Chapter 16: The Emperor Acts Coquettishly — He Was Alert and Stimulated, His Heart Trembling in His Chest…
System Mission: Act coquettishly towards Prime Minister Su (0/1)
Ying Xi was so angry his breathing became chaotic.
He read the system interface again, his gaze fixing on the words “act coquettishly.” For him, that was a very distant concept.
“Act coquettishly… towards Su Xueyi?”
The System emitted a series of cheerful sounds. “Yup, yup, yup, yup!” The System hummed a little tune in anticipation.
A superior bowing his head was truly a treat to watch.
But Ying Xi was resolute. “I refuse.” There was no countdown this time. Ying Xi thought that perhaps since he was compatible with the Dating System, he wouldn’t die even if he refused a mission.
Sweet Tub was stunned.
It hadn’t expected the Host not to cooperate. “Refusing to execute a mission might result in punishment.”
Ying Xi sneered. What could be more terrifying than life and death?
The Host’s resistant attitude finally made the Dating System realize that the two sides had never reached a consensus on their concepts from the start.
Previously, the Host completed missions because he didn’t want to die, not because he wanted to develop feelings for anyone.
Although the Host had promised to continue the missions, there was a limiting condition: “temporarily.”
The Host was incredibly smart; he had long planned for the day he could defy the System’s orders.
The Emperor Shou had deep thoughts.
Sweet Tub tried to persuade him patiently. “Your Majesty, although refusing the mission might save your life, there’s no guarantee you won’t lose an arm or a leg. Your Majesty wouldn’t want that kind of ending, right?” Sweet Tub negotiated.
Ying Xi was silent for a moment.
“Will I?”
“Not necessarily.”
He needed to probe the Dating System gradually, Ying Xi thought. He couldn’t push it too hard.
Ying Xi made a concession for the time being and nodded.
On the other side of the system interface, the anger on Ying Xi’s face hadn’t faded.
He pushed past everyone and stood up. Those dark grey eyes were still fixed on the Right Prime Minister. To the outside world, his silence seemed like the Emperor releasing a message of even stronger oppression.
Ying Xi stared. “Su Xueyi.”
Su Xueyi bowed his head. “Your Majesty?”
Su Xueyi awaited his punishment.
System Mission: Act coquettishly towards Prime Minister Su (0/1)
Ying Xi asked slowly, “How does one act coquettishly?”
Sweet Tub: “…”
A few seconds of silence.
Sweet Tub was stunned again. A superior bowing his head was certainly delightful to watch, but it was bound to an Emperor who didn’t understand what it meant to show weakness.
Moreover, acting coquettishly should be natural. How to do it specifically varied from person to person; describing it with words would make it lose its charm.
Sweet Tub could only try to summarize: “Your Majesty can try asking Su Xueyi to do something that is within his ability, but slightly strenuous for him.”
“For example…” Sweet Tub was about to give an example.
Ying Xi understood. He looked down at Su Xueyi and said, “Put away your thoughts of controlling Me. I want to revitalize the rivers and mountains, but it is not as if I cannot do it without someone. Killing you is but a thought away.”
“Only if I let you do your utmost from now on will I let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, I will take your head immediately. Do you understand?”
These words were both a pull and a strike. Combined with the guards’ dense forest of swords and halberds, Su Xueyi was completely in a weak position. He pursed his thin lips tightly.
Entering Weiyang Palace today, he saw an Emperor different from the past. He wanted to observe Ying Xi a bit longer.
Interesting.
Su Xueyi bowed his head and temporarily compromised, folding his hands in front of him and performing a deep bow. “This subject obeys the decree.”
System Mission: Act coquettishly towards Prime Minister Su (0/1)
Why? He had clearly asked Su Xueyi to do something strenuous for him, yet the mission wasn’t completed. Ying Xi furrowed his brows.
Sweet Tub broke down. “Your Majesty, that wasn’t acting coquettishly, that was issuing a decree! You can think about the people around you who might act coquettishly towards you.”
