Qin Yuanxi’s emotions took a bit of a dive when he didn’t get any useful answers from Yan Shaoning. During the morning court, he appeared rather downbeat, slouching in the dragon throne, lost in thought, staring at the people below.
Of course, the main focus of his thoughts was on Lu Bohuan.
Lu Bohuan was indeed a sight to see. Standing there, he really did look like the epitome of grace and charm. But what did that matter? Good looks couldn’t put food on the table. When he recalled that nightmare, the blood-soaked scene, Qin Yuanxi shivered and touched his chest to make sure his heart was still safely nestled inside.
“In this matter of evaluating officials’ performance, I suggest that Lord Li from the Ministry of Personnel be appointed as the chief examiner, with Your Majesty’s approval.”
Qin Yuanxi was still lost in thought when he was suddenly prompted to speak. Since the last flood control project, he seemed to have spoken more frequently in court, but his words didn’t carry much weight. He mostly just echoed what others said. The real decisions were made by Prince Lu. Why was he being given the green light so easily now? Qin Yuanxi’s first instinct was to glance at Lu Bohuan, but Lu Bohuan stood there, seemingly disinterested. Qin Yuanxi felt a bit lost. Truth be told, he didn’t even know who this Lord Li was, where he came from, what his official rank was, or any details. In matters of personnel appointments, Qin Yuanxi didn’t feel confident making decisions.
“This matter requires further consideration before We make a decision.”
He maintained a regal posture as he spoke. Qin Yuanxi glanced at Lu Bohuan, who stood at the lower end of the hall, and couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Whenever Lu Bohuan looked at him, it never ended well. It always seemed like Lu Bohuan had dug a pit, and he was waiting for Qin Yuanxi to fall into it. This thought made Qin Yuanxi glare at Lu Bohuan, much to Lu Bohuan’s confusion.
After the morning court, in his study, Qin Yuanxi had his usual workload. His studies were quite demanding, but Teacher Lu was relatively patient with him. Perhaps it was because Qin Yuanxi, as a student, required less effort to teach. If he were dealing with a three-year-old, the treatment might not be as generous.
Although, that might not be a great thing.
Qin Yuanxi glanced at the scholarly texts laid out in front of him and sighed silently. He was looking at these texts with the perspective of a preschooler, and it was truly challenging for him. He wasn’t accustomed to this kind of environment, where even punctuation was scarce, and the text was filled with antique words. It was indeed a headache.
As for classical Chinese, Qin Yuanxi’s proficiency was limited to reading basic texts. Anything more complex was a real struggle.
“Endurance… does not worry about scarcity…” Qin Yuanxi mumbled to himself as he read, completely engrossed in his task. He didn’t notice that Prince Lu had been watching him for a while.
This man was like a restless hamster, constantly fidgeting. He had no sense of decorum, even though he was supposed to be studying. One moment, he’d fiddle with this, and the next, he’d glance at that. The pastries on the table were shrinking rapidly, and it seemed like he might finish them all. Meanwhile, Lu Bohuan held a book in his hands but didn’t open it. He appeared to be lost in thought, his gaze drifting over Qin Yuanxi.
“You miss him a lot.”
“What?” Qin Yuanxi was so startled that he nearly dropped his brush, and he looked at Lu Bohuan warily. “I don’t understand what you mean, my Prince.”
Lu Bohuan still held the book, his expression calm. “I mean Zhao Tuo. You miss him a lot.”
Of course, he has been thinking about Zhao Tuo, but saying it outright in front of Lu Bohuan was definitely not an option.
Qin Yuanxi isn’t a fool. With his split personalities, those two personalities are in competition. How could he openly express his hope for the other personality to appear in front of Prince Lu? That would be like walking into a death trap.
Before Qin Yuanxi could respond, Prince Lu, surprisingly, spoke up himself.
“You two only met each other after that time you left the palace, right? Before that, Zhao Tuo didn’t show any abnormalities, at least not to an extent that would greatly affect me.” Prince Lu’s tone as he spoke made Qin Yuanxi feel somewhat uneasy. It was as if he was indulging him, yet it also felt like he was treating him like an unruly little brother. In any case, it didn’t quite fit the image of Prince Lu that Qin Yuanxi had in mind.
“But this time, it’s different. Not only did he lose the imperial jade pendant bestowed by the late emperor, but he also gave you the military token.”
“No, I didn’t keep it. I returned it to him!”
As soon as this critical issue was mentioned, Qin Yuanxi exploded.
This was a serious matter. He was bearing the title of the puppet emperor, and Prince Lu was the regent prince. The military token represented control over the army. If he had some leverage to negotiate for military power with Prince Lu, it would be one thing. But what did he have? A child growing in his belly?
