Ding Yi couldn’t make sense of it, and Qin Yuanxi was equally puzzled. The memorial remained unfinished. With his teacher not around, Qin Yuanxi felt it was understandable to take a little break. So, he comfortably went to sleep.
The next morning during the early court session, he carefully observed Lu Bohuan’s condition. Seeing that Lu Bohuan’s complexion had improved significantly, he felt a bit more at ease. After the court session, he summoned someone to his study, as was customary, to inquire about Prince Lu’s health.
Lu Bohuan, seeing how considerate and caring Qin Yuanxi was being, couldn’t help but smile. “You’re really different from him.”
This comment made Qin Yuanxi feel somewhat awkward. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “How am I different?”
“In every way,” Lu Bohuan replied. He poured tea and offered pastries to Qin Yuanxi, encouraging him to snack before continuing. “If you were like this, the relationship between ruler and subject wouldn’t have become so tense.”
So, you acknowledge it’s tense, Qin Yuanxi thought but decided not to say these words. He nibbled on a pastry, watched Lu Bohuan, and asked, “To be honest, did you suspect me from the beginning?”
Lu Bohuan didn’t answer immediately. He pondered for a moment before saying uncertainly, “I don’t know if Zhao Tuo suspected you, but I had a feeling something was off from the moment I first saw you. Initially, I thought it might be the influence of the outside world since you had spent time outside the palace. But as time went on, it became more obvious. Your lack of decorum and the absence of your usual facade were striking. It wasn’t until I saw your handwriting that I began to piece things together.”
“Hold on!” Qin Yuanxi immediately stopped and frowned. He asked Lu Bohuan a very serious question: “Are you saying that Zhao Tuo also suspected me?”
Lu Bohuan held his teacup, took a sip, “He’s me too. If I suspected, why wouldn’t he?”
“But,” Qin Yuanxi felt a weight in his chest, struggling to find the right words. After a moment’s pause, he asked another question, “If you’ve known from the beginning that he’s also you, does that mean he knows that you’re him?”
“I don’t know about that,” Lu Bohuan’s expression turned somewhat unfathomable, making it hard for Qin Yuanxi to understand.
Qin Yuanxi’s confusion deepened.
He clearly remembered Zhao Tuo’s attitude towards Lu Bohuan. Back when they were together outside the palace, Qin Yuanxi had cursed Lu Bohuan, but Zhao Tuo had shown no hesitation. In fact, he had several times expressed his intention to eliminate Lu Bohuan, a traitor, for him. Qin Yuanxi had been deeply moved by Zhao Tuo’s unwavering loyalty.
If, as Qin Yuanxi suspected, Zhao Tuo also knew that he and Lu Bohuan were the same person, and if Zhao Tuo had doubted his true identity, Qin Yuanxi suddenly felt a chilling sensation creeping in. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but something felt off. However, upon closer scrutiny, he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was wrong.
Lu Bohuan’s attitude towards Zhao Tuo seemed much more forgiving, even helping General Zhao with post-conflict reconciliation. Moreover, after discovering that the child Qin Yuanxi was carrying belonged to Zhao Tuo, Lu Bohuan had even contemplated raising the child. But it appeared that Zhao Tuo’s sentiments were quite different. If Qin Yuanxi’s suspicions were accurate, Zhao Tuo might not have been as friendly as he appeared.
Then Qin Yuanxi glanced at Lu Bohuan as if he was looking at a pitiful little soul.
If Lu Bohuan knew that his other self wasn’t as benevolent, would he feel a twinge of sadness?
While the two were engrossed in conversation, Yan Shaoning arrived as usual to examine Qin Yuanxi’s pulse.
The little one in the belly is doing really well, eating and sleeping soundly every day, and not causing too much trouble. This is something that makes Qin Yuanxi quite relieved. Apart from the slight bump in the belly, which looks a bit odd, everything else seems acceptable to Qin Yuanxi at the moment.
“Your Majesty, you should get some more exercise, and maybe address a bit of indigestion,” Yan Shaoning tidied up the medicine box. “Also, while it’s important to nourish yourself, you shouldn’t overdo it. Your daily diet should still be balanced with both meat and vegetables. Everything else seems fine; Your Majesty’s sleep has been good these past few days. Take good care, and in a little while, the child will probably start showing.”
When Yan Shaoning mentioned this, he gave Prince Lu a meaningful look, his reminder was spot-on.
