“Hold on, is now really the time to bring up this topic?” Qin Yuanxi attempted to evade this conversation. For him, it was a tricky matter to handle. It was somewhat more manageable in front of Lu Bohuan; after all, Lu Bohuan was the rational one, unlikely to thrust such issues directly at Qin Yuanxi. They allowed each other enough space, and in Lu Bohuan’s presence, everything unfolded in a seemingly natural and logical manner, sparing Qin Yuanxi from any burdensome feelings.
However, it was a different story with Zhao Tuo.
Unlike Lu Bohuan, Zhao Tuo never showed a favorable expression toward him. While Lu Bohuan acknowledged Zhao Tuo’s identity, Zhao Tuo not only refused to acknowledge it but also had a problematic attitude towards Lu Bohuan. It was a strange mix of cooperation, competition, and mutual existence, with a hint of disapproval towards Lu Bohuan.
This situation made Qin Yuanxi wary, knowing that a slight misstep could lead to a delicate situation.
With Zhao Tuo, it became a scenario of him favoring Lu Bohuan,, and more than that, there was a hint of betrayal in the air. It was as if he had initially been with Zhao Tuo, but midway through, it seemed like he betrayed him for Lu Bohuan, who, to make things more complicated, seemed to be receiving preferential treatment.
Qin Yuanxi was even starting to avoid eye contact with Zhao Tuo.
This tangled scenario was not lost on Qin Yuanxi; did he not feel a bit uncomfortable? Well, of course, he did.
Back in the early days, Qin Yuanxi found it challenging to navigate the dynamics between these two individuals. Unlike Lu Bohuan’s calm acceptance, Qin Yuanxi wrestled with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he understood that these two were essentially the same person, the same patient, and this situation couldn’t be approached with the typical mindset of an ordinary person. On the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to them involuntarily.
It took a considerable period of adjustment for Qin Yuanxi to gradually let go of these internal conflicts. Lowering the psychological burden on himself. However, Zhao Tuo was still waiting for an explanation.
Lu Bohuan was calm, Qin Yuanxi was conflicted, and Zhao Tuo was straightforward. Zhao Tuo never acknowledged that he and Lu Bohuan were the same person. In his view, Qin Yuanxi’s behavior hinted at a possible change of heart.
“You don’t want to talk about it? It’s bothering you inside, isn’t it?” Zhao Tuo’s expression darkened. “You betrayed me for him. Isn’t that a fact?”
“That’s not betrayal!” Qin Yuanxi emphasized. “You have a misunderstanding of the term, and I was merely seeking help. What else could I do? I can’t actually let you rebel. If I did, things would spiral out of control, don’t you realize? You would be remembered for centuries in infamy!”
“And,” Qin Yuanxi took a deep breath, looking directly at Zhao Tuo. “You and him are originally the same person. Don’t you know that? If you did something yourself, why would it be called betrayal? It’s all you, just in different circumstances, with different perspectives. Maybe you once wanted to rebel, but now you’ve changed your mind, haven’t you?”
“Perhaps he was just helping you rein in your impulsive actions? Why don’t you consider that?” Qin Yuanxi noticed a change in Zhao Tuo’s expression and immediately continued along this line of thought. “Why don’t you think about it? If you truly wanted to rebel, why did you agree to stay in the villa when it was the most crucial time? You know what that meant. If you genuinely wanted to rebel, why did Lu Bohuan find an opportunity? He was away from the villa for three whole days and nights, exhausted and mentally fatigued. You had your chance.”
“Have you ever thought about why?” Qin Yuanxi gently took hold of Zhao Tuo’s hand. “Because your mindset has changed. What was in the past is in the past, and the present is now. Subconsciously, you don’t want to go down that path, hurt me, or push the situation beyond recovery. That’s why Lu Bohuan had an opportunity.”
“In other words, you gave him the chance.” Qin Yuanxi continued, “Lu Bohuan simply did what you subconsciously wanted to do. He did what needed to be done. That’s not betrayal, understand? Because you two are originally the same person. If you wanted to rebel, that was something he wanted to do in the past. If he stopped you, it’s because it’s something you want to do now. Your thoughts influence each other. Without him, there would be no you, and without you, there would be no him.”
Zhao Tuo’s initially puzzled expression made Qin Yuanxi believe his persuasion might be working. However, reality proved otherwise.
Zhao Tuo forcefully pulled his hand away from Qin Yuanxi’s grip, his expression turning darker and more menacing. “Nonsense! He is him, and I am me. Don’t lump us together and find excuses for yourself!”
“You!” Qin Yuanxi was infuriated, but before he could say more, Zhao Tuo had already stormed off, leaving only the flickering candlelight and a noticeably uncooperative attitude.
In the following two days, Qin Yuanxi didn’t see Zhao Tuo, and not only that, he also didn’t get to see the baby. Due to his physical condition, Qin Yuanxi spent most of his time bedridden, with only Yan Shaoning coming by each day to chat.
“Zhao Tuo has been taking care of the baby all this time, with two nurses by his side. I went to check on them under the pretext of examining the baby’s pulse. He’s quite devoted, always looking after the baby,” Yan Shaoning mentioned, smiling. “Surprisingly, he’s doing quite well as a father. Much more responsible than I expected.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuanxi felt a sense of loss. “What’s his deal? He won’t let me see the baby, and now he’s not coming around. What’s going on?”
On this topic, Yan Shaoning’s expression became slightly more serious. “He seems to have taken to heart what Your Majesty told him. I’ve observed him closely these past few days. He’s struggling, but what Your Majesty said is mostly true. He understands it himself. After breaking through that thin layer of deception, it’s a bit difficult for him to accept. Your Majesty needs to give him time to come to terms with it.”
