Chapter 11: I've Never Seen Anyone So Stupid.
Xiao YuAn didn't expect that there would be a day, after transmigrating here, in which he wouldn't feel bored without TV, struggle without WiFi, or feel anxious without air conditioning.
Instead, he was worried about not being able to sleep!
Not! Falling! Asleep!
After Xiao YuAn laid on the bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep, he simply turned over and climbed up to harass Yang LiuAn, who was on the night shift, standing guard outside the Palace Hall.
Imperial Bodyguard Yang was scared to death, but despite that, he still accompanied Xiao YuAn to talk about life.
Xiao YuAn: "If the sea is full of water, and the horse has four legs, Heaven, why won't you let me sleep?"
Yang LiuAn's mouth was twitching, and his mind was confused, but as the Emperor's Bodyguard, this was his duty. However, listening attentively to Xiao YuAn's ramblings could be quite overwhelming for the Imperial Bodyguard.
"By the way, LiuAn, do you have a wife and kids?" After Xiao YuAn recited Incomprehensible words for a while, he asked all of a sudden.
"Answering to His Majesty, no, I don't."
"How about your parents?"
Yang LiuAn hesitated for a while, but in the end, he answered honestly: "Weichen1 was born from a maidservant, and I don't know who my father is. Weichen grew up in the Palace and received the favor of the late Emperor, for which I was given the position of Imperial Bodyguard. Now Weichen serves His Majesty, and I'm willing to wholeheartedly devote myself for His Majesty until I die."
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Inexplicably remembering the fact that Yang LiuAn's body was pierced to death in the original book, Xiao YuAn frowned, feeling uneasy, and changed the topic.
After chatting blindly for a while, Xiao YuAn remembered that the Young Emperor had the attribute of being a cut sleeve. Xiao YuAn was then afraid that if he kept talking privately with Yang LiuAn like this, Yang LiuAn's innocence couldn't be protected from gossip. In the end, Xiao YuAn went back to bed, stayed up late and laid stiff as a corpse.
After staying like that for a while, he saw the candlelight flickering outside the Palace Hall. It was Hong Xiu: "Your Majesty, are you asleep?"
"Hmm? I'm not sleeping, what's wrong?" Xiao YuAn wondered.
Hong Xiu held a lantern in one hand and a porcelain bowl in the other: "This maidservant heard from Imperial Bodyguard Yang that His Majesty couldn't sleep at night, so I boiled a calming soup to calm His Majesty's mind."
Xiao YuAn felt warm in his heart: 'In this story, where all the considerate girls will be collected by the Male Lead, you're definitely a stream of fresh air Hong Xiu!'
'Besides, Hong Xiu already knows the Young Emperor only likes men, so her behaviour couldn't be mistaken with the intention of searching for some kind of intimacy! Hong Xiu understands "his" temperament the best, so….'
All of a sudden, Xiao YuAn came up with an idea and asked Hong Xiu: "It's okay, I won't drink the soup. But, Hong Xiu, could you stay with me at the bedside? Just wait for me to fall asleep."
Hong Xiu was stunned: "Does His Majesty feel that the long night is boring? Your Majesty, should this maidservant call a male concubine to accompany you?"
'Stop calling those little devils to come here. I really can't walk the road of the Tyrannical President! As soon as they arrive, they'll stick to my body as if I was a delicious meal! I can't shake them off!'
Xiao YuAn had no choice, but to say: "No need. I recently have decided to advocate by the principle of Heaven and destroy all human desire2."
"D-destroy all human desire?" Hong Xiu was so shocked that she almost bit her tongue off. "Your Majesty, why do you want to become modest all of a sudden?!"
"…."
As soon as she said those words, Hong Xiu felt that what she said was inappropriate. In fright, she fell to her knees: "This humble maidservant was imprudent. I beg His Majesty to punish this lowly slave."
Xiao YuAn, who felt like he wouldn't be able to sleep from now on, wanted to cry without tears: "It's alright, just get up and don't kneel anymore."
Hong Xiu sighed in relief.
Since the verbal communication had failed, Xiao YuAn was about to give up. But all of a sudden, Hong Xiu stopped talking nonsense, took the initiative to blow out the candlelight, and then stood beside the Imperial couch.
Xiao YuAn was moved to tears. As he turned over, he went to meet the Good of Dreams3 in peace.
…
Now that his top priority-sleeping at night-was resolved, Xiao YuAn thought that he could finally relax for a couple of days. But the main plot of the original book had to slap him hard on the face.
The General of Beiping came to complain!
Xiao YuAn chewed the sweet-scented osmanthus cake and blankly asked Yang LiuAn, who came to report the news: "Who?"
"Your Majesty! It's General Sun!" Yang LiuAn felt like crying.
Xiao YuAn choked on a mouthful of the osmanthus cake and coughed for a long time. Yang LiuAn quickly brought some water for him: "Your Majesty, are you alright? Don't worry, eat slowly."
"
"
'Eat slowly my ass!'
Xiao YuAn drank the water in a hurry. When he was done, he gave Yang LiuAn the porcelain cup back, as well as the plate of osmanthus cakes: "You can have all of them. Where's General Sun?"
Yang LiuAn, seeing his arms inexplicably filled with stuff, replied: "The General is waiting for His Majesty in the main hall."
Xiao YuAn didn't dare to neglect the General, so he got up and rushed towards the main hall, with an uneasy expression on his face.
'Unexpectedly, this is the original plot!'
Old General Sun was a very important character. He was over 60 years old, and by following three generations of Northern Monarchs, he conquered the world, obtaining outstanding war achievements. Due to this, he was respected by thousands of people. After following the late Emperor's crusade against the Southern Yan Kingdom, he was appointed as the Great General4 of Beiping, holding half of the Military Power of the Northern Kingdom.
Listen, it's! The! Great! General! Of! Beiping! So cool! So powerful!
Besides this, the Monarch and his Ministers were always in-laws. This old General was also the maternal grandfather of the Female Lead, Princess Yongning!
However, in the original book, this old General was almost beheaded by the Young Emperor!
He was almost killed by that fool!
Killed!
Since ancient times, the most loyal way for a Minister to die was probably by remonstrating, or fighting a war. This old General, who had been fighting for more than 40 years on the battlefield, wasn't able to die for his Country in war, but he nearly died by quarreling with the Emperor.
The plot of the original book went like this: The old General came over and scolded the Young Emperor, 'Why are you so foolish? The treasury has been wasted by you, yet you still have the time to sing and dance everyday? To eat, drink and have fun? You're going to destroy the Country! How did you become so incompetent, young brat? I'll have to take care of you in regards to your father, the late Emperor!'
Even though the old General scolded him like this, the Young Emperor had to put up with it because of his status.
However, this old General had a bad temper, and he ended up scolding the Young Emperor for, at least, half an hour. The Young Emperor was so angry at this, that he sent the General to prison!
The highly respected old General Sun was put on death row!
At that moment, the Imperial Court was in chaos, and there was turbulence for a while. In the end, the Young Emperor wasn't that stupid, and when he calmed down, he realized he was wrong. After letting the old General go, he put the matter behind, but kept throwing the same banquets everyday, living his promiscuous and absurd life like usual.
The old General was really angry as he said: "Ah, fuck it! Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore!" Then, he walked away, resigned from his post, and went back to his hometown in the countryside to farm and feed fish.
Just like that, the Northern Kingdom lost an old General who not only possessed the ability to stabilize the army, but also had extremely high skills in military arts.
When Xiao YuAn read this part for the first time, he couldn't help but feel: 'After this, it wouldn't make any sense if this country wasn't fucking destroyed!'
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Footnotes
微臣 wēi chén; this small official/humble servant.
存天理、灭人欲 cún tiān lǐ, miè rén yù; From《道德修养目标》by (程颢 chéng hào) Cheng Hao [1032-1085] and (程颐 chéng yí) Cheng Yi [1033-1107], two famous Confucians from the Song Dynasty [960-1279]. It's understood as the preservation of the natural principle in the mind and the elimination of private desire.
周公 zhōu gōng; Duke of Zhou [?-1032 BC] is founder of the Western Zhou Dynasty [1027-771 BC], and is also known as the "God of Dreams". Since Zhou Gong appeared frequently in Confucius Dreams, and because Confucianism has long dominated Chinese culture, Zhou Gong was inevitably connected to dreams.
