Chapter 81: Entrusting Half a Lifetime; Keep Ticking! Little Xie’s Delusions Reach a New Level…
The other party’s treatment of him as if he were fire or water provoked an unpleasant reaction from the Emperor.
However, he couldn’t tell if the Imperial displeasure was due to the offense against his monarchal dignity or if some growing expectations were crawling into his soul like the tendrils of a vine.
Ying Xi lifted his left foot and kicked hard!
[System Mission: Have Xie Qianli apply medicine (6666/???)]
[Sweet System: Wow! There’s extra drama! An encore! Your Majesty is so generous! Mwah, Your Majesty!!!!]
The Sweet System’s voice rose several decibels once again.
This left foot truly used strength in the kick.
However, though he kicked Xie Qianli’s right shoulder, the armchair he was sitting in slid backward rapidly, the chair letting out a long screech.
The sole of Ying Xi’s foot immediately went numb.
“Hiss…”
It hurt even more!
Xie Qianli suddenly lifted his gaze.
He had been kicked by the Emperor, yet his body remained motionless.
Xie Qianli’s palm was burning hot. He gripped Ying Xi’s right foot tightly, as if he had just caught a silver fish that had just come out of the water. Beneath his ice-like silver armor, a ball of scorching fire ignited.
Restraint only made the need even stronger.
Xie Qianli couldn’t deny that he had intentionally used force just now.
The moment his palm touched Ying Xi’s skin, his actions preceded his logic.
Logic told him he must immediately release the Emperor’s right foot, yet when he grabbed the Dragon Foot, he had squeezed the Emperor into pain.
He lowered his eyes and saw a patch of light pink blooming on Ying Xi’s ankle.
The right foot was still in his hand, and the left foot had been bruised by the pauldron because of the kick. Ying Xi’s brow furrowed instantly.
Xie Qianli hurried to release the Imperial foot.
“This subject deserves ten thousand deaths!!!”
Ying Xi was naturally angry.
The sole of his foot was still aching and numb. He had harmed himself by a thousand to fail to punish the other by even one—he hadn’t even scratched the man. He had lost out significantly.
Glancing at the distance that had opened between them, Ying Xi’s tone was poor: “—Why didn’t you dodge this time!”
“I…” Xie Qianli froze slightly.
He thought about the meaning in Ying Xi’s words, genuinely not knowing if he should have dodged or not.
If the Emperor wanted to punish him, shouldn’t he have done so long ago?
A sense of confusion and panic gradually rose in Xie Qianli. Extravagant hope poked its head out like a new sprout stirring beneath the ground in early spring.
He pursed his thin lips and chose to lower his head in silence.
Ying Xi pressed: “I am asking you a question.”
Xie Qianli weighed his words. “This subject… didn’t dare dodge.”
“You dared earlier, didn’t you?” He was naturally still unsatisfied with that over-the-top reaction. Ying Xi began to demand accountability.
Xie Qianli’s heart drummed even harder. He weighed his words even more carefully, offering a small explanation: “This subject… should not have dodged earlier either.”
His confidence was lacking, so Ying Xi remained cold.
He even suddenly thought of the tragic end the two of them had in their past life.
The Emperor began to settle old scores unilaterally. “It is because you are distant from me in your heart that your instinct reacted this way. I always thought I treated Minister Xie well, but Minister Xie has another set of accounts in his heart, calculating only your own affairs.”
Suddenly, Xie Qianli was shocked.
Ying Xi was being uncharacteristically sarcastic.
But the Emperor wasn’t angry because of his offense. From what Ying Xi was saying, could it be… that he actually wants me to be closer?
“……”
Alarm bells rang in his heart. Those cold, handsome brows were completely thrown into disarray like a deep pool.
Xie Qianli lowered his eyes even further, quietly hiding his panic. The current situation seemed to be telling him that his extravagant hope actually had a chance of coming true.
His palms were completely drenched in sweat.