From the very beginning, the military token had been like a hot potato for Qin Yuanxi. Next time, he would definitely choose a simpler token of affection. It was just too much to handle!
“You returned it?”
Prince Lu, holding a book in his hand, showed a hint of change in his expression. “When?”
“You didn’t know?” Qin Yuanxi was a bit puzzled, not quite understanding the current situation.
“I returned it a long time ago, during the last time you had me locked up. He came to release me, and I returned that thing to him right away.” Qin Yuanxi thought for a moment and added, “I didn’t mean to withhold it from you. I just thought that the military token originally came from him, and I wanted to return it to him to avoid any complications in the future.”
That was a secondary reason. Qin Yuanxi’s main concern was that Prince Lu might think he was coveting his power. In a time when powerful ministers held sway, Qin Yuanxi, as a small puppet, believed he should be more politically quick. Returning the military token Zhao Tuo gave him was a clear and straightforward move, sparing himself from unnecessary trouble. That was Qin Yuanxi’s thinking.
But looking at Prince Lu’s expression at this moment, it seemed like he didn’t know or was pretending not to know.
“I didn’t know.”
Indeed, when Prince Lu said this, Qin Yuanxi’s heart started to beat faster. He had a feeling that there was something fishy about this whole situation. However, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Just as he was about to change the subject or perhaps remain silent and focus on his work, Prince Lu preemptively shifted the topic.
“Your Majesty, what are your thoughts on the matter raised today?” These were the words spoken by Prince Lu addressing the issue of political performance assessments brought up during the morning court session. At that time, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t make up his mind, which is why he had excused himself. Now, Lu Bohuan had brought it up again, and Qin Yuanxi pondered; it felt somewhat like a teacher testing a student.
“I truly don’t know how to handle this matter and was about to seek advice from the Prince.”
Since it seemed like a test for a student, Qin Yuanxi, as the diligent student, had to play his part responsibly. For Prince Lu, there was nothing simpler and more straightforward than having him know nothing.
“You are afraid of me,” Prince Lu approached, taking the brush from Qin Yuanxi’s hand. His expression was serious and solemn: “I don’t know what has happened in your past or who you truly are, where you come from, and why you are here. But since you are here, you must shoulder your responsibilities. Your current identity is that of the Emperor of Great Qin, and the people of Great Qin rely on you for their survival. Every decision you make affects the life and death of every individual. These are your own words, and I hope you remember them.”
Looking at the stern Lu Bohuan, Qin Yuanxi instinctively moved back, creating a bit more distance between them. He started to say something but then felt that nothing he said would sound right.
He had indeed said those words, although not every word matched perfectly. However, saying something and having Lu Bohuan bring it up again felt strange. Qin Yuanxi couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it was a strange feeling. Did Prince Lu really intend to teach him how to be a proper emperor?
The joke here wasn’t funny at all!
Qin Yuanxi hesitated, “I don’t…”
“You understand!”
Before Qin Yuanxi could finish his evasive words, Lu Bohuan interrupted him, throwing away the brush he had taken from Qin Yuanxi’s hand. Lu Bohuan turned to the window, and unconsciously, a crescent moon had already risen in the sky. With his hands behind his back, Lu Bohuan’s tone grew heavy, “You are more intelligent than him, and you possess the qualities of an emperor. If it’s you, I believe I could teach you well.”
Qin Yuanxi really wanted to roll his eyes. Prince Lu seemed certain about his identity, but what was the plan? Did he intend to mold this impostor emperor into a genuine eternal ruler? It sounded ridiculous, right? Dealing with someone like this, who seemed a bit abnormal, was truly troublesome. Qin Yuanxi wasn’t a three-year-old child; how could he possibly believe Prince Lu’s words? There was no emotional bond of ruler and subject, teacher and student between Lu Bohuan and him. Talking about this now made it sound somewhat touching, but in reality, it meant nothing.
But he firmly declined, “The Prince is joking.”
Prince Lu chuckled, attempting to steer the conversation back, “I wonder if Your Majesty has any insights on the matter of the political assessment? I still need Your Majesty’s guidance in political matters.”
Turning around, bathed in moonlight, Prince Lu exuded a faintly cool air, giving off an otherworldly aura. Qin Yuanxi quickly lowered his head, inwardly sighing that he had let his eyes be deceived by beauty. Why did Lu Bohuan even seem somewhat handsome? It was just too much!
“If I were to say that I have never harbored any improper intentions, would Your Majesty believe me?”
“In this life, all I desire is to assist a wise and just monarch, to bring tranquility and prosperity to the realm. That’s all I wish for.”
Qin Yuanxi: … Why is he telling me this? Trying to appease me? It’s useless!
Ah, why did Prince Lu sound somewhat handsome when saying these words? Not only handsome but also strangely loyal, what was going on? Had Zhao Tuo possessed him?
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)