大将军 dà jiāng jūn; Is the title of a military rank that was often set up in ancient China, mostly for high-ranking military Generals or even supreme military Generals. Generally, it refers to the highest military leader or Commander-in-Chief.
Chapter 12: I've Never Seen Anyone So Obedient.
When Xiao YuAn arrived at the main hall in a rush, the old General was already there. Dressed in blood-stained armor and robes, it looked as if the old General had come with an exceedingly amount of determination.
When he saw Xiao YuAn, the silver haired old General knelt down. As he lifted his cloak, he clasped his fist and knelt down on one knee! Then the old General mournfully paid his respects: "Your Majesty!"
Xiao YuAn, unable to withstand such obeisance, knelt in front of the old General: "Yes! General, whatever you say is correct! I'll listen to you!"
Old General: "…Your Majesty, I haven't said anything yet… "
'Huh? Not yet? But you shouted so mournfully just now! I thought your complaints were already over and you were about to start to advise me….'
Xiao YuAn, who was still kneeling, stretched out his hands to help the old General stand up: "Speak, speak."
However, the old General didn't get up. Instead, he bowed again and said: "Your Majesty! Your Grandfather and Father, the former Emperors, fought for several years in exchange for the peace of this land. You should apologize to your ancestors!"
Xiao YuAn hurried to reply with respect: "Yes! You're absolutely right! I'm going to beg for their forgiveness!"
The old General bowed again: "Even though the treasury is sparsely funded, you're still holding banquets every day. You only indulge in eating, drinking and playing! You never even ask about the Court's affairs! This is a clear sign of sending the Country to its destruction!"
Xiao YuAn, once again, paid his respects: "Yes! You're right! General, you're completely right! I will change! I'll change everything!"
Old General: "….?"
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'What happened? Why is the Emperor being so obedient?! Is my mind getting confused due to my old age?!'
Xiao YuAn helped the confused, old General stand up, and then helped him sit down comfortably: "General Sun, don't kneel anymore and just sit here. I'll stand in front of you to listen to your scolding."
Old General: "?"
Despite being caught off guard by Xiao YuAn's attitude, old General Sun calmed down and scolded him more openly.
Sure enough, the scolding did last for half an hour! But Xiao YuAn simply replied with three sentences: "You're right! Everything you said is reasonable! I'll definitely listen to you!"
Even though these three sentences seemed extremely half-heartened, Xiao YuAn's attitude was very meticulous. Not only did he accept the old General's advice of cancelling all of the State banquets, but he also promised to deal with the Court affairs every day. Moved to tears, the old General shouted in his heart: 'The late Emperor's spirit has manifested!'
Xiao YuAn: 'Drop it! That man's spirit hasn't manifested in me! Besides, wasn't the Young Emperor's promiscuity inherited from his father, the late Emperor?!'
Naturally, after the old General saw Xiao YuAn acting like this, he didn't feel like resigning from his post at all. With less political turmoil, and Xiao YuAn no longer wasting money, the National Treasury gradually filled up again.
However, not everyone was happy. While Xiao YuAn spent his days at Court, there was a place in the Imperial Palace covered in gloomy clouds.
That place was the Jingyang Palace, where the Young Emperor's male concubines lived.
The Young Emperor could only like men, and because he wasn't attracted to women, he doesn't have female concubines in his harem. Even if he did have male concubines, they were still inferior in status, and couldn't be compared with female concubines. If the Young Emperor were to ignore any of them, and didn't reward them or loved them, their status would be no different than of a lowly servant.
Jingyang Palace was surrounded by sorrowful sighs, but there were also people living common lives.
Although it was the beginning of Winter, the Northern Kingdom was already freezing for thousands and thousands of miles. Inevitably, the coldness swept through every corner of the Palace.
That day, Xiao Fengyue got up early. After he wrapped himself with a thick robe and outer coat, he swept the snow outside the door of his wing room.
Although Xiao Fengyue was born in the Southern Yan Kingdom, he had never seen such a snowy scene, not even when he was a child. However, that initial fascination for the cold and snow had already disappeared over time, being replaced with fear.
Originally, Xiao Fengyue was a Qin Master1 in the Southern Yan Kingdom, but after the fall of the Southern Yan Kingdom, he was captured by the Northern Kingdom. Due to his good temperament and handsome appearance, he was selected by Hong Xiu, then placed in the Jingyang Palace.
Fortunately, the Young Emperor liked the gentle, pretty, and flirty-looking kind, so he never showed any interest in Xiao Fengyue. Therefore, the Young Emperor never asked for him. This way, Xiao Fengyue's days in Jingyang Palace smoothly went by, one day at a time.
After Xiao Fengyue finished sweeping the snow in front of his room, he walked inside with red hands. But all of a sudden, someone came up from behind him and covered his eyes.
Xiao Fengyue simply smiled, and as he reached out to touch the hand that was covering his eyes, he said: "LiuAn."
"Ah, you recognized me again." As Yang LiuAn withdrew his hand, he scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Come in quickly. Don't let anyone see you." Xiao Fengyue hurriedly pulled Yang LiuAn into the room, closing the door behind them.
"Your hands are so cold." As Yang LiuAn held Xiao Fengyue's reddened cold hands, he rubbed them until they got warm.
"It's nothing serious." Although Xiao Fengyue bowed his head, the tone of his voice couldn't hide his smile.
"Oh, that's right! Last time, His Majesty gave me some osmanthus cakes, and I brought them for you to taste." After Yang LiuAn finished speaking, he took out an oil paper packet from his sleeve. As he opened it carefully, he picked up a small piece and fed it to Xiao Fengyue: "Is it delicious?"
Xiao Fengyue nodded and his smile became even more gentler: "It's delicious! Right, when I played the Guqin in the Pavilion that time, I was heard…."
"Oh, it was His Majesty." When Yang LiuAn saw Xiao Fengyue's face turning pale, he quickly waved his hand and explained: "Don't panic. His Majesty hasn't inquired about it."
Xiao Fengyue sighed lightly with fear and then said: "That's good. But, why did you come here when you're on duty?"
"I can stay with you all day, because His Majesty doesn't want the Imperial Bodyguards and maids to follow him today." Yang LiuAn replied.
Xiao Fengyue looked puzzled: "Hmm? Why is that?"
"Even though His Majesty explained it to me, I couldn't understand any of it." Yang LiuAn sighed as he thought: 'Recently, His Majesty has been acting more and more amiable, but the words he says are also becoming even stranger by the day.'
"Why? What did His Majesty say?"
"He said that he was going to peek at the meeting between the Male Lead and the Female Lead."
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Footnotes
琴师 qín shī; Player of a stringed instrument.
Chapter 13: I've Never Seen Anyone So Desolate And Miserable.
Xiao YuAn was hiding behind the bushes in the Imperial Garden. In winter, the wind was icy cold and the bushes were covered in thick snow. Although it was very cold outside, Xiao YuAn was actually quite excited.
Since, in the original book, half a month after the old General's remonstration, Yan HeQing and Princess Yongning would meet each other for the first time at the Jinfeng Yulu Pavilion. The same Pavilion that was right in front of Xiao YuAn!
Fiction will become reality right in front of his eyes. Xiao YuAn was looking forward to it, as he eagerly rubbed his hands in anticipation!
However, even when the dusk arrived, the Male Lead, Yan HeQing, hadn't appeared yet.
The snow had been constantly falling down the sky, but even if Xiao YuAn was too cold to speak, he was still reluctant to leave. He could only tightly wrap his robes around himself and keep on breathing.
After a while, he heard the sudden sound of footsteps approaching.
Xiao YuAn lowered his body, and quietly looked to where the sound was coming from.
It was Yan HeQing, who still had his face covered with black charcoal, making Xiao YuAn feel disappointed. After the disappointment, Xiao YuAn's heart was filled with surprise.
It was clear that today was the 8th day of the 12th Lunar Month, when dripping water will turn into ice. However, Yan HeQing was wearing thin, linen clothing, and he wasn't even wearing an outer robe that could block the wind!
Yan HeQing's hands looked frozen and cracked due to the cold, stained with dried blood. It was a shocking sight. With a broom in his hands, Yan HeQing began to sweep the snow. Xiao YuAn could guess that this job was assigned by none other than Eunuch Zhao.
When Yan HeQing walked to the Jinfeng Yulu Pavilion, he didn't start to sweep the snow right away. Instead, he stood there with a painful expression surging on his face. As he fiercely covered his abdomen with one hand, he bent down to grab the snow from the floor, only to stuff it into his mouth.
