Prince Lu, contrary to his usual self, not only stopped pressuring Qin Yuanxi step by step, but he also became surprisingly gentle and considerate?
The reason for the question mark is that Qin Yuanxi himself isn’t too sure. In the past, whenever Lu Bohuan saw him, he always had a cold expression, as if Qin Yuanxi owed him a lot of money. That could be understood, given the power dynamics between them and the fact that Prince Lu still considered him a counterfeit. However, since the last time Qin Yuanxi showed some temper, Lu Bohuan’s attitude started to change slightly.
Firstly, during morning court sessions, instead of dragging him out of bed before dawn, Prince Lu managed to delay the court sessions, allowing Qin Yuanxi to enjoy a comfortable full night’s sleep, have a leisurely breakfast, and then head to work, which greatly improved his well-being.
Secondly, Lu Bohuan stopped picking on him and provoking him constantly. In the court, Lu Bohuan used to wait with folded arms to see him make a fool of himself. It seemed he genuinely believed Qin Yuanxi was an idiot, waiting for him to make a mistake or act foolishly. However, that never happened. Qin Yuanxi might not have received traditional emperor training, but he had grown up in a new era with a fresh perspective. He wasn’t a pushover, and when he offered constructive suggestions, it was well-received.
Most important, and the most confusing part was Lu Bohuan actually started teaching him how to handle political affairs. Although Prince Lu held the title of Imperial Tutor, everyone knew it was merely symbolic. It was unclear if Emperor Qin Yuanxi didn’t want to learn from him or if Lu Bohuan didn’t want to teach him, but there was no real teacher-student relationship between them.
However, now, just when Qin Yuanxi was almost certain that Lu Bohuan knew he wasn’t the true Emperor Qin, Prince Lu began earnestly teaching him how to govern. And he was doing it seriously!
Honestly, Qin Yuanxi felt like Lu Bohuan might be planning a rebellion. Perhaps he intended to use this ‘counterfeit’ to play a card, teaching him first, and then seizing an opportunity. Truly, Lu Bohuan was a sly character!
With a brush in his hand, Qin Yuanxi made a couple of strokes and then sneakily glanced at Lu Bohuan. Prince Lu had invested a lot in teaching him. He had even found a pile of ancient texts and specially marked them for Qin Yuanxi. He supervised Qin Yuanxi’s homework every day, showing an amount of dedication akin to teaching his own son.
Wait a moment, Qin Yuanxi’s expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously touched his stomach. Wasn’t this like teaching a son?
“Your Majesty, come back to reality,” Lu Bohuan pointed to the side of Qin Yuanxi’s hand. “You made a copying mistake.”
“Oh,” Qin Yuanxi remained expressionless, calmly removed the sheet from his hand, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it on the ground. Then he saw Lu Bohuan bend down and pick up the crumpled paper right in front of him, unfolding it and examining it seriously.
Qin Yuanxi didn’t know what kind of game Lu Bohuan was playing. He hesitated for a moment, clutching the brush, wondering if he should react.
Before he could react, Lu Bohuan spoke first.
“Although the characters may appear similar, there’s still something missing in terms of style. Take, for example, this curved hook. When His Majesty writes it, the stroke flows effortlessly. However, there’s something you might not be aware of,” Lu Bohuan paused and then glanced at him before continuing, “there’s a deliberate break in the ink here. It’s a habitual motion, not something learned overnight.”
Qin Yuanxi took a moment to process what Lu Bohuan was implying. He had been imitating the handwriting of Emperor Qin Yuanxi, even thinking he did it quite well. But upon closer inspection, he had to admit that Lu Bohuan’s observation was valid. Qin Yuanxi gripped his pen tightly, wondering how long he could keep up this charade.
“When His Majesty was young, he practiced calligraphy under Liu Hanlin. Liu Hanlin indeed had exquisite handwriting skills, but unfortunately, he had a habit of drinking. After drinking, his hands would tremble slightly. So, when he wrote curved hooks, there was always a slight pause. His Majesty learned this during his youth and it became a habit over the years,” Lu Bohuan continued, then evaluated, “Your handwriting is even better than his, cultivated under the guidance of a renowned master.”
“I don’t understand what the Regent means.”
Qin Yuanxi held the pen straight, thinking Lu Bohuan was being rather vague. Was he trying to beat around the bush or extract information indirectly? Don’t even think about it, it’s impossible!
“I haven’t found any abnormalities.”
Lu Bohuan poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Qin Yuanxi, saying, “From the moment you left the palace to your return, I haven’t discovered any anomalies. It’s quite…” Lu Bohuan paused for a moment, looking somewhat embarrassed. He didn’t look at Qin Yuanxi again and instead rubbed the cup in his hands before asking in a hushed tone, “The matter between you and Zhao Tuo, it’s recent, and it has nothing to do with him.”
“He was raised from childhood as a future ruler. Although he might not possess any extraordinary abilities, those accustomed to being in power wouldn’t engage in such actions.” Lu Bohuan sighed, “I want to know what really happened. If you can’t speak openly, it’s alright. I won’t harm you.”
