My desire lies with you; the one I’ve always wanted to marry is you!!!
The bright moon looked up to by millions of subjects of Great Qin—he wanted to guard Ying Xi.
He also desired to embrace the bright moon, to let it shine on him alone.
—This was what Xie Qianli wanted to do to the Supreme Ruler of the World.
However.
He dared not reveal anything.
…Saying it out loud would ruin everything.
Xie Qianli took a deep breath.
At this moment, Ying Xi began to cough violently again: “Cough, cough cough cough, cough…”
The Emperor’s reaction should have attracted the attention of many attendants, but Yu Jing and the others were late to arrive. This compartment was silent.
Perhaps the discussion of state affairs was over, and the Emperor came to handle private matters. Fearing too many people would talk, he had dismissed everyone in advance.
Xie Qianli stood up, wanting to touch Ying Xi, but Ying Xi waved his hand, not needing service.
“Cough, cough cough, cough…”
Being seen in this sickly state was shameful enough for him. Ying Xi had always been ashamed of this overly fragile constitution.
But the more he coughed, the more he couldn’t catch his breath.
Illness was playing a big joke on him. At the critical moment of deciding the nation’s destiny, when spirit and energy were most needed, his body completely broke down.
Ying Xi could only gasp as he said, “Give Zhen, water—”
The celadon pot was right on the table in the compartment.
Xie Qianli stood up immediately; when he rose, he actually stumbled slightly.
He was terrified Ying Xi would see that when he served him, he harbored diligence that went beyond a subject’s loyalty to a monarch.
Lifting the pot to fill it halfway, Xie Qianli held up the teacup and offered it.
Ying Xi took the cup with trembling hands, his fingertips unconsciously touching Xie Qianli’s.
Xie Qianli felt as if an electric current started from his fingertips and traveled through his entire body.
If Ying Xi could have looked at Xie Qianli out of the corner of his eye while holding the porcelain cup, he would have clearly noticed that this man’s stance and gaze now concealed a different mystery.
He stood to Ying Xi’s front right, neither far nor close, representing protection without being threatening.
The light in his eyes became very subtle.
Like a massive, fierce beast in nature, affectionately watching over its only mate.
Even after Ying Xi calmed down, Xie Qianli took the empty water cup extremely naturally: “Your Majesty, take care of your dragon body.”
Only then did Ying Xi recover slightly. He said, “There is a state matter weighing on Zhen; I want to consider it alone. Zhen still has Prince Yong to deal with. You go back, Minister Xie.”
“Yes.”
After sending Xie Qianli away, Ying Xi felt his body was about to run dry.
Matters piled up one after another. If the human body truly had a heartstring, his was on the verge of snapping.
Without any experience from his past life as a reference, this seemed to be a key node in this life.
His sleepiness attracted Tiantong‘s (Sweetie/System) comfort.
Tiantong said, “If Your Majesty can’t figure it out even by thinking, Your Majesty should rest early.”
” Zhen needs to deal with many people.”
Ying Xi said, “Everyone’s troubles, all the problems they can’t handle, all decisions that might have long-term effects on the future, require Zhen to make up his mind.”
“If done well, we all share the glory.”
“If done poorly, even if Li Yilong attacks Chang’an, the ministers can change their faces and serve another master. The unconscious ruler is Zhen, the one hated is Zhen, and the one killed in the end is also Zhen.”
He couldn’t say these words to anyone. He told Tiantong only because it served him alone.
But Tiantong was too simple after all. It said blankly, “I still feel His Majesty needs a confidant to bare his heart to.”
Ying Xi: “Not needed.”
“You’re at it again. I don’t want to listen.” Tiantong covered its non-existent ears, muttering softly, “You only have the mountains and rivers and the altars of earth and grain in your heart. You are an Emperor solely focused on your career.”
This little girl Tiantong bore some resemblance to Hua Zhao.
Ying Xi said gently, “Whoever Zhen cares about is whoever Zhen wants to harm.”
These words had no beginning or end, exceeding the range of what Tiantong could understand.
Ying Xi moved his gaze to Prince Yong.
He shared his vision with the System. Prince Yong was still wearing his undergarments. Compared to Xie Qianli’s heroic coldness, he went in a completely different direction.
His nose was straight, his lips thin, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned. When sober, the whites of his eyes showed more than the pupils, and the corners of his mouth always curled into a mocking smile. But now his body lay crookedly on the ground.
When Ying Dang neither spoke nor moved, no longer irritating, expressionless, his hair hanging down in wet strands…
He shed his arrogant air, weakened his dissolute dandy posture, and only then revealed a bit of his true face.
Ying Xi’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on the hard, cold ground where Ying Dang lay.
System Mission: Take care of Prince Yong (0/1)
Mission Reward: Limited Edition Love Divination Tarot x1
The mission that suddenly popped up in the bottom right corner of the interface caught Ying Xi’s attention. He didn’t quite understand the mission reward, but he roughly understood the meaning of divination.
The mission gave Ying Xi a reason to act. The reward also provided motivation.
Fighting his fatigue, Ying Xi got up and slowly squatted beside Ying Dang.
He was about to lift Ying Dang from the ground, but Ying Dang was tall and his body hard; Ying Xi felt like he was touching a warm stone.
Gritting his teeth, the Emperor draped the dead-weight Ying Dang’s arm over his own thin shoulder. At this moment, Ying Dang’s lapels fell open, and the rich scent of Yulouchun rouge drilled into his nose.
Ying Xi frowned.
Looking closer, on Ying Dang’s burning skin, there were several red marks on his chest, crimson like plum blossoms.