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'My God, isn't this too inhumane?'
Xiao YuAn sighed with sadness, as he thought: 'How could the Male Lead of a Stallion Novel be disgraced like this?! He's so starved to the point of eating snow!'
'Ah forget it. He will meet Princess Yongning soon, and someone will be punished for this.'
Xiao YuAn sighed lightly and continued to observe quietly.
However, although Yan HeQing was pushed into this humiliating situation, when he picked up the broom to start his work, his posture was as straight and tall as a pine tree. His temperament was extraordinary, and he exuded an imposing aura.
Xiao YuAn couldn't help but shout in his mind: 'Look at him! The Male Lead can make a broom look like a sharp and deadly sword! If you really dare to bully Yan HeQing, you must be blind! Can't you see his Emperor's aura? Or his Protagonist Halo?! While bullying him, did you not feel a chill running down your spine? Or pain surging in your neck?!'
Obviously, those people couldn't feel those things. As soon as Xiao YuAn finished shouting in his mind, a servant came out of nowhere, kicking Yan HeQing's knee.
Xiao YuAn: ".…"
'A cannon fodder villain! Do you even know what you're doing? You're kicking the Male Lead! This is the pinnacle of your life! You must remember it well!'
Yan HeQing was caught off guard. Even though he stumbled, he managed to stabilize himself and didn't knelt down. Unexpectedly, that servant kicked Yan HeQing again, as he scolded with viciousness: "Oh, you still have guts, don't you? You don't want to kneel?"
At that moment, Yan HeQing's knees fell into the snow, but his back was straight.
"Look at this." As the servant pointed at the snow around them, he said: "Didn't Eunuch Zhao ask you to sweep the snow before Youshi1 hour?"
"
"
Yan HeQing was neither submissive nor arrogant, as he said: "Xushi2 hour."
The servant immediately slapped Yan HeQing in the face, as he scolded Yan HeQing: "You didn't do a proper job, and yet you dare to talk back?"
Hiding behind the bushes, Xiao YuAn felt that as a grown adult, he wouldn't be able to stand this humiliation. At that moment, Xiao YuAn began to feel sorry for Yan HeQing. After all, the original book was nothing more than a textual description, but when he saw it with his own eyes, the way he felt about this situation was completely different.
The servant scolded Yan HeQing for a long while, and then punished Yan HeQing to kneel there for the whole night: "If you dare to run, I'll break your legs tomorrow!" After this, the servant snorted, turned his head, and walked away.
'This cannon fodder villain's style is very classic!' Xiao YuAn couldn't help, but applaud convincingly.
'But why are you making the Male Lead kneel for an entire night?! Cannon fodder, aren't you afraid of becoming a joke? In half an hour, Princess Yongning will come to grace us with her beauty! To! Save! The! Protagonist!'
Xiao YuAn secretly comforted Yan HeQing in his mind.
'Yan HeQing, please bear with it for a little while. Your true love, your white rose, your white moonlight will come soon to save you!'
Half an hour later….
Princess Yongning didn't arrive.
After another half an hour passed….
Princess Yongning still hasn't come.
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Half an hour after that….
Princess Yongning was nowhere to be seen.
As the night darkened, the wind mixed with the snow. Yan HeQing, who was still kneeling in front of the Jinfeng Yulu Pavilion, clenched his trembling hands into fists. As his lips turned pale, his whole body shivered.
After waiting for another half an hour, Xiao YuAn began to roar inside his mind: 'Princess Yongning! Are you waiting for his hair to turn white?! Where are you?! What are you doing?! Don't you know that If you don't come right this instant, your husband is going to freeze to death?!'
However, Princess Yongning never appeared.
'Something isn't right.'
With this in mind, Xiao YuAn began to think: 'I know that it happened half a month after General Sun's remonstration. General Sun did come to remonstrate, and there's nothing wrong with the event in Jinfeng Yulu Pavilion. Even the plot of Yan HeQing getting bullied was the same as the original book.'
'But why did the key figure, Princess Yongning, not show up?!'
In the original book, Princess Yongning sent General Sun back to his hometown. When she returned, and passed by the Imperial Palace, she just so happened to meet Yan HeQing, while he was being punished. Since she couldn't bear to see such a thing, she…..
'Wait.'
'What the hell? Wait!'
In the original book, Princess Yongning passed by this place because she came to send the old General, who had just resigned from his position, back home.
"
"
But now, due to Xiao YuAn's humble attitude in hearing the remonstration, the old General didn't plan on going back to the countryside to farm!
Therefore, Princess Yongning didn't need to send her grandfather back to his hometown! Without that plot, why would she even come here? How will she save Yan HeQing now?!
'What the hell?!'
Xiao YuAn, who had just realized what went wrong, took off his outer robe and ran towards Yan HeQing.
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Footnotes
酉时 yǒu shí; the period of the day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
戌时 xū shí; the period of the day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Chapter 14: I've Never Seen Something As Frightening As This.
Xiao YuAn rushed to Yan HeQing's side and tightly wrapped his outer robe around him: "Are you alright? How are you feeling?"
Yan HeQing made a last ditch effort, raising his head to look at Xiao YuAn while in a daze. However, the next moment, his body swayed and he fell down.
Xiao YuAn, startled by the extra weight on him, almost fell on his back into the snow. As he stabilized himself and hugged Yan HeQing, who was already frozen, he said: "Don't fall asleep! Brother, wake up! Hold on for a moment, your harem of beauties are waiting for you!"
Since he couldn't wake Yan HeQing up, even after calling his name a few times, Xiao YuAn felt a little anxious. In a panicked state, Xiao YuAn took off his outer garment and wrapped it tightly around Yan HeQing. After that was done, he ran to the Taiyi1 Palace with Yan HeQing on his back.
An old Imperial Physician was in the Taiyi Palace, on the night watch. He, who was over 50 years old, and never having experienced a major event, was almost scared to death by Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty! What, you, what are you doing?"
'Why are you alone?! Why are you wearing less clothing on such a cold day?! Who are you carrying on your back?! How can you carry someone yourself?!'
The Imperial Physician had too many questions, but he didn't even know where to start!
Xiao YuAn, on the other hand, yelled in his mind: 'Why the fuck are you asking?! You should just save him!'
"Get inside, inside." The Imperial Physician was so frightened that he could barely speak at this point.
Xiao YuAn hurriedly carried Yan HeQing inside the inner room. He then stripped Yan HeQing of his clothes, which were already wet from the snow, and placed him on the bed, covering him with the quilt. Then, Xiao YuAn rubbed Yan HeQing's hands to warm them up, and made sure to cover Yan HeQing's chest.
The Imperial Physician hurried to boil a bucket of water. Once the water was hot enough, he placed Yan HeQing inside the tub. When he saw that Yan HeQing's breathing, and body temperature were gradually returning to normal, Xiao YuAn could finally let out a long sigh of relief.
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At that moment, the Imperial Physician asked anxiously: "Your Majesty, how are you feeling?"
Xiao YuAn touched the cold sweat falling down his face and gasped slightly: "Me? What could possibly be wrong with me?"
The Imperial Physician: "But, Your Majesty, your face is flushed and you seem to be short of breath. No matter how you look at it, you…."
However, Xiao YuAn couldn't hear what the Imperial Physician said next, because his eyes had blackened and he fainted.
When he woke up again, he was in the Imperial Bedchamber.
There were several people kneeling down in front of his bed, including the Imperial Physicians, maids and servants. When everyone saw that Xiao YuAn had woken up, they all began to howl: "The Emperor is awake! Awake!"
Xiao YuAn's head was still buzzing, and when he heard the loud noise around him, he had to cover his head with the quilt.
When Hong Xiu noticed this, she began to dismiss the crowd.
"Wait! Is that old Imperial Physician still here?" Xiao YuAn regained a bit of his strength, lifted the quilt, and asked in a hurry.
"Yes, yes!" The old Imperial Physician replied right away.
"How is Yan HeQing?" Xiao YuAn asked.
"Answering to His Majesty, he's no longer in a dangerous condition." The Imperial Physician hurried to say.
AD
'As expected of the Male Lead.'
'Even though I wrapped myself with three layers of inner and outer garments, I still ended up with a fever. Yan HeQing, on the other hand, froze in the snow for such a long time, but nothing serious had happened to him.'
Xiao YuAn then said: "Take special care of him."