Ying Xi felt irritable and uneasy.
What surfaced in his memory were actually the late Emperor’s imperial concubines.
The late Emperor was his father in name. He had countless concubines. They would tug at the late Emperor’s sleeves and feed him wine with their mouths.
They would also wear very revealing dresses, with bodices cut as low as possible, deliberately hiding food between snowy peaks to entice the late Emperor to search for it with his mouth.
At that time, as the Crown Prince, Ying Xi was monitored by the late Emperor and had to report on his studies, interacting frequently with him.
The late Emperor had never acted like a father, nor even like an elder. He never avoided people when doing absurd things.
When the mood struck, he would even egg on his beautiful concubines to come over and feed Ying Xi wine. Yet, the education Ying Xi received from the Imperial Tutor was to never touch a drop of alcohol.
The late Emperor laughed loudly, watching him stand there helpless and bewildered, watching him cough as he choked on strong spirits, watching him dodge back and forth in fear of the stepmothers approaching. The late Emperor clapped his hands, never tiring of it.
The late Emperor often said these concubines were charming and beautiful, mocking him for not understanding romance.
The late Emperor even said that if he could learn to sing and dance in addition to learning how to rule, he would be even more charming than them.
Is acting coquettishly doing these behaviors?
If so, Ying Xi couldn’t do it.
Those were all things he wanted to forget completely. He would rather lose an arm or a leg.
Ying Xi: “I’m not doing it.”
When the Emperor Shou’s temper flared, Sweet Tub was helpless.
To meet its performance quota, Sweet Tub had to open the floodgates. Sweet Tub said, “Then Your Majesty, please follow my instructions. I will report to the Main Mind that Your Majesty has just passed the novice period and is not adapted yet. Regardless of performance, the standard for mission completion will be much more lenient than before.”
Ying Xi remained silent; Sweet Tub took the silence as agreement.
Sweet Tub struck while the iron was hot. “Your Majesty, please ask Prime Minister Su to carry you back.”
Ying Xi frowned slightly.
Only after a moment did Ying Xi speak coldly, “Su Xueyi, carry Me back to the sleeping palace to treat the injury.”
“…”
This request caught Su Xueyi off guard.
Just a moment ago, Ying Xi was warning him, beating him down.
Su Xueyi thought Ying Xi loathed him, yet the distance suddenly closed again.
Only the Emperor’s confidants could get close to the Emperor’s body. He could actually still enjoy this honor, but he dared not get carried away again.
Unable to guess Ying Xi’s thoughts, Su Xueyi had to bow his head and bend his waist, his back sinking slightly. Ying Xi paused briefly, then pressed his entire body down.
The maids and eunuchs looked on with amazement but dared not stare, nor did they dare follow, because the Emperor waved his hand behind Prime Minister Su’s back, dismissing them all.
Only Yu Jing, like a tight-lipped gourd, trailed behind the two, serving from a distance neither too far nor too close.
Yu Jing couldn’t gauge the Emperor’s preferences again, especially regarding personnel.
Previously, Grand Superintendent Yu thought Prime Minister Su had fallen out of favor. Now, looking at Su Xueyi and His Majesty, there didn’t seem to be any conflict. Ruler and minister had indeed had a spat, but they reconciled in the blink of an eye.
Even he, the Grand Superintendent, had never carried the Emperor!
Could it be… Yu Jing thought, His Majesty scolded Prime Minister Su harshly, and is now showing grace to let him know he is still in the Emperor’s heart?
No matter how one analyzed it, this all reflected His Majesty’s attitude of neither distancing anyone nor indulging anyone. Yu Jing felt immense awe.
Su Xueyi’s thoughts at this moment were similar to Yu Jing’s.
However, aside from analyzing Ying Xi’s way of controlling people, he was the one physically carrying the Emperor. Su Xueyi felt it distinctively; his heart contracted suddenly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed faintly with his steps.
The Little Emperor was very light.
