Chapter 2: Novice Mission – He Was Like a Magnolia at the Very Top of the Canopy…
Seeing the jumping numbers before his eyes and hearing that young girl’s voice again, Ying Xi hurriedly put the situation with Xie Qianli on hold. Sparing a fraction of his attention, he quickly whispered to the System.
The System explained rapidly, “Your Majesty, please complete the mission as requested. There will be a reward upon completion.”
The semi-transparent panel displayed clearly: [Polish Xie Qianli’s spear (0/1)]
“And if I don’t?” Ying Xi asked inwardly.
Tian Tong: “There will be a punishment.”
“Will I die?”
“Not necessarily.”
The countdown continued to tick. Connecting various signs, Ying Xi deduced that his rebirth might be linked to the System. If he wanted to live, he had to comply with its demands.
Besides, if the countdown ended, he might die; if Xie Qianli committed regicide, he would also die. Ying Xi intended to enjoy life this time around. He didn’t want to die; he had to find a way to survive.
He cast a gaze, feeling utterly absurd, at Xie Qianli’s spear; the shaft glinted with a cold metallic sheen.
The weapon was named “Roaming Dragon Blade.”
On the day the kingdom fell in his past life, he had been stabbed to death by the Roaming Dragon Blade amidst the sea of fire in Weiyang Palace. Afterward, Xie Qianli fought the Xiongnu, slaughtering over a hundred men before finally exhausting his strength and perishing under a barrage of blades.
The terrifying sensation of that Roaming Dragon Blade piercing his abdomen was still clearly palpable.
Ying Xi suppressed his fear and steadied Xie Qianli, saying, “Grant him a seat.”
Yu Jing sent someone to bring chairs, and the generals of the expeditionary army sat down.
Ying Xi’s arrangement was calculated. Moving from a sitting to a standing position took time to react, whereas his guards in Shanglin Park could draw their blades and cut down a rebellious subject instantly. As an Emperor, one always had to calculate every minor detail. Ying Xi was skilled in this art, and his heart settled slightly.
But Ying Xi hadn’t anticipated Xie Qianli’s cold, severe eyes.
A general who had truly slaughtered on the battlefield was vastly different from guards who spent all year in the deep palace—especially since this unit under the Duke of Ying was an army of mourners who had just lost their commander.
Xie Qianli was young, yet his aura was imposing.
The guards of Shanglin Park didn’t dare meet his gaze; one could well imagine what would happen if a fight broke out.
After weighing the pros and cons, Ying Xi’s intention to kill Xie Qianli here and seize the spear to clean it faded. Since he couldn’t kill him, he had to coax him.
The countdown was ticking faster!
Ying Xi furrowed his brows; in response, Xie Qianli’s knuckles tightened.
Ying Xi felt as if an invisible sword hung over his head, the air around him tightening inch by inch. He had to first offer kind words to console the Young General’s grief and diffuse this misunderstanding that could erupt into violence at any moment.
Ying Xi lifted the fine wine from the long table before him. “I am deeply pained by the Duke of Ying’s death in battle. Since hearing the tragic news, I have been so stricken with grief that I wished not to live. That is why I ordered the Imperial Music Office to perform—yet it could not distract me from my sorrow by even half a measure.”
A qualified emperor does not show his emotions.
But whenever Ying Xi wished, he could skillfully use his words and expression to display a look of infinite, moving sorrow.
And indeed, Ying Xi was mourning Xie Ji with genuine sincerity.
Ying Xi lifted the wine pot, filled two cups, and raised one. “I propose a toast to the descendant of a loyal and virtuous subject. General, please.”
“……”
Since ascending the throne, Ying Xi had never touched alcohol. By abstaining completely, the Emperor demonstrated his responsible attitude toward the empire. Thus, this cup of wine was an exception for Ying Xi.
The Xie family had produced generals for six generations and held the merit of aiding the founding of the dynasty. Since ancient times, generals who held military power could rarely escape the suspicion of emperors.
If the Emperor needed a sense of security, didn’t the general also need trust?
This special grace diminished the thick hostility between Xie Qianli’s brows.
Xie Qianli lowered his gaze halfway, accepted the wine Yu Jing handed him, and drank it in one go.
The sun was now nearing the west; the setting sun shone obliquely on Xie Qianli, splashing him with the colors of dusk.
The red of the sunset intensified the bloodstains on Xie Qianli’s armor, making him look like a trapped beast that had exhausted its strength, seemingly longing to return to its cage in weariness.
Ying Xi felt an inexplicable tug at his heart.
However, fixated on completing the novice mission distributed by the Dating System, he had no time to relax, no time for resentment or sympathy, and not even enough time to notice that fleeting bit of superfluous emotion.