Those words were somewhat touching. Qin Yuanxi held the tea cup hesitantly for a while. He turned his face slightly and caught a glimpse of Lu Bohuan’s big, bright eyes, a familiar feeling that could easily make one’s heart flutter. For a brief moment, Qin Yuanxi almost thought Zhao Tuo had returned. Still, he managed to control himself, avoiding any discomfort.
Qin Yuanxi found that he was more comfortable with Regent Prince’s previous stern demeanor.
“Let the kitchen prepare some snacks to fill your stomach.”
“No need, I’m not… I’m not hungry.” Qin Yuanxi maintained a cautious attitude towards the Regent Prince’s inexplicable concern. However, his caution didn’t elicit any response from Lu Bohuan. He proactively placed pastries in front of Qin Yuanxi, saying, “Have a little. The current situation is different, and your health matters most.”
Indeed, he was eating the portion of two people alone. Although he had breakfast before the morning court session, it was now well past noon, and he was hungry. Qin Yuanxi thought it was surprising that Lu Bohuan noticed these details, making him somewhat unexpected.
As he lay down to sleep that night, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but touch his stomach and mutter about Zhao Tuo.
“Today is another day without seeing your real father. However, your stepfather performed quite well today and brought you something delicious.”
Rubbing his little belly, Qin Yuanxi let out a sigh. The current situation left him unsure about how to handle it. He couldn’t quite figure out Prince Lu’s intentions, and with Zhao Tuo still missing, the constant uncertainty was causing him restlessness and, ultimately, nightmares.
In the dream, the child’s father had a fierce and bloodied look, slowly advancing towards Qin Yuanxi step by step, scarier than the King of Hell himself. Qin Yuanxi felt like he was trapped in an icy wasteland, teeth chattering from the cold. He wanted to run, but it felt like his feet were frozen in place, refusing to budge.
All he could do was watch as Lu Bohuan, covered in blood, threateningly approached, shouting, “Give it back to me! Give it back to me!”
Then, he extended five fingers towards Qin Yuanxi and plunged them into his chest, extracting his heart forcefully. The fingers were dripping with fresh blood, holding a still-beating heart. Qin Yuanxi woke up in a cold sweat, his chest still aching.
This dream was bizarre, but it sent shivers down his spine. That eerie cold feeling from the dream lingered, making Qin Yuanxi feel chilled even on a hot summer day. He sat up, trying to calm himself, and after a while, he got out of bed.
“Ding Yi, summon the Divine Physician,” Qin Yuanxi ordered. “Tell him I’m not feeling well.”
When Yan Shaoning arrived, Qin Yuanxi was calmly sipping tea, lost in thought. He had to admit he was on edge during the day, constantly fearing Lu Bohuan might strike. Such dreams were only natural, but summoning Yan Shaoning had another purpose.
“Please, take a seat,” Qin Yuanxi greeted Yan Shaoning politely, even pouring him a cup of tea without the airs of an emperor. This left Yan Shaoning pleasantly surprised, almost tempted to kneel in gratitude.
“Your Majesty, what troubles you?” Being summoned by the Emperor in the dead of night had made Yan Shaoning nervous at first, but seeing the Emperor’s appearance, he couldn’t discern any urgency.
“I won’t beat around the bush, there is something,” Qin Yuanxi began, wearing a bitter expression. “General Zhao hasn’t appeared for a long time. I feel uneasy and want to ask the divine physician for advice. What’s going on?”
To avoid arousing suspicion, Qin Yuanxi played the part of a concerned husband. “In the past, there were occasions when he didn’t show up for a while, but this time feels different. He cares deeply for our child. Even if it’s for the sake of our child, he wouldn’t stay away for so long. I want to ask the divine physician if there might be any, well, unspoken issues.”
Qin Yuanxi revealed only half of his concerns, holding back the part where he suspected Lu Bohuan was behind Zhao Tuo’s absence. In such a situation, lacking modern psychological assistance, Qin Yuanxi could only boldly guess that Yan Shaoning might have prepared something for Lu Bohuan, just as he had done previously. If he could summon him, he could also hide him!
It was frustrating. His child’s biological father was hidden away, forcing him to deal with his stepfather daily. It was mentally exhausting!
“Well,” Yan Shaoning hesitated, his expression also pained. “General Zhao’s appearances, or lack thereof, are quite unpredictable. From a medical perspective, Your Majesty, General Zhao’s absence might actually be a good sign, indicating that the Prince’s condition is stabilizing.”
“Is there any way to make him appear? Can you try to call for him again?” Qin Yuanxi’s anxiety was blatant.
What did Yan Shaoning mean by it being a good thing? It might be good for Lu Bohuan, but it was definitely not good for him! He needed Zhao Tuo desperately, for the sake of his emotional stability during this pregnancy. If he continued to face Lu Bohuan’s ever-changing expressions daily, Qin Yuanxi feared he would keep having nightmares. His unborn child couldn’t afford that, so he needed to bring Zhao Tuo back as soon as possible!
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)
