“Clearly, he’s trying to cover up the truth deliberately by saying that.”
“If Zhao Tuo knew about the existence of the Prince, why would he hide it like this?”
With flickering candlelight, Qin Yuanxi held his chin, furrowing his brow. He hadn’t thought about this aspect before. If Zhao Tuo didn’t acknowledge the Prince’s existence, so be it. Qin Yuanxi didn’t see it as a big deal. However, when Yan Shaoning made the remark, suddenly, it seemed like a significant matter.
Is Zhao Tuo deceiving him?
This idea lingered in Qin Yuanxi’s mind. If Zhao Tuo indeed deceived him, well, Qin Yuanxi didn’t know how to handle it. This matter was getting complex. However, he reasoned that Zhao Tuo might have his untold reasons. Qin Yuanxi convinced himself that even if Zhao Tuo knew about Prince Lu’s existence, what difference would it make?
From the beginning, Zhao Tuo never acknowledged Prince Lu, so it was reasonable not to face this identity. After all, Zhao Tuo viewed Prince Lu as a traitor while considering himself a loyalist. The conflict between loyalty and betrayal is age-old; it’s understandable why Zhao Tuo wouldn’t accept Prince Lu’s identity.
Moreover, considering he was a mental health patient, even if intentionally hiding something, he deserved a chance for an explanation. Qin Yuanxi reasoned with himself, but he couldn’t shake the discomfort.
He had spent a considerable amount of time with Zhao Tuo, which could be considered a heart-to-heart bond. Despite not being as close to Lu Bohuan, the latter hadn’t hidden things from him. Admittedly, Lu Bohuan might not have been able to conceal it, but at least Lu Bohuan hadn’t lied or deceived him. Why did Zhao Tuo?
Deep down, Qin Yuanxi felt a bit uneasy.
“Your Majesty, it’s getting late. You should rest.”
“Go to the Moon Pavilion.”
Qin Yuanxi stood up with a stern expression.
He had promised Zhao Tuo to accompany him to the Moon Pavilion, so he had to go. Also, there was another matter he needed to confirm: whether Zhao Tuo knew about Prince Lu’s existence and if he deliberately kept it from him!
Although this matter wasn’t a huge issue, the attitude regarding it was crucial. Two people who had been in a relationship, lived together, and even had a child, how could they hide something from each other?
That was absolutely not acceptable!
As he walked, he had some discontent, but it dissipated upon arrival.
As soon as he pushed the door, he saw Zhao Tuo taking a pill. In that glance, a touch of sickly beauty emerged. The little bit of frustration immediately turned into concern. After all, he was a patient. How could he treat a patient like an equal? Communication and discussion should solve any problems. Under no circumstances should there be conflicts.
“Your Majesty is here.” Zhao Tuo put away the small bottle he held and came forward to pull Qin Yuanxi closer. “I thought Your Majesty wasn’t coming, so I was planning to find you.”
“Why are you wandering around? Rest well,” Qin Yuanxi looked at his complexion, everything seemed fine. His face was quite rosy, and healthy compared to Lu Bohuan’s previous fainting and paleness. This brought some relief.
Holding Zhao Tuo’s wrist, Qin Yuanxi muttered a few caring words and was then pulled onto the bed by Zhao Tuo.
“Understood. It’s late; Your Majesty should rest early. There’s the morning court tomorrow.”
At the mention of the morning court, Qin Yuanxi’s expression subtly changed. His fingers, clutching Zhao Tuo’s clothes, tensed slightly. Zhao Tuo wasn’t Lu Bohuan; he didn’t care much about the morning court. Unlike Lu Bohuan, who stressed diligent emperorship and punctuality for the morning court, it wasn’t a priority for Zhao Tuo. At times, if Qin Yuanxi struggled to wake up, Zhao Tuo would resort to practical actions to convince Qin Yuanxi to cancel the morning meeting for the day.
These words didn’t sound like something Zhao Tuo would say.
After a slight hesitation, Qin Yuanxi continued clutching Zhao Tuo’s clothes and hesitantly asked, “Ah Tuo, I…I’ve encountered a problem recently, related to taxes. Several court officials are passing the buck, and nobody is giving me any advice. Could you help me brainstorm?”
“Your Majesty knows I don’t understand these matters.” Zhao Tuo’s tone and attitude remained the same as ever. He pulled the person closer: “If Your Majesty has military matters to worry about, I can assist in alleviating your concerns. As for tax matters, I truly don’t understand. Maybe it’s better to discuss it with the officials from the Ministry of Revenue.”
“Just speak your thoughts. Different perspectives might bring about a new insight, even if you don’t understand the problem from my viewpoint. You might have a different angle, which could offer a unique exposure, right?”
Qin Yuanxi was persistent; he insisted on having a thorough conversation with Zhao Tuo about this matter. The issue itself wasn’t significant; it was merely an assignment Prince Lu had given to him earlier. Qin Yuanxi had excelled in composing an article on the subject, given that he lived in a more advanced world, allowing him to provide a perspective closer to the common people. Prince Lu had been pleased with his work, nodding in approval.