Taking advantage of the other’s temporary calm, Ying Xi sent Yu Jing to fetch clear water and a soft cloth.
The teenage Emperor crooked his finger. It took four guards lifting simultaneously to raise the long spear Xie Qianli had placed by his hand. They struggled to bring it before Ying Xi, the Roaming Dragon Blade emitting a clear hum as it touched the table.
Under Xie Qianli’s slightly baffled gaze, Ying Xi’s left hand supported the shaft to wipe it; the metallic luster of the spear was heavy and rich.
Ying Xi’s voice was always calm, his tone majestic and noble, but his appearance contrasted sharply with his voice.
He was like a magnolia flower at the very top of the canopy—solitary in its whiteness, beautiful and fragile.
The bright silver spear shaft lay against Ying Xi’s fingertips, which were white enough to seem luminous. The silver brilliance of the spear actually paled in comparison to the Emperor’s snow-white skin.
The Emperor used the soft cloth to wrap the spearhead; the diameter of the shaft was significant, making it difficult for his fingertips to grip.
Ying Xi cared about deportment in everything he did. He cleaned slowly, wiping the blood along the grooves of the spearhead. The pad of his thumb rubbed the spearhead meticulously through the soft cloth. Fearful of pricking his hand on the tip, he cleaned the head in circular motions.
That Roaming Dragon Blade was the very weapon that had killed Ying Xi in his past life. He still harbored lingering fear of it, causing his fingertips to tremble almost imperceptibly, which in turn made his other hand holding the shaft shake as well.
To outsiders, however, this appeared as awe and reverence.
Xie Qianli involuntarily looked away.
He picked up a pastry from the long table beside his seat and ate it.
At this moment, the System displayed: [Polish Xie Qianli’s spear (1/1)]
Mission accomplished.
The countdown stopped.
Ying Xi ordered the guards to carry the Roaming Dragon Blade back to Xie Qianli.
Xie Qianli finished the pastry with solemn composure, his expression even colder than before.
He acted strictly on business, presenting a memorial detailing the number of captives from the Qingniu Army. “The rebellion in Jiangbei was led by the Qingniu bandits. Now, aside from a few scattered fugitives, the Qingniu Army has been completely exterminated. We report our mission accomplished to Your Majesty.”
“You have worked hard.”
Ying Xi was also strictly business.
To have tolerated a subject who, just a few hours ago (in his memory), had killed him in a previous life, Ying Xi felt he should praise his own imperial self-control as top-tier.
“With the Duke of Ying fallen, you shall succeed him as commander of the army. I hope my beloved subject will not fail my expectations and will inherit your ancestors’ legacy to defend the home and country.”
“This subject thanks Your Grace.”
I can’t take Xie Qianli’s military power for now, so I’ll let it go for today, Ying Xi said to himself.
“The expedition was exhausting, and you are travel-worn. General, you may withdraw to rest.”
They found each other mutually detestable. Since the report was done, Xie Qianli was also waiting for the Emperor to dismiss him. “This humble subject withdraws.”
Xie Qianli coldly picked up his long spear.
His lieutenants and others rose to bow and take their leave.
As this group of bloodthirsty gods prepared to exit Shanglin Park, everyone else in the park was getting ready to breathe a long sigh of relief.
However, just as Xie Qianli’s palm touched the spear shaft, he seemed to detect a faint, barely-there warmth.
It was Ying Xi’s warmth.
Xie Qianli frowned and turned back.
Rumors were rife that the Duke of Ying’s death was related to the Emperor, and opinions in the court were divided. His father’s soul could not rest in peace.
Even if Xie Qianli was temporarily sparing this incompetent tyrant, it was only to investigate the truth later. He didn’t want to be indebted to anyone. Gripping the Roaming Dragon Blade, he bowed and stiffly blurted out to Ying Xi, “I thank the Emperor for his empathy.”
Ying Xi just wanted him to disappear immediately. Waving his hand, he replied hurriedly, “No need for formalities. It’s not like I haven’t polished it for my beloved subject before.”
“……”
This remark seemed to flip a switch in Xie Qianli, triggering a violent reaction.
Xie Qianli’s cold face turned from pale to green, and then a thin flush rose over the green.
His brow twitched as he controlled his expression, then he turned and strode away.
He didn’t even notice that he had knocked over the glazed cup used for the wine toast. The cup rolled down and shattered on the marble floor of Shanglin Park, making a series of crisp crashing sounds.
Ying Xi didn’t realize that the corner of his mouth had hooked up for a split second.
Shanglin Park returned to complete silence.
Nightfall, Weiyang Palace Sleeping Quarters.
Benzoin burned in the bronze beast censer, sending curling wisps of blue-purple smoke into the air.
Ying Xi had shoved all of today’s unimportant memorials to the Department of State Affairs for decision.