After having received an order, the Imperial Physician withdrew from the Imperial Bedchamber.
At that moment, Hong Xiu covered her mouth with her sleeve and chuckled: "I've never seen His Majesty being so concerned about someone like this."
'If I don't take good care of him, he will eviscerate me alive! I didn't expect that, what I did would completely disrupt the original plot. Ah, what should I do next?'
As Xiao YuAn smiled bitterly, he propped himself up from the bed with one hand, and tried to sit up.
Hong Xiu stepped forward in a hurry and gently supported Xiao YuAn: "Does His Majesty want to drink water?"
After seeing that Xiao YuAn had nodded affirmatively, Hong Xiu brought clear water and carefully fed it to Xiao YuAn. At the same time, Yang LiuAn came to report: "Your Majesty, Princess Yongning is here."
When he heard that, Xiao YuAn choked on a mouthful of water, and with a 'gulp', he swallowed it along with some air: "Who? Who did you say? Yong- Princess Yongning?"
Before Yan LiuAn could reply, a voice that sounded like a jade bead falling on a plate2 came from the door of the bedchamber: "Imperial Brother."
At that moment, Xiao YuAn looked up.
AD
In the original book, there was a poem quoted in order to describe Princess Yongning: There's a beautiful woman in the North, independent of the world; a single glance from her could overturn a whole city; while a second glance could overturn a whole Country3.
At this moment, Xiao YuAn's head was filled with the sentence: independent of the world.
'So this is what the Legendary Female Lead looks like?!'
'Eeehh?! This is incredibly dangerous!'
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Footnotes
太医 tài yī; Imperial physician/doctor.
玉珠落盘 yù zhū luò pán; A metaphor for a very beautiful voice. From the poem《琵琶行》by (白居易 bái jū yì) Bai Juyi [772-846] from the Tang Dynasty [618-907].
北方有佳人,绝世而独立,一顾倾人城,再顾倾人国 běi fāng yǒu jiā rén, jué shì ér dú lì, yī gù kēng rén chéng, zài gù kēng rén guó; From《汉书·外戚传》by (班固 bān gù) Ban Gu [32-92 AC] from the Eastern Han Dynasty [25-220 AC]. It's used to describe a woman's beautiful looks. Vernacular translation: 'There was a beautiful woman in the North, who was independent of the world. If she were to look at the soldiers defending the City, they would abandon their weapons, and the security of the City would be completely lost. If she were to give one look at the Emperor ruling over the world, the Emperor will fall in love with her, and the whole County will be defeated!'
Chapter 14: I've Never Seen Something As Frightening As This.
Xiao YuAn rushed to Yan HeQing's side and tightly wrapped his outer robe around him: "Are you alright? How are you feeling?"
Yan HeQing made a last ditch effort, raising his head to look at Xiao YuAn while in a daze. However, the next moment, his body swayed and he fell down.
Xiao YuAn, startled by the extra weight on him, almost fell on his back into the snow. As he stabilized himself and hugged Yan HeQing, who was already frozen, he said: "Don't fall asleep! Brother, wake up! Hold on for a moment, your harem of beauties are waiting for you!"
Since he couldn't wake Yan HeQing up, even after calling his name a few times, Xiao YuAn felt a little anxious. In a panicked state, Xiao YuAn took off his outer garment and wrapped it tightly around Yan HeQing. After that was done, he ran to the Taiyi1 Palace with Yan HeQing on his back.
An old Imperial Physician was in the Taiyi Palace, on the night watch. He, who was over 50 years old, and never having experienced a major event, was almost scared to death by Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty! What, you, what are you doing?"
'Why are you alone?! Why are you wearing less clothing on such a cold day?! Who are you carrying on your back?! How can you carry someone yourself?!'
The Imperial Physician had too many questions, but he didn't even know where to start!
Xiao YuAn, on the other hand, yelled in his mind: 'Why the fuck are you asking?! You should just save him!'
"Get inside, inside." The Imperial Physician was so frightened that he could barely speak at this point.
Xiao YuAn hurriedly carried Yan HeQing inside the inner room. He then stripped Yan HeQing of his clothes, which were already wet from the snow, and placed him on the bed, covering him with the quilt. Then, Xiao YuAn rubbed Yan HeQing's hands to warm them up, and made sure to cover Yan HeQing's chest.
The Imperial Physician hurried to boil a bucket of water. Once the water was hot enough, he placed Yan HeQing inside the tub. When he saw that Yan HeQing's breathing, and body temperature were gradually returning to normal, Xiao YuAn could finally let out a long sigh of relief.
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At that moment, the Imperial Physician asked anxiously: "Your Majesty, how are you feeling?"
Xiao YuAn touched the cold sweat falling down his face and gasped slightly: "Me? What could possibly be wrong with me?"
The Imperial Physician: "But, Your Majesty, your face is flushed and you seem to be short of breath. No matter how you look at it, you…."
However, Xiao YuAn couldn't hear what the Imperial Physician said next, because his eyes had blackened and he fainted.
When he woke up again, he was in the Imperial Bedchamber.
There were several people kneeling down in front of his bed, including the Imperial Physicians, maids and servants. When everyone saw that Xiao YuAn had woken up, they all began to howl: "The Emperor is awake! Awake!"
Xiao YuAn's head was still buzzing, and when he heard the loud noise around him, he had to cover his head with the quilt.
When Hong Xiu noticed this, she began to dismiss the crowd.
"Wait! Is that old Imperial Physician still here?" Xiao YuAn regained a bit of his strength, lifted the quilt, and asked in a hurry.
"Yes, yes!" The old Imperial Physician replied right away.
"How is Yan HeQing?" Xiao YuAn asked.
"Answering to His Majesty, he's no longer in a dangerous condition." The Imperial Physician hurried to say.
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'As expected of the Male Lead.'
'Even though I wrapped myself with three layers of inner and outer garments, I still ended up with a fever. Yan HeQing, on the other hand, froze in the snow for such a long time, but nothing serious had happened to him.'
Xiao YuAn then said: "Take special care of him."
After having received an order, the Imperial Physician withdrew from the Imperial Bedchamber.
At that moment, Hong Xiu covered her mouth with her sleeve and chuckled: "I've never seen His Majesty being so concerned about someone like this."
'If I don't take good care of him, he will eviscerate me alive! I didn't expect that, what I did would completely disrupt the original plot. Ah, what should I do next?'
As Xiao YuAn smiled bitterly, he propped himself up from the bed with one hand, and tried to sit up.
Hong Xiu stepped forward in a hurry and gently supported Xiao YuAn: "Does His Majesty want to drink water?"
After seeing that Xiao YuAn had nodded affirmatively, Hong Xiu brought clear water and carefully fed it to Xiao YuAn. At the same time, Yang LiuAn came to report: "Your Majesty, Princess Yongning is here."
When he heard that, Xiao YuAn choked on a mouthful of water, and with a 'gulp', he swallowed it along with some air: "Who? Who did you say? Yong- Princess Yongning?"
Before Yan LiuAn could reply, a voice that sounded like a jade bead falling on a plate2 came from the door of the bedchamber: "Imperial Brother."
At that moment, Xiao YuAn looked up.
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In the original book, there was a poem quoted in order to describe Princess Yongning: There's a beautiful woman in the North, independent of the world; a single glance from her could overturn a whole city; while a second glance could overturn a whole Country3.
At this moment, Xiao YuAn's head was filled with the sentence: independent of the world.
'So this is what the Legendary Female Lead looks like?!'
'Eeehh?! This is incredibly dangerous!'
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Footnotes
太医 tài yī; Imperial physician/doctor.
玉珠落盘 yù zhū luò pán; A metaphor for a very beautiful voice. From the poem《琵琶行》by (白居易 bái jū yì) Bai Juyi [772-846] from the Tang Dynasty [618-907].
北方有佳人,绝世而独立,一顾倾人城,再顾倾人国 běi fāng yǒu jiā rén, jué shì ér dú lì, yī gù kēng rén chéng, zài gù kēng rén guó; From《汉书·外戚传》by (班固 bān gù) Ban Gu [32-92 AC] from the Eastern Han Dynasty [25-220 AC]. It's used to describe a woman's beautiful looks. Vernacular translation: 'There was a beautiful woman in the North, who was independent of the world. If she were to look at the soldiers defending the City, they would abandon their weapons, and the security of the City would be completely lost. If she were to give one look at the Emperor ruling over the world, the Emperor will fall in love with her, and the whole County will be defeated!'