Qin Yuanxi wanted to test Zhao Tuo by bringing up this issue. It was the same problem, but he wished to see how Zhao Tuo would respond.
“I believe that increasing local taxes would enrich the national treasury. Only when the treasury is ample, can the soldiers at the border receive their pay regularly, enhancing their valor in battle. This stability ensures the safety of the border and the people. Moreover, a prosperous treasury allows the emperor to undertake more meaningful endeavors. All of this hinges on taxation; hence, an increase is justifiable, as it has been throughout history,” expressed Zhao Tuo.
“Really?” Qin Yuanxi chuckled awkwardly. “But won’t the people suffer greatly if taxes are forcibly increased?”
“But taxation has always been burdensome. Have the people ever had an easy time with it?”
“I aim to reform the tax system, reducing the people’s hardships,” Qin Yuanxi retorted.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tuo furrowed his brow, clearly disagreeing but refraining from showing it. He did not want to upset Qin Yuanxi. Observing Zhao Tuo’s expression, Qin Yuanxi sighed internally.
Prince Lu’s attitude was markedly different. He was politically astute, understanding some of Qin Yuanxi’s viewpoints, which were currently out of sync with the environment. However, Prince Lu could keep up and even found merit in Qin Yuanxi’s ideas.
These were insights derived from centuries of trial and error, proven to be effective. In this regard, Prince Lu displayed progressiveness. In contrast, Zhao Tuo was traditional, adhering to values of loyalty and righteousness. Their ideologies rarely intersected, unlike what Yan Shaoning had suggested. If Zhao Tuo truly knew, wouldn’t he be influenced by Prince Lu’s daily conduct? But given Zhao Tuo’s present demeanor, Prince Lu hadn’t influenced him in any way.
One attempt yielded no results, prompting Qin Yuanxi to experiment with various aspects relating Prince Lu with Zhao Tuo. Whether it was related to Prince Lu’s preferences in food, or even dressing Zhao Tuo in Prince Lu’s usual attire, Qin Yuanxi went so far as to have Zhao Tuo sit alongside him in the study to discuss state affairs. Yet, Zhao Tuo’s response remained consistently disinterested, with a cold face, completely pretending that he doesn’t exist.
Prince Lu’s early groundwork was flawless. As soon as Zhao Tuo stood in that place with military attire, his status as a general remained unshaken. Ministers addressed him with the title of ‘General,’ leaving no room for error. Hence, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t find any loopholes. This showcased Prince Lu’s meticulous planning, resulting in Qin Yuanxi’s attempts at probing futile.
This matter was put on hold.
While this issue wasn’t pressing, there was another matter requiring an urgent decision.
Qin Yuanxi’s pregnancy was becoming increasingly evident. He wished to leave the palace for the sake of the child, but Lu Bohuan objected, and thus, it remained unresolved.
However, the situation is different now. Hints of Qin Yuanxi’s desire to leave the palace resurfaced. Lu Bohuan’s disapproval didn’t imply Zhao Tuo won’t agree either. Considering Prince Lu appears less often now, and most of the time Zhao Tuo was by his side, if Qin Yuanxi could convince Zhao Tuo during this time, Lu Bohuan can’t do anything even if he wanted to.
As for Lu Bohuan’s concern about the child’s necessity to be born within the palace to preserve the bloodline, Qin Yuanxi paid no care. It was his child, and whether others believed it or not, a simple blood test would suffice. Besides, such non-scientific, purely ritualistic activities were popular with everyone. They were shown similarly on TV—prick a little blood for a test, and it’s done.
Moreover, Qin Yuanxi has never believed in that. He had changed a lot from when he first arrived; having ruled for some time, he had gained insights. In this authoritative society without DNA tests, the ruler’s word held sway. Of course, the premise is that the power is in the hands of the emperor, or in the hands of the child’s other father. It is impossible for a father to undermine his own child, right?
Where the child was born wasn’t crucial; what mattered was ensuring that the fact that a grown man was giving birth must not be made known to the world!
Therefore, evasion was necessary, and sooner the better. It was best to take advantage of the period when Lu Bohuan was away. Convince Zhao Tuo, pack luggage, and run away immediately.
Qin Yuanxi initially thought persuading Zhao Tuo would be challenging, considering Prince Lu’s strong opposition. He made some groundwork, attempting to soften Zhao Tuo subtly and even used a bit of flirting. Having a child wasn’t something to boast about, and it was understandable that he wanted to avoid people’s gossip. Qin Yuanxi thought he could leverage this. If he appeared pitiful, Zhao Tuo would be in a bind and would eventually agree.
The result was as expected, but Qin Yuanxi hadn’t anticipated that the process would be so smooth.
It went smoothly beyond his expectations.
Unlike Prince Lu’s strong objection, when Zhao Tuo first heard of the matter, he was only briefly surprised. It seemed as if he didn’t entirely grasp it at first. But that was just a momentary reaction. He didn’t even wait for Qin Yuanxi to continue his reasons before agreeing. All the coaxing and acting vulnerable he had rehearsed in advance became utterly useless.
As long as Zhao Tuo agrees, this matter will be much easier to handle.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