“What if he can’t accept it?” Qin Yuanxi frowned. “I feel like Zhao Tuo really can’t come to terms with the fact that he and Lu Bohuan are the same person.”
“Your Majesty feels that way?”
“Yes,” Qin Yuanxi nodded. “His reaction is quite strong, resistant.”
“My thoughts align with the opposite, Your Majesty.” Yan Shaoning smiled. “Prince Lu learned about General Zhao’s existence by accident. Zhao Tuo’s identity wasn’t concealed well, and Prince Lu sensed something different. That’s when he discovered the existence of this ‘other him.’ Zhao Tuo changed after that. If my speculation is correct, Zhao Tuo probably knows everything. He understands Prince Lu’s thoughts thoroughly, knows everything Prince Lu is thinking. However, from Prince Lu’s perspective, it’s not that simple. Prince Lu’s understanding of him is limited to the other self, without a deeper understanding. It’s because of this that Zhao Tuo found an opportunity.”
“Your Majesty, think about it. Does it make sense?”
“It does seem to make sense.”
Upon careful consideration, Qin Yuanxi realized that Zhao Tuo indeed knew more about Lu Bohuan. This allowed him to seize various opportunities, even understanding the unspoken thoughts that Lu Bohuan had never verbalized. In comparison, Lu Bohuan’s only certainty about Zhao Tuo was that Zhao Tuo wouldn’t harm him.
Rather than saying it was confidence in Zhao Tuo, it was more like confidence in himself.
“What’s bothering him now?” Qin Yuanxi was genuinely distressed.
The rebellion issue was temporarily suppressed, but what next? He couldn’t follow Lu Bohuan’s plan to prosecute for treason. However, Zhao Tuo clearly wasn’t cooperating. Even if Qin Yuanxi wanted to stage a play, it seemed impossible at the moment. Currently, they could only maintain a temporary standoff in the villa because Qin Yuanxi’s health hadn’t fully recovered. But this situation couldn’t last long. Sooner or later, they would have to return to the capital. What to do then?
Moreover, his newborn baby, whom he hadn’t even seen yet. Zhao Tuo was fiercely protecting the baby, rejecting any attempts to bring him for a visit. Every time Qin Yuanxi sent someone to bring the baby over, Zhao Tuo ruthlessly drove them away, as if Qin Yuanxi were some sort of villain rather than the baby’s father.
In this scenario, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but see it as a couple on the brink of divorce, fighting over custody of their baby. He hadn’t considered divorce, and he didn’t plan to split custody. If others couldn’t persuade Zhao Tuo, he would have to do it himself.
Not being able to see the child again might drive Qin Yuanxi mad!
The baby’s residence wasn’t far, just to the east of Qin Yuanxi’s sleeping quarters, in a separate small courtyard. The atmosphere was calm and comfortable. Qin Yuanxi, constrained by his body, had quietly arrived in a sedan chair, walking in by himself when he reached the entrance.
In the room, Qin Yuanxi saw Zhao Tuo holding a tambourine, trying to comfort the baby lying in the cradle. From his angle, he couldn’t see the baby, but the scene appeared warm and lovely. Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness as he watched.
“Is our son having fun?” Taking the tambourine from Zhao Tuo’s hands, Qin Yuanxi bent down and finally saw the beautiful baby in the cradle. The little one, with wide-open curious eyes, looked at the unfamiliar face that had suddenly appeared. After about two seconds, he burst into loud cries.
“Why is he crying?”
As soon as the baby cried, everything became chaotic. The nurse hurriedly came over to comfort the baby, while Qin Yuanxi, holding the tambourine, stood there in confusion. Watching the nurse gently sway the baby in her arms, the little one still tightly holding onto one of Zhao Tuo’s fingers, Qin Yuanxi’s nose tingled, and tears rolled down uncontrollably.
Quickly turning his face to wipe away the tears, the tambourine in his hand jingled due to Qin Yuanxi’s panicked movements. The baby, disturbed by the noise, cried even louder. The surroundings were chaotic, and Qin Yuanxi couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place.
He wanted to step forward and hold his own baby, but with each cry growing more urgent, Qin Yuanxi’s heart ached even more.
Turning to leave, the baby, unfamiliar with him, cried in fear. How could Qin Yuanxi bear to see his son cry like this?
Before Qin Yuanxi could take a step away, he was brought back. The cries of the baby were even closer now. Zhao Tuo held the baby with one hand and pulled Qin Yuanxi back with the other. “He’s crying because he’s hungry. Why are you crying?”
“I…” Qin Yuanxi felt even more heartbroken, deliberately trying to provoke by saying, “My own baby doesn’t recognize me. Shouldn’t I cry? Zhao Tuo, who gave you the right to keep me from seeing my baby? I’ll tell you—”
“I’m not keeping you from seeing him. He’s too small and too loud. You need rest.”
“Excuses! It’s been days, and I haven’t even laid eyes on him. You’re doing this on purpose, intentionally trying to drive a wedge between us, father and son!”
“You’re still very weak.” Zhao Tuo glanced at him and then looked away. “You shouldn’t focus too much on the baby. Once you recover, I’ll bring him to see you.”
“Nonsense! I’m perfectly fine now!”
“You’re better, but not perfectly. I had planned to bring him to see you today, but Your Majesty came on your own.”
As Zhao Tuo spoke, his eyes clearly showed disapproval, silently condemning Qin Yuanxi’s unilateral actions.
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)