His breathing quickened. In hindsight, he realized that Ying Xi’s treatment of him truly was different from others.
In the palace, in the camp, on the deck…
Writing a letter to have him return to the capital quickly to accompany him.
When suppressing bandits, waiting in the camp.
Even when seasick, only telling him? And saying he needed to be close to him to feel better?
He felt his throat tighten. The details of his interactions with the Emperor couldn’t withstand scrutiny. Perhaps he was the one who didn’t understand the hints.
To think he was always favored by the Bright Moon!
Could it be that Xiao Xi was… hinting to him?
He loved Xiao Xi, and Xiao Xi also…
Xie Qianli’s blood began to boil.
Beneath that mountain-like silver armor, his entire being seemed to have caught fire.
Excitement made it impossible for him to distinguish the reason for Ying Xi’s petty anger.
Seeing Ying Xi’s expression grow colder, Xie Qianli was seized by a sense of panic.
He wanted to pounce forward and completely release the closeness in his heart, yet he was also afraid it was merely his delusion, something he had fantasized about for too long.
Xie Qianli could only use heavier iron chains to bind the restlessness in his heart.
Within his horizontal line of sight, Ying Xi’s jade-like toes were included. The feel of the Emperor’s skin surpassed the lychees sent from Lingnan to Chang’an; it turned out that a light touch would cause a flush of crimson… bringing a string of yearnings.
He hurriedly stopped himself.
Xie Qianli’s head was lowered as far as it could go.
He replied hoarsely, “This subject has no second heart toward Your Majesty. From now on, I shall never dodge again.”
Ying Xi didn’t believe a straight man’s nonsense.
Glancing at his own left foot, Ying Xi slowly curled his toes. The numb pain had finally dissipated by about seventy to eighty percent. The Sweet System wasn’t wrong—he really was hard everywhere.
[System Mission: Have Xie Qianli apply medicine (9999/9999)]
Ying Xi said crossly, “Get up. The medicine is done. If you want to dodge, then dodge; it hurts when I kick you.”
[Mission Notification: All your current functions have been restored. The host performed excellently. Reward: +9999 Charm.]
——How much?!
Ying Xi was stunned.
Naturally, he had never seen such a large number in this broken system.
Back then, he had swept through the Secretariat with two thousand charm points. With over nine thousand charm points, wouldn’t he influence the entire city of Guangling?
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard someone shouting incessantly outside the study:
“Help! Help! Save me!”
“Your Majesty, save, save, save me!”
The cries for help continued, the tone growing increasingly tragic. It was Lian Qing.
He couldn’t blame anyone else; he could only blame his own lack of self-control.
Lian Qing had originally been standing outside the study, thinking he’d just take one look.
How could he have known that after one look, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from looking again?
The gossip about his own general and the Emperor was free to eat. Lian Qing was careful as he huddled outside the door to peep.
He saw the Emperor kick the general. Those snow-white toes—kicking anyone would make their heart itch. Lian Qing suddenly let out a silly grin, his imagination going into overdrive.
How could he have known that inside the room, the Emperor’s charm points would suddenly spike? The surge affected the area outside the room, and Lian Qing began to have delusions he would never normally dare to have.
The Great Falcon watched him sternly. Then, it dove down, scratching him wildly.
“Save me!”
“Save—”
“A bird is killing someone!!! Save me!!!”
The study door was gently pushed open.
Within the doorframe appeared the slender figure of the Emperor, with General Xie standing beside him.
The moment its master appeared, the tea-colored bird became obedient and sensible, instantly smoothing out its strength, making it look like it was just playing with him.
It made Lian Qing look like he was crying for help over nothing.
Xie Qianli’s brows were tightly knit. “You were outside the whole time?”
“……” Lian Qing was speechless.
Lian Qing’s face turned bright red; he felt he was about to be silenced.
He had no choice but to lie through his teeth: “I just arrived—the refurbishment of the Yongning Prince Mansion is complete. I am here to invite Your Majesty to move. This is the truth!”