Chapter 15: I've Never Seen Anyone With Such A Pure Heart.
Princess Yongning was dressed in plain, silver robes with golden phoenix patterns. She wore bracelets decorated with silver bells on her lotus-like wrists, and her long black hair was held up by a white jade hairpin. When she saw Xiao YuAn sitting powerlessly on the bed, Princess Yongning rushed forward, with her deer-like eyes filled with worry: "Imperial Brother1, why did you get sick all of a sudden?"
'It's because you never went to save your husband! And I had to wait all day in the cold!'
However, Xiao YuAn knew this matter couldn't be blamed on Princess Yongning, and he can only blame himself for his current state. As he thought of the possibility of tying Yan HeQing up and throwing him directly into Princess Yongning's arms, he waved his hand and said: "I'm alright. I wasn't careful enough–…cough."
Princess Yongning then reached out and patted Xiao YuAn's back: "The weather is getting colder by the day. You should pay more attention to your health. I made soup for you, try it."
With that said, Princess Yongning took the food box from the hands of the maid behind her. When Hong Xiu saw this, she approached the Princess respectfully: "Princess, let this maidservant do it for you."
"Alright." Then, Princess Yongning handed over the food box to Hong Xiu.
After Hong Xiu opened the lid of the food box, she motioned to take the bowl with her bare hands. However, when Princess Yongning saw this, she shouted in panic: "Careful, it was just taken off the fire! It's hot!"
In the end, this warning was already too late. As Hong Xiu shouted a soft 'ah!', the bowl slipped from her hands. When it hit the ground, the porcelain shattered in pieces and the soup splashed all over Princess Yongning's clothes.
All of a sudden, everyone in the bedroom became silent.
Hong Xiu knelt down on the ground and kowtowed with an ashamed expression: "This maidservant deserves to die! I ask the Princess to punish me! It was this maidservant's fault!"
Just before Xiao YuAn could call out to Hong Xiu, Princess Yongning was one step ahead of him. As she leaned over to help Hong Xiu stand up, she said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, it doesn't matter. I was the one who didn't tell you beforehand that the soup was boiling hot, so it's my fault. Imperial Brother won't blame you, right, Imperial Brother?"
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'Oh my God! Is the Heroine glowing?! Hallelujah, is she shining with the purifying and innocent light of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion and Mercy2?!'
"Yes, I won't blame you." Xiao YuAn nodded.
It was unexpected for the Emperor to not get angry, since he had always doted on the Princess. However, Hong Xiu was still filled with fear.
"Imperial Brother, I'll go and stew another pot for you." Princess Yongning stood up with a smile.
Hong Xiu said with a flustered tone: "But, Princess, your clothes…."
"Ah," Princess Yongning glanced down at her dress, which had been stained by the soup, and said: "It doesn't matter. I'll change into my Imperial Brother's clothes."
After saying that, Princess Yongning searched for clothes in the Young Emperor's bedchamber, grabbed a set of robes, and walked into the inner room to change clothes.
When she reappeared, Princess Yongning was dressed in male clothing. She meticulously tied up the places that were too wide for her, looking 100% handsome.
"Then, I'll go to the Imperial Kitchen. Imperial Brother, take a good rest until I come back." Mischievously, Princess Yongning politely saluted at Xiao YuAn.
As he looked at the figure of Princess Yongning walking away, Xiao YuAn's heart was filled with countless emotions.
There's one big reason why "The History of the Four Kingdoms" was so popular. It was because the image of the Female Lead in the first half of the story was extremely successful.
As the Female Lead, Princess Yongning didn't hold back, wasn't stupid and didn't cry. She wasn't delicate, nor weak, and she never flirted with any man. It was precisely because the image of Princess Yongning didn't have the spirit of a White Lotus3, and she also gave the feeling of someone with a pure heart, she became the favorite character of many geek, male readers.
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That's exactly why no one expected the novel would develop into a stallion novel!
So, when the author wrote about Princess Yongning's death, everyone was confused!
Everyone! Was! So! Confused! Just when everyone thought that this was part of the author's hidden plot, in which Princess Yongning must have pretended to be dead…
The author let out a determined sentence: "She's really dead. Her corpse is cold."
At that instant, the comment section blew up! Filled with distressed people crying in pain! Along with the hateful comments, complaining to this evil mother….
As Xiao YuAn sobbed in memories, Princess Yongning had already re-stewed the soup and returned to the bedchamber: "Imperial Brother, try it."
Since the soup was warm, Xiao YuAn felt the cold gradually dissipating.
"Is it delicious?" Princess Yongning's eyes curved as she smiled.
"It tastes very good." Xiao YuAn nodded, as he thought: 'How can I make the Male Lead and Female Lead meet by chance and fall in love?!'
As Xiao YuAn thought about Yan HeQing, at the same time, there was someone else thinking about Yan HeQing as well.
It was none other than Eunuch Zhao, head of the House of Internal Affairs.
"Are you trying to say that last night, His Majesty took Yan HeQing, the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom, away from the snow?" Eunuch Zhao, who was sitting on a Taishi chair4, tapped his index finger on the wood once or twice.
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The slave that had bullied Yan HeQing last time knelt at his feet, only to promise: "There's absolutely no mistake."
"Hmm…." Eunuch Zhao thought for a while. His eyes were sinister and his tone was unkind: "Where's Yan HeQing now?"
"Replying to Eunuch Zhao, he's still at the Taiyi Hall."
"Alright. In a few days, when Yan HeQing returns to the House of Internal Affairs, you will take some people with you and show him a lesson in my regards."
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Footnotes
皇上哥哥 huáng shang gē ge; lit translated as: the Emperor/His Majesty The Emperor/His Imperial Majesty Older Brother.
观音菩萨 guān yīn pú sà; Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy, sanskrit Avalokiteśvara. Buddhism believes that Guanyin is the Bodhisattva of great compassion and mercy. When beings in distress chant its name, the Bodhisattva will instantly hear their voices, going to rescue and liberate them.
白莲花 bái lián huā; White lotus/Internet slang that refers to someone, usually a woman, who pretends to be sweet and innocent, while is often engaged in manipulation and scheming.
太师椅 tài shī yǐ; The taishi chair was the only chair holding Official position in ancient furniture. It was originally the chair of the Official of the family, as a symbol of power and status. When placed in the Imperial Palace and the government office, it has the connotation of someone having an Official position. When placed in the family home, it shows the status of the Master. Looks something like THIS
Chapter 16: There's Always Villains Seeking To Harm The Male Lead.
The sky was cold and grey. It was early winter, and the weather was becoming colder day by day.
In the early morning light, the sound of a rooster screaming three times could be heard, most of the servants and maids in the palace haven't yet woken up. Meanwhile, Yan HeQing had picked up the broom and was ready to start his work of sweeping the snow at the courtyard.
In the yard, the thick snow covered the tree branches and railings. At a first glance, there was a vast expanse of white mixing up with the sky; except for a red plum in the corner of the courtyard, which was very bright and eye-catching.
Seeing no one around, Yan HeQing took the broom as a sword and danced a beautiful sword formation technique.
Yan HeQing calmed his emotions and swept the floor diligently. After half an hour, the snow in the courtyard had been swept away. Just when he was about to return to his room, a snowfall suddenly hit him on the head.
Inside the snowfall was a hidden stone. The pain exploded on Yan HeQing's forehead, and when he reached out to touch it, sure enough, he saw blood on his fingers.
"Hahaha." Two lowly slaves pointed at Yan HeQing and started laughing.
"Hello, surnamed Yan, I heard that His Majesty saved you not long ago, so why don't you go to Jing Yang Palace?" The little fatty said while laughing, with extreme mockery.
"You see how he looks with a charcoal face all day long, can His Majesty even look at him?" Another sneered.
Yan HeQing's face was extremely cold, he didn't say a word and turned away, intending to enter inside his room.
"Hey, don't go.." The fatty slave quickly stopped him. "We just want to talk to you.."
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Yan HeQing bowed his head and wanted to bypass him. Another slave reached out and grabbed Yan HeQing's back collar pulling him back: "Oh, embarrassed, right? Have you seen His Majesty's temper? You can't even talk about it?"
"That's right." The fat servant wasn't happy with this and brutally pushed Yan HeQing.
However, even if he was insulted like this, Yan HeQing wasn't angry at all and endured everything silently.
In a darker hidden place, Eunuch Zhao, who was seeing everything, frowned.