He must have been debauched in the flower streets and willow lanes, having contact with many orioles and swallows. For Ying Xi, he instinctively resisted.
The Emperor didn’t like others touching him. Similarly, if someone had touched too many people and then came close to him, Ying Xi would feel very uncomfortable.
Prince Yong’s lifestyle was worthy of criticism.
With great difficulty, he dragged Ying Dang to the couch in the compartment.
Ying Dang was in a coma, but at this moment, he seemed to be roused. Amidst his chaotic consciousness, his body shuddered violently!
Ying Xi trembled with him: “…Dang’er?”
Ying Dang’s right hand was still on Ying Xi’s shoulder. His hanging palm had its five fingers spread open; he closed them forcefully but failed to clench tight.
Ying Xi saw that he wanted to assume a posture of holding a knife but didn’t succeed. He was a bit palpitating with fear, his brow still trembling.
The resentment toward Ying Dang for being a failure fell slightly to the losing side in the face of his responsibility as an older brother.
Ying Xi let out a long sigh.
He said hoarsely in Ying Dang’s ear, “Lights out.”
It was like a memory carved into bones and blood, causing him to react instinctively. Ying Dang was stunned in his haze.
Then he obediently relaxed his strength. His tense body slowly loosened, and his fingers gradually opened.
He called out dazedly, “Bro… Brother.”
A strong sourness surged in Ying Xi’s throat!
The past swept over his heart like overturning seas and mountains; Ying Xi almost lost his footing.
It was as if this “Brother” instantly pulled him back to the Yongning Prince Manor of the past. Whether he was studying, resting, admiring flowers, fishing, playing chess with Father, or entertaining guests with Mother, he had this little tail following him.
Heir of Yongning Prince Manor, Ying Xi. Second legitimate son, Ying Dang.
Once, the relationship between the two brothers was so good that people who saw them couldn’t help but doubt the rumors of the palace in history books, the royal secrets—did things like brothers fighting against the wall and battles for titles really exist?
When Ying Dang was little, he would always hold a pillow and look for Ying Xi to sleep with.
Obviously, he had his own room, but the little young master of the Prince Manor insisted on sneaking out to squeeze into the same bed with his brother, willing to wait for Ying Xi for a long time.
Before he shot up in height, Ying Dang was a round little dumpling.
As long as the two lay side by side, that little dumpling would whine and whimper, pulling Ying Xi’s clothes, begging Ying Xi to tell stories, pressing his whole body onto Ying Xi’s stomach, deliberately making his brother breathless…
All that laughter and noise would usually be indulged by Ying Xi.
Because his brother was young, he should yield to him.
If Ying Dang truly had too much energy, and Ying Xi had to attend school the next day, the older brother would use the phrase “Lights out” to gently end the day, then blow out the lampstand before the bed.
At that time, no matter how excited Ying Dang was, he would return to calm.
A pair of small hands would clutch Ying Xi’s lapel tightly, and he would sleep soundly, snoring softly.
Lights out.
For Ying Dang, this was an unforgettable companionship.
Ten years later, Ying Dang once again completely dropped his guard because of this phrase. His heavy body let Ying Xi manipulate him onto the couch, but he lay a bit to the edge. Ying Xi tried to lift his long legs.
System Mission: Take care of Prince Yong (1/1)
Mission Reward: Limited Edition Love Divination Tarot x1 (Distributed)
Ying Xi breathed a sigh of relief.
On the couch, Ying Dang turned over. Lying on his side, his palm grabbed blindly but caught nothing. His clothes became messier, revealing more rouge marks. Ying Xi shook his head straight away looking at it.
Even if Ying Dang didn’t want face…
As a brother, he had to save some face for him. Ying Xi couldn’t let the guards and eunuchs who would carry Ying Dang out later pry into the intimacies on the skin of a dignified Prince.
Ying Xi, with a cold face, went to cover Ying Dang’s chest first.
His cold white fingertips just touched the edge of Ying Dang’s undergarment lapel. His slightly cool palm brushed against the side of Ying Dang’s waist. Ying Dang’s muscles suddenly tensed all over!
Ying Xi’s brow jumped!
Ying Dang opened his eyes like a leopard, agilely grabbing the hand at his waist.
In the palm covered with calluses from knife practice, Ying Xi struggled with force!
But under the shackles of a martial artist, resistance was futile. Ying Xi’s five fingers were forcibly pried open by Prince Yong. A burst of numbness shot through his knuckles, and then he was forced to clasp hands with Ying Dang, ten fingers interlaced.
Prince Yong used the extremely rich romantic experience he had accumulated since coming to Chang’an to quickly restrain Ying Xi, swapping their positions.
The front lapel Prince Yong had just covered was completely thrown open.
Ying Xi lay face up. After the world spun, he was shrouded in a heavy shadow.
In front of him was the tall Ying Dang, the silhouette of the other’s body reflecting in his vision.
Prince Yong’s body was scorching hot, producing a real deterrent force on Ying Xi. It not only thoroughly offended the Emperor’s majesty but also his dignity as an older brother. Ying Xi’s lungs burst into a violent cough:
“You—”
“Cough, cough cough cough, cough…”
When the Emperor coughed, his body trembled, his cheeks flushing red.
That subtle trembling made Ying Dang press Ying Xi’s hand even harder. A low laugh carrying a breathy sound filled the entire compartment.
Madness, obsession, and a heart full of love and hate from the past—Ying Dang turned it all into this moment’s catharsis.
He wanted Ying Xi.
Prince Yong lowered his head and pressed down on Ying Xi for a fierce kiss!
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