After Yan Shaoning left, Lu Bohuan suggested taking Qin Yuanxi for a walk.
“Wait, wait, I haven’t finished reading the memorials. I didn’t finish reviewing yesterday’s, and if I don’t work overtime today, they’ll pile up.”
“No worries, I’ll help you. It won’t take long.”
As Qin Yuanxi watched the memorials pinned down by Lu Bohuan, he couldn’t hold out any longer and was led out for a stroll.
Officially, it was a walk, but before they even reached halfway through the small garden, Qin Yuanxi sensed that Lu Bohuan had something to say. He hesitated for a while, leaving Qin Yuanxi impatient. Eventually, Qin Yuanxi found a small pavilion and pulled Lu Bohuan inside.
“Why did you drag me out here? Since when did Prince Lu become so hesitant and tongue-tied? It’s quite strange.”
This hesitant Lu Bohuan really made Qin Yuanxi feel like… well, perhaps he wasn’t all that familiar with Lu Bohuan after all. They might have had some minor entanglements, but it wasn’t that significant.
“I was thinking, isn’t it time to choose a concubine for Your Majesty?”
“What?!”
Sure enough, when Lu Bohuan spoke up, it did startle Qin Yuanxi a bit. No wonder he was so hesitant; it turned out he wanted to discuss this matter.
The pavilion had a good location, offering a beautiful view of the entire Imperial Garden. It was well-furnished with fresh fruits and pastries, and there were many attendants on hand. Ignoring everything else, life in the palace did seem quite comfortable. It was a place many people would be willing to be in.
But Qin Yuanxi also knew deeply that this place was a cage.
“I won’t choose.”
Spitting out a grape skin, Qin Yuanxi spoke in a cold tone, “Prince Lu, you’re quite eager to select one. I’ll say this once, and it’s the last time: don’t even think about choosing a concubine. As long as I’m alive, it’s impossible!”
Qin Yuanxi didn’t notice the look in Lu Bohuan’s eyes at this moment. If he had glanced up, he might have seen a hidden depth in Lu Bohuan’s gaze.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider.”
“Even if I reconsider a hundred times, it’s still impossible.” Qin Yuanxi spoke seriously, “Prince Lu, do you know my situation? I’m a G, a cut sleeve1The most commonly used euphemism for a ‘homosexual’ across various dynasties., why would I choose a concubine? Bringing an innocent woman into the palace for what? To be a decoration? Vases can be placed and admired, but a person is different; she’s a living being. This palace is a cage for them, imprisoning not only their youth but also their souls. It can torment people to death. I will never become an executioner like that. This matter should never be brought up again, never!”
“What about the child?” Lu Bohuan unconsciously tapped on the stone table, looking at Qin Yuanxi as he asked, “Yan Shaoning just made it clear; the child will start showing in a few months. How do you plan to handle it? Bringing out a child out of nowhere, do you think the ministers will accept it? This child must have a legitimate status; otherwise, are you planning to keep them hidden for a lifetime?”
“Well, there must be a way. It’s not like the child is going to be born tomorrow. There’s got to be a solution,” Qin Yuanxi was rendered speechless by the questioning but stuck to his bottom line, saying, “In any case, the matter of choosing a concubine is out of the question as long as I’m here!”
“You know, what I’m suggesting is the best solution. There’s nothing better than this.”
“I can’t be bothered to argue with you,” Qin Yuanxi stood up, his tone somewhat unfriendly. “What if it’s the best? I’ve told you, it’s not going to happen. I’ll even tell the whole world that this child is mine if I have to. I won’t bring a woman into the palace and ruin her life just because of a child’s identity issue. Whether you find it heartless or not, your conscience must have been eaten by dogs!”
Watching Qin Yuanxi’s angry figure, Lu Bohuan sat in the pavilion for a long time by himself. It wasn’t until the sky gradually darkened that he smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes and returned to the study.
There, in the study, he saw Qin Yuanxi still in a huff, but still diligently reviewing memorials. Qin Yuanxi hadn’t expected him to come back, so he glanced at him briefly and then pretended not to notice him. Clearly, he was still mad at Lu Bohuan.
Lu Bohuan shook his head and didn’t pay him any mind. The two of them, at a distance from each other, earnestly worked at their respective desks. When the young eunuch came in to add more lamps, this was the strange scene he encountered.
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)