Usually, wearing layers of heavy clothing, it wasn’t visually obvious. Now, Su Xueyi held the crook of Ying Xi’s knees.
He usually didn’t have the chance to observe Ying Xi’s calves. Those legs, clad in tight narrow boots, were slender with smooth lines, swaying back and forth hanging by his waist.
Su Xueyi couldn’t help but let his mind wander. Although he looked straight ahead, his thoughts swayed like the willow branches along the path of Weiyang Palace.
Ying Xi possessed the posture of a strong person, a beautiful appearance, a dignified and cold voice, unfathomable methods, and could not be controlled… Belatedly, he realized that Ying Xi pointed directly to every direction that fascinated him.
Su Xueyi quietly licked his upper lip.
Ying Xi’s arms were detached, not hugging his neck. Maintaining a monarch’s bearing, his upper body didn’t completely touch Su Xueyi’s back either.
Intimacy with limits created a void of need.
Su Xueyi became even more dissatisfied—he secretly craved for Ying Xi to hug him from behind.
Su Xueyi really wanted to go back to the past and slap himself hard twice!
Su Xueyi was filled with regret.
What kind of arrogance made me miss the chance to be the only exception by Ying Xi’s side back then!
Su Xueyi could only strive again as he walked. “Your Majesty.”
He adjusted his posture, gently hitching Ying Xi upward. As a result, Ying Xi’s breath suddenly brushed past his ear. The cold, clear breath made Su Xueyi shiver.
This caused Su Xueyi’s steps to be unsteady as they passed a palace chamber and entered the walled corridor. At this moment, his eyes were suddenly covered by Ying Xi.
“Your Majesty?” Su Xueyi was astonished, his upper body stiffening slightly.
Actually, as they entered the walled corridor, the Emperor suddenly realized he had just sent someone to change the decorations here yesterday. He didn’t want outsiders to see those colored lanterns.
Ying Xi feigned calm. “Just walk.”
A cold fragrance lingered around his face; Su Xueyi inhaled gently.
If the Emperor asking to be carried was an act of grace, then what was this blindfolding?
Clever as Su Xueyi was, he instantly fell into confusion.
He mentally listed every possible political intention, yet none corresponded to Ying Xi’s behavior.
With his eyes covered, every step that should have been easy became a probe. He was alert and stimulated, his heart trembling in his chest.
If not a political intention, could it be that the Little Emperor was… flirting with him just now?
Su Xueyi was suddenly struck by this flash of thought.
That bit of unspeakable longing for Ying Xi seemed to receive a response.
Guided by strange spirits, Su Xueyi’s eyelashes trembled lightly. Secretly, he squeezed the crook of Ying Xi’s leg. Through the fabric, he felt the pliable texture of Ying Xi’s skin, his gaze shifting to the tip of Ying Xi’s gold-traced boot.
Ying Xi clearly shuddered, his voice terrifyingly cold. “Hm?”
Su Xueyi froze.
Thinking his judgment was wrong, Su Xueyi hurriedly covered it up with official business. “This humble official believes that although Great Qin’s situation is critical, it is not unsolvable.” Su Xueyi offered counsel.
Ying Xi: “I know.”
Ever since deciding to protect the country and change fate, Ying Xi had considered this problem countless times in his mind.
Moreover, having two lifetimes of experience and seeing the ending, he had thought of everything that could be thought of, so his interest in discussing it was low.
However, this piqued Su Xueyi’s curiosity, and he was led by Ying Xi’s topic. “Please enlighten me, Your Majesty.”
Ying Xi said dully, “The court’s internal troubles are divided into two points: the people’s livelihood is destitute, and rebellions are unceasing. There are still small groups of rebels in the north, and Li Yilong in the south has grown on My pain point. Not only do I have to quell rebellions, but other places are also asking Me for money.”
Su Xueyi secretly agreed.
Wasn’t that exactly what he wanted to advise just now?