"Eunuch Zhao, I think this man is such a coward, he won't even avoid suffering." Steward1 Feng, the one that made Yan HeQing kneel on that snowy night, whispered to Eunuch Zhao.
"Humph, fool." Eunuch Zhao glanced coldly at him.
Steward Feng was being a flatterer. Trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it2, he didn't want to become like that. He immediately blushed and tightened his neck.
Eunuch Zhao held his hands behind his back: "The ones that can tolerate pain are the most terrifying. Take a good look at his eyes."
Steward Feng quickly extended his neck and looked over.
Because Yan HeQing kept his head down, it was difficult to see his eyes; but occasionally when he did looked up, his eyes were full of perseverance and fearlessness: like the sharp blade of a sword, like the burning fire, like the running rivers and the sea, more like the peak of the mountains that hadn't break for hundreds of millions of years.
At one glance, though, one couldn't help but shiver with fear.
"This…" Steward Feng was stunned.
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"You understand now? This man is a caged beast. If one day he's able to escape from this prison, he will tear and crush anyone that had hurted him into pieces. He will swallow it down, no residue will be left!" Eunuch Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone dangerous, "This person…must never stay."
"Eunuch Zhao, what're you suggesting?" Steward Feng made a decapitating gesture.
Eunuch Zhao shook his head: "Although the Inner Court doesn't lack servants, His Majesty won't pursue anything, and after all, he's the prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom. Nonetheless, he was saved by His Majesty several days ago, so we can't touch him. The best way to deal with a beast is not to kill them.."
Steward Feng bowed respectfully: "Eunuch Zhao, please enlighten me."
Eunuch Zhao said slowly: "For such a wolf-like man, only by grinding off his claws, pulling out his fangs, breaking off his spine, make him become a servile servant bit by bit, make him kneel on the ground for his entire life, so that he could no longer stand, only like this we will be able to rest assured. Steward Feng, do you understand?"
"This servant understands." Steward Feng leaned down again.
"Go ahead if you understand." Eunuch Zhao waved his sleeve and turned away.
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Footnotes
管事 guǎn shì; Steward: One of the crew's titles. It's in charge of managing affairs, conducting and preside over them / A person employed to manage housework or chores. Higher status than ordinary servants.
偷鸡不成蚀把米 tōu jī bù chéng shí bǎ mǐ; It's a Chinese idiom, it means that by trying to gain an advantage you will only ending up worse. From 《说岳全传》第25回 ("shuō yuè quán chuán" dì 25 huí), "The Story of Yue Fei", chapter 25. Written by (钱彩 qián cǎi) Qian Cai, a novelist with an unknown birth and death date from the Qing Dynasty [1644-1911].
Chapter 17: There's Always A Cannon Fodder Asking For Death.
In that place, the fat and thin servants were debating whether the instructions given by Eunuch Zhao were done, and whether they should let Yan HeQing go.
As soon as they looked up, they saw that Steward Feng, Eunuch Zhao's lackey, came over.
"Steward Feng!" The two quickly nodded and bowed.
"Good." Steward Feng waved his hand arrogantly, then looked at Yan HeQing.
Yan HeQing lowered his head without saying a word.
Steward Feng wasn't angry because of this. He simply raised his foot and kicked hard on Yan HeQing: "Kneel down."
Yan HeQing stumbled, hitting his knees heavily.
"What? Weren't you happy to talk back last time? Why don't you talk again now?" Steward Feng circled around Yan HeQing, then he reached out his hand squeezing his cheeks, forcing him to look up.
Steward Feng was trying to intimidate and insult him, but how could he have known that by looking at Yan Heqing's eyes he would feel so agitated. Yan HeQing's eyes showed contempt and disgust.
"You, you, you dare stare at me?" Steward Feng slapped Yan HeQing and then hooked the hand of the fat servant: "Come, hit him on the mouth."
"Sure thing." The fat slave smiled before walking forward, swung his arm, and hit Yan HeQing twice.
Steward Feng looked at him coldly, but then felt shocked.
In this case, if ordinary people were afraid that they would make the bullies erupt in anger, this Yan HeQing, not only was enduring the humiliation, but he also didn't bend his back from beginning to end.
He's not a coward at all. Eunuch Zhao, that old fox, he really knows how to read people.
Steward Feng felt that Yan HeQing's straight back was too unpleasant to look at. He couldn't help but step forward and kick him on the waist.
Yan HeQing was kicked to the ground, and when he fell heavily, something rolled out of his sleeves.
The thin slave's eyes were sharp. He picked up the thing and taking a closer look at it, he found out that it was a hairpin made with fine jade: "Steward Feng, look at this."
Yan HeQing hurriedly touched his sleeves, his face showing an alarming expression of panic.
Steward Feng took the hairpin and said with disdain: "Oh, what a piece of cheap garbage."
"Give it back to me!" Yan HeQing suddenly got up wanting to step forward to fight, but was stopped by the fat and thin slaves.
Seeing Yan HeQing's reaction, Steward Feng raised a sly smile: "Although looking at this garbage, it shouldn't be worth more than a few coins, so don't ask for it. You should be filial to me."
"What good thing? I want to be filial too." Xiao YuAn whispered in Steward Feng's ear.
Steward Feng shouted scared shitless, and turned to scold: "Are you stupid or…Your Majesty!?"
"
"
The three of them were frightened by the sudden appearance of Xiao YuAn, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, kneeling and kowtowing: "Y-yo-your M-ma-majesty, y-you, h-how come you're here?"
Xiao YuAn naturally came here to see Yan HeQing. How could he have known that Yan HeQing was being humiliated.
How long has it been since the last snow punishment by kneeling? How come you're doing things again? Are the villains now so conscientious? Don't you take a rest? Is the task really so important?
Xiao YuAn reached out his hand towards Steward Feng: "What were you talking about?"
Steward Feng quickly presented the jade hairpin with both hands. Xiao YuAn took a look at it and suddenly felt scared of throwing it down by accident.
Oh for my third aunt, sixth aunt and seventh uncle's sake. Do you know what this is? Be filial to you? You should honor your coffin plate, you cactus butt!
This jade hairpin is a relic of the male lead's mother! It's also a token of love that Yan HeQing will give to Princess Yongning in the near future!
How dare you want this?
How are you still alive?
Did you get tired of living?
You will have to die in silence!
Xiao YuAn was so scared of damaging it by accident, that he turned around and put the hairpin in Hong Xiu's hands: "Hong Xiu, hold this carefully first, and don't break it!"
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Hong Xiu nodded in response.
Xiao YuAn patted his chest and looked towards Yan HeQing. When he saw him in thin clothes, he sighed helplessly.
The male lead in the early stage, it's really too pitiful.
Xiao YuAn walked over a few steps, took off his robe, and wrapped it around Yan HeQing.
Yan HeQing's body was stiff and his brow furrowed, obviously with resistance, but still he didn't say a word.
You're so miserable, don't disdain me if you can!
Xiao YuAn asked: "Can you get up?"
Yan HeQing nodded his head, but he staggered when he got up, his body was unstable.
Xiao YuAn turned his head and said: "LiuAn, take him inside."
Yang LiuAn clenched his fist and obeyed the order, helping Yan HeQing enter the room.
Xiao YuAn looked back at the three people that had been kneeling for a long time. They felt Xiao YuAn's gaze and the three of them started shivering in fear.
What are you afraid of? Why didn't you feel that you were about to die not long ago when bullying the male lead?
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"Come on, get up." Xiao YuAn raised his hand.
The three quickly scrambled to their feet.
Xiao YuAn: "Stand in a row, take a rest and look to the left."
The three slaves: "Ah?"
"Ah, what, stand up." Xiao YuAn knelt towards the snow at the ground and rolled three snowballs, then one by one, he stuffed them inside the three slave's clothes.
The three men were immediately gritting their teeth and their faces were twisted because of the snow.
"Come, repeat after me." Xiao YuAn patted off the snow on his hands. "If he doesn't suffer, I won't die. The villains also rely on their brains."
The three slaves were at a loss: "Ah? …"
"What?" Xiao Yu'an smashed their heads one by one, "Repeat!"
The three slaves: "If he doesn't suffer, I won't die. The villains also rely on their brains…"
Xiao YuAn: "If I'm not intelligent enough, I will die. I must be a fool if I try to get the male lead humiliated again."
The three slaves: "…If I'm not intelligent enough, I will die. I must be a fool if I try to get the male lead humiliated again."