It was a blatant case of “the lady doth protest too much,” and Xie Qianli was only half-convinced.
The tea-colored bird couldn’t speak and couldn’t expose Lian Qing; it could only glare at him and go coo coo coo.
Ying Xi: “Prepare the carriage.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor used the tone of a superior, his posture incredibly noble. However, that single, thin undergarment outlined his entire being with an air of fragility that seemed like it could break at any moment.
The extreme contrast made one want to approach, yet one could only look up in awe. Lian Qing was in a state of confusion.
He didn’t know what was wrong with him.
Suddenly, he heard General Xie say, “Your Majesty has just had medicine applied to both legs; it is not suitable for you to walk too much. Prepare a carriage to go to the Mansion.”
Applying medicine?
Lian Qing muttered in his heart, inevitably feeling some doubt about his previous judgment. He quietly peeked into the study.
Indeed, the two had come out, leaving only a lone celadon medicine bottle on the ground. The two of them acted naturally, as if their consciences were clear.
Lian Qing: “……”
Lian Qing’s heart was far from peaceful. They were just applying medicine???
Applying medicine could make that much noise???
Apply—
It seemed he was the only one with a dirty mind.
Lian Qing didn’t dare say a word and hurriedly rolled off to call for the carriage.
Returning to the Yongning Prince Mansion once again, Ying Xi didn’t make a huge scene.
Actually, given his status as Emperor, it wouldn’t be considered excessive for him to make a big deal out of it in Guangling Commandery, announcing his glorious return home. It would have been human nature.
But because he could easily do so, he didn’t want to.
After the refurbishment, the Yongning Prince Mansion was brand new.
Ying Xi strolled through the garden.
Lang Xun was not by his side; his guard now was technically Xie Qianli. Xie Qianli walked behind Ying Xi.
The garden was filled with a riot of colors—bricks, tiles, grass, and trees—everything was vibrant and bright.
the bloodstains were gone.
The cave in the Taihu stones that could hide a person was now blocked with rocks. That stone cave held memories of childhood games of hide-and-seek. The soldiers in charge of the construction naturally didn’t know the story and had sealed it up tight.
Ying Xi reached out, his slender fingers touching the stone wall that could no longer be opened. Things had changed and people were gone; this was the mansion he was both familiar with and a stranger to.
But no matter how beautifully it was refurbished, his Father and Mother could not come back.
Ying Xi’s lower lip trembled.
Not wishing for anyone to realize his bone-deep sorrow, Ying Xi changed the subject.
“How is Dang-er?”
Xie Qianli: “Alive.”
The answer was too brief, and Ying Xi raised an eyebrow slightly.
Nine thousand charm points were indeed useless against a straight man. The Emperor compared him to the subject who used to be much more talkative after he had added charm points back then.
Ju-er truly was a straight man; using him for missions was much safer.
Even if his heart felt a bit uncomfortable, Ying Xi still weighed the pros and cons and nodded.
“The elder who saved us two brothers is named Qiao. Old Man Qiao died a tragic death, and his son was even harmed by Jia Ruzhen. I can only posthumously title him as the Loyal and Righteous Count and have him enshrined in a local ancestral hall for offerings.”
Xie Qianli knew of the old man from the Anren Medicine Hall.
For the elder to protect the Emperor, even if it was also to avenge his own son, that level of resolve was truly beyond what normal people could achieve.
Xie Qianli’s reaction was a bit more active than on the previous topic: “Your Majesty is wise. I shall send the decree to the city later.”
“Additionally,” Ying Xi suddenly grew somewhat serious, his tone heavier, “if Prince Yong makes a fuss about wanting to see me, ignore him for now.”
“I want Prince Yong to observe mourning for three years for Mr. Qiao. He is not allowed any sensual pleasures. If he does not comply, I will not consider him my brother,” Ying Xi said.
I did not kill Bo Ren, yet Bo Ren died because of me.