Ying Xi added, “Flies don’t bite seamless eggs. If internal troubles aren’t eliminated, the Xiongnu will continue to eye us covetously.”
“Therefore, I must pick one thing first to achieve some results, to tell the people of the world My determination to revitalize Great Qin,” Ying Xi said.
His words were concise but truly carried deep meaning, pouring out the accumulation of two lifetimes.
It caused Su Xueyi to be subdued by Ying Xi once again. His competitive spirit rising, Su Xueyi showed off his talent: “This subject believes Your Majesty should start by purging the administration to solve the problem of the people’s destitute livelihood.”
Ying Xi’s brow narrowed slightly. He thought for a moment but didn’t ask Su Xueyi why he should do this.
He had always been icy smart. Since a capable person gave the answer, he could reverse-engineer the reason.
Hesitating for a moment on Su Xueyi’s back, Ying Xi said, “You think the same as Me. Corruption runs rampant; it is the common people who encounter injustice, and the common people who suffer. If I strike down corrupt officials, it gives a way of life back to the people and gains support.”
“But if I suppress the rebels first, killing desperate commoners, what is lost is instead the hearts of My people.”
The teenage Emperor’s insight was profound.
Su Xueyi’s competitive edge was gradually overshadowed by Ying Xi, triggering a strong desire to perform.
“This subject also believes…”
Ying Xi: “Stop. Turn right.”
Su Xueyi’s steps halted instantly, and so did the topic.
They had walked out of the walled corridor. Yu Jing hurriedly pushed open the door, and Su Xueyi carried the Emperor over the threshold.
Ying Xi let out a breath, only releasing the palm covering Su Xueyi’s eyes after entering the sleeping hall.
System Mission: Act coquettishly towards Prime Minister Su (1/1)
How could the Emperor’s sleeping palace be easily seen by others?
Even when Su Xueyi was the Emperor’s favored minister back then, he had never been brought into the sleeping palace despite Ying Xi’s preferential treatment.
Su Xueyi scanned the surroundings unobtrusively. He knew that the dragon bed was in the innermost room. He wanted to place the Little Emperor onto the dragon bed with his own hands.
But having completed the mission, Ying Xi killed the donkey the moment it left the millstone. “Enough. Put Me down and get out.”
Yu Jing supported Ying Xi, helping the limping Emperor back to the dragon bed, then went out to summon the duty physician into the hall.
Su Xueyi lowered his brows and eyes unobtrusively.
Through the screen, Ying Xi said to him, “Return to the Department of State Affairs to serve tomorrow.”
Su Xueyi lowered his head and lifted the corners of his mouth. “Yes.”
“Your Majesty~” At this time, Sweet Tub came online, chattering in Ying Xi’s head. “Your Majesty! Do you see that the mission is complete? I applied for a relaxation of the mission threshold for you, and based on your mission performance, the reward settlement will be increased. Aren’t I awesome!”
Ying Xi praised half-heartedly, “Very awesome.”
Sweet Tub was relatively simple; it couldn’t tell truth from fake and was still immersed in the joy of having done a big thing for the Host. It cheered, “Then I will issue you 2000 Charm points right now!”
Two thousand… Charm points?
If one thousand five hundred could sweep through the Department of State Affairs, two thousand was a massive number.
Ying Xi didn’t understand why there were such drastic ups and downs. Just a moment ago, the System wanted to punish him, and now it had turned into heavy rewards. It made him feel at a loss.
But the Charm points were already issued.
Golden light flashed, and the atmosphere inside the palace hall changed.
Those two thousand Charm points targeted solely the sleeping hall, causing Su Xueyi’s gaze to lock dead onto the screen separating the outer and inner rooms.
His Adam’s apple trembled. His heart and mind were filled entirely with a vivid and vigorous yearning for Ying Xi, suddenly difficult to part with.
Su Xueyi said loudly, “This humble official requests to atone for his crimes by thoroughly investigating the integrity of officials starting from the Department of State Affairs. I beg Your Majesty’s approval!”
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