In his past life, even if the Department made a decision, he would monitor the follow-up in minute detail. In this life, he had changed.
Ying Xi lay half-reclined, reading a leisure book he had once wanted to read but feared would waste time: Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyang.
The dragon bed was vast, making the Emperor’s figure appear overly frail.
Stripped of the solemn dragon robes and with his hair let down, Ying Xi held the scroll with eyes half-lowered. Soft, loose strands of hair hung by his temples and draped over his shoulders. He killed about an hour; he was nearly at the end of the book, yet it wasn’t even the Hour of Hai.
Ying Xi looked out the window and let out a light chuckle.
The Chief Eunuch, who had already decided to curry favor with Ying Xi, naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity to gain face before the Emperor.
Yu Jing kneeled and shuffled before the Emperor, presenting another book. His red lips parted lightly: “This slave brought a similar notebook novel from the study to present for Your Majesty’s reading.”
According to his past life’s way of handling things, Yu Jing presuming the Sacred Intent would have crossed Ying Xi’s bottom line and would certainly have been punished.
But this life was different.
Whether a monarch could control his desires depended on himself, not on external temptations. Besides, his extraordinary self-discipline in his past life hadn’t stopped the kingdom from falling.
With no psychological burden, Ying Xi took the book casually.
Yu Jing had red lips and white teeth; now, with his eyes curved in a smile, he knelt by the side of the Emperor’s dragon bed.
He lowered his eyes submissively to show off. His deep red lips opened and closed: “Before entering the palace, this slave also had many miscellaneous books at home. This slave loved reading In Search of the Supernatural, which is wondrous and unique; A New Account of the Tales of the World, featuring dashing figures; and there are also delightful legends in Songs of Chu…”
At this moment, Ying Xi said indifferently, “Tomorrow, bring me The Exploitation of the Works of Nature from the study.”
The Exploitation of the Works of Nature was a work on craftsmanship and technology, its style completely different from any of the books just discussed.
This meant the eunuch’s attempt to cater to his tastes had been detected and warned against by the Emperor.
Cold sweat instantly slid from Yu Jing’s forehead to his cheek.
The Chief of Internal Officials thought the Emperor had changed his nature, but clearly, the Emperor was not indulging in pleasure. It turned out he was extremely lucid, revealing a touch of cold indifference.
Yu Jing was so frightened his hair stood on end. He kowtowed frantically before the dragon bed. “Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!”
His forehead was bruised purple, hitting the floor hard enough to break the skin. Yet the blood seeping from Yu Jing’s skin was not as red as his lips.
Ying Xi withdrew his gaze faintly.
In this life, he might be able to change his style of doing things to make his short life more comfortable, but he could not change his character.
Eunuchs could serve him, but they should never dream of controlling him.
Ying Xi stopped his pleading. In the past life, Chief Eunuch Yu Jing simply wasn’t close to him; he wasn’t greedy and hadn’t done anything wicked. Furthermore, this eunuch suffered from a serious illness without knowing it and died suddenly before the Xiongnu breached Chang’an.
Life was not easy. Ying Xi ceased making things difficult for him. Acting as if nothing had happened, he lowered his head and continued reading the leisure book Yu Jing had handed him.
Only then did Yu Jing wipe away the blood and sweat, deeply feeling that the Sacred Heart was unfathomable. He was so scared his fingertips were numb and swollen. “Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty.”
“I want to be alone for a while.”
“This slave withdraws.”
Yu Jing immediately exited the sleeping quarters.
Finally, he heard the teenage Emperor’s clear, noble voice: “Your lip color is different from ordinary people. The Imperial Physician is on duty at Weiyang Palace all year round; go see him if you need to.”
Yu Jing was stunned. He bowed with cupped hands. “I obey the decree.”
As he exited the sleeping quarters, the sky outside was full of stars. The chill of the early spring night made Yu Jing pull his sleeves tighter.
Completely bewildered, the Chief Eunuch followed the Imperial order to summon the Emperor’s physician.
The physician on duty was named Liu, but the old man had quite a temper and was stubborn, so people secretly called him Doctor Bull.
After hearing the Emperor’s decree, old Doctor Bull pulled the Chief Eunuch’s wrist to check his pulse. He carefully examined Chief Yu’s eyelids and fundus, then inspected the fingertips Yu Jing had just mentioned were numb and painful.
Finally, old Doctor Bull released Yu Jing, his eyes flickering with amazement.
The physician clasped his hands and bowed toward the sleeping palace. “His Majesty has keen insight; he has saved your life! With just a glance, he knew you suffer from Heart Bi!”
Heart Bi refers to heart disease.
“This…”
Yu Jing was overcome with belated fear. The Chief Eunuch’s feelings toward the Emperor, previously filled with trepidation, suddenly became even more complex.
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