Prince Yong could not be separated from the death of Mr. Qiao.
As for the arrangements for his brother after this…
Ying Xi thought for a moment. He was ultimately afraid that sending him back to the Imperial City would cause him to revert to his old ways and cause trouble.
Ying Xi sighed. “I received a memorial at noon saying the eastern front is attacking Lujiang. Our western front will soon approach Linchuan. The two armies are set to meet beneath the enemy’s capital.”
“The two-month limit is now half gone. I cannot afford any accidents.”
“I want to take Prince Yong with us on the campaign and keep him under guard in the army.”
Xie Qianli’s heart tightened.
Prince Yong was a huge problem. This man was full of schemes for escaping and often spoke insolently. Furthermore, he even had improper designs on his elder brother. Keeping him by Ying Xi’s side was like burying a hidden danger that could go off at any time.
Xie Qianli advised, “The battlefield is no child’s play. His Highness should not remain for long.”
His hidden meaning was that the brat should be sent back to Chang’an.
“But who can guarantee that the escort won’t make a mistake?” Ying Xi countered.
There had been many painful lessons; whether it was the captain of the guards or the Court of the Imperial Clan, no one could control Prince Yong.
But Xie Qianli still believed that taking Prince Yong along was not a good thing. He remained silent.
In front of him, Ying Xi said, “The only person in the army who has a status equal to Dang-er and can also control him is none other than Minister Xie.”
Ying Xi said calmly, “My meaning is to keep him in the open and have you discipline him for me.”
Xie Qianli froze.
The air in the Yongning Prince Mansion seemed to have thousands more silken strings, sensitively plucking at Xie Qianli’s nerves.
Xie Qianli’s breath was shallow, and he unconsciously lifted the corners of his mouth.
He thought of his parents’ past.
His mother, the Grand Princess Huining, had married his father—who was more than ten years older than her—for one important reason: her brother was young and simply could not keep the court under control. His mother needed to rely on his father’s military power and reputation.
Wasn’t this also a kind of entrustment?
Xie Qianli had been hinted at twice today, and a thread of sweetness rose in his heart.
His heartstrings were in chaos, and he couldn’t help but think more.
But their thoughts could only be tested; he couldn’t ask no matter what.
He could only press down that expectation that was already hanging high. His gaze landed on Ying Xi’s back. After bathing, the Emperor had tied his hair up, and it swayed behind him—soft and light, every strand tickling his heart.
Xie Qianli slightly adjusted their standing positions.
He used his shadow to envelop Xiao Xi. With every step forward, an overwhelming desire for exclusive possession swelled. Xie Qianli smiled.
In front of him, Ying Xi said impatiently, “I’m giving him to you to manage. What do you think?”
“I shall not fail Your Majesty’s expectations. This subject obeys the decree.”
That was good; even with nine thousand charm points added, he was still just as serious.
Ying Xi didn’t know whether to be helpless or relieved. A wave of mischief rose in him, and he actually felt like playing a trick.
Ying Xi asked him, “Good Ju-er, if you have a lover in the future, will you also speak no more than three sentences to them?”
The guess seemed to be gradually becoming a reality; the hint had almost become a direct statement!
Xie Qianli’s throat felt like it was about to explode.
He was inspired by Ying Xi and was filled with excitement.
He weighed the details of the past and reached a conclusion: Does Xiao Xi also like me?
Having gained Long, he looked toward Shu, wanting to verify even more.
At this moment, Ying Xi stopped in his tracks before Xie Qianli.
The two of them nearly overlapped, one in front of the other.
The scent of the Imperial incense from his hair wound around them. His longing became an uncontrollable desire. Xie Qianli’s breathing grew heavier by several beats, and the fragrance became a hook that drew him in invisibly.
Why bother being a gentleman?
Besides, he wasn’t one.
The Emperor suddenly turned halfway around, his gaze sharp as he said, “I also recalled something. You were left with no clues; how did you know I was in the Guangling Commandery?”
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