“I know you’re not him, just like you know there’s another Zhao Tuo out there.” Lu Bohuan turned and looked at Qin Yuanxi, his eyes filled with a deep sense of understanding. “Since you exist, there must be a reason for it. Perhaps it’s the heavens showing me some favor, understanding my intentions, and sending you here. We haven’t known each other for long, but…”
Lu Bohuan paused briefly at this point before continuing, “But you are indeed better suited to be the emperor than him. You care for the people, and with a little nurturing, you could become the benevolent ruler I hope for. He, on the other hand, is different. I’m glad you’re here.”
Qin Yuanxi shrunk back slightly, his eyes still showing a hint of caution. He blurted out unconsciously, “So, are you still planning to kill me?”
Upon hearing this, Lu Bohuan couldn’t help but smile in resignation. “No, I don’t want to kill you. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Qin Yuanxi interrupted, his tone wary. “You’re saying all this now, but who knows if you might want to strangle me again next time? Lu Bohuan, I’m telling you, flattery won’t work on me.” In truth, Qin Yuanxi was also feeling uneasy. Who knew if Lu Bohuan had some ulterior motive? But Lu Bohuan’s expression seemed genuinely serious.
Moreover, if Lu Bohuan had truly wanted to rebel, he could have done it a long time ago, perhaps even when the young emperor ascended to the throne or earlier when the old emperor passed away. But he didn’t, and based on what Qin Yuanxi had observed, it seemed that Lu Bohuan had never even considered it. This was intriguing.
Could it be that Lu Bohuan simply wanted to be an exceptional minister of the realm?
“I didn’t want to kill you back then; I just suspected he had other plans and kept you here to set a trap for me. So, scaring you a bit would have exposed any flaws,” Lu Bohuan explained truthfully. “Later on, I realized that things weren’t as I had thought before. I’ve investigated, and though I don’t understand the reasons behind it, you are you, and he is he. What I worry about now is whether, like how you suddenly appeared, you might disappear just as suddenly.”
Qin Yuanxi cleared his throat but didn’t respond to Lu Bohuan’s words. This question struck at the core of his existence, and he genuinely didn’t know. He had read many danmei novels where the protagonists lived happily ever after, but no one ever mentioned what happened to the original owners, where they went, or if they ever returned.
Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but feel like he might be stuck here forever, but whether that would be the case or not, it was something even quantum mechanics couldn’t determine, let alone his own thoughts.
“But all of that is a story for another time,” Lu Bohuan said, brushing the topic aside and not delving further into it. He continued, “Since things are as they are, my responsibility is to assist His Majesty in governing this realm and, if I’m fortunate enough, to assist the heir to the throne as well.”
Lu Bohuan said it very naturally, as if the heir had nothing to do with him. However, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t hide the discomfort in his expression and instinctively covered his stomach, avoiding eye contact with Lu Bohuan.
After some thought and still not entirely willing, he asked, “So, are you saying you won’t kill me?”
“There’s only one Emperor in the world. If I killed you, I’d truly be charged with treason,” Lu Bohuan said, somewhat helpless. “Moreover, I have no intention of taking your place. If I did, why keep you alive until now?”
Qin Yuanxi could tell that this was the truth. Despite Prince Lu’s somewhat crafty nature, he was still easy to distinguish when he spoke the truth. If Prince Lu had any ulterior motives, he could have acted long ago. The Regent held immense power, and everyone in court obeyed his orders. Emperor Qin Yuanxi was merely a puppet on the throne, and Prince Lu had no reason to harm him.
“I will assist you and provide guidance wholeheartedly. We can forget the past.”
“How?” Qin Yuanxi asked, hesitating.
Lu Bohuan was genuinely sincere now, and Qin Yuanxi realized he had no real choice. Facing the Regent now was like distinguishing between an egg and a stone1‘Distinguishing between an egg and a stone’ means telling the difference between two things that are extremely different or hard to compare. In this case, it means it’s really tough for Qin Yuanxi to figure out whether the Regent is going to help him or harm him because these two possibilities are very different from each other.. If the Regent was willing to guide him, he would accept it. If the Regent want to harm him, he could only seek help from General Zhao. The problem was, Zhao Tuo was currently unavailable, leaving him with no other options in this situation of unequal power.
“Alright,” Qin Yuanxi reluctantly agreed.
Lu Bohuan smiled and said, “Tomorrow, you should prepare for the ‘Discussion on State Governance.’ Preview and copy it.”
“What?” Qin Yuanxi’s face immediately turned bitter. “Copy it again?”
Lu Bohuan sighed, “Your foundation is too weak. Although your ideas are good, many concepts are jumbled. You need to build a strong foundation.”
“Another thing,” Lu Bohuan hesitated as he spoke but continued, “You can use your own handwriting from now on. No need to imitate him. If he ever returns, it will help me distinguish.”
From Lu Bohuan’s eyes, Qin Yuanxi glimpsed a hint of concealed emotion when he said this. It was a fleeting, indiscernible feeling. Qin Yuanxi instinctively asked, “What if someone else notices?”
“It’s fine; you’re just practicing a new calligraphy as the Emperor. Nothing to worry about.”
After Lu Bohuan left, Qin Yuanxi’s mind was somewhat in a daze. The daze wasn’t the most significant issue; the important thing was that he seemed to have unconsciously admitted his identity to Lu Bohuan. This was a startling revelation for Qin Yuanxi.
However, he couldn’t deny that Prince Lu’s methods were indeed quite clever. Qin Yuanxi hadn’t realized how skillfully he had been tricked. In the presence of Prince Lu, he truly had no words. It was simply not a fair contest.
In the following days, Prince Lu backed up his commitment with actions. He genuinely wanted to assist and mentor Qin Yuanxi in becoming a wise ruler. He provided hints and suggestions during morning court sessions, analyzed the thoughts of court officials after the court, and even explained the party politics within the court. Their daily lessons were proceeding in an organized manner, and Prince Lu had transformed into a great mentor and friend.
During this time, Qin Yuanxi had long ceased to think about Zhao Tuo subconsciously. Lu Bohuan’s presence was dominant, occupying most of Qin Yuanxi’s time. Be it in state affairs, studies, or even the upbringing of their child, Lu Bohuan had a comprehensive approach. Their relationship grew closer, and Qin Yuanxi felt more and more harmonious with Prince Lu.
Zhao Tuo felt like a dream, and after the dream passed, nothing remained.
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)