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"Well, go back to read and recite it out loud. Remember it well, this will be on the final test." Xiao YuAn nodded with satisfaction, "Well, what should I do now?"
It didn't seem that Xiao YuAn would let them go so easily. The three looked at each other, shouted their thanks to the Emperor, and then quickly ran away.
Xiao YuAn was about to enter the inner Court to see Yan HeQing, but he felt Hong Xiu staring at him, so he asked: "What's the matter?"
"Ah…" Hong Xiu looked back in a trance, then she hesitantly asked, "Since His Majesty cares a lot for this Southern Yan Kingdom Prince, why didn't you vent the anger on his behalf?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Xiao YuAn was confused.
Hong Xiu said: "Naturally, in front of his face, punish these three dog slaves, dig their eyes out, cut their tongues and break their hands."
Xiao YuAn: "…"
Why do you suddenly become horrifying Hong Xiu! Or this is your true essence, and I didn't realize!
Xiao YuAn thought for a while and said, "The House of Internal Affairs has always been disciplined but now bullying has happened. Do you think Eunuch Zhao won't know about it?"
Hong Xiu suddenly responded: "Your Majesty, you mean…"
Xiao YuAn smiled slightly: "Yes, they were just taking orders."
Hong Xiu's face revealed doubts: "But why would Eunuch Zhao want to humiliate the Prince of the Southern Yan Kingdom?"
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Xiao YuAn sighed: "Because of the Northern Kingdom, because of me…"
This sentence, on the contrary, made Hong Xiu more confused: "Your Majesty?"
Xiao YuAn looked at Hong Xiu and his eyes twinkled: "Hong Xiu, you have to promise me one thing. In any case, don't do anything to Yan HeQing, got it?"
Hong Xiu quickly salutes: "His Majesty can be at ease, this maidservant will remember it to heart."
"Good." Xiao YuAn nodded with confidence and stepped into the room.
Chapter 18: The Male Lead's Fate Will Always Inevitably Be Full Of Misfortunes.
What do you mean that the bedside room is leaking and there's no dry place? Where does it originate, the rain leak and why is it not being fixed? Where's the cloth quilt that has been cold for many years?
Xiao YuAn felt that he had seen everything today.
The place where Yan HeQing lived, which couldn't be called a house, was clearly a firewood room. There wasn't even a single table and chair, let alone a bed; and at a glance, except for the broken wall, only the corner was pitifully filled up with firewood. Xiao YuAn was afraid that as soon as he raised his head, he will see the bitterness hanging on the hanging beam.
It's so miserable…
Xiao YuAn's robe was given to Yan HeQing. The room was leaking and the cold wind was blowing, making everyone tremble.
Yang LiuAn said, concerned: "Your Majesty, this place is too cold, you…"
Xiao YuAn said: "It's a bit cold indeed. LiuAn, go back to the palace and bring me a robe."
After Yang LiuAn complied, he walked out of the room in a hurry.
Xiao YuAn turned his head to look at Yan HeQing, who was standing at the side of the pestle, with blood dripping off his forehead. Xiao YuAn couldn't help but take a deep breath of cold air.
Who did it! What should I do if you damage his face! That face will be used to conquer the world!
"Hong Xiu, go get some hot water and some medicine to cure his wound." Xiao YuAn ordered Hong Xiu.
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Hong Xiu nodded, walking out of the room.
Suddenly, the silence broke inside the room, Xiao YuAn and Yan HeQing were left alone.
Xiao YuAn turned around twice in the room and found no place to sit. He simply sat on the firewood stack, saw that Yan HeQing was still standing there, and patted the firewood around him: "Come, sit."
Yan HeQing didn't move a single muscle.
"Didn't you bite me last time in prison? Come on, and give it another bite." Xiao YuAn stood up and handed his hand towards Yan HeQing's mouth.
Yan HeQing pursed his lips, but his expression didn't change.
"Relax, I don't have that kind of intention towards you. If I had it, I would've already done something." Xiao YuAn pulled back his hand and went back to sit on the woodpile again.
After that, Yan HeQing's eyes finally moved, he raised his head slightly and looked at Xiao YuAn.
Xiao YuAn gave him a small smile, and calmly looked at Yan HeQing.
After a while, Yan HeQing finally opened his mouth, and in a hoarse voice he asked: "Then why did you do this…"
Xiao YuAn answered in a serious tone: "Because I'm the investment that you need to recharge into your account."
Yan HeQing: "…"
Xiao YuAn: "Cough… actually, because of love, I don't easily feel sorrow, so everything should be happiness."
Xiao YuAn sang out loud!
Yan HeQing's expression was somewhat broken.
Xiao YuAn held back his smile and waved his hands again and again: "I'm joking, joking, don't get angry. In short, you can rest assured that I don't harbour any ill intentions towards you. As for why, I may tell you if there's a chance in the future, now you can choose whether to believe me or not."
Yan HeQing's eyes were a little heavy: "But when I was in prison…"
Can you stop being so vengeful, male hero?! Am I pulling my sword in front of you right now?! After pulling it out that time, I didn't do anything to you! How can you still remember that now!
"That's because I'm afraid of you." Xiao YuAn told him the truth.
Yan HeQing's eyes cleared and mysteriously flashed: "Afraid of me?"
Xiao YuAn didn't explain himself yet when Hong Xiu suddenly walked in, with a basin of hot water on her hands. She handed the healing medicine to Xiao YuAn: "Your Majesty, the water is ready."
Xiao YuAn took the medicine: "You've worked hard. By the way, give me the hairpin."
Hong Xiu took the hairpin carefully from her sleeve and gave it to him. As soon as Xiao YuAn turned around, he saw Yan HeQing staring intensely at the hairpin in his hands. Xiao YuAn smiled and walked in front of him, handing out the hairpin: "Here, take it."
Yan HeQing stared at Xiao YuAn for a long while, finally reaching out to take it back.
AD
Unexpectedly, Xiao YuAn suddenly turned his hands and smiled. His smile didn't change: "Wait, I have a condition."
Yan HeQing received an empty space, he was neither anxious nor annoyed, he silently looked at Xiao YuAn again.
Xiao YuAn said: "If you wash your face and apply the medicine, I will give you back the hairpin."
Knowing that it was meaningless to cover his face with black charcoal, Yan HeQing went to the basin filled with water and started to wash his face. Xiao YuAn looked at him instantly.
The water in the basin gradually became dirty. Yan HeQing washed his cheeks and hands, and raised his head.
There were thousands of mountains and rivers inside his eyes, and the water was shining between his lips and tongue, look at the bright moonlight, and the ten thousand lights. It's all about the beauty of his face; look at that mountain again, look at the overlapping mountains again, it's all about the straightness of his nose.
Xiao YuAn sighed with emotion: Ah! These eyes. Ah! These eyebrows. Ah! These lips. Ah! The beauty.
No! I have to look at it again.
Ah! These eyes. Ah! These eyebrows. Ah! These lips. Ah! The beauty.
Yan HeQing wiped his face clean, and set his eyes on the jade hairpin in Xiao YuAn hands.
What are you looking at? I didn't say no to you. Don't look at me with that burning eyes of yours. I know you're going to use this to beg for a wife.
Xiao YuAn handed the jade hairpin to Yan Heqing with a smile: "Take it, after all, it's a relic from you mother."
AD
Yan HeQing stiffened and looked at Xiao YuAn, his face showing a shocking expression.
This hairpin, he had never talked about it with no one from the Northern Kingdom!
Ignoring Yan HeQing's surprise, Xiao YuAn turned to Hong Xiu and said, "Hong Xiu, wait outside first, and don't let anyone get inside here for a while."
Chapter 19: There's Always A President Who Can't Be Tyrannical.
After finishing her duties, Hong Xiu turned around and walked out of the Imperial bedchamber, closing the door behind her.
Xiao YuAn sat back on the firewood stack and pointed to his side. "Come here, I have something to discuss with you."
Yan HeQing put away the hairpin, and took a seat in a tight position. Xiao YuAn's eyes were very different than before.
"Why do I know about the hairpin origin? I will tell you if I have a chance in the future." Xiao YuAn casually patted his clothes. "I just had an idea, I want you to move to Jing Yang Palace."
Before Yan HeQing could say anything, Xiao YuAn hurriedly said, "I know that Jing Yang Palace is 'that kind of place', but I really don't mean that to you. Besides, you should also be aware of this: there's someone in the House of Internal Affairs that regards you as an eyesore. Eunuch Zhao is the head of the House of Internal Affairs. He won't care even if I say a few words to him, so you can't stay here. It's better for you to go to the Jing Yang Palace, there's no one there that wishes to harm you."
Yan HeQing gently lowered his eyelashes, not knowing what to think about it.
Xiao YuAn was afraid that he wouldn't agree. After all, staying here will get him either killed by Eunuch Zhao or freeze to death. He earnestly advises again: "Look, I sent Liuan and Hong Xiu away, wanting to discuss this matter with you alone, because I don't want to embarrass you."
Yan HeQing was still silent.
Xiao YuAn began to feel uneasy in his stomach, concerned with petty interests.
Him! A president who has been given high hopes! And although on the road to becoming a Tyrannical President, he ended up walking a normal path! However!
Yeah, he also walked on that road!
"
"
As a Tyrannical President, you must work hard, be action-oriented, and act arrogantly.
Therefore, Xiao YuAn decided to tie up Yan HeQing and take him directly to Jing Yang Palace.
Xiao YuAn encouraged himself! He stood up aggressively! He rolled up his sleeves with bad intentions! Then the cold wind of the broken room blew! He…!
He shuddered steadily…
In the cold room, Yan HeQing looked at Xiao YuAn's sleeves, as if looking at a fool.
…
Why is he so cold! His aura is so cold that it could kill you!
Xiao YuAn quietly put down the sleeve that he had just rolled up, and thought that he really didn't have the talent to be a Tyrannical President. Then he raised his eyes and saw that Yan HeQing had taken off the robe he put on him before and was handing it over.
"It's okay, I don't…" A cold wind blew, and the rest of Xiao YuAn's words were frozen in his throat.
Yan HeQing wasn't allowed to put the robe around him, so he handled it into Xiao YuAn's hands: "Put it on."
Xiao YuAn handed it back to Yan HeQing: "No, no."
You shouldn't inadvertently exude a flirtatious aura! I was scared!
AD
Yan HeQing said: "I promise you, I'll go to Jing Yang Palace."
Xiao YuAn's eyes got bright: "Really?"
Yan HeQing: "False."
Xiao YuAn: "…"
Yan HeQing: "I have a condition."
? ? ?
Why is this sentence so familiar!
"What are the conditions?" Xiao YuAn asked.
Yan HeQing said indifferently: "If you put on your robe, I will go to Jing Yang Palace."
So for the flirtatious aura you inadvertently exude, you do have B points1 in your heart!
To fight or not fight over it, convinced, I'm being obligated to accept.
Xiao YuAn obediently put on his outer robe, but only felt a headache, stomachache and toothache: "Satisfied?"
AD
Yan HeQing nodded approvingly: "Yes."
After finally reaching a consensus, Xiao YuAn breathed a sigh of relief, got up and walked out of the firewood room. Hong Xiu stood at the door waiting, when she saw Xiao YuAn coming out, she greeted him: "Your Majesty."
Xiao YuAn said: "Hong Xiu, please arrange for Yan HeQing to go to Jing Yang Palace."
Hong Xiu seemed to have been expecting this for a long time, and with an ambiguous smile she said: "At your Imperial Majesty's command."
Xiao YuAn pretended not to see the smile on Hong Xiu: "By the way, arrange a place for Yan HeQing to live that is near Princess Yongning's bedroom."
Hong Xiu's face showed doubt, but still nodded nonetheless.
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Footnotes
Internet slang. It means: "Don't you already know that?", but like, in a more rude way of speaking.
Chapter 20: There's Always A Supporting Role For Big Things.
Yan HeQing was about to leave the House of Internal Affairs, but it came to Eunuch Zhao's knowledge half a day later.
Steward Feng finished reporting to Eunuch Zhao in a ruthless manner. He thought that Eunuch Zhao would be dissatisfied. Who would've known that he would just nod, and say in a disapproving tone: "It was a matter of time."
Steward Feng scratched his head and said with embarrassment: "Eunuch Zhao, in case Yan HeQing becomes the next favorite of His Majesty, he will whisper sweet nothings to his ears. The life of this lowly servant, I'm afraid…haa, I'm afraid it's hard to protect."
Eunuch Zhao sneered: "What are you afraid of? Your head, even if he mentions a word about it to His Majesty, he would look petty."
"Yes, yes." Steward Feng nodded and bowed his waist. "This servant will be relying on Eunuch Zhao."
Eunuch Zhao leisurely sipped his tea: "You must get ready and prepare beforehand. After two days, I will go and talk to the maidservant Hong Xiu."
"The maidservant Hong Xiu?" Steward Feng's heart jumped, the headmaster of Jing Yang Palace?
Eunuch Zhao glanced at Steward Feng and said, "What's the matter? Aren't you free? Would you refuse, even when you said you're relying on me?"
"I'm not busy, not busy at all." Steward Feng was a spirited man, then he quickly retreated.
Hong Xiu never imagined that Eunuch Zhao would actually come to find her.
Although they were both in charge of the same job, there was no interaction between them. One doesn't visit a temple without a cause1. Hong Xiu could probably guess who Eunuch Zhao was coming for. She thought of what Xiao YuAn had said to her before, and became alert at once.
Eunuch Zhao saw the look on Hong Xiu's face and smiled: "Maidservant Hong Xiu, won't you invite me to take a seat?"
Hong Xiu quickly asked Eunuch Zhao to sit down and hurried the slaves to pour tea: "This maidservant was disrespectful, neglecting Eunuch Zhao. I ask Eunuch Zhao to forgive me."
"Hong Xiu must be joking. It seems that my old face is still useful in other places besides the House of Internal Affairs." Eunuch Zhao teased, lifting the lid of tea and blew on it, "I've heard that the favorite maidservant of His Majesty, Hong Xiu, will be coming here today. In fact, I want to become acquaintances with the maidservant Hong Xiu."
It was a little unclear what Eunuch Zhao wanted to say. He was an old slave that served for three dynasties. He bathed in favor from generation to generation and took care of the House of Internal Affairs for more than 10 years; not to mention, the late Emperor regarded him like a relative.
Hong Xiu said: "Eunuch Zhao must be joking, this maidservant was just doing her job."
Eunuch Zhao meaningfully said: "Yes, just doing things within your capabilities."
Hong Xiu continued: "Eunuch Zhao, you're also a very experienced person in the palace. We servants, what we should do and what we shouldn't do, I believe, you should understand?"
Hong Xiu wanted to remind Eunuch Zhao that Yan HeQing was already in Jing Yang Palace, and he should stop any persecution plan.
However, Eunuch Zhao wasn't annoyed when he heard this. He smiled and said: "Maidservant Hong Xiu truly deserves the favoritism of His Majesty. After all, this matter of doing things, oh yeah, it's not good enough. What you're afraid of, Hong Xiu, is not what you should do, but if you don't do what you're supposed to do. Aren't we, the slaves, the biggest negligence?"
Hong Xiu was stunned: "…What does Eunuch Zhao mean?"
Eunuch Zhao took a sip of tea, and then continued: "I heard that the male concubines in Jing Yang Palace must go through the guidance of Maidservant Hong Xiu before they can serve His Majesty?"
Hong Xiu said: "That is natural, but the two of us, you and me, have it very clear in our hearts, that some of these people, and not us the slaves, can move as they please."
AD
Eunuch Zhao suddenly sneered: "Can't I move? Maidservant Hong Xiu, there's some people here, in the House of Internal Affairs, that are my slaves. All I need to do is to make them my slaves. What do I care? Maidservant Hong Xiu, you need to understand that the concubines at the Jing Yang Palace are going to be sent to His Majesty's bedside. If you send a wolf, it will hurt His Majesty…"
Eunuch Zhao paused just right in time, and Hong Xiu was startled.
"Maidservant Hong Xiu, you don't need to hurt his life. You just need to make those that should be forbidden to be forbidden. Isn't that what you're supposed to do? Yeah, we're all slaves; isn't the biggest part of our duties to worry about His Majesty's business?"
Eunuch Zhao finished his speech slowly, got up, said goodbye, and then left. Leaving Hong Xiu at a loss.
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Footnotes
無事不登三寶殿 wú shì bù dēng sān bǎo diàn; it's a Chinese idiom, refers to the Buddha Hall. It means to visit someone with an ulterior motive / To ask for something / Having a hidden agenda.
